An Ning pressed her lips together.

Yan Jinyao had been by her side for so many years, yet An Ning had never heard her say she wanted to marry, nor had she ever seen her moved by anyone. After all, she’d spent many years in the red-light district and had seen plenty of men. Now that she was wealthy, her standards were high; ordinary men simply couldn’t catch Yan Jinyao’s eye.

And Lin Zichan had only been here a few days, yet he’d actually stirred Yan Jinyao’s heart?!

In truth Lin Zichan really couldn’t be called handsome. He was just tall and straight, usually quiet and taciturn, looking mature and steady, with a certain noble bearing.

She really hadn’t expected that he would be the one Yan Jinyao took a liking to.

"Does the boss know him well?" Seeing that An Ning didn’t respond, Yan Jinyao asked again.

"I don’t," An Ning said coolly. "But he’s already twenty-five or six, long past the usual age for marriage."

"That’s true." Yan Jinyao smiled, feeling a bit disappointed, but she didn’t dwell on it. She even added, "I can’t go be his concubine, and I definitely can’t leave Wenzhou City with him. The commerce of Wenzhou is so vast—I still have to hold it up for the boss."

An Ning gave a faint sound of acknowledgment, not very enthusiastic.

Yan Jinyao didn’t say anything more about Lin Zichan, and shifted the topic to business.

...

The bustling streets of Wenzhou City.

An Youyou skipped along the street in high spirits, buying a candied hawthorn here and a small pastry there, eating as she walked, thoroughly enjoying herself.

Lin Zichan watched An Youyou, carefree and innocent.

Only by seeing it with his own eyes did he truly feel how much she really loved life outside the palace.

And in this, she took after An Ning’s temperament.

An Youyou’s short little legs came to a stop in front of a small stall.

Lin Zichan and Zhang Wenhe hurried over.

"What’s caught your eye now, little miss?" Zhang Wenhe asked dotingly.

Anyway, taking the little miss out to play meant just one thing: buy, buy, buy.

"This one." An Youyou picked up a small clay figurine. She said, "My imperial father... my father gave me one exactly like this before. Back when we were in Xuzhou."

"Didn’t you say you didn’t like it?" Lin Zichan blurted out.

Once he’d said it, he pressed his lips together.

An Youyou was a straightforward, careless sort and naturally didn’t notice so much. She said, "I did think Father was childish, but it was still a token of his affection. Now I want to buy one to take back and give to my father."

"All right." Zhang Wenhe didn’t hesitate in the slightest and paid on the spot.

An Youyou took away the clay figurine of the little girl.

Just as she was about to leave, she thought for a moment. "Uncle Zhang, I want one more."

"All right." Zhang Wenhe’s indulgence of her knew no bounds.

He quickly handed the vendor more copper coins.

An Youyou carefully picked out another clay figurine of a little girl, with the same face but different clothes. She handed it straight to Lin Zichan. "Guard Lin, this is for you. When you’ve left me in the future, you can look at it and think of me."

There was a clear ripple of emotion in Lin Zichan’s eyes.

He took the clay figurine, the corners of his lips lifting. "Thank you, Princess. I will think of you often."

Seeing that Lin Zichan seemed to like it, An Youyou was in an excellent mood.

Holding her own clay figurine, she happily ran ahead again to continue strolling and playing.

An Youyou’s spirits were high.

They roamed outside all day, eating their meals at restaurants. By late afternoon she was truly tired, and only then did they take the carriage back.

On the way back.

An Youyou fell asleep sprawled against Lin Zichan.

Lin Zichan carried her back to her room.

As he had just stepped through the main gate, he saw Yan Jinyao in the courtyard, giving instructions to the servants.

She turned and looked at Lin Zichan, then at the sleeping An Youyou in his arms, and hurried forward. "Guard Lin, give the little miss to me, I’ll carry her back to her room."

Lin Zichan hesitated a little.

"After all, the little miss is a girl," Yan Jinyao explained.

Lin Zichan stopped hesitating and carefully passed An Youyou into Yan Jinyao’s arms.

An Youyou was displeased.

She was sleeping so soundly; she didn’t want to be disturbed at all.

So when Lin Zichan lifted her out of his embrace, she suddenly tightened her arms around his neck again.

Yan Jinyao naturally noticed what An Youyou did.

Lin Zichan said, "How about you come with me, Miss Yan, and we send the Princess back to her room together?"

To observe, so to speak, the rules of propriety.

"All right." Yan Jinyao nodded.

The two of them went together to An Youyou’s room and then laid her on the bed.

An Youyou was a little uncomfortable, but with the soft quilt beside her, she soon sank back into deep sleep.

Yan Jinyao straightened the quilt for An Youyou.