"I really like this outfit. Please thank that girl for me. This is my thank-you gift." Ye Jingchen walked to the cloud-patterned cabinet displaying valuable ornaments, opened it, and took out a lotus-shaped glass lamp.

This glass lamp was one of the gifts the Ji family gave him as a token of their gratitude. After seeing it, Ye Jingchen felt it was a perfect gift to give to the girl who gave him clothes every year as a return gift, so he didn't put it in his private treasury but kept it in his palace.

In this era, glass, due to its unique craftsmanship and rarity, was more precious than jade and was deeply loved by royalty and nobility.

Chenxi accepted it without hesitation.

He felt that his sister's sentiments were far more valuable than the lamp itself, and that the lamp was indeed something his sister would like.

"Chenxi, after all these years, you still won't tell me who the girl who made my clothes is?" Ye Jingchen asked every year, and this year was no exception.

To Ye Jingchen's surprise, Chenxi told him directly, "She's my sister."

"You actually have an older sister?" Ye Jingchen asked in surprise.

Isn't it said that the royal family only selects orphans to train secret guards in order to ensure absolute loyalty?

However, Chenxi was indeed different from the other secret guards; he had emotions and was more like a human being than the other secret guards.

“My brother and I were saved by the Empress back then. I have a talent for martial arts, so I joined the Dark Guard Camp and became your personal bodyguard,” Chenxi said.

Ye Jingchen suddenly realized why the original owner treated Chenxi so well in the novel, and why Chenxi was willing to die to protect him. It turned out there was this cause-and-effect relationship.

"So, you've met my mother? What kind of person is she?" Ye Jingchen asked with some curiosity.

"You don't remember?" Chenxi looked at Ye Jingchen with a scrutinizing gaze.

"I was young at the time and forgot," Ye Jingchen said matter-of-factly.

There are super geniuses like Ye Jinghe who can remember things as early as one year old, and there are also ordinary people who can't remember things even at five or six years old.

Moreover, the original owner was indeed very young when the Empress passed away, so it's normal that she didn't remember her.

"She was a very kind, gentle, and strong person," Chenxi said with a nostalgic tone.

"The current eldest princess is somewhat like her."

"How did she save you?" Ye Jingchen continued to ask.

“She established a sales house to take in us homeless orphans and teach us how to survive,” Chenxi said.

When the Empress was still alive, she would personally visit the orphanage on the first and fifteenth of each month to care for the children's lives, studies, and so on.

He and his elder sister were not the only two people saved by the Empress, but they were personally rescued from the brink of death by the Empress and taken to the orphanage by her.

When he and his sister were at their most painful and desperate, the Empress appeared before them, drove away the thugs who were bullying them, took the dying man and his sister to the clinic for treatment, and finally personally escorted them to the Salesian Hall.

From then on, their fates underwent a dramatic change.

At that time, he and his sister decided that they would repay the Empress's kindness even at the cost of their lives.

It turns out that the Salesian Hall was established by the Empress.

No wonder the emperor was so concerned when he later said he wanted to renovate the orphanage, and even sent people to manage and maintain it.

Ye Jingchen felt a little regretful. If the Empress hadn't died young and had personally taught him, the original owner wouldn't have gone astray, and there wouldn't have been the later struggle for the throne among the seven princes.

After all, both the Empress and the Duke of Anguo's family, as he knew them, were the type who were wise in their self-preservation and appeared foolish.

With them protecting and supporting him, the original owner's position as crown prince should be very secure.

"So, your sister is in the capital now? When will you take me to meet her? I'd like to thank her in person," Ye Jingchen asked with a smile.

"You're too conspicuous," Chenxi said, her voice full of disdain.

Ye Jingchen: ......

"Can't you just disguise yourself?"

With Chenxi's masterful face-painting skills, who could recognize him except Xie Chang'an?

"We'll talk about it when you come back from northern Xinjiang."

Ye Jingchen thought about it and agreed. There would be plenty of opportunities in the future, so there was no need to rush.

"What is your sister doing now? Is she married?" He had received a tenth birthday gift from that girl he had never met. Although he had given a gift in return, it was obviously not as thoughtful as Chenxi's sister's. So if possible, he still hoped to make up for it.

"She opened an embroidery shop with her sisters who came from the Salesian House together."

Embroidery workshop?

Looking at the delicate patterns on the cuffs of his clothes, Ye Jingchen thought of a way to repay Sister Chenxi.

"Does my elder sister also have a new outfit every year?" Ye Jingchen asked.

He recalled that Ye Jingshu's clothes were mostly very glamorous, unlike this kind of understated luxury style—

It's not that I've never seen her wear it, it's just that it's very rare.

"have."

“We’re about to head to the Northern Frontier. It’s not safe for your sister to be alone in the capital. Why don’t we have her embroidery workshop cooperate with the Golden Branch and Jade Leaf? That way, my sister can send people to protect your sister legitimately, and you can feel at ease when you go to the Northern Frontier with me,” Ye Jingchen suggested.

The Golden Branches and Jade Leaves have always needed skilled embroiderers, and with Sister Chenxi's craftsmanship, she is absolutely qualified to collaborate with the Golden Branches and Jade Leaves.

As is well known, the eldest princess is very protective of her own and has always valued her partners.

"Okay." Chenxi agreed, and the corners of his mouth curled up.

Although the change was small, Ye Jingchen still noticed it.

Although Chenxi has a youthful, baby-faced appearance, she rarely smiles.

Seeing how readily Chenxi agreed, Ye Jingchen thought for a moment and asked, "You've always kept your sister well hidden, but now you're suddenly willing to tell me about her existence. Could it be that you're planning this all along?"

"Yes," Chenxi admitted.

An embroidery workshop composed entirely of women is inherently conspicuous; the women's delicate appearance makes them easy targets for covetousness.

Although the embroidery workshop also hired guards, in the capital city, where noble families and officials outnumbered dogs, a few guards could not play a significant role.

When Chenxi was in the capital, he could always find ways to ensure the safety of the embroidery workshop, but if he went to the northern frontier, he would be unable to help.

Therefore, the best solution is to find a powerful backer for the embroidery workshop that no one dares to mess with.

Golden branches and jade leaves are the best choice.

"I'll bring this up with my elder sister after my birthday," Ye Jingchen said with a smile.

"Thank you," Chenxi said.

"I've always been the one thanking you, it's quite a novel experience for you to say thank you to me!" Ye Jingchen exclaimed, then asked with some curiosity, "If it weren't for this, would you have never told me about your sister's existence?"

Chenxi thought for a moment and said, "Yes."

Although after ten years of living and working together, he was certain that Ye Jingchen, like the Empress, was a gentle yet strong person. He believed in Ye Jingchen and was willing to give his life for him.

However, it's too dangerous around Ye Jingchen. My sister is just an ordinary person, so it's best not to have too much contact with Ye Jingchen!