There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 381 What is he?

But she was different from her mother.

His mother would fuss over him, asking him all sorts of questions.

She only cares about herself and is even afraid that I will take her things.

He couldn't figure out what this feeling was, but he didn't dislike it.

I even feel it's much better than being alone.

……

She didn't know if the Tenth Prince ate well or not, but she certainly ate to her heart's content, devouring half the food on the table.

When she finished eating and put down her chopsticks, the tenth prince also slowly put down his chopsticks as well.

I glanced at him as he elegantly wiped his mouth; he must be done. I asked...

"When will Xiao'er be allowed to enroll in the Imperial Academy?"

"Just go directly on January 20th."

"That's wonderful," Li Shuchen grinned broadly as she stood up. "Since the Tenth Prince has finished his meal, I'll take my leave now."

"Not urgent"

Li Shuchen: ?

What else can happen?

"We agreed that a meal would be exchanged for a place at the Imperial Academy. The meal is ready, and the Tenth Prince has already used it all. The deal is done. You can't ask me to do anything else unless the Tenth Prince offers something else in return."

Li Shuchen's face was tense and extremely cold; even her tone of voice carried the chill of winter.

At this moment, a servant entered from outside, carrying a tray, and came to Li Shuchen.

"Please, Miss Li."

Li Shuchen impatiently lifted a corner of the red cloth, revealing a bright yellow object inside—the very thing she had longed for day and night.

Two ten-tael gold ingots appeared before my eyes.

Rounded, pleasing, charming

She tried to suppress the smile on her lips, but couldn't, so she simply tilted her head back and smiled.

"What does this mean?"

"A reward," the tenth prince said, then added, "The taste is acceptable."

Oh, she understood. It was because she had prepared such a delicious meal that pleased him.

After all, he ate a whole plate of dumplings, half of the fish was in his stomach, and the fresh fruit dessert I made for him was completely devoured.

"Thank you for the reward, Tenth Prince."

After speaking, she took out a small red envelope from her crossbody bag and handed it to the Tenth Prince. It was New Year's money she had prepared for the children of Aiyoutang, containing one hundred copper coins. Anyway, she had prepared plenty, so one more wouldn't make a difference.

"Happy New Year, Tenth Prince"

The tenth prince stared silently at the red envelope, and just as Li Shuchen was about to take it back, he reached out and took it.

"Happy New Year"

"Alright, now I can leave. I still need to go to the orphanage, and the children will worry if I go too late."

If you have any conscience, let me go right now.

"Can"

Having received the answer, Li Shuchen happily left the mansion. He immediately saw Li Lingxiao standing to the side, pacing back and forth while massaging his hands.

"Xiao'er, didn't I tell you to wait for me at the orphanage?"

"Sister, you're finally out. The Tenth Prince didn't do anything to you, did he?"

Li Lingxiao circled around Li Shuchen, looking her up, down, left, and right, and was relieved to find her unharmed.

"I'm perfectly fine. Let's hurry to the orphanage, or the other children will start making a fuss."

"it is good"

Aiyoutang

As soon as Li Shuchen entered, he was surrounded by children.

Happy New Year, Sister Li!

May Sister Li have a prosperous New Year!

"Sister Li is getting more and more beautiful."

"Alright, alright, Happy New Year everyone! Here's some lucky money for you, one for each of you."

After giving the money to the children, he took out a small red envelope and handed it to Li Lingxiao.

"Here's your New Year's money."

Li Lingxiao happily accepted it, muttering, "Why did my older sister prepare this for me? I'm so old already!"

As he spoke, he took out a red envelope from his pocket and gave it to Li Shuchen.

"Sister, this is money Xiao'er prepared for you to ward off evil spirits. May you be free from disasters, illnesses, and worries."

"You brat, your older sister will accept it."

Li Shuchen put the red envelope into his crossbody bag, and when he looked up, he saw a familiar blue figure.

