Eavesdropping on Fu Bao's inner thoughts, emptying the stored grain and fleeing the famine

"Alright, let's not worry about Miss Hua and Prince Qi's affairs anymore. Right now, we should focus on our own business."

Lian Rongrong was getting impatient with the noise of the crowd. She waved her hand, and everyone immediately shut up.

"Manager Yu, I will send someone to deliver the blueprints tomorrow. You can then find someone to construct the project according to the blueprints."

Lian Rongrong gave a brief instruction and then turned to leave.

Manager Yu looked at the contract he had half-signed and suddenly spoke:

"Boss, you haven't signed or sealed the document yet."

Lian Rongrong glanced back at the two half-signed contracts and couldn't help but chuckle. She had just started talking about Manager Yu's background, starting with his handwriting.

And then, for some reason, the topic of Miss Hua came up, and before long, they had forgotten to sign and put their fingerprints on the document.

Lian Rongrong turned around and picked up the pen, but hesitated when she was about to write. If she signed her name now, these guys in front of her would probably be scared to death.

Furthermore, she didn't want to rely on Li Yuanqi's power. With that in mind, Lian Rongrong had a sudden inspiration and signed the three words "white lotus" on the paper.

"White Lotus, what an elegant name for the boss. The lotus, rising from the mud yet remaining unstained, washed by clear ripples yet not becoming seductive. It truly suits the boss perfectly."

While flattering the shopkeeper, Manager Yu also showed off his literary talent, which almost made Rongrong burst out laughing when she saw Manager Yu's serious expression.

What does it mean to emerge from the mud unsullied and remain pure despite being washed by clear water? This "white lotus" of hers is the kind of innocent white lotus that preys on green tea.

"Alright, I have other things to attend to, so I'll leave this to Manager Yu for now."

Lian Rongrong was afraid that she would burst out laughing if she stayed any longer, so she found an excuse to turn around and leave the shop.

"Okay, Mr. Bai, don't worry, leave this to me."

"Take care, Mr. Bai."

The sound of "Boss Bai" drifted into Lian Rongrong's ears. Before Lian Rongrong could react, Xiao Bai suddenly popped into her mind.

Master, why did you take my surname?

"Give you my surname? Little Bai, are you trying to rebel against the Heavenly Gang?"

[It wasn't me who rebelled against the Heavenly Gang, it was your stoic prince. Oh, wait, he's not stoic anymore, he's a bit cheeky now.]

"You can see our little newbie has grown up and isn't afraid of threats anymore, right? You're not the groveling dog you used to be when you were worried someone would strip you bare, are you?"

My master says I'm being a sycophant, so I guess I have to act like one.

"Tsk tsk tsk, you're quite the expert, really quite the expert. Let's go back and deal with that scoundrel prince."

Lian Rongrong's lips curled into a cold smile. Her ears were practically calloused from all the gossip about Li Yuanqi and the Hua family's young lady today; it was time to settle the score.

When Lian Rongrong returned to the carriage, Li Yuanqi had been waiting impatiently. As soon as he saw Lian Rongrong return, Li Yuanqi immediately went to her.

"What's wrong? Didn't the shop purchase go smoothly?"

"It's alright, I've already bought it."

"Why is it taking so long? I was about to go downstairs to look for you, but I was afraid you would be unhappy, so I had to wait here. I don't care, Madam has to make it up to me."

[Tsk tsk tsk, this lowly prince has quite the nerve, daring to ask his master for compensation.]

Xiao Bai's voice rang in Lian Rongrong's mind. It seemed that this guy had forgotten that Li Yuanqi could also hear his voice.

"You little brat, you think you're so clever now, huh?"

【…】

Seeing that Li Yuanqi was about to explode, Lian Rongrong quickly and gently comforted him, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. I will take good care of you when we get back."

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanqi felt a chill run down his spine. Looking at Lian Rongrong's "gentle and tender" appearance, he felt even more goosebumps.

Something was definitely amiss. His Highness Prince Qi already had a bad feeling, but he didn't seem to have offended this woman.

The carriage stopped at the main gate of the General's Mansion, and a certain woman who had just said she would make amends to Li Yuanqi strode into the mansion first.

Although Li Yuanqi didn't know what mistake he had made, he still followed closely with his head down and eyes lowered.

The two entered the bedroom one after the other. Fu Bao, who was playing in the snow outside, couldn't help but tilt his head and look at his parents when he saw this.

【Huh? Why does it feel like Daddy's going to be in big trouble?】

Inside the bedroom, Lian Rongrong sat upright on a carved wooden chair, while Li Yuanqi sat beside her, barely daring to breathe.

"Why does Madam seem rather unhappy?"

"Happy? Of course I'm happy!"

"Are you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy! We're about to have a new lady join our household, how could I not be happy?"

Hearing Lian Rongrong's sarcastic remarks, Li Yuanqi was momentarily confused.

"What kind of new people are you hiring?"

"Even His Highness Prince Qi doesn't know? I've heard some big news today."

Lian Rongrong paused for a moment, then glanced at Li Yuanqi and said, "I heard that our Prince Qi has an official spouse."

"Official pairing?"

"Your Highness, please don't play dumb. Miss Hua is still waiting for you to bring her home in a grand wedding procession."

"What kind of nonsense is this? Who are you marrying? What Miss Hua?"

"You really don't know? I heard that Miss Hua's mother and the late Empress were very close friends."

"With Mother?" Li Yuanqi frowned slightly, as if recalling something. "You mean Aunt Qin?"

"Hmm, it seems there really is such a thing."

"What is it? I just remember that Mother did have a close confidante, what else could it be?"

"No? It's already rumored that His Highness Prince Qi and Miss Hua are betrothed since childhood, and Prince Qi will soon marry Miss Hua."

"Nonsense! Who said that? I'll go and cut out their tongues."

Li Yuanqi felt like he couldn't explain himself even if he had a hundred mouths.

"You left Dasheng so early, you probably don't even know if you were really engaged to someone else."

"Impossible. If there really was a marriage agreement, why wouldn't Father Emperor mention it? If Madam doesn't believe me, we can go to the palace to see Father Emperor and ask him clearly."

[This is such a small matter, there's no need to bother Grandfather, Fu Bao knows.]

Little Fu Bao had been listening outside the door for a long time, and now that it was finally his turn to appear, he couldn't wait to show off.

Even though this showing off might cause his biological father to die young, Xiao Fubao doesn't care, because ever since his father became his father, he's been monopolizing his mother's attention every day.

Fu Bao's voice came from outside the door. The little guy wasn't very tall when he stood up, so it naturally took him some effort to push the door open.

"Go open the door," Lian Rongrong said irritably.

Li Yuanqi said "Oh" and got up to open the door, but when he opened it, Fu Bao was pushing it from the outside.

With that push and shove, Fu Bao lost her balance and fell flat on her face.

Seeing his son lying on the ground, round and chubby, Li Yuanqi burst out laughing. It wasn't that he didn't love his son; the little guy was just too adorable.

Although Fu Bao wasn't hurt when he fell, he still got a face full of dust, and he was already in a bad mood. And then his father laughed at him?

It seems there's really no need to leave this living father any way out.

[Mother, that Miss Hua is engaged to Father!]

Upon hearing Fu Bao's words, Li Yuanqi's expression was priceless. Good lad, you can't let your father down!