Old Duke An nodded solemnly. “Yesterday, in the main hall, when you threw yourself in front of Yuanbao to protect him, I could see you’re a good child. If you face any difficulties in the future that Liu Zhen can’t handle, you can come to me for help.”

Rongrong couldn’t help but glance at the crown prince, who raised an eyebrow and also looked at her. “Don’t you want to thank the old duke? He’s quite something, known for being stubborn and even the emperor gives him face!”

“You know it well.” Old Duke An grinned slyly. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. These tricks are ones I’ve used before.”

Rongrong didn’t understand the nuances of their exchange, so she looked down and said, “Thank you, Old Duke, for your kindness.”

The crown prince snorted. “Words are easy, actions are harder.”

Old Duke An knew the prince was deliberately being difficult but wasn’t offended. “Don’t worry, I’ve brought many things with me. I’ll pick out a few good ones for Miss Rongrong.”

Just as Rongrong was about to decline, the crown prince said, “His good things are worth as much as the Empress’s gifts. Don’t be polite.”

“Exactly, exactly. At my age, there’s no point in keeping too many things. You can’t take it with you when you’re gone. I’ll leave everything to Yuanbao.”

Rongrong was a bit overwhelmed by the old duke’s cheerful attitude and was just about to respond when someone patted her knee.

Was this meant to reassure her?

Feeling slightly more at ease, Rongrong tried to relax.

Throughout the meal, she was nervous, sitting upright and focusing on her food, while the old duke and the prince occasionally exchanged jabs.

She concentrated on eating.

When the meal ended and Fuquan sent the old duke back to Fengyang Palace, Rongrong carefully asked, “Will the old duke be staying in the East Palace from now on?”

The crown prince smiled. “Do you want to drive him away?”

Rongrong’s face turned red, and she fell silent.

She had no intention of asking the old duke to leave.

The Eastern Palace had only ever had her, Liu Zhen, and Yuanbao, and they did as they pleased.

If the old duke stayed, she wouldn’t be able to act so freely.

“It’s fine. He’ll stay there, and we’ll stay in Yuhua Palace. We’ll continue as we are.”

“Continue as we are?”

Rongrong glared at him.

…..

“Yuanbao, this is for you.”

Princess Yueyang lived in a side hall of Qiong Yu Palace.

Still young, she didn’t have a separate residence but lived with her mother, Consort Wei.

Consort Wei had been favored in the palace for seven or eight years.

Due to her gentle nature and aversion to causing trouble, the Empress had granted her residence in Qiong Yu Palace, close to Kun Ning Palace.

While Qiong Yu Palace was not as grand as Kun Ning Palace, it had its own small garden.

Princess Yueyang and her guests were currently playing in the garden, which was filled with colorful paper, and the nanny was teaching them how to fold paper.

Yuanbao, Liu Yu, and Liu Lin were not on the guest list, so Qiong Yu Palace had not prepared any toys for boys.

The three of them sat on a stone bench in the small garden, idly munching on a few plates of pastries.

Yuanbao had initially wanted to return to the Eastern Palace with the crown prince, but recently Liu Yu seemed depressed and didn’t want to return to the Duke’s residence, so Yuanbao stayed behind to play in Qiong Yu Palace for a while.

If Yuanbao hadn’t come, Qiong Yu Palace might not have entertained Liu Yu.

Liu Lin, being Yuanbao and Liu Yu’s shadow, of course, had to tag along with his two older brothers.

“What’s wrong?” Yuanbao asked, noticing Liu Yu’s continued silence, feeling concerned.

Liu Lin, eating mung bean cakes, also looked toward Liu Yu upon hearing Yuanbao’s question.

Liu Yu stared blankly at the girls folding paper.

“Hey!” Yuanbao waved his chubby little hand in front of Liu Yu.

Liu Yu snapped out of his daze, glanced at Yuanbao, and then looked down again.

“A new beauty named Liu has come to the Duke’s residence. Father likes her a lot and has been neglecting Concubine Qin. Concubine Qin often gets angry and yells in her room. I don’t want to return to the Duke’s residence too soon.”

Yuanbao often heard Liu Yu talk about the Duke’s residence and knew a fair bit about the situation.

The Duke’s wife had an excellent background, and although the Duke didn’t favor her, he greatly respected her and made it a point to spend designated days with her each month.

The other concubines depended entirely on the Duke’s favor.

Concubine Qin had always been favored, but once she became pregnant, the duties of serving the Duke were naturally taken over by other concubines.

Even though she was uncomfortable, she understood that the child’s health was more important.

But now that the child had been born, the Duke rarely visited, and especially with his new favorite, the young and beautiful Liu beauty, Concubine Qin became increasingly distressed.

Yuanbao had previously mentioned Liu Yu’s situation to the crown prince, but the crown prince said it was a matter for the Duke of Heng’s household, and others couldn’t interfere or help.

Liu Yu had to rely on himself.

“When Concubine Qin gets angry, just stay out of her way and don’t linger around. Things will get better when you grow up,” Yuanbao comforted.

Liu Yu kept his head down, still looking glum.

Liu Lin handed a piece of mung bean cake to Liu Yu, saying, “Brother, eat this.”

Seeing this, Yuanbao smiled at Liu Lin.

The youngest, so mischievous, actually knew how to comfort his older brother.

