When the Crown Prince's carriage arrived at the Jiangnan courtyard, it was the height of the afternoon when the osmanthus blossoms were in full bloom. The sound of the horses' hooves startled several birds in the osmanthus trees in the courtyard, and also disturbed Chun Tao, who was teaching An'an to recognize the word "fish" under the eaves.

"Miss! Miss! His Highness... His Highness is here!" Chun Tao, holding An An, called out excitedly into the house.

Hearing the sound, Shen Yuewei came out of the study, holding a scroll of newly drawn autumn and winter fabric patterns. She looked up and saw the courtyard gate wide open, and the figure she had longed for striding in. His dark casual clothes couldn't hide his travel-worn state, and his handsome face bore the weariness of a long journey. But the moment his deep eyes met hers, they shone like stars, burning with intense heat. His gaze lingered greedily on her face and body, finally settling on the little child in her arms, who was curiously peering around with wide, dark eyes.

"Wei'er..." Xiao Chengjing's voice was hoarse from a long journey, making it even more magnetic. He strode up the steps, ignoring everyone around him, and pulled Shen Yuewei and An'an in her arms into a tight embrace! The force was so great that it seemed he wanted to knead them into his very bones.

A familiar embrace, carrying the faint scent of pine and dust, instantly enveloped Shen Yuewei. Her body stiffened slightly, then she felt his rapid heartbeat and slight trembling. The tenderness and lingering fear of finding something lost were conveyed perfectly through this embrace. An'an, squeezed in the middle, whimpered uncomfortably.

Shen Yuewei's heart softened, and she gently pushed him: "Your Highness... you're squeezing An'an too tight."

Xiao Chengjing suddenly realized what was happening and quickly loosened his grip, cautiously looking down at his daughter. An'an pouted, as if about to cry, but upon seeing the unfamiliar yet handsome face before her, she blinked her big eyes and curiously reached out her little hand to grab a strand of his hair.

"An'an..." Xiao Chengjing's voice instantly softened to the point of being tender. He clumsily and gently touched his daughter's soft cheek with his fingers, his eyes filled with the overwhelming joy of becoming a father for the first time and an indescribable flutter of emotion. "I'm Daddy..."

An'an seemed to sense the closeness of blood ties, grinning with her toothless little mouth and giggling. This innocent smile instantly melted away the weariness of Xiao Chengjing's journey and the myriad thoughts in his heart. He couldn't help but lean down and place an extremely gentle kiss on his daughter's forehead, then a kiss on Shen Yuewei's temple, his voice low and content: "Wei'er, thank you for your hard work. I'm back."

The arrival of the Crown Prince injected new vitality into the courtyard and brought countless novelties.

Xiao Chengjing displayed astonishing patience and...clumsiness with his daughter, An'an. He tried to change her diaper, but his clumsy attempts resulted in a crooked and messy diaper wrap, causing An'an to kick her little legs in protest, while Shen Yuewei and Chun Tao couldn't help but chuckle. He tried to feed An'an rice cereal, his movements stiff, smearing the cereal all over her face, but the little girl ate it with relish, grinning foolishly at her father with the cereal smeared on her cheeks. This made Xiao Chengjing both heartbroken and amused, and he hurriedly wiped her face.

He loved to take An'an for walks in the yard, pointing to the blooming osmanthus blossoms, the swimming koi, and the flying birds, and earnestly "introducing" the world to his daughter in his deep, melodious voice, regardless of whether she understood or not. An'an seemed to love her father's voice and embrace, and often fell asleep peacefully in his arms.

Watching the iron-willed crown prince awkwardly transform into a doting father, Shen Yuewei felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. This paternal love was something she was willing to give to her daughter. She would also hold An'an quietly beside him, reading or drawing, without disturbing him when he was dealing with urgent messages from the capital. Sunlight streamed through the window, bathing the family of three in a silent warmth and tacit understanding.

The three carts of trunks brought by Xiao Chengjing were also opened, revealing a small storeroom piled high with all sorts of novel and precious toys, soft clothing, exquisite pastries, and valuable medicinal herbs and fabrics. Shen Yuewei did not refuse; she accepted them generously, using what she could and keeping what she could, her attitude natural and open, which made Xiao Chengjing appreciate her even more.