Baby, don't be afraid, I'll accompany you to the heavens and the seas!

On a hilltop in the suburbs stands a long-abandoned ancient temple, surrounded by towering ancient flowers and trees.

The dense, broad leaves of the ancient tree filtered through the harsh, scorching sunlight, casting dappled patterns of warm sunlight onto the four boys lying asleep beneath it.

On the soft silk carpet, the entire F4 of the capital city lay sprawled out, passing around the peach wine that Prime Minister Gui had buried for many years.

"Tsk tsk tsk∽, not flavorful enough!!" Lu Weiqian crossed his legs, savoring the aroma of the wine.

"You want more flavor? You're lucky you even have anything to drink! Do you know how much effort I went through to find this pot of peach wine? Tsk tsk tsk~!!"

Gui Ning'an stood up, waving her gold-painted bone fan, and with lively eyes, recounted the scene to the three people who were sprawled on the ground:

"Sigh, I was having insomnia that day, and as soon as I opened the stained-glass window, I saw my dad sneaking off to the back garden to bury wine!"

"You should know that Prime Minister Gui was honest and upright throughout his life, never flirted with women, drank wine, or frequented brothels. I finally caught him sneaking around and secretly burying wine in the house!"

"How could I let him get away with this? Sigh! Back then, hahaha...!!"

"Let me speak! Let me speak, Ning'an is too slow!" After tackling Gui Ning'an to the ground, Lu Weiqian got up and gestured:

"Haha, that very day, Ning'an invited me and other classmates from the Imperial Academy, and especially, His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"What? Your Highness?" Upon hearing this, Qianqianluo immediately lifted the veil covering her head, waiting expectantly for Lu Weiqian to continue.

"Hahaha, we... we got His Highness drunk and took him to a brothel, hahaha!!"

"Yes, yes, back then, Weiqian and I were confined to our quarters by our father because of this, and His Highness the Crown Prince was punished with twenty strokes of the cane by the Emperor!!!"

"Hahaha, because, because His Highness the Crown Prince pierced the throat of that courtesan who climbed into his bed in the brothel with a single sword, killing her right there on the bed!!!" Gui Ning'an gestured wildly, his expression vivid and expressive.

"Sigh, what happened next?!" Mo Xuanyu stood up, propping his head up with his hand, looking puzzled.

"Later, well, hahaha, later when we went to the capital, rumors spread that the Crown Prince was averse to women and had a hidden ailment!"

"That is to say, no, it means infertility!!"

"Pfft, hahahahaha~~!!"

Gui Ning'an and Lu Weiqian collapsed on the ground laughing, rolling around and unable to stop their laughter.

Qianqian scratched her head, exchanged an awkward glance with Mo Xuanyu, and forced a laugh: "Ha, haha!"

"Actually, His Highness the Crown Prince was very lively and adorable when he was a child. It's just that after returning from the Northern Desert years ago, he's completely changed. He's now cold and aloof all over!"

Gui Ning'an rested her head on Lu Weiqian's lap, propped up with a fan, and pondered for a while about her childhood.

"Don't worry, once we enter the court as officials, we'll probably change faster than His Highness the Crown Prince!" Lu Weiqian muttered, squinting his eyes and shaking his head.

"Sigh, that's true! By then, we'll probably be gray-haired early, only thinking about escaping the imperial palace and busy finding a secluded place to relax for half a day!"

"Yes! You're absolutely right. When we're old and gray, buried in the earth, we'll just go to the underworld together!!"

While Lu Gongzi and Gui Ning'an were chatting, Qianqianluo drew her cold sword and invited Mo Xuanyu to spar under the ancient tree.

The cold sword reflected a chilling light, flashing on the two people sparring. It had a sound that seemed to transcend time, and in the midst of their fierce battle, it shattered countless fallen petals and withered leaves.

"Hahaha, Young Master Luo's swordsmanship is superb!!" Mo Xuanyu, his face flushed, stared blankly as Qianqian Luo plunged her cold sword into the withered tree behind her.

"Aren't you going to dodge?! Young Master Mo, if Luo'er misses, a mere side strike will draw blood from your neck!"

Lu Weiqian pushed Gui Ning'an off his lap, got up and swaggered over to where the two were dueling. He reached out and stroked the back of the sword stuck in the dead wood: "Hmm~ It's really sharp! Young Master Luo!"

"Hahaha, you've fallen into their trap!!" Qianqian puffed out her cheeks, flipped over and leaped behind Lu Weiqian, and with a swift slash of her sword, cut open the young master Lu's crimson hair ribbon.

"Hahaha, Weiqian! You've fallen for it!!" Gui Ning'an watched with great amusement and laughed heartily!

Lu Weiqian turned around, feigning surprise, but his friends were already standing neatly behind him.

Qianqian landed steadily in the air, stepping on the legs and arms of the other two people. Bang! After a muffled sound, a vermilion couplet was unfurled.

"Wishing Young Master Lu a happy birthday and a smooth and prosperous life!!"

"Wishing Young Master Lu a happy birthday and a smooth life!!" Gui Ning'an and Mo Xuanyu also laughed heartily, clasping their hands and shouting.

"Oh my gosh~ You guys are so annoying! You've all made me so shy!" Lu Weiqian covered his mouth, and awkwardly stepped forward to give Qianqian a hug.

He closed his eyes and pounced on her. Then, he opened his eyes with great joy and realized that the person he was holding was Gong Tongbai, the son of the Minister of Works.

"Aaaaaaah!! It's you?!"

When he came to his senses and looked up, he saw his classmates from the Imperial Academy, along with His Highness the Crown Prince, appearing behind him.

"Hahaha, are you surprised? Are you excited?!"

"Don't just stand there! Today is your birthday, come and find a lot to make a wish!" The servant leader pretended to push people to the middle, letting the birthday person pick up a lot prepared by the servants.

"Yeah! Hurry up!!" Gui Ning'an hugged Mo Xuanyu and, being very familiar with him, wanted to help him grab it.

"Okay, okay!!"

Amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, Lu Weiqian grasped the key to guaranteeing success in the imperial examination.

"Wow!! Young Master Lu is indeed exceptionally talented and blessed with great fortune. In my opinion, you will definitely come out on top in this imperial examination and become famous throughout the capital!"

Pang Er immediately stepped forward and showered him with flattery.

Hidden in the shadows, servants and lackeys arranged the birthday banquet for Young Master Lu. Before long, various delicacies and fine wines were served, and singers and dancers began to play music and sing.

On the soft chairs and low couches that had been arranged, a group of guests were eating, drinking, and playing around in a lively atmosphere.

Later, the noble sons, carrying scriptures and with their sleeves fluttering, took their places at the center of the banquet, discussing famous passages from the scriptures and offering their opinions on current affairs and politics.

Pang Er spoke first, embracing the beautiful dancer with fair skin and a silk dress, and said, "In my humble opinion, the most important aspect of governing a country is the control of the military!"

"My esteemed sons, take a look! The Zhang family, a family whose members came from prostitutes, has brazenly seized control of most of the military power in our dynasty. It is utterly despicable!"

"It's not just military power. Reports from the Shu border indicate that most of the virtuous women and civilians have gone missing, and young girls and orphans are everywhere; barbarian tribes are fighting amongst themselves, plundering fields and killing indiscriminately."

"Did the Zhang brothers really have some considerations in commanding the army?! They have never been seen leading troops to fight against foreign enemies. Whenever they did, they just lit a beacon fire and went through the motions!"