In the Northern Liang royal court, the moon was bright and the stars were few, a gentle breeze was blowing.

Since Miao Nanyan cured the people suffering from malaria and returned from the village, the palace has been very peaceful.

Baili Yingfeng held a military treatise in his hand, but he couldn't concentrate on reading it no matter what.

Lately, he could clearly feel that Baili Mingwen was becoming distant from him, which made him, as a father, feel very uncomfortable.

He put down the book and walked towards Baili Mingwen's sleeping quarters.

He quietly crept in under the cover of darkness, took off his shoes, socks, and clothes, and lay down beside Baili Mingwen.

The bedchamber was quiet. Baili Yingfeng had never slept with his son before. He held Baili Mingwen in his arms, swallowing hard.

"Father, are you thirsty?"

"Mingwen, did you get some water?" Baili Mingwen opened his eyes and looked up at him.

[Father, why do you seem a little uneasy?]

"I'm not thirsty."

"Father, is there something you want to say?" Baili Mingwen asked curiously, seeing his hesitant expression.

"Inscription, do you resent your father?"

[Why do you resent your father?]

Baili Mingwen looked at him, puzzled.

"We don't want you to go to the village with the military doctor because we're afraid you'll catch a disease and be in danger."

Bai Liyingfeng explained that his son was growing up and that if he reasoned with him, he might understand and stay away from that woman.

"The reason I don't let you stay with the military doctor is because she comes from the Red Sleeve Kingdom, and she may have ulterior motives and sinister intentions."

“Mingwen, you do not know the dangers of this world, especially as my son. Many people want to take advantage of you, and some want to harm you.”

It seems Father has a deep misunderstanding about Mother!

Baili Mingwen frowned.

"Father, Mingwen understands. I will protect myself."

"Father, rest assured, Mother treats me very well. You must trust your son's judgment."

After saying that, Baili Mingwen hugged Baili Yingfeng.

His body froze instantly.

Over the years, his relationship with Baili Mingwen has not been close; as father and son, they have even become somewhat estranged.

This was the first time I had spoken so much to him calmly.

The soft, cuddly little one in her arms was being so affectionate with her for the first time.

He smiled and gently patted Baili Mingwen's back with his large hand.

Baili Mingwen was very satisfied. Baili Yingfeng patted his back lightly, just about to fall asleep.

Suddenly, the hand that was patting his back stopped.

Baili Mingwen opened his big eyes and met Baili Yingfeng's gaze.

"Father, are you having trouble sleeping?"

Baili Yingfeng nodded.

"How about Inscription sings you a lullaby?"

When he used to sleep with his mother, she sang to him a lot, and he learned quite a bit from her.

This lullaby is the best for helping you fall asleep.

"A lullaby?" Baili Yingfeng looked at Baili Mingwen.

"What, Father, don't you want to hear it? I sing very well!"

Baili Mingwen looked at Baili Yingfeng with complicated eyes and snuggled closer to him.

"Listen." Baili Yingfeng rubbed his little head.

[Ever since Miao Nanyan arrived, this little guy seems to have changed quite a bit.]

"Sleep, sleep, my dearest little baby..."

Baili Mingwen patted the bed board with his chubby little hands, singing along to the beat.

"No matter the wind or rain, I will stay by your side..."

Baili Yingfeng listened to Baili Mingwen singing a lullaby with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. Did Miao Nanyan teach him this? He really is tone-deaf!

"Sleep, sleep, my dearest little baby..."

As he sang, he unknowingly lulled himself to sleep.

Baili Yingfeng bent down to tuck the blanket around him, gently stroking his round little head and chubby little face.

His thoughts drifted away, and he squinted.

That night, the hot spring was shrouded in mist, and the moonlight was hazy.

Miao Nanyan was only wearing a thin gauze dress. He held her tightly, and their soft lips met.

After several passionate encounters, she fell into a deep sleep, and he took her back to Yiqin Palace.

What exactly happened that day?

Was she deliberately going to the hot springs to seduce me?

[With Inscription relying on her so much, what kind of scheme is she plotting...?]

Fortunately, Baili Mingwen grew up safely and healthily day by day. Thinking of this, his gaze softened, and he hugged the child in his arms tightly.

...

On this sunny day, Yun Duoduo stood in the center of the open space, while a dozen or so boys and girls, around eight or nine years old, stood densely packed together on the stone steps behind the study, seemingly doing something.

If the palace maids in the distance were to see this, they would surely think it was a mysterious organization holding some kind of mysterious ceremony.

Upon closer inspection, you'll discover something quite interesting: Yun Duoduo is animatedly describing something.

It turned out that a dozen or so boys and girls, around eight or nine years old, were listening to six-year-old Yun Duoduo tell a story.

Yun Duoduo has delicate features, a rosy face, and long, black hair draped behind her head. She speaks in a soft, childlike voice, but her tone reveals a maturity beyond her years.

"I'll continue!"

"'Did you give them the purse I gave you too?' Lin Daiyu asked, looking at Jia Baoyu with some anger, seeing that he no longer had any of his ornaments."

As Yun Duoduo spoke, she pretended to be angry, her little face turning bright red, and she stomped her foot.

"Miss Lin is angry? What should we do? The servants have taken Baoyu's purse and jade pendant, but it's not Baoyu's fault!"

A little boy pouted and tugged anxiously at Yun Duoduo's sleeve, eager to know what would happen next.

Yun Duoduo withdrew her hand. "Don't interrupt!"

"Don't pull me away, or I won't talk anymore!"

The boy quickly withdrew his hand, cupped his face, and listened attentively, looking very anxious.

“‘You can’t think about my things again tomorrow!’ After saying that, Lin Daiyu turned and went back to her room in a huff.”

"Good sister, don't be angry!"

“‘This is a string of jade beads that Prince Bei Jing gave me. Take it quickly. I think it suits you best!’ Jia Baoyu took out a string of jade beads from his bosom and gave it to Daiyu with great care.”

"'What stinky man touched it?! I don't want it!' After saying that, she turned and left."

At this point, Yun Duoduo paused, clapped her hands, and continued, "That's all for today. Just put everything in this basket!"

Yun Duoduo pushed a small bamboo basket forward, and the children around her took off their jade pendants and hairpins and put them into the basket.

Several wealthy young men, who carried loose silver coins, took out silver from their purses and placed it in their baskets.

A little boy took off his jade thumb ring and tossed it into a small bamboo basket, looking on with a lingering sense of anticipation. "What will we talk about next time?" he asked.