As Yan Qian spoke, Kaiyang, who was standing to the side, also pricked up his ears to listen. His grandfather's mortal enemy was, well, a bad one.

Upon hearing Yan Qian say that Minister Gu had repeatedly told his grandfather to his face that the incident involving his only grandson was due to his grandfather's bad conduct and was a form of retribution, he was deeply moved.

The accident involving his only grandson is the most painful thing for a grandfather. The other party's actions are like tearing open the scars in his heart with a knife; it is truly insidious.

Hong Xiaoduo was also furious. The number of people targeted for the sack had changed from odd to even.

After Yan Qian finished speaking, he noticed that the two people beside him, one big and one small, looked strange. The smaller one had a tense face and looked very serious.

The older one also frowned.

"Secretary Gu hates my father, mainly because of him. He has repeatedly ruined my father's plans and cut off his source of income. However, he is very cunning and cautious. My father knows that Gu is behind many things, but he just can't get any concrete evidence."

Similarly, the man surnamed Gu has repeatedly failed in his attempts to bring down my master. Besides, things are different now. My young master has been found, so my master can focus more on dealing with those corrupt and lawless parasites.

"Young Lady Hong, do you and your young master want to continue strolling around? What would you like for dinner? I can take you there." Yan Qian quickly added.

Upon hearing this, Hong Xiaoduo glanced at Kaiyang, clearly wanting to see what he thought.

Kaiyang looked at the endless street ahead and wanted to continue shopping. Although this shopping trip was different from all the previous ones, he just didn't want to stop.

Because he knew that after he accepted Tong'er's identity, even if Hong Xiaoduo didn't leave immediately and stayed in the capital for a while, he would still have the opportunity to go shopping with her. Even if she left this time, she might come back in the future, but so what? They would never be inseparable again.

I used to envy my younger sister Yao Guang because she was the youngest, so she could monopolize Hong Xiao Duo in various ways.

Now, he feels that he was already very content just being able to be with her, his older brother, older sister, and younger sister.

"Let's continue exploring. The capital is too bustling and lively." Seeing Kaiyang's opinion, Hong Xiaoduo made the decision.

After hearing her words, Kaiyang didn't cheer as excitedly as before, but his tense little face finally relaxed a little.

This time, Yan Qian followed closely behind the two of them.

Hong Xiaoduo would ask him questions from time to time, such as what time the shops on the street closed, and whether there was a night market.

As they passed another alleyway, Hong Xiaoduo noticed that the lanterns hanging in that alley were prettier than those in the others, so she took Kaiyang's hand and wanted to go in for a stroll.

"Hey, hey, hey, Miss Hong, please wait a moment." Yan Qianyi quickly called out.

The two children, one big and one small, turned to look at him, not understanding what he meant.

"There's nothing much to see inside, but there's a bird show venue not far ahead. They have goats, monkeys, and even peacocks displaying their plumage. It's really beautiful," Yan Qian said, pointing to the street ahead.

Looking at Yan Qian's expression, Hong Xiaoduo narrowed her eyes, pointed to the alley, and chuckled in a low voice, "I understand, this alley isn't suitable for children, right?"

Yan Qian saw that she reacted quickly and guessed it, so he nodded hurriedly, but thought to himself, "Children are not suitable to come in, and you, a young lady, are not suitable either!"

If it weren't for Kaiyang being with her, Hong Xiaoduo would definitely have gone in to see for herself.

In ancient times, not all brothels were places where women sold their bodies. There were also many singers and dancers who sold their art but not their bodies, and they were also called "pure courtesans".

Many literati and scholars went there to listen to music and watch dances. The venues and courtyards also put a lot of effort into the environment to attract customers, and the tea and snacks were exquisite.

After walking a few steps, seeing Hong Xiaoduo glance back at the alley entrance again, Kaiyang said, "Go if you want, I'll wait for you here."

Kaiyang's words startled Yan Qian so much that he staggered and quickly looked towards Hong Xiaoduo.

Yan Qian knew that Kaiyang called Hong Xiaoduo "mother." Although he didn't know the specific reason, even if she was his godmother, a son shouldn't let his mother go to that kind of place, right?

He'll definitely get a scolding, he absolutely has to be! But after the scolding, the young master will probably cry again!

"I'm not going today. You wait for me here. Even if I went, I wouldn't have a good time. How can I leave the child by the roadside and go off to have fun?" Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile, then took the child's hand and continued walking.

Yan Qiangang thought she was right, but then he thought, what's right about her? What young lady would go to a place like that to play?

He quickly followed, thinking to himself that if Chang Yuanlu were still following, who knows what he would say.

I don't know if it was because of what Hong Xiaoduo said at the Lantern Festival stall, or because she cried, or perhaps because she learned about the hardships her grandfather's family had endured, or because the Minister of Works had repeatedly used his accident to hurt her grandfather.

Anyway, Kaiyang was no longer so conflicted at this point.

He would even ask for snacks if he saw them on the roadside.

When Hong Xiaoduo was buying them, she would first ask Yan Qian if he wanted them too. But then she realized that he was always mindful of his role as a guard, so how could he possibly say yes? So she simply bought three portions.

Hong Xiaoduo bought it for him, but he insisted on not accepting it, which was inappropriate, so Yan Qian had no choice but to thank her and accept it.

Approaching thirty, this was the first time in his life that he had ever indulged in such a shopping spree in Beijing, with others even buying the food for him.

It wasn't because I couldn't finish it all, nor was it a reward for seeing how hard he worked or to show my appreciation. It was just a very natural and casual way of including his share.

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