Standing behind Xueying, A'luo was initially worried that Xueying's health was not good and that accompanying Yonglian to find the cat would be tiring. However, looking at the smile on Xueying's face, A'luo couldn't bring herself to say the words of dissuasion she wanted to utter.

The master hasn't smiled so happily in a long time...

Xueying had been troubled by her lack of offspring and felt very depressed, but looking at Yonglian now, her depression dissipated considerably.

A moment later, Xueying and Yonglian found a cat under a tree. The cat was curled up under the tree, its dark yellow fur blending into the colors of the autumn imperial garden. If it weren't for the faint meows it made, Xueying and the others would have had a hard time finding the little cat.

The cat was rather thin, and its cries sounded like a child's wail, making it appear rather pitiful amidst the bleak autumn scenery. Looking at the frail cat, Xueying felt a pang of heartache. Disregarding the somewhat disheveled cat, she crouched down and gently stroked it.

Seeing this, Yonglian squatted down, took out a few pastries from his sleeve, and handed them to the cat.

Yonglian squatted there feeding the cat and talking to the kitten, "Eat more, this pastry is delicious. My mother specially prepared it for me. Here, have some."

The cat seemed to understand human nature; it wasn't afraid of strangers, stuck out its tongue and licked Yonglian's hand, then looked up at him.

"Hehe, it tickles..."

"Meow meow meow..."

"Isn't it delicious? I love this pastry too..."

Seeing Yonglian like this, Xueying didn't disturb him and just watched them from the side.

"It's a pity I can't take you back to Xiefang Palace. The governess will definitely not keep you..." Thinking of this, Yonglian's voice couldn't help but sound a little disappointed.

But the kitten wasn't human and couldn't hear the sadness in Yonglian's words; it just happily ate the pastries in Yonglian's hand.

After Yonglian finished feeding the cat, he sighed, stood up, and bowed to Xueying. "I'm going to study now. Thank you, Consort Xian."

Seeing him sigh so sadly at such a young age, Xueying felt a pang of sympathy. She reached out and touched Yonglian's forehead, asking softly, "Do you read a lot of books every day?"

Yonglian nodded, "Empress Mother won't let me play, and the governess keeps an eye on me every day..."

Xueying looked at Yonglian's slightly lowered eyelids and felt an indescribable heartache. Yonglian should be at an age where he could be playing, but he was born into the royal family and was the eldest son. Naturally, Yonglian could not be as free as children from ordinary families. Even a frail cat could make Yonglian so happy. Although he was a prince, Yonglian had no right to decide whether to keep the cat.

However, she had no way to help Yonglian. If Mingyu found out that Yonglian was playing with her, Mingyu would control Yonglian even more in the future.

So, Xueying could only watch Yonglian leave.

As A'luo watched Yonglian's departing figure, she said to Xueying, "Her Majesty the Empress makes the Second Prince study every day, for fear that he will fall behind others even slightly."

Upon hearing this, Xueying sighed softly, "It's all fate..."

She knew that Mingyu was like this because Yonglian was the legitimate son, and Jinshi had given birth to another prince. Mingyu was afraid that others would steal Yonglian's limelight, so Yonglian had to be exceptionally outstanding in order to gain the emperor's favor. That's why Mingyu was so strict with Yonglian.