She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

"A side job?" Zhao Zun looked at her forced smile and couldn’t help but frown. "What do you mean?"

"Hehe!" Han Lei laughed even more cheekily, "Prince, my monthly five taels of silver as an army medic is not enough for me to spend! So, I thought of being a Think Tank for you besides being an army medic. I am a clever person with lots of ideas; Prince, would you like to consider it?"

After hearing Han Lei’s words, the young man dressed as a soldier nearly burst into laughter. He glanced at Zhao Zun, and seeing that Zhao Zun was looking at him as well, he quickly raised his hand to cover his mouth, pursing his lips to hold back his laughter.

Zhao Zun’s gaze swept past the young man and fell back on Han Lei. After pondering for a moment, he uttered a shocking statement—

"Why... be a Think Tank when being my Princess Consort is so much better?"

Ah?

Pow! Pow! Pow!

Three shocked gazes simultaneously directed at Zhao Zun.

Ping Chuan was okay, after a brief shock, he knowingly let out an "oh" and returned to calmness.

Especially the young man dressed as a soldier, he stared wide-eyed at Zhao Zun, then raised his sleeve to rub his eyes, and looked again!

Is this really the iron buddy he knew since childhood? Is the twenty-six-year-old dry tree finally going to bloom?

How many noble young ladies in the Capital City admired Zhao Zun! He’s going to make those noble ladies cry all night long?

After a brief shock, Han Lei’s pretty face flushed. She thought Zhao Zun was teasing her, and felt suddenly embarrassed and angry.

"Hey! Prince! I’m serious. I consider you my brother, but you’re trying to win me over?"

"I am serious too!" Zhao Zun looked into Han Lei’s eyes and spoke slowly. His expression was extremely sincere.

"Whew... Ha ha ha..."

The young man dressed as a soldier whistled loudly and finally couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Seems like his iron buddy is really in love! But this is too direct, too fierce. Don’t scare this little beauty away.

"Hmph! Annoying!"

Han Lei’s face fell, twisting her waist and stomping her foot, her coy remark made Zhao Zun feel as if a feather lightly brushed his heart, tickling him.

Oh dear! Too overwhelming!

Han Lei glared at the young man dressed as a soldier and complained to Zhao Zun.

"Prince. Your soldier here is way too rude, isn’t he?"

Who is this guy? He dared to whistle in front of her, simply like a little ruffian.

"Haha, don’t mind him, girl."

Zhao Zun automatically took Han Lei’s coyness as her being playful with him, revealing a doting smile, "His name is Hua Tianyou, son of Duke Heng. He came here just to earn a bit of military merit from me."

"Oh, so you’re here for a bit of gilding." Han Lei understood, completely missing the change of tone in Zhao Zun’s address. She shook her fist fierce-cutely at Hua Tianyou, "You better behave yourself. Otherwise, don’t blame me for knocking your teeth out."

Don’t underestimate her, though she works in combat forces, she also trains the same way every day. Although she’s from the south and has the sweetness of a Jiangnan lady in her looks and voice, her personality is lively and straightforward, like that of a northeastern dame. If you cross her, she will show her teeth at you.

"Yo! Looked so delicate, turned out to be a little firecracker! Hahaha..." Hua Tianyou was unimpressed by Han Lei’s provocation.

"Pfft..."

Zhao Zun was amused too, covering his mouth lightly laughing, his eyes almost overflowing with doting affection.

Han Lei sent a dismissive glance at Tianyou, no longer paying heed to him, but turned to Zhao Zun with a straight face.

Since flattery didn’t work, she might as well apply formally and submit a resume.

"Prince." Han Lei snapped to attention, saluting, "I, Han Lei, female, 22 years old, a skipping-level top student at the Military Medical University, have studied and participated in modern warfare. My mind contains various famous battles in history. With my capabilities, I can fully qualify as a Think Tank. Therefore, I am now very, very seriously applying to be your Think Tank."

Han Lei stood saluting, her aura suddenly changing. Zhao Zun and Hua Tianyou exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other’s eyes.

Zhao Zun stared at the upright Han Lei, pondered for a while, and then his lips curled into a smile, a hint of the same carefree recklessness as Hua Tianyou appearing on his previously aloof face.

"I already said, no need for a Think Tank, I want you to be my Princess Consort."

Han Lei instantly deflated.

"Prince, I am serious. You joke like this, no wonder there are rumors outside saying I enchant the Prince. If you continue this way, even if I jump into the Yellow River, I couldn’t wash it clean."

"Who said that? Tianyou, go bring that person to me."

Believing Zhao Zun was angry, wanting to severely punish those soldiers gossiping in the camp, Han Lei was shocked by what Zhao Zun said next.

"He is right! I actually hope you enchant me! Tianyou, hurry and bring him over, I want to reward him well."

Han Lei looked at the suddenly changed Zhao Zun in front of her, petrified on the spot, as if she never knew him.

Is this really the aloof Prince she knew?

What is he trying to do?

"Hahaha..."

Hua Tianyou was amused by their divine conversation, bursting into laughter. He turned and indeed went out to catch someone.

He simply couldn’t stay there any longer; his buddy was too direct, lacking any romantic buildup. Though he was a warrior from battles, there was no need to be so straightforward, right? Look at how scared the girl is!

"Hahaha..."

Hua Tianyou’s exaggerated laughter gradually faded away, finally bringing Han Lei back to reality.

"Prince, could you stop joking with me, okay? You clearly know my background, and eventually, I have to go back."

Han Lei felt that Zhao Zun was just teasing her.

These days, she and Zhao Zun had got along fairly well, and Zhao Zun indeed took good care of her, but she never thought Zhao Zun had truly fallen for her.

Moreover, she never imagined having anything with an ancient person. At least, she hadn’t thought of it before today.

"You can’t go back!"

"Huh?" How did he know?

"You said it yourself that day." Zhao Zun stood up, walked around the desk to slowly approach Han Lei.

Seeing Zhao Zun walk towards Han Lei, Ping Chuan blinked sensibly turned his back.

Zhao Zun got close to Han Lei, gazing deeply into her eyes, making her heart race faster.

"Just because I know you can’t go back, I am truly happy. Today, I dared to boldly express my admiration."

"But... but..."

Having spent her years focused on study and work, Han Lei never experienced romance. At this moment, her heart had completely lost order, her pretty face blushing deeply.

To be honest, after spending these two weeks together, she didn’t dislike Zhao Zun. It’s just that Zhao Zun was usually aloof, holding a high position with strong military authority, and besides usual work interactions, she hadn’t grown close to Zhao Zun. Now she thought, actually Zhao Zun was quite nice.

"But... I’m not a young lady, nor do I have a strong family background. We are not a match in status; how can I be your Princess Consort?"

Being directly confessed by an ancient Prince left Han Lei defenseless; despite her usual excellence, she mysteriously felt a bit of inferiority.