Zu An was at a loss for words. He had never expected the two women to arrive one after another and offer him their secret stashes. He thought, Have I accomplished my dream of having a pride of lionesses providing for me? He felt uncomfortable even though this was something he had been looking forward to, so he reflexively turned down the money.2

“You need not be embarrassed. There’s no need for such courtesy between us. It’s a pity I've been uninterested in the outside world for many years due to my injury, or else I would have more than this,” Liu Ning said as she stuffed the banknotes into his clothes before looking at him with a gentle smile. 2

She felt as if her life had become much more colorful after meeting Zu An, like welcoming a second spring. Seeing that Zu An still wanted to turn her down, she put on a stern expression and said, “Based on my understanding of the crown princess, she must have sensed you were lacking money and offered you some. Are you rejecting me because I’m old?”0

“Of course not!” Zu An replied. How could he reject her after she had said such words? Somehow, he could hear a tiny voice in his head murmuring “Auntie, I don’t want to work anymore.” and “I was born with a weak constitution. The doctor...8