Chapter 465 Returning to the Song Kingdom Again

After saying that, Afu sighed and regretfully carried the fresh ingredients in his hand to prepare dinner.

As he walked, he shook his head and said, "It's such a pity that so many poems were written. Not a single one was allowed to be circulated. Only a few lines were written in a letter to the Second Princess. Oh well, what can I do? My young master is so low-key. I'm afraid only I, Afu, can fully appreciate his talent."

Zijuan and Zhuifeng carefully placed the items on the table after repeated reminders and instructions.

She proudly showed him the box full of strange and wonderful trinkets, saying, "Brother, these are all the good things I've collected along the way!"

With the little girl's introduction, Pei Ji identified each of the trinkets one by one, and finally, they arrived at the main attraction.

Sheng Sheng opened her hands and shook the inkstone she had carefully selected for a while, manually creating a "glittering" effect.

“Brother, this is made using a unique craft from the State of Jin. The moment I saw this inkstone, I thought of you!”

Pei Ji lowered his eyes to look at the warm inkstone in his palm. The cloud patterns were delicate and smooth, and the edges were inlaid with small pieces of lapis lazuli, which shimmered with a soft luster in the light.

Pei Ji looked up and saw the little girl looking up at him with her eyes full of expectation, her eyelashes trembling slightly, like a little sparrow waiting to be praised.

Pei Ji, however, thought that the little girl's eagerness to take credit was much more appealing than the inkstone.

More than the gift itself, she thought of him when choosing it, and those words would make him feel warmer.

My fingertips lingered on the delicate patterns of the inkstone, the coolness spreading through my palms, yet my heart felt warm.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and a soft light flickered in his usually calm eyes. He raised his hand and gently ruffled the top of her head, his fingertips touching the soft strands of hair. "You have excellent taste. I really like this inkstone."

He paused, then looked down into her strikingly bright eyes, his voice softening further: "What's even more precious is that you remember me in your heart."

Pei Ji's words were blunt, which surprised Zijuan and Zhuifeng, who had always regarded the two as childhood friends.

The two exchanged a glance, then looked at their innocent and adorable little princess, who clearly hadn't yet grasped the world. They smiled silently and, in the end, tacitly chose to pretend not to see.

Unaware of what was happening, all they felt was the pride and joy of having their gift acknowledged.

"Of course! The bamboo pattern on this inkstone is so beautiful, just like Brother Pei Ji's!" Sheng Sheng laughed.

Pei Ji neither confirmed nor denied it, but smiled and said, "Thank you for your birthday gift."

"Hehe." Sheng Sheng rested her chin on her hand. "But now that I've given you a gift, what am I going to do on your actual birthday? No, no, I have to go find another gift for you!"

Pei Ji didn't stop him, but he subtly curled the corners of his mouth up, then quickly suppressed the smile, feigning difficulty: "Wouldn't that be too much trouble for you?"

"How could this be!"

Sheng Sheng immediately shook her head, "Preparing a gift is nothing, how could it be troublesome? I'm very happy to see that Brother Pei Ji likes the gift I gave him."

Pei Ji smiled and said, "Okay."

As the words fell, the wind chimes on the eaves suddenly tinkled, and the evening breeze, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, drifted into the room, dispersing a few fragments of warmth.

Pei Ji solemnly placed the inkstone on the table. The luster of the lapis lazuli blended with the candlelight, just like the soft light that could not be hidden in his eyes.

Zhuifeng and Zijuan silently retreated to the door, saying they were going to help Afu prepare the dishes.

Zhuifeng and Zijuan exchanged a glance, both feeling helpless and amused. Their princess was still young and unaware, but Young Master Pei was already clearly treating his little darling as the apple of his eye.

The two of them let out a silent sigh.

Young Master Pei, it seems we'll have to wait at least ten years.

The days after returning to the palace neither passed quickly nor slowly.

Perhaps due to the many important matters in the palace and the busyness of those around him, Pei Ji's birthday soon arrived.

On October 28th, without anyone else in tow, a person knocked on the door of Jingyuexuan right on time.

Pei Ji opened the door, but Afu was nowhere to be found.

The moonlight fell on his plain robe, making him appear refined and gentle.

"Happy birthday, Brother Pei Ji!" Sheng Sheng smiled, her eyes crinkling, and handed over the brocade box, her nose slightly red from the morning chill.

Pei Ji stepped aside to let her into the room, took the brocade box and opened it. Inside was a bamboo-shaped silver hairpin with a small moonstone adorning the head, which shimmered softly in the moonlight.

"I picked this on purpose. My brother likes bamboo, and this is the perfect match for you." Sheng Sheng looked up at him, her tone full of expectation.

He says he likes bamboo, but he doesn't really like it that much.

It was simply because the two first met in a bamboo forest.

Pei Ji ran his fingertips along the patterns on the hairpin, his eyes warming as he reached out and ruffled her hair. "I really like it, thank you, Sheng Sheng."

The room was quiet, with only the swaying bamboo shadows outside the window.

She pulled him down to sit, then took out a piece of osmanthus cake she had made herself from her sleeve: "And this! I've been learning from the cook for a long time, try it and see if it's good."

Pei Ji picked it up and took a bite. It was sweet but not cloying, and the fragrance of osmanthus spread on his tongue.

He looked up into the little girl's bright eyes, a gentle smile curving his lips: "So sweet."

Sheng Sheng laughed, her eyes crinkling, and leaned over to chatter away, offering birthday wishes.

"Happy birthday, Brother Pei Ji!" Sheng Sheng said with a smile. "It turns out that Sheng Sheng was worried about how to celebrate Brother Pei Ji's birthday. In the end, she thought that it didn't really matter. As long as Brother Pei Ji is happy, that's all that matters."

"Um."

Pei Ji chuckled softly.

Of course he'll be happy.

Sheng Sheng stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled and said, "Brother Pei Ji, you seem to have no temper at all."

"Um?"

"Look, look, that's it! It's like you nod and say 'uh-huh' to everything I say. If I asked you to give me all your possessions, would you do that without hesitation?"

Yes, I will.

Sheng Sheng paused, then pursed her lips.

"I don't want to." Sheng Sheng changed the subject. "By the way, Brother Pei Ji, you're going back to Wenhua Hall for classes soon, right? I'm currently in my early education phase. After the winter bath is over, I'll be going to Wenhua Hall too. Then we'll be classmates."

“Hmm…” Pei Ji shook his head, “I probably won’t go to the Wenhua Hall.”

"ah?"

This surprised Sheng Sheng, who immediately asked, "Why?"

Pei Ji did not hide anything and said truthfully, "Since the new crown prince took office, His Highness has begun to promote diplomatic relations with the State of Jin, and the relationship with the State of Song has also begun to change in secret. Some things must be done faster."

Pei Ji paused, looked at Sheng Sheng, and continued, "Actually, in a few days, after Uncle Xiao returns, I will go back to the Song Kingdom with him again."