The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Xie Chengli changed the subject, "Cousin Miaoyin, is there anything you like in the Northern Territory?"

"Summers are short and winters are long in Anshuo. Fresh vegetables are not common in winter, and fruits are even less so. So people like to store some fruits and vegetables in the autumn, dry them, and eat them in the winter," Miaoyin answered earnestly.

"In winter, we eat less and there are fewer animals on the mountain. The wolves will come down from the mountain, so we set traps to catch them. I love skinning wolves the most. We can even use the whole skin to make a mattress."

Xie Chengli was taken aback, probably because he couldn't imagine what it would be like for a little girl like Miaoyin to skin a wolf.

"Any fun things to do in Anshuo?"

Miaoyin thought for a moment, "There's not much to do. I used to go hunting in the mountains all the time, and I could play there all day."

"But now that I am a daughter of the Ruan family, I can no longer go hunting."

Ruan Xianrong frowned slightly as she listened to their conversation.

No wonder you can't compete with Xie Chengyan; you've wasted all your energy on useless things. You should just be frank about it.

Since we'll be competing for it anyway, starting early might give us a better chance of winning.

It would be best if he defeated the male lead, possessed the female lead, and ascended the throne as emperor, so she wouldn't have to live in constant fear.

She glared at him with exasperation, thinking he was just spouting nonsense.

"Your Highness, I'm tired and want some peace and quiet. Would Your Highness like to rest as well?" she interrupted him.

Xie Chengli stopped speaking abruptly, and looked at her with a hint of reproach in his eyes.

"Oh, it was my oversight that I disturbed you two cousins."

Ruan Xianrong raised an eyebrow and gestured for him to proceed, "Your Highness, please take care."

The carriage curtain was lowered, Xie Chengli mounted his horse, and headed ahead to find his second brother.

After finally arriving at the estate, Miaoyin immediately ran inside to admire the lotus flowers as soon as she got off the carriage, accompanied by Xie Chengli and Xie Chengming.

Shen Qinghe would occasionally turn around and look at them, their hands clasped together, which was really jarring to the eye.

Niannian could marry anyone, so why can't he?

He's all grown up now, why can't we just look at him?

Thinking of this, his throat started to itch again. Not wanting her to see him in such a disheveled state at this moment, he covered his mouth and ran away as if fleeing.

Xie Chengyan walked a few steps behind at a leisurely pace, his peripheral vision always fixed on the two figures standing side by side at the very back.

As the people ahead walked further and further away, Cheng Qing squeezed Ruan Xianrong's hand through her sleeve. "Niannian, I have something for you."

The two quietly changed direction and went to the other side of the lake.

A summer breeze swept through the lotus pond, bringing a moist, refreshing fragrance that slightly dispelled the stuffiness that had filled the carriage.

"Why are you being so mysterious? What do you have for me?" she asked with a smile.

Cheng Qing suddenly became shy, "I...I bought you a gift."

As he spoke, he tightened his grip on something under his sleeve.

"I saw a hairpin in a jewelry shop that I thought would suit you perfectly..." He paused before he could finish speaking, his hand clenching and unclenching in his sleeve, refusing to take the item out.

"You gave me a hairpin, so why don't you just give it to me?"

"The items are very cheap, nothing like what Miss Miaoyin gave me, I..."

This hairpin had cost him all his savings, but even if he spent it all, he still couldn't give her the best.

Ruan Xianrong tugged at his sleeve, "Right now, I don't care about expensive or cheap. You haven't achieved any official rank yet, so it's already very kind of you to give me a gift. Once you've passed the exam and have money, you can buy me something cheap, but I won't want it anymore."

Cheng Qing chuckled. "Then... shall I put it on you?"

"it is good."

Cheng Qing took out a pearl and jade hairpin from her sleeve and carefully put it on her head. After looking at it for a while, she said, "It looks good."

Ruan Xianrong smiled slyly, "Is the person prettier, or the hairpin?"

Cheng Qing was stunned for a moment, and when she realized what was happening, her ears immediately turned red. She didn't dare to look at her, but she didn't let go of the hem of her clothes in her hands.

Not far away, behind the lush shade of trees, Shen Qinghe coughed until his face was flushed, with bloodstains on his handkerchief, but his lips were bloodless.

This is what I saw when I turned around.

The charming young woman and her beloved smiled at each other, their eyes unable to see anyone else.

