Making big dishes is too tiring, and she isn’t as skilled as the palace cooks, so tonight she plans to make a simple pumpkin porridge for Yuanbao.

Since Zhenzhen left today, she’s been restless, unable to focus on her writing or sleep, so she decided to head to the kitchen.

Pumpkin porridge is straightforward: peel and cut the pumpkin into pieces, steam until soft, mash the pumpkin with a wooden spoon, then cook it with rice until blended together.

Watching the porridge bubble in the pot helped her feel calmer.

Yuanbao likes dishes that look good, so just making the porridge wasn’t enough.

Rongrong decided to take two well-shaped pumpkins, remove the seeds, steam them until they’re about 70% cooked, then cut off the tops to make bowls.

“It smells good,” the prince said softly, sniffing the air.

Rongrong was startled by his voice, and her hand holding the knife relaxed.

The Crown prince, anticipating this, held her hand to steady the knife and also wrapped her in his arms.

“Keep going.”

Rongrong bit her lip, unable to continue with him holding her like this.

She felt a bit sweet inside, realizing how close they had become over time.

After a moment, seeing he was calm, Rongrong took the knife and continued to remove the seeds from the pumpkin.

“Why are you back so early today? Where’s Yuanbao? Did you really choose a horse for him?”

“I picked two, but didn’t bring them back. They’re still at the palace and will be brought to the East Palace when Yuanbao is older.”

Rongrong felt relieved. “So Yuanbao didn’t come to Yuhua Palace?”

The Crown prince smiled slightly. “He’s still in the palace. Princess Yueyang is hosting a party today, inviting many young guests. He’s having a great time and might come back late.”

Princess Yueyang, the youngest child of the emperor, is six years old this year.

Although she is a different generation from Yuanbao, they are close in age and often play together in the palace.

“Why didn’t you wait for Yuanbao?” Rongrong asked again.

The Crown prince rested his chin on her shoulder and said in a deep voice, “I missed you.”

This statement was much more surprising than his usual threats. Rongrong accidentally poked a hole in the pumpkin she was holding.

“Is your hand okay?” The Crown prince frowned, checking her hand.

“It’s fine.” Rongrong was turned around by him, and they stood face to face at the stove.

Seeing her nervous expression, the Crown prince couldn’t help but tease her, smoothing her forehead. “What are you afraid of? Afraid I’ll eat you? Actually, I’m also afraid…”

Afraid of what? Does he really have fears?

Rongrong wondered silently but didn’t dare ask.

The Crown prince leaned closer and whispered, “Afraid I might not be able to resist and eat you right here.”

“Get away!” Rong Rong couldn’t help but curse at him, but as always, he blocked her tightly, leaving her no chance to escape.

Seeing the gleam in his eyes, Rong Rong knew he was getting excited, which made her even more scared.

This was the kitchen.

Although the cooks and kitchen staff had already left, if they really caused a commotion here, others would definitely hear them.

Even if they didn’t do anything but just made a fuss, it would be embarrassing enough.

“Angry? I was just teasing you.” The Crown prince reached out and hugged her again, his hands behaving properly.

Rong Rong hated his way of talking.

He would first provoke her, get her angry, and then act as if nothing happened, making her seem petty.

“I’ll be leaving the capital in a few days,” the Crown prince said.

Rong Rong was slightly taken aback and asked, “Where are you going? How long will you be gone?”

As soon as she asked, she regretted it.

What did his departure have to do with her?

The Crown prince noticed a hint of nervousness in her flustered eyes and felt reassured.

“There’s a locust plague in Liangzhou. My father wants me to go and take a look.”

A locust plague?

Rong Rong had never witnessed a locust plague, but she had heard that when locusts came, they covered the sky and left no greenery.

Even one grasshopper could make her shiver, so imagining a sky-full of locusts was terrifying.

“Do you know how to deal with a locust plague?” Rong Rong couldn’t help but worry.

The Crown prince was skilled in martial arts and intelligence, and if he were sent to lead an army, Rong Rong might not be worried.

But a locust plague…

No matter how skilled you are, can you handle thousands of locusts?

The Crown prince didn’t boast and simply shook his head, “No, but the problems in Liangzhou aren’t only due to this year’s locust plague. I’m not going there just for the locusts. The Ministry of Revenue will send an experienced official to accompany me. He’ll handle the locust control, and I’ll take care of other matters.”

Seeing how casually he spoke, Rong Rong knew that arguing was useless.

“How long will you be gone?”

“Uncertain. At least one or two months, or as long as four or five months.” The Crown prince’s gaze was heavy, making Rong Rong feel anxious and flustered. “Are you reluctant to part with me and want to go with me?”

Go with him?

Rong Rong’s heart raced.

What was he saying?

How could she possibly want to go with him?

It would be better if he left quickly and stayed in Liangzhou without coming back!

“Are you reluctant to part with me?” the prince asked.

Rong Rong wanted to say that she was indeed reluctant, but when she met his gaze, the words became difficult to say.

He was going out to help with disaster relief, which was a good deed.

It wouldn’t be auspicious to say harsh words before his departure.

She looked down, so the prince could only see her furrowed brows and slightly pouting lips.

Waiting for her response, he couldn’t help but lift her chin and give her a playful kiss.

He was a bit impatient but not rude, so Rongrong didn’t feel offended.

Instead, she went along with his mood, making him even more pleased.

“Good girl…”

He was satisfied with her response and reached to move the cutting board behind her out of the way.

However, the cutting board was large and its other end was touching a stack of steaming baskets.

When he pushed it, the stack of baskets fell over immediately.

