An Youyou was unsure if she had mistaken someone for someone else.

"Yes, Princess." An Ji showed great respect.

He also knew that he must have offended An Youyou that day.

But he hadn't seen her at all in the past two days.

"He's quite handsome," An Youyou commented.

She was never someone who held grudges.

She had indeed been very angry with An Ji that day, but soon after, she forgot about it. Now, seeing An Ji, she didn't even remember the unpleasantness of that day.

An Ji was taken aback and slightly blushed by An Youyou's comment.

He thought An Youyou would dislike him, as she left angrily that day and hadn't spoken to him for two days. Yet, unexpectedly, when they met again, An Youyou acted as if nothing had happened and even commented on his looks...

"Although, a bit less than my brother." An Youyou added.

An Ji didn't mind.

Looks were just a shell; he focused on internal cultivation.

An Ji's eyes tightened.

Thinking of his father, his heart filled with an indescribable hatred.

"Get on the carriage, An Ji will sit with us," An Ning ordered.

"Yes, Empress." An Ji was very respectful.

On the way back to the Imperial Palace.

Because An Ji was sitting in the same carriage with the Emperor, Empress, and An Youyou, he gained a deeper understanding of how the Emperor and Empress of the Daxuan Kingdom cherished An Youyou, treating her like a treasure. He had never seen the Emperor of the Cang Kingdom acting so affectionately towards his offspring, in fact every Prince and Princess who saw the Emperor were always polite and trembling.

After several days of travel, they finally returned to the Imperial Palace.

Xiao Jinxing left, and it was Xiao Luming who governed the country.

Despite being only six years old, he had governed the country numerous times.

Xiao Luming was increasingly skilled.

They returned to Qiankun Hall.

Whenever Xiao Luming governed, he was always assisted by Xiao Hezhen and Wu Xufan.

At this moment, they were naturally accompanying Xiao Luming to welcome Xiao Jinxing back.

"Greetings to my royal brother and sister-in-law."

"Greetings to the Emperor and Empress."

Xiao Jinxing nodded slightly, "You've worked hard, please rise."

"If you know it's hard work, then stop leaving the palace every few days, alright? Hezhen and I have to abandon our son at home to handle affairs for you!" Wu Xufan complained with dissatisfaction, and then added, "Besides, Hezhen is pregnant again, just past three months..."

"Cough, cough," An Ning almost choked on her saliva.

Everyone looked at her.

An Ning composed herself, saying, "It's just surprising how quickly she's pregnant again."

"Sigh, it's not really what I want either," Wu Xufan sighed, "Hezhen always wants to keep trying for a daughter..."

"What if it's another son?" An Ning blurted out.

"Empress, please don't jinx it! Do you want our family to have ten sons?!" Wu Xufan was on the verge of tears.

Continually having two children every three years like this, would he still be able to enjoy his marital bliss?!

An Ning couldn't help but laugh a bit.

At this moment, hearing An Ning's words, Xiao Hezhen's face turned pale, "Dear sister-in-law, don't scare me. I never expected to have another child so soon; I've accepted it fatefully. But unexpected things happen, and I can't bear to terminate the pregnancy..."

"It's not good for the body," Wu Xufan added.

Xiao Hezhen nodded and sighed, "So we can only have this child."

Listening to them, An Ning suddenly had an inspiration.

Contraception in ancient times was hardly scientific, resulting in unplanned pregnancies. If modern technology could be utilized… it might become a business opportunity.

An Ning pondered silently.

"Youyou is growing cuter every day," Xiao Hezhen, now distracted, turned her attention toward the nearby An Youyou.

Obsessed with the idea of having a daughter, she couldn't help but draw close to An Youyou.

"Youyou greets the Imperial Aunt," An Youyou offered a cute and lively gesture.

"I just adore Youyou. I wish I had a daughter as cute as her," said Xiao Hezhen, her eyes tinged with envy.

When would she ever have such an adorable daughter?

"If not a daughter, then she could be a daughter-in-law," Wu Xufan suddenly suggested.

Xiao Jinxing's face immediately darkened.

Who dared to have designs on his daughter?!

"Youyou," Wu Xufan crouched down, not caring about Xiao Jinxing's dark expression, "Your uncle's family has many brothers. Look around, choose whichever you like. Anyone you fancy, uncle will do his best to cultivate him into a good man, alright?"

An Youyou didn't fully understand Wu Xufan's words.

Her little head pondered for a moment, "I like the younger brother, Huahao."

"What great taste, Youyou!" Wu Xufan exclaimed immediately, "He's also the child your uncle believes to be the most steady and reliable among them. If you like him, uncle will nurture him well for the future..."

"No way!" Before Xiao Jinxing could speak, An Ning intervened directly.

Xiao Jinxing glanced at An Ning.

An Ning was usually lenient with their children and didn't interfere much with their affairs.

Yet, at this moment, she was more vehement than him.

Xiao Jinxing pursed his lips lightly, opting for silence.

"Why not? Our family isn't that bad, right?!" Wu Xufan felt deeply hurt.

Xiao Hezhen was also displeased.

She assumed the objection would come from her royal brother, but hadn't expected her sister-in-law to be even more adamant.

"It's not about being bad or not. I also really like Huahao; he's very fair and plump, not as lazy as Wu Xufan..."

"Cough, cough, no personal attacks please," Wu Xufan interrupted An Ning.

An Ning ignored him, continuing, "But siblings can't marry."

"Why can't they marry?" Wu Xufan was still perplexed, "Wouldn't strengthening family ties be a good thing?"

"Of course not," An Ning declared righteously, "There are many latent genes among relatives that might cause deformities in their children. Even explaining it clearly wouldn't make you understand. In short, Youyou must not marry into your family, and it has nothing to do with your family's qualities—it's a genetic issue, unchangeable."

Everyone was thoroughly baffled after hearing this.

Wu Xufan seemed convinced An Ning was making excuses.

An Ning spoke directly to An Youyou, "You can like whoever you want in the future, just make sure not to fall for your uncle's family members, understood?"

"..." Xiao Hezhen felt deeply attacked.

She adored Youyou so much, hoping she would be her daughter-in-law. She had mentioned it to Youyou many times, and Youyou agreed readily. But now it felt as though a cooked duck was flying away.

"Let's not discuss such distant matters," An Ning changed the subject, "Luming."

"Yes, Mother," Xiao Luming was respectful.

Xiao Luming was exceedingly mature.

At any given time, if he wasn't required to speak, he maintained silence.

In stark contrast to An Youyou.

"This is An Ji," An Ning gestured for An Ji to step forward.

Xiao Luming observed him.

An Ji quickly knelt, "An Ji pays respects to the Crown Prince."

Xiao Luming was puzzled, looking toward An Ning.

An Ning said, "I brought him from Wenzhou for you as a study companion. From now on, he will be by your side, and you should treat him well."

"Yes, I will definitely take good care of An Ji," Xiao Luming responded respectfully.

He also knew in his heart that An Ji's identity might not be simple.

His mother would never arbitrarily assign someone to him.

And since his mother brought him, there must be a reason.

He only needed to follow orders.