But why?

What exactly is it about him that makes him inferior to this poor scholar who has nothing?

He was unwilling to accept it, truly unwilling to accept it.

My older brother always says he shouldn't have any designs on it, but if Cheng Qing, a scholar from the countryside, can have it, why can't he?

Is he really that inferior to Cheng Qing? He's already trying so hard to improve...

Turning to look at the Crown Prince, wasn't it said that Niannian would be the Crown Princess? Why isn't he fighting for her? Even if she really marries the Crown Prince, it's better than marrying that Cheng Qing!

Xie Chengyan leaned against the railing, and Xie Chengli strolled over to his side, saying in the direction of Ruan Xianrong, "Look, the little girl who used to play in the mud with me and was even too scared to enter the palace by the Emperor has grown up, found someone she likes, and is getting married."

Xie Chengyan's profile looked even more handsome and gentle in the sunlight, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Third brother, have you decided what gift to give?"

"Almost there. What about you, Your Majesty? What are you sending? We've watched Cousin Ruan grow up, so we can't just give her a perfunctory gift."

Xie Chengyan stared at the opposite shore of the lake, his tone casual, "Don't worry, I will give her a great gift that she will never forget."

His hands were clenched into fists inside his sleeves, his nails digging deep, and a sharp pain shot through his palms, barely managing to maintain the calm, composed, and gentle mask on his face.

Yes, she's grown up and can get married now.

Ruan Xianrong had felt someone watching her since earlier, but when she looked around, she didn't see anyone else, except for Miaoyin waving at her from afar.

Cheng Qing nudged her, "Miss Miaoyin is looking for you, you should go first."

Aren't you going over there?

He shook his head. "I won't go over there. I'll just walk around here."

Ruan Xianrong knew that no one around him liked him, so why bother to make himself disliked?

"Then I'll go first."

As soon as Ruan Xianrong left, Shen Qinghe appeared behind him. The evil fire burning in his chest made him lose all reason. Before he could speak, he pushed Ruan Xianrong.

The usually sickly boy was surprisingly strong at this moment, and Cheng Qing, who was caught off guard, was pushed down.

"Cheng Qing, what makes you think you can marry her? You have nothing, how are you worthy of her?"

"I've been by her side for so many years, we grew up together, but she's always treated me like a child. Why should she marry you!"

"Young Master Shen." Cheng Qing paused for a moment before speaking, "Marriage is about mutual affection. Nian Nian chose me, and I cherish her. This is our destiny, and it has nothing to do with family background or how long we met."

"Shut up!" Shen Qinghe, enraged by his confident demeanor, became even more out of control, raising her foot to kick him. "It's all your fault! You seduced her!"

"Shen Qinghe, what are you doing?"

Ruan Xianrong hadn't gone far when she heard the noise and ran back, only to see the child with an angry expression.

Shen Qinghe froze, his eyes bloodshot. He slowly lowered his raised foot, his expression panicked, and dared not move.

"Niannian, no, I, I didn't..." He stammered, trying to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

Ruan Xianrong helped the person up, "Are you alright?"

Cheng Qing dusted himself off. "I just tripped and fell. It's nothing serious."

"Shen Qinghe!" Ruan Xianrong, hands on her hips, turned to Shen Qinghe. "You little brat, you didn't remember a single word I said last time! Cheng Qing will be your brother-in-law in the future, why are you always picking on him?"

"I..." Shen Qinghe tried to explain, but Ruan Xianrong didn't give him a chance. "Apologize."

He swallowed back the words he was about to say, becoming even more stubborn, "I did nothing wrong, why should I apologize?"

Ruan Xianrong was amused by his words. "You've learned to be unreasonable now, Shen Qinghe. Are you being disobedient again? I'll say it one more time: apologize."

"No!" Shen Qinghe glared at her, his eyes red and trembling with tears. "I won't apologize, I just won't!"

After saying that, he turned and ran away.

"Forget it," Cheng Qing stopped her.

Ruan Xianrong sighed, somewhat embarrassed, "I'm sorry, Qinghe is young, please don't take it to heart."

Cheng Qing smiled and said, "I know, he's just a child, I won't hold it against him."

However... after scanning the garden, I realized my fiancée is too popular; many people are eyeing her. It seems I'll have to keep a close eye on her in the future, lest she be snatched away by someone with ulterior motives.