Gan Qiongying withdrew her hand from Li Hua's waist; it was just teasing.

She watched as Li Hua pursed his lips, suppressing the slight upward curve of his lips, restrained and reserved. But based on Gan Qiongying's meticulous research and observation over the past few days, she knew that this was a sign of Li Hua's happiness.

As long as the God of Wealth is happy, she took out the jade ring from her sleeve and personally stepped forward to tie it on Li Hua.

“This was a gift from His Majesty, and it is said to be priceless,” Gan Qiongying said. “Such a precious item is a perfect match for my incomparably precious husband.”

After tying it on, Gan Qiongying took a small step back and said, "Look, how well it matches!"

Li Hua glanced down and paused slightly.

He looked up at Gan Qiongying, and the secret joy he had felt earlier vanished like a bubble bursting on water.

Li Hua had already taken control of the princess's residence and knew everything about it. He had never seen the jade ring before, but he had certainly seen a picture of it.

On the gift list sent out by Princess Duanrong.

This was a birthday gift she gave to Zhongli Zhengzhen, the hostage prince of Jinchuan, some time ago. Why would she give it to him again?

This exquisitely crafted, unadorned jade ring is not something you can just pick out anywhere.

She was with him every day, so when did she go to see Zhongli Zhengzhen?

Li Hua's heart sank inch by inch. She looked down at the jade ring and said softly, "It is not appropriate for the princess to give away something bestowed by His Majesty."

Li Hua said, trying to take it off, but he didn't want to!

Gan Qiongying grabbed his hand and whispered, "His Majesty bestowed this upon you after our marriage. It is inappropriate for a woman like me to wear such a large jade ring."

"I was confused a while ago and accidentally sent it out of the manor with it. I went to a banquet a while ago and was about to come back. I changed the knot, so I haven't had a chance to give it to you yet."

Gan Qiongying pleaded, "Husband, please don't hold it against me. I know I've done wrong. You can punish me if you're angry. This is yours, don't take it off."

It was probably that phrase, "This was originally yours," that calmed Li Hua down.

They tacitly agreed that neither of them mentioned who the jade ring had been given to before.

Gan Qiongying said, "His Majesty will definitely attend the Grand Princess's birthday banquet."

"Since our marriage, we haven't been able to see His Majesty together. This trip to Xishan is a good opportunity to meet my aunt and brother as well."

"Husband, please don't be angry with me anymore. I won't do anything foolish again."

Gan Qiongying's honesty did indeed calm Li Hua's agitated heart.

When he married Princess Duanrong, it was a very ugly affair. He was beaten so badly on the second day of the wedding that he could not get out of bed. How could he go to the palace to meet the emperor?

The emperor clearly didn't want to see him either, so he just sent someone to give him some insignificant gifts and even sent a eunuch to give him a dressing down.

Li Hua rarely thinks about those unhappy past events.

Now that the old matter has been brought up again, what should have been an unsolvable rift has been quickly dispelled by Gan Qiongying's frankness, apology, and pleading gesture as she shook his sleeve, like ink drops falling into water.

Li Hua sighed imperceptibly and pulled the cuff out of Gan Qiongying's hand.

His expression remained tense, but he did not attempt to untie the jade ring.

Gan Qiongying achieved her goal and beamed with joy.

She insisted on wearing it openly and ostentatiously, otherwise how could she go fishing?

She clung to Li Hua and boarded the carriage with him, setting off towards Haoyue Manor in the Western Hills.

On the bus, Gan Qiongying didn't relax either. She knew that communication was very important, and how could she let Li Hua go to Haoyue Manor in an unhappy mood? How could they show their affection then?

So they got into the carriage. Gan Qiongying took off her heavy outer robe, sat down next to Li Hua, sent Tianjiao and Manyue away, and personally fanned Li Hua, who was leaning against the carriage wall reading a book, with a gold-threaded fan.

