Past events of many years ago

  Old Master Hou looked down at Xiao Congrong, who was quietly sleeping in his arms. His eyes showed a hint of pity. He slowly turned around and seriously scanned Wu Mingyuan before saying after a long time: "Third Prince... it's been many years since I last saw you, you've grown up! You have a majestic aura, like a jade tree swaying in the wind, a talent that stands out from the crowd... good... really good!"

  A mouthful of sarcasm made Wu Mingyuan inexplicably uneasy, somewhat regretful. He was about to leave, why bother with a war of words!

  This old marquis is highly respected in the Wu regime, even his own emperor has to show him courtesy and respect. Wouldn't humiliating him be asking for trouble?

  Although he thought so, Wu Mingyuan couldn't put down the royal pride that came with his birth, pretending not to understand the sarcasm in Old Master Hou's words, and smiled faintly: "Master Hou is overpraising me!"

  The old master smiled, his eyes gazing through him into the distant night sky. His eyebrows furrowed as if recalling something, and he said softly: "Third prince, you've really changed a lot! I'm not very good at remembering things, and I've forgotten many matters, but I remember that when you were young, you were very adorable. That year, you were probably around ten years old, with a face as beautiful as jade, loved by all who saw you! At that time, Rongrong was only six years old, and she took a liking to you at first sight, often following behind you and calling out 'Yuan gege'!"

  Wu Mingyuan's face changed slightly, why did Old Master Hou say these things?

  "This foolish child, has been spoiled by Li De! She doesn't know how to let go of things she likes from a young age, and won't allow others to touch them. I remember that at the time, Your Highness was very quiet, and when playing with the other princes, you would often lose out. Once, Rong'er bumped into you, and at such a young age, she beat up Da Dianxia until his nose bled... although afterwards, the Emperor didn't pursue the matter, Li De locked her in the woodshed for three days without food... does Your Highness still remember this?"

  Old Master Hou didn't look at him, lowered his eyes to glance at Xiao Congrong in his arms, and smiled faintly: "At that time, she was also taken advantage of, her forehead was injured by the imperial guard, I remember leaving a scar... it's still there!"

  He held Xiao Congrong in one arm and gently brushed aside her hair with the other, revealing a long scar on her forehead.

  The old marquis's tone seemed to be both angry and helpless towards Xiao Congrong at the time, then he raised his eyes and glanced at Wu Mingyuan, shaking his head lightly: "The rumors of her being willful and arrogant must have spread after that incident! After all, who dares to hit a prince? Except for this ignorant and reckless girl, I reckon there's no one else!"

  Wu Mingyuan was taken aback, and Old Master Hou's words brought back distant memories, leaving him momentarily speechless.

  Old Master Hou just made a move, tore open some of the clothes wrapped around Xiao Congrong, bowed his head to discover, carefully wrapping her up again, and raised his head to say to Wu Mingyuan who was watching him: "The silly girl is afraid of the cold! This is the root of the disease left over from that year's hunting trip, does Your Highness still remember?"

  Wu Mingyuan was shocked this time, feeling that he understood Old Master Hou's meaning, his face turned pale, and he couldn't speak.

  The old marquis didn't look at his face, and said to himself: "That year, during the hunt, the emperor tested the riding and archery skills of several princes, letting them compete for prey. Rong'er somehow got mixed in with your entourage and also participated in the competition. When the prince's horse was hit by an arrow and lost control, it was Rong'er who rushed over to grab the reins. The prince was thrown off the horse, but Rong'er was dragged down the mountain cliff... In the middle of winter, when people found her, she was almost frozen stiff... She didn't die, but from then on, she had a lingering fear of cold, perhaps the prince has forgotten?"