Fang Chuning wanted to defend himself but couldn’t refute, "After losing my memory, I was suspicious of everyone. Perhaps the impression of arguing with my father before losing my memory was too deep, so when I saw him again, I wondered if he was deceiving me. Thus, I kept reminding myself not to trust anyone, only myself. Yet, I was constantly attracted to you. When we first met in Yangzhou, you kicked me into the lake. If it were someone else, would I let it go so easily?"

Xie Jue raised an eyebrow, "Lame excuse!"

"Alright, Ting Feng, spare me." Fang Chuning leaned over flatteringly and kissed his cheek, "Not again."

"You still want another time!"

"If there’s a next time, I’ll definitely fall in love with you at first sight."

"Ha!"

The two started their shameless newlywed life at the manor, as if returning to their honeymoon period in Beiman. Since returning from Beiman, they seldom had the chance to be together like this. Moreover, they’ve been separated more than together over the years, so these magical days are rare. Fang Chuning jokingly told Xie Jue that if he’d known it would be so nice, he would have resigned early to be supported by Xie Jue, living a comfortable life.

Xie Jue couldn’t help but smile, feeling sorry for the hardships Fang Chuning endured, and indulged him considerably. The consequence of spoiling Fang Chuning was that he would sleep until late in the morning every day. The manor’s caretaker gently advised him to restrain his indulgence, get more rest, and not rely on youth to pursue pleasure, lest he harm his body.

Xie Jue, "..."

They lived freely at the manor, without worries. Xie Jue also noticed his eyesight improving, the clearest difference being that he could see distinctly at night.

Since his eyes were poisoned, even after recovery, he had a residual ailment that made it hard to see at night. Proud and aloof, Xie Jue didn’t want to show weakness in front of anyone, so he never mentioned it. The Shadow Guards were vigilant after noticing this. Later, when the eye ailment relapsed, Xie Xun found out, and Fang Chuning didn’t know for years. Xie Jue hadn’t seen so clearly at night in many years; it was as if the persistent haze had been lifted, restoring his eyesight to before the poisoning. It was truly strange.

Fang Chuning thought Han Ziqi was sensible, as the medicine was effective, "You soak in the hot springs daily here at the manor, feeling relaxed and happy, so naturally the ailment healed."

"Perhaps." Xie Jue had doubts but didn’t think too much, perhaps the lingering poison in his body was finally completely purged.

At the time, the doctor who treated his eyes suggested he recuperate in the warm Jiangnan and soak frequently in hot springs for effective detoxification. While in Ningzhou, he was too busy to take care of himself, and at night, Xie Xun kept watch over him to ensure he rested. Before ascending the throne, Xie Xun was always tense, and now relaxed, it perhaps benefits the eye ailment.

"Then we should stay at the manor longer and soak in the hot springs when we have time."

"Is that you enjoying too much to leave?"

Fang Chuning clasped his palm and smiled enchantingly, "Don’t you like such days?"

Days like these, free and easy, carefree and worry-free, who wouldn’t like them?

They stayed at the manor for seven or eight days, and Ruyi missed Xie Jue, so Mingzhu brought him to the manor to find Xie Jue, with Ying Yi and Ying Er escorting the two little masters over.

Ruyi expected his father to be alone at the manor, not realizing Uncle Fang was also there. Too young to understand why Uncle Fang was always sticking with his father, he just assumed good friends naturally stayed together every day and didn’t ask further. With the children there, the two naturally became more restrained. Fang Chuning was good at pleasing children, and when the mare at the manor gave birth, he took Mingzhu and Ruyi to watch. It was the first time for Ruyi and Mingzhu to see a mare give birth, full of excitement and anticipation, watching intently throughout. As the mare strained to give birth, Ruyi held his breath, nervously pointing at her, "She looks so tired, will she die?"

Fang Chuning laughed and said, "No, wait a little longer, she’ll be a mother soon."

This was her first foal and it was born quickly. Ruyi and Mingzhu sighed in relief once the foal was born, finding it fresh and curious. All the horses on the manor were warhorses. The children were too young to ride spirited horses now, only allowed to choose their own foals, and Ruyi instantly picked the newly born foal he had just watched, wanting this little foal, and Xie Jue naturally fulfilled his son’s wish.

Mingzhu actually wanted one too, thinking it meaningful, but didn’t compete with Ruyi, thinking she would wait for the next foal. Though the children at Prince Manor were taught according to aristocratic standards, it was not overly strict or old-fashioned. Xie Jue gave the children ample space and freedom, allowing them to retain their natural character.

Mingzhu was lively and passionate, polite and generous, but oblivious to feminine skills, preferring swords and combat. Xie Jue went along with her preferences. Ruyi was pampered, liked to cry, didn’t like riding or shooting, nor studying or reading, at the age of being mischievous, and Xie Jue didn’t confine him to spend hours in the study, but he also purposefully guided Ruyi in controlling his desires.

For example, Ruyi only wanted to play wildly at the manor, and Fang Chuning was a leader among children in his childhood. When the wild fruits in the mountains ripened, he could take Ruyi to pick fruit, fish, practice archery, and roam the hills.

Ruyi liked it too, but his tutor assigned homework, which he had to complete. Led by Fang Chuning to play wildly, a child too young couldn’t control his desires, inevitably being perfunctory with schoolwork. Xie Jue noticed the issue without telling Fang Chuning, but restricted Ruyi’s playtime, only allowing him to play for two hours a day, free to decide how to spend it. When exhausted from play, he had to obediently do his homework.

"Dad, two hours isn’t enough, how about four?"

Xie Jue laughed angrily, four hours meant playing all day.

"No way." Xie Jue patted his head.

"Dad, why do you always restrict Ruyi’s playtime? Ruyi is unhappy." Ruyi sulkily expressed his emotions straightforwardly, shocking Mingzhu who was surprised he dared to tell dad he wasn’t happy. Could it mean dad would comfort him? Her brother was so bold!!

She dared not!

When Ruyi was young, Xie Jue wouldn’t restrict him, thinking him too young to understand the reasoning, believing that a child’s love for play was natural. But as Ruyi grew older, he couldn’t spoil and indulge him excessively. To the aristocratic children, he already spoiled Ruyi very much.

"Wanting to play is your nature, dad can fulfill your needs, but you need to learn to control your desires."

"Don’t understand."

Xie Jue chuckled, "You’re hungry and want to be full, that’s a need, but insisting on eating peach blossom pastries is a desire. Once full, the need is satisfied and disappears. Desires are different; they only grow bigger. There’s an idiom, insatiable desires. If you want to play today, tomorrow you’ll want to play again. Such needs, once satisfied, only grow, so you must learn to control."