The beloved baby has a space

“Brother Ayou, what you have yourself and what I want to give you are two different things, they don’t conflict.” Qin Huai was even more helpless: “I know.”

Ayu spoke very casually, perhaps because she had never lacked anything materially and had no desire for money at all.

As for clothes and jewelry, Tuanzi takes care of everything behind the scenes, scrambling to find design blueprints from the space store, all of which are both fashionable and in line with the times.

Sometimes, when they were in a hurry and couldn't wait for the tailor shop to make clothes, Wang Wulang and Qin Huai would compete to learn how to make clothes. Over the years, the two of them had both made some progress in needlework.

I can do everything except embroidery.

Half of the clothes Ayu wears now were made by Qin Huai.

Half of the accessories she wore were made by Wang Wulang.

The food was prepared by Wang Qilang, who was an excellent cook. When they slept outdoors, Wang Qilang would help them prepare food.

Ayu also secretly gave him a lot of high-end recipes. Many of them had simple ingredients but slightly complicated preparation methods, yet they tasted exceptionally good.

Wang Qilang had already made up his mind that, regardless of whether he passed the exam this time, he would borrow some money from Ayu to try opening a small restaurant.

The little Ayu back then had been spoiled and pampered, which is why she has become the Ayu who seems to have no desires now.

They quickly found a large basket of mushrooms, and Qin Huai called out Red Hare and asked him to take the basket back first.

After he left, Qin Huai said to Chi Jia, "Go into the mountains and hunt two wild animals to give to Qi Lang."

Chi Jia knew that he was being sent away, so he accepted the order and left.

"Brother Ayou, is there something you want to tell me?" Little Ayu lifted her skirt, brushed the dry branch off Qin Huai's shoulder, and pointed to a tall tree not far away. "Let's go there and talk."

The tree is very tall, located on the mountaintop, offering not only a scenic view but also the opportunity to keep an eye on the surrounding area.

Qin Huai agreed and skillfully carried Ayu up the tree.

He knew that Ayu loved it when he used his light-footed skills to carry her around. It was time-saving, effortless, and fun.

Therefore, he practiced day and night, and now his lightness skill is almost on par with that of Chi Jia and the others.

After climbing the tree, Qin Huai looked at Xiao Ayu, unsure of how to begin.

"Is it hard to say? As long as you're not lying to me, you don't have to tell me anything else yet. You can tell me when you've thought it through." Ayu smiled, her eyes curving like crescent moons.

The little girl who was once so thin and small has now grown very tall, reaching Qin Huai's shoulder, and is even taller than girls her age.

If it grows a few more years, it will definitely grow even taller.

"Ayu, I told you I wanted to help you pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), so you could become the wife of a Jinshi," Qin Huai said cautiously. "Becoming a Jinshi means becoming an official, especially the top scholar (Zhuangyuan), who will serve in the Hanlin Academy and may eventually live in the palace. You—"

Seeing Qin Huai's nervousness, Ayu suddenly laughed, "Brother Ayu, is that all? Are you nervous about going to the palace alone? What's there to be nervous about? We've met so many high-ranking officials, and they're all pretty much the same, aren't they? I think the imperial family and other ministers are probably similar too. You'll be an official in the future, so you don't need to be afraid of them at all." Qin Huai was speechless: "...I'm not afraid of them. It's just that once I enter the palace, you'll be marrying me. The palace will be so stifling; are you willing to—"

He didn't know if he could regain his status as a prince, and judging from Empress Qin's attitude, she even wanted to push him to the position of crown prince.

Qin Huai didn't care about any of that, as long as Ayu was willing to live in the palace.

If he was willing or pleased, he would reach an agreement with Empress Qin.

If he is unwilling, he will find another way.

“But, in the past, the top scholars in the imperial examinations usually served as Hanlin scholars for two years before leaving the palace to become officials. Those who were ambitious or did poorly should have left after a maximum of six years,” Ayu said. “This year you became the top scholar and served as an official for six years. I will be fifteen years old by then. Even if we get married by then, you will have already left the palace. How could I go to live in the palace?”

Qin Huai: “…”

It seems he chose the wrong angle to start the conversation; Ayu always manages to steer it to a different perspective.

Qin Huai took a deep breath and decided to tell A Yu about his background directly. After all, they already trusted each other, and the only person he cared about most in his life was A Yu in front of him.

"Actually, there's something I want to tell you about my background. My maternal grandfather was the current Duke of Yong, and my mother, Lady Qin, was actually—"

Before he could speak, a sharp arrow suddenly shot through the air, not toward Qin Huai, but toward A Yu.

Qin Huai instantly pulled Ayu behind him, drew his sword from his waist, and cut the arrow in half.

call out--

Unexpectedly, another sharp arrow pierced the air, heading straight for Ayu from the opposite direction.

"Watch out!" Qin Huai slashed at the oncoming arrow, but there was no time to turn around, so he could only shout hurriedly.

As soon as she finished speaking, an arrow was right in front of her. Ayu raised her hand to block it, and her fingertips caught the arrow.

Ayu frowned as she looked at the arrow: "The markings are unfamiliar, and the workmanship is a bit rough."

"Baby, stop playing and get down."

Hearing Tuanzi's words, she also took out a dagger from her waist and poked Qin Huai: "Brother Ayou, let's go down. It's too easy for us to be aimed at here."

Those hiding in the shadows were stunned to see a noblewoman, barely ten years old and adorned with jingling earrings, catch the hidden arrow without batting an eye.

Before he could react, a sword was placed against his neck, and it was swiftly and cleanly slashed.

"Uh!"