Shen Zhinan said, “I know Mother loves spicy food the most, enjoys going out for strolls and walks, and also likes reading storybooks. And also, Mother is exceptionally brave—she goes rock climbing, tree climbing, and dares to swing on really, really high swings!”
Upon hearing the last part, Ji Wanwan’s mouth twitched.
She had just died a tragic death from a failed bungee jump, so in the next eight years, she still couldn’t resist playing all sorts of extreme games…
But hearing the little one describe her preferences in such detail, she was almost certain this was her son, not someone else’s, and definitely not the original host’s.
How… how incredible!
Shen Zhinan asked with a smile, “Is Mother surprised to see Nan Nan?”
Ji Wanwan swallowed hard. “Does being scared count?”
Fortunately, she was a time traveler and could accept such things relatively quickly. If she were an ancient person, she’d probably be scared to death!
Shen Zhinan, however, was good-natured and smiled at her. “Nan Nan has finally fulfilled his wish to see Mother when she was young. But young Second Uncle looks so fierce—Nan Nan has never seen such a fierce Second Uncle. And Maternal Grandfather… I wonder if he loved fake crying when he was young too.”
The little one chattered on and on, seeming to adapt quickly to this new world, his voice filled with curiosity.
But Ji Wanwan suddenly thought of something and asked, “By the way, Nan Nan, what’s your father’s name?”
Since the little one came from the future, he must know who his father is. To have given birth to such a smart and handsome son, his father must be quite remarkable too.
Ji Wanwan, who had been single all her life, was extremely curious!
Shen Zhinan said, “Nan Nan’s father is Shen Huaiji.”
Ji Wanwan: “??”
What was he saying??
Even though Ji Wanwan had already prepared herself, hearing this answer felt even more shocking than learning her son had traveled from the future!
“Which Shen Huaiji?!”
The Shen Huaiji in her memory… wasn’t he the prodigy who topped the imperial examinations six times in a row, devised clever strategies to capture cities, and wielded immense power at a young age, comparable to Zhuge Liang or Gan Luo?
Shen Zhinan nodded. “The one who lives in the Shen residence on Sweetwater Street. Father became Prime Minister very early and has always lived there.”
Ji Wanwan reached out and touched Shen Zhinan’s forehead.
Shen Zhinan: “?”
Ji Wanwan was puzzled. “No fever either. What nonsense are you talking about in broad daylight?”
It’s important to know one’s place. The original host herself was foolish, and her father was only a minor fourth-rank official in the Court of Judicial Review. With her background, there was no way she could ever be a match for the Prime Minister.
And as a modern person, she certainly wouldn’t become someone’s concubine.
Shen Zhinan corrected her. “Mother, Nan Nan isn’t talking nonsense, and his head isn’t feverish.”
Ji Wanwan said “Oh,” then lovingly patted his little head. “Then it must be congenital. Your mother’s brain was damaged by a fever when she was little, and it’s probably been passed down to you. My apologies.”
Shen Zhinan: “…”
Sweetwater Street, Shen Residence.
In the dimly lit study, a tall, slender figure stood before the desk, his well-defined fingers casually toying with a gilded plaque in his hand.
The cold, youthful man was not old, yet his presence was imposing. His thin lips were pressed together like a blade, and when he looked up, his deep phoenix eyes carried an intense pressure.
Not long after, the voice of Shadow Guard Hei Feng came from outside the door. “Prime Minister, Qin Wang’s Death-Exemption Golden Medal has appeared in the capital.”
The cool and aloof young man lifted his gaze. A ray of light from outside the window streamed in, outlining his sharp jawline and adding a touch of chill to his demeanor.
Shen Huaiji tightened his grip on the golden token in his hand, his thin lips parting slightly as he asked, “In whose possession is it?”
Having been appointed Prime Minister for half a year, the entire capital was waiting for him to make a mistake. With Qin Wang as his formidable rival, although that man was currently stationed far away at the border, he still had to guard against any trouble Qin Wang might stir up in the capital.
Hei Feng replied, “It belongs to the fourth daughter of the Ji family, Ji Wanwan. However, the fourth young lady is famously known in the capital as a simpleton and has never had any interaction with Qin Wang. The golden token initially appeared in the hands of a young boy.”
“Oh? What kind of child was it?”
Hei Feng said, “The child was about five years old, dressed in luxurious clothing, unlike an ordinary person, yet he wasn’t the child of any official in the capital. We couldn’t trace his origins—it was as if he appeared out of thin air.”
There was one more thing he didn’t dare mention: the child bore a striking resemblance to his Prime Minister. But he knew his Prime Minister was an only child, so he couldn’t have a younger brother, let alone a son of that age.
“Investigate further.”
“Yes.”
After saying this, Hei Feng added, “Today, the fourth young lady of the Ji family injured the young master of the Rong family. Does the Prime Minister wish to pay a visit?”
Although Duke Rong and his wife did not have the best reputation in the capital, when the Prime Minister first took office and faced difficulties, Duke Rong had spoken up on his behalf. Their Prime Minister had always remembered this.
“Prepare the sedan.”
Ji Residence.
Seeing that she couldn’t get any more answers, Ji Wanwan went inside to look for something to eat. After running around for so long, she was already starving. She wondered if there were any delicious pastries in ancient times.
On the table, she spotted a plate of osmanthus cakes. She picked up the plate with one hand and stuffed a cake into her mouth with the other, then handed the entire plate to the little boy. “Here, my good son, have some.”
Shen Zhinan took the plate and picked up a piece of osmanthus cake. Just as he was about to put it in his mouth, he suddenly remembered something. He looked up and said, “The noblewomen of the capital love premium narcissus flowers the most, but only Mother likes roses, which aren’t very famous or highly regarded. To make Mother happy, Father specially planted an entire courtyard of roses for her.”
“Roses?” Ji Wanwan raised an eyebrow. This was indeed her favorite flower.
Although this flower wasn’t very popular in ancient times, in modern times, it was a must-have for confessions, especially favored by girls. During holidays like Valentine’s Day, roses were sold everywhere on the streets.
Unfortunately, as someone who had been single her whole life, she had never received a single bouquet before she died.
Her dream was to have a beautiful rose garden, where she could see vast stretches of fiery red roses every time she stepped outside. Just thinking about it made her feel refreshed and joyful.
However, the little boy said that in the future, her husband would plant an entire courtyard of roses for her. What kind of love-struck man would do something like that? What did it have to do with the cold and unfeeling young Prime Minister she had heard about?
Men who excelled in political maneuvering were mostly incurable chauvinists—authoritarian, controlling, and unlikely to spare time for romantic gestures. If they didn’t take multiple wives and concubines, it would already be a blessing. How could they possibly have time for moonlit moments with her?
A bungee-jumping girl who had seen through life shrugged indifferently.
Shen Zhinan persisted, unwilling to give up. “Mother also liked to lie under the grapevines to cool off. In the summer, there were many mosquitoes, so after court, Father would fan Mother. The servants in the mansion were all incredibly envious.”
As if listening to a story, Ji Wanwan blinked her eyes and stuffed another piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth, saying, “Good son, what you’re saying almost makes me fall for a fictional character. But honestly, aren’t you mixing things up?”