As the crumpled drawing paper was slowly unfolded, cracks appeared on the chef's usually calm and supportive face. It was a distorted drawing of a turtle... That Xiao Ning actually drew a turtle...

The cook, looking disgusted, crumpled the drawing paper into a ball again and threw it into the corner.

An Ning, who was observing him from the shadows, smirked: "Hmph, little punk!"

She shoved the piece of paper covered in writing into Yunyan's hand: "Burn it!"

Yunyan nodded: "Okay."

After finishing their meal, Anning could have gone straight back to the palace, but she took a detour to the slums instead. The slums were where the once most despised crown prince of the Great Qi lived, but now, there was only a penniless beggar.

It's been a long time since I've been here. The environment seems to be better, and the smell isn't as strong.

An Ning went inside, searching for Mu Anheng's shadow. Suddenly, a little girl approached her, looking at her timidly: "You're here to see Brother Mu, right?"

An Ning looked at the little girl in front of her. She was similar to the one in the manor, but the one in the manor didn't look as pleasing to the eye as this one.

"Yes, do you know where he is?"

Xiaoyu pointed to Mu Anheng, who was roasting sweet potatoes at the corner, and said, "Where is he!"

"Okay, thank you."

An Ning slowly walked over, and Mu Anheng turned to the side to see out of the corner of his eye who it was.

He turned around and sat on the haystack, his expression complicated as he looked at her.

"What's up?"

His tone was flat, neither distant nor enthusiastic.

An Ning walked to his side and lowered her voice, saying, "Things in Sihai Yixiu have been quite turbulent lately. That cook is an assassin. If you have time, please take care of Sister Yunyan."

"Okay." Mu Anheng agreed almost subconsciously, without even thinking.

Anning looked at him and said, "Thank you."

"Thanks."

But he looked up and said thank you as well.

An Ning was somewhat surprised: "I should be the one saying thank you."

Mu Anheng smiled and said, "I should thank you for still asking me for help."

~~

The Three Princes' Palace.

An Ning sat on the bed, looking at the person in front of her, still putting on an act. If she hadn't seemingly unintentionally mentioned the small kitchen in the palace today, the prince wouldn't have guessed that Si Hai Yi Xiu had just hired a new chef. Sure enough, they had a backup plan.

Doumiao looked at Anning with a grin: "Brother Ning, it's getting late, I'm going back now."

Anning nodded, watched her leave, and then lay down on the bed in a starfish position.

"So tired."

Mu Ange pushed the door open and came in: "She's finally gone."

An Ning looked at the two of them, one in front of the other, and couldn't help but laugh: "Don't you have your own bed? Why do you always sleep here?"

Mu Ange looked at her and said, "Don't you know what I mean? I've always had ulterior motives towards you."

An Ning sighed.

Mu Ange raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean? Just because I like you makes you feel this bad?"

An Ning shook her head, but then laughed out loud: "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Mu Ange was somewhat frustrated: "So, when exactly will you accept me again?"

An Ning looked out the window; it was pitch black.

Her clear voice rang out: "When I can be a girl again, I will wear a crimson feather robe, stand beside you, and tell you how stunningly beautiful the girl you love is!"

Mu Ange suddenly pulled An Ning into his arms.

"Okay, I'll wait for that day."