"Qingcheng... Princess Yongchang?!"
Upon hearing Ju Ying reveal her identity, Xing Yan's first reaction was to wonder whether she was joking. But the thought barely flickered before he dismissed it-when had Ju Ying ever made careless jokes?
Looking again at the brilliantly gleaming seal before him and recalling everything that had happened, he knew she was certainly not joking now.
"Your Highness..."
Unlike Ling Yier's status as a princess of the Dragon Palace, this was something altogether different. For Xing Yan, once an ordinary lad of the streets, awe of worldly authority had sunk into his very bones. Now that he suddenly learned the girl before him was a princess of the reigning dynasty, even his heaven-defying boldness could not keep him from being utterly shaken. His face flushed, then paled. Hastily returning the princess's seal, he straightened his robes and prostrated himself to pay his respects. In his haste, he nearly knocked over the two bamboo chairs beside him.
Ju Ying was instantly flustered by his behavior and repeatedly urged him to rise. Having received the princess's command, Xing Yan naturally obeyed. Yet as he stood respectfully with his hands at his sides, he could not help recalling their past encounters. This daughter of the emperor, this jewel of the imperial house, this fairy celebrated throughout the realm-he had held her hand, tugged her arm, and even teased her with reckless words. Such acts of gross disrespect were probably enough to have his entire clan exterminated several times over! At the thought, cold sweat immediately streamed down his skin!
While he was still trembling with apprehension, this mortal princess who had just revealed her true identity said delightedly:
"Xing Yan, please don't mind that I kept this from you for so long. Now that I've finally told you, I