Wu Jiping slowly lowered his head.

A red-faced, bright-eyed child grinned at him, revealing a set of white teeth.

It was inexplicably amusing.

A smile crept into his expression.

Most importantly, this was his daughter.

“Oh?”

Wu Jiping raised an eyebrow. “What secret?”

Jiang Yuanxi leaned in close, whispering into his ear, “Uncle likes Godmother, hehe.”

Wu Jiping immediately covered Jiang Yuanxi’s mouth, glancing around nervously.

Only when he was sure no one else was around did he let go.

Startled, he asked, “How do you know that?”

Jiang Yuanxi pointed to his chest.

“Right here, there’s a string.” A bright red thread of fate connected him to Godmother.

Wu Jiping thought the little girl was making things up and dismissed it.

After thinking for a moment, he pulled out a biscuit from his sleeve.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Jiang Yuanxi looked at the dry biscuit in his hand with clear disdain.

She burped. “I don’t like it.”

Then she held up three fingers and rubbed them together. “I like silver.”

Wu Jiping: “……”

That day, after the gathering at the restaurant, Jiang Ruowei never received a message from the Third Prince.

She heard he had arrived today, so she wandered around, finally spotting him by the bridge.

“Greetings, Your Highness,” Jiang Ruowei approached with excitement.

Jun Mocheng lazily glanced at her.

It was the girl from the restaurant that day.

After returning home, he had indeed discovered that his concubine was having an affair.

He sold her off and dealt with the traitor.

But he was curious—how had Jiang Ruowei known about it?

Jun Mocheng signaled with his eyes.

His guard understood.

“This is not a place for you. Leave at once!”

Jiang Ruowei panicked.

The Third Prince clearly didn’t trust her. If she didn’t prove her worth now, she’d never be able to win him over.

She took a deep breath and shouted, “I know something about the Fourth Prince!”

Jun Mocheng’s gaze turned icy.

He dropped his fishing rod, strode toward her, and grabbed her by the throat.

“Say that again!”

“The Fourth Prince… won’t live past eight years old!”

Jiang Ruowei choked out her words with difficulty.

Jun Mocheng’s grip tightened, his eyes full of murderous intent.

“I know… the person… who can save him,” she gasped.

The next moment, Jun Mocheng released her.

Jiang Ruowei collapsed onto the ground, gulping in air. She had almost died just now.

“You know what I’m capable of. If you’re lying, I have ways to make you wish you were dead.”

Jiang Ruowei trembled and backed away.

In her past life, the Fourth Prince had fallen seriously ill.

The imperial doctors predicted he wouldn’t live past eight.

The Emperor had ordered Jun Mocheng to find a cure, which eventually prolonged the boy’s life for a few more years.

At the time, she was already Empress and had overheard the secret.

Clutching her throat, she coughed and croaked, “Nanjiang… Miao Gu…”

Upon hearing this, Jun Mocheng let her go.

“Do you believe her, Your Highness?”

Jun Mocheng’s gaze darkened. “Send people to Nanjiang. And keep an eye on her.”

There was something strange about this woman.

Though she looked young, her eyes were full of schemes.

Not like a mere ten-year-old girl at all.

Jiang Ruowei shuddered.

She would never again underestimate the Third Prince.

To have survived the battle for the throne, he was not to be trifled with.

She had been careless.

Calming herself, she stepped out from behind the tree.

Right now, there was something even more important to take care of.

…

Wu Jiping strolled through the garden with Jiang Yuanxi.

To keep the little girl quiet about his feelings, he had paid fifty taels of silver.

That amount was nothing to him.

But he did learn something about the little rascal.

She was greedy.

Look at her now, hugging the silver and grinning like an idiot.

“Promise you won’t tell?” Wu Jiping asked for confirmation.

Jiang Yuanxi, clutching the silver, nodded furiously.

“I won’t, I won’t.”

Whoever told would never get to eat meat again.

She really didn’t understand these adults—if they liked each other, why didn’t they just say it?

With Jiang Yuanxi’s promise, Wu Jiping finally relaxed.

His feelings were his own secret. They couldn’t be spoken out loud.

As they wandered, they suddenly heard voices.

In this secluded grove, there weren’t many people around.

What kind of well-bred lady would come to a place like this?

Jiang Yuanxi’s curious eyes widened.

She pointed to the tree.

“Hide.”

Wu Jiping chuckled. The little girl, despite her age, already knew how to enjoy a good drama.

He picked her up and leaped into the tree, finding a good hiding spot.

From up there, they had a perfect view of the people below.

Jiang Yuanxi tucked her silver away and rummaged in her sleeve.

She pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and handed them to Wu Jiping. Then she found a comfortable spot in his arms, crossed her legs, and whispered,

“Time to watch the show.”

Wu Jiping looked at the seeds in his hand, unsure of how to react.

Then, he noticed someone sneaking closer.

Jiang Yan had followed Jiang Ruowei all the way here.

But at some point, she had lost track of her.

Suddenly, she heard voices and quickly hid.

“Yan-jie,” Jiang Yuanxi pointed down.

Why was she here too?

And just like them, she was hiding.

Wu Jiping frowned as he observed the people below.

“Miss, don’t make a sound, or they’ll find us.”

Jiang Yuanxi immediately dropped her sunflower seeds and covered her mouth.

The seeds tumbled down—right onto Jiang Yan’s head.

Wu Jiping froze.

Jiang Yuanxi’s eyes widened.

Oh no. They were about to be discovered.

Jiang Yan, already nervous from eavesdropping for the first time, was utterly panicked.

Suddenly, something fell on her head.

She reached up and touched it.

Sunflower seeds?

Was it raining sunflower seeds?

Before she could figure it out, the voices grew closer.

She flattened herself against the ground, too terrified to move, with no time to think about where the seeds had come from.

“Your Highness, please, just take a look at the ladies in the front hall.”

The Grand Princess had arranged a flower-viewing banquet, partly to enjoy the scenery and partly to discuss the princes’ marriages.

“Consort Yu has been worrying about your marriage. Just take one glance, please?”

“You mean just one glance? Huh?” The eunuch pleaded.

He was almost ready to kneel and hug the prince’s leg.

Jiang Yuanxi suddenly recalled the book’s plot—at this banquet, the Crown Prince was supposed to fall in love with the heroine at first sight.

It happened by the lake.

Jiang Ruowei, having been reborn, definitely wouldn’t miss this chance.

They weren’t near the lake yet.

If she intercepted him halfway…

But she was just a child.

Her mother had told her—children shouldn’t talk about love.

She couldn’t very well send Wu Jiping down there to have a fated romance with the prince.

If only Uncle were a woman!

Sensing her intense gaze, Wu Jiping looked down.

Jiang Yuanxi had already turned away.

A shiver ran down Wu Jiping’s spine.

That look just now was strange.

Below, the eunuch kept persuading.

“Your Highness, you know I dislike these occasions.”

“These noble ladies are all so pretentious.”

“Besides, women only slow a man’s sword.”

“My dear prince, if you don’t go, Consort Yu will have my head!”

Seeing the eunuch’s pitiful expression, Jun Moxie sighed.

“Fine, fine, just one glance.”

At worst, he’d just take a quick look from afar.