He had people watching the Ning Guogong residence, and once he learned she had left, he rushed over to find her. However, when he saw her, he was shy and quietly followed behind.
When the peaceful cart was about to hit her, his body moved instinctively, rushing over to save her without hesitation.
She had already been carved deeply into his being, impossible to erase.
The haze in Si Zhan’s heart cleared, and warmth spread across his cold jade-like face.
“Okay,” he said, giving Yuan Bi a meaningful glance as he turned. Yuan Bi understood, nodded, and disappeared.
As they walked around a corner, Si Zhan suddenly pointed at two children below the railing. “What are they doing?” he asked Ning Wanwan.
Ning Wanwan looked and saw the children whipping a spinning top. “They’re playing with a top,” she replied, surprised to realize that Si Zhan had never played with one.
It made sense, as he was born and raised in the imperial palace, never experiencing the toys of ordinary children. Raised by the former emperor after his mother, Concubine Shu, died early, he had always been protected due to his weak health and had never encountered such folk toys.
After the former emperor’s death, Si Zhan was granted a residence outside the palace but lived cautiously, making his childhood a series of tall palace walls and long periods of illness.
Ning Wanwan couldn’t help but feel sympathy and naturally grabbed Si Zhan’s hand, saying, “Come with me.”
Si Zhan stiffened, staring blankly at her small hand holding his as she led him into the corridor inside the third gate.
Soon, they found a toy shop. Ning Wanwan released his hand, walked forward, and picked up a whip and top from the counter.
“This is how you play with a top,” she demonstrated, wrapping the whip around the top, placing it on the ground, and pulling hard. The top began spinning. “Try it, Your Highness!” she encouraged.
Si Zhan walked over, took the whip, and swung it. He missed the first time, and on the second swing, sent the top rolling away. Fu Yi quickly retrieved it and handed it back to Ning Wanwan.
