Cheng Yongyan stood wooden-faced beside He Puyu at the gates of the General's Residence, respectfully seeing Emperor Mingze and Her Highness the Little Princess off as they returned to the palace.
By then, the sky had gone completely dark, and rows of lanterns lit this small patch of ground as brightly as day.
The soft orange-red glow fell over the Little Princess's adorably rounded face, veiling her in a hazy halo that made the little girl look positively serene and dignified.
Cheng Yongyan, however, knew that it was all an illusion.
The Little Highness seemed to be waiting quietly for their departure, but her inner voice kept coming, one thought after another, without a moment's rest.
[He was so impatient to speak up and take him home. His feelings aren't dead! Uncle Cheng must still have feelings for him!]
Cheng Yongyan: "..."
[If you ask me, even though this He Puyu loves money a little too much, he doesn't steal or rob anyone. He gets everything from other people through his own abilities. That counts as striving tirelessly to better himself~]
Cheng Yongyan: Striving tirelessly to better himself, my fucking ass!!
[Even though this He Puyu has a past too painful to look back on, still...] Jiang Yingcheng quickly looked up at He Puyu, who stood obediently beside Cheng Yongyan. [What matters most is that the two of them build a happy life together!]
Cheng Yongyan squeezed his eyes shut.
Only yesterday, at the Poetry Gathering, he had encountered a woman who had captured his heart at first sight. But once today's business with He Puyu got out, that fleeting glimpse of breathtaking beauty would probably be their last meeting.
*[Sigh... but Uncle Cheng has a right to know about this too. Chengcheng still has to find a way to