Reborn Daughter: The Young Lady Wants to Make a Trouble

Yu Zhen looked down at her, examining her features, from her eyes, her smile, to the dimple on one side of her cheek. She stood on tiptoe again to greet him, her legs shaking. He grabbed her hands on his shoulders and tried weakly to meet his eyes.

"Pfft, you're too short," he teased her, expecting to see the usual irritation in her eyes.

She loved to insult others, but she couldn't stand it herself. He enjoyed this fashionable and silly side of her. He loved her unfettered wit, and every time he saw her, he wanted to see all the expressions she could make.

"At least I'm not annoying."

"Are you no longer insulted now, Sunshine?" Yu Zhen smiled, steadying her with his grasping hands, concerned about her balance.

Li Xueyue was unable to answer his question quickly, staring at the floor. She could no longer remember how many victories and failures he had.

Seeing the sullen look on her face, he bit his lower lip and pouted slightly to admit his failure.

"Now, now, don't mope around on me." He placed a finger on either side of her lips, tilting it upwards, but she responded by trying to bite him.

“Wow, I can already imagine what kind of child you’ll raise.” Yu Zhen snorted, pulling his hand away in time for her to stick her tongue out at him.

"I could probably raise them better than you could."

"Oh, really? Who is their father?" he asked.

"Anyone but you."

"Yeah." He nodded. "We'll see."

"what?"

"What?" He mimicked her expression, pinching her nose as her eyes widened.

"As if someone wants your child!"

“Tell this to your future self.”

"Where did you learn to be so shameless?" She was annoyed.

"I picked it up after I met you," he deadpanned, and before she could retort, he reminded her, "I could bicker with you all day, Sunshine."

“Hmph, if you don’t have a horse, just go to the capital.” Li Xueyue tried to take his Ma Zhong away, but was suddenly pulled into his arms, and her back hit his chest.

"What are you doing?" He frowned, his flawless features transforming into that of a man who refused to accept defeat.

Yu Zhen noticed that she didn't even protest, and he didn't know if she was tired or if she was too stupid to realize it. He suspected it was the latter.

Her words echoed in his mind: "All my moves were calculated." What wasn't calculated? Was her lowered guard and invisible wall just a ploy to capture him? His mind raced over all the questions he wanted to ask but couldn't.

"Huh? Are we going to town?" Li Xueyue asked, snapping her fingers in front of his confused expression.

Suddenly, a sudden and crazy question popped up in his mind. He couldn't help but said, "Do you know who is behind this?"

"What curtains?" Li Xueyue replied, tilting her head.

"The Emperor is bullying you too much, don't you think?" he said suddenly, noticing the look of suspicion that covered her face.

Li Xueyue didn't expect him to ask that. She reached for his arm, but he held her tight. She blinked her eyes sharply, realizing something. His loosened arm was just an illusion, and he seemed to give her the option to escape, but she had no way to escape. It was a trap, reminding him to hold her tighter.

"Does this feel like bullying to you?" she asked.

She is very smart, he will give her this. Yu Zhen found that she always knew how to shirk responsibility, seek other people's opinions, and wait for others to let the cat out of the bag.

"It seems so," he told her.

"Who else has such an idea?" she shot back, her cheerful expression becoming too serious for their taste. The lively atmosphere became more tense every second.

Yu Zhen didn’t want to become part of a political discussion, but couldn’t help but ask, “Who wouldn’t want to?”

He patted her forehead to ease the tension. She jumped up, her hands flying to the spot.

Li Xueyue was unaware that her shoulders were tense, and her eyes were full of accusation. She was so moved by his words.

"You know, you don't have to put up with this," he whispered, his warmth and reassurance covering her like a heavy, stubborn blanket.

"What are you talking about?" Li Xueyue asked, although she was a little hesitant.

"I can take you to a safe place." Yu Zhen touched the side of her face, his thumb tracing shapes on her cheekbones.

"Safe?" she repeated, her voice full of confusion. She was safe in the Lee residence. What was he talking about?

“In my territory, no one dares to hurt you, and no one will interfere with your happiness and well-being.”

"I'm safer in Wuyi, with my family—"

"Your family can only keep you safe for so long."

His words might have offended her if it weren't for the sincerity in his voice. He was worried about her. He cared about her.

Li Xueyue didn't need his sympathy, nor his pity. She didn't need someone to take care of her. She didn't want to rely on him, a man she barely knew.

"What did you hear in the palace?" Li Xueyue came back to her senses and finally understood where this came from.

"They make demands on the audience almost every day. It makes me wonder about the time on their hands," Yu Zhen admitted.

Li Xueyue refused to insult the royal family in such an open place. If she wanted to criticize them, she would rather do it at home. So she shut up and let him continue.

"Come with me to Hanjian." Yu Zhen held both sides of her face with a loving look.

She didn't expect to be treated like this.

Li Xueyue hoped that he would not love her so much. She began to misunderstand. Maybe... just maybe, his feelings for her were actually genuine.

"You don't want anything there."

Another materialistic invitation. Her face hardened with irritation. Was he another Wen Jinkai in disguise?

"Why does everyone tell me that? As if I could be taken—"

"I will not bribe you with materialism. I will bribe you with my wholehearted love and affection, if you will only be mine."

Li Xueyue felt her stomach churn first, then her heart flutter. His words were so sweet and hopeful, and she grew increasingly afraid that he might abandon her. He was asking for the unthinkable - to give up her life in Wuyi and come with him.

"What do you want from me?" Li Xueyue's voice trembled a little, and her eyes widened, afraid that he would break her heart. "...in return?" she added.

"Everything. Your soul, your body, your heart, but most of all, I want you. Come to me and you will be protected from every storm and hurricane we may encounter."

It was with these words that Li Xueyue knew she was going to put her fragile heart in his hands, hoping he wouldn't break it. She wasn't sure if she was ready to trust him and his loyalty. She wasn't sure if his love was real, or just a daydream. She was terrified by the thought that to her, he was the one, but to him, she was just one of the many women he married. After all, he was the second prince of Han Jian and second in line to the throne.