Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Afterwards, the two went to the garden and strolled around there.

"So, why did you come to see me today?" Su Qianrou asked.

Yang Shanshan said with a worried look, "It's all because of my mother. She keeps nagging me all day long, saying that I'm not young anymore and it's time for me to get married. Then she introduces me to all sorts of young men. I'm so annoyed."

"Who told you to tell her that your cousin has someone he likes? Otherwise, she wouldn't be so fixated on you now."

"Sigh, don't even mention it. I regret it so much. I should have never told her. My brother is the same. He insisted on waiting until he came back before proposing marriage. Otherwise, my mother would be too busy with the wedding to care about me."

"My cousin also wants to give Nanyi some face. When he comes back, he will have military merits, and I think the Duke of Su's mansion will not refuse this marriage."

Actually, there was another reason, which everyone knew but no one said: Yang Lin was afraid that he wouldn't be able to come back and would delay Li Nanyi.

"To be honest, I still can't believe that my brother actually likes Li Nanyi."

Su Qianrou smiled but didn't say anything.

At this moment, Yingfeng walked over and said, "Your Highness."

"Why are you here?"

"His Highness has instructed his subordinates to invite the Princess and Miss Yang to dine at Fuyun Palace."

"Dining with the prince? How can I possibly eat?" Yang Shanshan muttered to herself.

Upon hearing her words, Su Qianrou asked, "Is Prince Ying still alive?"

"exist".

"Let's go then."

Afterwards, the two arrived at the backyard of Fuyun Palace, where Mu Jinchen and Mu Xinchen had been waiting for a long time.

Mu Xinchen got up and said, "Fifth Sister-in-law is here," then looked at Yang Shanshan and said, "Why are you here too?"

"That's ridiculous. You can come, but I can't."

“This is my fifth brother’s residence, so of course I can come.”

"But this is still my cousin and her husband's residence."

"Alright, you two, stop arguing every time you meet, like a pair of bickering lovers."

"Cousin, let me correct you. We are enemies, that's true, but we don't like each other at all. I almost hate him to death."

"It's as if I don't dislike you."

"Alright, sit down and we'll talk," Su Qianrou said helplessly, then walked over and sat down opposite Mu Jinchen.

Yang Shanshan sat next to her, facing Mu Xinchen directly.

Mu Jinchen picked up a slice of meat and put it in Su Qianrou's bowl, "Try it."

"it is good".

Then, he put a piece of tofu into her bowl. Su Qianrou almost never had to pick up food herself, and she was already used to it, so she didn't feel anything was wrong.

However, Mu Xinchen and Yang Shanshan, who were standing to the side, were stunned. Both of them looked at Mu Jinchen with disbelief, thinking, "Is this still the Fifth Brother I know? Is this still the Regent I know?"

Seeing that none of them were eating, Su Qianrou said, "Why aren't you eating? Come on, this food is quite delicious, don't be shy."

"Eat...Miss Yang, please eat too, don't be shy."

"The same to you".

While they were talking, Mu Jinchen had already peeled a shrimp and put it in Su Qianrou's bowl.

Mu Xinchen and Yang Shanshan saw this and looked at each other simultaneously, their expressions somewhat intriguing.

Su Qianrou suddenly said, "By the way, Shanshan, I think Minister Bai is not bad. He is witty and humorous, and you two should be able to get along well. However, he seems to have a childhood sweetheart. I wonder if the two of them have a secret relationship. You can ask Prince Ying to help you investigate. If there is nothing between them, you two can give it a try."

"You mean Bai Qinming."

"Yes, I've met him before, and I think he's pretty good."

“I’ve also met him, and he’s actually quite good, at least much better than someone else,” she said, glancing at Mu Xinchen.

"What do you mean? How am I inferior to him? I am of higher status and better looking than him. I think you are blind to have fallen for him."

"It would be blind of me to even consider you."

Su Qianrou thought to herself that it was best not to say anything too definitive, in case she fell for him someday. However, she didn't say it, because she knew that if she did, she would definitely get a rebuttal and it would be another long and tedious argument. So, for the sake of her peace and quiet, it was better not to say anything.

"Yang Shanshan, you are being unreasonable."

"I think you're just angry because you're embarrassed."

Finally, the meal ended with the two of them playfully bickering.

After the meal, Mu Xinchen and Yang Shanshan left, while Mu Jinchen did not go to the study to handle official business, but personally escorted Su Qianrou back to Yanxi Palace.

At this moment, the two were walking on the road, neither of them speaking, silently walking forward.

Suddenly, Mu Jinchen asked, "You like someone like Bai Qinming?"

"What?" Su Qianrou didn't react for a moment.

"witty and humorous".

"I doubt anyone would dislike it. Having someone like that around would make every day a happy one."

"So, you're unhappy right now?" Mu Jinchen stopped and looked at her.

"I'm not unhappy. I feel quite comfortable with my life right now."

"If you were given the chance to choose again, would you still choose to marry me?"

"I don't know, maybe. After all, there's nothing wrong with marrying a prince."

"There's something I've never understood. I think Gu Mingxuan likes you, and your brother also wants you to marry him. Why don't you marry him? If you had married him, there wouldn't have been this marriage alliance."

"Then, Your Highness, knowing that Qin Zhenzhen likes you, why don't you marry her?"

"I don't like him."

"Yes, you said it yourself, if I don't like it, why should I marry it?"

"You mean, you like me."

"What does Your Highness think? Don't you know very well why I married you?"

Because I knew that, that's why I said, "Let's go, I'll take you home."

Although Su Qianrou found him strange, she didn't investigate further and walked away.

Mu Jinchen watched her retreating figure, lost in thought, before following her.

On the other side, Mu Xinchen and Yang Shanshan came out of the Regent's Palace and walked down the street.

Yang Shanshan said, "Um, can I ask you for a favor?"

"What's up".

"Help me investigate Bai Qinming and his childhood sweetheart to see if there's anything going on between them."

Mu Xinchen couldn't help but ask, "You wouldn't actually have fallen for Bai Qinming, would you?"

“I don’t want to listen to my mother anymore and go looking for some young master. If I have to get married, I’ll find someone I get along with. That way, at least life won’t be too boring. Besides, my cousin said he’s a good man, and I trust her.”

"Marriage is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. You should consider it carefully."

"That's why I asked you to help me look into him and his childhood sweetheart."

"You can investigate if you want, I won't."

"Mu Xinchen, we've known each other for a while, and you won't even help with this little thing? Are you even a man?"

"Do you think I'm free? There are so many things in the Ministry of Justice that I need to handle, how could I have time?"

"Hmph, if you won't help me, fine, I'll find someone else to help me," he said, and strode away.

Mu Xinchen looked at her, feeling a strange tightness in his chest, as if he was about to lose something.