"If you're not going to study anymore, what are your plans?" Qiu Ling'er had a poor childhood, and her life only started to improve gradually after her older sister started doing business.

Therefore, she didn't approve of Zhou Zifang's life of eating, drinking, and having fun all day.

"I..." Zhou Zifang forced a smile, "I haven't decided yet."

"Brother Zifang, we should calm down." Qiu Ling'er glanced up at the noisy crowd, but then something appeared in her hand.

It is an exquisite sandalwood comb.

Zhou Zifang: "This is for you."

Now twenty-five, he has long since shed his boyishness, but he was still a little nervous when delivering the comb.

"This..." Qiu Ling'er shook her head, smiling slightly as she pushed the sandalwood comb back into Zhou Zifang's hand.

"You should give it to your future wife."

She wasn't oblivious to the fact that her brother Zifang had feelings for her.

But shouldn't matters between men and women be based on mutual affection?

“Sister Ling’er,” Zhou Zifang looked down at the comb that had not yet been given away, a chill running through his heart.

"Brother Zifang...I want...I want..."

"Brother Zifang, please stop talking." Qiu Ling'er bit her lower lip lightly, and her smile vanished instantly.

She immediately turned around, walked ahead of Zhou Zifang, and began to stroll through the market.

In fact, she couldn't stand shopping for even a second longer; her thoughts had already drifted far away.

"Qiu Ling'er!" Zhou Zifang called out to Qiu Ling'er, then ran to her side and walked alongside her.

"Ling'er, you know how I feel... I..." He had been holding back his words for a long time, but when the words came out, he hesitated.

He was genuinely afraid that if he revealed his true feelings, he would lose even the chance to be friends with Qiu Ling'er.

Qiu Ling'er's body stiffened slightly.

"Uh... my sister is still waiting for me at home, Zhou Zifang, I'm going home now."

"I send you!"

"No."

As soon as Zhou Zifang uttered those three words, Qiu Ling'er decisively refused and left without looking back.

Zhou Zifang went home alone, feeling dejected.

The two guards who followed him up, Lin Shu and Qin Wu, couldn't help but shake their heads inwardly.

Their son is so pitiful.

After leaving Zhou Zifang, Qiu Ling'er continued shopping with Cao Shi.

Because her sister had been having a poor appetite lately, she thought of buying her some delicious food.

Meanwhile, Qiu Yan, whom Qiu Ling'er was thinking about, was strolling through the General's Mansion Garden with her two maids by her side, imagining the garden's future prosperity.

This garden was personally created by Qiu Yan after she arrived.

At this moment, the gardeners at the General's Mansion are transplanting green plants and planting flowers.

She believed that the general's mansion would soon become vibrant and full of life.

Gu Qian returned home sometime earlier, and after finding Qiu Yan, he first draped a blue cloak over her shoulders.

"Be careful, it's getting chilly." The weather after the New Year isn't too cold, but it's not warm either.

Qiu Yan turned around and said, "It's been a week. I don't know if A-Xu is adapting well."

"He's doing well, but you, his older sister, are causing him even more trouble." Gu Qian had only visited the two of them today after entering the palace.

Xiao Ran is now forced to give up.

As for Ah Xu, he was quite used to the life of a guard.

As Gu Qian spoke, he placed one palm on Qiu Yan's lower abdomen.

"What would you like to eat? I'll ask the cook to make it."

"I don't want to eat anything." Qiu Yan has been gagging a lot lately.

She feels nauseous at the sight of food.

For the sake of her unborn child, she forced herself to eat more every day.

"I've asked the kitchen to prepare jade shrimp, goat milk yam soup, and honey porridge, all of which are nourishing for the fetus. Why don't you try them? If they suit your taste, I'll have the kitchen prepare more."

"Mm." Qiu Yan nodded with a smile and walked towards the kitchen with Gu Qian.

Inside the kitchen, only two people sat facing each other to eat.

The food was served, and it looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.

Gu Qian picked up a piece of jade shrimp with his chopsticks and put it into Qiu Yan's mouth. "Try it and see if it's good."

Qiu Yan chewed and said with difficulty, "It's alright."

At this moment, even if the most exquisite delicacies were placed in front of her, she would have no taste for them and would find it difficult to swallow.

Because Qiu Yan said "not bad," Gu Qian picked up another chopstick, only to find that Qiu Yan's lips were tightly pursed and her body leaned back a little.

Gu Qian held back his laughter, but at the same time, he felt a pang of heartache.

Yan Yan had a poor appetite, and he couldn't eat either.

Suddenly, Qiu Yan thought of something.

"Has anything unusual happened in the Northern Desert recently?"

“The barbarians are too despicable. They never confront each other directly. Every time they invade, they just rob and run away. The people on the border suffer terribly.”

What they robbed, of course, was the people's grain and livestock.

"General Yue is at the border; hopefully he can defeat the Northern Desert in one fell swoop."

Gu Qian didn't take these barbarian soldiers seriously.

"What delicious food has the kitchen prepared? It smells so good!" He Jinran's voice arrived before he did.

He and Qiu Xu entered the kitchen one after the other.

At this moment, He Jinran was still dressed in purple robes, and because he had returned home, he looked radiant.

Qiu Xu, dressed in a blue, fitted guard uniform, looked much more energetic than usual.

"Ah Xu, Xiao Ran, you're back. Let's eat together." After Qiu Yan finished speaking, Gu Qian asked the kitchen to prepare two more side dishes.

As soon as He Jinran entered, she took a bowl and chopsticks for herself and Qiu Xu, right in front of the maid.

He Jinran picked up the food from the plate, savoring the delicious taste.

"Home-cooked meals are still the best. Mother, you have no idea how much His Majesty guards against me, as if I were a thief, afraid that I might suddenly disappear. Sigh, life without you is truly unbearable."

Qiu Yan smiled and shook her head, saying that Xiao Ran should have grown up long ago.

Let him hone his skills gradually.

Qiu Xu knew that everything He Jinran said was true.

His Majesty is constantly on guard against Xiao Ran; wherever he goes, His Majesty arrives in an instant.

Xiao Ran had to use a lot of persuasion to get them out of the palace this time.

He looked around. "Sister, where is Ling'er?"

Qiu Yan: "She went out with Zhou Zifang."

"Oh," Qiu Xu replied casually, his thoughts drifting to his sister and Zhou Zifang.

Did those two go out together?

Could it be that Zhou Zifang has finally mustered up the courage to confess his feelings to his sister?

After the meal, Qiu Xu followed his sister to the main courtyard and talked with her.

Gu Qian, meanwhile, was lost in thought about the enemy situation at the border. He leaned against the bed, preoccupied with his own worries.

He Jinran, on the other hand, ran towards his own courtyard.

The mysterious shadows behind them also followed.

He Jinran lay on her bed.

"Ah, it feels so good to be home."

He noticed that even the mattress was much softer than usual.

Zhu Juan was making new clothes for Qiu Yan's unborn child when she heard He Jinran's voice and hurriedly ran to his bedroom.

"Young master, how have you been lately? Let Aunt Zhu take a good look at you."

"Aunt Zhu, I'm perfectly fine, I'm not hurt anywhere." He Jinran smiled brightly, but inwardly he was thinking, "What do I mean?"

Not good at all.

He had only just recovered from his previous injury.

Furthermore, the days spent being watched over by two teachers while reading felt like an eternity.

Having finally been granted permission by His Majesty to return home for a day, he was determined to make the most of it.