After returning to the Princess's residence, Jiang Yue closed the door to visitors.

But after nightfall, avoiding detection, the vegetable truck carrying fruits and vegetables successfully entered through the side gate—

"Old Wang, are the vegetables fresh this year?"

"Steward Qian, look at what you're saying. How could the food delivered to the Princess not be fresh?"

"Alright, hurry and send it to the kitchen. Her Highness needs fresh vegetables tomorrow morning."

"Okay~"

......

The conversation was ordinary, with nothing particularly noteworthy.

In the darkness, the informants were drowsy and unaware that something was amiss.

After the vegetable cart entered the princess's mansion, it meandered around and came to a place where the old man who delivered the vegetables, Wang, was led to another location.

With a smile, Aunt Ge lifted the lid and helped the visitor out of the wooden tub.

"Young Master Liu, the Princess has been waiting for a long time."

"Aunt Ge? Thank goodness you came to pick me up, otherwise I wouldn't know the way. By the way, I'm hungry, can you cook me a bowl of beef noodles? I want the kind with lots of beef."

Liu Yunfei rubbed his neck; this little bucket was really too much of a burden for him.

My legs are numb, my arms are numb, and I'm hungry.

"Of course, Young Master Liu, please go and pay your respects to the Princess first. We will then bring you beef noodles and add some chili oil, right?"

Aunt Ge picked up the conversation very skillfully, clearly familiar with the other person's habits.

"Yes, yes, Aunt Ge is so kind, she knows my habits. I'll go check on Auntie first~"

Liu Yunfei nodded readily. To be honest, he'd been so busy putting on a smiling face during the day that he hadn't really eaten properly...

Aunt Ge looked on with a kind expression. This young master Liu, just like back then, hasn't changed much in his tastes.

"Steward Ge, this new prefect is so young!"

"Shh, she's married, don't embarrass the princess!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Come on, let's go to the kitchen. The braised beef should be ready soon."

......

Reception Room

Knowing that Liu Yunfei was coming, Jiang Yue had already prepared some pastries and placed them on the table.

Given that there were official matters to discuss, trusted confidants were stationed outside the hall.

After waiting a short while, footsteps sounded outside the hall, a familiar voice, a familiar formula—

"Aunt Jiang, I'm exhausted!"

"Oh no, I'm starving!"

"Yunshui County is so remote! We climbed mountains and waded through rivers the whole way, and the soles of our feet are all blistered!"

"Stop! You're a man with children, how can you be so immature?"

Jiang Yue covered her forehead, signaling the other party to restrain themselves.

"Auntie~ I'm a prefect now, how about that, pretty fast promotion, right~"

After Liu Yunfei finished his greetings, he moved a chair closer to Liu Yunfei.

He had grown a small mustache, and his usually serious face was ruined by the flippant tone of his words.

Jiang Yue sighed. This kid is no different from when she first met him a few years ago.

It seems that years of official life haven't erased the frivolousness in this kid's bones.

"Speaking of promotions, what's going on with you? How did you suddenly become a sixth-rank prefect?"

Jiang Yue looked at the boy suspiciously; no matter how she looked at it, it didn't seem right.

"Oh, Auntie, you don't know, these days Yunshui County is a tough nut to crack in the eyes of those high-ranking officials and nobles in Jinling."

Liu Yunfei sighed, then began to explain mysteriously.

"In other words, there's no money to be made here, and if you're transferred here, you'll be facing a barren and impoverished situation."

Who doesn't know, who doesn't know that the previous prefect led the way in extorting money from the people?

Yunshui County is now just an empty shell, with no money to be made. Once he is transferred, he may not have a way out for five, ten, or even more years!

The officialdom is like a battlefield; once you're transferred, your future is over!

Normal people, or rather, powerful and influential families, who would be willing to transfer themselves or their children and nephews here?

After hearing the explanation, Jiang Yue was both amused and exasperated.

Is this a case of "the flowers you plant with care may not bloom, while the willows you plant unintentionally may thrive"?

She bought the former prefect's private treasury for zero yuan, and no one else in the world could possibly know that!

Even if Wang Sinian realized what was happening and tried to shift the blame onto her, no one would ever believe him!

Besides, only a ghost can pry open a dead person's mouth.

"So, you volunteered?"

Liu Yunfei nodded, then quickly added:

"Auntie, my father also supports it, so it wasn't my decision on my own."

Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Aunt Jiang stopped questioning him.

"Very well, now that you're in Yunshui County, do your job well. Another day, have your wife bring the children over for a visit..."

Seeing this, Jiang Yue decided not to continue criticizing the couple and thought she should secretly take care of them more.

After all, her father, Prefect Liu, had taken care of her many times, and the two families were old friends.

"Yingying misses her aunt so much, but Rong'er is still too small to fit in the tub, otherwise..."

Liu Yunfei said he was thirsty, so he poured himself some juice.

Yes, that's right, it's juice.

He doesn't like drinking tea. As expected of his aunt, she remembers even his little quirk!

Jiang Yue turned her head away uncomfortably. Clearly, the boy had misunderstood. In fact, the juice was made by Aunt Ge herself.

After learning that this guy wanted to match her with his father, Aunt Ge treated the boy like a son or nephew.

It's probably a case of loving someone because of their love for them, so she's nice to this guy in the hopes of getting her to marry his father...

However, Aunt Ge was destined to be disappointed.

"Knock knock knock~"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the midnight snack has arrived."

Just as I was thinking about Aunt Ge, I heard her voice outside.

"Come in."

Jiang Yue spoke, indicating that Aunt Ge could come in.

"Squeak~"

The moment the door opened, oh, the fragrance!

The aroma of meat, beef.

Braised beef?

Upon closer inspection, wow, it was a huge bowl of beef noodles!

She doesn't eat late-night snacks, so who else could this late-night snack be prepared for?

"It smells so good, thank you so much, Aunt Ge!"

Liu Yunfei's mouth watered at the familiar aroma.

After thanking him, he eagerly picked up his bowl and chopsticks and began to eat the meat.

That's right, eating meat.

It's called beef noodles, but the noodles are actually pressed into the bottom of the bowl, and there's only a small amount.

This is a huge bowl full of beef!

Sprinkle chopped green onions and scallion segments on the soup, and the unique aroma is irresistible!

Slurp up the broth, it's so delicious!

I picked up a piece of beef, took a bite, and wow, the beef was so chewy!

He can show off another big bowl!

"Delicious!"

It's so delicious!

"Eat slowly if you like. These were all prepared by the kitchen at the princess's request. Princess..."

Aunt Ge felt a burning sensation on her back. Knowing that the princess disliked her matchmaking, she wisely kept quiet.

She did everything she should and shouldn't have said.

All she wanted was for someone who cared for her and looked after her when the princess wanted to get married in the future...

Jiang Yue rubbed her temples. When did Aunt Ge learn to lie?

There was actually a silly girl who believed it. Looking into her eyes, I got goosebumps!