Who said the heir would die out? The concubine is pregnant again!

With a soft sigh, Yingzhu forced a smile and said, "When I first heard this news, I was indeed quite upset. But after thinking about it carefully, what good is having a title? If the Crown Prince isn't interested, he still won't go to see me."

Fortunately, the prince's novelty towards me hasn't worn off yet. You're still willing to come to my room. Although you sometimes misunderstand me and make me sad and disappointed, at least in front of outsiders, you still protect me.

For this alone, I'm already very content. One shouldn't be too greedy, wanting everything.

She actually thought that way? That was beyond Liang Yunqian's expectations.

"But I promised to hold a banquet for you to take a concubine, and I can't go back on my word."

"I know you value your promises, and I won't take those rumors to heart. Let it be after the New Year! I believe in you; you will definitely keep your promise!"

Yingzhu looked at him with bright eyes and a smile on her lips. This feeling of being completely trusted felt very unfamiliar to Liang Yunqian.

The people in the Prince's mansion were scheming against each other, and everyone harbored their own selfish motives. As a result, Liang Yunqian could not fully trust anyone and always maintained a degree of wariness and suspicion towards everyone.

Yingzhu was the same; even though he gradually began to understand her and discover her uniqueness, he still held back.

But how could she trust him so much? Her assessment of him wasn't pleasant to hear, but it was very true.

This invaluable trust made Liang Yunqian feel a little guilty. He had been questioning Yingzhu's intentions when he entered the room, but now it seemed that he had been overthinking things.

Even if you trust me, I shouldn't let you get caught up in other people's gossip. Putting the big picture first isn't always a good thing; those who are too considerate often have to compromise themselves.

But you said I'm your man, so I should protect my woman! Since you're thinking of me and unwilling to fight for her, I can't give you a banquet to celebrate taking a concubine, but at least I should give you a decree to do so and shut them up.

This is why Yingzhu deliberately instructed Qingfeng to say those words when Liang Yunqian came over.

She can do without a concubine-taking banquet, but she must have a concubine-taking certificate; that is the most reliable guarantee!

But she couldn't agree immediately; she had to ask another question.

"But it's the end of the year, and all departments are very busy. The process for obtaining a concubine is complicated, so it might be difficult to handle."

"With me in charge, it will be taken care of. You can rest assured."

Men care about their reputation. The postponement of the concubine-taking banquet was a blow to Liang Yunqian's dignity. He should try to make amends elsewhere, otherwise his words will lose their authority.

Yingzhu believed he would take it seriously, so she smiled.

"I trust you to handle things."

After finishing their business, Yingzhu asked someone to prepare dinner.

The dinner was originally four dishes and one soup, but if Liang Yunqian was here, the meal would be changed to eight dishes and one soup.

Tonight's dish is sweet potato and corn porridge. As soon as Yingzhu saw this porridge, she thought of her mother.

"My mother often makes this porridge for me. It's especially delicious with a spoonful of sugar."

Yingzhu scooped a spoonful of sugar from the porcelain jar. "Do you want some?"

Liang Yunqian shook his head. "I don't like sweets."

So Yingzhu put it in her own bowl, dissolved the sugar, and then scooped a spoonful into her mouth.

The sweet taste and creamy texture of the sweet potato were incredibly satisfying. She couldn't help but squint her eyes and smile happily in praise.

"It's so delicious! It tastes just like home!"

She seems easily satisfied; a bowl of porridge can make her so happy.

Curiosity prompted Liang Yunqian to pick up a spoon and scoop a spoonful of sweetened cornmeal from her bowl.

Yingzhu tilted her head, observing his reaction. "Isn't it sweet and delicious?"

It's sweet and soft, with the aroma of corn and the sweetness of sugar, but not cloying.

"It is indeed sweet, but not as sweet as your words."

Yingzhu was stunned for a moment, then blushed. "Qingfeng is still here! Don't talk nonsense."

Qingfeng immediately denied it, "This servant was setting out the dishes and didn't hear anything."

Whether it was his imagination or he was infected by Shen Yingzhu's smile, Liang Yunqian actually felt inexplicably comfortable after drinking a sip of sweet porridge.

He took a spoon and scooped some sugar into the bowl.

Qingfeng was surprised that the Crown Prince had actually changed his taste and was now willing to add sugar to his porridge!

Sugar might be ordinary to him, but it meant something different to Yingzhu.

"Sugar was very expensive. Life was tough when I was a child, and we couldn't afford it on ordinary days. My family would only buy it during holidays. We would be very happy to be able to eat a little bit of sugar."

Ordinary people were reluctant to eat meat, which was one thing, but even sugar was a precious commodity?

She recounted her childhood anecdotes, and Liang Yunqian listened intently, unconsciously imagining the days she spent in her youth through her narration.

When she talks about her family, her eyes sparkle, and she can't hide her joy.

From her words, he could truly feel that even though she was going through a tough time, she was optimistic and open-minded, and did not wallow in self-pity. Instead, she was full of hope for the future.

