Hearing the sound of the Fourth Prince arriving at the door, Xin Yi quickly put down the pastries in her hand and helped Geng Youran tidy her hair and clothes.

Then he hurried to the door to greet the Fourth Prince, Yinzhen.

The reason why Yinzhen hadn't come for so long was twofold: firstly, he was too busy with official duties, and secondly, he needed to think clearly about the pros and cons involved.

When Kangxi sent Geng Youran to his side, his simplest thought was naturally to make her his 'eyes'.

Another point is to give this son pointers, or rather, to 'warn' him from time to time.

However, to assign a palace maid to the role of 'warning' seems to place too much importance on her. Moreover, Geng Youran's background is not complicated.

Yinzhen felt increasingly conflicted the more he thought about it, so he decided to observe it for himself.

But in reality, Yinzhen was overthinking things. As for Geng Youran's role, it was probably just to satisfy the emperor father's perverse pleasure of teasing his son.

"You certainly know how to enjoy yourself."

Yinzhen glanced at Geng Youran and her group, but did not tell them to get up. Instead, he went directly to the couch and saw the freshly made snacks and tea on the table. He felt a strange sense of 'losing'.

I haven't been here for more than half a month, and she seems to be doing quite well?

Meanwhile, Geng Youran and Xinyi continued to squat, their legs almost numb.

Just as she was trying to speak, Yinzhen spoke:

"Get up, squatting is tiring."

"I thank you for your understanding, sir."

But to everyone's surprise, Geng Youran's legs were too weak, and she fell to the side before she could even get up.

Yinzhen quickly caught the collapsing Geng Youran and said in a low voice without expression:

"You seem to be in a hurry."

Geng Youran immediately understood the implication in Yinzhen's words.

It's just that people think she did it on purpose.

Geng Youran was too lazy to explain. Here, it's best not to mess with or explain to men in power.

Anyway, no one will listen to my explanation.

Yinzhen carried Geng Youran to the couch, and Xinyi came over and rubbed Geng Youran's legs until she felt better.

Geng Youran silently berated herself; how could her legs have gone numb after only a short time away from the palace?

Xin Yi lowered her head, her eyes darting around in their sockets. She decided it was best not to be a third wheel at this time, so she used the excuse of getting tea to leave the room with the other servants.

Yinzhen waved his hand behind him, and Gao Wuyong and his men withdrew.

It was still early, and it wasn't dark yet. Geng Youran didn't know if Yinzhen would stay the night. So she simply stopped thinking about it, lowered her head, and waited for Yinzhen to speak first.

Yinzhen glanced at the woman opposite him. Her appearance was merely above average, her family background was ordinary, and she didn't seem like a deep or scheming person.

Looking at the food on the table, he thought of the snacks he had eaten in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and smiled for once. He thought to himself that if this woman was easy to manipulate, he could still satisfy her appetite.

In fact, Yinzhen didn't know why he valued Geng Youran so much.

Perhaps it was because Geng Youran had spent a long time by the Emperor's side, or perhaps it was because he had eaten a favorite pastry in the Hall of Mental Cultivation that even his own mother had forgotten.

That pastry was sent by Geng Youran when he left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, as an early birthday greeting.

Speaking of this, Geng Youran felt somewhat wronged. She never expected that an ordinary plate of pastries would leave such a deep impression on Yinzhen.

She was just trying to please the future emperor, and soon after, she regretted her impulsiveness.

"Did you make this dessert?"

Geng Youran was startled when she heard Yinzhen's voice, but quickly responded:

"Your Highness, it was Xinyi who made it. A few days ago, Consort Li sent some fresh osmanthus flowers, so I had Xinyi make these."

Yinzhen scooped up a sweet osmanthus dumpling, took a small bite, savored it carefully, nodded, and said:

"As expected, there is the fragrance of osmanthus in it. It seems you have a good eye for food."

Geng Youran smiled:

"It's not as good as you say, Your Highness. I did this before I entered the Prince's Mansion, so naturally I'm more attentive to it."

Yinzhen put down his spoon, looked at the woman across the table who hadn't dared to look him in the eye, and said:

"I don't like things this sweet, let's have something different tomorrow."

After saying that, Yinzhen got up and left.

Geng Youran was left in the room, stunned, muttering to herself:

"Tomorrow, tomorrow."

After seeing the Fourth Prince leave the courtyard with Gao Wuyong, leaving the other servants outside, Xinyi rushed into the house and anxiously asked:

"What happened? Why did the Fourth Prince leave?"

Geng Youran was still confused:

"Let's try something different tomorrow."

Xinyi didn't understand.

"You haven't even eaten today's food, and you're already thinking about tomorrow. I'm asking you, where did Fourth Prince leave?"

Geng Youran then came to her senses and said:

"The Fourth Prince just said he'll be coming again tomorrow."

Xinyi jumped up suddenly, looking at Geng Youran with surprise and delight:

"Princess, you're about to be favored!"

Geng Youran quickly got up and covered Xinyi's mouth:

"You'd better shut up!"

Xinyi nodded and pointed to the hand covering her mouth, indicating that she understood and asked Geng Youran to let go.

Geng Youran then withdrew her hand.

But the two of them immediately ran into a problem.

Although the two of them had been in charge of meals and tea in the palace, knowing the Emperor's tastes did not mean they knew the Fourth Prince's tastes.

After thinking for a moment, Geng Youran decided to eat meat.

"Xinyi, go to the Fujin's courtyard and inform her that the Fourth Prince is coming over tonight and wants to buy some fresh ingredients in advance, and also ask for a pot."

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