Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

The two then went to the garden.

"Speak, what do you want to say to me?"

Yingfeng hesitated, stammering and unsure how to begin.

"If you haven't figured out what to say, I'll head back now. The princess is still waiting for me to serve her," he said, and then turned to leave.

Seeing her about to leave, Yingfeng blurted out, "I like you. Will you marry me?"

Chunzhu froze, staring at him in disbelief. "What did you say?"

So Yingfeng repeated, "I said I like you, will you marry me?"

But Chunzhu didn't believe it and said, "Aren't you bored? You're just teasing me. I don't have time to mess around with you."

“I’m not kidding you this time, it’s true. I didn’t understand before why I always liked to tease you, but now I understand. It’s because I want to get your attention.” Then he added, “I don’t know when I started liking you, but I’m sure I like you.”

"What you said is all true," Chunzhu still didn't quite believe it.

Do you think I would joke about something this important?

Chunzhu wasn't sure either, but he didn't seem to be joking, so she was a little flustered. "Um... I have something to do, so I'll go first," she said, and quickly left.

"No, you haven't answered me yet," Shadow Wind shouted.

Chunzhu ignored him and walked away without looking back.

Yingfeng was taken aback by her reaction and didn't know what to do, so he stood there dumbfounded.

Afterwards, Chunzhu returned to Yanxi Palace and went to the study. Mizhi called out helplessly, "Your Highness."

"You finished talking so quickly?"

Chunzhu hesitated, as if she wanted to speak.

"What's wrong?" Su Qianrou asked.

“He told me, he told me…” Chunzhu was a little shy and embarrassed to say it out loud.

What did he say to you?

"He said that he... liked the maidservant and wanted to marry her."

He's not too slow-witted, otherwise he'd regret it. "So, did you agree?"

"No, I ran away."

"He ran away," Su Qianrou said in surprise, then asked, "You don't like him?"

"This servant does not know."

Since he didn't directly refuse, it seems he's not averse to it. "So what are you planning to do? He'll definitely come looking for you again if he doesn't get a reply. You can't just run away every time, can you?"

Chunzhu walked to Su Qianrou's side, grabbed her arm, and pleaded, "Your Highness, please help me. I really don't know what to do."

"I'm asking you, do you hate him?"

Chunzhu thought for a moment and said, "I don't think I dislike him. Although he always argues with me, I have never taken it to heart."

"If you don't dislike it, then try to like it."

Chunzhu asked with a confused look, "What does it mean to like someone?"

You'll find out later.

"What should this servant do?"

"You don't need to do anything, just be yourself."

"Oh," Chunzhu said, seemingly understanding but not quite.

That evening, Su Qianrou and Mu Jinchen were having dinner.

Yingfeng kept staring at Chunzhu.

Chunzhu felt very uncomfortable, so she said, "Your Highness, I suddenly remembered that Qiulan said she had something urgent to discuss with me. I'll be right back." After saying that, she quickly left.

In the following days, Chunzhu would make excuses to avoid him every time she saw him.

On this day, Chunzhu met Wang Lin on the road, and the two chatted for a while. By sheer coincidence, Yingfeng saw them and became extremely jealous.

"What are you talking about that makes you so happy?"

"Boss!" Wang Lin called out.

"What are you doing here if you're not at Fengxing Garden?"

"I was just about to go back when I happened to run into Miss Chunzhu, so I greeted her."

"When did you two become so familiar that you even greeted each other?" she said, looking at Chunzhu.

Chunzhu felt a little awkward under his gaze and said, "What does this have to do with you?" Then she looked at Wang Lin and said, "Brother Wang, I have something to do, so I'll leave first. Let's talk next time."

"it is good".

Yingfeng was furious. He thought to himself, "There will be a next time." Then he grabbed her hand and asked, "How long are you going to keep avoiding me?"

"Let go".

"If you don't run, I'll let you go."

Chunzhu felt a little guilty, but she said, "When did I run away? Don't slander me."

"You dare say you haven't been avoiding me these past few days."

"No," she said, then added, "Let me go first, or people will misunderstand if they see this."

Wang Lin asked curiously, "Boss, Miss Chunzhu, what's going on here...?"

"Why are you still here?" Yingfeng said irritably.

Wang Lin thought to himself, "I've been here the whole time," but succumbing to his tyranny, he wisely said, "I'll leave now," and quickly departed.

Then, Yingfeng said, "Let's have a good talk."

“We don’t have much to talk about,” Chunzhu said.

"Are you going to keep hiding from me like this?"

"I...I just haven't figured out how to face you yet."

"Don't think about it. What was like before is what is now. You don't need to feel guilty. I'm telling you my feelings not because I need you to give me an answer right now, but because I hope you can give me a chance."

"What opportunity?"

"Pursue your opportunity."

Chunzhu blushed. "Why...why do you like me?" This question had been bothering her for days, but she still couldn't figure it out.

"I don't know, maybe it's interesting."

"Interesting? Do you think I'm funny, or do you think it's funny to tease me?" After saying that, Chunzhu stormed off.

Yingfeng was puzzled and didn't know what was wrong with her, so he didn't chase after her.

Yanxi Palace

As the year draws to a close, Su Qianrou is becoming increasingly busy. At this moment, she is preparing New Year's goods, intending to have Li An deliver them to the Su residence.

Qiulan and Juxia helped out from the side.

Chunzhu stormed in, muttering curses, clearly genuinely angry.

Seeing this, Qiulan asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so angry? Who upset you?"

"It's all because of that bastard Yingfeng. I asked him why he liked me, and do you know what he answered? He said it was interesting. I think he doesn't like me at all; he just finds it funny to tease me," Chunzhu said, getting angrier the more she thought about it.

“There’s no doubt that he likes you,” Su Qianrou said calmly.

Chunzhu looked at her and asked, "Why is Your Highness so certain?"

“I told him to choose some good men, but he went against my wishes and picked some low-class ones for you. Do you think that’s why?”

"What else could it be? They must want to see me make a fool of myself."

"No, he was jealous, and also scared."

"Fear".

“Yes, I was afraid you would fall for someone else, so I came up with this dirty trick to sabotage things on purpose.” Then, Su Qianrou said, “You said before that Li An gave Qiu Lan gifts because he liked her, but did you ever think that Ying Feng always teases you because he likes you? Otherwise, why doesn’t he tease Ju Xia and Qiu Lan?”

“The princess is right, he probably just wants to get your attention,” Juxia agreed.

"Also, the look in a person's eyes doesn't lie, so believe me, the way he looks at you means he likes you," Su Qianrou said confidently.

Chunzhu always believed her words without question. Since she had said so, it must be true. Then, with a troubled look, she said, "But I don't know how to face him."

"Just do whatever you want."

Chunzhu seemed to understand, but not quite.

"Okay, let's pack our things first. Ang Lee is still waiting," Su Qianrou said.

Juxia asked, "Chunzhu, didn't I tell you to go to the kitchen to get something? Where is it?"

Chunzhu then remembered that she was supposed to go to the kitchen to get the cured meat and Tusu wine, but she forgot because Yingfeng was so angry. "I'll go right away," she said and ran out.

Juxia looked at Su Qianrou.

Su Qianrou didn't mind and said, "Let's get these sorted out first."

So, Juxia and Qiulan continued with their work.