Rong Rong had a long sleep, and by the time she opened her eyes, Zhen Zhen had already gotten up.

Chun Xing was still waiting outside and reported that the Crown Prince and Young Master had returned to the village.

They hadn’t encountered any wild beasts today but had only hunted a few rabbits and mountain chickens.

Since she had told Xie Yuanchu she wouldn’t attend to him closely, Rong Rong wasn’t in a hurry.

She took her time to get dressed and ready before deciding to check the kitchen.

In the kitchen, everything was running smoothly.

The cooks were preparing the dishes in order.

Since the Crown Prince and Xie Yuanchu were going to have dinner in the hot spring pool that night, Rong Rong instructed them to make extra soup.

The hot spring pool was steaming, and staying in it for too long could make one thirsty, so it was important to prepare plenty of refreshing soups.

Last night, Xie Yuanchu and the Crown Prince had drunk a lot of alcohol, which wasn’t good for their health.

Wang An, watching Rong Rong’s arrangements, thought they were very appropriate and trusted her with the kitchen duties.

He took the dishes to the hot spring pool himself.

After a whole day of traveling in the mountains, the Crown Prince and Xie Yuanchu were exhausted.

Instead of wasting the fine grape wine in the pool, they added a barrel of milk instead.

The fragrance of the milk filled the air, making the atmosphere calm and serene.

When Wang An arrived with the dishes, Fu Quan quickly had a piece of red sandalwood board placed in the pool and arranged the dishes on it.

After soaking for a while, Xie Yuanchu was already thirsty.

Without waiting for the servants to leave, he went straight to the board, smelled the contents of several pots, and asked with a smile, “We have plum wine, sake, and snow pear soup. Which would you like to drink?”

“After drinking enough yesterday, let’s have snow pear soup today.”

“Funny, that’s what I was thinking too,” Xie Yuanchu said with a smile, serving both himself and the Crown Prince a full cup.

They were both so thirsty from soaking that they drank three cups before stopping.

Xie Yuanchu kept nodding and said, “This snow pear soup is really delicious. At first, I was worried it might be too sweet, but it turns out to be even more refreshing than the wine.”

The Crown Prince nodded slightly in agreement.

Wang An couldn’t help but laugh and said, “There’s no one like the Young Master who keeps praising his own servant.”

Xie Yuanchu looked back in surprise and asked, “I’m praising… my servant? Is this soup made by Rong Rong?”

Wang An glanced quickly at Master Fu Quan and, seeing that his expression was unchanged, said, “Yes, it’s made by Miss Rong Rong. When I went to the kitchen earlier, I saw her there.

She mentioned that you and the Crown Prince had drunk a lot of alcohol yesterday and were tired from hunting today.

Drinking more alcohol might harm your health, so she prepared this refreshing snow pear soup to help with thirst.”

After listening to Wang An’s long explanation, Xie Yuanchu felt as if he were hearing a fantastical tale.

In his mind, Rongrong was a beautiful girl with little guile.

Her simplicity was endearing when she was sweet, but it could also come across as foolish.

She never hid her emotions, not even when she was jealous, which made her less charming.

He never expected Rongrong to be so thoughtful and to manage the meals so well.

Her attention to detail might even surpass that of the head of the kitchen in the Marquis’s residence.

At a loss for words, Xie Yuanchu heard the Crown Prince laugh softly.

Xie Yuanchu didn’t understand the Crown Prince’s meaning, but Fu Quan did and quickly spoke up, “What nonsense are you talking about? The Crown Prince and others have just returned, and you went to deliver the meal not long ago. How could you have time to make pear soup?”

Wang An quickly knelt down and said, “I wouldn’t lie to Your Highness. The pear soup was made by the kitchen this afternoon for the Little Prince. The Little Prince had two bowls, and there’s still a large pot left. When Miss Rongrong came earlier, she tasted a bit of it and then had someone fetch snow water from the plum garden to add to the soup, along with some dried osmanthus flowers from October. They heated it again for a while.”

“Is that so?” Fu Quan said with a smile to the Crown Prince.

“Everyone can leave now,” the Crown Prince said without giving a clear answer.

Fu Quan and Wang An both left, and Wang An glanced cautiously at his master, unsure if he had made a mistake.

Fu Quan gave a reassuring smile, indicating there was no problem.

Xie Yuanchu poured himself another cup of pear soup and tasted it.

It was indeed better than what was made in the Marquis’s residence, leaving him with many questions.

Seeing his confusion, the Crown Prince smiled faintly and said, “As a master, don’t you know how capable your maid is?”

“Rongrong usually works in my study and never concerns herself with the kitchen. I truly didn’t know she had such skills,” Xie Yuanchu admitted. “I underestimated her; it’s a pleasant surprise.”

The Crown Prince continued eating in silence.

Noticing the ambiguous look on the Crown Prince’s face, Xie Yuanchu suddenly felt bold and asked, “Your Highness, you seem unusually concerned about our maid.”

“The Little Prince said he likes her,” the Crown Prince replied casually.

Xie Yuanchu was stunned.

He hadn’t expected such an answer, but he understood the Crown Prince was sincere.

During breakfast, the Little Prince had particularly enjoyed the dishes Rongrong made.

After learning that they were made by her, he even rewarded her generously.

“That’s quite a coincidence,” Xie Yuanchu sighed.

The Crown Prince put down his chopsticks, paused for a moment, and then frowned slightly, clearly disagreeing with the idea of coincidence. “From childhood until now, Yuanbao has never mentioned liking anyone.”

Xie Yuan Chu was genuinely stunned by this and didn’t know how to respond.

