Besides, these tricks are too low-level.

It's really boring, like something a primary school student would say.

She's hungry, let's go eat.

If these two try to cause trouble in front of her again, she naturally has ways to give them a sweet reward.

Gu Ziyi always went along with Lili's wishes, so he didn't bother to pursue the matter further and nodded to Zhuifeng.

"Let's go."

Gu Ziyi led Lili forward, breaking the tense atmosphere in the flower hall.

Madam Qin immediately put on a smile and invited everyone to have a meal together.

Bai Weiwei breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Yu Siting who was panting heavily beside her, glared at her fiercely, and lifted her foot to follow the group walking out.

But when she was about to step out of the flower hall, she was stopped.

"His Highness has ordered that the food prepared today is limited, so please find another place to eat."

This person is none other than Zhui Feng.

After saying that, Zhui Feng left.

These words were so blunt that even Shen Jiahao, who was walking at the back, turned around and said, "Tsk tsk tsk, I never knew His Highness could be so cold-blooded. This is the first time I've ever seen him like this."

Bai Weiwei's face stiffened, and she gritted her teeth, trying her best to maintain her smile: "Yes."

Yu Siting patted her chest: "That scared me to death! It's better not to eat it, so I don't have to worry about it!"

Bai Weiwei lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought.

*

I thought everyone would be dining together in the main hall, but to my surprise, Gu Ziyi brought Lili to the side hall alone and ate at a small table.

Why aren't you with the others?

Gu Ziyi feigned sadness: "It's been so long since we last met, Lili, won't you have a meal with me?"

"How could that be?" Lili thought for a moment. The last time she saw him, he seemed to have said that he had to take care of something.

It seems to be related to the succession struggle in the Jin Dynasty?

One of the two people involved in the struggle for the throne in the Great Jin Dynasty was Shen Ye's brother, so Li Li was quite concerned about him.

"How is Your Highness's business going? What fun things are there to do in the Great Jin?"

"It went very smoothly and proceeded as planned." Gu Ziyi was in a good mood. "The old emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty is nearing his end; at most, he'll pass away this winter."

"ah."

Lili was startled. The Emperor of the Great Jin Dynasty had been holding on for five years, and Lili had even thought that he would continue to hold on like this forever. "Then... who will win?"

Gu Ziyi naturally knew who she was referring to: one was the Crown Prince of the Great Jin, and the other was the eldest prince of the Great Jin—Chen Ye's brother.

Unexpectedly, Gu Ziyi shook his head: "We won't win for the time being."

"Um?"

The clams that Lili had been looking forward to were placed on the table. With great efficiency, Lili scooped out a bowl of clam and winter melon soup and also served a bowl to Gu Ziyi.

Lili was still curious about what Gu Ziyi had just said. What did he mean by "we won't win for the time being"?

These two have been fighting for five years, and even with the emperor dead, they still can't determine a winner?

However, Gu Ziyi had already started drinking the soup very politely, so Lili stopped asking and focused on enjoying the delicious food.

Towards the end, Gu Ziyi frowned slightly, a rare hint of unease on her face, and asked hesitantly, "Is the presentation really that bad?"

Lili was taken aback, then burst into laughter after realizing what he was talking about.

Gu Ziyi's cheeks flushed slightly, and she coughed awkwardly, covering her mouth.

After laughing enough, Lili savored his insecure expression with a touch of fascination: "Lili didn't think it was bad. Isn't pea flour cake just like that? What else could it be?"

"Besides taste, Beijing pastries also pay great attention to their appearance. Ordinary ones are carved with patterns on the surface, the more exquisite the better. More unusual ones are shaped like flowers and leaves."

"Oh." Lili nodded. "I see. But no matter how it's made, the taste is the most important thing, right? Your Highness's cooking is delicious, and it gets better and better!"

"Really?" Gu Ziyi paused, then explained, "If you want something more refined, I'll make you a new design next time."

“Okay,” Lili smiled.

The two chatted and laughed, enjoying a very pleasant dinner.

When Han Xi finished dealing with things there and came over, he saw Zhui Feng standing at the entrance of the side hall, nodding with undisguised satisfaction.

"Ah, Your Highness has grown up."

Han Xi: "?"

Han Xi glanced at the prince, who was enjoying his meal, and said unsurprisedly, "Your Highness has been incredibly busy these past few days. It's good to finally have a proper meal."

"That's right." Zhui Feng sighed again and asked him, "What are you doing here? Have you finished dealing with things outside?"

"Um."

