A short night is hard to please! A stunningly handsome prince dotes on her exclusively.

After breakfast, the three of them boarded a carriage together at the entrance of the General's Mansion. Xin Moling originally led the horse and planned to follow the carriage slowly behind, but his sister disagreed and insisted that he ride in the carriage with her.

Along the way, the two girls chatted animatedly and enthusiastically, while Xin Moling, sitting opposite them, remained silent and did not criticize her absurd words as she had before, which made Hua Buyu feel very strange.

"Xin Moling, what's wrong with you today?"

"..."

"Hey! Xin Moling, I'm asking you a question."

"I am fine."

He merely raised his eyes and glanced at her indifferently, but in his heart he was thinking that he must not pay any attention to the woman in front of him. If she got entangled with him, that would not be a good thing.

Hua Buyu squinted and moved a little closer to him, thoughtfully sizing up Xin Moling.

"Why are you acting so strangely today? You haven't said a single harsh word to me since breakfast, which is not like you at all."

"My previous opinion of you was that I was afraid you would lead Yan'er astray. But now, even if I have many complaints about you, I can't stop Yan'er from befriending you, can I?"

So, you've come to terms with it?

She still couldn't quite believe it. Didn't he say yesterday that he would give her a break and forbid her from staying at the General's Mansion, and even warned her?

"Stay away from me."

Seeing her getting closer and closer, Xin Moling subconsciously moved to the side, creating a very large distance between herself and Hua Buyu.

"Tsk~ I'm at least considered charming and alluring, and I don't think any man would dislike being near me. How come you're such a weirdo?"

Hearing her lewd words, Xin Moling snorted coldly and said in a sinister tone, "I haven't said anything to you for a while, and you're already spouting nonsense again!"

"Hmph! This is the truth, what do you mean by 'nonsense'?"

Xin Moyan quickly tugged at Hua Buyu's sleeve. In the past few days, she had come to understand her brother a little. It seemed that apart from her, her brother was rarely gentle and kind to other girls, especially Buyu. If her brother had said anything harsher in a fit of anger last night, Buyu would definitely have been very sad. It was better to let them calm down first.

"Hua Buyu, I'll say it again: when you enter the palace later, the palace rules are very strict. You are not allowed to speak recklessly. If you commit a crime, even I can't protect you."

"I know! Don't worry, I'm good at playing it by ear, changing my stance with the wind, and abandoning principles for personal gain."

"..."

"..."

Xin Moling turned his face away helplessly and stopped talking. He knew that Hua Buyu was a woman who was very uneducated.

The carriage stopped as soon as it arrived at the palace gate. Apart from the mistress of the harem, no officials in the court or relatives of the empress were allowed to ride horses or sit in sedan chairs inside the palace.

As soon as they stepped off the carriage, the three of them saw a continuous stream of carriages and sedan chairs approaching from afar. Xin Moling snapped out of her daze and said to them, "Let's go!"

Although it was Hua Buyu's first time visiting the Yuanqi Imperial Palace, she didn't show too much curiosity or excitement. Instead, she commented on the palace buildings, decorations, and the appearance of the palace servants, leaving the brother and sister feeling helpless.

"Yan'er, the banquet is set up in Baoguang Hall. We need to go to Yongning Palace first to pay our respects to our aunt. After His Majesty and our aunt get up and go to Baoguang Hall, everyone will enter the hall together to present gifts, celebrate the birthday, and attend the state banquet."

"I thought we were going directly to wish the Empress Dowager a happy birthday and have a meal at her palace!"

Hua Buyu pouted and muttered that royal rules were troublesome.

"Hua Buyu, you haven't forgotten the palace etiquette Cailian taught you, have you?"

"I haven't forgotten! Don't worry, I remember everything and won't embarrass you and Yan Yan."

Xin Moling then said nothing. After passing through Dingkun Gate, they still had to go through a long path to reach the inner palace. Just as he was about to lead the two through Dingkun Gate, a guard hurriedly ran up to them. He was Yuan Huailie's attendant and politely bowed to the two of them.

"Greetings, General! Greetings, Princess Danhua!"

"What's the matter?"

The man bowed and stepped forward, whispering to Xin Moling, "General, there is urgent business in the army. His Majesty requests your presence in the Imperial Study."

He found it strange that His Majesty's decree was being conveyed by Yuan Huailie's confidant. He figured Yuan Huailie should be in the Imperial Study at this time, and the military affairs must be extremely urgent.

Xin Moling pondered for a moment, then said to Hongluan and Cailian behind her, "I am going to the Imperial Study now. You two must keep a close eye on Yan'er. Hongluan, make sure Yan'er doesn't get hurt. Cailian, you are familiar with the way to Yongning Palace, so take good care of Yan'er and the others there."

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Xin Moyan didn't say anything. After all, her brother was a general and must be busy with military affairs on weekdays. But was he so busy today because it was her aunt's birthday?

The brother and sister parted ways in front of Dingkun Gate. Nothing happened along the way, and Cailian took them directly to Yongning Palace to pay homage to the Empress Dowager.

Yongning Palace —

"Xuan'er, now that you've been back in the capital for a while, why haven't you come to the palace to see me?"

Although Xin Mingwan's tone sounded slightly reproachful, her eyes were full of affection as she looked at the white-clad man opposite her.

His expression was calm, and his handsome face showed little emotion. He said respectfully and politely, "Empress Dowager, I originally went to the palace on the first day of the month to pay my respects to you. On the way, I heard that the Imperial Garden was very lively, and I was afraid that I might offend His Majesty or the Empress Dowager."

She paused for a second, then reacted and smiled helplessly, “You haven’t lived in the capital for many years, so you probably only know that Yan’er and Lie’er are engaged. But they had many misunderstandings in the past. Now Yan’er has figured it out. That day, she went to the palace to ask me and the emperor to cancel the engagement. Since there is no affection between them, the engagement is dissolved. But I didn’t know that you also went to the palace that day.”

Yuan Huaixuan picked up his teacup and took a small sip. A glint of light flashed in his dark, unfathomable eyes. He then said, "Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager are preoccupied with family matters. My visit to the palace is merely to pay my respects to you, so it is of no importance."

Seeing his indifferent and aloof demeanor, she simply sighed softly. After a moment, she looked up and asked, "Xuan'er, will you be staying in the capital for a long time this time?"

"Yes, I have that idea. Besides this birthday celebration, isn't the national festival, which comes around every five years, soon after?"

Xin Mingwan looked very happy when she heard that he would stay for a long time, and said kindly, "That's right! Xuan'er, it's rare for you to come back to the capital, so you must stay for a while. When you have nothing to do, come to the palace to chat with me and relieve my boredom. I often miss you these years you've been away."

Yuan Huaixuan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his expression was no longer as cold as before. He knew that the woman in front of him truly cared for him, even though she was not his mother.

At this moment, Fang, the old nanny beside the Empress Dowager, came forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Your Majesty, Princess Danhua is outside the door requesting an audience."

"Yan'er's here? Let her in quickly!"