Sad? Yun Qing couldn't detect a hint of it.

She felt that Xie Rang was just trying to take advantage of the situation.

The candied hawthorn in her hand was taken away at some point, and Xie Rang rubbed it against the back of her neck for a while until red marks appeared on it, before he willingly withdrew his claws.

If the Grand Tutor hadn't yet accepted him, Xie Rang would have wanted to do even more, but unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity now.

Yun Qing found a chance to break free, took a step back, and glared at him with considerable frustration, clutching the back of her neck: "Xie Rang, are you some kind of dog?!"

Although I sometimes think about it, it's different from what I say. The level just now was definitely leaving a mark. He was probably just trying to take advantage of the situation.

"If the Grand Tutor says so, then so be it."

Having gotten the better deal, Xie Rang was easier to talk to than anyone else. In the Grand Tutor's mind, he had heard all sorts of titles before, and now it was commonplace.

He took a step back, slowly unwrapped the oil paper covering the candied hawthorn, took it out, took a bite, and leisurely praised, "Not bad."

Xie Rang suddenly remembered that a long time ago, when he was watching the Grand Tutor eat candied hawthorns, he had already harbored covetous thoughts in his heart.

Love arises without warning, and deepens with time.

He felt it was impossible for him not to fall in love with Yun Qing.

Yun Qing had no idea what Xie Rang was thinking, but it certainly wasn't anything good. She walked to the table, calmed herself down for a few moments, and then poured herself a glass of lukewarm water and gulped it down.

Even if she was inexperienced, her physiological reaction was normal. Xie Rang's actions had aroused her a bit, and her heartbeat was hard to calm down for a long time.

After Xie Rang finished eating the candied hawthorn, before Yun Qing could even speak, a knock sounded at the door.

"Young master, the glutinous rice balls are ready. Come out and have a couple."

It was Uncle Jiang's voice.

I almost forgot about that.

Yun Qingliang turned her cool gaze to Xie Rang and lowered her voice: "Go behind the screen."

Uncle Jiang knew her identity. It was late at night, and Xie Rang had appeared in her room. He wouldn't say anything on the surface, but he would definitely ask about it later. Yun Qing didn't want to make up an excuse to lie to him.

"All right."

Having been warned, Xie Rang blinked, and ultimately decided to hide.

Yun Qing then let Uncle Jiang in.

Since they had already eaten dinner, Uncle Jiang didn't ask the kitchen to cook too much. He chose the number six, which means "everything goes smoothly."

Yun Qing glanced at it and put it on the table: "Uncle Jiang, you should go back and rest first. I'll eat later."

"Okay." Uncle Jiang didn't notice anything different and left with a smile.

The door closed again. Yun Qing tapped the table and looked up at the screen: "Come out."

Xie Rang walked to the opposite side of Yun Qing and heard her ask, "Have you had dinner? If not, eat the glutinous rice balls. I can't eat anymore."

Yun Qing's tone was indifferent. If Xie Rang hadn't understood her, he would have really thought that. His heart softened: "No."

He waited for the Grand Tutor with great joy, but the Grand Tutor did not come even when it got dark. Naturally, he lost interest and came to the Li residence without stopping.

"Waste food." Yun Qing reprimanded calmly, "Eat first next time."

[This dog-like temper, I don't know how it got developed.]

Xie Rang smiled and agreed, "Okay."

Eating too much at night is not good, so Xie Rang quickly finished the bowl of glutinous rice balls. Yun Qing didn't think about finding him anything else to eat, only remembering that she had brought some small sweet cakes, but they were cold.

Presumably His Majesty the Emperor wouldn't be picky, Yun Qing said, "Eat by yourself if you're hungry."

Xie Rang is indeed not picky. At most, cold pastries are a bit dry, and he can make do with a cup of tea. He looks rather pitiful.

Yun Qing's brow twitched: "Alright, stop playing the victim in front of me. The manor doesn't lack His Majesty's food."

When Xie Rang was young, he cared a lot about his reputation, but as he grew up, he would often recount his miserable past experiences in order to play the victim and gain sympathy from Yun Qing.

Yunqing knew this, but she still ate it without fail, unable to bear it.

Xie Rang then relented.

The Lantern Festival is most lively at night, with louder fireworks outside. Xie Rang wiped his hands clean with a handkerchief, his eyes shining: "Grand Tutor, let's go out and watch the fireworks."

Xie Rang didn't actually like lively festivals that much; it was only because he had special people with him at those times that they felt especially precious.

Although they didn't enter the palace, they ended up spending the festival together by chance. The guards outside must have known that Xie Rang had come, so Yun Qing had nothing to worry about and nodded, "Let's go."

Fortunately, the snow had stopped, and the night sky was clear, making it easier for them to enjoy the fireworks.

Such magnificent scenes from ancient times are rarely seen. Regardless of Xie Rang's thoughts, Yun Qing watched intently, as if all the dazzling light had instantly entered her eyes.

In Xie Rang's eyes, it surpassed countless scenes in the human world.

The most important meaning of a festival lies not in the festival itself, but in who you are with. As Xie Rang grew up, he gained a deeper understanding of this point.

However, the moon in the sky is still the moon in the sky, and the person beside me has unknowingly become the one I love.

Xie Rang thought that he was probably destined to be entangled with Yun Qing.

"Still standing there?" After watching the fireworks, Yun Qing felt much better, and she could barely let bygones be bygones. "I won't hold it against you this time, but you can't do it again next time."

Fortunately, the entire capital city is filled with the Emperor's spies, so nothing will go wrong. Yun Qing can't continue to indulge Xie Rang's temper.

He's the emperor, not a child anymore.

Xie Rang's mood changed slightly, but his expression remained unchanged: "Okay, I agree."

Yun Qing ignored him: "It's getting late, let's rest."

The people inside the manor kept their mouths shut. They were curious about Xie Rang's sudden appearance, but they wouldn't ask too many questions. Yun Qing didn't want to keep up with him, no matter if he made up a reason or not.

-

The snow melts in March, and spring is approaching once again.

The weather was still cold, and the heaviest snowfall had passed, so the delegation should probably be heading back soon.

Many officials who had come from the local areas to report on their duties were also leaving. With nothing else to do, Yun Qing pulled Xie Rang up the city wall to see them off.

The city walls were high and the wind was strong. Xie Rang stood quietly to the side of Yun Qing, shielding her from most of the wind.

"I don't understand..." Yun Qing narrowed her eyes slightly, hesitating to speak, "Are the Rouran envoys really this honest?"

During their time in Beijing, they really did nothing. All their informants were impeccable, and they seemed to be very honest, without engaging in any underhanded tactics.

"Whether they are honest or not, that land will ultimately belong to the Great Xi."

Xie Rang's expression was calm, his imperial majesty profound and compelling. He subtly revealed something: "Nothing the Grand Tutor is worried about will happen."

Whether it was his early death or the internal strife in Da Xi.

He will show Yunqing a peaceful and prosperous world.