"Ah?"
Qingyu, who had been staring blankly, snapped back to reality and awkwardly scratched the back of his head. He hadn't heard anything Xueying had said because he was too busy admiring her.
Fortunately, Xueying didn't notice his distraction and continued to mumble to herself.
"Miss went to fight to the death with others, and I couldn't help. I tried to boil some hot water for Miss, but I set the kitchen on fire. How can I be so useless!"
Qingyu heard her clearly this time, and a look of heartache flashed in his eyes.
"That's not true! You're very capable, don't you know?"
Xueying looked up, her eyes filled with confusion.
Qingyu grabbed her shoulders and said seriously, "Xueying, don't belittle yourself. You're already very capable."
"You raised the Princess from when she was half a year old to now. Isn't that impressive?"
"I..."
Xueying was speechless.
"The Princess is very capable, but if it weren't for your desperate protection in the past, such a capable person would have turned to dust long ago."
"Also, you, who used to be a useless person unable to cultivate, have now reached the late stage of Qi Induction realm in just three months. Therefore, your talent is extraordinary; you just started later than others."
Qingyu spoke with utmost sincerity and pride, his eyes brimming with admiration, like a parent exclaiming, "This is my child, and I'm so proud!"
Xueying blushed at Qingyu's praise and lowered her head shyly, murmuring almost inaudibly, "I'm not as amazing as you say!"
"No! You are!"
Zilin Ling walked over and continued, "Xueying, Qingyu is right. You are very capable, and you are not inferior to anyone else."
"Everyone has their strengths and value, they are just expressed in different ways."
"For example, men from ordinary families who support their wives and children with their own abilities are demonstrating their value and way of life. And their wives, though they manage the household and children and don't appear in public, are also expressing their value."
"Therefore, Xueying, you are truly amazing! Before, when I couldn't cultivate and was always bullied by Zi Jinling and the others, it was you who unhesitatingly stood in front of me, took the beatings for me, and protected me. Every moment is vivid in my memory."
"Xueying, stop doubting your abilities and stop being so anxious. You have been my family for twelve years, my companion. There will always be a place for you by my side."
"Qingyu is right! If you hadn't protected me with your life in the past, I would have turned to dust long ago. How could I have achieved what I have today? Therefore, your contribution to my achievements cannot be buried. You are truly amazing!"
Zilin Ling spoke with genuine emotion, not hiding her past struggles nor boasting about her current achievements.
These words struck Xueying in her softest spot, making her eyes sting and then fill with a radiant glow.
"Miss..."
Xueying smiled, a smile of relief.
Tears streamed down her face, yet she felt happy.
She couldn't utter the rest of the words and didn't know what else to say.
However, the resolve in her heart became stronger than ever.
Qingyu watched Xueying's happy tears. Although he felt heartache, he was also relieved.
Xueying's inner turmoil had been resolved, and he looked at the Princess before him with even greater admiration.
"Princess, thank you! From now on, my life belongs to you! If you ask me to go east, I will never go west! If you ask me to drink, I will never eat meat!"
Qingyu bowed solemnly, his words coming from the depths of his heart.
Zilin Ling raised an eyebrow and said with a half-smile, "What if I asked you to betray your Prince?"
Qingyu choked slightly but quickly recovered and said with certainty, "The Princess would never do that!"
"You trust me quite a bit! But, why are you involved in me comforting Xueying?"
"This..."
Qingyu was immediately rendered speechless.
He looked at Xueying, then at Zilin Ling, and scratched the back of his head.
Zilin Ling's eyes twinkled with amusement, and she teased, "I hear that the son of Minister Liu from the west of the city is handsome, refined, and possesses extremely high cultivation talent. He would be an excellent match. I'm planning to let Xueying marry..."
"Miss, no!"
"Princess, no!"
Xueying and Qingyu exclaimed simultaneously.
After speaking, they looked at each other and then both lowered their heads.
Zilin Ling understood. It seemed these two had feelings for each other.
Her earlier intuition was correct; it was indeed a case of "the husband sings, and the wife follows."
However, the unspoken understanding between them seemed to have not yet been revealed.
Since that was the case, she might as well give them a push.
Having made up her mind, Zilin Ling looked back and forth between the two with feigned surprise, asking, "Why not? Xueying is already of marriageable age."
"I..."
"I..."
They both spoke at the same time again, but as soon as they heard the other speak, they both fell silent.
Zilin Ling smiled wordlessly, her gaze falling on Qingyu.
Her meaning was clear: "You are the man; you should speak first."
Qingyu understood, but these words were difficult to utter.
So, he closed his eyes and gathered his courage.
When he opened them again, a trace of determination had appeared in his eyes.
"Princess, I like Xueying! I am willing to protect her for the rest of my life, so she cannot marry anyone else!"
After saying this, Qingyu's face turned completely red.
Zilin Ling's eyes were filled with amusement. "What kind of twisted logic is that? Because you like Xueying, she can't marry anyone else? What if Xueying doesn't like you?"
Qingyu knew this was Zilin Ling's test. He carefully organized his thoughts and said solemnly, "If she doesn't like me, I will pursue her, pester her, and do everything I can to make her like me, until the day she tires of me!"
"Oh, and when she tires of you, what will you do then?"
Zilin Ling raised her eyebrows and chuckled lightly, her question sounding casual yet hitting the mark.
Qingyu looked at Xueying and said passionately, "When she tires of me, I will no longer disturb her happiness, but I will always quietly protect her until she no longer needs my protection."
"Not bad! I daresay he would be much better than that young master from Minister Liu's household. Xueying, what do you think?" Zilin Ling mischievously turned to Xueying, a sly grin in her eyes.
After coaxing Qingyu to reveal his true feelings, it was natural to prompt Xueying to express hers.
She suddenly felt the immense responsibility of being a matchmaker.
Xueying's face was already as red as a ripe apple. She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, and whispered in a voice barely audible, "I... I like him!"
Zilin Ling pretended not to understand and asked, "You like him?"
Xueying nodded, her face almost bleeding with embarrassment.
Qingyu's face lit up with excitement, his eyes dancing with joy.
Although Xueying had only said "I like him," he knew it was her response to him.
He was about to step forward and embrace Xueying when Zilin Ling's unhurried voice reached them.
"Who do you like? Minister Liu's son?"