Lili, who likes to cool off, sat very close to the bowl of ice.
Seeing that she seemed to want to sit inside the ice, Gu Ziyi frowned almost imperceptibly, moved the ice a little further away, and patted the spot next to him.
"Don't sit too close, or you'll catch a cold."
"oh."
Pear obediently moved over.
Gu Ziyi's brows relaxed, and he asked her if she wanted some snacks.
Lili waved her hand and rubbed her stomach: "No, no, Second Brother always complains that Lili isn't tall enough. I just ate a lot, and I can't eat any more."
"Really?" Gu Ziyi chuckled, then said seriously, "You're not short, you'll grow taller in the future."
"Oh, I feel comforted."
The two smiled at each other, and Lili took out the land deeds and placed them on the table: "I knew it! His Highness's way of testing was too obvious. Just now, Second Brother said, 'How could His Highness make such a mistake?'"
Gu Ziyi was certainly aware of the issues that Qi Zheng had analyzed.
But instead of filtering them out, he gave them all to Lili.
Lili guessed that Gu Ziyi did it on purpose.
Gu Ziyi did indeed do it on purpose, but not intentionally to test the two of them.
Gu Ziyi didn't even glance at the land deed on the table. He casually picked it up, counted it, and pushed it back: "Since it's been given away, there's no reason to take it back."
"Hmm?" Lili asked in confusion, "These shops are all very valuable, Your Highness, don't you want them?"
Military campaigns, court politics... everything requires money, and these shops are raking in the cash.
Buying such a shop must have cost quite a bit of money, right?
According to Qi Zheng, this shop must be very expensive. After Your Highness buys it, will you still have money? Or are you just showing off?
Lili said tactfully, "Your Highness, there's no need for that. Just take what you need; what you have in your hands is what's real."
"I'm not as poor as you think, huh?" Gu Ziyi couldn't help but pinch her cheek. "What are you thinking about all day? I'm very capable, okay?"
Yes, yes, yes.
Lili replied dismissively, "Then what about these?"
"Take it."
"ah?"
Lili pointed to herself: "Me?"
"Um."
"Isn't this inappropriate?" Lili quickly pushed the land deed forward, refusing, "Your Highness, I have not done anything to deserve such a reward."
"How is it all for nothing?" Gu Ziyi pushed the land deed towards Lili again. "Have you forgotten how valiant you were yesterday?"
Gu Ziyi's tone was somewhat teasing, making Lili feel embarrassed. She muttered to herself, "It's all because Your Highness didn't tell me beforehand, otherwise I wouldn't have been so flustered."
"Um."
Gu Ziyi chuckled softly, like a spring breeze, enveloping her in tenderness: "Then these are your apologies, hmm?"
Lili was stunned.
Gu Ziyi tilted his head slightly, his eyebrows curved, and his gentle gaze seemed to be intoxicated, otherwise why would Lili look so drunk?
A slight upturn at the corners of her lips revealed a faint smile, like a gentle breeze rippling across a lake.
Lili thought to herself, "His Highness is at it again, showing this face once more."
Unfortunately, her tastes have become too discerning over the years. Not to mention Gu Ziyi's unparalleled good looks, his brothers are also handsome and dashing, each with their own unique style.
When the group occasionally returned to Xinghua Village, the villagers said they couldn't recognize the Shen family boys anymore; they had grown more and more handsome.
For these reasons, Lili, who was already obsessed with good looks, became even more obsessed with them.
Gu Ziyi raised an eyebrow slightly, waking her from her daze: "Hmm?"
Lili was speechless.
She couldn't resist Gu Ziyi's gentle expression every time he showed it.
Family members, who understands this? She's a gentle, seductive beauty!
Imagine a handsome guy you've watched grow up looking at you gently, a smile playing on his lips, and saying, "These houses are for you."
Who could withstand this?!
Lili suppressed the upward curve of her lips, silently placing her small hand on the land deeds, and said rather "reluctantly," "Well, that's true. Jewelry, cosmetics, I suppose His Highness isn't very interested in them. In that case, Lili will keep them safe for His Highness for now?"
As he spoke, he pressed his fingers against the papers and pulled them toward himself.
Gu Ziyi chuckled and said cooperatively, "Okay, keep it safe for me."
Lili blinked at him and smiled, then grinned and assured him, "Your Highness, don't worry, I definitely won't let these shops lose money!"
"Yes, the original staff have been retained in these shops, but you have become the owner behind the scenes. If you are willing, you can spend some time managing them in the future. If you are not willing, I will take care of things over there, and you can just wait for your share of the profits."
