zChapter 1038 - Marriage Is A Must After Hugging, Right? (1/2)

During these few years, Xiangrong still remembered being pushed into the water by Fendai during the palace banquet that year. A subordinate of the Seventh Prince pulled her out of the water. When she arrived on the boat, it was the Seventh Prince who reached out to support her and even lightly wrapped his arm around her shoulder. At that moment, her heart, which already harbored a secret crush, was already thumping loudly. She did not even dare to lift her head, and until today, she did not know what expression the Seventh Prince had when she was saved by him.

Right now, her arm was grabbed again, and it was still that person, but she was still unable to summon any courage. Her feet did stop and the two of them formed a stalemate. One at the front and one at the back, with no one speaking first.

Xiangrong suddenly thought of what Imperial Concubine Yun said. A girl should also be more proactive, be bold, do not be wishy-washy all the time. She also drank quite a bit of alcohol tonight, and her courage seemed to have increased under the influence of the alcohol. So she gritted her teeth, turned around without any hesitation, looking at Xuan Tianhua directly. It was only an instant, but she saw some worry reflected in his eyes.

Xiangrong was wild with joy and asked on reflex: “Your Highness the Seventh Prince is worried about me? I am fine, I just fell.” After saying this, she felt very regretful, because behind that worried look, she immediately saw another complex emotion, as if he was not seeing her, but seeing another person through her. Xiangrong jolted and finally looked down again.

She was overthinking it, right?

“It’s a cold day, even if you wish to come out, you should dress more warmly.” Xuan Tianhua finally opened his mouth to speak but did not release his hand grabbing Xiangrong’s elbow. He even raised his other hand to lightly brush off the snow on her shoulder. “I thought all of you went to bed early, it’s so late, why did you come out?”

Xiangrong felt some faint feelings of happiness. Regardless, it was good that the Seventh Prince was willing to say a few sentences to her. The small cheeks of the young girl reddened, and she turned to look at Xuan Tianhua, saying: “I could not sleep, Madam said that Your Highness was at the bamboo forest and I could come over to take a look, so I…… came.”

“Why didn’t the Madam to you to dress more warmly? It’s cold outside.” Xuan Tianhua shook his head in exasperation, and the cape draped on his arm fell on Xiangrong’s shoulders and he personally tied the straps in front for her. With thin fingers, every loop and tie was a work of art.

That cape was a little large. With Xiangrong’s small build, it drooped below her feet and made contact with the snow. She quickly lifted it up, afraid that it would get wet from the snow. That careful behaviour made it seem like it was not a normal cape, but a most precious, valuable item which did not allow even the slightest damage.

But Xuan Tianhua pushed her hand down, telling her: “It’s just a cape for you to keep warm, why are you holding it up for?”

Under the influence of alcohol which had not dissipated, Xiangrong became bolder and smiled until the smile reached her eyes: “Because this cape belongs to Your Highness the Seventh Prince! To Xiangrong, this is a most precious item and cannot be dirtied. Else Xiangrong’s heart will be pained by this.”

Looking at the young girl in front of him, Xuan Tianhua’s heart clenched for a strange reason. Xiangrong at this age resembled Feng Yuheng a lot, when he pulled that person out from the large river in the suburbs of the capital, that young girl was unconscious. Her small body was so skinny that there was no fat at all, but she was very obedient when she was unconscious, sleeping deeply while nestled in his arms.

He shook his head, feeling that he was thinking too much. That young girl was no longer a young girl, she had married and became a wife, living her own sweet life. And he, was still an older brother in the end, nothing more.

“Let’s go! I will send you back.” Xuan Tianhua patted Xiangrong’s shoulder lightly, then led the way at the front, only saying: “Follow me.”

Breaking into a small run, Xiangrong followed him. She was smiling, it was beautiful, especially the cape on her back still contained the unique pine smell from Xuan Tianhua, causing her to feel a strange intoxication. She did not know where she summoned her courage from, she actually quickened her pace, took two steps, and her small hand attempted to reach out to Xuan Tianhua’s large hand. Their fingertips touched and jolted immediately and quickly retracted her hand. But after pulling back, she was unreconciled and attempted to reach over again. This time, without waiting for her to reach further forward, that large hand actually tightened its grip and her small hand was grasped firmly in his palm.

Xuan Tianhua slowed down, making it easier for Xiangrong to follow. This caused the return journey to become longer. The two held hands and walked in the snow. Xiangrong felt this was the most fortunate thing to happen in her life. Having obtained the grasp of the Seventh Prince tonight, even if she died immediately, it would be worth it.

But she did not know, Xuan Tianhua’s mind was filled with the year he went to pay respects to his mother during the winter disaster and was trapped in the snow mountain. Feng Yuheng left the city to look for him, kneeling in the snow and shouted in a heartrending voice “Seventh Brother, Seventh Brother”. That time, he hurt his leg and when they returned to the city, the two held hands like this and walked. As they walked, this formed the most unforgettable memory in his life.

Holding Xiangrong’s hand right now, his heart felt bad about it, but he was also unable to resist it. To him, he had no feelings towards her which could be considered romantic, but he felt very close to her. Holding this small hand and walking, he was able to create some imagery of a plain and normal life.

Xuan Tianhua’s heart skipped a beat and he looked towards Xiangrong, but seeing this young girl smiling secretly beside him, with that very cute smile, he was also unable to hold it in and smiled after seeing it.

Xiangrong realised with a shock that someone was watching her. Looking up, she saw Xuan Tianhua with a pleasant smile and asked on reflex: “Why is Your Highness the Seventh Prince smiling?”

“Then why are you smiling?”

“I…… I am in a good mood, that’s why I’m smiling.” Xiangrong said honestly, “Madam said, a girl should also be more proactive, and cannot always hide behind someone and allow someone else to decide on the matters involving them. So Xiangrong will be brave this once and tell Your Highness the Seventh Prince, Xiangrong wishes to have Your Highness the Seventh Prince hold my hand and continue walking. It is best that this road will never end, and the walk will continue forever. This is a wish I haboured in my heart ever since I first saw Your Highness the Seventh Prince since I was 10 years old, but at that time, I was in the Feng family. My mother told me to quickly give up on that thought, saying it was a foolish delusion. I was just a small daughter of a concubine and would not match up to the greatness of Your Highness the Seventh Prince. Right now, Xiangrong also feels that I cannot match up to Your Highness the Seventh Prince, so Xiangrong would not ask for too much. This night of holding hands is enough. Your Highness the Seventh Prince, this is the best New Year’s Eve which Xiangrong has experienced. Regardless of how many years have passed, Xiangrong will still remember. Thank you for giving me such a beautiful memory.”