"Is Yingtong asleep?" Seeing Yang Mengchen coming out, Long Xuanmo gently asked.

Yang Mengchen nodded slightly and went up to the top floor with Long Xuanmo. "The poison in Yingtong's body has been mostly cured. From now on, we need to apply acupuncture once every half a month, and with careful recuperation for two or three years, she will recover fully. However, Yingtong has just started to speak. It's best for Prince to wait a few more days if you wish to ask her anything."

With a deep and somber expression, his black eyes as profound as the ocean, Long Xuanmo pressed his lips together, evidently lost in thought.

Yang Mengchen remained silent too, looking up at the vast and boundless night sky, a hint of icy coolness misting her brows.

The moonlight was clear as water, pouring silver frost everywhere. Wisps of clouds drifted by, with a few sparse stars twinkling. The cool night breeze, fragrant and pleasing, gently caressed them. Clad in the same black and purple attire, with similarly cold features, they looked like a pair of butterflies in perfect harmony, beautiful in their togetherness.

After a while, Long Xuanmo turned to gaze intently at Yang Mengchen. In the pale palm of his left hand was a brocade box. Upon opening it, inside was a Purple Jade Starflower Hairpin, its petals quietly blooming, with a wisteria tassel dangling from it. The carving was slightly rough, yet it radiated a purple glow, exceptionally charming.

"I don't know what Ah Jiu likes, so I prepared this purple jade hairpin as a birthday gift. I hope Ah Jiu won't find it disdainful." His face was as calm as ever, but only Long Xuanmo himself knew that his heart was filled with trepidation and nervousness.

Yang Mengchen frowned deeply, staring at the Purple Jade Starflower Hairpin without a word.

Starflower, its floral language speaks of eternal love and deep affection.

Wisteria signifies intoxicating love and lingering thoughts.

If one were to say Long Xuanmo didn't understand the implied meanings of the Starflower and Wisteria, she wouldn't believe it. So, what was Long Xuanmo trying to imply by gifting her this hairpin, and carving it himself?

Seeing Yang Mengchen neither accepting the hairpin nor speaking, Long Xuanmo's gaze darkened, "People at the border are very fond of this kind of flower. I've seen that even after this flower withers, its sepals still persist on the branches, its color never fading. That's why the locals call it the 'Never-wilting Flower' and consider it an auspicious talisman.

Since you don't like it, I'll just throw it away." As he spoke, he was about to throw it away along with the brocade box.

Growing up, this was the first time he had offered a girl a gift he had carved himself, and to think it was being rejected felt both defeating and bitter.

"Wait," Yang Mengchen reached out in time to stop Long Xuanmo and took the brocade box, putting it into her bag, "Thank you, Prince. I like this hairpin."

It was just a hairpin after all; she might as well keep it for Long Xuanmo, Yang Mengchen sighed inwardly.

A glint of light sped across Long Xuanmo's eyes, and his cold features softened into a tender smile, relieved at heart.

"The Emperor has already agreed to build the Martyr Temple in Anping County and has appointed Xiao Hongtao to be in charge. He has also sent Peng Rong and other craftsmen, along with five thousand soldiers, to assist Xiao Hongtao. However, the national treasury isn't abundant, so the expenses have to be raised by yourselves. But don't worry, Ah Jiu, I have two hundred thousand taels of silver here.

If that's not enough, I will find another way. Additionally, I've ordered people to start compiling the biographies of the soldiers who died for the country. Master Jingkong has also agreed to come as the abbot to recite scriptures for the fallen soldiers, praying for blessings for the soldiers at the border."

"I understand." Yang Mengchen had never expected the Emperor to contribute financially, "Do we also need to cover the expenses for those five thousand soldiers?"

"I will handle that; you needn't worry about it, Ah Jiu," Long Xuanmo assured her.

Yang Mengchen nodded her head.

The construction of the Martyr Temple wouldn't be completed overnight, and the expenses for five thousand soldiers were no small sum. With the County Office earning little from taxes, it couldn't bear the burden for long. She also had many other expenses and couldn't take on this cost alone. Now that Long Xuanmo had voluntarily taken responsibility, she naturally raised no objections.

After some thought, Yang Mengchen spoke clearly, "Prince, could you help me purchase a large quantity of various fish fry, mulberry seedlings, and lotus roots?"

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