For the next two days, Xiao Qingyin prepared gifts for Yi Shuihan.

On the evening of his birthday, she carried two gifts, one large and one small, that she had prepared to the Yong'an Marquis's residence.

Princess Zhaoyang saw it and her beautiful eyes lit up: "Does that mean I get a share too?"

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

I'm so sorry.

I forgot about the beautiful woman.

“I’m sorry, both are for the Crown Prince,” she replied, “but we can share the larger one.”

Is it for eating?

"Um."

Princess Zhaoyang looked on with anticipation.

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "You can eat it after the meal."

Princess Zhaoyang immediately pulled Xiao Qingyin to the banquet hall.

"Okay, let's eat quickly."

Yi Shuihan, who was reaching out to accept the gift, was speechless.

Couldn't we wait until he received that little gift before going over for dinner?

He's been waiting for two days!

Dinner was eaten by the four of them alone. After Yi Shuihan finished his longevity noodles, Princess Zhaoyang eagerly asked, "Can we eat the food you brought now?"

Xiao Qingyin glanced at the dining table and smiled, "Let's clear away the food first, and then bring out four empty plates and spoons."

The servants attending to him immediately did as instructed.

Xiao Qingyin first handed the small gift box to Yi Shuihan, then took the large gift box to the dining table and unwrapped it.

A three-tiered fruit cake appeared on the table.

Princess Zhaoyang asked in surprise, "Is this a dessert?"

“Yes,” Xiao Qingyin replied. “This is a pastry made with sponge cake and fruit. In my hometown, we call it a birthday cake, and it’s used to celebrate birthdays.”

Princess Zhaoyang thought she was referring to Yizhou as her hometown and exclaimed in surprise, "I never imagined that Yizhou had such a custom."

Marquis Yong'an echoed, "This is the first time I've heard of this either."

Only Yi Shuihan knew that the hometown Xiao Qingyin mentioned was the world before she transmigrated.

They call their birthday "birthday".

Yi Shuihan suddenly remembered that on Xiao Qingyin's birthday last year, Bai Musheng sent her a basket of grapes and said "Happy Birthday".

At the time, he thought the way it was called was a bit strange, but now he understands that Xiao Qingyin taught him it.

The thought that Xiao Qingyin might have made him a birthday cake and given him a birthday gift made Yi Shuihan feel inexplicably sour.

Why couldn't he have met her sooner?

If it had happened earlier, all the good things about her would have belonged to him.

Upon realizing this thought, Yi Shuihan suddenly discovered that, without even noticing, his possessiveness towards her had become so strong.

Xiao Qingyin inserted two small candles she had made herself into the cake, lit them with a tinderbox, and then waved to Yi Shuihan.

"come over."

Yi Shuihan obediently walked up to her.

Xiao Qingyin smiled and said, "Lower your head a little."

Yi Shuihan bent over and lowered his head.

Xiao Qingyin placed a golden birthday crown on top of his head.

"alright."

Yi Shuihan straightened up.

Xiao Qingyin instructed her servants to turn off the lights in the banquet hall.

When only the flickering candlelight on the table remained in the entire hall, she looked at Yi Shuihan's handsome face and said, "We still sing birthday songs over there."

After saying that, she started singing "Happy Birthday" while clapping along to the beat.

"Happy birthday to you……"

Yi Shuihan stared at her intently, finding the woman singing the birthday song incredibly adorable.

He longed to hold her in his arms.

pity……

His gluttonous parents are still standing here.

After Xiao Qingyin finished singing the birthday song, she said to Yi Shuihan, "Alright, you can make a wish now."

"Make a wish?"

The cold of the Yi River remains unresolved.

How do I make a wish?

Xiao Qingyin demonstrated the action and explained, "Making a wish is to silently make a wish in your heart. It is said that wishes made on your birthday will come true."

Yi Shuihan immediately closed her eyes and made a wish in her heart.

He hoped that in his past life, this life, and the next life, he could be with this woman and grow old together.

After making his wish, he opened his eyes.

"What should we do now?"

"Blow out the candles."

Yi Shuihan blew out the candle in one breath.

Xiao Qingyin removed the candles, cut the cake, and gave each of them a portion.

Princess Zhaoyang took only one bite and was full of praise.

"This cake is so delicious! It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and it's so fragrant and sweet. I've never had a dessert with this texture before. What did you make it with?"

"Eggs, flour, and sugar."

Xiao Qingyin smiled.

"If you like it, I'll write down the recipe for you later, and you can have the chef make it whenever you want."

"Okay! Thank you so much!"

Marquis Yong'an was also amazed by the cake.

Seeing his wife's blissful expression, he secretly made up his mind that he would learn to make this cake so that he could make it for her on her birthday.

The birthday cake celebration was quite fun, more interesting than longevity noodles. He wants to play with Qingqing next time.

Xiao Qingyin was unaware that she had successfully promoted the birthday celebration. She looked at Yi Shuihan, who was silently eating cake, and asked, "Is it delicious?"

Yi Shuihan nodded: "It's delicious. Don't talk to me yet."

"Why?"

He looked at the cake that was still mostly on the table and said, "This is my birthday cake, I want to eat more."

Xiao Qingyin: "..."

She made a three-pound cake; did he intend to eat it all?

Be careful, don't overeat.

Yi Shuihan replied without looking up, "Yes, I understand."

In the end, he really did finish the entire cake.

Looking at his flat stomach, Xiao Qingyin couldn't help but wonder why this person didn't have a belly despite eating so much.

Could it be that, like some competitive eaters, his food goes directly into his intestines without being digested?

Yi Shuihan coughed lightly.

I'll show you later.

Xiao Qingyin: "???"

What are you looking at?

She was stunned for a moment before she realized what was happening.

Speechless.

She wasn't that thirsty!

Yi Shuihan opened the small gift box.

Inside was a bracelet made of small-leaf sandalwood, red coral, and tiger's eye.

“I made this myself,” Xiao Qingyin said with a smile. “Try wearing it and see if it fits.”

Yi Shuihan happily picked up the bracelet and wrapped it around his left hand three times.

A ring of small-leaf sandalwood, a ring of red coral, a ring of tiger's eye stone—the length is just right.

Xiao Qingyin said with satisfaction, "It looks quite good."

"Thanks."

Yi Shuihan really liked the bracelet and was about to show it off to his father when the butler suddenly rushed in.

"My lord, Your Highness, the Marquis's residence is surrounded by the army. Commander Song has led his troops in."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a tall figure appeared at the entrance of the banquet hall, leading a large group of soldiers.

"Surround this area and don't let a single one escape."

The newcomer announced in a loud voice.

Yi Shuihan's face was icy: "Commander Song, what do you mean by this?"

The visitor was none other than Song Yiming, the commander of the inner army.

Song Yiming said expressionlessly, "Someone reported that your Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is secretly possessing dragon robes, setting up private prisons, and harboring disloyal intentions. I have come here to search on the Emperor's orders."

Xiao Qingyin and the other three immediately changed their expressions.