Han Xi originally came to report to Gu Ziyi, but seeing that the two had not finished their meal, he simply leaned against the door like Zhui Feng and waited.

The smoky blue dress Gu Ziyi was wearing was newly made, with an excellent color that made the already handsome young man even more refined and bright.

Han Xi then noticed that His Highness's clothes were the same color as Li Li's. Both of them were extremely good-looking, one with bright eyes and white teeth, and the other with a dignified appearance.

The two of them also complemented each other perfectly, and Han Xi felt that when they sat together, they looked just like a brother and sister from a wealthy family.

Han Xi scratched his chin: "Do you think that since our Prince dotes on Miss so much, will he ask His Majesty to grant her the title of Princess or something? Or perhaps have the Empress adopt her as a goddaughter?"

"?"

Zhui Feng was completely bewildered: "Why should Her Majesty adopt Miss as her goddaughter?"

"Are you an idiot?" Han Xi rolled his eyes at him. "His Highness dotes on Miss so much, it's obvious he treats her like a younger sister. If His Majesty the Empress were to adopt Miss as his goddaughter, wouldn't they be legitimate siblings? His Highness loves Miss so much, he must want her to marry the best man in the world. If our Empress were to adopt Miss as her goddaughter, her status would naturally be different, and she would definitely find a good husband!"

"..." Zhui Feng was speechless, looking at him like he was an idiot, silently cursing him as a blockhead in his heart.

Han Xi asked curiously, "What's with that expression? Are you secretly cursing me in your heart?"

"No." Zhui Feng didn't really want to talk to him anymore.

Gu Ziyi had almost finished peeling the boiled shrimp on the table, and Lili was happily eating them.

She doesn't like to eat shrimp, except for peeled ones.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Gu Ziyi was busy peeling shrimp and picking out snail meat. Lili felt embarrassed, so she used serving chopsticks to put a lot of food into Gu Ziyi's bowl as well.

"Your Highness, please don't bother. There's too much to eat. Take a rest. These shrimp are delicious."

"fine."

Gu Ziyi showed no impatience whatsoever; on the contrary, she thoroughly enjoyed the process of serving her.

He had noticed before that she would never take the initiative to eat food that required extra effort, unless it had already been prepared.

From then on, Gu Ziyi always did everything himself. The shrimp on the table were always peeled, the crabs were only filled with crab meat, the fruit was peeled, and even the grapes were seeded.

I was practically feeding it directly into her mouth.

Gu Ziyi never felt there was anything wrong with doing this. Every time he saw Lili eat the food he had prepared with satisfaction and happiness, and then smile and say thank you, Your Highness with slightly widened eyes in an exaggerated way, he felt an indescribable joy in his heart.

Like a little rabbit.

cute.

Lili didn't stand on ceremony and was very satisfied. She felt that the little prince was becoming more and more considerate and lovable as he grew up. He was indeed the little boy she had watched grow up.

"His Highness said he wanted Lili to have dinner with him, but in the end, half the meal was spent peeling shrimp for Lili," Lili teased.

"Well, Lili, would you like to thank me?"

“Great! Lili has something she wants to give to Your Highness.”

"Oh?" Gu Ziyi raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised.

Actually, during the Qingming Festival, Lili went with Yang to a nearby temple that was considered very efficacious to offer incense. That temple was famous for its peace charms, which were said to have been blessed.

Yang asked for one for each member of the Shen family. Lili, remembering that Gu Ziyi seemed to be doing something important at the time, also asked for a peace charm for him.

"I don't know when I'll see Your Highness, so I've been carrying this with me at all times. It's nothing special, but I'll give it to Your Highness after we finish eating."

Gu Ziyi smiled and chuckled softly, "Mm."

Zhui Feng, who had been watching the whole thing, shook his head and clicked his tongue. He knew that at the beginning, his prince was simply admiring Li Li for being so knowledgeable and knowledgeable at such a young age.

But now...

If it were just admiration, how could one possibly be this kind of good to someone?

How come things have been going well for so many years?

Glancing at Han Xi beside him, Zhui Feng asked curiously, "But you also said that Miss Li Li deserves the best man in the world. Then isn't the best man in the world our Prince?"

Han Xi looked as if he had seen a ghost: "Our Highness is almost six years older than Miss! Miss is still a child, what do you take His Highness for?"

Chasing the Wind: "..."

Maybe he's a beast.

Zhui Feng rolled his eyes at him, too lazy to explain anymore, and left the courtyard.

Han Xi was left alone, completely bewildered.

Zhui Feng said, "You don't understand. His Highness might like the 'raising' type of character."

