After the founding of the People's Republic of China, she became a spirit and was punished, and

At three quarters past the hour of You, the sky was just beginning to darken. When Yinzhen returned to the East Three Houses, he found that the courtyard was in complete darkness, as if it had been done intentionally.

"Fourth Master, the Lady invites you."

Chunshi had been waiting at the door for a long time, holding a lantern to lead Yinzhen.

A gleam of light flashed in Yinzhen's eyes, he raised his eyebrows and followed in cooperation.

As expected, everything today was prepared by the concubine to surprise him.

From turning a blind eye in the morning to colluding with Gao Wuyong to understand his location and movements, it was really creative.

If he hadn't discovered that Gao Wuyong was secretly contacting others, he would have been kept in the dark by these people.

Unlike other places in East Third Building, Danruoju is brightly lit, as if all the lighting tools were put together.

The palace maids and eunuchs around him had left at some point, and Yinzhen walked to the bedroom door alone and pushed it open.

With a "creak", all the lights in the house went out.

The sudden change in light made his eyes dark and empty, unable to see anything.

Yinzhen closed the door quietly and listened attentively, able to clearly catch the even breathing of a person.

He blinked to adapt to the dark environment, and after catching the little light seeping in through the window, he dodged the obstacles in front of him and slowly moved towards the direction where someone was breathing.

"Happy birthday to you~Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to the Fourth Master~"

Xiyu crawled out of the cupboard like a nimble rabbit, holding in her hands the cake that she had spent a lot of effort to make in the afternoon. There were a few candles lit on it, which was the only light in the room.

She walked to Yinzhen with a cheerful step, held the cake in front of his face, and said to him in a sweet voice with a smile on her face: "Happy birthday, Fourth Master! Close your eyes, make a wish, and blow out the candles!"

The candlelight swayed gently, as if blown by the breeze, emitting a faint and warm light.

This tiny piece of light was reflected in the little concubine's eyes which were as crystal clear as glass, reflecting layers of halos, like a dream.

He indulged in the light, enjoying the warmth it brought.

It has been many years since anyone treated his birthday with such care. They all thought he didn't care...

Yinzhen's eyes were slightly moist. He turned his head away, trying to use the darkness to hide the truest emotions in his heart.

However, the warmth brought by the light enveloped his heart, making it impossible for him to completely suppress the fluctuations in his heart.

"Master Si, if you don't make a wish, the candle will go out."

Xiyu felt a little nervous and urged in a low voice.

In fact, all of today's actions are gambles.

[Yinzhen's favorability has risen to 66%, 67%...70%. ]

The favorability level continued to rise, letting Xiyu know that he had made the right bet.

Yinzhen clearly saw the uneasiness in her eyes. Although he didn't know what this strange way of celebration was for, he could only feel at ease if he cooperated with the young concubine.

He closed his eyes, said something silently in his mind, then opened his eyes and blew out the candles.

Xiyu placed the cake on the table and clapped happily.

She took out a tinder, lit the candle on the table, took Yinzhen's arm and asked curiously, "What did the Fourth Master wish for?"

Yinzhen's lips curled up into a faint smile, and his lips moved slightly, "I won't tell you."

Not getting any news, Xiyu pursed her pink lips slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

She bent down and pushed out a box from under the table, which was tied with a dark green bow.

"Master~ This is a gift Yaoyao prepared for you."

Such a big box? What did Xiaofujin prepare?

Yinzhen couldn't suppress his curiosity, so he hooked the bow with his fingertips and opened the box.

There were many small boxes inside, the top box was open, but the things inside seemed to be children's toys?

A hint of doubt flashed across Yinzhen's dark eyes, and he turned his head to look at Xiyu.

"But you moved the wrong box?"

His voice was low and dull, and his tone was full of doubt.

Xiyu shook her head slowly, a mysterious smile on her pink cheeks.

Yinzhen took out the top box doubtfully. It was a rattle. On the lid of the box was written, "I wish Yinzhen a safe and happy year ahead!"

A hint of surprise appeared in his calm eyes, then he put the box on the table and picked up the second one.

Inside was a tiger-head hat, and on the lid was written, "I wish Yinzhen good health for two years!"

His arms trembled slightly, his thin lips tightly pursed, and he picked up the third box, which contained a pair of dark blue shoes. The fourth, the fifth... there was one for each age, and a corresponding blessing was written on the lid of the box.

Ever since the Empress Dowager left him, no one has cared about him so much.

For the past decade or so, he has been the only one who has been struggling to keep things going.

Looking back, his past was nothing.

And now, he seemed to have found the person that Empress Dowager Cixi had mentioned, the one who could accompany him forever.

Yinzhen stroked the handwriting on the box with his index finger. He could tell that the person who prepared the gift wrote it very carefully, but the handwriting was still very childish, with ink smudges from time to time.

Xi Yu blushed and shook her body shyly, saying, "My handwriting is not pretty, please don't despise it, sir."

Yinzhen looked at the numbers on the last box. These were gifts from previous years.

He closed the boxes on the table one by one and put them back into the box. Then he stood up and walked closer to Xiyu, speaking word by word.

"Yaoyao, didn't you prepare anything for this year?"

Yinzhen leaned forward, resting his arms on the table, holding Xiyu in front of him, his eyes narrowed slightly, and there was a hint of threat in his tone.

It was as if if she really dared to answer no, she would pay the price for it.

"Of course, my nineteenth birthday gift is here."

Xiyu took out a red box from behind her back and held it in front of Yinzhen with both hands.

Yinzhen took the box and opened it. The items inside looked like plates, but also seemed not to be.

One half looks like a crescent moon, and the other half is in the shape of stars. The moon surrounds the stars in the center, and the two are closely connected.

It feels heavy in the hand.

This is an inkstone carved from a whole piece of jade. The moon part is translucent and warm white jade, while the star part is light yellow.

The surface of the moon is a bit rough for grinding ink, and the center of the star is slightly concave to receive the flowing ink.

White jade is very common, but jade that is half yellow and half white and of the right size is more difficult to find.

The inkstone was picked up, with a piece of light yellow paper folded into a heart shape underneath.

Yinzhen carefully placed the inkstone on the table, then pushed it toward the middle out of concern. Only after making sure it was safe did he pick up the paper.

It’s just that the strange shape makes it a little difficult to start with.

Xiyu didn't want to miss any opportunity to seduce Yinzhen, so she took the origami and said softly, "This pattern represents my heart."

Her eyes were fixed on Yinzhen, full of sincerity and determination.

"It means that I am willing to give my heart to the Fourth Master without reservation."

She leaned close to the man's ear and said this. Her breath brought a slight itch to Yinzhen's ear. This feeling was like a small insect crawling up through the ear canal to his heart, instantly igniting the long-sleeping fire deep in Yinzhen's heart.

The heart, which had been as calm as water, began to beat wildly as if it was pulled by some mysterious force.

Every beat has a strong sense of rhythm, as if to break through the constraints of the chest and declare its existence to the outside world.

Xiyu slowly unfolded the paper into a heart shape, with only one step left before she handed it to Yinzhen.

She used the wisdom of the ancients here, and the metaphor was apt, showing her great literary talent.

"You have to open my gift yourself."