The imperial palace, in a secluded place.
Xiao Changchuan coldly swept his gaze over Jin Shanyao. "I didn't expect you, auntie, to have some guts to follow me. Tell me, how are you going to apologize for betraying me?"
"Why should I apologize?" Jin Shanyao's gaze was drawn to the white snow by the roadside. On a whim, she walked over and stepped into the snow.
She glanced down at Xue Fu and then at Xiao Changchuan, a move that Xiao Changchuan interpreted as a blatant provocation.
He stepped forward and imitated the motion of the Jin Shanyao, lifting his foot high and then stomping it hard into the snow, up to his knees. He raised his head defiantly.
"Tell me, how did you know my identity, and how did you tip me off...? I trusted you so much, ate wontons with you, and went home with you to eat fried cakes, and how did you treat me?! Huh... Answer me?!"
Jin Shanyao as she stepped through the snow, feeling the soft, comfortable ground beneath her feet, and a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.
Xiao Changchuan's eyes widened. She actually dared to laugh? She wasn't afraid of him at all... He lifted his other foot and stomped hard into the snow, wanting to press her down even deeper.
It turned out there was a hole under the snow crust, and he lurched forward. Jin Shanyao reached out and grabbed him by the back of the neck, pulling him out of the snow and placing him by the roadside.
Xiao Changchuan steadied himself, his face flushed as he glared at Jin Shanyao.
Jin Shanyao explained earnestly, "You lied to me first, I didn't lie to you. I gave you the wontons and fried cakes."
The mere mention of flaky pastries made Xiao Changchuan's throat tighten. After stammering for a long time, he said, "Do you know who I am? If I shout, you'll be pierced by a thousand arrows."
Jin Shanyao. "I know, otherwise why would I have taken you home?"
Xiao Changchuan was stunned again. She knew? She knew and still dared to treat him like this? Xiao Changchuan was so angry that he stomped his feet and spun around twice. He really couldn't understand why his identity wasn't working. Wasn't this aunt afraid of the Crown Prince?
Jin Shanyao looked rather helpless, thinking how pitiful it was that he had gone mad at such a young age. She stepped forward, stroked his head, and comforted him, "Good boy, let's not spin around anymore."
Listen to the auntie, from now on we won't talk to strangers or go with strangers, otherwise we might get our hearts and livers ripped out and sold without even knowing it.
Xiao Changchuan tilted his head to the side, shook off Jin Shanyao's hand, and felt a surge of anger when he thought of the circles she had drawn on his face.
He pointed at the Jin Shanyao viciously, "Auntie, you wait, I won't let you get away with this."
Before he finished speaking, the person had already run far away. Xiao Changchuan was still harboring a wicked thought, thinking: Without me leading the way, let's see how you get back.
Jin Shanyao watched Xiao Changchuan's retreating figure and sighed softly before retracing her steps. Just as she turned the corner, she bumped into Shi Chong.
His stern face was a stark contrast to his usual gentle demeanor, yet in the blink of an eye, he donned a smiling expression.
" Madam Jin."
"Why is Lord Shi here all by himself? Isn't he going to watch the variety show?"
"Just as I was about to go..." Shi Chong paused slightly, looking into Jin Shanyao's eyes, and continued, " Madam Jin, if I may ask, Miss Meng mentioned that she will be of marriageable age in June. I wonder... is she engaged yet?"
Upon hearing this, Jin Shanyao couldn't help but give him a closer look.
Shi Chong simply smiled and looked back, his gaze open and honest, without the slightest hint of evasion.
" Lord Shi, candied hawthorns are for eating, not for stomping on."
Jin Shanyao spoke calmly, her tone tinged with coldness, "Instead of wasting your time inquiring about whether others have reached marriageable age, you should take care of yourself first... Don't easily ruin this career you've risked your life for."
After saying that, she walked straight ahead, and just as she was about to bump into Shi Chong, he was so frightened that he had to step aside.
Jin Shanyao inwardly, "I'll smash you to death, you bastard..."
After the Jin Shanyao away, Shi Chong's smile slowly faded.
How did she know about the candied hawthorns?
But none of that matters. As long as he captures Meng Anzhi's heart, it won't matter if her parents try to stop him, let alone an aunt!
Jin Shanyao found the siblings and asked with a smile, "Did you have fun?"
Meng Anzhi turned around in surprise, her face beaming as she lowered her voice, "So happy, I can't take it all in!"
Jin Shanyao in agreement, "That fire-breathing guy was really powerful... He actually dared to put fire in his mouth..."
Meng Anci, "Auntie, you didn't put fire in your mouth, you put rosin powder in your mouth..."
"Pretty much. If he's slow to spit it out... then the anger will just go straight into his mouth." Jin Shanyao couldn't help but sigh softly. In this world, the brave are the rarest of all.
The group chatted and laughed, but Zhao Zhiyuan was pulled aside by Cai Wuyi and couldn't get away. He smiled and responded politely, but his eyes kept glancing towards Meng Anzhi.
Cai Wenyan walked slowly over carrying a lantern, smiling as she called out to Lord Zhao, then turned to Cai Wuyi, "Brother... Father wants you to come over."
Cai Wuyi glanced in the direction of Chancellor Cai, then exclaimed in surprise, "No, I have to go over there quickly, or Father will scold me again. How about this, let my sister keep you company."
After saying that, he turned and ran towards Chancellor Cai without waiting for Zhao Zhiyuan's response.
Cai Wenyan, carrying a lantern, said gently, "My elder brother has always been afraid of our father, please don't take offense, Lord Zhao."
She paused, and seeing that Zhao Zhiyuan didn't respond, she softly suggested, "I know there's a hot spring near the palace, with beautiful scenery... Would Lord Zhao be interested in going to see it together?"
Zhao Zhiyuan smiled gently, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Cai. However, it's my mother's first time attending a palace banquet, and I'm afraid she might feel uncomfortable and unable to move around freely. Please don't worry about me, Miss Cai, just go and have fun."
Cai Wenyan's fingers tightened slightly around the lamppost, but her smile remained unchanged. "Then... I won't disturb Lord Zhao any longer."
She curtsied and left, but after a few steps she couldn't help but look back. She saw Zhao Zhiyuan talking to his mother, paying no attention to her at all.
Cai Wenyan gently bit her lip, then finally turned and left.
The banquet ended at 3:45 PM.
Jin Shanyao led the siblings onto an oxcart, which then traveled through a group of horse-drawn carriages.
These women of officials didn't verbally mock, but their disdainful glances couldn't help but fall on the oxcart. They thought to themselves, "They're from a border prefecture, they've never used anything nice. They're officials, yet they still use oxcarts. It looks so shabby."
After a while, Jin Shanyao got annoyed. She suddenly turned her head and met the disdainful gaze of the person next to her. The person was startled and tried to look away, but it was too late.
With Jin Shanyao swayed her hand and said, "Haven't you ever seen a cow before? What are you staring at? I thought people from the capital were all worldly-wise, but it turns out they don't even recognize a cow."
Her words were significant; the entire road heard them, and everyone quickly averted their gaze, afraid to look away. What if they were asked, "Haven't you ever seen a cow before?"
It's so embarrassing to act like I've never seen anything like this before.