“Ah—” Rongrong was startled, but the prince reacted quickly, pulling her behind him and using his other arm to block the falling baskets.

It wouldn’t have been a big deal if it was just the baskets, but one of them contained another pumpkin she had prepared.

When the basket fell, the hot pumpkin landed heavily on his arm.

“Yikes…” He winced in pain but tried to stay composed.

Rongrong, still shaken, saw the pumpkin had fallen on his arm and quickly grabbed his hand to check.

He practiced martial arts regularly, so the pumpkin’s impact wasn’t too severe, but when Rongrong pulled up his sleeve, his arm was red and bruised.

Rongrong hurriedly took a cloth, dampened it with cold water, and applied it to his arm. She felt a bit of sympathy and also a hint of schadenfreude.

After all, it was his own fault for being reckless in the kitchen and getting burned.

“Father said that when I go to Liangzhou, I’ll bring you and Yuanbao to live in the palace.”

“To the palace? Can… can we not go?”

She was a person in the spotlight; going to the palace would make things even more conspicuous.

Liang Muchen could barely protect herself, let alone her.

“Don’t want to go?”

Rongrong lowered her head. “I’m not a palace person. Why would I go there?”

“Then I’ll ask Yuanbao when he returns.”

Yuanbao probably wouldn’t want to live in the palace either, but given how the Emperor and Empress dote on him, living in the East Palace might be no different from living in the royal palace.

Besides, the palace is always bustling with parties and events, much livelier than the quiet East Palace.

Yuanbao would likely prefer it.

Seeing Rongrong’s worried face, the prince got another mischievous idea: “How about you come with me to Liangzhou? With me around, no one would dare bully you.”

No one would dare bully her indeed, with him around, he could make sure she was completely safe.

“When will you leave?” Rongrong asked irritably.

“Probably in three to five days. Actually, according to my father, I should leave immediately. After all, disasters wait for no one. However, the granaries in the capital need to prepare disaster relief supplies, and the Ministry of Revenue needs time to select suitable officials,” the prince said.

Rong Rong’s eyes dimmed a little.

Three to five days—that’s very soon…

Seeing her worried expression, which he found quite endearing, the prince couldn’t help but lean in and give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Rong Rong, why don’t you come with me?”

“Go with you? What about Yuanbao? There’s a locust plague there; it would be too dangerous to take him along.”

Rong Rong spoke quickly, obviously without much thought.

The prince, being astute, immediately sensed the wavering in her words and was somewhat moved.

He said, “Not bringing Yuanbao, just you and me.”

“Not bringing Yuanbao? Are you really willing to let him suffer at night?” Rong Rong was deeply troubled.

The Crown prince had only meant to tease her before, not seriously considering taking her along.

But seeing her serious response, he couldn’t help but entertain the idea.

Taking her to Liangzhou, away from the prying eyes of the Eastern Palace, the gossip of the imperial palace, the various complicated political affairs, and… Yuanbao, cough cough.

The more he thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.

The Crown prince said, “Haven’t you noticed that Yuanbao has been sleeping more soundly lately? Maybe without us, he’ll sleep well.”

In fact, Yuanbao’s sleep was much better now than when Rong Rong first arrived at the East Palace.

“But…”

The Crown prince knew she was tempted and quickly seized the opportunity. “How about we try tonight? Let Yuanbao sleep alone. If it works out, you can come with me to Liangzhou.”

Compared to staying in the palace with Yuanbao, going to Liangzhou with him seemed much more appealing.

Rong Rong had been confined to the palace in her past life.

In this life, she had left the palace but had never ventured beyond the capital.

The only time she had been out was when she followed Xue Dacheng back to Linwan Village.

Although Linwan Village was remote, it was close to the capital, and she arrived in the evening, so she had no chance to appreciate the scenery before returning to the capital.

She had no idea what the world outside the capital looked like…

“Have you agreed?” the prince asked.

Rong Rong bit her lip. “Who said I agreed? If Yuanbao doesn’t sleep well tonight, I’ll have to accompany him to the palace, even if I dislike it.”

The Crown prince’s expression brightened almost immediately. “Got it. We’ll see tonight. Actually, Yuanbao has a good relationship with the Empress. Now that he’s older, staying in Kun Ning Palace might be fine.”

Yuanbao was used to having someone with him at night.

Rong Rong felt uneasy about the idea of going to Liangzhou and didn’t want to discuss it further.

She changed the subject. “Is Yuanbao not coming back for dinner today?”

She had steamed two pumpkins; one was accidentally pierced by her, and the other was smashed by the prince’s arm, so pumpkin porridge was out of the question.

---

“Not just dinner, but it looks like we might even have to stay for a late-night snack in the palace. Those little ones are always making a ruckus!”

Well, since the pumpkin porridge was prepared for Yuanbao, it’s a shame if he doesn’t come back to eat it.

“You only made this one dish?” the prince asked.

Rongrong nodded.

“Serve me a bowl to taste.”

The pumpkin used for serving was ruined, but the porridge in the pot was still good.

Chefs like their work to be appreciated, so seeing the prince’s request, Rongrong quickly got up and served him a bowl.

The porridge had been simmered for a long time, and without any seasoning, the natural sweetness of the pumpkin and the fragrance of the rice were already quite tempting.

Rongrong brought the bowl over, but the prince didn’t take it.

“Feed me.”

Feed him?

She’s not even feeding Yuanbao anymore, and now he wants to be fed?

“My hand hurts and I can’t use it,” the Crown prince said.

Rongrong gave him a look, set the bowl down, and checked the cloth on his arm.

It was still hot, so she dampened it again and applied it to his arm.