Chapter 50: The Promise

"Tomorrow, I shall put pressure on the Ministry of Punishments and the Court of Judicial Review to have them come and clear your name. How does that sound?"

"Also, if anything comes up in the future, you can go to Shen Xuanzhi, the Junior Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He is my man and is completely trustworthy."

Lin Pianran let out a lazy yawn and asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Your Highness, I have everything regarding Noble Consort De under control. She cannot make things difficult for me."

"She is merely using Princess Huai'an as a pretext. Once Princess Huai'an is found, how else can she use this matter to make things hard for me?"

"If she tries to keep stirring up trouble using the princess's affair, it will simply be impossible!"

"I promise you, she will definitely not gain any advantage from me!"

"By the way, how has the matter concerning the Grand General been handled? Has he been brought back safely, and are all the arrangements made?"

Huo Yuchen reached out, scooped Lin Pianran right out of the covers, and pulled her into his embrace.

Resting his forehead against hers, he said with intense intimacy, "You saved me, and you saved my uncle. Your grace is deep."

"I wish to repay you. Is there anything you desire? Whatever your request, I will do my utmost to grant it!"

"As long as I possess it, and as long as you want it, it is yours. I will never break my promise!"

Lin Pianran struggled in alarm a few times, but failed to break free from Huo Yuchen's embrace; instead, he pulled her even closer.

She felt somewhat at a loss, still unable to adapt to such sudden, intimate contact.

Though she yearned for it, she was even shyer.

Stammering, she said, "It was... merely a slight effort, there is no need... to speak of thanks! Your Highness... need not take it to heart..."

Huo Yuchen gently pinched Lin Pianran's cheek and teased, "You don't even want silver? Aren't you fondest of these worldly possessions?"

Hearing this, Lin Pianran's heart fluttered, and she hurriedly replied, "C... can I? How much silver?"

Seeing that in the face of a life-saving grace, Lin Pianran only wanted vulgar silver and showed not the slightest interest in him, the dignified Crown Prince, a wave of melancholy washed over him.

Could it be that the gentleman is willing, yet the lady is indifferent?

A sense of loss surged into his heart.

He stared fixedly at Lin Pianran's face, wanting to pierce through her thoughts and know what she was truly thinking.

Yet he dared not press her too hard.

For a moment, he found himself caught in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.

He ignored Lin Pianran's remark and spoke up directly and plainly, wanting to see how the young girl would respond.

Thus, he said once more, "For your life-saving grace, I shall offer myself in return. How about that?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Pianran instantly widened her moist eyes, filled with a look of eager anticipation.

All her drowsiness vanished in an instant, and her eyes brimbed with a fervent radiance so dazzling it was almost blinding.

Huo Yuchen found it a bit difficult to gauge the young girl's true intentions.

Could it be that the little girl harbored affectionate designs toward him as well?

At this thought, Huo Yuchen's heart felt as though it were floating in warm sunlight, supremely comfortable.

He could not help asking again, "Pianpian, what do you say?"

To his surprise, a brilliant, radiant smile bloomed instantly across the young girl's face, like a warm breeze brushing across his heart.

"Very well, I agree to Your Highness offering yourself to me! From now on, Your Highness belongs to me!"

Having uttered these bold words, Lin Pianran still could not help burying her head deeper into Huo Yuchen's chest.

This already required the utmost courage she could muster to express her inner thoughts.

After all, whether in the modern world or her past life, she had never been in a relationship.

Nor had she ever expressed her feelings so bluntly.

Even after saying it, she still felt deeply shy.

Yet these words burst like fireworks in Huo Yuchen's mind—colorful, brilliant, and magnificent—filling his heart with joy.

His heart felt as though it were floating up to the clouds, ethereal and exquisitely wonderful...

His emotions were overwhelmingly stirred.

Huo Yuchen pulled Lin Pianran's head out from his embrace, gently stroked her chin with his finger, and asked with utmost seriousness once again, "Are you serious about what you just said? Some jokes cannot be casually made by a child."

"Once you agree to me, you will never escape from the palm of my hand for the rest of your life!"

"I will not give you a