"Okay, okay."
You can just lie down and collect money? Is there really such a good thing?
His Highness the Crown Prince is truly amazing! This is so awesome!
The two chatted for a while longer, and then Lili suddenly remembered something Baiyu had said yesterday, something that seemed to mean she had to stay and watch.
Lili didn't understand it at the time, and with her nerves on edge these past two days, she only just remembered it now.
Lili asked directly, "Your Highness, did you ask the young master's wife to deliberately keep us here?"
"Um."
As expected, Gu Ziyi did not hide anything.
Why?
Lili was a little confused. She didn't understand what Gu Ziyi wanted her to understand. Was he trying to make her aware of the bloodshed and turmoil involved in these things?
Or are you thinking about something else?
I want you to get to know me.
Lili was taken aback: "Huh?"
"I want you to know that I wasn't always like this..."
Gu Ziyi looked somewhat conflicted, unsure of how to phrase her words for the first time.
In fact, he had already thought it through a long time ago, otherwise he wouldn't have instructed the young master's wife to keep her here.
However, he suddenly became nervous when he saw the little girl.
Lili realized: "Your Highness wants me to know about the matter between Your Highness and the First Prince?"
Gu Ziyi nodded.
Lili found it somewhat amusing: "What is Your Highness doing? Even if I didn't know Your Highness's backstory, I would definitely stand by Your Highness's side. From the very beginning, I helped Your Highness, and I will continue to help Your Highness in the future."
Gu Ziyi frowned, somewhat puzzled: "It's not just like that."
"Hmm?" Lili stopped waving her fan.
"Even if you don't help me, I will find other ways to do these things. At most, it will be a little difficult and take a little longer."
Gu Ziyi lowered his head, took the small fan from her hand, and slowly fanned her: "I just want you to know what kind of person I am. In this position, there are some things I must fight for. But as for other things, I have no intention of being ruthless, but in this bloody storm, how many feelings can remain pure?"
Gu Ziyi's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he looked up at her.
He admitted that he might be a ruthless person, otherwise he wouldn't have been able to win over the battle-hardened Red Eagle Army at such a young age.
When he first arrived at the border, the Red Eagle Army obeyed him only because he was the grandson of the mighty general.
But now, the Red Eagle Army truly acknowledges him.
If you didn't have some tricks up your sleeve, it wouldn't be so easy.
Everyone knows that life and death are fought in the deep palace, and every step is paved with blood.
But he just wanted her to know what he really was like.
Gu Ziyi said in a hoarse voice, "However, it was my miscalculation. I didn't expect Gu Zian to have a backup plan. If my wife hadn't kept you here, you wouldn't have almost..."
The terrifying scene from that day flashed before my eyes again: the blood-stained broadsword almost touching her blade, and him nearly losing her...
"I'm sorry," Gu Ziyi said earnestly. "I thought that since you're so smart, you'd understand just by seeing it for yourself. It won't happen again. If you want to say something, I'll tell you myself. I'll never let you get into this situation again."
Lili was somewhat dazed. Her delicate face lacked its usual liveliness, replaced by a quiet bewilderment.
Lili leaned forward slightly, one hand gently supporting her chin, her fingers unconsciously stroking.
He took half a minute to compose himself, and after a long pause, he said, "Ah, Your Highness, it's actually nothing."
"Something's happened." Gu Ziyi pursed her lips. "Trust me, it won't happen again. I won't let you be in such danger again, okay?"
She was a little unaccustomed to Gu Ziyi's sudden seriousness.
However, Gu Ziyi's sudden change of attitude made it impossible for Lili to stay angry, even if she was upset.
Besides, Lili didn't care at all.
“It’s alright, Your Highness,” Lili smiled. “I believe in Your Highness.”
Pear didn't say anything more.
The two looked at each other and understood what the other meant.
"Um."
Gu Ziyi smiled in a good mood.
After sending Lili back to the county magistrate's office, Gu Ziyi prepared to return to the border.
Before parting, Lili hesitated for a moment, then grabbed him: "Um, Brother Anqi... doesn't your Dark Guard Camp provide food?"
"?"
Gu Ziyi showed the first look of confusion that night.
Lili explained, "Because I have orange trees in my yard, and I also grow some small vegetables, cucumbers, radishes and the like."
"Mm." Gu Ziyi nodded, signaling her to continue.
"Before, he would only steal a couple of oranges from me from time to time, but ever since I told him that I had known about him all along, he seems to have stopped hiding it. This noon, he dug up my cucumbers and ate them, four of them in a row!"
