Alan

Zhao Fanghua tilted her head and looked at Zhao Qinglan in confusion. If it weren't for her identity, she would even want to move forward and pry open Zhao Qinglan's hands that were covering her face to find out what was going on.

Didn’t she just say that a day without seeing you feels like three years? Why did Zhao Qinglan look like she had no energy to complain? Was what she said really that false?

Even though it was a lie, she said it with all her heart, so how could it not be the truth?

Zhao Qinglan looked up again to see Zhao Fanghua. Her innocent face was filled with curiosity, her brows slightly furrowed, her lips slightly pouting. The moment she met Zhao Qinglan's gaze, she panicked, as if caught doing something sinister. She immediately lowered her head, leaving Zhao Qinglan with only her furry head and the golden butterfly hair accessory gleaming in the sunlight.

Zhao Qinglan admired her awkward expression as she tugged at her sleeves with her hands for a moment before coughing softly and saying, "Since Imperial Sister is alright, please excuse yourself."

"Ah?" Zhao Fanghua looked up in surprise. She hadn't done anything yet, so why was she being chased away?

Then wouldn't it be a wasted trip for her to come to Wanhe Hall in such hot weather?

Zhao Fanghua wanted to try to save him a bit more. She twisted her handkerchief and gave Zhao Qinglan a smile she thought was stunning. "Um... can't we just chat for a bit or something?"

Zhao Qinglan looked at him calmly and asked with a smile, "So, what does my sister want to say?"

Zhao Fanghua's brain suddenly crashed.

Have you got a meal yet?

How stupid! It's morning now, he must have had breakfast.

Is the weather nice today?

That’s really great, the minimum temperature is 38 degrees.

Zhao Fanghua searched hard in his mind how those annoying relatives started the conversation and how they chatted during the New Year, eliminating those inappropriate conversations about where they worked, how much they earned, and their grades... Finally -

Zhao Fanghua suddenly had an idea!

"Are you in love?"

There was a moment of silence in the hall.

Zhao Fanghua realized after a moment that this wording was a bit too modern, and considerately translated it into an ancient Chinese: "I'm saying, do you have someone you like?"

Zhao Qinglan didn't answer. Instead, he stroked the teacup beside him and drank a cup of tea. Then he looked at Zhao Fanghua with a half-smile: "So, my sister came here to ask about my marriage?"

Zhao Fanghua looked at Zhao Qinglan. She didn't know why. He was smiling, and his tone was as calm as ever with a hint of gentleness, but for some reason, goosebumps appeared on her back. It felt like...

It's like a cat smelling tiger fur, a purely physiological reaction.

Is this what is called aura and imperial majesty?

Zhao Fanghua felt that he might have said something wrong. This stupid mouth should really be locked up, instead of shouting it everywhere and causing a huge disaster without his knowledge.

“I…I…”

Zhao Fanghua had no idea how to respond even if he racked his brains. He even forgot for a moment that he should call himself "minister" instead of "I" when talking to Zhao Qinglan.

Zhao Qinglan took in Zhao Fanghua's expression, and the corners of his mouth had already risen in his heart, but it did not show on his face.

He stood up, pulled out a chair, and walked towards Zhao Fanghua.

Zhao Fanghua raised her eyes quietly and saw Zhao Qinglan walking towards her with an expressionless face. Step by step, the "thump", "thump" sound of her footsteps struck Zhao Fanghua's heart like the bell of death.

Oh no! It's going to be bad!

The little radar in Zhao Fanghua's mind instantly stood up.

Her heart began to beat nervously, and she couldn't think of any way to deal with the situation. She could only watch the smell of ambergris gradually approaching, and she was soon shrouded in the shadow of Zhao Qinglan's tall figure.

Zhao Fanghua couldn't help but take a step back.

Zhao Qinglan lowered her head and looked at Zhao Fanghua's expression for a long time. She looked worried and her eyes were darting back and forth. Finally, she simply closed her eyes, as if she was ready to die.

Really, am I that scary?

Zhao Qinglan lowered her head slightly, placed her lips close to Zhao Fanghua's ear, and whispered softly, "I had no idea that my sister was so concerned about my lifelong affairs."

Zhao Qinglan deliberately emphasized the four words "lifelong event".

Zhao Qinglan's warm breath hit her face, and Zhao Fanghua shuddered in her heart. She leaned back slightly, trying to distance herself from Zhao Qinglan.

"Of course, after all, we are..." Zhao Fanghua's mind froze for a moment, and then he thought about what Zhao Qinglan had said, "We are siblings with a very close relationship!"

Zhao Fanghua said this, but what he was thinking in his heart was: Please, for the sake of our past friendship, please spare my life.

"Really?" Zhao Qinglan looked at Zhao Fanghua playfully, a strange smile on his lips. "So the Royal Sister still remembers our good relationship. I thought she was deliberately ignoring me recently."

"Huh?" Zhao Fanghua was a little confused. "What do you mean?"

Zhao Qinglan stood up straight, his hands tucked into his sleeves. He looked at the bewildered Zhao Fanghua and said calmly, "I've been at Penglai Villa for so long, and this is the first time my sister has come to see me..."

Zhao Fanghua quickly interrupted Zhao Qinglan and said, "I was sick before and was recovering! Look, as soon as I got better, I came to see you right away, didn't I?"

After Zhao Fanghua finished speaking, he gave a flattering smile.

