Zhao Jiaqi heard Helian Zhicheng also bring up the matter, and felt that she really needed to ask her daughter's opinion.
If she liked him, she should tell him clearly. If she didn't, she shouldn't keep him waiting. Regardless, this matter needed to have a conclusion.
"Husband, you can probe Jinli's attitude later. I'll ask Yumeng what she thinks. I'm afraid this girl doesn't understand Jinli's feelings for her and will foolishly think Jinli is just her brother."
Fan Zehao was a little shocked, "That's impossible. If you put it that way, our child sounds like an idiot."
"Not understanding romance, how is that like an idiot? Some people mature early, some mature late. Besides, our daughter grew up in the military camp and saw many boys. What if she thinks Jinli is just like those soldiers, a good buddy? Wouldn't that be..."
This would truly be a misunderstanding, and the misunderstanding would be huge.
Fan Zehao still felt this possibility was small, "If our child doesn't understand, Jinli isn't young either, does he not know?"
Zhao Jiaqi shrugged. She wasn't Jinli's stomach's worm, how would she know if Jinli had hinted or said sweet nothings, confessed his love, or anything like that?
Back in their bedroom, after washing up, Zhao Jiaqi handed him a new sachet she had made, a bit embarrassed, "For you!"
Fan Zehao stared at the sachet presented to him. His eyes immediately lit up. He took the small sachet and, as if holding a precious jewel, carefully rubbed the embroidery on it.
Although he couldn't tell if it was a goose, a duck, or a wild goose embroidered on it, it was made by his wife with her own hands.
"Wife, have you recovered your memory?"
Zhao Jiaqi didn't answer him directly, only frowned slightly, "If I hadn't recovered my memory, can't I give you something?"
"If you don't like it, then give it back to me!" Saying this, Zhao Jiaqi reached out to snatch back the sachet she had embroidered.
Fan Zehao, with a foolish smile, put the sachet inside his inner garment, close to his body. He raised an eyebrow and provocatively challenged Zhao Jiaqi, "If you want it, come and get it yourself!"
Seeing his smug look, it was as if she truly wouldn't dare to take it back.
If this were before she recovered her memory, she might have been too shy to take it. But now, it was different.
She chuckled twice, and before Fan Zehao could react, she directly reached out to snatch it. This time, Fan Zehao was astonished. He lost focus for a moment and turned the tables.
The couple闹腾ed for a while in the room. Outside, Xiao Mi, hearing the king and princess's cheerful laughter, was also envious.
Under the moonlight, the prince's mansion was filled with peace.
The next day, the couple got up early. They first paid their respects to their parents and then began receiving New Year's greetings from various people.
This custom had continued for many years. However, in the past, those who came to give them New Year's greetings were all familiar. Like the families who followed them here to open a restaurant. As more people arrived, the trend gradually changed.
On the first day of the new year, influential figures from the inner city would also visit in groups. Over time, the prince's mansion was constantly busy on the morning of the first day.
Finally, when noon arrived, allowing her a moment to catch her breath, Zhao Jiaqi called Yumeng into her room.
Mother and daughter talked, and also discussed the issue of Helian Jinli.
When Yumeng heard her mother ask about Helian Jinli, she paused. She replied sincerely, "He's very good!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at her clear eyes and, for a moment, didn't know how to ask. She paused and said, "What do you think is good about Helian Jinli?"
Yumeng was slightly stunned, "He practices sword and spear with me, and also practices martial arts with me. Sometimes he is very protective of me, and most of the time he can guide me through some problems. How to say it, I feel he is both a teacher and a friend!"
A teacher and a friend?
Her ominous premonition had indeed come true. Looking at her daughter, she hadn't thought in that direction at all!
"Besides that? Are there no other thoughts?"
Yumeng looked at her mother curiously, truly not understanding what her mother meant. She said, "Mother, what are you trying to say?"
Seeing her child ask so straightforwardly, she herself began to stammer. She no longer wanted to beat around the bush.
She asked her directly, "Your Aunt Duan Yao once asked me if she wanted to propose to you on Jinli's behalf. I refused back then. Now, after so much time interacting, I want to ask you, have you ever had other thoughts about Helian Jinli!"
"Ah?"
Yumeng was completely stunned. After a moment, her small face turned red, and she shyly lowered her head, "I... I haven't thought about this problem!"
Zhao Jiaqi put her arm around her shoulders and said gently, "It's okay if you haven't thought about it. It's not too late to think about it now. My words still stand, your father and I respect your decision!"
After speaking, Yumeng nodded, indicating that she would consider it carefully after returning.
"But daughter, mother wants to tell you, if you don't like someone, tell them frankly. Don't drag it out, and don't be ambiguous, understand?"
Yumeng understood this matter, "I know, Mother!"
"Whether I like Brother Helian or not, I will maintain a certain distance from him and will absolutely not let people gossip!"
These words greatly relieved Zhao Jiaqi.
At first, she wanted to advise her daughter to conduct herself properly, but she was afraid of hurting her child's self-esteem by saying too much. But if she didn't say anything, she was afraid they, being young and impulsive, might do something.
Now that the child understood on her own, it made her, as a mother, feel much more at ease.
"Good child!"
After the mother and daughter finished their talk, they went to the dining hall to eat. Coincidentally, they ran into Fan Zehao and Helian Jinli, and the four of them met.
After Yumeng called out "Father," she ran away with a red face. Helian Jinli also blushed slightly and called out "Auntie" to Zhao Jiaqi. After Zhao Jiaqi responded, he also ran away, heading in a direction that was clearly not towards the dining hall.
Fan Zehao walked over, took her hand, and went to the dining hall, "Young Jinli, he still lacks a bit of boldness!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked up at him, "What's good about kingly aura? Like this, being a normal person isn't good?"
Fan Zehao was speechless. After a long while, he said, "If he had boldness, he would have gone straight up and said, 'I like you, marry me as my wife.' Whether it's life or death, it's a matter of a single cut. Either die, or embrace the beauty. This child, however, after training with Yumeng for so long, hasn't said a single word to our daughter. Tell me, isn't this child lacking a brain?"
Zhao Jiaqi listened and asked, "Did you say this to Jinli?"
"I did!" he replied righteously.
Seeing his actions, Zhao Jiaqi wanted to choke him to death, "You're truly capable, actually giving advice to an outsider on how to pursue your own daughter. You're such a competent father!"
It was as if he didn't want his daughter to get married!