Lili made a gesture, her tone exaggerated.
Gu Ziyi pressed her hand down, smiled, and then turned his head slightly to look out the window: "Didn't Zhuifeng give you your monthly allowance?"
Anqi's voice came from the roof of the car: "We've struck it rich."
Lili was startled, her body jerked, and she jumped up from her seat: "Oh my god, how did it get on my head?"
There was a moment of silence on the roof, then Lili sensed that the sound had changed direction and was coming from next to the car window.
"I'm sorry, the cucumbers you grew are just too delicious."
Lili guessed that Anqi had jumped down.
Gu Ziyi subconsciously supported Lili, saying with a hint of helplessness, "Slow down."
Lili patted her chest: "I knew the Dark Guards were elusive, but who would have thought they were this elusive? And weren't they supposed to stay at least ten meters away? How come Dark Seven was so close to me?"
“The bodyguard has excellent senses. He came over the moment you mentioned his first word,” Gu Ziyi explained. “Judging from your expression, you already guessed it was An Qi?”
"Of course, it would be stupid not to guess, right?" Lili told him with a smile that she had discovered that Ju Zi was missing every day. "Doesn't An Qi sleep? He's been guarding me the whole time. I know that the Dark Guards are capable of extraordinary things, but this is too exaggerated."
Lili muttered to herself, lifted the carriage curtain and jumped out. She glanced to the side, but there was no sign of Anqi outside the carriage.
"Your Highness, please increase Brother Anqi's monthly salary." Lili turned around and smiled. "Goodbye, Your Highness."
"Mm." Gu Ziyi nodded with a smile.
Lili watched the carriage leave before returning to her courtyard.
Lili instructed Huang Ying to inquire about Gu Ziqi's lunch in the small kitchen, and then went to Shen Laosan's study.
Lili peeked inside and saw Yang standing next to Shen Laosan, grinding ink for him.
When Yang saw her, she put down what she was holding: "Lili? What are you doing here?"
Lili came in with a smile and hugged her arm: "I knew Mother must be with Father! You must have missed us terribly after not seeing each other for two days!"
"You little brat, how dare you make fun of your parents?"
Yang pretended to twist her ear, but Lili laughed and dodged it.
Shen Laosan remained silent. Lili turned her head to look at him and noticed that he still had some displeasure on his face.
"What's wrong with Father?"
Yang covered her mouth and chuckled secretly.
Shen Laosan put down the documents in his hand and said irritably, "You still know your father? After such a big incident, you ran away as soon as you got back. I looked for you several times but couldn't find you. I thought this mansion wasn't my daughter living here."
Madam Yang laughed even harder and lightly slapped him: "Why are you saying that to your daughter?"
After saying that, he took Lili's hand again: "Your father was worried about you. After hearing what happened yesterday, he went to your yard to look for you several times. You went out, and you were throwing a tantrum. Tell me, isn't your father childish?"
Lili suddenly realized and quickly went around the table to stand behind Shen Laosan, giving him a massage: "Lili and Second Brother went out to find Brother Qi Zheng. They had lunch at the Qi residence. Lili called Huang Ying back and told her."
"snort."
"Daddy, don't be angry. Lili is perfectly fine."
Shen Laosan sighed, "Your Highness is really something. It would have been better to inform me beforehand about such an important matter. I'll have had your elder brother go with you."
"How can this not be blamed on His Highness? Who would have thought that the First Prince would disregard even his last shred of dignity in order to fight a desperate battle? However, the First Prince's return to the capital this time is likely to be more than just being confined to his quarters."
“That’s what I’m worried about too.” Old Man Shen sighed again, his brows furrowed with worry. “Quite a few people have come to ask me about the relationship between His Highness the Crown Prince and the Shen family. Previously, to avoid suspicion, Prefect Qin and His Highness didn’t have a close relationship on the surface, and neither did the Shen family.”
However, yesterday's incident caused quite a stir, and since many ladies and young women attended the Hollyhock Banquet, the news spread widely.
Lili didn't care. Anyway, Gu Zian had fallen from power, so what did it matter whether the rumors spread or not?
But if it has any impact on the Shen family, that would be quite troublesome.
"Will this have any impact on our family?" Lili asked.
"With His Highness the Crown Prince protecting us, who would dare to cause trouble for our family?" Shen Laosan paused, "I'm afraid of you... never mind, I won't say anymore, you understand."
Lili responded, a slight stirring in her heart.
My parents never say anything, but they understand everything.
The Shen family is the same.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com