Jialan saw Ning Qing praising him with a very serious expression.

He silently thought to himself: What a hypocrite.

But her face was beaming with smiles.

"It's an honor for these pastries to receive a compliment from an adult."

Ning Qing glanced up at the hypocritical person.

He laughed and said, "I'm not praising them, but the person who created them."

He glanced meaningfully at Jialan.

"A person who can make such exquisite pastries that are perfect in color, aroma, and taste must be a rare and wonderful person!"

Jialan couldn't help but glance at Ning Qing sideways.

Ning Qingchao smiled.

As their eyes met, something subtly changed.

Jialan immediately lowered her head, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes.

The sound of a child coming from outside.

"grown ups".

Ning Qingchao glanced at the entrance.

"Enter".

The child walked in quickly, head bowed and eyes fixed straight ahead.

He bowed and began to speak.

"My lord, someone from the palace has come to summon you to the palace."

Ning Qing knew why the Great Eastern Emperor was in such a hurry to summon her.

Out of the corner of his eye, he couldn't help but glance at Jialan standing to the side.

Jialan was also looking at Ning Qing with a heavy expression.

Since leaving Yan Hong Lou yesterday, Jialan knew that the people guarding them would definitely go back and report.

The reason those people didn't come out to stop them yesterday was simply because they saw that the person taking them away was the Grand Preceptor, and dared not make any rash moves.

The Emperor summoned the Grand Preceptor today, surely because of what happened yesterday.

Just as Garan was feeling uneasy, his hand was suddenly enveloped tightly by a warm, large hand.

Jialan looked at Ning Qing and saw him give her a reassuring smile.

For some reason, when Garan saw that smile, the unease in his heart gradually dissipated.

Garan called out softly.

"grown ups".

The words "adult" uttered by him carried a hint of lingering tenderness.

It sounded more like the soft whispers of lovers.

Ning Qing blinked, thinking to herself:

What should I do if my wife is too tempting?

No, I have to leave quickly. I couldn't help myself again and scared my wife half to death.

Ning Qing stood up, her large hand still tightly holding Jia Lan's hand.

She gazed deeply at him and whispered, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I will protect you for the rest of my life."

Although the voice was soft, the determination within it was undeniable.

Every word struck Jialan's heart with force and conviction.

A warm feeling filled my heart.

Jialan's eyes flickered.

“Galan…”

Before I could finish saying thank you, a warm finger was placed upright on my lips.

Jialan lifted her eyelids and looked at Ning Qing.

He was looking at me with a smile on his face.

"Shh, I don't like hearing words of gratitude from you. I'd much rather hear..."

He raised an eyebrow, though he didn't finish his sentence.

But both of them knew exactly what was going on.

Garan softly called out, "My lord."

Ning Qing said, "You stay here in the manor without worry. I'll be right back."

With that, he strode towards the door.

Garan's gaze followed his receding figure.

My feelings were incredibly complicated.

He couldn't understand what kind of heart this person had when they approached him.

Was it just a fleeting whim to pursue a romantic relationship? Or was there an ulterior motive?

From yesterday until now, this person has shown a very strong interest in himself.

It even gradually led people to believe that he had fallen in love with himself.