At first, she’d simply assumed that no matter how grand it was, it was still only a competition in the end. After all she’d been through—life-and-death contests where the stakes were real—how could she possibly be intimidated by something as small as a Flower Queen Pageant?

Jun Beiyue’s enthusiasm, too, seemed like nothing more than a passing whim, something to pass the time during the holidays.

But when Ziqing saw Jun Beiyue reach his hand out to her, smiling warmly, she knew—this Flower Queen Pageant was simply another form of the gentleness he showed her.

“Let’s go. I haven’t had time to properly spend time with you.” Jun Beiyue smiled. From the day they’d first met and fallen for each other up to now, he’d always been caught up in the whirlwind of duties and travel. He often wished he could simply stop, spend time with her, come to know her a little better, grow a little closer to her.

Sweetness gradually replaced the bitterness that came from the wound on her cheek, and Ziqing smiled from the heart, finally reaching out her small hand.

They brought no attendants, both dressed in plain clothes, walking alongside Situ Haonan and the old tailor, hand in hand—just like the most ordinary young couple in the world, out together at year’s end to buy provisions for the New Year.

Seeing a group of children not far off building a snowman, Ziqing unconsciously stopped, watching with a distant, absorbed look. Jun Beiyue smiled. “Should I build you one later?”

Ziqing laughed lightly. “That’s a children’s game.”

“Is it?” Jun Beiyue grinned slyly. Without her noticing when, he’d scooped up a handful of snow and, catching her off guard, stuffed it right down the back of her collar. “What about this, then?”

“Ah—!” Ziqing shrieked from the cold. She spun around, but Jun Beiyue had already darted far, far away, a snowball already in hand. The moment she turned to face him, he hurled it straight at her!

A snowball fight was so much more fun than building a snowman!

Ziqing didn’t have time to dodge and got hit square in the face. The look on her face sent Jun Beiyue into peals of laughter. “How about that? Like it?”

“Love it!” Ziqing wasn’t about to be outdone either, scooping up snow at once to fight back. Jun Beiyue hastily dodged, scooping up more snow himself as he did, but Ziqing seized the moment and hurled a huge snowball, hitting him square on the head!

Seeing the direct hit, and then seeing Jun Beiyue with snow all over his head, she burst out laughing. “Now you know how it feels!”

“Oh, so you’d ambush this prince, would you!” Jun Beiyue narrowed his eyes, both hands full of snowballs, aiming a menacing look straight at Ziqing’s face.

Ziqing had no ammunition left. If she tried to scoop up more snow, Jun Beiyue would surely seize the opening. Naturally, they’d wordlessly agreed not to use martial arts, so Ziqing had only one option left—she turned and ran!

“Ha, you can’t get away!” Jun Beiyue immediately gave chase, hurling a snowball at her as he ran…

The married couple, in the snow, paid no mind to the people around them, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Situ Haonan watched, utterly dumbfounded—was this the same Jun Beiyue he knew? That he could actually play around with a woman like this!

Meanwhile, the old tailor Autumn Mother had already lifted a delicately crooked finger, clapping his hands eagerly. “Run, Your Highness, run! Faster, faster!”

Situ Haonan shot him a sidelong glance and couldn’t help but shudder—though unfortunately, he failed to catch the flash of malice that flickered briefly across the old man’s face.

Jun Beiyue and Ziqing carried on their romp for the better part of an hour, until finally, when Ziqing was gasping for breath, Jun Beiyue let her have the win, and the two of them stopped.

Seeing Jun Beiyue looking thoroughly disheveled, Ziqing couldn’t stop laughing. “You lost!”

“You didn’t win either!” Jun Beiyue laughed too, gently smoothing her long hair and brushing away quite a bit of snow.

Ziqing rose on her toes to brush the snow from his hair in turn. From a distance, the scene looked so warm and tender that passersby couldn’t help but envy them.

“There’s a shop up ahead, let’s go over!” Situ Haonan called out loudly, unable to help interrupting.

As the group walked forward, just as they were about to enter, a familiar figure emerged from inside. Situ Haonan’s expression changed at once—this person was none other than Situ Xin’er!

With New Year’s practically upon them, this girl was still here, which meant she was undoubtedly here for the Flower Queen Pageant.

The moment Situ Xin’er caught sight of Jun Beiyue and Ziqing behind her brother—or more precisely, the moment she caught sight of Ziqing—her previously smiling little face immediately darkened.

She didn’t so much as glance at her older brother, striding quickly to Jun Beiyue’s side instead. “Beiyue-gege, what a coincidence!”

Although Jun Beiyue and Situ Cheng had had their differences, she’d long since forgotten about that—she only remembered that it was Han Ziqing who’d had a falling-out with Situ Cheng.

She still addressed Jun Beiyue as affectionately as ever, calling him “Beiyue-gege,” though this time she at least refrained from stepping forward to link arms with him.

Jun Beiyue, however, only gave a flat “Mm” in response, and continued leading Ziqing inside by the hand.

Situ Xin’er had originally been about to leave, but seeing them go in, she pursed her lips and immediately turned to follow, offering no explanation as she wedged herself in beside Jun Beiyue.

“You little brat, weren’t you supposed to be leaving?” Situ Haonan said with displeasure. Driving her off himself was surely better than letting Ziqing be the one to do it.

“Whose eyes saw me saying I was leaving?” Situ Xin’er retorted with displeasure.

“Then what are you here for?” Situ Haonan had truly had enough of this sister of his—how did she never understand plain words? Did she really need Han Ziqing herself to chase her off before she’d be satisfied?

“I came into the shop to look at fabric, of course. What, you’re allowed to come but I’m not?” Situ Xin’er shot back—clearly meant for Ziqing’s ears.

She wasn’t leaving no matter what—what could they possibly do about it?

With her parents away, she was freer than ever now, and Situ Haonan could forget about controlling her!

Neither Ziqing nor Jun Beiyue paid any attention to the siblings’ bickering. Jun Beiyue was earnestly examining the bolts of fabric.

He had to admit—this was the first time in his entire life he’d done something like this. Even his own clothes had always been handled by servants; they’d simply pick things out, have them made, and lay a few finished pieces before him to choose from.

Only now, examining things carefully himself, did he realize just how little he truly knew about this woman—so little that he didn’t even know her favorite color.

“Do you like this color?” Jun Beiyue asked.

Ziqing was still considering it when Situ Xin’er suddenly cut in. “I like it! Beiyue-gege, I like this color—will you give it to me?”

At these words, Situ Haonan wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. How did he end up with such a shameless sister?

Jun Beiyue simply let it pass through one ear and out the other, waiting for Ziqing’s answer.

Ziqing glanced at Situ Xin’er and said with a smile, “I like this color—will you give it to me?”

She’d actually echoed Situ Xin’er’s exact words. At this, Jun Beiyue nearly laughed out loud, readily going along with it. “Of course!”

A knot of frustration formed in Situ Xin’er’s chest, and refusing to back down or admit defeat, she pointed to another bolt of fabric nearby. “Beiyue-gege, I like this one too—will you give it to me?”

As the precious daughter of the Situ Cheng clan, it wasn’t the item itself she cared about—what mattered was who gave it to her!

From childhood to now, not even on her birthday had Beiyue-gege ever given her a gift!

Yet Ziqing simply walked over, resting her small hand on that same bolt of fabric, and continued, “I like this one too—will you give it to me?”

At these words, Situ Xin’er was so furious she nearly struck someone. But with Jun Beiyue standing right there, no matter how great her nerve, she didn’t dare.