Inside the Imperial Palace.

An Ning, accompanied by her Palace Attendants, left in front of Lin Zichan.

Lin Zichan lowered his gaze, silently feeling An Ning’s departure.

Departed.

Just left.

Lin Zichan stood by the lakeside without showing any emotion, seemingly petrified, remaining rigid there.

From morning till afternoon.

Finally, An Youyou and Anqi came to play by the lake.

An Youyou was very excited upon seeing Lin Zichan, disregarding the concerns of the Palace Attendants behind her. Her short legs quickly ran toward Lin Zichan and, ignoring decorum, threw herself into Lin Zichan’s embrace.

Lin Zichan held An Youyou.

Anqi frowned slightly behind them.

She quickly went to stop An Youyou, "Youyou, do not be discourteous."

An Youyou pouted, a little unhappy.

She just liked Lin the guard, and simply wanted to play with him.

"Listen." Anqi’s tone grew more serious.

She also knew that An Youyou’s current behavior could have consequences for Lin the guard; if any blame were assigned, An Youyou would not be punished, but it would be Lin the guard who would suffer.

An Youyou tended to obey Anqi.

Reluctantly, she withdrew from Lin Zichan’s embrace. Her big eyes sparkled with excitement, "Lin the guard, why are you here? Did you come specifically to see me?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Yes, Your Highness." Lin Zichan smiled slightly.

"Did you decide to stay by my side and not leave?"

The smile at Lin Zichan’s lips was a bit stiff.

An Youyou, frowning, swiftly deduced, "Lin the guard, are you here to bid me farewell?"

Lin Zichan nodded slightly.

"Didn’t you say there were still some days? Isn’t it too soon for you to leave? Why so sudden? We just returned from Wenzhou yesterday, you’re a liar!" An Youyou was very agitated.

Clearly unable to accept this fact.

Anqi also looked somewhat surprised at An Youyou’s little outburst.

Although Youyou usually was quite mischievous, she had never been seen acting so unreasonable.

What was it about this Lin guard that made Youyou and Luming feel differently about him?

During this time, when Youyou left the palace, she occasionally visited Luming and often heard Luming mention Lin Zichan. She had always been curious about this person.

Now seeing him, he seemed just like an ordinary person.

"I’m sorry." Lin Zichan apologized, "I broke my promise."

"Mmm..." An Youyou looked at Lin Zichan with grievance.

Lin Zichan pressed his lips tightly together.

No matter how many emotions filled his heart, he dared not show them in front of Youyou.

He could only choose silence, endless silence.

"Are you leaving soon?" An Youyou asked, unwilling to give up.

In fact, resigning takes at least a month or more.

But he didn’t want Youyou to hold onto too many hopes, so he nodded, "Yes, very soon."

"Does it mean I won’t ever see you again?"

"Yes."

An Youyou’s eyes reddened again. She said somewhat sadly, "Can you stay with me today?"

Lin Zichan hesitated briefly.

Originally, he planned to say goodbye to An Youyou and then leave, but seeing Youyou’s expectation, he couldn’t refuse.

"Okay."

"Then come catch butterflies with me." An Youyou pulled Lin Zichan’s hand, heading towards the flowers by the lake.

Anqi just watched their retreating figures.

Still not understanding why Youyou was so fond of Lin Zichan.

Yet Anqi decided to be indulgent and, seeing Youyou’s reluctance to part with Lin Zichan, didn’t keep reminding her to mind her manners. She even accompanied Youyou, and with Lin Zichan’s company, they played joyfully together.

Fu Xingyi had finished dealing with the court affairs and was strolling in the Imperial Palace to relax.

Hearing the sounds from afar, he looked over.

Duke Ping hurriedly and respectfully said, "It’s Princess Anqi and Princess Youyou."

Fu Xingyi nodded slightly.

"Would Your Majesty like to go over?"

"It’s fine, let them play well. If I go, they’ll feel restrained." Fu Xingyi said lightly.

Duke Ping was a bit taken aback.

Previously, the emperor liked spending time with the two princesses.

He didn’t know when it started, but the emperor had become lukewarm even towards the princesses, and the Crown Prince, too.

Fu Xingyi turned, prepared to walk away.

His footsteps suddenly paused.

His eyes slightly tightened.

Duke Ping naturally noticed the emperor’s gaze and hurriedly said, "It seems it’s Lin the guard accompanying the two princesses. This servant heard that both the Crown Prince and Princess Youyou quite admire Lin the guard, and have both requested to keep Lin the guard by their side. It appears Lin the guard is indeed extraordinary."