The childhood anecdotes she recounted, such as catching and roasting cicadas, were things Liang Yunqian had never experienced.

"You can eat cicadas? They're so annoying."

"You can't eat cicadas that make noise. You have to catch the ones that don't make noise and have shells. You can roast them directly, or you can put a bowl on the ground and leave it overnight. The next day, it will molt and turn into a white-bearded old man."

These white-bearded old cicadas are the freshest; they're even more fragrant when roasted. And the cicada shells they shed can be collected and sold to pharmacies!

Yingzhu talked as she ate, and she talked more than usual, but he didn't find her noisy at all. On the contrary, he found what she said very interesting.

After the meal, Qingfeng was supposed to prepare hot water, but she didn't move. Liang Yunqian raised an eyebrow.

"You silly girl, you're usually so perceptive, why are you just standing there like a fool today? Go and prepare some water!"

Qingfeng looked at the young master with difficulty, "Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but why don't you go back to Tingsong Garden? If you stay here any longer, Aunt Shen will get scolded again."

Liang Yunqian's dark eyes shifted slightly as he looked at Shen Yingzhu.

"Who's gossiping again? The Princess? Or the Crown Princess?"

"Her Highness the Princess cares most about having offspring. She was worried that you were young and impetuous and didn't know how to control yourself, so she gave you a few words of advice. She meant no harm."

Yingzhu spoke lightly, as if she hadn't suffered any grievances, but Qingfeng didn't think so. Yingzhu had likely been reprimanded by Princess Rui again.

Instead of telling the truth, she acted as if nothing was wrong.

"Are you pretending to be indifferent so as not to put me in a difficult position?"

Yingzhu looked up in surprise, then suddenly laughed. "In the past, when similar things happened, you would suspect that I had been bribed by the Princess. Now you've actually changed your mind?"

Only after she reminded him did Liang Yunqian realize that his opinion of her had changed without him even noticing.

He no longer suspected that she was a spy planted by Princess Rui; instead, he believed that she had her reasons and was thinking of him.

His wariness of Shen Yingzhu seemed to be gradually fading. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? Liang Yunqian didn't know.

But seeing her bright eyes and upturned eyebrows, he felt that what he had done was right.

"Because I've discovered that you're only a bully at home, but a coward outside. You only argue with me, but you're a pushover and obey everyone else."

Feeling awkwardly touched, Shen Yingzhu smiled and said, "Because I know that the princess doesn't reason, she only cares about rules and interests, but you are different."

"Oh?" Liang Yunqian raised an eyebrow in surprise. "How is it different?"

"Although you have a bit of a temper and sometimes say things that are hard to hear, your words can be quite venomous. But once you calm down, you can be reasonable and put yourself in other people's shoes."

That's why I try my best to fight for you. This isn't about being a bully at home; it's about trust and reliance on you. I subconsciously believe we're in the same boat, that you won't betray me, won't harm me, right?

Shen Yingzhu spoke from the bottom of her heart, and every word struck him precisely in his heart.

She always said he was unpredictable, and he thought she hated him, but he never expected that she would understand him at times.

Feeling a warmth in his heart, Liang Yunqian suddenly smiled, "Is it something to be proud of to be relied upon by you? You only cause me trouble."

"That's because the people in your Prince Rui's mansion are cunning and always love to stir up trouble. It's hard for me to have any peace and quiet."

That's the truth, Liang Yunqian can't deny.

"You don't need to take the princess's words to heart. If she comes to you again, just tell her to talk to me. Where I stay is none of her business!"

"You make it sound so easy. If I were to say that, the princess would accuse me of being arrogant because of her favor and of not advising you."

Liang Yunqian had already compromised on the matter of the concubine-taking banquet; he could not back down on anything else.

"I'll handle it, don't worry."

"I'm curious, what will you say to the Princess?"

Meeting Shen Yingzhu's bright, doe-like eyes, Liang Yunqian deliberately tempted her, "Want to know? Then let's go inside and talk in detail."

"..." Yingzhu knew he had ulterior motives. "Suddenly, I don't want to know anymore."

Liang Yunqian was determined to stay overnight, and when Qingfeng saw how resolute the young master's attitude was, she immediately went to prepare water.

After washing up and going to bed, Liang Yunqian remembered something and discussed it with her.

"If you don't want to go to the welcome banquet, I can help you find an excuse."

"No, I have to go. Consort Li warned me today that I must appear, otherwise she will have a problem with it and throw a tantrum."

Liang Yunqian scoffed disdainfully, "I don't even care about the Princess Consort Rui, let alone Consort Li?"

"If I don't go, who knows what she'll say about me. Oh well, we're both in the Prince Rui's residence, we'll run into each other sooner or later. I have a clear conscience and don't want to give others something to gossip about."

Yingzhu looked calm, so Liang Yunqian stopped trying to persuade her. She was right; she would meet Song Xingzhou sooner or later.

He secretly wanted to see if she would remain as nonchalant as she was now when she saw Song Xingzhou again.