The mother and son arrived at the door of the study and happened to run into Song Zhe and Chen Xiaoyu walking out one after another.

"Xiaoru, are you awake?" Song Zhe walked quickly forward, his eyes falling gently on Chen Xiaoru, his voice filled with a hint of concern and a barely perceptible excitement.

"Sister." Chen Xiaoyu followed behind Song Zhe, with a faint smile on her face, and called softly.

"You two are hiding in the study and whispering to each other. What are you talking about?" Chen Xiaoru glanced at them with a reproachful look, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Nothing, just... just talking about some academic things." Chen Xiaoyu's eyes flickered slightly, he scratched his head, and his tone was a little unnatural.

"Okay," Chen Xiaoru didn't ask further. She rubbed her stomach, a trace of distress on her face. "I've been tossing and turning all night. I'm so hungry."

Song Zhe suddenly remembered that Chen Xiaoru hadn't eaten a single grain of rice or drunk a drop of water since yesterday afternoon. He felt a surge of guilt and heartache. He held Chen Xiaoru's hand and said softly, "Xiaoru, it's my fault. It's all my fault. Let's go eat now!"

"Yeah, okay." Chen Xiaoru nodded, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice lowered. "But before that, I still have to go wash up. I just got up, so I haven't..."

"Okay, okay, I'll go with you." Song Zhe said quickly. He turned to look at Chen Xiaoyu and Song Siming, "Xiaoyu, Siming, you and Xiao Yi go to the front hall first."

"Yes." Xiao Yi appeared from nowhere, answered, and led Chen Xiaoyu and Song Siming to the front hall.

Song Zhe and Chen Xiaoyu came to the room. Song Zhe asked someone to fetch water and began to wash her face. The warm towel gently wiped her cheeks, his movements as gentle as if he was treating a rare treasure.

Chen Xiaoru closed her eyes, a faint smile on her lips, enjoying his service, and asked softly, "Song Zhe, how did you become the prince?"

"It's a long story," Song Zhe said slowly as he carefully wiped Chen Xiaoru's face. "Ever since you left, I've been secretly plotting how to quietly take revenge on Cheng Rongrong. But before I could put my plan into action, a mysterious man found me and said I was the prince of Prince Pingyang."

He paused, as if recalling the scene, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes. "I was a little overwhelmed at the time. How could this be possible? Until that person told me how I was switched and all the details. He also told me that he had found out who poisoned me in the first place. However, I wanted to deal with this person myself."

When Chen Xiaoru heard this, she opened her eyes slightly, with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Song Zhe continued, "The person who poisoned me was Xiao Jingyan, the Prince of Pingyang. He was afraid that I would threaten his position, so he bribed Lu Chen to drug me. After that, that mysterious man has been secretly protecting me. I used his power to deal with all those who bullied you."

He stopped what he was doing and looked at Chen Xiaoru gently, his eyes full of determination and confidence. "Later, I passed the imperial examination with my own efforts and started to deal with Xiao Jingyan. In the end, I won and naturally became the prince. But during this period, I still didn't give up looking for you. Fortunately, I found you..."

Chen Xiaoru thought to herself, "I was wondering, given Song Zhe's situation at the time, how could he have gotten rid of him without anyone noticing and leaving no trace? It turns out someone was secretly helping him, so that's not surprising."

She gently put her arms around Song Zhe's waist, rested her head on his chest, and said softly, "You must be very tired these years, right?"

Song Zhe lowered his head, kissed her forehead gently, and said softly: "Xiao Ru, I'm not tired. As long as I can find you, no matter how much hardship I endure, I won't be tired."

Chen Xiaoru raised her head, stared into his affectionate eyes, and asked softly, "You are such a fool. Is it worth it to do so much for me?"

"It's worth it." Song Zhe answered without hesitation, his eyes firm and persistent.

"By the way, is Aunt Song okay?" Chen Xiaoru suddenly thought of Song Zhe's mother and asked with concern.

Song Zhe smiled slightly, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes, and replied softly: "Mother is doing well. I have brought her and Qingshan to the capital. Qingshan is also studying in the academy now, and everything is settled."

"That's good." Chen Xiaoru felt relieved after hearing that. She rubbed her rumbling stomach and glanced at Song Zhe coquettishly, "Let's go eat. I'm really hungry. It's all your fault for tormenting me all night."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's all my fault." Song Zhe scratched her nose lovingly, his tone full of tenderness and apology. He took Chen Xiaoru's hand, and they smiled at each other, a sweet atmosphere filling the air.

The two walked into the front hall hand in hand, only to see Song Siming and Chen Xiaoyu had already sat down, staring at the door.

"Mom, you're finally here!" Song Siming jumped up from his chair as soon as he saw Chen Xiaoru, clutching his stomach exaggeratedly, his face wrinkled. "If you hadn't come soon, I'd be starving like a piece of paper!"

Chen Xiaoru couldn't help laughing at his funny look. She raised her hand and poked him lightly, saying angrily, "You little brat, are you itching for trouble again?"

"Mom, I was wrong, I was wrong, isn't that okay?" Song Siming quickly begged for mercy, grinning and pulling out a chair attentively, "Mom, please sit down. You must be starving. I've prepared everything for you!"

The table was already filled with steaming food, emitting an enticing aroma. Song Zhe picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it in Song Siming's bowl, saying lovingly, "Siming, eat more meat and grow taller."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!