Endure

Zhao Yan was unaware of how advanced Fu Yanqing's thoughts were going. He had even gone as far as to imagine their future where they have conceived many children and how they would walk hand in hand together in the future as an old couple like what they were doing today.

Zhao Yan was thinking that since he promised he would take care of her and her child, she would also do the same.

So just before they arrived at her courtyard, she told him, "When we get married, I will also take care of you, Your Highness. I will fulfill my obligations and duties as your wife. Both in sorrow and joy, I will stay with you and share your burden. Your glory is my glory. Your enemy is my enemy. And your friends are my friends. I hope that we can atleast be a married couple with mutual understanding for both ours and our child's sake."

Fu Yanqing's eyes lowered and gazed intently at her inky black eyes that were clear and bright. They were honest like usual with gave him a refreshing feeling especially when she said those words to him.

It meant he has a chance to make her fall for him. It meant that she atleast respected him and their relationship.

This made him inexplicably happy that he brought her hand to his lips and lightly kissed her knuckles.

"This prince will comply." He murmured against her soft skin, his lips still brushing against them in a feather-light manner.

Zhao Yan was surprised by his action and she was about to pull her hand away but remembered the words she declared just now. It wouldn't look good to reject him after saying all those things and it was only a kiss on her hand...

Being intimate was going to be part of her obligations as his soon-to-be wife, right? Zhao Yan gulped in a frightened manner but she hid this emotion to the best of her abilities.

She tried to comfort herself by saying that atleast he was a respectable man and that Fu Yanqing said he would treat her right but Zhao Yan still felt slightly uncomfortable by it.

She did her best to be understanding since she was going to be his wife. And besides, if he ever mistreated her, Zhao Yan can just divorce and leave.

She still has that option which made her feel better so she didn't fuss over his actions anymore.

They safely arrived at her courtyard.

"Thank you for accompanying me, Your Highness. Today our last day of being unwed and as free individuals. If His Highness changes his mind at the last minute, please inform me immediately." Although she was only joking about the last part, Fu Yanqing's face was not very good when he heard this. His hold on her hand became even more secured as a turmoil of emotions began to rampage inside him.

Only one thing stood out.

An inexplicable fear that she would leave him and run as far as possible in a place where he could never reach her.

His jaw tightened. "Yanyan, you can't run away anymore. This prince will marry you and will not change anything. This prince does not go back on his word!" He said seriously.

Zhao Yan wanted to say it was only a joke but he looked so serious that it wouldn't be good if she were to say that she was only jesting.

"Yes... I believe that His Highness will keep his word." She smiled as she said this.

When she tried to pull her hand away, his hand remained intertwined with hers. Furrowing her brows, she looked at Fu Yanqing.

"My hand, please..." She kindly reminded.

Fu Yanqing was quiet for a few seconds as if gauging her current state of condition before he slowly released her hand. He looked almost reluctant to part with her hand which she found strange.

When she was inside her room, she couldn't help but stare at her right hand and wonder why Fu Yanqing acted that way.

She was also somewhat embarrassed that she was leisurely walking hand in hand with him as if they were some married couple or a pair of lovebirds infatuated with each other.

Either way, she was feeling conflicted about it because she found herself paying more attention to their interactions together.

Was it because they've reached a mutual understanding? That might be it but Fu Yanqing has never mistreated her ever since they met again. Sure, she had been shocked and livid when she saw him once more but she thought of her child and her situation.

Too much anger was bad for her baby and she encouraged herself by thinking positive thoughts even though she really wanted to strangle Fu Yanqing the moment he presented himself to her when she was three months and a half into her pregnancy.

How dare he show up again? She wanted to tell him but was overwhelmed by fear.

Zhao Yan covered her face. She felt ashamed that she was capable of this vicious thought. But it was really hard. How can she not be angry and not feel wronged when the very man that had sinned against her and taken her innocence appeared before her while demanding marriage as if that would solve everything.

She was so angry that she wanted to cry when he said that. He even knew about her background and had investigated her. Regardless if he was a prince, Zhao Yan was unable to treat him like one.

Her first impression of him was not very good and it had taken her half a month before she could convince herself that he was really serious in wanting to get involved with her.

She only asked him for one thing. To leave her alone and never come back. Treat it as if it never happened but alas, she was humiliated and tossed around by a flower thief!

The shame, anger, and fear she felt when he was bullying her. She couldn't get over it. It still frightened her everytime she tried to remember it.

But Zhao Yan pretended to be tough because she was going to be a mother soon.

For her child, she could endure it. She only hopes that they could continue to be amicable to each other or else she would really not hesitate to leave.

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