When she met Shangguan Yanran's scrutinizing gaze, she hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said angrily, "He just can't stand to see me doing well."

Shangguan Yanran said with a smile, "Yes, he is the Crown Prince, how could he be so narrow-minded as to not be able to stand to see his former stepmother doing well?"

Rong Qingqing glanced at her and said, "Stop changing the subject. You haven't even mentioned Brother Rong Chen yet."

When Shangguan Yanran heard the topic had circled back to her, she said somewhat awkwardly, "Actually, there's nothing I can't say. Fu Rongchen is my father's protégé. He used to serve as an official in another region, but because of his good performance, he was transferred back to the capital. We've known each other for a long time."

“Oh, so you’re childhood sweethearts…” Rong Qingqing deliberately dragged out her words.

"Not really," Shangguan Yanran said. "He's several years older than me, and he's been gone for many years."

Seeing her somewhat disappointed look, Rong Qingqing understood a little. "Although he left for many years, he's back now. Maybe he came back for you."

Shangguan Yanran shook her head, "Impossible..."

As the two were talking, Changlin suddenly walked over, carrying a wine pot in his hand.

Rong Qingqing's eyes lit up; at least Xie Jingrun still had some conscience.

Changlin placed the wine pot on the table. "Princess, this is fruit wine that His Highness sent me to deliver."

Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing immediately lost interest, but considering that fruit wine was still wine, she reluctantly said, "Please thank your master for me."

Changlin realized she didn't like fruit wine, and awkwardly withdrew.

As soon as he left, Rong Qingqing picked up the wine pot and poured a cup for herself and Shangguan Yanran.

Shangguan Yanran picked up her wine cup, took a sip, and said to Rong Qingqing, "His Highness the Crown Prince still cares about you quite a bit."

Rong Qingqing pouted, "He also took our wine jug earlier."

Shangguan Yanran said, "He's probably afraid you'll get drunk and cause trouble."

Rong Qingqing took a sip of the fruit wine and found it bland and tasteless, with no alcohol flavor at all. She said unhappily, "I've never been drunk before. He's clearly doing it on purpose."

Shangguan Yanran asked with some surprise, "How come you can drink so much?"

Rong Qingqing shrugged. "I guess he takes after my father."

Shangguan Yanran knew about her background, so she wasn't surprised by what she said. She nodded and said, "So, your father is quite a good drinker too."

Using the pillar as cover, the two chatted and laughed until the banquet finally ended.

After the banquet, Shangguan Yanran told her parents and then squeezed into Rong Qingqing's carriage, intending to stay at her place for the night.

Upon returning to the Prince's residence, Rong Qingqing went to take a bath first, while Shangguan Yanran lay on the soft couch, reading a storybook and chatting casually with Rong Qingqing.

Just then, a strange noise came from the tightly closed window.

Shangguan Yanran looked up and saw the man who should be in the East Palace trying to climb in through the window.

She was dumbfounded.

What's going on?

Xie Jingrun was equally stunned. Looking at the woman on the soft couch, who seemed about to drop her jaw in astonishment, he frowned and said unhappily, "What are you doing here? Where is Rong Qingqing?"

Suppressing her surprise, Shangguan Yanran nodded her chin toward the screen and said, "If Your Highness wants to know, you are welcome to go and find out for yourself."

Rong Qingqing heard the noise and asked, "Yanran, who are you talking to?"

Just as Shangguan Yanran opened her mouth, a burst of energy suddenly struck her pressure point, rendering her speechless.