The artificial hill is built on the surface of a pond. From the pavilion on the artificial hill, you can see various koi carp chasing each other in the pond.

Rong Qingqing sat by the railing, holding pastries brought by palace servants. She broke off pieces of pastry and scattered them into the pool little by little.

Every time a pastry falls onto the water's surface, the fish rush to the surface to snatch it.

She was engrossed in watching when she suddenly heard Feng Xin say, "Brother Jingrun, there's still some time before the palace banquet starts. Can we go to your East Palace to play?"

Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing was about to give her a meaningful look when Xie Jingrun casually replied, "Mm."

Although he spoke in a very casual tone, Feng Xin didn't mind at all; on the contrary, she was very happy.

The old Jingrun brother wasn't so easy to talk to.

Therefore, she was prepared to be rejected before asking the question, but to her surprise, Brother Jingrun agreed.

Feng Xin was very happy and said sincerely, "Brother Jingrun, you are so kind."

Upon hearing this, Rong Qingqing choked on her own saliva.

"Cough cough cough..."

Feng Xin quickly reached out to pat her back, "Why did you suddenly start coughing?"

Rong Qingqing: "..."

Xie Jingrun glanced at her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

However, the trip to the Crown Prince's palace did not materialize.

As the three of them descended from the artificial hill, a maidservant approached. Upon seeing Xie Jingrun, she paused, clearly surprised, but dared not be negligent and immediately stepped forward to bow, saying, "This servant greets the Crown Prince."

Xie Jingrun glanced at her, recognizing her as someone from the Empress Dowager's side, and asked indifferently, "What is it?"

The old woman respectfully replied, "The Empress Dowager sent me to invite the princess and the county princess to the garden."

Feng Xin naturally recognized her and asked, "Granny Lin, does the Empress Dowager want to see us? Is it something important?"

Lin Mama smiled and said, "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that a few young ladies from the inner chambers have come to the palace and are talking with the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager remembered you two and sent this old servant to invite you to join in the fun."

Feng Xin pursed her lips, showing no interest in those so-called young ladies, but since the Empress Dowager had spoken, she couldn't disobey. So she said listlessly, "Alright, alright, we'll be there in a bit. Lin Mama, you can go now."

After Granny Lin left, Feng Xin took Rong Qingqing's hand and cried to Xie Jing, "Brother Jingrun, I can't go to your East Palace this time, but can I come to see you next time?"

Xie Jingrun glanced at Rong Qingqing and slowly nodded.

Feng Xin was overjoyed, never expecting that her brother Jingrun would be so easy to talk to after becoming her own brother.

“It’s settled then. I’ll go to your East Palace to find you tomorrow.” She said excitedly, then, remembering something, she turned to Rong Qingqing and said, “I’ll send someone to fetch you to the palace tomorrow, and then we’ll go to the East Palace together.”

Rong Qingqing was about to refuse when she was interrupted, "I'm in a bad mood right now, so please don't spoil my mood."

Rong Qingqing glanced at her helplessly. Did she look like she was in a bad mood?

“Let’s go, I’ll take you there,” Xie Jingrun said.

Feng Xin looked at him with some surprise.

Xie Jingrun paused for a moment, then added, "Since the Empress Dowager is in the garden, I must go over and pay my respects to her."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xin felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it, so she nodded and said, "Of course."

Looking at Xie Jingrun walking behind her, Rong Qingqing once again felt that Xie Jingrun was very free today.

Moreover, given his personality, it's almost unbelievable that he would take the initiative to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.