“Hongshi, during this period, you will attend classes here every morning and return to your own courtyard to practice martial arts in the afternoon. Your mother lives nearby, so you and your mother can see each other often.”

Hongshi was overjoyed; it seemed to be the first time he had ever seen his father so kind.

Since Hongshi had just arrived and had a lot of things to pack, Yinzhen told him to go back first.

When Geng Youran and Niohuru Wanru saw their son, they burst out laughing with joy.

"Hongzhou, do you miss your mother?"

"think!"

Geng Youran affectionately patted Hongzhou's little head.

"How about Mommy takes you for a walk in the garden?"

"good!"

Hongzhou hadn't seen his mother for many days, so naturally he wanted to spend more time with her.

"Qianxue, prepare some snacks and tea. If we get thirsty or hungry later, we can find a pavilion nearby to rest."

"yes."

As Qianxue was about to walk towards the small kitchen next door, Hongzhou took advantage of Geng Youran's inattention and 'whooshed' after her.

“Aunt Qianxue, Hongzhou will go with you.”

"Alright, young prince, let's go together."

Watching Qianxue and Hongzhou's backs, Geng Youran recalled some things she had said to Qianxue during a casual chat some time ago.

"Qianxue, you're old enough to leave the manor now. Would you like to get married and live the life of an ordinary person?"

"Does Your Highness find me lacking in manners?"

Geng Youran rolled her eyes at Qianxue:

"When did you learn to be so glib?"

Qianxue put down her needlework, looked up, and said earnestly:

“Princess, speaking of this matter, I do have a request.”

Geng Youran thought that Qianxue had taken a fancy to one of the guards in the manor and was asking him to arrange a marriage for her. He even looked at her with a mocking expression, but he didn't expect that Qianxue didn't think that way at all.

“Princess, Qianxue doesn’t want to get married, and she doesn’t want to leave the manor.”

"Qianxue, you can't make jokes like that."

“Princess, I am telling the truth. I am willing to remain unmarried for the rest of my life and stay by your side forever.”

Geng Youran felt something was wrong; Qianxue must be hiding something.

"Qianxue, are you having some trouble? Tell me, and I'll help you."

Seeing that she couldn't hide it any longer, Qianxue finally told the truth.

It turned out that she learned from her fellow villagers that her father had become addicted to gambling, and had not only beaten her mother to death, but also sold her younger sister.

Rather than going out and continuing to be exploited by that man, it's better to stay by your own princess's side.

But Qianxue, don't you want a man by your side who understands you, who can protect you for a lifetime?

"This servant does not need it."

Qianxue's resolute attitude impressed Geng Youran.

For women of this era, making such a decision is not easy, regardless of the reasons.

“Princess, I have served you for quite some time now, and I have come to understand some principles. Women are not appendages of men, and living in this world does not necessarily depend on men. I can see that you care about the Prince and like him, but you would never do anything immoral like framing him for his sake, nor would you be saddened by the Prince’s neglect like Consort Nian. I want to be that kind of person too.”

Geng Youran was taken aback, not expecting that the little girl beside her had thought so much.

"Go on."

“Princess, I have learned many skills from you over the years. Even if I no longer work in the Yong Prince’s Mansion, I can still support myself with these skills. Therefore, I implore you to let me stay by your side.”

Geng Youran was persuaded by Qianxue's determination; she hadn't expected that Qianxue had already thought everything through.

"Qianxue, are you really sure? I don't even know what kind of life I'll have with you in the future."

"Princess, rest assured, I have no regrets."

"Okay, since you've made up your mind, there's nothing I can say. As long as you're happy with it, that's fine."

"Princess Xie, please grant my wish!"

Qianxue kowtowed to the ground, thus fulfilling her wish.

Now, looking at Qianxue holding Hongzhou's little hand, Geng Youran felt a pang of heartache. All she could do was try her best to protect those around her.

Not long after, Qianxue and Hongzhou came out with a food box. Hongzhou ran into the house, took the small bow and arrows his father had given him, and took Geng Youran's hand, leading her out.

"Mother, please hurry up."

Geng Youran followed behind, carefully protecting Hongzhou, afraid that he might fall if he wasn't careful.

If Yinzhen saw this, he would definitely accuse her of spoiling her child.

The group arrived at the Qingxiu Pavilion not far away. Geng Youran sat down on the stone bench inside the pavilion, while Qianxue brought out the snacks and tea.

In the open space not far away, several young eunuchs were playing with bows and arrows with Xiao Hongzhou.

"Hongzhou, be careful when you shoot arrows, don't hurt anyone."

"Yes, Mother."

Geng Youran was worried, so she asked Qianxue to go down and keep an eye on things as well.

Less than half an hour later, one of the eunuchs, who had sharp eyes, spotted Yinzhen's figure.

"Princess, it seems the Prince is coming this way."

"Go down and tell the young prince, so as not to offend the prince."

"Yes, sir."

Sure enough, just as the little eunuch had seen, Gao Wuyong led the way, with Yinzhen following behind. Geng Youran glanced around and noticed that not only Yinzhen was there, but it seemed that the Thirteenth Prince was also present.

She quickly stepped out of the pavilion.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness and the Thirteenth Prince."

"Your eyesight is quite good; you even saw us coming. Get up."

Qianxue helped Geng Youran up, and Geng Youran smiled:

"It's not that I have good eyesight, it's that the people Your Highness sent to Hongzhou were capable. They saw you coming first and then told me."

At this moment, Hongzhou put down his bow and arrow and skipped over to Yinzhen.

"Father!"

Geng Youran laughed and scolded:

“Hongzhou, you have no manners! Hurry up and pay your respects to your father and thirteenth uncle.”

Hongzhou quickly followed his mother's instructions and paid his respects to his father and Yinxiang.

Yinxiang waved his hand dismissively:

"Little boy, this is the time when you're being naughty. Come here, Hongzhou, your thirteenth uncle has something good for you."

Yinxiang had a eunuch behind him bring out a long, flat box. Hongzhou opened it and was overjoyed:

"Oh, it's a sword! Mother, look, what a beautiful sword!"

"Hurry up and thank your Uncle Thirteen."

"Hongzhou thanks Uncle Thirteen!"

Yinzhen couldn't help but chime in from the side:

"Thirteenth brother, why go to such lengths to come all this way?"

"Fourth brother, don't even mention me, didn't you also prepare a gift for Xiao Hongzhou?"

Yinxiang looked at his fourth brother with a mischievous grin, and then Yinzhen asked Gao Wuyong to bring out the prepared items.

"Hongzhou, come here."

Yinzhen called his son, who was brandishing a sword not far away, to his side:

"This is what your father prepared for you. Do you like it?"

He loved jade, so he had seals carved for all his sons.