Chapter 419 - 418: Taking the Initiative

Yu Zhizhi slowly pushed the door open.

Night had fallen, and a faint moonlight filtered through the window. She slipped quietly inside and saw a figure leaning against the headboard of the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, she carefully approached, holding a tray.

Perhaps it was the moonlight, but Cang Lan’s face looked exceptionally pale, while his lips were as crimson as blood. Upon hearing the sound of her approach, he kept his eyes closed, his brow furrowing slightly.

He seemed incredibly weak. Yu Zhizhi placed the tray on a nearby table. This time, in addition to food, she had brought a bottle of Nutrient Liquid.

"Your Highness, are you all right?"

Yu Zhizhi asked softly.

Cang Lan’s tone was cool. "A trivial matter like serving meals can be handled by anyone. There is no need for the Lord of Tianxing to come personally."

’This reminded him of their time at the Extreme Ice Palace, when this young female was always trying to find ways to eat with him.’

"I... I have to show my hospitality as the host."

Yu Zhizhi picked up the Nutrient Liquid, sat on the edge of the bed, and handed it to him.

Cang Lan slowly opened his eyes. This time, he didn’t refuse. He took it and drained it in one gulp.

Before he could ask her to leave, Yu Zhizhi said, "Prince Canglan, since you’re not feeling well, why don’t you stay on the territory a while longer?"

’This will let me raise his affection for me, and I’ll get to spend more time with the little cub, too.’

Cang Lan set the bottle down. His gaze fell upon the young female’s face. She looked so sincere, as if she had truly spoken her mind.

’...What is she up to?’

’Ever since arriving on the territory, he’d felt this Rabbit Clan female’s unusual "enthusiasm."’

’Cang Lan had told her earlier today that she didn’t need to do all this for the Golden Tiger Cub. He wouldn’t mistreat him. On the contrary, as his only heir, the cub was extremely important to the entire Moon Rising Empire.’

Seeing him drink the Nutrient Liquid, Yu Zhizhi felt a little more at ease.

She said, "How about I bring Little Star to see you tomorrow?"

’Today was a bit rushed, so the little cub didn’t get a chance to bond with Cang Lan. They still seem like strangers.’

Cang Lan said flatly, "I need to rest tomorrow."

Yu Zhizhi: "What about the day after tomorrow?"

Cang Lan: "There will be plenty of time once we’re back in Moonrise."

Yu Zhizhi hesitated for a moment, then asked in a small voice, "Then... can I come see you?"

’Could she come by herself, without the little cub?’

Cang Lan looked up at her. In the dim light, the young rabbit looked nervous, her eyes exceptionally bright. There was almost no trace of "deceit" about her.

When he didn’t answer, Yu Zhizhi quickly stood up. "Then it’s settled! I’ll come see you again tomorrow~"

Without giving the Big Tiger a chance to refuse, she scurried away.

For the next three days, Yu Zhizhi went to "visit" him daily. Cang Lan’s appetite recovered slightly, though he still had no desire for meat, subsisting on a little extra Nutrient Liquid each day.

This time, Yu Zhizhi had specially picked some Firefly Flowers.

She was just about to head over when Cang Jie called out to her.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi."

Cang Jie, the Seventh Prince of the Moon Rising Empire, had also gotten a taste of pioneering life today. He had just returned from the north, a shovel in hand, his sleeves rolled up. His long white hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and a serene smile graced his face. "So this is what life on a territory feels like. It’s really quite nice."

Back in the Empire, he was constrained by all sorts of rules and regulations.

Here, although the outskirts of the island were still wild, the central area had clearly been tended to with great care.

The climate was pleasant and the flowers bloomed in abundance. The forest showed many signs of planting—saplings that would grow into towering trees by the following year.

Yu Zhizhi smiled as well. "Yes, I love it here!"

’She absolutely loved this island. No one bothered her, and the guards were disciplined and well-organized under their own captains, so she didn’t have to worry about a thing.’

’Now that she’d specially invited a Guard Commander, it was even more secure.’

’There wasn’t much to do at the moment. Ai Xi, the bee female, took care of her daily needs, while Little Octopus was passionate about planting and watering flowers, and also helped her look after the Elf Egg.’

Cang Jie glanced around. "Everything is wonderful, but you’re missing a housekeeper. Ms. Zhi Zhi, do you have any suitable candidates in mind?"

’A housekeeper?’

Yu Zhizhi shook her head gently. "Not at the moment."

Cang Jie smiled. "If you need one, I can help you look. I guarantee I’ll find an experienced housekeeper, one especially skilled in handling territorial affairs."

"Um, let’s wait a while longer on that~"

Yu Zhizhi wasn’t in a hurry to find a housekeeper.

’If she did look for one later, she’d prefer to hire someone she was already familiar with.’

They stood before the flowerbeds, chatting for a long time.

In the castle not far away, Cang Lan stood by a window, watching the two of them laughing and talking, getting along wonderfully.

His eyes darkened. For the first time, he found Cang Jie to be a complete eyesore.

Yu Zhizhi said her goodbyes to Cang Jie.

Cradling a bouquet of Firefly Flowers, she walked toward the castle.

Soon, she arrived at Prince Canglan’s quarters.

She knocked on the door, her voice light and cheerful. "Your Highness, I’m here~"

’In her past few days of visiting the Big Tiger, although he didn’t say much, his attitude seemed a little better than it was at first, right? Or perhaps that was just her imagination... ’

Yu Zhizhi gently pushed the door open. She saw the figure standing by the window and slowly walked over.

Cang Lan’s expression was cold. He turned his head and saw the young rabbit cradling a bouquet of faintly glowing flowers, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"What took you so long?"

Yu Zhizhi arranged the Firefly Flowers in a vase. "I was picking flowers for you, Your Highness, when I ran into Cang Jie," she said softly. "We chatted for a bit. He mentioned the matter of a housekeeper, but I thought about it and decided I don’t need one for now."

She didn’t hide anything from him.

Cang Lan’s gaze fell on the bouquet.

’Back at the Extreme Ice Palace, she had given him flowers, too. A peace offering.’

A nameless rage flared in Cang Lan’s heart. He suddenly gripped her wrist, pulling her in front of him. "Why are you doing all of this?!"

’Hadn’t she already backed out of their marriage alliance?’

’This detestable rabbit already had a First Beast Husband.’

’Their relationship had come to an abrupt end that day.’

’Even now, he was only here to take the Golden Tiger Cub back to Moonrise.’

’So why was this little rabbit doing all this?’

Yu Zhizhi stared blankly at the man before her, the last Firefly Flower still in her hand. Faced with Cang Lan’s interrogation, she stammered, "I... I just hope... that you won’t hate me, Your Highness..."

"Does it matter whether I hate you or not?" Cang Lan’s tone was ice-cold.

Yu Zhizhi was silent for a moment before nodding lightly. "...It’s important."

’It’s very important.’

’He has to stop hating me first. How else am I supposed to raise his affection level?’

Yu Zhizhi pressed her lips together slightly and slowly leaned in, closing the distance between them.

Cang Lan watched as the young Rabbit Clan female tilted her head back, staring at him intently, her tone utterly sincere. "Your Highness, what can I do to make you stop being angry?"

Yu Zhizhi asked him directly.

’All her doting and attentiveness these past few days didn’t seem to be having much of an effect.’