As she walked, she came to an arched bridge. The exquisite little bridge, all milky white, spanned the crystal-clear river, which was quite charming and calmed her heart. On the other side of the bridge, she could see a quaint little pavilion with eye-catching red tiles on its roof.

Chang Lili couldn't help but walk over. She couldn't see the pavilion from the other side of the bridge. Only when she reached the arched bridge did she see two figures sitting and standing in the pavilion.

The seated person had jet-black hair neatly tied up with a golden crown, and wore a light gold robe embroidered with gold thread, looking elegant and noble. The person had their head slightly lowered, holding a black chess piece in their hand, and a chessboard in front of them.

He seemed to be pondering his next move, but there was no one opposite him.

The figure standing behind him was a woman with a well-proportioned figure. Although her face had a somewhat bold and ruthless look, it was still quite beautiful. She was dressed as a palace maid, but she didn't look like an ordinary palace maid.

The woman was incredibly alert. Chang Lili was standing on the bridge, looking down, when the woman spotted her too. She looked up and shot a sharp look at her, letting out a low growl: "Who!"

Chang Lili was startled and began to struggle with whether to run away or explain that she meant no harm.

At this moment, the man raised his head. He was dressed in luxurious clothes, but his figure was somewhat thin, and his luxurious robes appeared rather heavy.

This attire also somewhat concealed his otherworldly air. He raised his head to look at Chang Lili, his face pale and his expression calm and aloof.

Upon seeing Chang Lili, a hint of surprise appeared in his usually cold eyes, and his aloof face seemed to be gently caressed by a spring breeze.

“Su…Su Ling?” Chang Lili was shocked. Looking at his appearance, she didn’t dare to imagine what his identity was.

She stood there, unsure whether to go up and say hello.

Xiao Lingshou, however, put down the chess piece in his hand without hesitation, got up and walked towards her.

The palace maid behind him whispered something with a frown, but he ignored her.

In just a short distance, his face changed like the seasons, from winter to spring. When he arrived in front of Chang Lili, his previously cold face was now adorned with a faint smile.

Regardless, he seemed happy.

"Lili, what are you doing here?"

Chang Lili smiled awkwardly and said, "I...I came to deliver some things to General Meng."

Then she clearly felt the temperature around her drop sharply, and she subconsciously tightened her clothes and swallowed.

“I see,” his voice seemed to be shrouded in ice. After a long silence, just as Chang Lili was considering leaving, he said, “Since you’re here, come and sit for a while.”

After he finished speaking, he turned around and went into the pavilion. Chang Lili hesitated, but sensed that there was no way to disobey him, so she obediently followed him into the pavilion.

But she also felt that the maidservant next to Xiao Lingshou seemed to have a problem with her, as her expression was unfriendly.

"Sit down," Xiao Lingshou said, raising his hand, his expression softening considerably.

Chang Lili sat uncomfortably on the opposite side of the chessboard.

"Lanlan, go and make a cup of tea for Miss Lili," Xiao Lingshou instructed, turning his head slightly.

But the maid behind him seemed somewhat displeased: "Your Highness..."

Xiao Lingshou frowned slightly and said coldly, "Go."

She then gave Chang Lili a resentful look and left.

"This outfit suits you quite well," Xiao Lingshou said after the palace maid left.

There was a hint of gentleness in his voice.

Chang Lili shifted uncomfortably, looking a little lost, and said, "Ah, it's alright."

A gentle breeze blows, and the early autumn air is a bit chilly, but also crisp and clear.

The two fell silent for a moment. Chang Lili couldn't help but feel embarrassed, mainly because she didn't have the courage to speak as freely as before, given Xiao Lingshou's current attire.

"Next round?" Xiao Lingshou gracefully raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Chang Lili chuckled awkwardly, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I... I only know how to swing a hammer to forge iron, not how to fight on this chessboard."

Xiao Lingshou smiled, as if amused by Chang Lili's words, and said, "You are so unpretentious and straightforward. I have never seen a woman like you."

Chang Lili could only continue to force a smile, thinking to herself that this was probably saying she wasn't acting like a woman.

She didn't know how to respond, and felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Just then, she heard footsteps approaching. It was the maid who brought over a teacup, looking hurried and worried.

"Is she worried that I'll eat her prince up?" Chang Lili thought to herself, sighing inwardly. She felt that this girl was overthinking things. With his deep and mysterious demeanor, their prince was more likely to devour others without spitting out the bones.

The maid entered the pavilion and unceremoniously placed the teacup opposite Chang Lili.

Chang Lili suddenly realized that she had been out for a while, and hurriedly got up, which made the two of them look at her in surprise.

"It's nothing, I just remembered that the banquet is about to start, I have to hurry back, please excuse me." She got up and left in a hurry, although she was thinking that it would be good to leave this awkward pavilion as soon as possible, she was really anxious.

After she turned around, she didn't see the sadness in Xiao Lingshou's eyes.

After taking a few steps, she turned around again, and Xiao Lingshou's eyes lit up once more.

"I... Your Highness... Could you please tell me how to get to Hanyuan Palace?" Chang Lili forced a smile.

So Xiao Lingshou sent his maid to lead the way for Chang Lili. Chang Lili said, "How could I possibly accept that?" as she followed the maid away.

Once she was out of sight, Xiao Ling sat down in the pavilion, took out a somewhat ugly dagger from his sleeve, drew out a sliver of white, shiny blade, looked at the neat and elegant character "离" (li, meaning separation) engraved on it, smiled, and gently stroked the character with his fingers.

"I thought that our parting that day was our last, that we would be separated forever, and that I would only be able to think of you through the sight of things. I never expected that you would appear alive and well in front of me today. Is this because our fate is not yet over?" His smile was like a stream melting away ice. He put away the dagger, holding it in his palm as if it were a precious jewel, and then put it into his sleeve.

Chang Lili followed the maid named Lanlan forward. With so many twists and turns and no one to lead the way, she really couldn't find her way.

When she could finally see the gates of Hanyuan Hall, she smiled and tried to thank Lanlan, but instead saw her cold face.

Perhaps because she had been with her master for so long, she had caught the facial paralysis; the maid's face was now covered with frost, and her gaze was icy.

"Thank you... sister." Chang Lili said, feeling a chill on the back of her neck, and couldn't wait to walk towards Hanyuan Hall.

Lanlan's voice suddenly rang out from behind: "Stay away from our prince."

"Huh?" Chang Lili turned around with a look of disbelief.

Lanlan sneered: "I've seen plenty of women like you who want to climb the social ladder. Let me tell you, if you don't want to die, don't come near our prince."

After saying that, she left without looking back.

Chang Lili stood there for a while before she came to her senses: "Threatening me? What did I do to deserve this threat? Everyone in this palace is... a little slow on the uptake."