Before the rain intensified, Su Tiyue returned to Tingyu Tower.

It was already very late. She changed into a clean and tidy nightgown, but did not lie down.

She simply sat quietly on the edge of the bed, her clear eyes fixed on the small package on the table not far away.

After staring at it for a long time, Su Tiyue finally stood up, walked to the table, and carefully unwrapped the white paper on the outside.

What came into view was a small pile of white powder that had been ground very finely.

With her eyes lowered, she gently dabbed a little on the pad of her index finger and repeatedly kneaded it between her thumb and forefinger...

Having been by Xiao Heye's side for so long, Su Tiyue knew his temperament very well; he was extremely vengeful and held grudges.

Those who wanted to kill Xiao Heye, didn't Xiao Heye also want to kill them?

In the end, those people will not have a good ending.

Thinking of this, Su Tiyue couldn't help but gasp.

Although she was a little scared, Su Tiyue sighed and carefully put away the packet of powder after thinking of her older brother who was far away in the southern border region.

Lying back in bed, Su Tiyue tossed and turned, unable to sleep, until dawn broke before she finally drifted off to sleep.

When she woke up again, it was already past noon.

Earlier, Liu Wan had come upstairs to check on her twice, but seeing that she was sleeping soundly, she couldn't bear to wake her.

Su Tiyue had just woken up, and Liu Wan brought her lunch to fill her stomach. After eating, Su Tiyue stood by the window, staring blankly at the opposite pavilion, not saying a word for a long time.

"Your Highness, are you and Master Xiao having a disagreement?" Liu Wan found a peach-pink double-breasted ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) in the closet, and then tiptoed to find a light blue shawl to match it and helped her change.

Su Tiyue shook her head and said, "No."

"Does Your Highness have something on your mind?" Liu Wan asked softly.

Having grown up alongside her, Su Tiyue could never hide anything from Liu Wan.

But Su Tiyue dared not let Xiao Heye know about this, let alone Liu Wan. "It's not really a worry, I'm just a little homesick." When Su Tiyue lied, she always liked to lower her head and avoid looking at others: "I miss my eldest and second brothers, and I also miss my father and mother..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Wan comforted her, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. I heard that His Majesty's decree will be issued in the next few days, and then Your Highness will be able to leave the palace..."

"real?"

"I heard that's how it is." Liu Wan didn't go out much in the palace, so she heard most of these things from Qing Wu.

Su Tiyue smiled slightly. Although the matter was not yet settled, having hope in her heart was much better than nothing.

...

After she finished washing and dressing, she lingered in the room for a while before finally heading towards Yelan Pavilion.

I ran into Li Xun as soon as I arrived at the door.

She usually saw Xiao Heye and Li Xun together, but today she only saw Li Xun. She asked curiously, "Eunuch Li, isn't Master Xiao here?"

Upon seeing Su Tiyue, Li Xun bowed and then slowly said, "Your Majesty, after returning from the morning court session today, the master has been reading in the study in the west wing. You can find him there."

"Oh...I see." Su Tiyue then instructed, "Eunuch Li, prepare more of the dishes that the Grand Master likes to eat today...and also prepare some fruit wine."

Hearing her say that, Li Xun simply lowered his head and replied, "Yes."

Then he left.

Upon entering the inner courtyard, before even reaching the west wing, Su Tiyue spotted a familiar figure in the distance.

Jiang Lisu, who always dressed as a man, was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit and had her long black hair tied up high.

Judging from the looks of it, they just came out of the west wing...

It's been quite a while since I last saw the Jiang siblings at Qiushui Residence. I never expected... that they would actually enter the palace?

"Miss Jiang!" Su Tiyue waved excitedly at her, her face beaming with a radiant smile.

No matter what, the Jiang siblings saved her and the Su family. Su Tiyue always regarded them as her benefactors.

When Jiang Lisu saw her, a faint warmth slowly spread across her cold expression.

As Su Tiyue approached quickly, she bowed slightly and said, "Jiang Lisu greets Your Majesty."

"Miss Jiang, there's no need for such formalities. It's been so long..."

Jiang Lisu was so careful and reserved yet polite, but Su Tiyue didn't care about any of that at all. As soon as they met, she reached out and grabbed Jiang Lisu's arm, then pulled her to the small pavilion in the courtyard.

The Jiang siblings were almost inseparable. Seeing Jiang Lisu but not Jiang Huaiyu, Su Tiyue asked curiously, "Miss Jiang, where's your brother? Why isn't he here?"

Jiang Lisu replied earnestly, "My brother finds the palace boring. He went to see the Grand Eunuch this morning and then left the palace. He probably won't be back until later."

"Where have you and your siblings been all this time?"

"Your Majesty, I am in Suzhou."

"What are you doing in Suzhou?" Su Tiyue asked again.

Jiang Lisu is quite straightforward; she speaks frankly and without reservation.

She wouldn't say a word more than necessary, and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for not being able to say more."

After all, working under Xiao Heye, one has to bear the consequences of saying the wrong thing.

Su Tiyue hummed in agreement and then said, "I was just asking casually, Miss Jiang, you don't need to take it to heart."

Jiang Lisu nodded.

The two fell into a brief silence before Jiang Lisu looked up at her carefully and said, "I heard that Her Majesty was in danger a few days ago and was almost harmed by villains. If we had known this would happen, my brother and I should have stayed to protect Her Majesty."

Su Tiyue met her gaze, her eyes crinkling like two little crescent moons: "It's alright, it's all in the past, a close call but no real danger."

"Um."

"Could it be... that Master Xiao summoned you to the palace for my sake?" Su Tiyue opened her mouth, looking surprised.

"Yes," Jiang Lisu replied crisply.

This made Su Tiyue even more guilty...

Xiao Heye always thought of her, but what about her?

well.

She sighed silently to herself, a faint sadness flashing in her eyes. She turned to look at the room where Xiao Heye was, her heart heavy with unease.

Whether it was bitter or sweet, Su Tiyue couldn't say for a moment.

Su Tiyue turned to Jiang Lisu and said, "Miss Jiang, I'll go see Master Xiao first, and we can catch up again in a few days, shall we?"

"Yes." Jiang Lisu stood up and bowed again: "I will take my leave."

The door to the west wing was ajar, but Su Tiyue knocked lightly twice before entering.

When I went in, Xiao Heye was sitting at the desk, holding a book in his hand, looking down as if he was reading very carefully.

"The palm print." She approached and called out softly.

Xiao Heye raised his head, glanced at her indifferently, and simply hummed an "Mmm" from his throat.