The two men stared at each other for a moment, their eyes locking in a silent confrontation. Finally, they both broke into smiles.
"Fine. I'll be looking forward to the bonfire party tonight," said Yong Yaxuan. With that, he bid farewell to the eldest prince and strode towards his residence. There was nothing more to say between them.
The eldest prince watched him go. Only after Yong Yaxuan was out of sight did he turn and head towards Ji Feiyu's place.
Ji Feiyu was still fussing over a small potted flower. It was a unique flower from the Northern Cold Region, standing proudly on its own with a delicate fragrance.
The door opened silently, and the eldest prince walked in.
"Did you miss me today?"
Ji Feiyu didn't even look up as she laughed. "The eldest prince sure knows how to flatter himself."
The eldest prince said, "There will be a bonfire party tonight to welcome the honored guests. It's a chance for the people to have fun together. Come with me."
"No," Ji Feiyu refused without hesitation. Her attention was still on the flower.
The eldest prince stepped forward and took the flower pot in front of him. Ji Feiyu turned to look at him. "I once said you have no choice," the eldest prince said.
Ji Feiyu laughed. "If I have no choice, why ask me?"
As she spoke, she reached out and snatched the flower pot back. "Your Highness, please don't disturb me while I'm pruning the branches."
The eldest prince let out a soft laugh and left.
That night, a gentle breeze blew, and the moon hung high in the sky.
The eldest prince led Ji Feiyu outside. She walked behind him, lost in thought.
When they arrived, Yong Yaxuan hadn't shown up yet. Ji Feiyu let out a sigh of relief.
The lively singing and dancing were taking place on an open field. People were dancing and singing around the bonfire. Ji Feiyu watched with a faint smile. Before she knew it, Yong Yaxuan had walked up beside her. The eldest prince had disappeared.
"Yu'er..." He reached out and gently pulled her little finger.
Ji Feiyu quickly pulled her hand back. Without looking at him, she stared at the bonfire and said, "You're here." She caught a glimpse of Yong Yaxuan's robe. The royal pattern told her that he had returned to his lofty position as the emperor.
"Your're here" was both a greeting and an acknowledgment that Yong Yaxuan had regained his identity and seen through the false Ji Feiyu.
"I'm here," Yong Yaxuan said softly. His eyes were as gentle as ever, looking at her as if she were a precious treasure.
The moonlight was so gentle that it cast a soft glow over Ji Feiyu. It gave Yong Yaxuan the illusion that she was no longer so unreachable.
Just as he was about to smile, the dance at the bonfire party turned into a group dance.
A girl invited Yong Yaxuan to dance. He smiled and shook his head, but the girl insisted and pulled him towards the bonfire. He had no choice but to join in and dance a simple dance with her.
Ji Feiyu watched him dance with another woman. She didn't feel jealous. Instead, she watched his elegant figure behind the dancing flames and remembered that he used to be so talented.
It was obvious that the enthusiastic girls weren't going to let any good-looking men off the hook. So Xi Zhuang and Zhan Shan were also invited to dance.
As soon as Xi Zhuang got on the dance floor, he winked at Ji Feiyu. She couldn't help but laugh. Among the strangers in the Northern Cold Region, she and Xi Zhuang had become "acquaintances." Xi Zhuang was a quick learner and soon picked up the steps. On the other hand, Zhan Shan's dancing was not only funny but also stiff. Sometimes he moved his hands and feet at the same time, and sometimes he stepped on the girl's skirt.
Ji Feiyu couldn't help but laugh when she saw Zhan Shan. But before she knew it, a girl had pulled her onto the dance floor.
Ji Feiyu thought to herself, "So this dance is for both men and women."
At this time, Yong Yaxuan seemed to notice that she had joined the dance. His eyes drifted towards her.
Ji Feiyu felt his gaze but didn't look at him. Instead, she focused on dancing with the girl. Soon she was dancing with ease.
Suddenly, the music changed. The girl in front of Ji Feiyu suddenly moved forward, and another girl took her place. The music changed again, and the partners were changed once more. After a few rounds, it was Yong Yaxuan's turn to dance with her. Ji Feiyu couldn't help but widen her eyes as she looked at their hands.
Yong Yaxuan smiled and led her into the dance.
Now it was Ji Feiyu's turn to be stiff. Yong Yaxuan was so close to her that she couldn't help but lower her head. From a distance, it looked as if she was resting her head on his shoulder.
Just then, the music changed again. A group of men in local costumes rushed into the dance floor. Now it was time for the partners to dance together. The dance steps became more free.
Yong Yaxuan pulled Ji Feiyu onto the dance floor. He held her hand and gently sent her out. Then he pulled her back. With a sudden tug, Ji Feiyu fell into his arms.
The moonlight shone brightly on the earth. Ji Feiyu could only see the moonlight in the sky but not the stars. Yong Yaxuan's eyes were filled with moonlight. His face looked so beautiful, and his eyes were gentle and affectionate. Ji Feiyu couldn't take it anymore. She quickly stood up and let go of his hand.
Ji Feiyu finally managed to break free and squeezed out of the crowd. Yong Yaxuan followed closely behind. "Yu'er!"
Ji Feiyu was in a hurry to get out of the dance group. Unexpectedly, she bumped into the second prince in the crowd. The second prince looked at her curiously. "Why did you stop so soon? Are you tired of dancing?"
Ji Feiyu grabbed his hand. "Let's dance together."
Yong Yaxuan caught up and saw this scene. He couldn't help but frown. "Yu'er?"
The fire in the sky crackled. The second prince's face looked rather interesting in the flickering light. "I see why you want me to dance with you..."
Ji Feiyu stared at him, as if pleading. "Your Highness, won't you do me the honor?"
The second prince burst out laughing. Yong Yaxuan was right there. The situation was completely different from before. How could he dare? He let go of Ji Feiyu's hand and said tentatively, "How about you finish dancing with him and then come to me?"
"Useless!" Ji Feiyu was so angry. She knew the second prince was unreliable. She tried to slip away in another direction, but Yong Yaxuan caught her in his arms. "Yu'er, don't run away, okay?"
The second prince saw this and quickly slipped away.
Yong Yaxuan held her tightly. He was so excited that he felt a strange sensation in his heart.
Ji Feiyu said coldly, "Let go of me, okay?"
Yong Yaxuan buried his head in the crook of her neck and said in a slightly nasal voice, "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I thought I'd never get it... Even if this is a dream, let me hold you a little longer."