Regent, please maintain your aloof image.

Su Qianrou knew everything he said, and even knew which places he had been, because Su Mingxuan had told her everything.

"Actually, when I learned that you were looking for me, I briefly thought about having my older brother tell you, but I quickly gave up on that idea."

"Why, you don't want to have anything to do with me anymore?"

"No, it's because the people of Liangzhou need me, just as Yunyue needs you. Before I came to Liangzhou, I never imagined they were living in such dire straits, starving and destitute, suffering every day. If I hadn't seen it, I could have pretended not to know, but now that I have, I can't just sit idly by. So, I can't go back anytime soon, and neither can you. You can't be away from the capital for long either. Therefore, even if you know I'm in Liangzhou, we will still be separated."

“Now it’s possible. Xiao Xuan is now capable of handling state affairs and no longer needs me. I can stay here with you and Xiao Xiao.”

"It would be a waste of your talent to stay here."

"I think it's pretty good."

Although the two had been separated for five years, Su Qianrou still understood him very well and immediately guessed what he meant: "You are afraid that Xiaoxuan will suspect you in the future."

"There will always be times when opinions differ, and conflicts are inevitable."

Although Su Qianrou felt that Mu Zexuan was not that kind of person, emperors are often suspicious. Just because he is not suspicious now does not mean he will not be in the future, so she did not say anything.

At this moment, Su Xiaoxiao walked in, smiling broadly and looking very happy. "Mother," she said, heading straight for Su Qianrou.

"You're the most playful one. It's so cold outside, and you didn't even come back. Look how red your face is from the cold," Su Qianrou said, cupping her face in her hands to warm it up.

"Let me do it," Mu Jinchen said, not wanting her hands to get cold, so he pulled Su Xiaoxiao in front of him and then cupped her small face in his large hands.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at him, feeling strange.

Mu Jinchen met her gaze and was momentarily stunned.

The two looked at each other, feeling somewhat awkward.

Su Qianrou saw this and a slight smile appeared on her lips.

Mu Jinchen quickly came to his senses and asked, "Are your hands cold?" He then took her hands and warmed them for her.

Su Xiaoxiao stared at him blankly.

After a while, Mu Jinchen said, "It's done."

Su Xiaoxiao suddenly ran away.

Mu Jinchen didn't react for a moment, and then looked at Su Qianrou for help.

Su Qianrou was also confused, not knowing what was wrong with her.

Soon, Su Xiaoxiao ran out from the inner room and handed the safety buckle to Mu Jinchen.

Mu Jinchen accepted it with a puzzled look, then looked at Su Qianrou in surprise, because he recognized it as the birthday gift he had given her five years ago.

Su Qianrou did not explain.

But Mu Jinchen knew her intentions perfectly well, and was therefore very moved. "Rou'er."

"Don't overthink it, I just think this safety buckle is pretty good."

Mu Jinchen couldn't help but smile.

Su Qianrou glared at him.

Mu Jinchen then calmed down a bit.

Su Xiaoxiao then handed him the portrait.

Mu Jinchen asked in confusion, "This is...."

"you".

"You mean, this is a painting of me."

Su Xiaoxiao nodded.

"You drew it."

"No, it was drawn by my mother."

Mu Jinchen looked at Su Qianrou.

Su Qianrou said matter-of-factly, "I drew it, so what? Is there a problem?"

"This is what I look like in your heart."

"almost".

Yingfeng couldn't help but say, "Your Highness, are you sure this is a person?"

“How could it not be? It has eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, and ears—everything is there, and it even has hands and feet. It’s all complete,” Chunzhu said.

Yingfeng was powerless to refute, nor dared to refute, and could only smile bitterly.

Su Qianrou then asked, "What, don't you think it looks like it?"

"So alike, so very alike, he looks exactly like the prince."

Mu Jinchen glared at him.

Yingfeng lowered his head, not daring to look at him. Of the four people in the room, he was the most humble, and he couldn't afford to offend any of them. He thought to himself, "Forget it, I'd better not say anything."

Su Qianrou was finally satisfied.

"Can you play with me?" Su Xiaoxiao tugged at Mu Jinchen's sleeve.

Mu Jinchen was eager for this, so he replied, "Of course."

"Then let's go play on the slide in the yard."

“No,” Su Qianrou said.

Su Xiaoxiao and Mu Jinchen both turned to look at her.

"You've been playing outside for quite a while now. If you go out again, you might catch a cold. If you get sick, you'll need to take medicine."

Like Su Qianrou, Su Xiaoxiao hated taking medicine, so she said without hesitation, "Then let's play inside. Can you draw? How about we draw?"

"it is good".

Chunzhu immediately ordered people to prepare.

Then, the father and daughter painted not far away, while Su Qianrou read a book on the tatami mat, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

The happiest person was Su Xiaoxiao. The father she had always wanted was now by her side, painting with her. Just thinking about it made her happy, so she couldn't stop smiling.

Mu Jinchen was the same; all his aloofness vanished, replaced entirely by enthusiasm.

Su Qianrou looked at the father and daughter. It would be a lie to say she wasn't moved, especially when she saw the smile on Su Xiaoxiao's face. She felt a little uncomfortable. Then, she looked away and continued reading.

Mu Jinchen couldn't help but look at her. In the past five years, he had imagined countless times what it would be like for the two of them to reunite, but he never thought that they would be a family of three. It all felt like a dream, so unreal.

When Su Xiaoxiao saw him stop, she nudged him.

Mu Jinchen then came to his senses and continued painting.

That evening, Su Qianrou and her daughter Su Xiaoxiao sat on the bed, preparing to go to sleep.

But Su Xiaoxiao was still excited and couldn't sleep at all. She kept looking at the portrait and couldn't get enough of it. "Mommy, he's really amazing."

"A painting has captivated you."

“Mother, look, this is a portrait he drew of you,” Su Xiaoxiao said, picking up another portrait and saying, “This is a portrait you drew of him.”

"What, do you think my drawing is not as good as his?"

“Mother, didn’t you say that we should speak from the heart? Tell me yourself, besides being able to tell that it’s a person, what part of your drawing resembles him?”

Su Qianrou gently flicked her nose, savoring the taste: "It hasn't been that long, and you're already siding with him."

Su Xiaoxiao immediately dropped the painting in her hand, hugged her arm, and said coquettishly, "No, no, Xiaoxiao is still on Mother's side."

Su Qianrou chuckled, then asked, "You like him a lot."

"Does Mother want to hear the truth?"

"certainly".

"like".

"Then why don't you call him father?"

"Because his mother hasn't forgiven him yet."

Su Qianrou was somewhat surprised, "You stopped calling him 'father' because of me."

"Xiaoxiao doesn't want her mother to be unhappy."

Su Qianrou was deeply moved. She gently stroked her face and said, "Mother won't be unhappy. On the contrary, Mother is happy for you because from now on, you will not only have Mother, but also Father. Moreover, I believe that he will love you just as much as Mother does."

"What my mother means is that I can call him father."

"Of course you can, he is your father."

"Great! I have a daddy! I have a daddy!" Su Xiaoxiao jumped up from the bed excitedly.

Su Qianrou looked at her with a smile on her face.