Liang Muchen’s expression momentarily froze, her eyes staring blankly at the Crown Prince, showing signs of confusion.

She understood every word the Crown Prince said, but she couldn’t grasp the meaning behind them.

He said he had never intended to marry her?

But the Emperor, and the Empress, they…

“Your Highness… Your Highness from…” Liang Muchen tried to say something, but no words came out.

“It is indeed so. However, I have never spoken of this to anyone before. Today, telling you is an exception.”

Liang Muchen felt a pang of bitterness, like a fishbone stuck in her throat, and replied with what little dignity she had left.

“Rest assured, Your Highness, I… I won’t spread your words.”

The Crown Prince replied calmly, “It’s better if you don’t spread it, but if it gets out, it won’t matter.”

The situation was set; it was merely a matter of timing.

Even if it were to spread, it wouldn’t affect him.

His words indicated that he didn’t care whether Liang Muchen would spread the news.

Liang Muchen looked at the Crown Prince, seeing his composed expression and serene demeanor, and smiled bitterly. “Does Your Highness think I’m pitiful, so you’re telling me the truth to prevent me from deceiving myself?”

“The physician said your head injury isn’t severe; you only inhaled a lot of water into your lungs, so your life is not at risk. You only need to rest. I’ll have someone arrange for a carriage to take you and your family back to the Weiyuan Marquis’s residence,” the Crown Prince said, changing the topic. “Since you were injured while being a guest in the East Palace, it’s my responsibility as the host. All medicines and supplements will be provided by the East Palace.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Liang Muchen knew that the Crown Prince’s sympathy had run out with those last two sentences and fell silent.

The Crown Prince stood up and left Ruyi Pavilion.

When he returned to Yuhua Palace, the shadow play Yuanbao had requested was still ongoing.

The Crown Prince did not go to the small study but directly entered the bedroom.

After waiting for almost half an hour, he heard the sounds of laughter from outside, one deep and one high-pitched.

A smile unconsciously appeared on the Crown Prince’s face, but when he saw the two figures outside, their expressions immediately froze.

“Father, what are you doing here?” Yuanbao’s tone was not very pleasant, even a bit reproachful. “Auntie and I are about to go to bed.”

The Crown Prince was about to speak but caught a glimpse of a hint of delight in Rongrong’s expression.

Hmph, did they think he couldn’t coax a child?

“The fathercame to tell you that a new batch of Mongolian horses has arrived at the Shaosheng Bureau. Among them are seven or eight foals.” The Crown Prince said as he stood up, pretending to walk out. “Since you’re about to go to bed, we’ll talk about it another day.”

“Not another day, not another day.” Yuanbao’s eyes lit up at the mention of foals.

He released Rongrong’s hand and flitted to the Crown Prince’s arms like a little bird. “Father, can we go to the Shaosheng Bureau tomorrow to choose a horse?”

Yuanbao had long wanted to learn to ride horses, but the Crown Prince had said he was too young and that there were no suitable horses in the palace for him.

There were many foals in the palace, but the Crown Prince had not found a suitable one.

The Sage liked to ride spirited horses, and the Shaosheng Bureau raised mostly spirited horses.

Such horses were not suitable for beginners.

This batch of Mongolian horses was specifically requested by the Crown Prince for the Shaosheng Bureau.

Mongolian horses are small, with big heads and short necks.

They don’t look as majestic as Western horses, but their gentle temperament makes them very suitable for beginners.

“Yuanbao, you’re still so young. Isn’t it too early to ride a horse?” Rongrong expressed her concern. “You should at least be seven or eight years old before we talk about riding.”

“It’s not too early. Father learned to ride when he was five too,” Yuan Bao said, shaking the Crown Prince’s sleeve, signaling his father to vouch for him.

The Crown Prince nodded. “Indeed, Father learned to ride at five. However, Aunt is right. Riding requires courage, Yuan Bao. You’re not ready yet.”

“I’m ready, I’m ready,” Yuan Bao protested. “I’m very brave. Last time in the palace, I even fed Emperor Grandpa’s horse grass. I’m not afraid of Emperor Grandpa’s horse, let alone a little pony!”

Despite Yuan Bao’s strong insistence, Rong Rong was not convinced.

She didn’t understand why, even if the Crown Prince agreed with her, he still insisted on bringing up the pony issue.

So she said, “Why don’t we wait until Yuan Bao is five, just like Father, and then learn?”

Once his enthusiasm waned, they could slowly persuade him later.

As Rong Rong spoke, she cast a glance at the Crown Prince, hoping he would say a few words in support.

“But what if a little pony I like gets taken away by Liu Yu and the others?” Yuan Bao didn’t expect his aunt to be unsupportive this time.

