With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

"Is little girl going back to the manor?"

Pei Ran's gaze lingered on her for a moment, a flash of amazement in his eyes.

"I'm heading that way anyway, shall I see my sister off?"

Shen Nannan's lips curved into a smile.

"No need, I want to look around some more."

"Then I'll go with my sister?" Pei Ran said, glancing behind her.

Ah Chao held the rabbit, his face expressionless.

But Pei Ran felt a chill down her back.

"This..." He paused.

"Still serving your sister? Perhaps I should assign her a few capable guards?"

Shen Nannan turned around and glanced at A Chao.

He still maintained that respectful demeanor, but the way he held the rabbit—

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt like his fingers were tightening a bit, and the rabbit even kicked its legs because of the tightness.

"No need." She turned back, smiling. "My people, I find them convenient to use."

Pei Ran's smile froze slightly.

He quickly recovered and smiled gently again.

"My sister is right. By the way, on the day of the spring outing, would it be alright if I came to pick you up earlier? We can go in the same car and chat on the way."

Before Shen Nannan could speak, a very soft sound came from behind her.

It sounded like a rabbit kicking its legs.

She didn't pay attention and was about to speak when Ah Chao suddenly took half a step forward.

This conveniently blocked her view of Pei Ran.

"Miss, the fabric shop hasn't finished picking up the materials yet."

Shen Nannan was stunned.

But then I suddenly remembered something.

Spring outing.

She turned her head and smiled at Pei Ran.

"Okay, then I'll trouble you, Brother Pei."

Pei Ran's eyes lit up. "Then it's settled."

He lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage slowly drove away.

----

Shen Nannan stood there, watching the carriage disappear around the street corner, her smile slowly fading.

"Miss."

Ah Chao's voice was low.

The rabbit in his arms struggled violently as he squeezed it.

Is he unhappy?

"What's wrong?" she asked deliberately.

Ah Chao lowered his head and calmed the restless rabbit in his arms.

"It's nothing."

"The rabbit is hungry."

Shen Nannan looked down at the rabbit in his arms.

The rabbit was looking up at her innocently with its red eyes.

"Where is it hungry?" Shen Nannan reached out and poked the rabbit's head. "It just ate."

"Ah Chao," she looked up at him, her voice soft, "don't you like Young Master Pei?"

Ah Chao didn't say anything.

Shen Nannan waited, but didn't receive an answer. Just as she was about to ask again—

"Does the young lady like him?"

He suddenly spoke, looking directly at her.

Those eyes were dark and deep, as if they wanted to suck her whole body in.

"Does the young lady like him?" he asked again, enunciating each word clearly.

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her.

This person—

"What's it to you?" She looked away, turned and left. "I'm off to get the materials."

Achao stood still.

He glanced down at the rabbit in his arms.

The rabbit tilted its head back and stared at him with its red eyes.

The human and the rabbit stared at each other for three seconds.

"She doesn't like it."

He spoke softly, unsure whether he was talking to the rabbit or to himself.

The rabbit kicked its legs.

Ah Chao pulled it tighter into his arms and followed.

---

After shopping for most of the day, Shen Nannan finally bought everything she needed.

As dusk fell, the streets became less crowded.

She talked to Ah Chao as she walked.

"What color should I wear on the spring outing? Pale yellow? Or lotus root pink?"

Ah Chao walked beside her, saying, "Miss looks good in anything."

"That's all you know how to say," Shen Nannan said coquettishly.

Ah Chao didn't say anything, but he moved a little closer to her.

That way, she could completely shield him from view.

"Miss, it's windy, stand over here."

Shen Nannan was taken aback.

Wind? Where is the wind?

She looked up at him, but he had already lowered his eyes, and was once again in that respectful manner.

But she felt that his aura had changed in that brief moment.

---

On the distant attic.

The window was half-closed, and a pair of cloudy eyes were staring at the pale yellow figure on the street.

Crown Prince Xiao Jing leaned back in his chair, a cup of wine in his hand, but his eyes never left that direction.

The distance was too far to see their faces clearly.

But that figure—

Her waist was so thin it looked like it could be snapped in two, and her skirt swayed as she walked. Even though she was wearing a spring dress, her full figure was so captivating that it was impossible to look away.

He squinted, his Adam's apple bobbing.

"This is the... big gift you were talking about?"

The old woman sent by Madam Tong bowed her head and said, "Your Highness, it is indeed the eldest daughter of the Shen family, Shen Nannan."

"The Shen family..."

The Crown Prince chuckled softly, "General Shen has kept this well hidden. I have never seen such a beauty before."

The old woman continued, "Your Highness, Madam said that on the day of the spring outing, Your Highness will be allowed to enjoy yourself to the fullest."

He tightened his grip on the wine glass, a lewd glint flashing in his eyes.

I wonder what it would feel like to have such a beauty under me.

