This orchard is an apricot grove, and when the apricot blossoms bloom in March and April, the entire area is covered in beautiful apricot flowers.

Now, the branches are laden with small yellow fruits, making it irresistible to pick one and eat it.

The apricots tasted sweet and sour. Yinreng broke off a bright yellow, ripe apricot from a branch, peeled it, and offered it to Tong Wanyan's lips.

"Try it," Yinreng said.

Tong Wanyan took a bite from Yinreng's hand, her eyes half-closed in satisfaction: "Delicious. Just as good as the ones in the palace."

Upon hearing this, the head of the village was so excited that he almost knelt down.

Everything used by the nobles in the palace is carefully selected. For an apricot grown on an ordinary imperial estate to receive such praise is enough for him to boast about for decades.

The apricots he grows are so good that even the Crown Prince approves of them!

As for whether it was actually Tong Wanyan who said it, that's not important, since no one will bother to verify it anyway.

Yinreng waited for Tong Wanyan to finish the apricot in her hand, then quickly picked another one. His movements were practiced, showing that he was used to doing this.

Tong Wanyan stood on tiptoe, plucked an apricot, wiped it with a handkerchief, and carefully peeled the skin.

"Want to try some?" Tong Wanyan held up a peeled apricot, tilted her head, and looked at Yinreng with a smile.

Yinreng was so excited he could hardly contain himself: "Sweet!"

It's been so long since he's enjoyed this treatment since he had his few chubby little ones.

Even Xuan Niao, that talkative parrot, occasionally gets a handful of melon seeds fed to him by Xiao Yan herself, but he gets nothing.

"I know that I am the most important person in Xiao Yan's heart," Yinreng said, staring into Tong Wanyan's eyes.

Other women, such as the Crown Princess, were vainly trying to vie for his place in Xiao Yan's heart.

Tong Wanyan couldn't help but chuckle. She beckoned Xia Zhu to hand her a handkerchief and wiped her hands clean first. Then, she took Yinreng's hand and gently wiped it for him.

"Your Excellency has always been the most important person in my heart." Tong Wanyan knew Yinreng's little thoughts.

Sure enough, Yinreng smiled foolishly after hearing this.

Shi Xiuzhu rushed over on horseback and, upon seeing this scene, was filled with rage.

How could her carefully nurtured, vibrant cabbage have been ruined by that pig, the Crown Prince?

People who protect their own are always so unreasonable.

Shi Xiuzhu was one, and so was Yinreng.

As Shi Xiuzhu glared menacingly at Yinreng holding Tong Wanyan's hand, Yinreng turned around and glared back at her in return.

The ghost lingers.

From Yinreng's silent lip movements, Shi Xiuzhu clearly understood what he was saying to her.

Shi Xiuzhu sneered, and before anyone could react, she gracefully bowed to Yinreng.

"It just so happens that Yuqing Palace isn't busy today. I heard that the Crown Prince took his sister out to play, so I came uninvited. I hope the Crown Prince won't be unhappy about it?" Shi Xiuzhu said with a smile, appearing every bit the gentle and amiable Crown Princess.

Yinreng gritted his teeth in anger and turned his head away, refusing to acknowledge him.

The village head, kneeling on the ground, had cold sweat and a look of bewilderment on his honest face.

The Crown Princess's words don't make sense. Usually, when women are arguing, isn't it another woman who's picking a fight?

The women in the palace are different from the women in the countryside.

Tong Wanyan clutched her handkerchief to her forehead, feeling as if she were standing right in the middle of a battlefield.

"You're here! The scenery at this estate is quite nice. Didn't you say you wanted to try some sour apricots last time? I think the apricots over there are still a bit sour. Let's pick some and try them together." Tong Wanyan pulled Shi Xiuzhu to her side and spoke affectionately.

Shi Xiuzhu reached out and brushed the fallen leaves from her hair, his eyes filled with affection as he said, "Since you like sweets, you can stroll around this area. If you have time, you can also take a look over there. There are servants around; have them pick some to keep on hand so you can take them back to the palace."