His little face scrunched up as he shook the Crown Prince’s sleeve vigorously.

The Crown Prince squatted down and patted Yuan Bao’s head. “When you’re truly grown up, Father will pick the best horse for you, first teaching you to ride, then to shoot arrows, and after that, you can play polo with Liu Yu and Liu Lin.”

Riding was something Yuan Bao really wanted to do, and adding archery and polo to the mix…

“Father, I’m already grown up. Let’s go choose a horse tomorrow, okay?” Yuan Bao’s eyes were full of longing.

“You’re really grown up?” the Crown Prince questioned.

“Really, really.”

“But Father thinks Liu Yu might be braver than you.”

“No, he isn’t!” Yuan Bao immediately denied. “Liu Yu is very timid. When Emperor Grandpa asks him questions, he doesn’t dare to answer and always needs me to help him.”

The Crown Prince frowned, looking puzzled. “Is that so? But I heard that Liu Yu now sleeps alone in his room at the Wang residence, even the nursemaid doesn’t stay with him!”

Hearing this, Yuan Bao’s mouth gradually closed, and his round face turned red.

Yuan Bao had told the Crown Prince about Liu Yu sleeping alone at night!

Not long ago, after Concubine Qin gave birth, the little prince was settled in Concubine Qin’s room with two nursemaids, making the room very crowded.

So Liu Yu and his nursemaid were moved to the back room. When Liu Yu used to live with Concubine Qin, he also slept with the nursemaid.

Now that he was moved out and the nursemaid had to leave due to family reasons, the Crown Prince thought Liu Yu was old enough to sleep alone and didn’t arrange a new nursemaid.

Liu Yu was somewhat unhappy.

He had never had a mother and was closest to his nursemaid. When she said she was going home, the Crown Prince didn’t persuade her to stay and agreed immediately.

Yuan Bao knew his concerns and was angry, so he reported it to the Crown Prince.

He didn’t expect his father to use this against him.

“I…” Even though Yuan Bao was clever, he couldn’t think of a response at the moment.

Seeing this, Rong Rong comforted him, “Listen to Father. When you grow up and are taller, you’ll be able to ride more steadily. Aunt will go check if your bathwater is ready. Let’s take a bath and then go to bed, okay?”

Yuan Bao sulkily kept his head down and remained silent.

After Rong Rong left, he looked at the Crown Prince with a look of grievance.

“Father, I want to learn to ride.”

Usually, seeing Yuan Bao’s pitiful appearance would make the Crown Prince relent immediately, but not today.

The Crown Prince said meaningfully, “Then you need to do something to prove your courage to Father.”

“What does Father want me to do?” Yuanbao asked immediately, without hesitation.

He was so eager to have his own little foal.

The Crown Prince glanced at Rongrong, who was busy behind the screen, and spoke in a lowered voice.

“If you can sleep in a room by yourself like Liu Yu, then Father will believe you’ve grown up.”

Yuanbao had already decided he would do whatever the Crown Prince said, but sleeping alone…

“Father, if I sleep alone, I’ll have nightmares at night. I’m a little scared.”

“Don’t be afraid. Father just wants you to learn to sleep by yourself,” the Crown Prince said gently. “Once you’re asleep, Father and Auntie will come to keep you company.”

“Really?” Yuanbao’s eyes sparkled.

“Father wouldn’t lie to you. Go ahead, sleep in the small study tonight. Let Wang An assist you with getting to bed.” Seeing Yuanbao still hesitating, the Crown Prince added, “If you manage to do it tonight, we’ll go to the Shaosheng Bureau to choose a horse tomorrow morning. I heard there’s a spirited pure black foal; if it’s suitable, we’ll bring it to the East Palace.”

Bring the foal to the East Palace?

Yuanbao made up his mind, biting his lip. “Father, I’ll sleep alone tonight.”

Without waiting for the Crown Prince’s approval, he boldly headed toward the small study.

The Crown Prince watched Yuanbao enter the small study and gently closed the door to the bedroom.

When Rongrong came out, she happened to see the Crown Prince closing the door and immediately felt a jolt of anxiety. “Where’s Yuanbao?”

The Crown Prince turned slowly, saying nonchalantly, “Yuanbao wants to sleep alone tonight.”

Upon hearing this, Rongrong suddenly realized that the talk about bravery and manliness was all just a ploy to coax Yuanbao into sleeping alone in the small study!

How interesting.

He had just visited his beautiful fiancée at Ruyi Pavilion and now came back to the Yuhua Palace to play this trick.

Rongrong lowered her head as she walked to the door. “Then I’ll take Yuanbao’s sleeping clothes over.”

The Crown Prince stood in her way like a wall.

He didn’t move, and she couldn’t leave.

“There’s no need. Wang An will take care of it.”