Facing the delicate face of the young prince, Rong Rong managed to calm her turbulent emotions.

She spoke gently, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince is in the hot spring pool, and Steward Fu Quan is attending to him. If you head in that direction, you will soon find the young steward at the door, who will guide you to the Crown Prince.”

Noticing that no one was accompanying the young prince, Rong Rong added, “From now on, please do not wander alone. Wherever you go, you must be accompanied by someone.”

She thought of her past life, where being alone had led to her tragic end.

But then she reminded herself that she couldn’t compare with the young prince; he was the Crown Prince’s cherished child, while she was just a passing object of interest who happened to be pregnant.

The young prince blinked and did not respond directly to Rong Rong’s advice.

Instead, he looked up at her and said, “Auntie, if you get hurt while helping me, I’d be very sad…”

The Crown Prince had indeed taught this child well.

“Your Highness, don’t worry, I’m fine.”

The young prince nodded and gazed at Rong Rong with his beautiful, large eyes.

“Auntie, what is your name?” He was the most beautiful child Rong Rong had ever seen.

Under his earnest gaze, the ice in Rong Rong’s heart began to melt.

“Your Highness, my name is Rong Rong.”

“Rong Rong… Auntie…” The young prince stretched out Rong Rong’s name thoughtfully, then, with a sly smile, he nodded and said, “I’m going to find Father now.”

With that, he skipped ahead.

In his eagerness to run, the young prince did not notice the thin ice on the ground and slipped, falling backward.

The paths in the estate were cleared during the day but had formed ice overnight due to the cold.

Rong Rong’s eyes widened, and without thinking, she dashed forward and caught the young prince’s shoulder.

However, his head bumped directly into her nose, causing her to cry out in pain.

The little Prince was wearing a thick fur hat, but the piece of jade at the back of the hat pressed against Rong Rong’s nose.

“Rong Rong, your nose is bleeding,” The Little Prince said as he stood up from Rong Rong’s arms and looked back, startled.

Rong Rong felt a warm sensation at her nose.

When she touched it and saw the blood, she quickly used a handkerchief to stop the bleeding.

She still asked with concern, “Your Highness, are you alright?”

The little Prince looked at Rong Rong with worry and reached out his chubby hand to touch her nose but hesitated, fearing it might make the bleeding worse.

He shook his head and said, “I’m fine, but Aunt Rong Rong, does it hurt a lot?”

“It doesn’t hurt,” Rong Rong replied, trying to reassure him.

As a child and a royal, she had to put on a brave face.

She pointed out the direction to the lost Yuan Bao and said, “Your Highness, don’t worry about me. The Crown Prince is in the hot spring pool over there.”

Yuan Bao insisted, “We should find a doctor to look at you first.”

“No need to call a doctor. It’s just a small cut; it’ll be fine soon. You don’t need to worry,” Rong Rong said.

“Then you should stop the bleeding first,” Yuan Bao agreed reluctantly.

His large eyes and slightly drooping corners made him look pitiful, which was quite touching.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Rong Rong stood up, bowed to Yuan Bao, and was about to leave.

“Yuan Bao.” The Crown Prince’s voice came from afar.

Rong Rong was startled, quickly releasing Yuan Bao and kneeling nearby.

Seeing the Crown Prince approach, Yuan Bao’s face lit up with joy, and he ran toward him, shouting, “Father!”

Even from a distance, Rong Rong could see the Crown Prince’s usually stern expression melt away into a warm smile.

The smile was so beautiful it felt like a clear sky after rain.

It turned out that the Crown Prince not only smiled but did so in a very charming way.

“What happened?” The Crown Prince picked up Yuan Bao, his whole demeanor softening.

Noticing Yuan Bao’s shoes were wet, he removed them and handed them to Fuqian.

Fuqian checked and confirmed the inside was dry before putting the shoes back on Yuan Bao.

Rong Rong’s heart sank as she stood outside the door, hearing the muffled sounds from within.

The thought that Shen Zhenzhen might be with Xie Yuanchu and that their encounter could be intimate made her feel a deep pang of discomfort.

She had come to seek comfort, but now she faced an unsettling scene.

She hesitated at the door, feeling both a sense of betrayal and a pang of longing.

Memories of her past life, the feelings of abandonment, and the realization that she was nothing more than a transient presence in the lives of others made her feel helpless.

Despite her turmoil, she knew she had to make a choice.

Either she could confront the situation and perhaps gain some clarity or retreat to her own room and try to deal with her emotions alone.

She took a deep breath and gently knocked on the door, trying to make her presence known without intruding too forcefully. “Zhenzhen? Xie Yuanchu?” she called softly, hoping to get a response without causing too much disruption.

The sounds inside ceased abruptly, and after a moment of silence, the door creaked open.

Shen Zhenzhen’s flushed face peeked out, her eyes wide with surprise and a hint of guilt.

Xie Yuanchu stood behind her, his demeanor calm but his expression guarded.

“Rong Rong, you’re here,” Zhenzhen said, her voice a bit unsteady. “I was just… I was just about to check on you.”

Xie Yuanchu nodded in acknowledgment but did not speak.

He glanced at Rong Rong, his gaze unreadable.

Rong Rong tried to maintain her composure. “I didn’t mean to intrude. I just… I needed some company.”

Zhenzhen quickly moved aside, allowing Rong Rong to enter the room. “Please, come in. Let’s talk.”

As Rong Rong stepped into the room, the tension in the air was palpable.

She noticed the dim light and the remnants of the dinner they had shared earlier.

Despite the awkwardness, she tried to focus on the matter at hand, hoping to salvage whatever comfort and understanding she could from this situation.