Chapter 24 Then I'll let the giant python eat him.

Xie Mianmian frowned in confusion. She wanted the giant python and the snow wolf to sleep with her, and she even wanted to bathe them herself.

Seeing the child remain silent, the emperor continued, "In the palace, I can give them the best care, and you can come to the palace to visit them every day."

Xie Mianmian looked at the Xie family members standing to the side.

Xie Huaijin, standing to the side, winked and urged, "Quickly agree! There's no one in the family who can take care of the ferocious beast. It's a good thing that won't cost them any effort or money. Hurry up and agree!"

Xie Mianmian understood. She secretly pouted and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Uncle Huang."

The emperor smiled and said it was good, but no one knew what he was really thinking.

Xie Mianmian sent the giant python back into its cage.

The giant python thought Xie Mianmian was going to abandon it, and looked at the child with a pitiful expression, its eyes wet, and remained motionless.

Xie Mianmian stroked its head, "You have to be good. Mianmian will come to see you tomorrow. Go inside now."

The python had no choice but to turn around and slowly slide along, its tail tip still wrapped around Xie Mianmian's ankle.

"A giant python," the child called from behind.

It quickly darted behind, and Xie Mianmian pointed to the tip of her tail on her foot and said, "You forgot about your tail!"

The python slid dejectedly into the iron cage, and only reluctantly released its tail at the very end.

Xie Mianmian clung to their cage and talked for a long time, telling them not to be afraid, not to hurt people, and that she would definitely come to play with them tomorrow.

The palace servants who tried to move the cage were frightened away by the two pairs of fierce beastly eyes.

In the end, Xie Huaijin picked up the child by the back of his collar and left.

The banquet was halfway through, and the Emperor allowed the envoys from the Northern Rong to enjoy themselves before departing.

With the most authoritative person absent, everyone in the hall breathed a sigh of relief, and the atmosphere instantly became joyous.

Midway through, Xie Mingyi went out, saying she wanted to undress.

Xie Mianmian noticed with her sharp eyes that the Third Prince, who had asked her to deliver a letter to her Second Sister, had also quietly left, seemingly heading in the direction her Second Sister had gone.

The child's eyes darted around, and she said to Wen Shuwan, "Sister-in-law, I want to go out and play with the Seventh Prince."

Wen Shuwan put down her chopsticks. "Then go ahead, be careful."

She didn't object to the child playing with the Seventh Prince; she had clearly seen how the Seventh Prince had worried about and helped Mianmian.

Xie Mianmian secretly came up behind the Seventh Prince, intending to pat him on the shoulder to startle him.

But the seventh prince suddenly turned his head without warning and looked at the child.

Xie Mianmian, instead of trying to scare him, was startled herself. "Seventh Prince, how did you know I was behind you?"

"You're just too stupid."

How did he know? His nose recognized Xie Mianmian before he did. The milky, pastry-scented smell of her made her seem like a walking, sweet cheese, though Xie Mianmian herself was unaware of it.

Xie Mianmian didn't care why the Seventh Prince was scolding her again. She grabbed the Seventh Prince's sleeve and tried to take him away.

The Seventh Prince went along with her, "Where do you want to take me?" What, you're always asking him to play, can't you take a break?

Xie Mianmian said mysteriously, "Come with me and you'll see."

The two children dodged the palace servants on the road and came to a lakeside. They saw two people in the middle of a pavilion and quietly hid behind a pillar.

Xie Mianmian said in a breathy voice, "The Third Prince and my Second Sister."

Seventh Prince: Oh, look, they've come to have a secret rendezvous.

Inside the pavilion, Xie Mingyi gazed at the slightly rippling lake before her and asked aloofly, "What business does Your Highness have with me?"

The Third Prince, dressed in a magnificent gold-embroidered robe, exuded an extraordinary air and acted like a prince of the royal family. He asked, "Mingyi, have you read the letter I wrote to you?"

Xie Mingyi turned around and looked at him. "Your Highness, please call me Miss Xie. What exactly did that letter mean?"

