As evening gradually descended upon the capital, golden sunlight covered the Yue Mansion courtyard with warm and peaceful radiance softly.
After spending several lively hours beside Yue Ning and her brothers, Xu Chen finally prepared himself to return toward Tianyu Hall.
The Yue brothers escorted him personally toward the main entrance, though their expressions carried playful reluctance and hidden satisfaction simultaneously there.
Despite initially fearing the Crown Prince greatly, they now treated him more naturally because he genuinely treasured their beloved sister deeply.
Yue Tao crossed his arms dramatically before speaking toward Xu Chen with exaggerated seriousness while standing near the entrance courtyard silently.
"Your Highness, although we approve slightly, remember our Yue Family still watches your behavior toward Ning'er carefully every single day."
Xu Chen looked entirely calm afterward before answering Yue Tao without hesitation while palace servants quietly lowered their heads respectfully nearby.
"You may continue watching forever because my intentions toward Ning'er will never change regardless of circumstances or passing years."
Several Yue brothers unexpectedly became quieter afterward because Xu Chen's straightforward sincerity carried unusual emotional weight beneath his composed expression today.
Yue Liang sighed helplessly before glancing toward Yue Ning, whose calm appearance completely failed hiding faint redness surrounding her delicate ears presently.
"Our sister truly found someone terrifyingly devoted," Yue Liang muttered softly while several brothers silently nodded agreement beside the illuminated entrance together.
Yue Rui suddenly grinned mischievously before speaking toward Xu Chen again while Han Wei silently prepared the Crown Prince's returning carriage nearby already.
"Your Highness, if Ning'er throws you outside again someday, our Yue Mansion will absolutely refuse sheltering you during heavy rainstorms."
Yue Ning immediately narrowed her beautiful eyes dangerously toward Yue Rui while several brothers instantly retreated backward pretending complete innocence afterward together.
Xu Chen, however, remained perfectly composed before calmly replying while looking toward Yue Ning beside the softly illuminated entrance gates silently there.
"She would never leave me outside during rain because Ning'er dislikes seeing people suffering unnecessarily before her eyes ever."
The atmosphere softened immediately afterward because everyone within the Yue Family understood those words carried quiet understanding and affection between them deeply.
Yue Ning glanced toward Xu Chen silently for several moments before finally speaking while evening winds gently moved loose strands beside her face.
"You should return before the palace gates close completely because the Emperor dislikes delayed reports after evening court sessions conclude officially."
Xu Chen nodded slightly before stepping closer toward her beneath the lantern light while surrounding servants wisely pretended noticing absolutely nothing nearby afterward.
"Will you rest early tonight?" Xu Chen asked quietly while looking directly toward Yue Ning with calm gentleness hidden within his dark eyes.
Yue Ning answered naturally afterward while crossing her arms lightly beneath flowing sleeves embroidered delicately with silver flowers near softly glowing lanterns.
"That depends entirely upon whether Grandmother begins discussing wedding ceremonies again during dinner because nobody survives those conversations peacefully afterward."
Several Yue brothers immediately burst into helpless laughter because the old matriarch genuinely terrified everyone whenever wedding discussions suddenly appeared unexpectedly nearby.
Even Xu Chen's lips curved faintly upward afterward before answering quietly while Yue Ning continued watching him beneath the increasingly darkening evening skies.
"If necessary, I can request Mother reducing ceremonial arrangements slightly during upcoming palace preparations for your comfort later afterward."
Yue Ning looked amused immediately afterward because Xu Chen consistently attempted simplifying impossible imperial traditions solely because she disliked unnecessary complications greatly.
"You already offended half the ceremonial department yesterday," Yue Ning reminded quietly while Han Wei silently recalled terrified officials inside Phoenix Hall earlier vividly.
Xu Chen remained completely unconcerned afterward before calmly answering her while several Yue brothers exchanged deeply complicated expressions nearby together silently afterward.
"They will recover eventually because none of their opinions matter more than Ning'er's comfort during our wedding preparations anyway afterward."
Yue Tao dramatically covered his face immediately afterward while speaking emotionally toward his brothers beneath softly swaying lanterns beside the mansion gates together there.
"Our future brother-in-law completely abandoned dignity already before marriage even officially begins according toward today's unbelievable conversations honestly."
Yue Ming finally stepped forward afterward before bowing respectfully toward Xu Chen while the remaining brothers gradually quieted beside him silently together there.
"Your Highness, the Yue Family entrusts Ning'er's future happiness entirely toward you from this moment onward sincerely," Yue Ming stated steadily afterward quietly.
Xu Chen's expression softened slightly afterward before answering Yue Ming with complete seriousness while evening winds moved dark robes surrounding his tall figure silently.
"She will never suffer beside me because protecting Yue Ning matters more than my own life permanently from now onward always."
Silence briefly filled the entrance afterward because Xu Chen's words carried undeniable sincerity impossible doubting even slightly by anyone present there currently tonight.
Yue Ning quietly looked away afterward because hearing such straightforward devotion repeatedly still embarrassed her despite remembering countless lifetimes beside Xu Chen previously.
Finally, Xu Chen entered the waiting carriage afterward while Han Wei respectfully followed behind him beneath softly illuminated palace lanterns lining distant streets ahead silently.
The Yue brothers remained standing beside Yue Ning watching the departing carriage gradually disappear beyond crowded capital streets covered beautifully with evening lights tonight.
Only after the carriage vanished completely did Yue Tao suddenly exhale dramatically before turning toward Yue Ning with exaggerated disbelief afterward there silently.
"Ning'er, the terrifying Crown Prince genuinely becomes harmless whenever standing beside you," Yue Tao declared emotionally beneath darkening evening skies afterward softly.
Yue Ning calmly turned afterward before walking back toward the mansion interior while answering without even glancing behind herself casually there afterward silently.
"He was always like that."