Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

"Everyone wants to pick the moon in the sky. What about you? Do you want to pick the moon too?" Zhou Lin looked up at the sky and asked Shen Chuning.

Shen Chuning followed Zhou Lin's gaze and saw that the Mid-Autumn moon was like a piece of crystal clear jade, embedded in the deep night sky, so far away that it seemed out of reach.

Shen Chuning shook her head. "I won't try to pick the moon. That would be too tiring. I want the moon to come to me."

Zhou Lin looked down at Shen Chuning. The bright moonlight shone down, casting a circle of soft light around her. Shen Chuning smiled faintly, seeming brighter than the Mid-Autumn moon.

"Brother Zhou Er, is the Fifth Prince in Wenhua Palace today?" Shen Chuning looked up and asked.

Zhou Lin thought for a moment and said, "I didn't see him. He probably didn't make it to Wenhua Hall."

"Then can you accompany me to the North Third Institute?"

"To find the Fifth Prince?"

Shen Chuning nodded. "Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, a day for family reunions. Yuan Yi's mother passed away early, and the emperor doesn't like him, not even allowing him to appear on such a day. I'm afraid he's sad, so I want to go see him."

Zhou Lin replied "OK" and took Shen Chuning to the North Third Institute.

As the two of them walked along, Zhou Lin was there, always able to help Shen Chuning avoid the passing palace maids and eunuchs.

On a day like this, it would not be a good idea for the two of them to leave their table and go together to find the fifth prince who lived in the cold palace.

The gate of the courtyard where the fifth prince lived was open. In the moonlight, one could see the fifth prince clumsily and stubbornly performing some basic martial arts moves in the courtyard.

The little guy stood with his back straight. Although his punches and kicks didn't seem to have much power, they looked quite capable.

"Yuan Yi." Shen Chuning called out.

The fifth prince, Xiao Yuanyi, stopped what he was doing and turned around in surprise, "Sister Aning."

When he saw Zhou Lin beside Shen Chuning, he bowed respectfully and called him Brother Hanzhi.

"Why are you here?" Xiao Yuanyi ran towards Shen Chuning and the others.

"Today is Mid-Autumn Festival, I came to see you." Shen Chuning said as she took out a small cloth bag wrapped in a handkerchief from her wide sleeve pocket and placed it on the stone table in the yard.

Eunuch Cui An came out of the room carrying a tray with a coarse porcelain teapot and two teacups on it.

He placed the tray on the stone table, poured water for Shen Chuning and Zhou Lin, knelt on the ground and kowtowed to them, saying, "This old servant thanks Master Zhou and Miss Shen for coming to see the Fifth Prince."

Zhou Lin said, "Hurry up and get up. If you want to thank someone, thank An Ning. I came here with her."

Cui An wiped the tears from his face and said, "Master Zhou taught the Fifth Prince martial arts, and I have to thank you."

Shen Chuning opened the handkerchief on the stone table layer by layer, revealing three mooncakes neatly placed inside.

"Eat it quickly, I just stole it from the banquet." Shen Chuning said cunningly.

"Sister Aning, this is the first time I've eaten mooncakes since my mother passed away." Xiao Yuanyi said while choking up.

Shen Chuning picked up the coarse porcelain teacup on the table and handed it to him, "Eat slowly, don't choke."

Xiao Yuanyi took the teacup from Shen Chuning's hand and drank it all, hiding the tears that were quietly sliding down his cheeks.

"We should go, the party is almost over." Zhou Lin reminded.

Xiao Yuanyi looked up aggrievedly, "Sister An Ning, can't you stay with me for a while longer?"

Shen Chuning patiently explained, "Sister Aning has to go out of the palace with Grandmother today. After the banquet is over, Grandmother will be worried if she can't find me. Read your books and practice martial arts well. Sister Aning will come to see you soon."

Xiao Yuanyi could only nod helplessly.

As they approached the Imperial Garden, Zhou Lin patted Shen Chuning on the head. "Go back quickly! Your grandmother will be worried if she can't find you after the banquet."

Shen Chuning covered her head with her hands, avoiding Zhou Lin's hand that was about to hit her, "You're going to mess up my hair."

"I'll go back first. Brother Zhou Er should go back early too." After Shen Chuning said this, she skipped away.

Zhou Lin looked at Shen Chuning's back and smiled helplessly.

Shen Chuning ran to a place where Zhou Lin couldn't see her, and then quietly took out a green jade button from her sleeve pocket.

Shen Chuning couldn't explain why she had secretly hidden the button instead of returning it to Zhou Lin. Perhaps she was afraid that he would say that she had damaged his clothes.

Shen Chuning opened her purse and put the jade button in it. There was also a coral button lying quietly inside.

This pill was accidentally pulled off by her when Zhou Lin rescued her last time at Fengming Mountain.

I wonder where Zhou Erge bought his clothes, or if they were made by the embroiderer at home. The buttons are so flimsy, Shen Chuning thought secretly.

After putting it away, Shen Chuning tightened her purse, hung it back around her waist, and continued walking towards the Imperial Garden.

When Shen Chuning returned to the Imperial Garden, the banquet was almost over.

"You didn't look well just now. Does your head still hurt now?" Princess Nan Yan asked with concern.

Shen Chuning shook her head, "Much better."

The banquet ended and everyone dispersed. The Empress Dowager left only Madam Huang and Huang Lingyun from the Prime Minister's Mansion, as well as An Zhiyao and her mother.

Princess Nan Yan heaved a sigh of relief and said happily, "Looks like it's settled."

"Sister Nan Yan, are you unwilling to accept this? After all, you were once so close to that position." Shen Chuning asked.

Princess Nanyan shook her head, "That's not my ambition."

Shen Chuning felt relieved. Everyone has their own destiny. It was also good not to marry the prince. After all, the prince died young in his previous life.

Although Shen Chuning didn't know the real cause of the prince's death in her previous life, she wanted to find an opportunity to remind Zhou Lin to take care of the prince's health and the people around him.

……

Several carriages returned to the Shen Mansion one after another. Shen Chuning helped Old Madam Shen down from the carriage and then let go.

"Sister, aren't you leaving?" Shen Jingwan, who was on the other side of Old Lady Shen, asked Shen Chuning who was standing at the door.

Shen Chuning ignored her and said to Old Madam Shen, "Grandma, I'll wait for Grandpa. I have something to discuss with him."

Shen Jingwan's expression changed, and she took Madam Shen's arm and said coquettishly, "Grandma, is it because Wan'er stole my sister's limelight tonight that I want to complain to Grandpa?"

Old Madam Shen frowned slightly and patted Shen Jingwan's hand, which was holding her arm. "Your sister is not that kind of person." Then she said to Shen Chuning, "Don't wait here. Your grandfather will go back to the study to handle government affairs no matter how late it is after returning home. If there is anything important, go directly to the study and wait."

Shen Chuning smiled and replied, "Yes, Aning, I understand. Grandma is tired today, so go back and rest early."

Shen Chuning was almost falling asleep waiting in Shen Huaizhong's study when Shen Huaizhong came back.

"You're still waiting in the study so late. Did something happen in the palace today?"