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Xiao Jizi’s throat tightened, and he could feel the genuine affection the Young Master had for them.

Originally, his decision to stay at Canglan Court was self-serving.

At Star Palace, he was under the pressure of Steward Zhang, and further down was Zhang Sancai, who was Steward Zhang’s godson.

He had to be extremely careful and meticulous in his work, even outperforming Zhang Sancai, yet it was still very difficult for him to get ahead.

At Canglan Court, he noticed the different way His Majesty treated the Young Master, so he opted for a different path, hoping it could lead to better prospects.

After spending some time together, his selfish motives had faded considerably. He truly liked Canglan Court, the people, and everything about it.

He felt it was unfair to the Young Master, such a good person, who was only somewhat too straightforward. How could His Majesty...

Didn’t His Majesty see all the things the Young Master did for him?

He concocted various delicacies daily to nourish His Majesty, and the clothes His Majesty left after staying the night were also personally laundered and starched by the Young Master.

It could be said that at Canglan Court, the Young Master personally attended to His Majesty’s needs, great and small, for fear that His Majesty might feel the slightest discomfort.

Which of the Palace Concubines in the harem could match the Young Master in this respect?

On ordinary days, the Concubines in the harem would clamor about even the smallest things they did. Whether big or small, His Majesty always had rewards for them. Yet, when it came to the Young Master, there was nothing.

Having been there for so many days, he had never seen the Young Master receive any benefits from His Majesty.

Although favored, his status had not risen, nor had he received any rewards; hardly anyone in the harem even knew of the Young Master’s favoritism, and even servants from other palaces dared to look down on him.

It was also the Young Master’s sincerity, never asking for anything.

Thinking of this, Xiao Jizi’s eyes became somewhat moist.

"Hmm? What’s wrong with all of you? I told you only to prevent you from overthinking; there’s nothing to worry about. From now on, we just have to live our lives well," Lian Hua said, seeing the atmosphere turn gloomy, trying to cheer everyone up.

After speaking, she turned to Xiao Jizi and said, "Xiao Jizi, you were originally assigned here to arrange for the provisions. Now that your work is done, can you go back to Star Palace?"

She was reluctant to let him go, but she feared he had no future with her. Xiao Jizi was clever and sensible, destined to accomplish great things. It was beneath him to stay with her.

Xiao Jizi was startled. Was the Young Master trying to send him away? In a panic, he knelt on the ground, kowtowing, "Young Master, I am already yours. Please don’t send me away."

Lian Hua was also startled, wondering why he would prostrate himself so formally. She hurriedly tried to pull him up, saying, "I am not trying to drive you away; it’s just that staying in Canglan Court might hold you back. You might have a better life if you return to Star Palace."

Xiao Jizi refused to get up, speaking with emotion, "I will not go anywhere else. I will stay in Canglan Court. If the Young Master doesn’t want me, then I will kneel until you agree to keep me."

As he spoke, he kowtowed again, his eyes reddening as he said, "These few months at Canglan Court have been the best days I’ve had since I entered the palace.

I lost my family when I was able to remember, and at the age of seven, I entered the palace, walking on thin ice every day.

Only under the Young Master have I finally enjoyed a few good days.

I beg the Young Master, don’t drive me away. "

Xiao Jizi had grown stronger over the preceding days, so Lian Hua, try as she might, could not pull him up. She urgently called for Xiao Qing to help her.

Xiao Qing shook her head with tears in her eyes, the first time she disobeyed the Young Master. She understood what Xiao Jizi felt. In this palace, they had no family; the Young Master treated them like relatives. How could they bear to leave?

Lian Hua became anxious and said, "But my monthly salary cannot support three people. If you follow me, we all have to endure hardships together."

Xiao Jizi was taken aback. Such straightforward words... they were a bit heart-wrenching...

Xiao Qing was also stunned, oh, she had forgotten about the silver.

All three of them froze on the spot, creating an awkward silence for a moment.

After a while, Lian Hua broke the stalemate and said calmly, "Xiao Jizi, do you know what kind of life Xiao Qing and I have lived through these past years? I’m glad you want to stay, but I, Young Master, am of no great ability and cannot afford to keep you both."

"You obviously have better prospects ahead, and we all have better choices. Why cling to the present? If one day I am capable, and you are still willing to follow me, I will find a way to have you return. Would you be willing?"

Xiao Jizi understood what Lian Hua meant and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Young Master, it’s not that your servant isn’t willing, but that I am already yours; I can’t and don’t want to return."

"What?" Weren’t you just assigned to manage the food supplies? That was what he’d instructed at the beginning, wasn’t it? Lian Hua was somewhat confused.

"Initially, without your knowledge, His Majesty personally issued a decree for your servant to follow you and serve you well in the future." Xiao Jizi’s voice wavered slightly, fortunately, since His Majesty had given the decree, Young Master couldn’t send him away.

He was intelligent and quick-witted. At first glance, what Young Master said seemed to mean that having him there would be a burden and they would suffer together, but more so, it was for his own future prospects, not wanting to trap him in Canglan Court.

The promise of letting him come back if Young Master became capable in the future was just a pretext.

She knew he wouldn’t leave without her saying so, perhaps Young Master herself had no confidence in the future.

Without His Majesty’s support in the palace, what difference would there be between the future and the present?

Caught off guard, Lian Hua pondered when this had happened, and why didn’t she know about it?

Why did he want Xiao Jizi to follow her?

Could it be that he had been taking care of many things behind her back that she was unaware of?

Thinking of His Majesty, Lian Hua’s eyes reddened. She held back her emotions and forced a smile at Xiao Jizi, "Then stay, but remember, you might not have enough to eat in the future, and I don’t want you to cry and whine about it."

Xiao Jizi laughed through his tears and kowtowed, patting his chest with loud thumps, "Young Master, rest assured, I have learned from Xiao Qing and have become quite skillful at growing melons and beans. Just you wait and see, I am sure to keep us fed."

Standing up, he looked at Lian Hua and Xiao Qing, a smile on his face smeared with tears and snot, making him look quite comical, a stark contrast to his usual demeanor.

Seeing Xiao Jizi’s appearance, Lian Hua was taken aback and after a while, she pointed at him and burst into laughter, "Xiao Jizi, your face is smeared with snot and the snot with mud. You look so dirty and so funny, haha..."

Xiao Qing, who had been feeling sad and anxious, now seeing that things were settled, finally relaxed. Upon seeing Xiao Jizi’s expression, she too could not help but chuckle.

Xiao Jizi hastily wiped his face with his sleeve. Seeing the dirt on it, he let out a mournful "Ah" and hurried off to wash his face.

He was usually so particular about cleanliness; he had never been this disheveled.

After laughing for a while, Lian Hua felt a warm sensation in her heart, and her mood lightened considerably.

With Xiao Qing and Xiao Jizi by her side, she felt much better.

After His Majesty left last night, her heart ached unbearably, as if she had lost something. She couldn’t understand what had happened, why had he just gone like that?