What was that saying again?

The boy rode a bamboo horse and played with green plums around the bed.

So what if there's a six-year age gap? You're still childhood sweethearts, okay?

Lili thought so too.

Looking at the handsome young man who had grown up in front of her, still as gentle and patient as he was in her childhood, Lili felt very gratified.

ah!

Look, look, these are the children she's watched grow up!

How sensible and polite they are, how warm and considerate they are, how respectful they are to the elderly and love the young.

They must have had a friendship that was cultivated since childhood, right?

Right?

Your Highness is such a good person, you will definitely protect her in the future, right?

If Gu Ziyi knew what Lili was thinking, he would probably spit out blood.

The little dumpling wasn't even as tall as his chest, so how could he treat him like a child?

This is truly a reversal of the natural order.

After slowly finishing her meal, Lili took out the amulet from her bosom.

"Here, take this."

Lili stretched out her hand, and the peace charm lay quietly in her palm. The small charm was tied with a red silk thread and wrapped with gold thread.

Gu Ziyi was slightly taken aback, his eyes flickering.

Gu Ziyi took the amulet and examined it carefully, as if he could feel her warmth from it: "This is..."

“During the Qingming Festival, my mother and I went to a temple to burn incense. My mother prayed for one for everyone in our family. Wasn’t His Highness away on important business at the time? Lili thought, since His Highness is going to protect Lili and the Shen family, then safety is naturally the most important thing.”

Gu Ziyi chuckled softly, stroking the amulet.

The common warp threads, inlaid with gold wire, stirred a warm feeling in his heart.

"It's nothing special, just a peace charm. May Your Highness be well." Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze.

"Okay." Gu Ziyi said in a hoarse voice, her eyelashes trembling slightly. "What you give me is the rarest thing in the world."

Gu Ziyi carefully put away the amulet, her heart filled with emotion.

He's so lucky.

Gu Ziyi thought so too.

He had actually known Lili for six years; the two of them had known each other for six years.

Seeing that Gu Ziyi was pleased, Lili smiled as well. She had noticed Han Xi long ago, and seeing that Gu Ziyi didn't seem inclined to call out to him, she reminded him, "Your Highness, is there something Brother Han Xi wants to tell you?"

Gu Ziyi looked up, and Han Xi immediately came over respectfully: "Your Highness."

Knowing that Han Xifang had been dealing with matters at the teahouse, Lili said, "Then Lili will be going now?"

"No need." Gu Ziyi pulled her back. "When have I ever avoided you?"

Lili paused, realizing that Gu Ziyi had indeed never shied away from discussing matters in front of her.

However, since today's matter concerns him and his brother Gu Zi'an, she was considering whether to avoid it.

She could tell that the relationship between the two was complicated. She had always heard Gu Zi'an's name before, but it was all after Gu Ziyi came to Nanlin County.

After meeting Gu Zi'an today, Lili realized that the two of them weren't originally on opposing sides.

After thinking for a couple of seconds, Lili realized she was still quite curious about the love-hate relationship between the two, so she didn't insist on leaving and sat down again.

Han Xi didn't pause and reported the matter in one breath.

Lili then realized that the young master's wife's return to her hometown after five years was not simply a family visit, but also a ploy to lure out the snake.

After all, it is a fact that Bai Yu had been childless for several years, and it is also a fact that she finally became pregnant when she returned to her hometown five years ago. Now that Gu Ziqi is older, it seems very reasonable for Bai Yu to want to return to her hometown to "fulfill her vow".

Gu Zian was very clever, but he did not expect that the Chongbo Marquis's Mansion did not intend to serve the Crown Prince from the beginning, but had already been serving the Crown Prince for a long time.

Surprisingly, Gu Ziyi replied calmly, "Hmm."

Lili sipped her tea, unusually shy.

Gu Ziyi found it amusing and lightly tapped her on the head with a flick of the wrist: "If you want to ask, just ask. Why are you doing this?"

"It's nothing, I was just curious, did Your Highness and the First Prince have a good relationship before?"

Gu Ziyi nodded without hesitation.

"I have two older brothers, one is Gu Zian, born to Consort Yu, and the other is Gu Ziyan, born to Consort Jing. Among all the emperors in history, my father had very few children, which is why the three of us brothers had a very good relationship."

My second brother wasn't in good health, so my eldest brother often took me traveling. He never forgot about my second brother, letting him sit and watch, playing along with us.

While saying these things, Gu Ziyi's expression remained unchanged, as if he were saying something very ordinary.

But Lili always felt that he was shrouded in a faint sadness.