After Xie Ping’s figure disappeared from view.

Yun Chu brought Tingxue to stand at that intersection admiring the flowers.

If anyone came, she would know immediately, preventing anyone from seeing Xie Ping’s attempt to entice the imperial prince.

She had already gone this far, so she hoped Xie Ping would not disappoint her.

The crabapple flowers were brilliantly colored. As Yun Chu was admiring them, she suddenly felt a pain in her ankle. Looking down, she saw a small pebble rolling away.

Tingxue looked toward the direction the stone came from: “Who’s hiding there?”

She saw the broad green leaves rustle, and a short little fellow emerged.

Yun Chu’s face showed disbelief.

It was actually the Young Lord from Prince Pingxi’s manor.

This little fellow held a slingshot in one hand, while the other hand clutched a handful of round little stones.

He straightened his body, placed a small stone in the slingshot, and aimed it at Yun Chu’s face.

Tingxue hurriedly blocked herself in front of Yun Chu.

“Hmph!” The little fellow was aggressive: “You promised to compensate me with crickets. Where are the crickets?”

Yun Chu: “…”

Why was this cricket matter still not resolved?

“You woman, your word means nothing!” The little fellow released the slingshot.

A small stone whooshed toward Yun Chu, but it didn’t hit her and fell into the grass by the roadside.

“Young Lord.” Yun Chu walked forward two steps, crouched down before him, and said in a calm tone: “Three crickets were sent to Prince Pingxi’s manor in total, and the Young Lord was not satisfied with any of them. Why doesn’t the Young Lord speak plainly—what kind of cricket do you actually want?”

Chu Hongyu pressed his lips together tightly.

He didn’t actually want any crickets; he just wanted to see this woman.

He had thought of every way to follow his father to the flower-viewing banquet, originally planning to slip away when the Prince wasn’t paying attention to find this woman.

Who would have thought this woman would also be at the Imperial Aunt’s residence.

His luck was truly good.

Seeing the little fellow remain silent, Yun Chu thought for a moment and said: “Then I’ll give the Young Lord a cricket that’s unique in all the world.”

She walked to the roadside and plucked two slender leaves. Her movements were swift as she folded them this way and that, and in just a moment, a green cricket appeared in her palm.

She held it out before the little fellow: “Do you like it?”

Chu Hongyu’s round, dark eyes widened: “How are you so skilled? Can you teach me?”

“It’s very simple.” Yun Chu said patiently: “Place two leaves overlapping like this, then fold them over, then like this, and then…”

In just a few words, a second cricket was also folded.

Chu Hongyu followed Yun Chu’s steps, but what he folded in the end wasn’t a cricket—it looked like a dog…

She couldn’t help but laugh.

“Don’t laugh!”

The little fellow got upset and plucked two more leaves to continue learning, acting like he wouldn’t give up until he learned it.

Just then.

A nanny came hurrying along the small path: “Young Lord, this old servant has finally found you.”

Chu Hongyu’s face was full of displeasure: “I told you not to follow me. Why are you still looking for me? Go stand over there.”

The old nanny bent over as she approached, her face respectful: “This old servant presumes to ask—were the koi in Qinghua Pool killed by the Young Lord?”

The little fellow’s expression suddenly changed. He snorted and continued fiddling with the leaves in his hands.

With this attitude, the old nanny understood everything. She bent even lower: “These koi were transported at great expense by the Eldest Princess from the south. If they died like this, the Eldest Princess will certainly hold someone accountable… Please, Young Lord, follow this old servant and explain the matter clearly to the Eldest Princess.”

Chu Hongyu sat down on the ground: “I’m not going. I won’t go.”

The nanny was nearly in tears. With two koi dead, not only would the maid who fed the koi suffer, but she, the nanny responsible for watching over the Young Lord, would also be punished…

“What’s precious is not being without fault, but being able to correct one’s faults.” Yun Chu’s voice carried warmth: “Does the Young Lord know what this saying means?”

Chu Hongyu shook his head blankly. Although his father had hired a tutor to teach him reading and writing, he often slept during class and hadn’t learned much.

“A person being without fault is not the best thing—knowing one’s mistakes and being able to correct them is most precious.” Yun Chu looked at him steadily: “If the death of the Eldest Princess’s koi is related to the Young Lord, and the Young Lord has the courage to admit his mistake, I think the Eldest Princess won’t blame the Young Lord either.”

Chu Hongyu pressed his lips together.

The Imperial Aunt certainly wouldn’t blame him; the key issue was that his father was also there…

He raised his head to meet Yun Chu’s gaze. Under such a gentle look, he felt somewhat ashamed.

He stood up: “Let’s go, Nanny.”

The nanny looked at Yun Chu with immense gratitude: “Thank you, Madam.”

Yun Chu glanced toward the end of the small path and saw Xie Ping emerging from the depths of the woods, her face completely flushed—the very picture of a young girl with spring feelings in her heart.

“Sister Ping, did you find your earring?”

Xie Ping felt a wave of guilt and quickly lowered her head to conceal the spring-like feelings in her eyes: “Mother, I found it.”

“Then let’s return to the banquet.” Yun Chu turned around and walked forward.

Xie Ping glanced back once, then quickly caught up with Yun Chu’s pace.

As soon as they arrived at the banquet venue, Yun Chu saw that little fellow nestled in the Eldest Princess’s embrace acting cute: “Imperial Aunt, I did something wrong. Can you forgive me?”

The Eldest Princess’s heart melted. At first, she truly hadn’t liked this child whose birth mother was unknown, but the child had a sweet tongue and knew how to please people. Over time, she naturally grew fond of him.

She pinched the little fellow’s face: “What did our Brother Yu do wrong?”

“When I was playing with my slingshot, I accidentally… killed two koi in the pool…” Chu Hongyu lowered his head and fidgeted with his fingers: “Imperial Aunt, I was wrong.”

Before the Eldest Princess could speak.

Prince Pingxi, sitting beside her, cast a cold look and reached out to grab Chu Hongyu by the collar.

“Third Brother, what are you doing?” The Eldest Princess shielded the child in her embrace: “They’re just two fish, not worth making such a fuss over.”

Prince Pingxi spoke coldly: “If he can kill two fish today, tomorrow he can kill two people. Constant indulgence will only make him increasingly lawless.”

“If a son isn’t taught, it’s the father’s fault. When all is said and done, this is all your mistake.” The Eldest Princess snorted: “If you don’t have time to discipline the child, you should take a princess consort into your household to manage the child in your place, rather than constantly scolding and hitting him. Look what you’ve frightened the child into.”

With these words, the noble ladies seated below all averted their gazes.

Only legitimate daughters were worthy of Prince Pingxi, but they were unwilling to have their daughters become stepmothers to someone else. Each one was afraid of being noticed by the Eldest Princess.

The Eldest Princess surveyed the entire banquet, her gaze landing on Yun Chu.

She smiled: “I’ve heard that Huaide Academy has a student whom the instructors are very proud of—he’s precisely the eldest son of the Xie family. If there are no surprises, he will become this year’s top candidate in the academy examination. The child is so excellent precisely because his mother educated him well. Therefore, Third Brother, when you take a wife, you should marry a woman like Sister Chu.”

Yun Chu quickly stood up: “The Eldest Princess praises me too highly. This subject’s wife dare not accept such honor.”

Prince Pingxi raised his eyes, those hawk-like eyes looking toward Yun Chu.