"This is what my grandmother asked me to tell you!" Xie Chang'an said, taking a step back and hiding behind Ye Jingchen.

Seeing this, Xu Jingjing's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Since her child had a high fever when he was six years old, he seemed to have grown up suddenly after waking up. He no longer cried, made a fuss, or laughed, and he stopped acting cute with her. He became intelligent, sensible, and considerate. Xu Jingjing felt both gratified and sad.

But today, Chang'an not only laughed, but also made the childish move of hiding behind His Highness the Crown Prince, leaving Xu Jingjing with mixed feelings.

Seeing his naturally optimistic mother's eyes well up with tears, Xie Chang'an felt a little lost. He stepped out from behind Ye Jingchen and said, "If you don't want to have children, then don't. I—"

He couldn't say anything more because Xu Jingjing stepped forward and hugged him tightly.

Xie Chang'an's body stiffened slightly. After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and hugged his mother back.

Seeing this touching scene of mother and son, Ye Jingchen also felt a pang of longing for his own mother.

Although he had been at odds with his family for a long time before his sudden death because he didn't want to get married and wasn't ambitious, and although his death was so dishonorable that his parents must feel ashamed, they must also be very sad.

However, in the long run, it is not necessarily a bad thing for them that their unfilial son, who always caused them worry and made them lose face in front of their relatives and friends, is gone, leaving behind their sensible, filial, and promising youngest son to take care of them.

"Your mother doesn't expect you to be successful in the future, she only hopes that you can be healthy and happy!" Xu Jingjing said, her voice choked with emotion.

Xie Chang'an turned around and glanced at Ye Jingchen, and was disgusted by his appearance.

However, when he turned his head back, a smile involuntarily crept onto his lips. "I will!"

Xu Jingjing left with a smile.

Ye Jingchen stood with Xie Chang'an by the official road for a long time.

"This is a good thing. Your parents have such a good relationship, they should stay together. Moreover, compared to the treacherous and complicated rules of the capital, your mother should prefer the vast and free northern frontier where she can be with her lover." Seeing that Xie Chang'an seemed a little down, Ye Jingchen comforted him.

“I know,” Xie Chang’an said in a deep voice.

On the way back to the city, Xie Chang'an led the horse and walked slowly with Ye Jingchen, while he sent away the guards who had come with him.

"Why did you force me to drink yesterday?" Ye Jingchen asked after they were alone.

"Is peach blossom wine delicious?" Xie Chang'an asked instead of answering.

"It tastes good! But that's no reason for you to force me to drink!"

If the peach blossom wine hadn't tasted so good, and its rich and slightly sweet flavor was so deceptive, he wouldn't have drunk so much without realizing it!

"Since you think it tastes good, how about I send you a few pots tomorrow?" Xie Chang'an asked.

"Alright!" Ye Jingchen readily agreed, then stared at Xie Chang'an and pressed, "Stop beating around the bush, tell me now, what is your purpose in getting me drunk?!"

"You really want to know?" Xie Chang'an looked at Ye Jingchen, his lips twitching.

It's so ugly!

"Speak quickly!"

Xie Chang'an's lips twitched, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't.

Faced with Ye Jingchen's burning gaze, he hesitated for a long time before saying, "Your face is too ugly today, I can't say it. I'll tell you another day when you look at me the way you really are."

Ye Jingchen: ......

He looked Xie Chang'an up and down. "Something's not right with you!"

"Are you really not possessed by some evil spirit?"

"Why did Chenxi draw you so ugly today?" Xie Chang'an asked with some regret.

Has Chenxi noticed something?

Seeing Xie Chang'an's disgusted expression at his current face, Ye Jingchen deliberately moved closer to him, "Benefactor, you're too attached to appearances!"

Anyway, no matter how ugly he is, he can't see it himself. It's Xie Chang'an who is being uglier, and it's Xie Chang'an's eyes that are being defiled.

“Don’t you always carry a bronze mirror with you? Take it out and look at yourself. If you can hold it for eight finger snaps (one minute), I’ll admit that I’m attached to appearances!” Xie Chang’an said.

Ye Jingchen certainly wouldn't use a bronze mirror to look at himself. He'd seen himself looking like this before, and he couldn't even last ten seconds, let alone a minute!

However, he could not possibly admit defeat in front of Xie Chang'an.

"Why go through all that trouble?" Ye Jingchen smiled and took another step closer to Xie Chang'an. "Don't you see my reflection in your eyes too? When I look into your eyes, it's like looking in a mirror."

Xie Chang'an's breath hitched; he almost lost control and did something outrageous in public.

Fortunately, Ye Jingchen's face was so ugly that he was still able to control himself.

"In your eyes, I don't seem that ugly, do I? Look how long I've kept this up!" Ye Jingchen said with a smile, looking quite pleased with himself.

Xie Chang'an felt his heart beating a little faster again.

"Really?" He deliberately moved a little closer, his face almost touching Ye Jingchen's, letting the corner of his lips brush against Ye Jingchen's cheek.

The fleeting, soft touch made his heart pound like a drum.

Worried that Ye Jingchen might hear his loud heartbeat, he took two steps back and lowered his head.

"Perhaps it's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" he murmured to himself.

"What did you say?" Ye Jingchen asked instinctively.

Then he reached up and touched his cheek. Why did he feel like something had just touched his cheek?

Xie Chang'an lowered his head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly realized that he had been a bit foolish yesterday. He had such a good opportunity, yet he had just sat by the bed and watched.

However, Ye Jingchen was drunk yesterday and completely unconscious. If he took advantage of the situation, it would be taking advantage of someone in distress.

Even if he were to do something, he would do it openly and honestly while Ye Jingchen was sober.

“Go early tomorrow, and I’ll tell you!” he said softly.

Ye Jingchen heard this and said, "You said it yourself! I'll definitely go early tomorrow!"

After spending a considerable amount of time outside the city, Ye Jingchen parted ways with Xie Chang'an upon returning to the city, and he asked Chenxi to quickly take him back to the government office.

After returning home, he took another look at himself and was shocked by how ugly he looked.

He suddenly admired Xie Chang'an; faced with such an ugly face, he only felt disgusted and didn't feel nauseous or vomit.

"Chenxi, please don't paint such an ugly face on me again. I'm afraid I'll get beaten up on the street!" Ye Jingchen said to Chenxi while removing her makeup.

“Ugly faces are safe,” Chenxi said.

"Where is it safe? If someone with such an ugly face were to walk around in front of me, I might lose control of my fists." Ye Jingchen said, clenching his fists.

“Xie Chang’an can control it,” Chen Xi said.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

If he can bring himself to paint such an ugly face, he'll definitely make Ye Jingchen even uglier next time!

So ugly that he couldn't have any other thoughts after just one look!