After the system set its sights on the dragon throne, the princess started courting death every day.

Just as she expected, the figure outside gradually approached the door, and with a slight creak, the door opened a crack.

A seven-year-old boy with a round face and a Taoist bun peeked in. His grape-sized eyes scanned the room, and when he saw that no one else was there, he visibly relaxed.

Pushing open the door, a tiny little figure, about the height of a bean sprout, wobbled in carrying a quilt, put it down, turned around and ran out again. A little while later, it returned carrying another quilt, and then came back in carrying a food box.

After going back and forth several times, he gradually brought in coal, braziers, and other items.

After finishing his work and closing the door, the seven-year-old boy was exhausted, his cheeks flushed, and sweat beaded on his forehead and nose. He lay on the quilt, panting for a while. Once he had recovered, he lit the brazier, warming the cold room, and he let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he spread a quilt neatly next to Fu Qingbai. Then the little girl stuck out her bottom and tried with all her might to lift one of Fu Qingbai's legs, but her face turned red and she couldn't lift it an inch.

Left with no other choice, the child gave up lifting his leg and tried to move it to other places, but he made no progress until he was exhausted. He pouted as if he was about to cry, which made Xiang An nervous: "Don't cry, don't cry, please don't cry."

If a child cries in the quiet night, it will immediately attract attention, and the child's life will likely be in danger.

Xiang An didn't recognize the child, but the things he brought were what she had been talking about all afternoon. After all, if Fu Qingbai froze to death, the price she paid during the day would become a joke.

Children are important, and children's things are important too.

Fortunately, the child just sat on the blanket and felt sad for a while, then stood up and continued to protest his innocence without crying or making a fuss; he was extremely well-behaved.

After pushing and shoving for who knows how long without moving her an inch, Fu Qingbai finally woke up.

The moment he opened his eyes, the child's round eyes lit up, and his chubby face instantly blossomed like a peach blossom in spring. His eyebrows and eyes curved, and his smile was incredibly cute and endearing.

"Yuan Kong?"

Fu Qingbai's voice was hoarse, like rough sandpaper slowly gliding over a dry surface.

Yuan Kong's round eyes crinkled with laughter, and he nodded cheerfully.

Fu Qingbai: "Did Master Xuanqing send you?"

Yuan Kong nodded again, his short, chubby fingers pointing at Fu Qingbai, then at the blanket on the ground. Only then did Fu Qingbai notice that there was a blanket beside him at some point. He pursed his lips, endured the pain, and struggled to climb onto the blanket, panting for a long time without being able to speak.

A small handkerchief was placed on her forehead, gently wiping away the beads of sweat. Fu Qingbai forced a smile and said, "Thank you."

Yuan Kong tilted his head, blinked his eyes, his gaze clear and untainted. He didn't understand why the other man was thanking him, but he wasn't repulsed or afraid. The Marquis in front of him was kind and gentle to him, and he was very happy.

The little hand gently opened the food box, took out the food, and held the bowl as if to feed him. But the kind-looking Marquis in front of her suddenly stiffened like a wooden statue. Not only his body, but also his expression and eyes were frozen, as if he had lost his soul.

The sudden turn of events threw Yuan Kong into a panic. She hurriedly pushed Fu Qingbai's shoulder with her small hands and opened her mouth to make cries of "ah ah ah".

"Sorry, I startled you." Fu Qingbai recovered from her shock, lowered her eyes, and said gently, "It's late, Yuan Kong should go back to sleep."

Yuan Kong steadied himself, shook his head firmly, and held the bowl to his lips, his round eyes unblinking, as if he wouldn't leave until he ate.

Children are always playful, but they are also very stubborn when they want to accomplish something.

With a helpless sigh, Fu Qingbai opened her mouth and ate the food that was fed to her, bite by bite, as Yuan Kong fed her attentively and carefully.

Yuan Kong finished his bowl of rice quickly and wanted more, but Fu Qingbai stopped him in time, saying, "I'm full."

Yuan Kong paused in his hand as he added rice, looked at him, then at the rice, and then stared at him. Fu Qingbai understood what he meant, and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "I'm really full."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Kong put down the bowl, picked up the teacup and fed him water, then took a handkerchief and carefully wiped the corners of his mouth. He then got up, moved another quilt and carefully covered him with it, finally pulling the brazier closer to him.

A series of actions caused Fu Qingbai's eyes to redden and her throat to ache: "I'm telling you, you little brat..."

Fu Qingbai didn't know what to say next, yet he felt he should say something at this moment. But a thousand words stuck in his throat, flowing into his heart like a warm current.

Yuan Kong looked at him, took a step back, and pointed his short, chubby little finger at the door. Fu Qingbai followed his finger and looked over: "Did you bring an umbrella?"

The gate was not closed tightly, and through the crack, one could see that snowflakes were falling from the sky again. The roads that the palace servants had swept clean during the day were now covered with a layer of white snow.

Yuan Kong nodded, blew out the only small candle for light, opened the door, carefully walked out, and left a gap for ventilation when he turned to close the door.

Fu Qingbai watched him leave through the gap. The little boy held up a big umbrella, his short legs trudging through the snow, disappearing into the swirling snow.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, and the house became warmer and warmer.

A cold wind blew by, and a clump of snow rolled down from the swaying branches, startling Fu Qingbai with a soft thud.

He suddenly said, "Yuan Kong is the only disciple of Master Xuanqing. He was born unable to speak. When I found him in the bridge hole, he was only one month old. The lonely little guy was born unable to speak. When he cried, he would just open his mouth wide and keep crying. He was as thin and pitiful as a kitten. I felt sorry for him and took him to the yamen to report the case."

"As soon as the notices from the government office were posted, many couples came looking for their children. The other lost children were quickly taken away, but he was the only one left."

"No, it can't be said that they were left over. At that time, there were other couples who came to the yamen but couldn't find their children. They felt sorry for Yuan Kong and wanted to take them home to raise."

“I was young at the time. On the one hand, I was determined to find his home, and on the other hand, I thought that even if he couldn’t find his parents, I had to give him a good place to go.”

"So I asked them a question. Some people left dejectedly after hearing it, while others spoke eloquently, but I could tell at a glance that they were not sincere. They wanted to gain some benefit from the child, perhaps by selling him, or perhaps by taking him home to do some shady business. Human hearts are unpredictable, and I don't want to speculate too much about the reasons."

"But it's quite a coincidence that night, just like tonight, was a snowy night, and both were bitterly cold." As she said this, Fu Qingbai looked at the snow falling from the sky, her gaze tender and affectionate.

Xiang An had never seen Fu Qingbai like this before. His heart began to beat faster, and he couldn't help but ask, "Then you gave him to Daoist Xuanqing to raise?"