The next morning, soft sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices onto the large carved bed. Shen Rou and Shangguan Yunting rose together, and the room was filled with a faint, warm atmosphere.

Shangguan Yunting was dressed in gorgeous court robes, with an upright posture. He reached out and gently combed Shen Rou's hair, his eyes longingly saying, "Take Heng'er back to the Princess's Mansion and wait for me to pick you up after the morning court."

Shen Rou nodded slightly, her eyes smiling: "Okay, go early and come back early."

Afterwards, Shangguan Yunting turned around and went out, riding his horse towards the imperial palace.

Shen Rou ordered: "Su Mo, bring all the dry food and cakes that I ordered the kitchen to prepare last night."

"Yes."

Shen Rou took her youngest son back to the Princess's Mansion to see her younger brother off. Everyone in the mansion had already made preparations.

Su Mo gave all the dry food he brought to Han Lin.

Shen Rou looked at her brother, her eyes filled with concern and worry. Her tone was gentle yet unquestionable as she slowly instructed, "Xiao Nan, take care of yourself on your way back to Beizhou. It's not a long journey, but you must be careful. If you encounter any problems, ask Han Lin to help."

Xiao Nan nodded and said softly, "Sister, I'll remember it."

Shen Rou continued, "When you enter the examination room, keep a calm mind and treat it as the usual homework assigned by the teacher."

"You have to believe in your hard work and just perform normally. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You're only fourteen and you have a long way to go. No matter what the result is, in my heart, you are the best brother."

Shen Nan said gratefully: "Thank you, big sister."

Shen Xue looked at her brother reluctantly, "Xiao Nan, I wish you all the best. Take good care of yourself. When you return triumphantly, you can attend my wedding."

"Second sister, you can rest assured and wait for marriage. Your brother will definitely pass the imperial examination and bring honor to the whole family."

"Come on! You're the best."

Grandma and Grandpa looked at Shen Nan lovingly, "Xiao Nan, grandma and grandpa are waiting for you to come back home. No matter what the result is, you are our best grandson."

"After you pass the provincial examination, go home and tell your mother the good news about your eldest and second sisters getting married. Let her be happy down there too, and pray that you pass the examination and become a successful candidate."

Shen Nan hugged the two elders and nodded solemnly, "I will, and please bless our family to be safe and sound."

"Grandma, grandpa, elder sister and second sister, don't worry! I will definitely not let you down."

Shen Rou looked at Han Lin and the guards and said, "Han Lin, Xiao Nan is inexperienced and will be in trouble on the road. You must protect him."

"Please rest assured, Princess. I will protect the young master until my death."

"Thank you."

Shen Nan reluctantly said goodbye to his family and followed Han Lin and the others on horseback on the road back to Beizhou.

The Shen family members stood there, their eyes fixed on the direction Shen Nan had left, unable to recover for a long time. Their figures gradually became smaller until they disappeared from everyone's sight, still standing there in a daze.

The breeze blew gently, ruffling the silver hair on grandma's temples, and her worried eyes still lingered

Shen Rou said softly, "Grandma, let's go back! Xiaonan has Han Lin and the others with her, so we can rest assured."

Grandma nodded slightly and murmured to herself: "Han Lin, this kid is really good. He is very skilled in martial arts and has good character. If he accompanies Xiao Nan to take the provincial examination, it will definitely be a safe bet."

"Grandma, that's right."

"Xiao Rou, Han Lin and many other guards are already past marriageable age, why hasn't any of them married yet?"

"Grandma, they are guards in the palace. Logically, they can't marry or have children. Having a family brings constraints and threats. But I discussed with the prince last night that guards are also human beings and have the right to marry and have children. I asked him to ask the emperor if he could find them suitable wives among the palace maids. At least they won't be lonely and helpless in their later years."

"Yes, that's how it should be. The guards risked their lives to protect them, but it would be too pitiful for them to have no one to accompany them in their old age."

Shen Rou and her grandmother were chatting in the main hall when Shangguan Yunting came over and held his youngest son in his arms. The little guy danced with joy in his father's arms, lay on his shoulders, and bit and drooled.

Shangguan Yunting wiped his saliva with a handkerchief and said with a smile: "You little bastard, are you hungry or thirsty? You just gnaw on your father's shoulder."

The nurse quickly replied, "Your Highness, the young master is about to grow teeth, and his teeth are itching, so that's why he's like this."

"Is our Heng'er going to start growing teeth? It seems like he's growing teeth earlier than his two brothers."

"The young master may start to grow teeth earlier. After all, the Crown Prince and the Second Young Master were born as twins and their bodies were a little weaker."

Shangguan Yunting carried Shangguan Heng to the main hall, "My Lord, you are here. Why are you leaving court so late?"

"Didn't you ask me to ask my brother the emperor about his guards marrying wives?"

"What does the Emperor say?"

"My brother said that a single guard is more conducive to protecting the master. But your request is not unreasonable. He will consider it and let me know next time."

"I hope the Emperor agrees. After all, everyone has the right to marry, have children, and have someone to rely on when they are old."

"This should be possible."

"hope so."

"When did Xiaonan leave?"

"We've been walking for over an hour."

"I think Xiaonan is confident that he will pass the imperial examination."

"Lend your auspicious words."

"Grandma just said that we'll go to Qingling Temple to burn incense tomorrow. I'll go there too."

"Let Su Mo and the other guards follow."

Shen Rou nodded in agreement.

Grandma and grandpa smiled with satisfaction when they saw Shangguan Yunting's caring attitude towards Shen Rou. Ordinary men may not be so considerate to their wives, but Shangguan Yunting is a noble prince. He treats Xiao Rou very well and is also very good to the whole family. It is hard to find such a husband in the whole Da Qi.

They turned their gaze to Shen Xue again, hoping that the Third Prince would treat Xiaoxue in the same way in the future.

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