Autumn in Jiangnan has shed its summer heat, yet a stubborn trace of gentle dampness lingers. Fine rain weaves a hazy veil, softly enveloping the backyard of the Chenji Silk Shop with its blue tiles and white walls. In the small courtyard, several golden osmanthus trees are in full bloom, their sweet fragrance, moistened by the rain, wafts and entwines around the carved window frames, quietly seeping into the house.

In the backyard of the Shen residence, the sun shone warmly. Chun Tao directed several servants to carefully carry several large boxes into the storeroom.

"Madam! Come and see! More gifts have arrived from the capital!" Chun Tao's voice was filled with excitement. She opened one of the boxes, which contained various fashionable brocades, exquisite jade ornaments, and a whole box of toys that were obviously for children—a rattle drum, a cloth tiger, delicate little shoes inlaid with pearls, and incredibly soft brocade clothes.

"This fabric! This color! It must be the work of the Imperial Wardrobe!" Chun Tao held up a piece of shimmering, iridescent silk, admiring it with obvious delight. "And these trinkets for Miss, every single one of them is of the finest quality!"

Shen Yuewei looked at the dazzling array of items, her expression calm, yet a hint of warmth flickered in her eyes. She picked up a small, exquisite jade rabbit, its surface smooth and delicate. "An'an, look, a little rabbit." She handed the jade rabbit to her daughter, who was playing on the floor covered with a thick carpet.

An'an babbled as she grabbed the jade rabbit and curiously put it in her mouth. Chun Tao quickly stopped her with a smile: "Oh, little miss, you can't eat this. It's a treasure your father gave you!" She naturally said the word "father".

Shen Yuewei's heart softened instantly. She put down the account book, reached out to take her daughter, and gently kissed her rosy cheek. The faint scent of milk lingered in her nostrils, her strongest fortress and comfort in this Jiangnan water town far from the hustle and bustle of the capital. Chun Tao came in carrying a plate of freshly made osmanthus cakes and smiled when she saw her daughter. "Madam, look at our young lady, she's getting more and more clever every day. Her eyebrows and eyes really are like yours, but her quiet nature is more like..." She stopped abruptly, glanced cautiously at Shen Yuewei, and bit her lower lip in annoyance.

Who does he resemble? It goes without saying.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Shen Yuewei's gentle expression softened slightly; she simply hugged her daughter tighter, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the soft top of An'an's hair. Like him… that man far above the nine heavens, wielding the power of life and death, her daughter's father—Crown Prince Xiao Chengjing. The cold blades of her past life, the soaring flames, the despair of her child gradually losing warmth in her arms… even though the misunderstandings had been cleared up, those deep-seated fears and resistance still clung to her like maggots, making her only want to find peace in this small world with her daughter, never again stepping into that cannibalistic cage.

Shen Yuewei paused slightly, not correcting Chuntao, but looking at her daughter's carefree smiling face, her heart ached slightly.

Chun Tao hurriedly changed the subject: "Miss, I just made some osmanthus honey. Shall I make you a cup to try? I added this year's newly harvested loquat honey, it's very moisturizing."

Shen Yuewei concealed the ripples in her eyes and was about to nod when a series of deliberately heavy yet undeniably hurried footsteps suddenly came from the courtyard gate.

Immediately following was the announcement from the old, frightened gatekeeper: "Young Miss! Young Miss! People from the palace have arrived!"

"The palace?" Shen Yuewei's heart sank suddenly, as if gripped by an icy hand, her blood running cold. An'an in her arms seemed to sense her mother's sudden tension and shifted uncomfortably.

Chun Tao's face turned deathly pale, and she almost dropped the plate in her hand.