Helian Ci nodded and patted Helian Si's head.

"Second Brother understood what Sisi said, so Sisi also acknowledges the fact that Young Master Jinghua is quite old, right?"

Helian Si: "!???"

Looking back at Nan Rong Jinghua, Helian Si was completely bewildered by the sorrowful aura she exuded in that instant.

"No, I didn't mean that, Second Brother, don't talk nonsense!"

Helian Ci pretended not to hear Helian Si's words, gently patted Helian Si's head, and spoke as if coaxing a child.

"No, you do. Sisi, go out and get some candy from Yue'er. Second Brother and the elderly Young Master Jinghua have some private matters to discuss."

Having said that, without waiting for Helian Si's agreement or Nan Rong Jinghua's expression, he gently lifted Helian Si up with one hand.

Then, carrying him all the way to the palace gate, they gently put Helian Si down. After making sure Helian Si was standing firmly on both feet, they affectionately patted Helian Si's head.

Only after gently closing the carved wooden door, blocking Helian Si's gaze, did the gentle smile on his handsome face vanish instantly, replaced by a chilling coldness.

Helian Si was lifted out by Helian Ci like a chick, though gently, it was still the same way of lifting a chick!

Her delicate oval face was blank; her beautiful peach blossom eyes stared blankly at the courtyard outside the palace, filled with blooming, tender flowers.

At that moment, Helian Si felt as if he had lost his soul. Why? Why?

Even though I've grown up, why am I still like a child—weak, pitiful, and helpless?

Waaaaah, I can't even act cute or beg for hugs anymore. I wish I had been a chubby baby when I was little. Waaaaah!

She suddenly didn't want to grow up anymore. Please, please, let her turn back into her old self!

"Your Highness, what happened to you, the Second Prince, and Young Master Jinghua?"

Yue'er was already waiting a few steps outside the palace. The Second Prince had just arrived and wouldn't let her announce his arrival, instead standing at the door listening for a long time.

I was terrified, afraid that the princess and the handsome young master inside were doing *that*... cough, but now it seems it wouldn't really be like that...

"I'm truly, truly guilty," Yue'er couldn't help but steal a glance at the carved wooden door behind Helian Si, a faint worry creeping into her heart.

Second Prince, you wouldn't get into a fight with Young Master Jinghua, would you...?

"Sister Yue'er, waaaaah, it's so much better to be a chubby baby, waaaaah!"

Helian Si was unaware of Yue'er's many inner thoughts, and was unable to extricate herself from her own sorrow of being weak, pitiful, and helpless.

He stepped forward, opened his arms and hugged Yue'er, then buried his face in Yue'er's shoulder and burst into tears.

"Don't cry, Princess. What's wrong? What happened?"

Yue'er couldn't care less about anything else and gently stroked Helian Si's back to comfort him.

Helian Ci had just stepped into the hall when he heard Helian Si crying outside. He paused, then turned to open the door and go out to see what was happening.

Upon hearing this again, he immediately stopped in his tracks, his furrowed brows relaxed, and a smile appeared on his handsome face.

What a coward! How old is he? Why does he still love to act like this? Without further ado, he strode into the hall.

Outside the hall, Helian Si finished howling, raised his face, and there wasn't a trace of tears on it.

When the palace servants of Yongqing Palace looked at him with a half-smile and a reproachful look, Helian Si coughed awkwardly and pretended that nothing had happened.

He gestured "shh" to the group of palace servants, then turned around and tiptoed away.

She walked up to the carved wooden door, squatted down, pressed her delicate oval face against the door, and pricked up her ears...