He suddenly felt a pressing need to speak his mind.

Seeing Xie Yuanchu’s silence, the Crown Prince shot him a sideways glance.

Even though Xie Yuanchu was soaking in the hot spring, he felt as though he had been doused with cold water from head to toe by the Crown Prince’s gaze, which made him bold enough to speak up. “Your Highness, after so many years, some things are best left behind.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes grew sharp in an instant, piercing through Xie Yuanchu like a sword.

Despite his hesitation, Xie Yuanchu met the Crown Prince’s gaze without fear.

Their eyes locked amidst the misty steam of the hot spring.

After a while, the Crown Prince sneered, “Offering kindness for no reason is either deceit or theft. Is this also the Empress’s idea?”

Xie Yuanchu forced a bitter smile, knowing the Crown Prince was too perceptive to be fooled. “It was the Empress Dowager’s suggestion, but it’s also my own opinion. Once you’ve made a decision, you can’t turn back. You’re the heir apparent; you can’t be so stubborn.”

“And so what if I am the heir apparent? I already have a son.”

Today had been full of surprises for Xie Yuanchu, but this revelation truly shocked him.

Seeing Xie Yuan Chu’s stunned expression, the Crown Prince laughed, “Look at you.”

“You are a dragon among men. Just a few words from you can shake the earth,” Xie Yuanchu said with difficulty.

The Crown Prince’s gaze shifted, and Xie Yuanchu, understanding, poured him a cup of snow pear soup.

After the Crown Prince drank, he said, “Today, you’ve shown your personal motives. We have nothing more to say to each other.”

Xie Yuanchu knew the Crown Prince had seen through all his plans and took a swig from the nearby wine jug.

The Crown Prince watched coldly and, once Xie Yuanchu had enough, spoke in a deep voice. “My father and mother are always dissatisfied unless they place someone close to me.

Since I’ve agreed, I don’t care who that person is. However, Yuanrui is your sister. I value our relationship, but I can only go so far.”

Rong Rong had prepared fruit wine for them.

Xie Yuanchu had just drunk a jug of sweet and sour plum wine, but it felt as fiery as burning coals in his stomach.

Xie Yuanchu understood the Crown Prince’s point clearly.

To the Crown Prince, nothing in the world could compare to Yuanbao.

Yuanrui marrying into the Eastern Palace would only bring her the empty title of Crown Princess.

She wouldn’t receive any love from the Crown Prince and might end up childless.

Even if she did have a child, they would be worth less than a single finger of Yuanbao’s.

Xie Yuanchu remained silent for a long time, then finished another jug of apricot blossom wine in one gulp.

He finally smiled and said, “Your Highness, you and I have a close relationship, and Yuanrui is my own sister. But you both are so stubborn, I feel helpless and can only watch from the sidelines.”

The Crown Prince, hearing this, actually smiled, saying, “As they say, only the person drinking the water knows if it’s cold or warm. Yuanchu, I still envy you.”

“Envies me for what?”

“To pass through a field of flowers without a single petal sticking to you.”

“You’re mocking me. Your Highness’s feelings are as solid as gold, while mine are as light as a feather and not worth much.” Xie Yuanchu also smiled.

“It’s a pity you’ve drunk all the wine. Otherwise, I would have liked to toast with you,” the Crown Prince laughed heartily.

Xie Yuanchu picked up the last jug of pear soup and refilled both his and the Crown Prince’s cups. “Let’s toast with soup instead.”

As he drank the cool, refreshing pear soup, Xie Yuanchu suddenly saw Rongrong’s delicate and refined face in his mind.

He was struck by a thought and looked at the Crown Prince meaningfully.

The Crown Prince, seeing the unusual look, slammed his empty cup onto the zitan wood table and said impatiently, “Speak plainly.”

Xie Yuanchu laughed and said, “I suddenly realize that some people are not true to their words.”

“Be clear.”

Suppressing his laughter, Xie Yuanchu knocked on the zitan wood table with a smug look. “Your Highness always says it’s because Yuanbao likes Rongrong that you pay special attention to her. But yesterday, when you had Rongrong change clothes and give you a shoulder massage, Yuanbao hadn’t even tasted her cooking yet!”

The Crown Prince fell silent, and Xie Yuanchu, feeling triumphant, pressed on. “For so many years, you haven’t let any other woman serve you closely.”

“Fu Quan, get in here!” The Crown Prince’s eyes narrowed, revealing a murderous intent.

Fu Quan, hearing the Crown Prince’s angry shout, rushed in.

Before he could even stand properly, a wine jug was hurled at his head.

Seeing Fu Quan getting hit and realizing he had let something slip, Xie Yuanchu quickly joined in with the Crown Prince’s scolding, “Traitor! Why do you gossip everywhere? If His Highness wants someone to serve him, it’s none of your business!”

Fu Quan, being an old fox, quickly understood.

He knelt and began apologizing profusely, hitting himself on the head. “Your Highness, please calm down. It’s my fault for speaking out of turn. I’ll punish myself.” He continued to slap himself hard.

“Get out!” The Crown Prince said, calming down.

Fu Quan, not even having time to cover his head, hurriedly left.

Once the hot spring pool was quiet again, the Crown Prince said grimly, “Everyone is becoming more capable.”

Xie Yuanchu, seeing the usually stoic Crown Prince so angry over such a minor issue and throwing a jug at Fu Quan, felt his suspicion confirmed.

“I know I was wrong. Please give me a chance to make amends,” Xie Yuanchu said.

“What do you suggest?”

Xie Yuanchu composed himself and said earnestly, “I am willing to offer my maid Rongrong to Your Highness.”