He was about to take a closer look—

A figure dressed in black stood in front of her, blocking his view.

Xiao Jing could see nothing.

"Hmm?" He leaned forward.

The man remained standing, motionless.

Xiao Jing waited for a long time, but the figure never reappeared.

He waved.

A middle-aged man immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness."

"Go," Xiao Jing said slowly, "bring me a bolt of shimmering brocade."

The shopkeeper was taken aback. "Your Highness, what do you mean...?"

"Send it to Miss Shen."

"Yes."

Xiao Jing glanced out the window again.

The pale yellow figure had already walked away, leaving only the back of the man in black robes, gradually disappearing into the crowd.

He licked his lips.

"The material is so smooth..."

He spoke in a low voice, his tone carrying an indescribable meaning.

"As smooth as a beautiful woman's skin."

------

on the street.

Shen Nannan was completely blocked by A Chao and couldn't see anything.

"What are you doing?" She nudged him. "You're blocking the light."

Ah Chao didn't move.

"Miss," he looked down at her, "have you finished shopping?"

Shen Nannan blinked. "No, there are still a few stores I haven't visited."

Ah Chao was silent for a moment.

Then he turned to the side and said, "Let's go then."

Shen Nannan looked at him suspiciously, feeling that he was acting strangely.

But she didn't think much of it and turned around to continue walking forward.

I had only taken a few steps when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

"Miss Shen! Miss Shen, please wait!"

Shen Nannan turned around.

A lean, middle-aged man jogged up to her, his face beaming. "Miss Shen, I am the manager of Futailong, my surname is Zhao."

Futailong?

Prince? !

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained calm. "Manager Zhao? Is something the matter?"

Manager Zhao smiled as he took a brocade box from the shop assistant behind him and presented it with both hands.

"This is a small token of our boss's appreciation, a gift for Miss Shen."

Shen Nannan didn't answer. "Your employer? I don't know your employer."

Shopkeeper Zhao smiled even more ingratiatingly, "Miss Shen may not know her, but our boss does. This shimmering brocade is most suitable... most suitable for a beauty like Miss Shen."

Shen Nannan stared at the brocade box.

Flowing brocade.

She recognized the fabric—it was worth a fortune, extremely rare, and most famous for its texture, so smooth it could slide right off your body.

"Who is your boss?" she asked deliberately.

Manager Zhao smiled impeccably, "It is... a distinguished guest. Miss Shen will be able to meet him soon."

Shen Nannan sneered inwardly.

A benefactor?

It seems her second aunt intends to use her as a raft to give to her master.

She didn't want the prince's things.

"Miss," Ah Chao suddenly spoke from behind.

"It's a kind gesture, please accept it."

Ah Chao's voice carried a tone that she didn't quite understand.

Shen Nannan looked at him suspiciously.

He gently stroked the rabbit in his arms.

"Alright, I'll keep it."

The shopkeeper left, thanking him profusely.

Shen Nannan then turned to look at A Chao.

"Speak, what do you mean?"

Ah Chao smiled at her.

"This piece of cloth would be quite suitable..."

"Miss Shen the Second".

Shen Nannan was stunned.

Miss Shen the Second—Shen Yin?

She looked at Ah Chao, and something flashed across her lowered eyes.

Shen Nannan suddenly smiled.

She got it.

Radiant brocade, tribute, and beautiful women.

It's obvious what that "client" was up to when he sent this piece of cloth.

She curled the corners of her lips into a smile.

"Ah Chao is right."

"This fabric is indeed suitable for my second sister."

She reached out, took the rabbit from his arms, and rubbed its ears.

The rabbit squinted comfortably and snuggled closer to her.

Ah Chao's gaze fell on the rabbit, then on her clothes, which the rabbit had ruffled, and his eyes darkened.

Shen Nannan didn't notice, she was too busy teasing the rabbit.

"However," she said slowly,

"If my second sister finds out—"

She paused, then smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"Since it was a gift from Young Master Pei, won't she be... even happier?"

"Would you rather snatch it?"

A-Chao looked at her.

Looking into those bright, almond-shaped eyes, and at the sly curve of her lips.

He lowered his eyes.

"Miss is right."

------

[Random Thoughts]

Crown Prince: That figure, I'm determined to have her!

-Ah Chao: (Smiling) I don't want that hand anymore.

-Rabbit: I'll just rub against it, I won't go in... oh no, I'll just burrow in, but I won't go inside...

Shen Nannan: What did he mean by that? What does "you always want to snuggle into my arms" mean?!

Reader: He wants to drill, he wants to drill, he wants to drill!

-Ah Chao: (Silently standing behind the young lady) Anyone who looks at this will die.

- Next chapter preview: The spring outing is coming, the rabbit needs to be taken for a walk, the prince is about to do something reckless, and a certain wolf is about to lose his temper...