Having decided to attend Lu Ming's birthday banquet, Chang Lili told Meng Yuxiu early on. Knowing that she and Lu Ming were like sisters, Meng Yuxiu naturally agreed.

On that day, Ke Shou arranged a carriage to take Chang Lili there.

The weather was perfect that day; the sky was clear and cloudless.

Chang Lili, carrying a beautiful little box, boarded the carriage.

She had already told her mother-in-law a few days ago that she was going to celebrate Lu Minghe's birthday today, and her mother-in-law told her to have fun.

Not long after Chang Lili left, her mother-in-law arrived breathlessly at the border of the forbidden area, carrying a box. Looking at the soldiers guarding the area, she anxiously asked, "Has Lili already left?"

The soldiers looked at each other, saying that Chang Lili had already gone far away in a carriage.

The old woman grabbed the box and tried to rush out, but the soldier quickly stopped her, saying that she couldn't just go out.

The latter looked anxious and said that Chang Lili had gone to attend a birthday banquet, but had not brought the gift she had prepared, so he insisted on sending it over.

The soldiers couldn't refuse her request, so they had to let her leave the restricted area. To protect her, two soldiers escorted her there.

Lu Ming's birthday banquet was held at her home, an ordinary house that had been renovated and transformed into a veritable mansion after Lu Ming's promotion.

Deputy General Lu was a highly sought-after figure in Meng Yuxiu's hands, and countless people came to his birthday banquet, some with invitations and others uninvited.

Since it's such a joyous occasion, and they've already come, it's not appropriate to turn them away.

Chang Lili arrived relatively early and was warmly welcomed inside with her invitation.

As soon as she entered, she saw Lu Ming sitting in an inconspicuous spot, looking rather unhappy. Standing next to her was a handsome young man, none other than Chu Huan.

Seeing Chang Lili enter the mansion, Lu Ming rushed over as if she had been saved, but was stopped halfway by her father, who pretended to be angry.

"How can you be so unladylike, showing no modesty whatsoever in broad daylight!"

Lu Ming stopped walking, but laughed heartily. Lu Sanshan also laughed indulgently and stopped paying attention to her.

She ran up to Chang Lili. The two hadn't seen each other for so long and were overjoyed. But before they could exchange more than a few words, a commotion broke out in front of the mansion gate.

"I bet some big shot has come again," Lu Ming said unhappily, puffing out her cheeks. "This isn't my birthday banquet; these people are clearly here to curry favor with my dad..."

Her voice was neither loud nor soft, which startled Chang Lili, who quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "You know it in your heart, but you can't say it out loud!"

Lu Ming pried her hand away and pursed her lips.

The commotion in front of the government office did not subside; instead, it intensified, with more and more officials crowding towards the gate.

"Who on earth came? Such a grand entrance! You've certainly made a name for yourself at your birthday banquet," Chang Lili exclaimed.

Lu Ming was still not very happy, but she began to wonder who had come.

"Let's go take a look. Judging from this, could it be another prince or princess?" She pulled Chang Lili and squeezed towards the gate of the mansion.

Chang Lili noticed the word "again" in her words and wondered if the princes and princesses had already come.

Before she could ask, she heard the crowd exclaim in surprise, "It's the First Prince! The First Prince is actually attending the birthday banquet? What a grand entrance this Vice General Lu has!"

Chang Lili was stunned and didn't know how to react.

Lu Ming, who was holding her hand, also heard what the person said and immediately put on a stern face. After all, this was her birthday banquet, not her father's birthday banquet, and she was completely ignored.

“Lu Ming, let’s stop looking at this. Look at the gift I prepared for you! I’m sure you’ll love it!” Chang Lili reached out and pulled Lu Ming.

Lu Ming wasn't particularly interested, but before Chang Lili could pull her away, the officials blocking the gate immediately split into two groups, making way for her, and bowed respectfully: "Your Highness."

The scene was truly magnificent and imposing, even surpassing Xiao Shuer's.

Chang Lili's heart skipped a beat as she saw Lu Ming turn around and look towards the gate of the mansion.

Everyone bowed their heads in submission, and the two of them naturally followed suit. Lu Ming secretly glanced up, but couldn't help but straighten up, completely stunned.

The newcomer was tall and slender, with a fair complexion as if covered by a thin layer of frost. Dressed in white, he resembled an immortal who had transcended worldly concerns. His handsome features exuded a cool and aloof air, like ice and snow that had fallen from the heavens.

“Su Ling… Li Li… it’s Su Ling…” she murmured.

Xiao Lingshou stepped into the mansion gate, his cold gaze sweeping over everyone before landing on Lu Ming. She stood there straight, looking unusually abrupt, and he walked towards her.

Lu Ming stared wide-eyed, looking incredulous.

But Xiao Lingshou stopped in front of Chang Lili, who was standing next to her, and smiled gently, teasingly saying, "Isn't it too much of a burden for a disciple to bow to a master?"

Chang Lili really wanted to kick Xiao Lingshou out of the mansion. He really knew how to rub salt in the wound. And he had such sharp eyes that he spotted her in the crowd at a glance.

She straightened up, smiling sheepishly yet fearfully, and said, "Your Highness, you've mistaken me for someone else."

After she finished speaking, she grabbed Lu Ming and ran towards the corner.

Seeing this, the others began to whisper among themselves, and the bolder ones started to speculate about royal secrets.

Xiao Lingshou was not angry. He calmly said to the officials around him, "Everyone is here to celebrate the birthday of Vice General Lu's daughter. There is no need to stand on ceremony. Please make yourselves at home."

The officials then dispersed. Lan Lan, dressed in a smart outfit, looked dashing and heroic. Looking at Chang Lili's fleeting figure, a look of disgust appeared in her eyes.

It took Lu Ming a long time to come to her senses. She pulled her hand away from Chang Lili's and asked blankly, "Lili, so you and Su Ling... oh no, I mean, the Crown Prince, you know each other? Oh, no, I mean, you knew he was the Crown Prince? You always knew?"

Chang Lili felt a pang of unease and grabbed Lu Ming's arms, explaining, "Lu Ming, I know, I didn't tell you for your own good, he is the Crown Prince..."

Lu Ming, however, acted impulsively, her anger rising within her. She flung Chang Lili's hand away and shouted, "Do you know why you didn't tell me? You knew I searched for him for so long, I searched so hard, and you didn't tell me! I considered you my best friend, and this is how you treat me!"

All eyes turned to her, and Chang Lili, naturally unable to retort, met their gazes with an awkward smile and hurried off to chase after Lu Ming, leaving the whispers of the crowd even louder.

Xiao Lingshou looked at Chang Lili and wanted to follow her, but Lan Lan clenched her fist and whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, don't forget why we're here. If someone discovers something, it won't be good for you or Miss Chang."

Xiao Lingshou then stopped and suppressed his anxiety.

He finally saw her. She was still so clean and quirky, as if she didn't belong to this world.

"Lu Ming! Lu Ming!" Chang Lili pushed through the crowd, but someone grabbed her hand. When she turned around, her already troubled mood worsened.