Master's radical makeover of Clay Figure Zhang?

Meng Anli naturally wouldn't let the Crown Prince go to the Imperial Palace.

She only reported the city closest to the Capital City.

When the Crown Prince landed with her, it was just getting dark.

The streets were brightly lit and bustling with people and carriages.

She acted like a naive young girl, "Such speed! It only took an hour to get here. If I had this carriage, it would be so much more convenient to see my sister from now on."

The Crown Prince looked at her with tender eyes, "The carriage can be yours, but don't go see your sister anymore. Don't let her bully you."

Meng Anli lowered her eyes dejectedly, twisting the ribbon on her clothes with her fingers, "I'm not likable."

The Crown Prince's heart ached, "It's her fault."

"Candied Hawthorn Skewers~"

This voice caught Meng Anli's attention, and she looked over.

The Crown Prince had intended to comfort her further, but seeing her eyes already sparkling at the sight of the candied hawthorn skewers.

He chuckled, "Want some?"

Meng Anli nodded repeatedly, "They look so tempting. I ate them when I was very young too."

She only ate them when she was very young?

The Crown Prince felt a pang of sympathy again.

He took out a gold ingot and was about to go over when Meng Anli grabbed his sleeve.

"Don't."

The Crown Prince looked at her, confused.

"It's too much," Meng Anli opened her bag and found a copper coin from a small pocket in the innermost compartment. She said happily, "This is just enough."

The Crown Prince asked in surprise, "This is all you have?"

"Yes! I've already planned it. On the way back, I'll pick more fruit and wild vegetables on the road and drink spring water. My mother has already taught me which ones are edible."

Meng Anli finished speaking quickly and anxiously called out to the vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers.

"Wait a moment, I want a skewer of candied hawthorn."

The vendor happily handed her one.

Meng Anli ran back and brought the first skewer to the Crown Prince's lips.

"This one is the biggest, you eat it first."

The street lanterns cast a warm yellow glow, falling diagonally on her face. Her bright smile from the daytime was now bathed in a warm light.

Her clear black and white eyes looked exceptionally sincere.

She was like a beautiful, pampered cat, exposing its soft belly, inviting him to pet it.

The Crown Prince unexpectedly recalled something Meng Anli had babbled to him. One sentence had stuck in his mind.

She wanted to give the first candied hawthorn skewer to Lu Yao.

Because the first one was the biggest and had the most sugar.

She even gave this to Lu Yao, which meant they were the best of friends in the world.

The Crown Prince had been dismissive and annoyed at the time.

The young girl was saying meaningless things, chattering endlessly in his ear.

He had many important matters to attend to.

But at this moment, looking at the skewer of candied hawthorn, the Crown Prince's heart began to race.

Did she mean that she and he were the best of friends in the world?

Meng Anli watched him stare at her, not eating, lost in thought.

She thought to herself, Don't space out now. My face is about to freeze from smiling, and my arm is getting tired from holding this out.

An idea struck her, and her expression immediately fell.

"I'm sorry, I forgot. Why would the Crown Prince like such a common thing?"

As she started to pull her hand back.

"Wait," the Crown Prince grabbed her hand, took a bite, and the sweet and sour taste spread.

Meng Anli looked at him expectantly, "Is it delicious?"

The Crown Prince initially thought it was just okay, but seeing her like this, he couldn't help but chuckle, "Delicious."

This smile made him feel even more sentimental. He couldn't help but let out a soft "Oh~" and covered his mouth.

Meng Anli laughed heartily, then covered her mouth again, "You can't! You shouldn't laugh like this with it in your mouth, it'll make it taste even more sour~"

She was laughing so happily that the Crown Prince was infected.

He also started to laugh.

"Mmm, it's sour but still delicious."

With a smile, Meng Anli naturally became more familiar with him, tugging on his sleeve. "Brother Shaoguang, there are sugar figures too. Sugar figures aren't sour at all."

Brother Shaoguang?

The Crown Prince's heart stirred. No one had ever called him that before.

Meng Anli, appearing oblivious, pulled him towards the sugar figure stall.

"Look, they can make all sorts of shapes."

She looked back at him. "Amazing, right?"

Shaoguang just looked at her. "Mmm, amazing."

"But this one is too sweet. My mom says it'll give me a toothache if I eat it."

The sugar figure craftsman chuckled. "Little girl, if you rinse your mouth after eating, you won't get a toothache. Do you want to buy one?"

"I'll pass," Meng Anli said frankly. "I'm out of money~ I'll come back to buy one when I save up more."

The Crown Prince reached for his money. "I have..."

Meng Anli quickly pressed his hand down. "I can't spend your money. Having candied hawthorn skewers today is enough. I just wanted to show Brother Shaoguang around."

Not spend his money?

The Crown Prince's heart was touched once again. The women around him, including Liuyin, never refused his gifts; they always accepted them happily.

But she, she wouldn't even spend a single gold ingot of his.

She was truly special.

While he was lost in thought, Meng Anli had already pulled him to the clay figure stall.

"Brother Shaoguang, look, this craftsman is also very skilled. He can sculpt clay figures~ He can even sculpt both of us right here."

The craftsman looked up. He had white hair and a youthful face, a smile on his lips, and a cool gaze.

As Meng Anli met his eyes, her heart skipped a beat, and she instantly let go of the Crown Prince's sleeve.

It's Master!

Why is Master here sculpting clay figures?

The Crown Prince mistook her reaction for shyness. He looked at the rows of clay figures, indeed all different.

He asked curiously, "Can you really sculpt our likenesses on the spot?"

"Yes," Yun Jing said coolly. "You two have outstanding appearances, making it easy to sculpt."

Meng Anli felt a chill down her neck.

Her fingers twisted unconsciously.

Will Master think I'm not cultivating properly and came out to slack off?

The Crown Prince was pleased by Yun Jing's words and pulled Meng Anli's hand. "Don't be nervous. Let him sculpt one to see. It'll be a good souvenir."

Yun Jing's slender hands snapped the lump of clay in two.

Meng Anli nervously swallowed. "Perhaps not."

"Don't you want to spend my money?" the Crown Prince asked softly, trying to comfort her. "This is something I want."

Yun Jing, kneading the clay in his hands, smiled at them. To outsiders, it looked like an elder looking at a golden couple with satisfaction.

"No..." Meng Anli felt as if Master was kneading her head at that moment, her scalp tingling.

The Crown Prince interrupted her. "I'm paying for myself, are you going to control that too?"

Then he changed his tone, leaning closer to her. "It's not impossible, but it will take some time. Once you become my..."

"Heh~" Yun Jing let out a light laugh and gently placed the clay lump on the workbench. The clay, already shaped like a head, shattered into pieces.

Meng Anli felt a chill down her back, shivered, and closed her eyes.

The Crown Prince thought she was moved by his teasing.

He chuckled and leaned closer again. "So shy?"

Meng Anli instinctively dodged.

She dodged him?

The Crown Prince's gaze intensified. If it were Liuyin, she would have fallen into his arms by now.

Just as he was about to make another move.

"You two," Yun Jing's smile turned cold. His voice wasn't loud, but it made the Crown Prince's heart tremble.

Coincidentally, the faint scent from Meng Anli wafted into his nostrils.

This scent was very light, like the sweet fragrance of refreshing melons and fruits on a hot summer day.

It was invigorating.

The Crown Prince felt his heart flutter for her once again.