"Bingli, you're here too."

Happy New Year, Sister Ye!

Ye Bingli nodded: "I had nothing to do at home, so I came to see the children."

After giving out New Year's money, Ye Bingli followed Li Shuchen to the inner room to warm up.

An old woman carrying a tray passed by with a smile on her face.

"Does Madam have some good news?"

"Replying to Miss Ye, it's the Tenth Prince who has come to donate," the nanny said mysteriously, placing the tray on the table.

"I don't know what possessed the tenth prince today, he donated a whole hundred taels of gold! He's always been the one robbing others, he's never given money to anyone before."

Li Lingxiao: "The Tenth Prince's donation was indeed unexpected."

"Maybe he's done too many bad things and his conscience has finally bothered him," Li Shuchen muttered, popping a tangerine into his mouth.

At this moment, the tenth prince sat in the carriage, lost in thought as he looked at the red envelopes in the hands of the children at the Aiyoutang.

The red envelope was exactly the same as his, even down to the little yellow flowers embroidered on it.

What does she mean by that...?

Li Shuchen had no idea what the Tenth Prince was thinking. If she did know...

She would only say: "You're overthinking it. It's the New Year, just a small gift to wish you good luck."

……

"Brother Cheng, let's go in and take a look. Maybe Miss Li is inside too."

Ruan Jingshang was still looking out the door, but he only saw the children and not the person he was supposed to meet.

"Men are not allowed to enter without the orphanage's permission; that's the rule," Cheng Zhi'an said after signing his name and handing over the donation.

"Is it necessary to obtain Princess Changning's permission to enter?"

Ruan Jingshang asked while signing his name

"No, that's not it," the old woman in charge of collecting money said. "Miss Li, Princess Gu, General Liang, and Miss Ye all have permission, so it's fine. Since Miss Li and Miss Ye are here, can Scholar Cheng use this old servant to inform them?"

"Yes, yes, thank you, Granny. You've worked so hard."

Before Cheng Zhian could speak, Ruan Jingshang preemptively spoke.

The two arrived at the warm pavilion without incident.

Happy New Year, Miss Li, Miss Ye, and Brother Li!

"Happy New Year, Brother Cheng and Brother Ruan!"

"Happy New Year"

After exchanging greetings, Ruan Jingshang began to scan the room.

Li Shuchen could tell who he wanted to see just by looking at him. He was probably getting anxious because he couldn't see the person he liked during the New Year.

"Don't bother looking, Changning isn't here. She hasn't been here all day. She's attending a family banquet at the palace and doesn't have time to come."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Jingshang's eyes lost their light, and he sat on the stool, lost in thought.

On the other hand, Cheng Zhian seemed quite happy.

She sat down next to Li Shuchen and peeled an orange for her.

"I have received the bracelet. It is the most beloved gift I have ever received in my life. Thank you, Shuchen."

Li Lingxiao glanced at his wrist; a string of white jade and pearl beads stood out conspicuously against the sleeve of his bamboo-leaf green robe.

I suddenly felt a little sour.

"Brother Cheng, is this bracelet on your wrist a gift from my elder sister?"

"exactly"

Ye Bingli saw it too, reached out her hand, and lightly said...

"White jade suits Young Master Cheng very well."

Cheng Zhian didn't miss Ye Bingli's deliberate gesture of showing off the sapphire and pearl bracelet on her wrist, and responded with a smile.

"The sapphire on Miss Ye's bracelet is dazzling, just as eye-catching as Miss Ye herself."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Jingshang turned his head slowly, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the two bracelets.

Everyone has it

He was the only one who didn't.

He doesn't even have a bracelet, and on top of that, he can't see his sweetheart. Look at Brother Cheng, how happy he is!

He even peeled oranges willingly.

At home, he never lifts a finger, only touches ink and brush.

However, if he could see Princess Changning, he would be willing to peel walnuts for her by hand.

But I can't see it...