Song Xiwei did not enter the bedchamber. She had promised to avoid Aoqian, and she was determined to keep her word.

She decided to go find Xiaoguozi to kill some time.

The Hundred Herbs Garden remains the same as before.

Smelling the familiar scent of grass and trees, Song Xiwei felt very comfortable.

I didn't see any small fruits, but I did see a person sitting by the medicinal herb field.

The man's figure was hidden in the night, but Song Xiwei recognized him at a glance—it was Ao Qian.

Why is he standing here in a daze so late at night?

Song Xi thought to herself, "Oh no, haven't we just run right into this?"

It was something I had tried so hard to avoid.

If she bumps into him now, she'll definitely be asked where she went today and why she left a note and disappeared.

I'll definitely get asked about it.

She felt that now was not the time to confront Aoqian.

Let's leave quickly before Ao Qian notices us.

As soon as I turned around, I bumped right into Xiao Guozi.

Xiao Guozi was carrying a tray of various dried herbs. When she bumped into Song Xiwei, she lost her grip on the tray and almost tipped it over.

Song Xiwei reacted quickly and helped her steady herself.

Because of that noise, it was hard not to attract the attention of the person by the herb field.

Song Xiwei could already feel that familiar gaze falling on her.

Her scalp tingled; she felt like her blood was about to freeze from being stared at.

"You've come to see His Majesty, haven't you, Envoy Song? You've finally arrived. His Majesty has been sitting here looking gloomy for a long time," Xiao Guozi said to Song Xiwei in a low voice.

Song Xi shook her head slightly, wanting to say that she hadn't come to see Aoqian, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Aoqian can hear me. If he hears me telling the truth, won't he overthink it?

"Did you and the Lord have a falling out? The Lord has been looking for you everywhere today, it was quite frightening..." Little Fruit peered towards the edge of the herb field, but saw that Aoqian didn't seem to want to come over.

Song Xiwei, however, had a very strange expression.

"Go and comfort the Emperor, he looks so pitiful, like he's been abandoned... I can't bear it. If the Emperor weren't so aloof, I would have gone over and hugged him already." Little Fruit likes Aoqian.

She had told Song Xiwei about her admiration for Aoqian, but she never intended to try to possess him.

Liking someone is a feeling, but whether you can get them depends on the actual situation.

Aoqian was destined to be someone she couldn't have, and she wouldn't waste her time or scheme in vain.

"Go ahead, why are you afraid of the Emperor too?" Little Fruit frowned and looked at her in confusion.

Seeing that Song Xiwei was silent and unresponsive.

Little Fruit said anxiously, "These are dried herbs I got for the Lord. Take them to him."

Song Xiwei finally reacted, "Why did he ask you for herbs?"

Little Fruit sighed, "So you do know how to care about the Emperor?"

"I'm asking you a question, don't change the subject." Song Xi frowned slightly.

She couldn't help but steal glances at Aoqian out of the corner of her eye.

Aoqian's figure was hidden in the night, exuding an indescribable coldness and loneliness, and seemed to also reveal some sadness.

Song Xiwei felt a pang of unease.

Despite her seemingly relaxed day of strolling around the private kitchen, she felt like she had lost her soul. She thought Aoqian would have an easier time, but why did he look so bad as well?

"These herbs are all for treating internal injuries. Does Your Majesty not even know if you have any internal injuries?" Xiao Guozi asked Song Xiwei in surprise.

Song Xiwei's face was very pale. She didn't say anything and simply took the tray.

Does Ao Qian have internal injuries?

He kept it a secret so well that she knew nothing about it.

I felt really bad.

A pang of sadness, mixed with a touch of anger.

When she carried the dried herbs to the edge of the herb field, she discovered that Aoqian was curled up in the darkness, his dark, bright eyes looking at her with resentment.

At this moment, she finally understood what Xiao Guozi meant when she said that the emperor felt abandoned and pitiful.

"..." Song Xiwei felt guilty and remorseful, wishing she could slap herself for what she had done that day. How could she have hurt him like that? How could she bear to see him so injured?