Yin Yichen stared straight at Song Wanning's face. Under the dim light of the lantern, her cheeks glowed with a delicate color like a crabapple.

Yin Yichen looked at it and just smiled teasingly, "If it's boring, then why are you blushing?"

Song Wanning just glanced back at Yin Yichen and pursed her lips, "I... I don't..."

Song Wanning's face now looked particularly charming under the light, an extremely moving color. Yin Yichen's heart moved, remembering the day when she saw Song Wanning and Pei Xuanzhi walking in the busy city, the two of them playing and joking, and Song Wanning's face was so lively, which made Yin Yichen think about it for a long time.

Now, it seems Song Wanning had already let down her guard without realizing it, and wasn't on guard against Yin Yichen anymore. If it were an ordinary person, they would have been beaten out of the carriage by now, and there was no way they would have been able to ride in the same carriage with her after kissing her, chatting and joking along the way.

This idea pleased Yin Yichen. Seeing Song Wanning's reaction, he laughed softly in a very good mood. The sound flowed into Song Wanning's ears, making Song Wanning feel novel.

Yin Yichen was usually very serious, and when he did laugh it was always a cold smile, but it was rare to see him laugh so heartily. Song Wanning looked at Yin Yichen and saw that his eyes seemed to have stars in them, which made her feel happy.

After an unknown amount of time, Song Wanning only heard the owner of the star say, "If you keep looking at me like that, I'll think you're hinting that you're interested in me."

Song Wanning came back to her senses and quickly turned her head to the side, no longer looking at Yin Yichen, but her face became redder, "No, you saw it wrong."

The night was silent, with only the rustling of wheels and the chirping of cicadas. Song Wanning sat on a cushion, draped in a cloak. Beside her sat the Prime Minister, Yin Yichen, feared by all the officials in the capital. Yet Song Wanning felt no fear at all. She didn't even know why, but a faint sense of comfort welled up within her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it.

But Song Wanning knew clearly in her heart that at this moment, she didn't want Yin Yichen to leave so soon.

"Ningning."

Yin Yichen quietly changed his address, which made Song Wanning's ears blush.

Song Wanning blushed and turned to look around, only to find Yin Yichen very close to her. His voice was extremely charming in the dark night, "Actually... you have me in your heart, right?"

Song Wanning took a deep breath when she heard Yin Yichen say this. She forced herself to remain calm and said in a deep voice, "I don't like it. Prime Minister, don't be so self-indulgent."

Yin Yichen was not angry at Song Wanning's words. Just as he was about to speak, Zhuque outside the carriage called out, "Miss, the moon is out now. I don't need to use the lamp anymore. I'm going to get into the carriage, shall I?"

Song Wanning's heart jumped into her throat after hearing what Zhuque said. She quickly said, "Okay, wait a moment."

Suzaku responded from outside.

Song Wanning was now really anxious, and hurriedly said to Yin Yichen, "Don't stay here, leave quickly, otherwise I'm afraid that my subordinates will find out, and you won't be able to wash yourself clean even if you jump into the Yellow River."

What Song Wanning fears most now is that Song Lan’s close associates will see it. If Song Jing finds out, he will probably skin her alive.

Yin Yichen sat still in the carriage, and refused to move even though Song Wanning pushed him. He simply said, "Then call me Yichen, and I'll leave."

Song Wanning's face flushed red as she glared at Yin Yichen, but that look had no power to hurt him. He sat motionless on the cushion, as if he would remain there until Song Wanning called out to him.

Song Wanning really had no way to deal with Yin Yichen now, so she could only blush and whisper, "Yi...Yichen."

Yin Yichen chuckled and quickly reached out to shake Song Wanning's hand on the cushion. "See you at Putuo Temple, Ningning."

After Yin Yichen finished speaking, he opened the curtain of the carriage and disappeared into the moonlight right under the eyes of the sleepy Zhuque.

Zhuque shuddered, turned around and shouted to Song Wanning inside, "Girl, can I come in now?"

Song Wanning took a deep breath, trying to keep her tone calm, and then said to Suzaku outside, "Come in."

Upon hearing the sound, Zhuque got into the carriage and immediately saw Song Wanning's blushing cheeks. He couldn't help but ask, "Why is your face so red?"

Song Wanning raised her hand and gently touched her face. Her face was extremely hot. She coughed softly and said, "Maybe it's too hot."

"Young lady, lie down and get some sleep." Zhuque yawned and said to Song Wanning, "If you don't sleep now, it will be dawn soon."

"Yeah." Song Wanning lay back down on the soft cushions of the carriage. She raised her hand and looked at it. The warmth of Yin Yichen's fingers seemed to still remain on her fingertips. He squeezed her so hard and fast that Song Wanning had no time to react.

But for some reason, despite such frivolous actions and words, Song Wanning didn't feel offended. She actually remembered what Yin Yichen had just said.

His cold voice seemed to still be in my ears, "Actually... you have me in your heart, right?"

When Song Wanning came to her senses, she realized that her cheeks were even hotter than before. She sighed and felt resentful towards herself for being distracted.

Song Wanning fell asleep leaning on the cushion, and suddenly returned to her childhood in her dream.

Song Wanning lost her mother when she was young. Song Jing often led troops to fight outside, and Song Lan was a boy. Song Jing followed the principle that boys should be kept by his side and endure hardships, so he asked Song Lan to follow him everywhere.

Because of this, Song Wanning had to stay alone in the general's mansion and live with Song Wanshi and Song Wanxiu. Nan Hongqiu was partial and did not educate Song Wanning much.

Fortunately, Mrs. Pei of the Pei family was a good person. Song Wanning often went to the Pei family to stay with Mrs. Pei and listened to many of her teachings. Later, she did not go astray, thanks to Mrs. Pei's guidance.

The Pei family and the Song family are old friends. Song Wanning often goes to the Pei Mansion to play. The Pei family has an only son, Pei Xuanzhi, who is only one year older than Song Wanning, but he is a naughty child because he is spoiled.

Although he is naughty, he is not a bad person at heart and always has money to buy various fruits and snacks on the street.

Song Wanning was scolded by Nan Hongqiu, and she ran into Pei Mansion crying and complained to Pei Xuanzhi. Pei Xuanzhi felt sorry for Song Wanning and handed her the fruit he had just bought to comfort her.

Song Wanning had discovered the benefits of complaining since then, and she couldn't stop. Regardless of whether she was scolded or not, she would go to Pei Xuanzhi and cry, asking him to share some fruit with her.

And one day, it was a cold winter, Song Wanning was on her way to Pei's house as usual, but she saw a ragged little beggar lying in the alley.