Liu Yu finally managed a smile, though his eyes still looked dim. “Actually, among the three of us, Liu Lin is the happiest. Father and Mother are with him.”

In the Duke of Su’s residence, there was only the Duke’s wife and Liu Lin as the only child.

Liu Yu, despite his young age, spoke with remarkable maturity. “Yuanbao, when your father marries the princess, you might feel just as troubled as I do.”

“That won’t happen,” Yuanbao shook his head firmly. “Father said he will marry a princess that I like. Even if Father doesn’t keep his word, I still have Aunt Rong Rong!”

For some reason, despite being the closest to his father, Yuanbao often felt that Aunt Rong Rong was the one he was closest to.

“Yuanbao, come over here!” Princess Yueyang waved affectionately at Yuanbao, inviting him over.

Yuanbao patted Liu Yu on the shoulder and led them both towards the pavilion where the little girls were gathered.

“What’s going on?” Yuanbao asked.

Yueyang handed Yuanbao a bamboo basket, smiling, “Look, this is all we’ve folded. Everyone’s trying to outdo each other. Come and judge which one is the best!”

Today, Yueyang had invited young girls from various noble families, and they had been folding paper together, creating many different designs.

“Sure!” Yuanbao took the basket and began to examine the contents carefully.

The little girls were quite skillful with their hands.

Some had folded roses, some butterflies, some boats, and some dogs.

Liu Lin liked the little dog and grabbed it immediately. “Brother, this one, this one.”

Yuanbao looked at it for a moment, then turned to Liu Yu, “Which one do you think is the best?”

“The butterfly!” Liu Yu answered without thinking.

The dog was nicely folded, and the butterfly was good too, but neither was Yuanbao’s favorite.

After some hesitation, Yuanbao picked up the boat.

“I like this boat the most.”

Princess Yueyang’s face immediately showed a hint of disappointment. “Why a boat?”

Among all the folded paper in the basket, the boat was the simplest.

The rose had been folded by Yueyang herself.

She would have accepted it if Yuanbao had chosen the dog or the butterfly, but he chose the boat instead.

Consort Wei, who had been sitting beside the children, noticed Yueyang’s displeasure and quickly said, “We agreed that Yuanbao would be the judge. Since Yuanbao chose the boat, it can’t be changed now.”

Consort Wei had brought some prizes for the best paper-folding and wanted to give them to the winner.

Yueyang had been unwilling to accept Consort Wei’s choice of the butterfly, insisting that Yuanbao, who had been sitting out, should judge.

Now that Yuanbao had not chosen the rose, Yueyang was left without a retort.

“Alright then, it’s the boat.”

Consort Wei, seeing that her daughter had finally stopped causing a fuss, nodded in satisfaction and smiled. “Who folded the boat?”

A small, soft voice answered, “Consort Wei, it was me who folded it.”

Yuanbao turned his gaze toward the voice and was immediately delighted: the boat was folded by Pingting.

Pingting was the granddaughter of Duke Liang, Zhu Sun.

Like Yuanbao, she was four years old this year. Her eyes were exceptionally dark, as bright as the obsidian in the imperial treasury.

“Come here,” Consort Wei called to Pingting.

Pingting walked over and respectfully stood before Consort Wei.

Consort Wei took out a jade pendant and hung it around Pingting’s neck. “Here, today’s prize is yours.”

Pingting’s fair face turned red as she bowed to Consort Wei. “Thank you for your kindness, Consort Wei.”

“No need for thanks. Yueyang, you take the younger children to play. I’ll go see if the banquet is ready,” Consort Wei said as she left the garden.

With the paper-folding contest over, the little girls gathered in groups to chat and headed toward the inner hall.

Liu Yu asked, “Yuanbao, why did you choose the boat? It’s so simple compared to the butterfly.”

“Because…” Yuanbao thought of the last time when his father took him and Aunt Rong Rong to listen to music and row a boat on Eastern Lake.

That evening of the Lantern Festival had been truly joyful.

“It’s a secret.” Yuanbao smiled mysteriously.

He was about to invite Liu Yu and Liu Lin to go into the hall for dinner when he saw Pingting standing quietly beside them.

Yuanbao blinked and told Liu Yu to take Liu Lin inside first.

“Prince Yuanbao,” Pingting approached once they had gone in.

“Is there something you need?”

Yuanbao had seen Pingting a few times at banquets before but had never spoken to her until today.

Pingting’s eyelashes were as long as Yuanbao’s.

“Thank you for choosing my boat,” Pingting said softly.

“There’s no need to thank me. I didn’t even know it was you who folded it!”

Pingting’s eyes suddenly glistened with tears. “My mother taught me how to fold it. She’s sick now and can’t play with me.”

“Your mother is ill?”

Pingting nodded.

“Don’t worry. Maybe she hasn’t found the right doctor. The physician Qin, who treated me, is exceptionally skilled. When I see him next, I’ll ask him to visit Duke Liang’s residence and check on your mother.”

Pingting’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? But my father has already invited many doctors to see her.”

“It’s possible. When Aunt Rongrong’s grandmother was very ill, Physician Qin treated her and made her better!”

Hearing this, Pingting’s sadness turned to joy.

She lowered her gaze, thought for a moment, then took off a small gold lock from her neck and handed it to Yuanbao with both hands.

“For me?”

Pingting nodded. “Prince Yuanbao, today you helped me win a jade pendant, so I’m giving you my gold lock. Now we both have locks.”