If you want to survive after transmigrating, become the male protagonist's new mother.

Suddenly, there was a light knock on the palace door twice.

A servant's voice came from outside the door: "Your Majesty."

Qin Shuxing hadn't swallowed the flower cake in her mouth yet: "Mmm."

"Duke Luo requests an audience outside the palace."

"Cough cough cough—"

Qin Shuxing choked suddenly, and bits of food sprayed from the corner of her mouth. She frantically grabbed her handkerchief.

Pei Yuening was startled and instinctively took half a step forward: "Your Majesty, are you alright?"

"N-nothing—" Qin Shuxing coughed and wiped her mouth, then went to wipe the crumbs off the table, too busy to keep up. "Who did you say? Who's requesting an audience?"

"Duke Luo, Your Majesty."

Qin Shuxing paused for a moment.

He looked up at Pei Yuening, then at the half-empty food box on the table, and then down at his collar, which was covered in cookie crumbs.

That expression was probably the last struggle before the company's demise.

"Make him wait—"

Qin Shuxing stopped halfway through her sentence.

He was the emperor.

The reason for making Luo Ren wait outside the palace was to let him wipe his mouth clean, hide the food box, and clean up the crime scene first.

What kind of talk would that be if it got out?!

"...Let him in." Qin Shuxing sighed resignedly.

He quickly wiped his mouth twice, threw the handkerchief on the table, and then changed his expression at the fastest speed Pei Yuening had ever seen.

One second he was a guilty foodie, the next he was a young emperor sitting upright behind his desk.

His expression was calm, his gaze serene, as if he weren't the one who had just choked on the cookie.

Pei Yuening stood there, dumbfounded.

The palace doors were pushed open, and Luo Ren walked in.

Today he was dressed in a formal military uniform, his epaulets jingling, and his boots made a steady sound as he stepped on the floor tiles.

Pei Yuening's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Calm down, calm down.

Luo Ren's gaze swept across the hall.

"Your Majesty." He nodded slightly and gave a salute.

"Luo Qing is here," Qin Shuxing said, closing her eyes and feigning seriousness. "What is it?"

"The troop rotation plan for the northern garrison has been drafted and is being sent to His Majesty for review."

Luo Ren took a document out of his pocket, took two steps forward and placed it on the desk.

Qin Shuxing glanced at it and nodded: "Okay, I'll look at it later."

The hall fell silent again.

Luo Ren put down his things but showed no intention of leaving.

His gaze swept over the food box on the table, then fell on Pei Yuening.

Pei Yuening felt a little uneasy under his gaze and subconsciously lowered her head.

"Your Majesty," Luo Ren began, "I happen to have something to discuss with Young Master Pei."

Qin Shuxing raised an eyebrow: "That's perfect, let's send them home."

"Yes."

He paused, then added, "Pei Yuening."

"exist."

"From now on, a servant will go to Duke Ye's residence every morning."

Pei Yuening took a moment to react.

Oh, go get the snacks.

He immediately bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Luo Ren said goodbye and turned to leave.

Pei Yuening quickly followed.

The two walked out of the palace gate one after the other, and passed through the corridor in silence.

Pei Yuening's mind was buzzing.

Why is Luo Ren here?

Did he come here specifically for this purpose?

Or was he really just delivering documents on the side...?

By the way? By the way, take a duke's younger brother away from the emperor's study?

This is such a coincidence!

Holy crap!! No, that's not right.

Pei Yuening suddenly realized: The emperor hadn't finished eating, so does that mean he knows the usual snacks were sent by him?!

"Get in the car."

Luo Ren's voice came from the front, interrupting Pei Yuening's reverie.

He came to his senses and realized that they had already reached the palace gate.

"Get...get in the car?" Pei Yuening was taken aback. "Where to?"

"The Duke's mansion," Luo Ren said.

He stood by the car door, his grey-blue eyes looking at Pei Yuening: "I've prepared tea and refreshments, please have a seat. I should apologize in person for what happened last time."

Pei Yuening opened her mouth: "Actually, it's not necessary—"

"Get in the car."

"Oh……"

Pei Yuening obediently climbed up.

The carriage drove smoothly away from the palace gate.

The carriage was not very spacious. Pei Yuening sat on one side, and Luo Ren sat opposite her.

The leather seats were soft and cool, and the drawn curtains swayed slightly with the movement of the car.

But—he found the food box that Gao Gao had delivered this morning in the corner of the carriage seat.

Pei Yuening was even more devastated!

Did Luo Ren know that he was the one who sent those pastries?

Did Gao Gao reveal her identity each time she went to deliver the goods?

Ugh, she's not here now, so I don't have a chance to ask!

Pei Yuening felt her face burning as she thought about it, and the "evidence of the crime" was just a step away from her.

He secretly raised his head and glanced at Luo Ren.

Luo Ren was leaning back in his seat, his gaze fixed on the scenery outside the car window. The lines of his profile looked particularly cold and stern in the dim light.

That's it, you can't read any emotion at all, but that face...

He's so incredibly handsome! Mom! I like him even more now that I see him up close!

Pei Yuening bit her lip.

True to his usual style, he speaks his mind and throws out whatever comes to mind; holding back is not in his nature.

Moreover, the more you try to hold it in, the more awkward it becomes.

"that……"

Luo Ren turned his head.

Pei Yuening hesitated for half a second under his gaze, but the words were already out and couldn't be taken back.

"Those pastries," he paused, "you...do you already know?"

Luo Ren didn't speak, he just looked at him.

Pei Yuening forced a smile and continued, "It's... those things that were brought to you. Cakes, flower cakes, cranberry cookies..."

His voice trailed off as he spoke: "I..."

There was a moment of silence in the carriage, but Luo Ren's expression remained unchanged.

"Hmm," he said.

Pei Yuening's heart skipped a beat.

"Thank you," Luo Ren added.

Pei Yuening was taken aback.

Thanks?

He had originally thought that Luo Ren would say something like "How dare you?", "What do you mean?", or "Don't send them anymore."

So, the result is... thank you?

His mind went blank for half a second, then quickly restarted.

He said thank you, and he didn't refuse!

That means we can continue delivering!

But no, it can't float.

They might just be being polite.

They're nobles, so they're well-mannered; they always say thank you for anything they receive.

Then, he mustered his courage and asked another question.

"……How do you like it?"

"Hmm," he said, "it's unique."

Pei Yuening's ears started to burn again.

A moment later, the carriage stopped.

Pei Yuening peeked out through the gap in the soft curtain—a familiar exterior, a familiar ducal mansion.

Although it wasn't my first time here, my last experience was really bad.

This time...

He glanced at Luo Ren, who had gotten off the car first. Luo Ren was standing by the car door, reaching out to help him.

Pei Yuening pursed her lips and placed her hand on his.

The warmth of his palm radiated through him, making his fingertips go numb.

"We've arrived," Luo Ren said.

"Um……"

Pei Yuening jumped off the carriage, gently withdrew her hand, and followed him into the mansion.