In the novel "Joy of Life," the protagonist wakes up at Li Chengze's residence.

Tao Jingyang found it funny how he looked when the tea tasted bitter.

He chuckled quietly, then rummaged through his sleeve and pulled out a purse.

She took out a piece of candied fruit that You Ran had made for her and handed it to Li Chengze.

Li Chengze put the candied fruit in his mouth and said in a deep voice:

"I had absolutely no idea about my aunt's affair with the Censorate."

With a candied fruit in his mouth, Li Chengze slurred, "Jingyang, tell me... does the Crown Prince know about this?"

"I reckon... even the Crown Prince is unaware," Tao Jingyang said, feigning that he was also guessing.

Her inner monologue was: "The eldest princess wants to be the most powerful woman in the world."

It would be wrong of us not to hide something as serious as bribing the Overwatch Council from you.

The latter sat there, his posture somewhat slumped, his tone carrying a hint of loneliness:

"Tell me... who around me is truly sincere?" Suddenly, he burst into laughter again.

"As expected, they are all members of the royal family."

I haven't even fully opened up to my aunt myself, so how could I expect her to be wholeheartedly devoted to me? Indeed, I was being delusional.

Tao Jingyang remained silent for a long time before truthfully saying, "Tonight, things won't be peaceful at the Princess's place. If you have any ideas..."

At this point, it is perfectly feasible to implement it.

"I won't plead for them, nor will I add fuel to the fire," Li Chengze said with a slight smile.

Let this serve as an end to our hard-won aunt-niece relationship.

Inside the courtyard.

Fan Wujiu, who was walking out of the house, happened to run into You Ran, who was picking flowers in the courtyard.

He glanced at You Ran's movements, channeled his inner energy, and quietly approached You Ran.

Just as he was about to walk behind You Ran, he saw her quickly pick up a branch from the ground and turn around to place it across Fan Wujiu's chin.

He raised an eyebrow in surprise, flicked his bangs lightly, and said loudly:

"Hey, you've gotten more vigilant lately."

She leisurely withdrew her hand, tossed aside the branch, and dusted it off. A soft "tsk" was heard.

"Of course, you don't even know how talented I am."

Fan Wujiu had to admit this.

This You Ran is indeed exceptionally talented, the kind of person who is very suitable for martial arts training.

Even though she started later than others, her talent is undeniable.

With her exceptionally high comprehension and her own hard work, her combat strength is now comparable to that of an ordinary fourth-rank martial artist.

If they were to put up a fight, they could even put up a fight against someone of the fifth rank.

"It seems like I haven't seen you for several days. Why haven't you left the house lately?" Fan Wujiu bent down and picked up the basket she used to hold the flowers.

"I haven't been able to grasp the essentials of my practice lately. I suppose it's because my state of mind needs improvement."

You Ran picked some more roses and casually tossed them into the basket Fan Wujiu was carrying.

Fan Wujiu glanced down at the basket and saw that it was already half full. He asked with some confusion, "Why are you picking so many roses?"

"Make some rose bean paste for my sister Jingyang~" When Tao was mentioned, You Ran's excitement was obvious.

"You all don't know, do you? Sister Jingyang likes to eat pastries that are sweet but not too sweet." You Ran said with a touch of pride.

Fan Wujiu was right behind her, secretly watching her pick flowers, and then he tried to pick two himself.

"How did you discover such a secretive preference?"

"Once I only put sugar in the crust and forgot to put sugar in the filling... As a result, Sister Jingyang said it was delicious, and it was the first time she ate it all."

You Ran stated this fact with a touch of embarrassment.

Fan Wujiu's hands, which had been picking flowers, hadn't stopped. Hearing her say that, he suddenly thought of something.

"I was wondering why something felt off... Oh, Youran, so all the pastries you gave me and Xie Bi'an before were leftovers that Miss Tao didn't finish and then threw away!?"

You Ran didn't dare to say anything for a moment. She wanted to grab the basket and run away, but she didn't expect that this action would directly confirm her crime.

Fan Wujiu grew increasingly angry as he thought about it, and continued his accusations:

"That explains why I haven't had any of the pastries you sent me for so long."

I thought you were too busy with your spiritual practice to do it, but it turns out you've run out of money lately! ?

Fan Wujiu's accusations against You Ran grew louder and louder, causing You Ran to quickly put her hand to her lips, gesturing to him anxiously.

"Big brother, please stop talking!!!"

The two were tearing at each other, and before they could decide who was winning, a sound came from afar.

"Fan Wujiu, You Ran, what are you two arguing about?" It was Tao Jingyang who spoke, and behind her was Li Chengze.

The two of them had been listening intently in the room for a long time, but Li Chengze couldn't hear very clearly and had to have Tao Jingyang relay the information to him.

I thought I was going to hear something that no one else knew, but as I listened, the two of them started arguing.

When Fan Wujiu saw Tao Jingyang come out, he seemed determined to "complain" to her.

Seeing that he had started to put on a stern face again, Tao Jingyang hurriedly asked You Ran to go to his room to fetch Tao Xiaowu.

Then he turned back to Fan Wujiu, and before Fan could speak, he spoke, silencing him:

"Oh dear, Comrade Fan Wujiu, how could we give you leftovers...?"

I didn't eat a single bite of those; I was on a diet at the time...

Tao Jingyang started making things up again, regardless of whether Fan Wujiu believed him or not.

Fan Wujiu opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Li Chengze's sudden action of picking flowers.

Li Chengze's cool, clear voice rang out: "Rose red bean paste, that sounds alright."

Li Chengze never liked these pastries, so there were usually some seasonal fruits on the table.

The meaning behind Li Chengze's sudden praise of the "rose bean paste" is self-evident.

[Fan Wujiu]: ...It seems like there's a murderous aura about him.

Sure enough, Fan Wujiu immediately stopped talking.

The three moved to the outdoor pavilion with flowing water.

"Sister Jingyang~ I've brought this gray parrot!"

Leisurely carrying the birdcage, she walked past Li Chengze to Tao Jingyang's side.

"You Ran, it has a name, it's called Tao Xiaowu." Tao Jingyang raised the cage high, trying to make the bird inside look at him at eye level.

"Little bird," the parrot suddenly uttered.

You Ran and Fan Wujiu were startled by the bird. Tao Jingyang turned the birdcage towards You Ran, pointed at her, and said to Tao Xiaowu, "This is 'You Ran'."

Tao Xiaowu tilted her head and imitated, "You Ran." "You Ran."

This sound elicited a gasp of surprise from You Ran.