teahouse.

"Wow, is that pretty aunt next to my second uncle our second aunt?" Mo Zhiyuan leaned out the window, looking down at Yun Ziyu and Mo Yuyan walking side by side.

"You're young but shrewd; don't talk nonsense, it will damage Miss Mo's reputation." Upon hearing this, Yun Ziheng almost spat out his tea.

He quickly put down his teacup, reached out and pulled Mo Zhiyuan over, and tapped her forehead as if punishing her.

Mo Zhiyuan immediately became dissatisfied.

While struggling to break free from Yun Ziheng's grasp, she muttered, "Uncle, I won't say anything. I still want to see Uncle, and I still want to see the lanterns. Uncle, please let go of me."

Yun Ziheng reluctantly released her and said to the maid beside him, "Keep a close eye on her. The window is wide open. Be careful she doesn't fall out."

"Yes, young master." The two maids quickly responded and then went to stand guard beside Mo Zhiyuan.

Mo Zhiyuan leaned back against the window and sighed, "Hmph, my second uncle has forgotten his niece because of a pretty girl. He clearly promised my grandmother that he would accompany us to see the lanterns, but now he's gone to see another pretty aunt."

"Brother, do you agree?" After saying that, Mo Zhiyuan turned back to ask Mo Junye in a serious tone.

Mo Junye rolled his eyes in boredom. "Idiot."

Mo Zhiyuan snorted and turned her head to look at Yun Ziyu and Mo Yuyan, who were walking further and further away on the ground.

“Brother is a bad guy too. He called me an idiot, so you’re an idiot brother.” Mo Zhiyuan muttered.

Mo Junye twitched the corner of his mouth and said expressionlessly, "Your second uncle knew you liked rabbit lanterns, so he specially bought them for you and sent them over. How could he forget his niece for a pretty face? Mo Zhiyuan, you should speak with a conscience."

Mo Zhiyuan turned around and made a face at Mo Junye, "Okay, brother, we're outside, don't be so mean to me, okay? Don't I have any pride?"

After speaking, he glanced at Yun Ziheng and Yuan Qingling.

Yuan Qingling, who was sitting to the side, was looking at the lanterns outside very seriously, but when she heard the conversation between the two little ones, she couldn't help but show a faint smile.

"Aunt Yuan, you're making fun of me too." Mo Zhiyuan noticed Yuan Qingling's smile and pouted unhappily.

Yuan Qingling quickly explained, "I just thought the little princess was so cute that I couldn't help but laugh. I didn't mean to make fun of her."

Mo Zhiyuan tilted her head to look at Yuan Qingling, as if to confirm whether what she said was true or false.

Seeing this, Yun Ziheng gently scolded, "Mo Zhiyuan, you mustn't be rude."

Mo Zhiyuan shuddered in fright. She was still quite scared when her uncle scolded her with a blank expression.

"I understand, Uncle. Aunt Yuan, I shouldn't have been so rude. Please forgive me, Aunt Yuan." Mo Zhiyuan walked up to Yuan Qingling and bowed respectfully to her.

Yuan Qingling was startled and quickly stood up, returning the greeting, "Your Highness is too kind. How could Your Highness bow to me?"

Yun Ziheng spoke up, "Since she made a mistake, she should take responsibility. This is something she needs to learn. You should just sit there and behave yourself. You are a guest today, and this is not how she should treat guests."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Qingling knew that Yun Ziheng was instructing Mo Zhiyuan, so she could only sit back down and accept another bow from Mo Zhiyuan.

She would be very happy to know that her child is being raised so well.

After Mo Zhiyuan apologized, Yuan Qingling took the oil paper package from the maid, opened it, picked up a piece of pastry, and handed it to Mo Zhiyuan.

"Your Highness has done such a wonderful job, you deserve praise. These are pastries I made myself, would Your Highness please try them?" Yuan Qingling said, only then realizing that her action was inappropriate.

Royal food undergoes rigorous review and inspection; it would be inappropriate for me to give Mo Zhiyuan pastries so casually.

Yun Ziheng glanced at the pastries, then at Yuan Qingling, and smiled at Mo Zhiyuan, saying, "Want some? If you do, thank you, Aunt Yuan."

Mo Zhiyuan's eyes lit up as she looked at the peach-shaped pastry, which was half pink and half white. Hearing Yun Ziyu's words, she nodded quickly, "Yes, yes, I want to eat it. Zhiyuan wants to eat it. Thank you, Aunt Yuan. You're so kind, Aunt Yuan."

Mo Zhiyuan could utter sweet words without batting an eye, leaving Yun Ziyu helplessly rubbing his forehead.

This little girl is already so good at coaxing people at such a young age; she'll probably be even more amazing when she grows up.

Yuan Qingling smiled happily upon hearing Mo Zhiyuan's words and immediately gestured to her maid to place all the food she had brought on the table.

"Take a look, is there anything else you like to eat? Pick whatever you like." Yuan Qingling said to Mo Zhiyuan, then turned to look at Mo Junye.

"Your Highness, would you like to try some?" Yuan Qingling asked politely.

Before Mo Junye could speak, a piece of pastry was shoved into his hand. "Brother, you have to try this. Aunt Yuan's cooking is really good. It's much better than the pastries sold at Pinxianglou."

Mo Junye could only thank Yuan Qingling.

"Brother, try a bite, it's really delicious, Zhiyuan isn't lying to you."

Urged on by Mo Zhiyuan, Mo Junye took a bite of the pastry, and his eyes lit up. It was really delicious.

It's soft, chewy, and sweet, but not cloying. Once you've had one piece, you'll want a second.

Just as I was thinking this, another piece was stuffed into my hand. "Brother, try this. Aunt Yuan said this is called jujube and pear cake. It's perfect for children. It's sweet and sour and delicious."

Upon hearing this, Mo Junye glared at her, while Mo Zhiyuan smiled ingratiatingly and turned to stare at the other food on the table.

Yun Ziheng, standing to the side, seemed to have figured out something.

"Miss Yuan has brought so much food, are you going out?" Yun Ziheng felt strange. Why would someone go out so late at night?

Yuan Qingling didn't intend to say much, but when Yun Ziheng asked, she could only reply, "My father asked me to go to Xiangguo Temple to pray for my grandmother for three days. I was supposed to leave early this morning, but I wanted to see this year's lanterns, so I delayed until tonight. I should leave soon."

Yun Ziheng was shocked; the Yuan family was so intolerant of a young girl.

“It’s so late. How could your father let you, a young lady, leave the city gates? Today is the Lantern Festival. The city gates close late, and there are many people coming and going. It’s quite chaotic inside and outside the city gates. Miss Yuan, why don’t you set off early tomorrow morning?”

Yuan Qingling gave a helpless bitter smile, "I was kicked out after dinner. Lord Yun, there's no need to worry. My father sent a few servants to accompany me, and they escorted me all the way in a carriage. I think I'll be fine."

As soon as Yuan Qingling finished speaking, Mo Zhiyuan's childish voice rang out, "Aunt Yuan, Grandfather said it's not safe outside, so you should set off early tomorrow morning."

Mo Junye had eaten the pastries, and now that Mo Zhiyuan was staring at him, he said, "Aunt Yuan, why don't you stay at the inn for the night and set off again when the city gates open tomorrow morning?"

Yuan Qingling felt as if her heart was being torn apart by these words of concern.

The more they care, the more it reveals how little their father cares about his daughter.

Everyone else knew it was dangerous at night, but his own father didn't care at all.

Besides, my grandmother is in good health, so there's no need for her to pray for her.