Exile at the start? The princess is no ordinary woman.

Bian Chen rolled his eyes. "Did you even give me a chance to speak?"

"Let's get down to business. Do you two need to hold hands a little tighter? Anyone who didn't know better would think you were stuck together."

Gu Nanzhi automatically assumed that Bian Chen's complaints stemmed from jealousy.

"What, are you envious? Speaking of Bian Chen, you're not bad looking either. You're rich and good-looking. If you're envious, go find a wife so you won't have to envy us."

What started as just a rant has gotten even more frustrating.

"Who's envious? All that mushy stuff..."

He wasn't envious at all. What was so great about women? They were so delicate and coy. He had no interest in coaxing people.

"Yes, yes, you're not envious, you're not envious..."

Gu Nanzhi looked regretful.

"Sigh, what a pity. You clearly have the face of a scumbag, but you don't have a single girl by your side..."

Bian Chen was speechless. He couldn't win an argument, he couldn't hit him, and he couldn't even curse him.

I'll just ignore them.

"I can't be bothered to watch you two being so lovey-dovey. I'm going to find Xiao Zhaoye. Xiao Wangshu is gone. You worried for nothing. You two can discuss it yourselves."

Leaving behind a single sentence, Bian Chen turned and left with his hands behind his back.

This made Gu Nanzhi laugh out loud.

She genuinely found Bian Chen interesting and quite fun.

"Huaiqing, what kind of personal charm do you have? You actually have such interesting friends around you!"

Although they were supposed to be friends, Jun Yanchen was still annoyed by Jun Yanchen's awkward possessiveness.

"Nan Nan, is he interesting?"

Oh dear, Gu Nanzhi smells vinegar again!

"Alright, alright, even if it's interesting, it's only about loving you. As for Bian Chen, he's just a friend. You're jealous of this? When did our dignified prince become so jealous? Hmm?"

Jun Yanchen readily admitted that he was jealous and possessive, hoping that Gu Nanzhi's attention would only be on him, but he also knew that was impossible...

Thinking about it, he pulled the person directly into his arms.

"Nan Nan, I really want to lock you up so you can only see me,"

Gu Nanzhi pressed against Jun Yanchen's chest.

"Jun Yanchen, your idea is very dangerous,"

She then wrapped her arms around the man's neck.

"Alright, anyway, you're the most special one. No one else can compare to you. Lovers and friends are different. I think Bian Chen is a really interesting person, and so is Zhen Yunzhi."

Perhaps it's because they consider you a brother or friend, so I feel they're on the same level as them.

But Cang Ling, Uncle Li, Bai Zang... and the others, even if their interactions were casual, always carried a sense of obedience and reverence.

This is because of the difference in their initial status, which cannot be changed, even for Huai Xu, even though he is now considered my cousin-in-law.

But that feeling is still there...

Gu Nanzhi rested her chin on Jun Yanchen's neck as she explained in detail,

"...Huaiqing, as you know, I'm not from here. This is due to the difference in mindset I've been taught since childhood. It's different from your strict hierarchical imperial system."

I appreciate equal relationships, even if we are different in appearance or status. From a purely human perspective, I fundamentally believe we are all equal.

So I feel very relaxed in this kind of interaction..."

"So, it's just that your friends Bian Chen and Zhen Yunzhi are like that, and I naturally consider them friends as well."

Previously at Junlan, there were also Xu Ruilin, Xu Qingning, and the others..."

Gu Nanzhi felt completely healed by Jun Yanchen, including her soul, so she also began to enjoy making friends and cherish these friendships...

Jun Yanchen listened to her story with a heavy heart. How could he not understand Gu Nanzhi's meaning? The more he understood, the more his heart ached.

At the same time, he was even more grateful that Gu Nanzhi had appeared by his side.

"I know, Nan Nan..."

His Nan Nan appeared by his side, and he had witnessed the things within Nan Nan's space. If nothing had happened to Nan Nan, their living environment would have been absolutely wonderful.

Why suffer and live that kind of life by his side?

Therefore, he could only do his best to satisfy and provide Nan Nan with the life she desired.

"Nan Nan, I was just talking nonsense. As long as you're happy, I'm happy, so whatever you do is fine..."

He can suppress his possessiveness as long as Nan Nan is happy.

Gu Nanzhi gently bit Jun Yanchen's neck.

"I'm not talking nonsense. I actually quite like my Huaiqing's possessiveness and jealousy. After all, I'm possessive too..."

"Huaiqing, I love you the most. How can you be so wonderful? I can't help but adore you..."

I never imagined someone could make her like them so much. This kind of liking never gets old; it only grows deeper with time...

"Nan Nan, me too, I love you so much, I can't live without you."

................

Thankfully, Bian Chen left early; otherwise, he would have been even more speechless at their cloying affection. Did they really have to be so lovey-dovey? So melodramatic...

I really don't understand.

"Also, Huaiqing, our Zhao'er and Shu'er shouldn't be involved in the banquet and the hunting trip, right?"

Under this imperial system, since they were currently powerless and without influence, they couldn't openly disobey the emperor's orders if the whole family was required to comply.

However, no matter what, Gu Nanzhi didn't want her two children to be involved.

Whether in the palace or at the hunting grounds, danger lurks everywhere, and with Jun Yanchen currently wearing this disguise, she might not be able to protect the child...

Jun Yanchen shared the same concerns. Fortunately, this time the children wouldn't be involved, but leaving them at home still required careful consideration.

Not being near someone doesn't mean there's no danger.

“There’s no need for us to go together, but it’s not safe at home either. What do you think, Nan Nan, if we have Bian Chen take them to the Star-Picking Tower before we set off?”

This suggestion is certainly good. Going to the Star-Picking Tower, with the protection of the surrounding mountains, makes staying at home much safer.

"How about this, we might need Bian Chen's covert help then. On the day of the palace banquet, secretly send Zhao'er and Shu'er to Chengzi and Huaixu's homes."

"Let them go to the Star-Picking Tower together. Bian Chen will make all the arrangements. Even if Bian Chen isn't at the Star-Picking Tower,..."