"We are a family, no need for thanks," Yang Mengchen winked playfully, "as long as you don't blame me for taking the initiative, I'm just grateful, Amitabha."

"You child!" Lady Xiao and Xiao Wanxue instantly turned from tears to laughter.

Turning away to discreetly wipe the tears from the corner of his eyes, Xiao Hongtao looked back at Yang Mengchen, who was joking and playing with his wife and daughter, feeling both moved and fortunate.

Chenchen clearly didn't trust them to be on their own.

Ever since he had met Chenchen, she had always been considerate and thoughtful for the Yang family. Having Chenchen as their intimate little cotton-padded jacket was a blessing they must have cultivated over several lifetimes.

As for the identities of those five individuals, he wouldn't ask more about it.

The next morning, after breakfast, the Yang family bid farewell to Xiao Hongtao and his family.

Perhaps knowing they were about to leave their sister, Xiao Huaichen and Xiao Yichen wailed inconsolably. It took Yang Mengchen a long while to convince them, repeatedly assuring that they would meet again soon.

Finally, Pingping and Anan calmed down, but they kept sobbing, looking at Yang Mengchen with eyes filled with grievance and lingering reluctance, which made her feel deeply sorrowful and distressed.

Standing at the door, watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Yang Mengchen's eyes welled with tears. Without Pingping and Anan, her heart suddenly felt empty and uncomfortable.

"After the new year, they will return," Long Xuanmo's low voice clearly carried a hint of sourness and jealousy.

Over the past month, those two little rascals had kept competing with him for Ah Jiu, and yet Ah Jiu was only focused on the two kids, completely ignoring him, which left him quite displeased.

Yang Mengchen withdrew her gaze to look at Long Xuanmo, "I'm worried about Uncle Xiao and his family. After the Prince returns to the capital, could you please look out for them more?"

"Okay." Even though his chest was rolling with jealousy, Long Xuanmo still nodded in agreement.

Thinking of the many times Long Xuanmo had helped her, once back at Mengchen Courtyard, Yang Mengchen took out pen and paper and wrote down the Nine-Nine Multiplication Table Rhyme and the Abacus Rhyme. She also noted down the method for making Xuan paper and colored paper, before handing them over to Long Xuanmo.

"Prince, these are the rhymes we summarized while learning arithmetic. They make learning much easier.

If the arithmetic books in our country all included these rhymes, I believe the arithmetic books from other countries would be pushed out; Moreover, the paper factory workers gradually figured out how to make a kind of paper that is tough and can be moistened, glossy but not slippery, white and dense, with a pure texture.

Most importantly, this paper is durable, resistant to aging, and does not fade easily. It is suitable for calligraphy and painting, recording archives, and so on. I call it 'Chu Paper.' Also, I have experimented with a few types of colored paper, and here's how they are made. Please take a look, Prince."

After taking the papers handed to him by Yang Mengchen, Long Xuanmo scrutinized them intently for a while. Putting down the paper, he suddenly grasped Yang Mengchen's hand tightly, looking deeply into her bright eyes like stars: "Ah Jiu is truly my lucky star!"

Whether it's the rhymes or the Chu paper and colored paper, once they are promoted, they would be great benefits to the state and the people. Just like what the old saying says, Dong Chu has Ah Jiu, which is a fortune for the nation and a blessing for the people!

After struggling a bit, unable to free herself from Long Xuanmo's tight grip, Yang Mengchen gave in and let him continue to hold her hand. However, she could not face his tender and passionate gaze directly, and so she averted her eyes slightly, her fair cheeks gradually blushing a rose-like pink.

Long Xuanmo's lips were slightly pursed in silence, gazing at Yang Mengchen for a long time. The soft and delicate touch of her hands stirred his feelings, but thanks to his strong self-control, his aloof expression did not reveal any signs of his inner turmoil.

Two days later, Long Xuanmo and the rest of his party bid farewell to the Luo family.

Old Lady Luo had originally intended to celebrate the New Year with the Yang family, but she and her daughter-in-law were now imperial consorts. According to tradition, they had to enter the palace for New Year's greetings, and hence they had to return to the capital.

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