When the children returned home, Yun Jiao immediately noticed their fingertips stained purple from mulberry juice and quickly called a maid to fetch water for them to wash their hands.

Qi Er carefully took out the handkerchief-wrapped mulberries from his pocket, handed them to Yun Jiao, and said shyly, "This is for Aunt Gu to eat."

The white handkerchief was already stained with purple marks from the mulberry juice. Yun Jiao took it, looking at Qi Er’s slightly shy expression, and almost wanted to hug him and give him a big kiss.

Shy boys are the cutest!

Unfortunately, Qi Er was already eleven years old, so it wasn’t appropriate to be too forward.

Yun Jiao ruffled his hair and said with a smile, "Thank you, Qi Er. Aunt Gu loves to eat these."

Qi Er was very happy, smiled, and went aside to wash his hands.

You Er also took out the bag from his pocket and silently placed it in Yun Jiao’s hands.

Without a second thought, Yun Jiao pulled You Er over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

You Er blushed slightly, wiped the spit from his face, and also went to wash his hands.

Yun Jiao looked at Ruru, and Ruru looked back at Yun Jiao.

She blinked, "I, I picked mulberries and gave, gave them to Brother Hang."

Yun Jiao pouted, "I know, in Ruru’s heart, Brother Hang is more important than Sister-in-law."

Ruru became anxious, "No, Ruru likes Sister-in-law best, but Brother Hang can’t climb trees, if I don’t pick for him, he won’t have any."

"I, I’ll go pick for Sister-in-law now." She said as she ran out.

Yun Jiao saw that Ruru took it seriously and quickly pulled her back, smiling, "Sister-in-law was just joking with you."

"Look, there’s so much here, Sister-in-law can’t eat it all by herself."

"Go wash your hands quickly, wash your face too, so we can have dinner after."

Yun Jiao handed the mulberries to the maid, who quickly washed them clean and brought them back on a white porcelain plate.

Just as Yun Jiao was about to try one, the National Lord came in. She smiled, "Father, you came just in time. The children picked these specially for you."

The National Lord glanced at the mulberries on the porcelain plate. He realized the children meant it for Yun Jiao, but his daughter-in-law said so to make him happy.

He smiled, tasted a few, and nodded, "The taste is not bad."

"The Emperor said that tomorrow, let the eunuchs who can climb trees go up and pick all the ripe mulberries in the traveling palace, so everyone can share."

He paused, "Today the Fourth Prince climbed a tree and almost fell."

Yun Jiao was a bit anxious, "Was it Ruru who took him there?"

The National Lord snorted, "Who else could it be?"

"Fortunately, You Er grabbed the Fourth Prince, otherwise it would’ve been a big trouble."

Yun Jiao patted her chest, "Thank goodness, thank goodness."

"Sigh, picking them is good, prevents the children from climbing trees."

The National Lord’s lips moved a little, wanting to say, boys who can’t even climb trees, are they really boys? But thinking it was the Emperor’s son, he had to hold back.

After a while, the food boxes were brought over.

Yun Jiao looked outside, "Why hasn’t Sanlang come back yet today?"

The National Lord waved his hand, "I forgot to mention, the Emperor called him to play chess, so he’ll definitely have dinner with the Emperor. Let’s eat."

After dinner, the National Lord took the two children and left, Ruru also returned to her place.

Yun Jiao and Yang Ying applied mosquito-repelling flower dew to themselves, opened the courtyard door, moved chairs into the courtyard to cool off.

The breeze from the lakeside carried a hint of moisture and was very refreshing.

At this moment, a eunuch walked to the door, knocked, and then bowed to Yun Jiao, "By imperial decree, the Emperor summons Lady Protector of the Nation to Sicui Palace."