With only a few days left until Ye Jingchen's eighteenth birthday, Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingyu, and Yun Shu were finally coming back.

On the day they returned, Ye Jingchen specially led everyone to the post station outside the city to pick them up.

After waiting for more than half an hour, Ye Jingyu's carriage finally appeared at the end of the official road.

Perhaps they had also spotted them, for the carriage in the distance suddenly sped up.

When the carriage arrived at the post station, before it had even come to a complete stop, a particularly handsome young man jumped out of the carriage.

"Your Highness, I've missed you all so much!" The boy rushed towards Ye Jingchen with great enthusiasm.

Just as Ye Jingchen was about to respond, Xie Chang'an stepped forward and blocked him and the boy, then was hugged by the boy.

"Xie Chang'an, it's been over a year since we last met. Why are you so enthusiastic now?" The young man, Yun Shu, suddenly released Xie Chang'an and asked with surprise and doubt.

More than a year later, Yun Shu had completely lost weight, transforming from slightly chubby to a well-proportioned figure, and his face suddenly became radiant.

Ye Jingchen stared at Yun Shu with curiosity. Sure enough, the fat guy was the biggest potential catch.

After Yun Shu lost weight, she immediately outshone Xie Chang'an and Ye Jinghe, and looked particularly pleasing to the eye.

However, he only watched for a short while before his view was blocked by Xie Chang'an's back.

Ye Jingchen reached out and tugged at Xie Chang'an's shoulder, but couldn't move him.

"What a handsome young man!" Ye Jingchen leaned out from beside Xie Chang'an and said to Yun Shu with a smile.

"Nothing much, nothing much, just a little bit more handsome than Xie Chang'an!" Yun Shu said proudly, then met Xie Chang'an's gaze.

He felt a chill run down his spine, gave an awkward laugh, and quickly looked away to greet the others.

Xie Chang'an stared at Yun Shu for a while before turning his gaze away and retreating behind Ye Jingchen.

"Crown Prince, I'm back!" Ye Jingyu got off the carriage and walked up to Ye Jingchen, excitedly saying.

More than a year has passed, and the once fair-skinned little one has become a bit tanned, but looks healthier and more energetic.

"It's good that you're back safe and sound!" Ye Jingchen reached out and patted his shoulder.

"Royal brother." Ye Jingyu walked up to Ye Jingchen and called out to him.

She also got a little tanned, but perhaps her features have matured, making her look prettier than before, and her temperament is more composed and reserved.

"You did a great job!" Ye Jingchen said to her.

"Thanks to your guidance, Your Majesty." Ye Jingyu smiled at him, then looked at Ye Jingshu, "Your Majesty, I have not failed you!"

"I knew you could do it!" Ye Jingshu said, pulling her over and looking her over with Ye Jingyan. Ye Jingyan circled around the three of them.

After they had looked around enough, Ye Jingshu pushed Ye Jingyu in front of Gu Beichen and teased, "It's time to talk to your future husband."

Facing Gu Beichen, Ye Jingyu showed no discomfort or shyness whatsoever, and smiled at him naturally.

After exchanging greetings, everyone returned to the imperial city together.

They first sent Yun Shu back to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.

At the entrance of the Marquis's residence, the old lady and the Marquis's wife had been eagerly waiting.

Yun Shu was just as anxious as she was outside the city. Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, she jumped off and hugged the two elders.

"My dear grandson! How come you've lost so much weight? Did you suffer a lot on the journey?" The old lady hugged Yun Shu, who was a head taller than her, and tears streamed down her face with heartache.

Lady Hou held Yun Shu's arm with one hand and wiped her eyes with the other; her eyes were also red and swollen.

Although it's a good thing that Yun Shu has lost weight, for some reason, Ye Jingchen still felt a little guilty seeing this scene.

After all, he had promised the Marquis's mansion that he would not let Yun Shu lose a single hair.

Now, I don't know if she's lost any hair, but Yun Shu has definitely lost a lot of weight!

After seeing Yun Shu off, Xie Chang'an and Gu Beichen returned to their respective residences, while the others were to go to the palace.

The Emperor knew that Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyu were returning today, and he was waiting for them at Chengqian Palace.

After meeting the emperor and having lunch with him, Ye Jingyu and Ye Jingyu went to see their respective mothers. The others went to class or were on duty and dispersed.

Ye Jingchen was going to attend class at the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion in the afternoon. When he arrived at the mansion, Xie Chang'an was waiting for him at the gate as always.

However, his face was somewhat cold, and he exuded an aura that kept strangers at bay.

"Who made you angry again?" Ye Jingchen asked casually.

Xie Chang'an ignored him, but gave him a cold glance.

Ye Jingchen understood immediately.

It's him! It's him! It's still him!

But everything was fine when we went to pick her up at the post station that morning, except after we met Yun Shu—

"You're not angry just because I casually complimented Yun Shu, are you?" Ye Jingchen asked in surprise.

"So His Highness the Crown Prince prefers handsome young men. No wonder he looks down on me. I'm too ugly to catch His Highness's eye!" Xie Chang'an mocked.

Ye Jingchen: ......

"I was just saying it casually, why did you take it so seriously?" Ye Jingchen said, somewhat amused and exasperated.

"The way you stared at Yun Shu with shining eyes doesn't sound like a casual compliment!" Xie Chang'an said coldly.

"I didn't—" Ye Jingchen's rebuttal sounded particularly weak under Xie Chang'an's condemning gaze.

"God gave us eyes so that we could discover and appreciate beauty! Yun Shu is indeed beautiful now, what's wrong with me taking a few more glances?!" Ye Jingchen said confidently.

"Heh!" Xie Chang'an sneered, quickened his pace, and left Ye Jingchen behind.

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