With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

"Since Princess Danyang knew that her jade pendant was precious and that losing it would be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, she should have kept it safe and treasured it instead of showing it off. Now that this has happened, it is primarily your responsibility for improper handling."

These words, without favoring either side, incisively pointed out the faults of Princess Danyang herself.

Princess Danyang's face turned pale. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain but unable to find the words.

Qin Jiuchen continued, his tone calm and indifferent: "This place is an open square today, with a diverse and mixed crowd. It would be difficult to find it immediately. In my opinion, it would be better for everyone to disperse first, and I will have my men search carefully later; perhaps we can find some clues."

This is clearly an attempt to appease everyone.

Princess Danyang grew anxious: "But Your Highness..."

Qin Jiuchen ignored her and turned his gaze to the still-angry crowd, saying in a deep voice, "There have been many misunderstandings in today's events. Princess Danyang is young and her words were inappropriate. I apologize to everyone on her behalf. Please disperse and do not cause more trouble because of momentary anger."

His words both gave the people a way out and carried a subtle warning.

Although the people were still angry, they dared not make a fuss after seeing that Prince Ningxiang had spoken. They whispered angrily and gradually dispersed.

Seeing this, Yun Nian understood.

She turned to Qin Senyao, whose face was ashen, and said softly, "Your Highness, it's better to avoid trouble. Let's go."

Qin Senyao nodded hurriedly and pulled up Qin Jiaxue, who was still in a daze: "Let's go, let's go quickly!"

The three of them quickly left as the crowd loosened.

Princess Danyang stood there, watching the dispersing crowd, filled with anger and resentment, and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

Yun Wei lowered her head, secretly clenching her fists, her eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.

-

As night deepened, the hustle and bustle of the Qixi Festival gradually subsided.

When Yun Nian returned to the Ningxiang Prince's Mansion, she did not go directly to her own courtyard, but went to Qin Jiuchen's study first.

She told Qiluo to stay nearby while she went inside.

The night breeze carried a chill, ruffling her pink skirt and the loose strands of hair at her temples.

She was carrying a lantern.

These lanterns are quite different from the styles commonly found on the market.

It is a perfectly round and lustrous glass ball, with intricate lotus scroll patterns outlined in gold thread on the outer wall. Under the candlelight, the lotus petals seem to have a hazy halo, appearing both real and illusory.

Yun Nian waited quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, steady footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.

Qin Jiuchen is back.

He was still wearing that dark blue casual clothes, and his figure appeared somewhat aloof and cold in the moonlight.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he immediately saw a pink figure standing quietly in the center of the courtyard, carrying a glass lantern.

The candlelight outlined her beautiful figure, and the night breeze lifted her hair and skirt. In the quiet, deserted courtyard, the scene was so beautiful it seemed unreal.

Qin Jiuchen paused for a moment.

Yun Nian noticed his arrival and slowly turned around.

The light from the glass lamp illuminated her face, and her gentle, sincere smile appeared exceptionally clear and soft in the warm yellow candlelight.

She looked at him without saying a word, but simply raised the glass lamp in her hand, her smile deepening slightly.

Qin Jiuchen stood at the courtyard gate, his gaze lingering on her face and the glass lamp for a moment.

He raised his hand and made a simple gesture.

Chen Sha immediately understood, bowed silently, and led the others to quickly leave the courtyard area, quietly leaving the courtyard gate slightly ajar.

Qin Jiuchen then took a step and walked towards Yun Nian in the center of the courtyard.

His steps were steady and unhurried as he approached step by step.

Yun Nian smiled as she watched him approach.

He stopped just a step away from her, the two of them separated by the faint light emanating from the glass lamp.

She held out the glass lotus lantern in her hand and said softly, "Your Highness, this is a Qixi Festival gift that Nian'er specially prepared for you."

Qin Jiuchen's gaze fell on the glass lamp, then he looked up at her, his eyes deep and unreadable.

He didn't reach out to take it; his thin lips parted slightly.

"Miss Yun is quite greedy. Didn't you just receive a lantern from your fiancé on the street? And now you're here with another lantern to give to someone else?"

Yun Nian's smile remained unchanged, and her tone was frank: "The lanterns given by the young master, Nian'er merely 'accepted' them. Whether to accept or not is sometimes not based on one's true feelings. But in Nian'er's heart, there are people she wants to 'give' to, and things she wants to give."

Upon hearing this, Qin Jiuchen's eyes seemed to ripple.

He suddenly chuckled softly and took half a step closer to her.

The distance between the two instantly shortened, and the halo of the glass lamp enveloped them, making the atmosphere suddenly ambiguous and tense.

Qin Jiuchen leaned forward slightly, his handsome face appearing even more defined in the candlelight.

He gazed into her eyes and said slowly, "Since Miss Yun is so kind as to give a gift, then I will also reciprocate with one. How about it?"

Yun Nian blinked, her long eyelashes casting a fan-shaped shadow under her eyelids.

Her smile grew even sweeter. "Oh? What does Your Highness wish to give Nian'er?"

Qin Jiuchen's lips curled up.

He slowly took something out of his pocket.

The moonlight and candlelight intertwined, clearly illuminating the shape of the object.

It is entirely emerald green, with exquisite carving, and shimmers with a warm and luxurious luster under the light.

It was none other than the "Azure Sea and Blue Sky" jade pendant that Princess Danyang had lost!

Yun Nian's smile suddenly blossomed into an even more radiant and dazzling one.

She deliberately dragged out her words, "Oh dear, so it turns out that the prince is the one crying 'stop thief'?"

Qin Jiuchen played with the jade pendant in his hand, the emerald green light flowing between his slender fingers.

He looked up at her, a hint of amusement in his eyes: "Isn't this what Miss Yun 'accidentally' left here with me? I'm just keeping it for you temporarily."

Yun Nian's smile deepened. She tilted her head, revealing an innocent yet troubled expression.

"Your Highness has wronged Nian'er. Nian'er has no idea how this thing ended up on her. She was terrified. This is such a hot potato, Nian'er is too timid to handle it. She can only quickly find the most reliable person to keep it safe."

She said she was scared and timid, but her eyes were bright and cunning, showing no fear whatsoever.

A hint of a smile flashed across Qin Jiuchen's eyes.

He suddenly reached out and ruffled Yun Nian's hair.

Yun Nian was stunned, and even the smile on her face froze for a moment.

His deep voice came from above, his tone full of affection.

"You're always full of clever ideas."

Yun Nian snapped out of her daze, her heart skipping a beat for no apparent reason.

She looked up, her smile brightening again. "That's because our master taught us well."

Qin Jiuchen paused slightly as he was rubbing the top of her head, then withdrew his hand.

He stood up straight and looked down at her.

"Am I merely a master?"

Yun Nian met his gaze, her heart fluttering slightly, but her face remained smiling. "Otherwise, who else would Your Highness like to be Nian'er's?"

Under the moonlight, beside the glass lamp, a girl in pink smiled radiantly, her eyes sparkling.

Qin Jiuchen suddenly chuckled softly.

He reached out and took her glass lotus lamp.

"I accept it."