She nervously bit her lower lip, unsure of what kind of answer she wanted to hear. If it was a confession of her feelings, she…

"The words in the letter are what I wanted to say to Miss Xie."

The Third Prince gazed at her with gentle eyes and deep affection.

She chuckled inwardly; he was still the same, never directly addressing their relationship.

Xie Mingyi suddenly felt relieved. She realized that she was afraid of hearing sweet words from the Third Prince.

It turns out I don't like this hypocrite in front of me!

She only cared about a soul that understood her; there was no romantic love between them.

She gently touched her chest with the handkerchief in her hand, terrified, thinking she was about to have some romantic moments.

Xie Mingyi, with a stern face, said to the Third Prince in a solemn tone, "I have never received a letter from Your Highness. Let's not have any contact anymore and just be strangers. I hope Your Highness will take care."

After saying this, Xie Mingyi bowed and prepared to leave the pavilion.

Xie Mianmian exclaimed in surprise at the Seventh Prince, and the two children quickly hid inside.

Upon hearing Xie Mingyi's words, the Third Prince suddenly went mad. He quickly grabbed Xie Mingyi's hand and began to say, "Whether I'm walking or sitting, I miss you. I miss you day and night."

Xie Mingyi didn't know why, but upon hearing these words, she shivered and got goosebumps all over her body. She tried desperately to break free from the Third Prince's grasp, but to no avail.

The Seventh Prince whispered in Xie Mianmian's ear, "I heard that Third Brother is having an affair with his three concubines every night..." He suddenly felt a little awkward and didn't finish his sentence.

"Anyway, Third Brother doesn't have time to miss your Second Sister every day."

A glint of fire flashed in Xie Mianmian's eyes. The child was furious and was thinking about whether to let the giant python break out of prison to teach the Third Prince a lesson.

Seeing that the woman not only refused to accept him but also struggled desperately, the Third Prince became somewhat impatient. If Xie Mingyi were not the daughter of Governor Xie, he would have been happy to talk to her about those old-fashioned poems and books.

Before anyone could react, the Third Prince embraced Xie Mingyi and said affectionately, "I love you."

Xie Mingyi: !

"Smack!"

By the time Xie Mingyi realized what was happening, her hand had already slapped the Third Prince hard across the face.

The third prince was knocked to the side by the blow, half of his face hidden in the darkness. He touched the slapped cheek with the tip of his tongue and let out a cold laugh.

Xie Mingyi was both angry and remorseful. "Your Highness, please forgive me. I didn't mean to..."

She saw that the Third Prince's face was extremely terrifying.

It was extremely quiet all around, with no human voices, only the occasional splash of fish skimming the surface of the lake.

The man slowly raised his hand.

Xie Mingyi couldn't help but take a step back.

"Third Brother!"

The Seventh Prince pulled Xie Mianmian out from behind the pillar.

"Second sister, you've been out for a long time. Mianmian has come to see you."

The child couldn't hide her anger; she glared at the Third Prince with a puffed-up face.

Xie Mingyi quickly pulled Xie Mianmian behind her, "I have said what I needed to say. I hope Your Highness will forgive me. Farewell!"

She curtsied and hurriedly left with Xie Mianmian.

The child was dragged away, still glaring back at the man who had bullied her second sister.

The seventh prince also left, sighing as he turned the child's face back.

Xie Mingyi escorted them back to the palace and then left again.

Earlier, a palace maid accidentally spilled wine on her dress, and before she could change, she encountered the Third Prince on her way.

Wearing dirty clothes was really impolite, so Xie Mingyi changed her route this time, hoping not to run into anyone else.

Two children stood behind a row of palace servants, chatting idly.

"You must not get close to the Third Prince from now on, understand?"

"Why?" She wasn't afraid.

"He eats children."

Xie Mianmian: !

"Then I'll let the python eat him." The child put his hands on his hips.

At this moment, Tuoba Hong walked out of the main hall.

A white figure followed them out.

Two kids: ?

Xie Mianmian's eyes lit up as she gestured excitedly, "Shall we go or not?"