Every month, he suffers from old injuries and endures excruciating pain to regain his lost martial arts skills, all in order to return and be able to protect them. The hardships he endures are beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

The fact that a chosen one of heaven had been crippled and turned into a cripple was heartbreaking for her, let alone for Yongxuan, who was directly involved.

When she heard Yongxuan casually say that he had become a cripple, she couldn't describe how she felt. She couldn't imagine how Yongxuan had gotten through those agonizing days.

But she had promised Yongxuan that she couldn't tell Niannian these things.

She could only watch as Niannian struggled, wanting to forgive but unable to overcome her inner turmoil, and seeing Yongxuan's dejected state, wanting to get closer to make amends but worried about upsetting Niannian. And she could do nothing.

Each of them had their own reasons. She had to leave Niannian and go to the Empress Dowager's side. Yongxuan had to leave Niannian and go to Medicine King Valley. Niannian also had to leave them alone and go to Mount Wutai by herself.

Each of them was caught in their own circumstances, yet each of them was inseparable from the other, their hearts bound tightly to each other...

Niannian didn't seem to mention Yongxuan, but the name she whispered in her sleep was a sign that someone was secretly inquiring about Yongxuan and telling her.

Niannian is not as seemingly indifferent to Yongxuan as she appears, nor does she appear to have forgotten him or care about him. In fact, she avoids any news about Yongxuan, leading people to mistakenly believe that she dislikes him...

Neither of them spoke again, and they quietly gazed at the bright moon in the sky.

...

"Qing'er, Niannian, can I sleep with you? I don't want to sleep alone."

Little Swallow darted into Chen Nian and Qing'er's room, saw the two of them leaning against each other looking at the moon outside the window, ran over, put her head on their shoulders, and muttered to herself.

"What's wrong, Little Swallow?"

It was rare to hear Xiao Yanzi's depressed tone, and even Shen Nianqing was somewhat surprised.

What else could possibly bother Little Swallow?

Chen Nian raised his hand to lift Xiao Yanzi's head, freeing his and Qing'er's shoulders, and the two were able to turn around.

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's conflicted expression, the two men moved aside to make room for her, and Xiao Yanzi sat between them.

"Little Swallow, what's wrong?"

Chen Nian was pulled into Xiao Yanzi's arms and leaned against her.

"I want to sleep with you all."

Little Swallow said sullenly.

“Sure, our bed is big enough, let’s squeeze in.”

Chen Nian looked up at the person above him and nodded.

"Niannian, Qing'er, I'm so annoyed right now!"

Little Swallow looked down at the person in her arms, then turned to look at Qing'er, and sighed.

"Little Swallow, are your troubles Benjamin and Yongqi?"

Looking at Xiao Yanzi, whose face was full of confusion and whose brows were etched with sorrow, Qing'er tentatively shared her guess.

The only thing that could trouble Xiao Yanzi so much is probably those two foreign brothers.

"Hey, Qing'er, how did you know?"

Upon hearing Qing'er's words, Xiao Yanzi felt as if she had found a kindred spirit and spoke excitedly.

"I just guessed randomly, and I actually guessed right?"

Seeing Xiao Yanzi's reaction, Qing'er knew she had guessed correctly and gave a faint smile.

"Sigh, lately, this spotted dove, I don't know what's wrong with him, every time I talk to him, he seems listless. And that Yongqi, he's strange too, he often stares at me blankly."

"Hey, Qing'er, Niannian, what's wrong with these guys? They're so weird."

Qing'er pondered as the two of them listened to Xiao Yanzi's rambling complaints. They exchanged a glance and both saw the smile in each other's eyes.

They had been swooning over the three of them's sweet moments the whole time, but they never expected that Little Swallow would be so clueless.

"Little Swallow, you are a girl, not a man. You can't be on friendly terms with men. If you do, the world will be in chaos sooner or later."

As Shen Nian listened to Xiao Yanzi's words, he looked up at her. The light overhead was a bit dazzling, so Shen Nian squinted.

Noticing Chen Nian's condition, Xiao Yanzi reached out and covered Chen Nian's eyes before turning to Qing'er to ask, looking puzzled.

"Why? We're buddies, why can't I be buddies with Yongqi and Banjiu? If we're not buddies, are we supposed to be sisters? I'm fine with that, but maybe those two aren't so good at it?"

"Ha ha--"

Little Swallow was still the same clueless Little Swallow, only now with a touch of humor, successfully making the two of them laugh.

...

"Ziwei, what do you think? Should we go and get a building? No tiles, no bricks, water on the roof, people walking downstairs?"

The emperor, walking ahead, looked up at the sky, waved his folding fan, turned to look at Ziwei beside him and asked, his eyes full of affection.

Without Erkang's jealousy and interference, Xiao Yanzi mostly rode in Chen Nian and Qing'er's carriages, while the Emperor's carriage only had him and Ziwei.

In order to be recognized as her father, Ziwei served him even more diligently and tried her best to do it perfectly.

With Ziwei's attentive service, the Emperor's feelings for her had been present even in the palace. Once outside the palace, coupled with Ziwei's always adoring gaze towards him, his affection deepened.

Some women are intelligent and have the delicate, feminine looks that men find attractive. Without interference from others, their relationship naturally progresses rapidly.

The only difference is that one is a daughter's feelings for her father, and the other is a man's feelings for a woman...

As for the consequences, we'll only know when everything is exposed.

"Wait, wait, Niannian, shall we get another one? Yours looks so delicious, I want to eat one of yours."

Before Ziwei could answer the Emperor's question, Xiaoyanzi's coquettish voice came from behind. Everyone turned their heads and saw three girls, each holding several items that looked like food.

Little Swallow held Chen Nian in her arms, tilting her head back and looking at Chen Nian pitifully. To be precise, it was Chen Nian who held up her hand, holding the food in her hand.

"Little Swallow, you've already eaten six of my dishes, and three of Qing'er's dishes too. You can't eat anymore, or you'll overeat. We still have lunch later."

"Besides, I told you to buy this before, but you wouldn't. Now you know it's good, and you want me to change it?"

Feeling the pressure on his waist, Chen Nian bent his finger and pressed it against Xiao Yanzi's big head, shaking his head in rejection.

Perhaps Little Swallow was trying to channel her frustration into her appetite; she's been eating non-stop ever since breakfast.

The reason I'm depressed is because of Benjamin and Yongqi.

"Little Swallow, didn't you just have breakfast not long ago? Why are you hungry now? You're even trying to steal Niannian's food. Are you sick? You didn't used to love eating this much."

Those in front looked at the situation behind them, and the Emperor spoke loudly, asking with concern in his eyes.

As for the food for the girls, where did it come from...?

The Emperor's gaze shifted and landed on the people surrounding the three girls.

...