Liu Mingyun gave him a smile, thoughts imperceptible as he brushed the pad of his thumb over Li Xinyuan's knuckles and then pulled his hand away.
"This is why This Prince said that it was fate," he drolled, his expression a strange mix of amusement and delight as Li Xinyuan pursed his lips, refraining from saying anything. "If years ago someone had told This Prince that his intended would be the master of the halberd created from the monster he had slain, This Prince would have laughed and ordered the guards to drag them away."
Li Xinyuan held the halberd tighter. It felt nice to hold it.
After a pause, the Crown Prince added, looking at Li Xinyuan then at Master Zuo. "You can go, Master Zuo. You shall be rewarded appropriately for your assistance."
The blacksmith bowed deeply, murmuring his words of gratitude as he turned around and walked out of the Imperial Armoury.