Princess Duanrong was always extravagant. This carriage was so big that it could fit several horses. The chilled fruits and tea were placed on the magnetic table, and no matter how much the carriage was jostled, the plates would never leave the small table.

There were soft seats all around, and a large bowl of ice was placed luxuriously in the middle.

Gan Qiongying dragged the ice basin closer, but even though she wanted to lie down on it to cool off, she didn't do it. Instead, she just kept fanning the cool breeze towards Li Hua with her gold-threaded fan, just like a diligent little maid.

As for princess-like majesty and royal prestige, can you eat them? Can you use them as money?

Gan Qiongying could be even more humble; she would not only fan people, but also wash their feet.

She was very clear that she didn't consider Li Hua as a man, or even as a person.

She has a husband who gives her 200,000 taels of silver a month and has also helped her revitalize several shops. Her future income will definitely be more than 200,000 taels.

Is this kind of man a man? No, he's a god.

Is serving God really serving?

The key to her and the emperor's survival lay with Li Hua.

She's like a little puppy-dog.

Li Hua couldn't resist her attentiveness. These days, she was increasingly shameless in her attempts to please him, and he simply didn't know how to respond.

He had experienced Princess Duanrong's ruthlessness firsthand; she was infamous for her viciousness and wicked ways. But Li Hua never imagined that she would be like this when she was truly kind to someone.

Li Hua couldn't help but wonder, had she always pursued Zhong Li Zhengzhen like this before?

"Alright." Li Hua didn't want to think about it anymore.

He knew that there were people in this world who loved others so much they wished them to live, and hated others so much they wished them to die.

He looked at Gan Qiongying with a complicated expression and said, "Princess, why have you gone to such lengths?"

“As for,” Gan Qiongying said, “it’s understandable that my husband is unhappy.”

She wiped her temples with the back of her hand to catch a little sweat.

Li Hua sighed, pulled her to sit up straight, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and gently wiped away the sweat from her temples.

Gan Qiongying smiled ingratiatingly at him, and when Li Hua looked into her eyes, his bright, starry eyes seemed somewhat clouded.

"Princess...do you treat everyone else like this? So disregarding everyone else, lowering yourself like this, just to make the other person happy?"

Li Hua regretted asking the question as soon as she did. It was more than just a slip of the tongue; it was practically an interrogation.

Gan Qiongying immediately shook her head and looked at him, saying, "How could you think like that? Of course, you wouldn't think that way about other people."

“Although I was foolish before, I was still a princess. How could I lower myself to such a degree? Wouldn’t that damage the royal dignity…”

Gan Qiongying wasn't lying. In Duanrong's memory, she pretended to pursue Zhongli Zhengzhen, using all sorts of despicable means, but she never lowered her stance.

Li Hua's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

His eyes grew even darker.

Gan Qiongying continued, "How can anyone else compare to you?"

No one can afford 200,000 taels a month.

Upon hearing what she said, Li Hua's breathing became labored.

The two sat facing each other, the slightly swaying carriage making them appear closer and farther apart at times.

Li Hua watched her smile, her face glistening with sweat. Her exquisite makeup hadn't been ruined by the sweat; instead, it looked like a plum soaked in honey, exuding a subtle sweet fragrance.

It makes one's mouth water just looking at it.

What is her true feelings about herself?

Li Hua kept thinking about it.

If it was truly lust at first sight, then how could his fake face satisfy her so much?

She had also pursued Zhong Lizheng. If she knew what he really looked like... would she like him?

Upon realizing what she was thinking, Li Hua was startled and quickly stopped, as if pricked by a needle.

He would die if he revealed his true face; the fact that he could never show his true face to anyone for the rest of his life was the highest form of forgiveness his father had shown him.

Li Hua felt a rebellious feeling she had never experienced before.

Why can't he live as he truly is?

So what if one is lustful at first sight?

The color is also him, the intention is also towards him, so what's wrong with that?

He looked at Gan Qiongying, his gaze falling on her small, rosy nose, and as if possessed, he leaned forward with the swaying of the carriage.