Chapter 128: He Wants to Give Her Everything

Zhou Zhao was a prince. If he could win the hearts of the soldiers in the military camp, then when he returned to the capital one day, those old officials in the court wouldn’t be able to say a word against him.

However, his expression gradually darkened. “But if I leave, no one will take care of the land at home.”

Growing vegetables and tending to the fields had become something more than just work—it was an emotional bond. Watching the seedlings sprout and grow was like nurturing his own children. The thought of leaving was difficult.

The Third Prince clapped him on the shoulder. “What’s the problem? I’m here. Your vegetables and rice won’t die.”

Zhou Zhao was momentarily stunned. Looking at the Third Prince’s cheerful face, he felt a surge of gratitude. Perhaps moved by the moment, he smiled and said, “Right, with Father here, there’s no rush.”

That single word—Father—instantly lifted the Third Prince’s spirits. Tomorrow’s work suddenly felt a lot more energizing.

Madam Zhou quickly interjected, “Zhao’er, what are you saying?”

Zhou Zhao feigned innocence. “Mother, didn’t you say that since Third Uncle is living with us, we should call him Father? Otherwise, the villagers might become suspicious.”

Madam Zhou hesitated, unable to refute him, but something about it still felt strange.

The Third Prince waved it off. “It doesn’t matter what you call me. It’s all the same.”

Seeing that he didn’t mind, Madam Zhou dropped the subject.

Du Wanchun and Zhou Ruizhen exchanged a glance and secretly chuckled.

After lunch, the whole family boarded a carriage and headed to town.

For the past few days, the market in Cheng’an County had been livelier than ever. The streets were lined with vendors selling everything imaginable—hair accessories, rouge, porcelain, and more.

Madam Zhou and Du Wanchun had visited a few times before, but whenever they bought things, they only got the essentials—cotton, fabric, salt, and other necessities.

But the Third Prince was different. As soon as he stepped out of the carriage, he strode straight to a cosmetics shop, pulled out some silver, and bought a whole pile of rouge and powder.

Carrying the bundle back onto the carriage, he beamed as he handed them to Madam Zhou. “Zhou’er, these are for you and Wanchun.”

Madam Zhou was taken aback. “Buying this much must have cost a lot of silver!”

The Third Prince stuffed the boxes of rouge into her arms. “It wasn’t much. See if you like them. The cosmetics here probably aren’t as fine as the ones in the capital.”

Madam Zhou lowered her head and looked at the pile of rouge in her arms, momentarily dazzled by the variety.

Just as she was about to speak, the Third Prince stepped down from the carriage again.

He strode over to a pastry shop and called out to the shop assistant inside, “Osmanthus cake, chestnut cake, lotus pastry, tuckahoe cake, crabapple cake—give me some of each.”

The shop assistant was delighted and responded eagerly, “Of course, sir! Please wait a moment.”

At that moment, Zhou Ruizhen also walked over. “And add some peanut brittle as well.”

The Third Prince turned his head to look at him.

Zhou Ruizhen said calmly, “Wan Chun likes it.”

Upon hearing this, the Third Prince turned to the shop assistant again. “Pack five pounds of peanut brittle.”

The shop assistant responded promptly, “Right away!”

Then the Third Prince added, “And make that five pounds of tuckahoe cake as well.”

Zhou Ruizhen glanced at him in surprise.

The Third Prince looked straight ahead, tilting his chin slightly. “Your mother likes it.”

Zhou Ruizhen froze for a moment upon hearing this.

Moments later, the shop assistant handed them the neatly packed pastries.

The two men, tall and broad-shouldered, carried several large bags in both hands and strode toward the carriage.

When Madam Zhou and Du Wanchun saw them entering with their arms full, their eyes widened in surprise.

“You bought this much?” they both asked in unison.

Zhou Ruizhen placed the peanut brittle in Du Wanchun’s lap. “It’s not that much. You eat first—if it’s not enough, we’ll buy more.”

The Third Prince then placed the tuckahoe cake into Madam Zhou’s hands. “That’s right, it’s not much at all. Here, eat.”

Madam Zhou and Du Wanchun both lowered their heads to look at the pastries in their hands, smiling helplessly.

Not much? This was enough for the two of them to eat for half a month!

As the carriage continued forward, before they could even react, the Third Prince got off again and walked into a jewelry store.

The shop specialized in selling various red gold hairpins and decorative hair ornaments.