When introducing rouge and face powder, Dongfang Bai seemed overly enthusiastic, but ultimately didn't overstep his bounds.

However, when Li Youran saw Dongfang Bai up close, with his slightly greasy, foxy face, she felt uncomfortable, but she always tried her best to restrain herself.

Little did Dongfang Bai know that this scene was interpreted as a girl's shyness, which delighted him, and he enthusiastically introduced the rouge and face powder to Li Youran.

"Such an outstanding person as Young Master Dongfang, how come I've never seen him before? You must not have been in the capital before, right?"

Li Youran pretended to be delighted, looked at the rouge and powder that Dongfang Bai had chosen for her, and then said to Dongfang Bai in a casual tone.

"It is a great honor to receive praise from Princess Jiahe."

As he spoke, Dongfang Bai opened the fan in his hand and continued.

"To be honest, Princess Jiahe, I have only been in the capital for a short time. I will need Princess Jiahe's help in the future."

"That's natural."

Li Youran smiled faintly and responded.

Over time, Li Youran discovered that Dongfang Bai was a docile person who liked to hear praise, so she intentionally or unintentionally interjected some words of praise into his speech.

From her conversation with Dongfang Bai, she learned that Dongfang Bai had been living at the foot of Wuzhi Mountain and had only recently arrived in the capital. As for why he came to the capital, Dongfang Bai did not tell Li Youran, but this information was enough.

"Master Wuneng had been cultivating at Five Finger Mountain, and this Dongfang Bai also came from Five Finger Mountain..."

On the way back, Li Youran tapped the soft cushions of the carriage and muttered to herself.

She thought to herself that her previous guesses were all correct; the incompetent master was a card that the Fourth Prince had played.

Although it is still unclear why Dongfang Bai came to the capital, it is definitely related to Master Wuneng and the Fourth Prince.

The next morning, before dawn, Li Youran, just like the day before, rode in a carriage towards the palace.

She was filled with anxiety the whole way, wondering how Tang Lei's matter was progressing and whether he had actually given the medicine to Princess Qingshui.

"Princess, we have arrived."

Before they knew it, the carriage had arrived at the palace gate. With Xiao Hong's help, Li Youran stepped down from the carriage.

She had to hurry, because Li Youran needed to arrive at the East Palace before the Crown Princess went to pay her respects to the Emperor, so that she could go with the Crown Princess to pay her respects to the Emperor.

The Crown Princess's pregnancy was indeed far along; if something went wrong on the way, and she encountered Princess Qingshui, a reckless and impulsive person, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"If Jiahe Jingru wants to be the first to pay her respects to the Emperor, she should get up earlier."

As Li Youran headed towards the East Palace, she encountered Princess Qingshui, who was rushing to the main hall.

"It would be better to give the first place to Princess Qingshui, after all, Princess Qingshui is still hoping that the Emperor will grant her a good marriage."

Upon hearing Li Youran's words, the Water Monarch frowned slightly.

It should be noted that Li Youran was three years younger than her, yet he had already been betrothed by the Emperor. She, on the other hand, was already nineteen, nearly twenty years old.

You should know that at this age, ordinary women would have already married long ago. If it weren't for her status as a princess, she would probably be an old maid who never gets married.

“Even without the emperor’s bestowal of a marriage, I will still find a good husband.”

Princess Qingshui had no intention of bowing down to Li Youran, so she forced a defense and then went straight away.

Li Youran shrugged, thinking to herself, if she could really get married, why hasn't she gotten married yet?

It's well known that Princess Qingshui's marriage was a big joke in their social circle. It's said that Princess Qingshui had been wanting to find a good family since she was sixteen, but unfortunately, she was arrogant and unreasonable. Even the young men who had such intentions all backed away because of her personality.

Princess Qingshui remained unmarried until she was nearly twenty years old, and even before that, she had pestered the Emperor to grant her a marriage.

However, when the emperor brought up this matter in court, not a single minister volunteered to agree to the marriage.

Seeing Princess Qingshui's rapid pace, Li Youran assumed that she was fleeing because she had brought up her most embarrassing secret, so he didn't think much of it and headed towards the East Palace.

"Why are you here so early again today? Didn't I tell you you didn't need to come so early in the morning?"

The Crown Princess said this, but her heart was filled with warmth. After all, the Crown Prince had been so busy these days, leaving her all alone. She always felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

Now that her younger sister has stepped up to protect her, she is deeply moved.

"Since we're sleeping in the carriage anyway, we might as well come earlier so we can go together to pay our respects to the Emperor."

As Li Youran spoke, she casually picked up a small steamed bun from the table and swallowed it in one bite.

"Sister, let's hurry up and set off, it's getting late."

Although Li Youran did not want to show off like Princess Qingshui, the Crown Princess was different. As the head of the Eastern Palace, it was better for her to go sooner rather than later to avoid gossip.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Emperor's condition has suddenly worsened."

Just as the Crown Princess was persuading Li Youran to sit down and eat more, a little eunuch rushed over, hurriedly kneeling on the ground as he spoke.

"The Emperor had shown signs of recovery, but today, for some reason, his condition suddenly worsened and he fainted. We have summoned the imperial physician to treat him."

Upon hearing the eunuch's words, the Crown Princess frowned slightly. She knew that the court was currently unstable, with battles raging in both the north and south. If something were to happen to the Emperor under these circumstances, things would likely become even more complicated.

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