Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Not long after, Mu Jinchen walked over.

When Yingyue saw him, she called out, "Your Highness."

Su Qianrou knew he had arrived, but she didn't react much and continued reading the book in her hands.

"You seem quite relaxed," Mu Jinchen said as he walked over.

"Not as good as a prince."

"I've been busy in the study all afternoon, you know that."

"Yeah, I know, but I don't know what they're busy with."

"Besides being busy with official duties, what else can I be busy with?" he said, sitting down in front of her.

"Who knows?"

"There's a hidden meaning in your words."

Su Qianrou remained silent, focused on the storybook in her hands.

Mu Jinchen was puzzled and looked at Yingyue beside him, asking her what was wrong.

Yingyue didn't know either, so she shook her head to indicate that she didn't know either.

Helpless, Mu Jinchen had no choice but to sit closer and ask, "Who made you angry?"

"Nobody made me angry."

"So what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" Su Qianrou looked at him and asked in return.

"You...you're really not angry."

"Why am I angry? What is there to be angry about? Or did Your Highness do something to upset me?"

"I did nothing."

"That settles it then... Alright, I'm hungry, let's go eat," she said, then got up to eat.

Mu Jinchen looked at her and felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what was wrong with her for a while, so he went to have his meal first.

At the dining table, the two ate their meal in silence, neither of them speaking.

Mu Jinchen couldn't help but look at her.

"Eat up, what are you looking at me for? I have food on my face," he said, wiping the corner of his mouth.

"no".

"Then look at me."

"Because you... remind me of a word."

"What".

"A feast for the eyes."

"Tell me the truth, you've never really flirted with any other woman before."

"Of course not."

"Then where did you learn all these sweet talk?"

"I'm telling the truth."

Su Qianrou gave him a look that said, "See if I believe you or not," and then continued eating.

After a while, Mu Jinchen couldn't help but ask, "Rou'er, what did you mean by what you just said?"

"What are you saying?"

"You mean you don't know what I'm busy with in the study?"

"I really don't know."

"Didn't I already tell you? I'm busy with official duties."

"I'm just busy with official duties."

"What else?"

Su Qianrou had a "who knows?" expression on her face.

"If you don't believe me, come with me to the study tomorrow, shall we?"

"I'm not going to grind it for you."

Mu Jinchen then realized what was wrong with her and said with a smile, "So you're jealous."

"I love to eat everything, except for vinegar."

"I don't know who it is, but they don't like scallions, they don't like cilantro, and they don't like carrots."

"Even eating can't shut you up."

Mu Jinchen couldn't help but chuckle.

Su Qianrou glared at him.

Mu Jinchen couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Su Qianrou ignored him and buried herself in her rice.

study

Mu Jinchen is handling official business.

Mu Xinchen walked in, looking dejected and in a bad mood. He spoke weakly, "Fifth Brother."

Mu Jinchen looked up at him and asked, "What's wrong with you?"

Mu Xinchen sighed and said nothing.

“It’s quite rare to see Prince Ying like this,” Su Qianrou said.

Mu Xinchen then noticed that she was there too. "Fifth Sister-in-law, you're here too," he said, and walked over.

"Your fifth brother dragged me here."

"Fifth Brother, I didn't realize you were so clingy. You don't want to be apart from me even in the mansion, and you even need your sister-in-law to come with you to the study to work."

"I did that to avoid anyone getting jealous again."

"You're the one who's jealous."

Mu Xinchen looked at them, wondering what kind of riddle they were speaking of.

"Does Your Highness have something to discuss with the Prince? Perhaps I should excuse myself."

"No need, I just came to chat with Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law, you don't need to leave."

"chat".

"Ok".

"You seem unhappy. Did something happen?"

"Yes and no, I don't know what's wrong with me."

Su Qianrou instantly became interested, losing interest in the storybook in her hand. She casually tossed it aside, sat up, and said, "Your fifth brother is busy right now. Why don't you tell me about it, and I'll help you analyze it."

Mu Xinchen thought about it and decided it was feasible, so he sat down to the side and asked, "Fifth Sister-in-law, do you know that Yang Shanshan and Bai Qinming have been getting very close lately?"

"I know, I heard they're about to get married."

"What? Yang Shanshan is really going to marry him?"

"Minister Bai is a good man. There's nothing wrong with Shanshan marrying him."

"But...didn't they say he had a childhood sweetheart?"

"Speaking of which, why doesn't Your Highness help Shanshan investigate? Aren't you and Shanshan getting along well? Why won't you even help with this small favor?"

"I... I'm just too busy."

"It's really just because I don't have time."

"Of course, otherwise why wouldn't I help her?"

“That’s not right. Aren’t you and Minister Bai supposed to be brothers? Minister Bai has never told you about his relationship with his cousin.”

"No," Mu Xinchen said, feeling a little guilty.

Su Qianrou could tell at a glance that he wasn't telling the truth. "Your Highness, you wouldn't be deliberately keeping quiet, would you?"

"How could that be? Am I that kind of person?"

Su Qianrou looked at him with a probing gaze.

"I really don't know."

Su Qianrou didn't dwell on the issue. "So, the Crown Prince is unhappy because Shanshan and Minister Bai are getting close."

"How could that be? Of course not."

"Then why are you unhappy?"

"I……".

"Your Highness, you wouldn't happen to like Shanshan, would you?"

"How could this be? This is absolutely impossible! How could I possibly like her? Fifth Sister-in-law, don't joke around!" As if his secret had been exposed, Mu Xinchen stood up excitedly.

Su Qianrou looked at him quietly.

Mu Xinchen felt a little guilty under his gaze, then sat back down and said, "We always argue every time we meet, and the arguments are always fierce. How could I possibly like her? We are mortal enemies."

“I think you two are more like bickering lovers,” she said, then added, “Let me warn you, if you still can’t see your own heart clearly, it will be too late when Shanshan and Minister Bai get married.”

Mu Xinchen fell into deep thought. After a while, he spoke again and asked, "How do you determine if you like someone?"

"You'll feel unhappy when you see her with other men, which is basically jealousy. Also, at certain times, you'll suddenly think of her. For example, when you see a couple in love and feel that they are very happy, you'll unconsciously think of someone, and that person who comes to mind is the one you like."

Mu Xinchen couldn't help but recall the day Mu Jinchen's birthday when they watched fireworks together. When he saw Mu Jinchen and Xiao Yan each having someone to share the fireworks with, he was truly envious. At that moment, the person in his mind was Yang Shanshan, and he thought to himself, "Could it be that I really like her?"

“There’s nothing shameful about liking someone; it’s a pity to miss out,” Mu Jinchen said as he came over, then sat down next to Su Qianrou and took her hand.

Su Qianrou looked at him, and Mu Jinchen looked at her as well. They only had eyes for each other, as if Mu Xinchen did not exist.