"Is that Qingqing?"

How did Qingqing grow up to look like this? Shen Du was shocked.

Before they could see clearly, and unable to stop Liu Zhi, who had climbed the wall with them and seen Qingyin, the two of them tacitly stopped the princes who were quickly climbing up the wall behind them.

"Your Highness, be careful, there are some spider webs nearby."

"Oh." The princes didn't think much of it and waited for Shen Du and Liu Zhi to pretend to wave their hands and remove the spider web.

The two's movements subtly blocked the princes' view of Qingyin.

Except for the Crown Prince, who was furthest away from them, but he arrived last, and they weren't sure if he had seen Qingyin at all.

The two observed silently for a while, but unable to discern any change in the Crown Prince's expression, they withdrew their gaze.

The princes were stopped by Shen Du and Liu Zhi, and by the time they came down, Qingyin and her maids had already disappeared.

After the princes jumped down from the wall, they immediately spotted the cute little panda drinking water by the stream.

"No wonder you ran over here. You were thirsty and knew there was water here, so you secretly ran over."

The Fifth Prince scooped up the little panda by the stream, holding it by the scruff of its neck, and glanced at it. "So this is the little iron-eating beast? It's black and white, and looks like a kitten. Will it grow as big as its mother someday?"

The Fifth Prince exclaimed in amazement.

The Crown Prince concealed the shock in his eyes and said with a normal smile, "Aren't all animals this small when they're young? Little Wu was just that small before, and he's not that tall now."

"Hehe." The Fifth Prince scratched his head.

"These dark circles are actually quite cute, they're prettier than the bigger one, haha."

"Um."

...

On the way back with the baby panda, Shen Du and Liu Zhi talked much less.

As the Crown Prince concealed his deep thoughts and chatted with the prince beside him, he glanced at the two who were somewhat silent.

The crown prince's gaze was subtle, and neither of them noticed.

On the way back, the crown prince used the excuse of being tired to get into the carriage.

He was in poor health, so none of the princes or his companions suspected anything.

Inside the carriage, the Crown Prince leaned against the window. He was tall and slender, with a handsome face, fair skin and red lips. He had a faint air of illness about him, but he did not appear weak. Instead, he exuded an air of nobility.

The crown prince looked at his personal eunuch Chen Fusheng, who was massaging his legs, and suddenly asked calmly, "Chen Fusheng, do you think there are women in the world who are so beautiful that you fall in love at first sight?"

Chen Fusheng was taken aback, wondering why the Crown Prince would suddenly ask such a question. Had the Crown Prince encountered a beautiful woman he had taken a fancy to? Who was she from that family that the Crown Prince liked so much? He had always been by the Crown Prince's side, so how come he didn't know?

The prince gently knocked on the door frame next to the carriage.

The crisp knocking sound startled Chen Fusheng from his daze, and he felt a chill run down his spine.

While the Crown Prince's action didn't necessarily indicate that he was in a terrible mood, it certainly wasn't good either.

Chen Fusheng realized he had been distracted while the Crown Prince was questioning him, and cold sweat broke out on his back. Trembling with fear, he carefully replied, "Your Highness, although I have never met a beautiful woman I fell in love with at first sight, I did see the late Emperor's Consort Dong when I was young. Her beauty was breathtaking, and I could not imagine that there could be a woman more beautiful than Consort Dong."

The crown prince frowned.

He had seen Consort Dong when he was young, but compared to the woman he had just caught a glimpse of, she was like mud on the ground, worlds apart.

Although he couldn't see her face clearly, she was already the most moving and exquisite beauty he had ever seen in the world.

The Crown Prince clenched the ring on his hand. Fifth Brother, Shen Du, Liu Zhi, and the maid beside the woman seemed to be holding a little girl.

A vaguely familiar face surfaced in his mind.

Song Qingqing.

It couldn't be her!

He had seen the young lady Song who chased after Liu Zhi. Her features were bright and youthful, and although she was pretty, she was definitely not the kind of stunning beauty.

The Crown Prince frowned. If it wasn't Song Qingqing, then who was the woman?

At this moment, the crown prince had not yet considered the immense beauty that comes with a girl growing up.

So much so that when he saw Shen Du's familiar and stunningly beautiful wife, he couldn't help but vomit blood in anger.

—

On their way back, Qingyin and her group ran into Song Yuebai, who was carrying snacks and books.

"elder sister."

"Moonlight".

Song Yuebai keenly noticed that her sister wasn't wearing a veil. Given her sister's cautious nature, and with so many people and eyes in the village, she must be wearing a veil.

"Sister, your veil?"

"It's a long story, let's go back first."

Qingyin confirmed her younger brother's guess and decided to go back first.

Song Yuebai stopped her, took off his outer robe and handed it to Qingyin: "Sister, please wear my clothes for now."

Qingyin understood and didn't bother with anything else. She simply put on her younger brother's outer robe to cover her face completely before continuing to walk.

—

On the other side, upon returning to the capital, Shen Du and Liu Zhi silently fell to the back of the group.

Shen Du approached Liu Zhi and asked in a low, unquestionable tone, "That's Qingqing, isn't it?"

Liu Zhi tightened his grip on the horse's reins.

Just as Shen Du recognized Qingyin at a glance, how could he not recognize her? Moreover, wasn't that familiar little girl beside him his daughter?

Liu Zhi said stiffly, "So what if she is? She's someone else's wife."

"Liu Zhi, Young Master Liu, you don't still think you're that dashing husband that Qingqing likes, do you? You and Qingqing are already divorced. Even if you want to go back to your old flame, it's absolutely impossible for you and Qingqing to be together again."

Shen Du said sarcastically.

Liu Zhi was silent for a while, then said bitterly, "We have a daughter."

His response was a nonchalant snort from Shen Du.

"Oh."

Liu Zhi didn't know how he got back to the Liu family mansion. When he arrived, he happened to run into Su Fangying, who had come to the Liu family to curry favor with the old lady of the Liu family.

Su Fangying served by Madam Liu's side, using the skills she had learned in her previous life to please her, and occasionally making Madam Liu laugh heartily.

Madam Liu looked at Su Fangying, who always went along with her, with satisfaction. She took Su Fangying's hand and praised her, "Oh my, you are such a virtuous girl. You even embroidered Buddhist scriptures for me yourself."

"Sigh, unlike our original Zhi'er, who came for four years and never gave me a single gift despite all her efforts."

In reality, the original owner liked Liu Zhi, and because of Liu Zhi, he naturally extended his affection to her, giving many of his family's valuable jewelry and ornaments to Old Madam Liu.

However, those gifts were perceived as Qingyin's carelessness and perfunctory attitude due to the lighthearted jealousy and slander from Old Madam Liu and her maid.

In reality, none of Qingyin's precious treasures were less valuable than the ordinary embroidery piece that Su Fangying had given her.

Su Fangying smiled shyly and blinked her eyes: "Sister Song's original intention was good, but she was careless and forgot to accompany the old lady. The old lady may have misunderstood."