He Youyou leaned lazily against him, glancing at him sideways: "Why is Your Highness so free today?"
Zhao Changqing's hands gripped her waist tightly, and his breath formed a white mist in the cold December wind.
"If it were someone else looking for me, I wouldn't bother. But if Youyou needs me, I'm always available."
He Youyou rolled her eyes at him: "I don't need to look for you now, you can leave."
Zhao Changqing rested his chin on her shoulder and said with a resentful look, "Youyou is so cruel. Last night you kicked me out without any mercy and didn't care about me at all."
He Youyou touched her lips.
"Your lips are swollen. If I don't kick you out, I won't be able to face anyone today."
"Then I'll be gentle."
As he spoke, Zhao Changqing leaned his head closer again.
But He Youyou reached out and blocked it.
"Wenqi was lured away by you?"
Zhao Changqing nuzzled her neck with his nose: "Hmm, I released one of Gao Li's tribute dogs. He chased after it and it should be far away now, so it won't bother us."
As expected, only the mischievous kids understand each other best.
"Come on, I'll take you for a stroll in the garden."
As he spoke, he took her hand.
It's the dead of winter in December, but today the weather is fine, with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze.
He Youyou let him hold her hand as they walked slowly through the garden.
In her busy life and work, she never imagined that one day she could stroll hand in hand with a man in the park.
Zhao Changqing led her to a plum tree: "Look, this is a hundred-year-old plum tree."
"Oh, what's so special about this tree?"
Is it really worth him giving a special introduction?
"Didn't you notice this tree is a bit bald?"
He Youyou looked around and carefully compared the options.
Indeed, this tree looks balder than the other plum trees, with relatively fewer thick branches.
"Why is the main branch of this tree broken? It looks like it's been broken for quite some time."
"I broke it when I was a child while climbing a tree to pick plums."
"Oh, so this is your great achievement. No wonder you came to brag to me. Huh? Why is the side branch broken too?"
There was a clear sign of a break on a side branch of the plum tree.
"I didn't do this new injury. Wenqi broke it while swinging a couple of days ago. The wound is still fresh."
He Youyou clicked her tongue: "Your family's mischievous child has such strong genes. If you have a son in the future, who knows what kind of troublemaker he might become?"
Zhao Changqing held her hand tightly and said, "Then let's have a girl like you, smart and capable."
He Youyou objected, "I'm not going to give birth here. Giving birth is like passing through the gates of hell; you could easily lose your life if you're not careful."
Zhao Changqing pursed his lips.
"If you don't want to have children, then we won't. Anyway, you've already adopted Ali, so it'll be more peaceful for the two of us to live our own comfortable lives."
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm just dating you, who said I wanted to live my life with you?"
Zhao Changqing suddenly pulled her into his arms: "If you don't want to live with me, then who do you want to live with?"
"Living alone is carefree and joyful."
"Then take me with you, it'll be fun for both of us. Besides, I'm the only one who knows your secret, it might not be safe to leave it to someone else..."
As the two were chatting, a small running figure suddenly appeared in the distance.
"Auntie, Auntie!"
Zhao Wenqi was running towards her, holding a small dog in his arms.
When he ran to He Youyou's side, he suddenly let out a puzzled "Eh."
"Huh? Auntie, I clearly saw someone next to you just now, where did they go?"
He Youyou crossed her arms nonchalantly: "You must have seen wrong. You were running too fast, and your eyes were playing tricks on you, right?"
"My eyesight is perfectly fine, I'm sure I didn't see wrong."
He Youyou turned her head and looked around, then looked at a tree beside her: "That means you've mistaken this tree for a person."
“I didn’t mistake it for a person. This tree is so far away from you, I certainly wouldn’t mistake it for a person.”
He Youyou stopped arguing with him and changed the subject.
"That puppy in your arms is so cute, where did it come from?"
Little Zhao Wenqi is still so easy to fool; as soon as she asked about the puppy, her attention was immediately diverted.
"I found him in the Imperial Garden. It took me a long time to catch up with him."
He Youyou reached out and stroked the puppy's fur twice: "Since you found it, you can keep it yourself."
Zhao Wenqi frowned.
"But what if this dog has an owner? If its owner finds that the puppy is missing, won't they be worried?"
He Youyou thought to herself: He's not in a hurry at all...
"Then you can keep it for now, and return the puppy to its owner when he comes looking for it."
Zhao Wenqi nodded happily: "Alright, then I'll have to trouble you."
When it was time to go home, Zhao Wenqi reluctantly tugged at He Youyou's clothes.
“Aunt, when you get home, you must lock the door properly and not let outsiders in... especially my fourth uncle.”
He Youyou burst out laughing.
"Okay, I got it. I'll lock the door tightly when I get home."
He Youyou got into the carriage and released Zhao Changqing from the spatial storage.
"Your nephew still cares about you quite a bit."
Zhao Changqing remained silent.
It seems his second nephew has too much free time.
Since he's so free, let's find him something to do.
Zhao Changqing got off He Youyou's carriage and went straight to the Ministry of War to find the Ordnance Department.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to tell He Youyou, "I'll come to see you tonight, remember to leave the door open for me."
He Youyou said calmly, "I promised Wenqi I would lock the door."
"Then I'll wait outside your door, stand there all night, and talk to you through the door."
He Youyou laughed and scolded him, "You're crazy."
After Zhao Changqing left, He Youyou was alone in the carriage, quietly reflecting on every minute and second from yesterday to now.
As I thought about it, I finally understood.
So, dating is just two people wasting time together.
He Youyou used to hate wasting time.
But if you give this behavior a different name, it becomes pleasant.
The next day, Zhao Wenqi's attention was drawn to something even more fun.
New members have joined the incubation group of the Ironware Workshop.
Zhao Changqing persuaded the Ministry of War's Ordnance Department to lend several full-time personnel in charge of ordnance to the workshop to work with them on the development of military equipment.
Not only did people come, but they also brought many new gadgets and blueprints.
Who could resist that?
Zhao Wenqi packed his bedding and moved into the workshop that very day.
He also asked someone to deliver a letter to He Youyou.
Auntie, I have something important to do. You stay home alone and be careful of fire, theft, and Uncle Si.
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