Yu Jingchen gently embraced Nan Zhiyun: "Those lanterns we bought today, have them all sent to He'an Palace and hung outside."

"Okay." Nan Zhiyun happily agreed. To be honest, she was genuinely happy today.

"Let's go, I'll walk with you." Yu Jingchen didn't know where to go.

"Mmm," Nan Zhiyun said, letting Yu Jingchen lead her by the hand, carrying a rabbit lantern in her hand, looking just like a little girl.

Nan Zhiyun fiddled with the lamp in her hand while looking around to see if there was anything new or interesting. Suddenly, she heard a vendor selling candied hawthorns pass by her on the street.

Her eyes almost pressed against mine, perhaps because her gaze was so intense that the guy selling candied hawthorns even came up to her.

"Miss, how about a skewer? Young master, I see this young lady really wants some, it's worth buying her a skewer to make her smile," the young man said.

Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen with anticipation. Yu Jingchen was speechless. Look, she just said she couldn't eat anymore.

"Take it yourself," Yu Jingchen said to Nan Zhiyun.

After receiving permission, Nan Zhiyun happily took a string of skewers, and then... well, after hesitating for a while, she took another string. After taking them, she immediately looked at Yu Jingchen, as if seeking his opinion.

Yu Jingchen raised an eyebrow slightly: "You're quite greedy, aren't you?" Yu Jingchen said.

"Is it okay?" Nan Zhiyun looked at Yu Jingchen expectantly.

Is this possible? Fortunately, she saw through it and paid the money directly.

Sure enough, Yu Jingchen said, "Take it."

Tsk, Your Majesty, where are your principles? Where is your integrity? Hmm? What's that on the ground? Oh—it's the integrity and principles we were looking for.

“Yes,” Nan Zhiyun smiled, then handed a string of them to Yu Jingchen.

"Is this for me?" Yu Jingchen's heart skipped a beat, and he asked.

"You can only take one lantern." Nan Zhiyun looked harmless and innocent...

Yu Jingchen: "..."

Xinglai and Qianxia almost couldn't hold back their laughter. "Your Highness, Consort Shu, you're truly amazing!" They would think anyone who dared to say that Consort Shu was timid was out of their mind.

"So this is how you order me around?" Yu Jingchen looked at Nan Zhiyun speechlessly, but he had already taken the extra string of candied hawthorns in his hand.

Oh, right... He is His Majesty. What have I just done? Nan Zhiyun suddenly felt a little guilty.

"Alright, I was just kidding, don't take it seriously." Yu Jingchen quickly noticed Nan Zhiyun's emotional fluctuations, so his reaction was pretty fast.

But let me tell you, baby, you spat the things in your mouth into his hand before, so what's the big deal about you taking something now?

Yu Jingchen said that, but Nan Zhiyun's mood wasn't as good as before. She realized she had been quite unrestrained and a little carried away today. These were things she shouldn't have done; they were against the rules and unreasonable.

"What's wrong? You've already bought it, why don't you try it and see how it tastes?" Yu Jingchen probably noticed Nan Zhiyun's unusual behavior, so he took the initiative to start a conversation.

Nan Zhiyun's smile faded slightly, but she still nodded and gently ate one.

The outside was cloyingly sweet, while the inside was a bit sour...

"Is it not tasty?" Yu Jingchen asked her, noticing her strange expression.

"It's sweet on the outside, but a little sour on the inside," Nan Zhiyun said, lowering her head.

The way Nan Zhiyun lowered her head was different from the way she smiled with her face upturned. Yu Jingchen could naturally sense the difference in Nan Zhiyun. He gently pursed his lips, and the surrounding air became a little quieter.

Even Xinglai and Qianxia were completely baffled. Everything was fine just a moment ago. How did things turn out like this now?

"What's wrong? Are you unhappy again?" Yu Jingchen was silent for a while before softening his voice and speaking first, even bending down slightly to look at the girl in front of him.

"No, Your Majesty is very happy..." Nan Zhiyun forced a smile, so fake that Yu Jingchen didn't want to call her out on it. There was no need, because everyone knew it was just a fake smile.

The air between them fell silent again. After a long while, Yu Jingchen let out a barely perceptible sigh. Then he pulled her into his arms, letting Nan Zhiyun lean against his chest.

“Nan Zhiyun, this doesn’t look good,” Yu Jingchen said.

"It was fine just now. Do whatever you want. There's no need to overthink it or worry so much. Didn't I tell you? You can do whatever you want. Don't be afraid." Yu Jingchen seemed like a different person, unusually patient and gentle.

“Our Consort Shu is still young, isn’t she? If you’d like, you can act like a little girl. It’s okay, let’s not think about it too much, alright?” Yu Jingchen soothed her gently.

Nan Zhiyun did not respond.

(The female lead entered the palace a year after her coming-of-age ceremony, and it's been over a year since then. Calculate her age yourself.)

"Xinglai, go and buy two masks," Yu Jingchen suddenly ordered.

Hmm? A mask? What do you need a mask for? Although she had her doubts, Yukiko still said, "Yes."

Nan Zhiyun's attention was also drawn; why buy masks? Fortunately, she quickly bought the masks—just two very ordinary masks.

Yu Jingchen took the items and put them on Nan Zhiyun, then put them on himself, leaving Nan Zhiyun somewhat bewildered.

"Yun'er, do you think you've changed at all?" Yu Jingchen asked her.

“I put on a mask,” Nan Zhiyun replied.

"Hmm, now that Yun'er is wearing the mask, how does she feel?" Yu Jingchen asked again.

“…” Nan Zhiyun didn’t know what to say.

"Let's change the subject. Yun'er was unhappy just now, wasn't she?" Yu Jingchen asked her patiently.

“…Hmm,” Nan Zhiyun replied.

"Why is that?" Yu Jingchen continued to ask.

“…It’s not true, and it shouldn’t be like this. I seem to have overstepped my bounds. I was ignorant of etiquette…” Nan Zhiyun replied, bowing her head.

Yu Jingchen's lips curved slightly: "Then why didn't Yun'er answer me like that just now?"

“Your Majesty…” Nan Zhiyun was stunned.

"Is it easier for Yun'er to say these things under the mask?" Yu Jingchen asked.

“…” Nan Zhiyun remained silent.

"Because Yun'er feels safe because it can conceal her emotions or cover her face?" Yu Jingchen continued.

“Yun’er isn’t wearing a mask right now,” Yu Jingchen added.

Nan Zhiyun didn't understand.

“You were wearing a mask just now, but it was invisible. That kind of mask gave Yun’er a so-called safe environment, and Yun’er felt that if she acted like that, she wouldn’t make a mistake.”