Zhao Qinglan snorted inwardly, refusing to believe her lies. She continued, "In the past, whenever my sister came to see me, she would bring me delicious food she had collected from all over the place. She especially loved to bring me food she had made herself, like pear syrup candy in the autumn, candied haws in the winter, qingtuan in the spring, and mung bean ice cream in the summer."

Zhao Qinglan deliberately emphasized the three words "mung bean ice", hoping that this heartless man in front of him would remember what he had promised him many days ago.

But unfortunately, the heartless Zhao Fanghua had forgotten everything long ago.

When Zhao Fanghua heard this, it all made sense. No wonder she had been given the green light every time she went to see Zhao Qinglan before, and he had never been suspicious. It turned out that it was because she was a blind cat that caught a dead mouse, and she never went empty-handed every time she went to his house. It just happened to fit the details of the relationship between the original owner and Zhao Qinglan.

It’s really not good to come here empty-handed today.

Alas, Zhao Fanghua sighed in his heart, it was as expected, as they say, the first step in entering society is to master the ways of the world. Look, he was caught just because he went to someone's house without bringing anything.

Zhao Fanghua quickly tried to make amends, "I came here in a hurry and didn't have time to prepare, but I didn't do it on purpose. I just missed you so much..." Zhao Fanghua instantly found a perfect excuse, "Yes, it's because I missed you so much that I forgot. I'll definitely do it next time, definitely next time!"

Zhao Qinglan choked, and what she wanted to say was completely interrupted by Zhao Fanghua's words, "I miss you too much."

He turned his face away, his earlobes slightly red. He had just wanted to scold her, but how could she be so bold? Could she just say such words to a man casually?

Such... indecent words and deeds, such... unruly behavior...

Zhao Qinglan couldn't continue. He suddenly realized that in Zhao Fanghua's heart, she might really just regard him as her younger brother.

Rather than a man.

Zhao Qinglan's heart sank instantly.

Zhao Fanghua was dazed. She didn't actually realize anything, but she felt like the air around her seemed to have changed. The person opposite her...

Why did he suddenly feel so down?

Is it because I didn’t bring him anything this time?

That's too stingy. At worst, she can just bring double or even quadruple next time!

Besides, he is the emperor, the ruler of a country. He has everything he wants. Why does he have to be so obsessed with his own little things?

Forget it, forget it. After all, I need his help, and when you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

Zhao Fanghua said tentatively, "Then bring more delicious food for the emperor next time?"

Seeing Zhao Qinglan remained silent for a long time, Zhao Fanghua couldn't hold it in any longer. She stretched out a finger and gently poked Zhao Qinglan's arm: "Why are you suddenly silent?"

Zhao Fanghua instantly felt that Zhao Qinglan's body was noticeably stiff.

Zhao Qinglan turned her head, and a pair of amber pupils unexpectedly met Zhao Fanghua's eyes.

Zhao Fanghua swallowed her saliva. It must be said that this boy really met her aesthetic standards, tall and handsome.

She continued, "It's my fault for not bringing you any delicious food this time. I'll bring you more next time. Oh, and I saw a lot of delicious food when I went down the mountain to visit the Lantern Festival. I'll bring some for you to try tomorrow. Don't be upset."

Zhao Qinglan looked at Zhao Fanghua quietly. He didn't know why, but whenever he was alone with Zhao Fanghua, his heart began to go out of control, and it would fluctuate with her every frown, smile, and move.

Reason told him that he should stay away from her, just like the distance between Wanhe Hall and Lirongyuan now, so that they could be well and not disturb each other.

But he still couldn't help himself, and used some childish and ridiculous little tricks, hoping that she would come closer.

Zhao Qinglan's Adam's apple moved, and after a long pause, he lowered his brows and said, "But my sister said she would bring me some homemade mung bean ice cream last time, and she hasn't brought it in such a long time."

Huh? Last time, which last time was that? Zhao Fanghua was confused. No, she had already forgotten about it, so how could Zhao Qinglan still remember it?

How come this person has such a good memory!

Zhao Fanghua looked at Zhao Qinglan suspiciously, wondering if he was the one who had framed her...

But when she looked up and saw Zhao Qinglan's expression, there was a barely perceptible trace of grievance between his usually calm and indifferent eyebrows.

Huh? Feeling wronged?

This handsome guy was actually wronged.

No matter how you think about it, it's your own fault.

"I'm sorry..." Zhao Fanghua gently poked Zhao Qinglan's arm. "Your Majesty, you know I've been ill recently, so it's understandable that I forgot. But I didn't mean to do it. Tomorrow, oh no, today, when I get back, I'll make it for you, okay?"

Seeing such a young emperor, so imposing without even getting angry, display such an expression in front of her, Zhao Fanghua's heart softened, and she felt a sense of pity for him. She began to work hard to mend their relationship, even at the cost of ceding territory and paying compensation.

Zhao Qinglan looked down at the delicate jade fingers poking her. The nails were neatly trimmed and painted with light pink nail polish. Although they were poking her arm, it felt like they were poking her heart, making her feel itchy.

Zhao Qinglan lowered his brows, a barely perceptible hint of repression in his tone: "Then why does my sister still address me as Your Majesty?"

"Ah?" Zhao Fanghua was completely confused. If she didn't call him the Emperor, what should she call him? "No... shouldn't I call you the Emperor?"

Zhao Qinglan's eyes were dark. He took a step forward and pressed close to Zhao Fanghua. He nodded slightly, and his gentle breath sprayed on Zhao Fanghua's forehead. In a place where Zhao Fanghua couldn't see, there was a smile of determination on the corner of his mouth.

"But my sister used to call me A-Lan."