"That's how you can have a steady, long-term relationship..."

"Yes, Lord Ge is right!"

"The Left Prime Minister is truly a role model for us all!"

Several young military officers whispered amongst themselves nearby.

...

As Yun Duoduo sat at the table, lost in thought and feeling somewhat awkward as she recounted the events of that day, she felt a tap on her shoulder.

"Um?"

Who is taking pictures of her?

She turned her head and saw that it was Jin Jinzhi.

“Brother Jinzhi.” Yun Duoduo smiled as she looked at him. She felt that Jin Jinzhi was getting more and more handsome the more she looked at him.

“Brother Jinzhi, your head.”

Yun Duoduo felt a pang of heartache when she saw the red wound on Jin Jinzhi's forehead.

"Ah, I accidentally bumped into the door frame of the study that day."

Jin Jin smiled; that was his sweet wound.

Upon hearing that it was a study, Yun Duoduo blushed.

"That painting..."

Was the injury on his forehead caused by burning the painting himself?

"I know it was you who burned it."

"You're not angry with me?"

Yun Duoduo bit her lip. She looked at Jin Jinzhi's expression, which remained calm and composed.

How could I blame you?

"Duoduo, I never imagined you cared about me so much." Jin Jinzhi's smile deepened.

Yun Duoduo took out some ointment from her sleeve, dipped her finger in the white ointment, and gently applied it to Jin Jinzhi's forehead. The two were very close to each other.

Jin Jinzhi felt the cool touch on her forehead.

After Yun Duoduo finished applying the medicine, her gaze fell on Jin Jinzhi's eyes.

Such deep eyes, such long eyelashes.

Her hand involuntarily reached out to touch Jin Jinzhi's eyelashes.

"What's wrong?"

"Your eyes are so beautiful."

"Oh? Is it only your eyes that are pretty?"

"What part of my body is still pleasing to the eye?"

Jin Jinzhi took Yun Duoduo's hand and placed her soft little hand on her waist.

Jin Jinzhi's voice was deep, and his breath mingled with the clouds.

He looked at Yun Duoduo's face, which visibly turned red, all the way to her ears.

"If you want to kiss me, we'll have to find somewhere else."

"There are a lot of people here." Jin Jinzhi glanced around.

Yun Duoduo was about to say, "Who wants to kiss you?" when she looked up and her nose brushed against Jin Jinzhi's chin, making her feel ticklish.

Yun Duoduo felt a tightness around her waist, then her body felt light, and her feet left the ground as Jin Jinzhi carried her away from the ground.

Jin Jinzhi carried her, and the two landed steadily on the highest roof of the Left Prime Minister's residence.

Looking at the moon in the sky, Yun Duoduo had never felt that the sky and the moon could be so close to her.

Jin Jinzhi looked at her, put her arms around her waist tightly, and helped her sit down.

Is it pretty?

"nice."

Yun Duoduo didn't know if Jin Jinzhi was asking if the sky was beautiful or if he was beautiful; anyway, they were both beautiful.

Jin Jinzhi slowly approached and gently kissed Yun Duoduo's lips.

Yun Duoduo's body trembled slightly uncontrollably. She returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around Jin Jinzhi's neck.

The two kissed passionately, forgetting everything around them and forgetting that they were in the Left Prime Minister's residence.

Under a full moon, a couple in love sat on the rooftop, entwined in tender affection.

...

In the garden of the Xue residence, guests came in an endless stream, all with smiles on their faces, exchanging auspicious words to wish Xue Guangjin a happy birthday.

"Uncle Xue, may your happiness be as boundless as the Eastern Sea and your longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain pine!"

"May Uncle Xue enjoy good health and live a long and healthy life!"

Jin Zhuangzhuang and Xun Beirui presented the prepared gifts and performed the traditional greeting of juniors to elders. Xue Deyi looked at the two of them with a kind expression.

"Wow, the Jin family children have all grown up so much!"

Xue Guangjin was getting old and couldn't remember the specific names of these younger people, but he roughly knew which family and household they came from.

"Uncle Xue, let's go sit down first."

Seeing that Xue Deyi was about to entertain other guests, Jin Zhuangzhuang and Xun Beirui, the two younger guests, tactfully stepped aside.

While talking to Xue Deyi and backing away, Xun Beirui felt as if she had stepped on something.

"oops!"

She turned around and saw a familiar face.

"It's you?!"

The two spoke in unison, glaring fiercely at each other.

"You two know each other?"

The two ignored Jin Zhuangzhuang's words and stared at each other, their eyes filled with anger and dissatisfaction.

"Hey, why aren't you dressed as Nezha today?"

"Where are your Red Hero Spear and Wind and Fire Wheels?"

Xun Beirui looked Xue Deyi up and down, her tone full of sarcasm.

"I'm not kidding, what's wrong with you? Why are you deliberately stepping on people's heels?!"

Xue Deyi was already in a bad mood, and now that someone had stepped on his foot, he could no longer contain his anger.

Xun Beirui was the eldest daughter of the family and rarely heard being yelled at like that, so she got anxious.

"I didn't do it on purpose! There's such a big open space here, why did you have to stand behind me?!"

"I'm bowing to Uncle Xue, I'm backing away, how could I possibly see you?!"

"How can you be so unreasonable?!"

"Whose household are you from? Who gave you permission to come and wish my grandfather a happy birthday!"

Xue Deyi showed no sign of backing down.

"I am Xun Beirui from the Xun family, and the Prince of Jibei is my cousin! I really can't believe that Uncle Xue, who is so kind, has such a petty and narrow-minded grandson like you!!"

Xun Beirui stood with her hands on her hips and retorted, their argument attracting the attention of many people.

Seeing the two of them about to fight, Jin Zhuangzhuang turned and left without looking back. Before leaving, he tugged at Xun Beirui's sleeve and whispered, "Stop arguing. Your father will see you arguing with the Xue family when he gets here."

"They'll definitely yell at you."

After saying that, Jin Zhuangzhuang went to find her maid without turning her head, intending to check if her bird was alright.

Just as Jin Zhuangzhuang stepped into the pavilion, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Zhuangzhuang, look what this is!"

The Third Prince, Yun Yishu, held up a small jar and brought it close to Jin Zhuangzhuang.

"These are for you, oh no, for Blue and Mushroom, fresh bugs."

Jin Zhuangzhuang kept a parrot and a quail. The parrot was named Lanshou and the quail was named Xianggu.

The name comes from the time when Jin Zhuangzhuang asked Yun Duoduo what names to give the birds at Fushuang Palace.

At that time, Yun Duoduo was heartbroken because Jin Jinzhi had kissed her in the cave and then pushed her away.

I didn't hear clearly what Jin Zhuangzhuang asked, I just casually said, "I feel sad and want to cry."

Because she was lying on the soft couch, her words were unclear, so Jin Zhuangzhuang heard them as "blue and sad" and "mushroom".

Two birds, so hastily, acquired their own names.

"Quick, take me to see if those two silly birds are alright."

Yun Yishu nudged Jin Zhuangzhuang's arm. Seeing that the insects in the small jar were still very fresh and wriggling, Jin Zhuangzhuang readily agreed.