The old scholar spoke with such coherence and order.

A crowd surrounded him, frequently emitting sighs.

Feng Yun’s carriage passed by the tea house at a leisurely pace, and at a glance, she noticed Ren Rude sitting inside, accompanied by Jin Ge.

The two of them held cups of green tea, looking quite contented.

She asked Xiaoman, "I remember that Mr. Ren’s tea house is near the city gate, right?"

Xiaoman nodded, "The servant girl also remembers, it is at the West City Gate."

It was truly remarkable for someone who owned a tea house to lounge in another’s establishment, listening to the old scholar’s chitchat with such leisure.

She turned to ask Alou.

"Does Mr. Ren have many classes at the village school?"

Alou, who accounted for Ren Rude’s stipend each month, was quite clear about his teaching hours.

He immediately said, "Mr. Ren comes to teach for half a day every two days, which is quite relaxed. The students all like his classes, saying he teaches with humor and is knowledgeable about everything."

A man who had traveled to many countries and was widely read could of course charm the children.

This Ren Rude was Xiao Cheng’s top aide.

Could he truly settle down and spend his twilight years in Huaxi Village?

Would Xiao Cheng actually allow such a talented individual to teach children in Huaxi Village?

Feng Yun inquired further about Ren Rude’s activities.

But Alou said he kept to the rules of Huaxi Village, never violating the village customs, treated his neighbors extremely kindly, and as a teacher of many children, he was highly respected.

If Feng Yun hadn’t known his background beforehand, she might not have seen through him at all.

Their intentions being unclear, Feng Yun had also decided to stand pat.

Let’s see who could outlast whom.

Feng Yun said no more.

But Yuan Shangyi suddenly asked a question.

"Madame, are we running short on food?"

When Feng Yun looked again at the Young Emperor, she noticed his expression had grown grave.

The six-year-old child, who had been raised in the depths of the palace, had never known where food came from or how precious it was.

Having been immersed in village life for a while now, he had come to understand many truths.

Feng Yun smiled, "Even Ayuan knows about this?"

Yuan Shangyi nodded.

Feng Yun said, "It seems that being too young to empathize with the commoners isn’t entirely good."

The child had become unhappy.

Feng Yun touched his head, "Don’t think too much; your subjects will handle it."

His subjects.

Yuan Shangyi thought of the Prince of Yonghuai with his expressionless, cold face.

Suddenly, he looked up at Feng Yun with eager eyes.

"Madame, did you and the Prince of Yonghuai have an argument?"

Feng Yun started to smile, "Why do you ask?"

Yuan Shangyi said, "Otherwise, why doesn’t the Prince of Yonghuai come back? Aren’t you husband and wife? Spouses should live together."

This was the unadorned view of a child.

He had not thought this way before.

But in Huaxi Village, that’s how husbands and wives lived.

He had specifically consulted the Female Historian to clarify the basic social norms...

From the mouth of the Female Historian, actually, there was nothing good said about Feng Yun, but in the end, she repeatedly criticized her wifely virtues, which made Yuan Shangyi rather unhappy.

Feng Yun was silent for a long time and did not speak.

Some things just couldn’t be explained to a child.

She could only respond seriously, "We’re different from ordinary couples. The King has many official duties and many things to do, and it’s the same for me; we are both too busy."

Yuan Shangyi asked, "Then don’t you miss each other?"

Feng Yun looked at him, hesitating a moment, "We do miss each other."

Yuan Shangyi suddenly placed his hand on the back of Feng Yun’s hand and earnestly said, "Madame, I am willing to return to the capital now. Please accompany me back to Xijing."

In the child’s sincere eyes, there was full of hope.

He didn’t want to return to the capital; he thought Feng Yun stayed in Andu and didn’t join the Prince of Yonghuai because of him. He also felt guilty for bringing those people from Yangxin Restaurant to speak ill of her behind her back.

Yuan Shangyi felt apologetic.

Looking at Yuan Shangyi like this, Feng Yun involuntarily thought of Queque from her past life, who ran up to her on a drizzly day holding an umbrella, telling her.

"Queque has grown up and wants to move to Zhaode Palace. Queque has seen it; Zhaode Palace is very big and beautiful..."

Which child would willingly leave their mother?

It was just the fear that his mother, in order to protect him, would be put in a difficult situation before his father. Back then, whenever Xiao Cheng visited Feng Yun’s palace and saw Xiao Qu unhappy, the child, sensitive by nature, felt unwanted. He sensed that he was a hindrance between his father and mother...

The heart of a child, pure and unsullied.

Of course, Feng Yun did not agree.

Queque was the same way, his clear eyes like the stars gazing at her, his soft little hand grasping hers, gently saying:

"Mother, please grant your child this wish. Just as young birds must eventually fly on their own, your son must become independent to grow big wings..."