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It took her a good few seconds to recover, but Shen Chuwei bit into her mung bean ice cream to calm her nerves before giving the man a few more glances, making sure she wasn’t seeing things in broad daylight.

He was indeed a strikingly handsome man.

Filled with curiosity, she crossed the arch bridge, heading towards that slender silhouette.

The Chimera, wagging its tail excitedly at the sight of Chuwei, turned its head and howled twice in excitement, "Woof!"

Then, as usual, it bounded over, tail wagging eagerly.

While Shen Chuwei was eating her mung bean ice cream, when the Chimera approached, she just perfunctorily patted its massive head a couple of times, her gaze fixed on the man before her the entire time.

As the Chimera ran over, the man also turned around to look her way, allowing her to see his face.

The man’s features were delicately chiseled, his gaze haughty and tinged with a trace of indifference.

His clothes were a flowing blue and white, and he had a blue sash tied around his waist which, upon closer examination, was found to be in the shape of an orchid, the slender leaves enfolding his slim waist, suggesting not an ounce of fat on him.

Shen Chuwei had a thing for good looks, so she couldn’t help but give a handsome man a few extra glances.

She felt that the man before her was even more handsome than Xiao Jinyan, perhaps due to his matchless temperament.

Thinking back on recent days, several princes had come to see her—could it be that this man before her was also a prince?

"Are you a prince?"

As Shen Chuwei sized him up, Jun Moqing also examined her. His eyes and brows resembled those of when he was a child, not having changed with growing older; they were slightly curved, always holding a faint sparkle of mirth.

He glanced at the object in her hand. After so many years, she still went everywhere with food in hand.

"Why do you ask?"

Jun Moqing’s voice had the clear bubbling of a mountain stream and the crisp ring of pearls falling on a jade plate, maintaining the steadiness expected of a grown man.

Shen Chuwei found the man’s voice quite pleasant to the ear—his appearance, bearing, and voice were in perfect harmony, leaving no room for criticism.

She took a couple of steps forward, closing the gap between them, and immediately felt a cool, awe-inspiring presence as she drew near.

"Many princes have come to Wuyou Palace recently. If you aren’t a prince, could you be a court official? But then, officials can’t just wander into the inner courtyards of the palace."

Shen Chuwei looked up at the ethereally handsome man before her; she couldn’t help it, the man was as tall as Xiao Jinyan, perhaps even a centimeter or two taller—she’d be staring at his chin if she didn’t look up~

His overpowering aura was impossible to ignore; could he be the Regent of legends?

Did Nanzhao Country have a Regent?

If she had known she would enter the palace, she should have organized all the relationships of significant and influential figures, otherwise it’s difficult to guess their identities.

The ignored Chimera lifted its massive head and rubbed against Chuwei’s arm.

Jun Moqing looked down at the Chimera.

Feeling Jun Moqing’s cool gaze, the Chimera immediately shrank its neck and shifted behind Chuwei.

Watching the Chimera’s reaction—since it was the first time the creature had shown fear towards a stranger—Chuwei cast a doubtful look at the man before her, realizing he must be someone not to be trifiled with!

She was currently maintaining a reclusive state; if others found out, wouldn’t that lead to misunderstandings?

And then there was Ye Suhuan, lingering and refusing to leave. It seemed that when the princes came again tomorrow, she would have no excuse to refuse them.

Jun Moqing spoke with a clear, crisp voice, "Young lady, you should eat less cold foods."

No sooner had Shen Chuwei taken a bite of her mung bean ice cream than she was given an unsolicited lesson, leaving the cold dessert awkwardly lingering in her mouth, uncertain whether to swallow or spit it out.

It took her several seconds to react, realizing he was just a meddling stranger.

Swallowing the ice cream in her mouth, she said, "Do you know why my grandfather lived to ninety-nine?"

"..." Jun Moqing asked, "Have you ever met your grandfather? How do you know he lived to ninety-nine?"

At his words, Chuwei was taken aback; why wasn’t this man playing by the usual rules? Didn’t normal people simply ask, why?

Even the clever Xiao Jinyan would obediently ask, why?

Lifting her chin, she retorted, "Of course I’ve met him. Don’t I know my own grandfather?"

Thinking to herself, you don’t know whether I have a grandfather or not, if I make something up you’d be none the wiser~

"...All nonsense, someone bring me a cup of tea," responded Jun Moqing before stepping onto the arch bridge.

At his words, Shen Chuwei became completely petrified. This was her first encounter with someone who didn’t follow the normal patterns; presumptuous enough as it was, he even ordered her around?