Rebirth of the Ninth Princess

He would simply to kiss her and say "Good morning."

The first time he woke her up, Yuanjiu rubbed her eyes and furrowed her tiny brows, only to be greeted by Ouyang Qingcheng's laughing face.

Feeling frustrated with his clinging behavior, she rolled over and went back to sleep.

The second time he woke her up, she crossed her arms, pouted, and glared at him.

By the third time he woke her up, she had adapted, she just giving him a brief and indifferent glance before letting him say "Good morning" and kiss her.

Then, she would promptly go back to sleep.

What started as a whim for Ouyang Qingcheng turned into a routine that he cherished the most.

He found Yuanjiu's sleepy expressions so endearing that he decided to continue the routine every day.

Over time, it became his daily moment of warmth.

Each morning, as the day began, the only sound in the chamber was his voice.

By the time Yuanjiu turned one, she should have been speaking.

However, she remained silent.

Ouyang Qingcheng knew it wasn't due to an inability to speak; she simply chose not to.

He wasn't concerned and continued his routine: waking her up, saying good morning, and heading to court.

After court, he would hold her while working on official documents, share lunch with her, nap together in the afternoon, and, if she was awake, he would stroll with her in the garden of the Heavenly Dragon Palace.

In the evening, they would have dinner together.

He even learned to bathe her and personally took on that responsibility every day.

Yuanjiu still didn't speak.

This went on until Yuanjiu was over two years old.

Ouyang Qingcheng's right index finger gently stroked her soft, tender cheek as he thought to himself, I know you don't trust me yet, but I'm more than willing to test who can outlast whom.

It seemed both of them understood the other's stubbornness.

Rather than merely growing accustomed to each other, they were subtly competing.

Initially, Yuanjiu maintained her calm and aloof demeanor.

However, as she found herself increasingly unbothered by Ouyang Qingcheng's embraces and kisses, a sense of unease began to creep in.

What if all of this was just a joke or a fleeting dream?

How would she endure the pain of losing it?

A voice echoed in her mind: Stop now.

Don't get lost in this temporary happiness.

It's dangerous…

Another voice, soft yet firm, spoke to her: Trust him.

Trust yourself…

The two opposing voices in Yuanjiu's mind left her increasingly unsettled.

She even began having nightmares and sometimes she had to hypnotize herself to fall asleep.

Ouyang Qingcheng noticed the myriad of emotions flickering in Yuanjiu's eyes.

He had a premonition that today might mark a breakthrough in their relationship.

He understood that his approach would directly influence Yuanjiu's response.

So, instead of rising after his usual morning kiss, he stayed in bed, calmly meeting her gaze.

To ensure Cailun or anyone else wouldn't disturb this delicate moment, he quietly set up a barrier to block any intrusions.