"Hurry up, Little Swallow, didn't you want a ball? Go get it quickly, I need to go back to Cining Palace, I'm so sleepy, achoo."

Chen Nian watched as Xiao Yanzi, who had reached the door but didn't go in, climbed onto the door to eavesdrop. He covered his nose with his hand, sneezed to the side, and urged her in a low voice.

She felt dizzy and wanted to sleep.

These four guards, too, accompanied Little Swallow to ask for the ball, but in the end, they quietly hid and didn't make a move.

"Princess Shen, why are you sneezing so much? Have you caught a cold?"

As Ertai listened to Chen Nian, he would sneeze from time to time, his voice would become hoarse, his lips would turn pale, and his eyes would be filled with worry.

"Probably, but it's alright, I'll just go back to Cining Palace and get some sleep later."

Chen Nian rubbed his itchy nose and nodded. It must have been because he watched their performance in the Shufangzhai courtyard yesterday, and the night was cool, so he stayed out in the wind for a while.

She has a weak constitution and is prone to catching a cold if she is not careful.

She's used to it.

Her cold came on quickly and went away quickly; she was fine after a good night's sleep.

"Little Swallow, go quickly, take the ball, and let Princess Shen go back to Cining Palace to rest."

After hearing what Chen Nian said, Ertai also started urging Xiao Yanzi.

“Chen Nian, if I had known you had a cold, I wouldn’t have bothered you to come. Why don’t you go back to Cining Palace and rest first?”

Upon hearing Chen Nian's words, Xiao Yanzi immediately regretted it, thinking she should have let Chen Nian go back to rest.

"It's okay, it's okay. Go get the ball. I'll go back after you get the ball."

I've already promised Xiao Yanzi, and I've stayed this long, so a little more time won't make a difference.

"Alright then, I'm going. Shennian, if I don't make it out in the end, you have to come in and save me, right?"

Seeing that Chen Nian wasn't going back, in order to get Chen Nian to go back and rest as soon as possible, Xiao Yanzi took a deep breath and mustered up her courage.

Little Swallow, charge! Go get your balloon back and play with Chen Nian!

"Um."

Chen Nian nodded. Because of his cold, his voice was nasal, like a kitten's meow, which made Xiao Yanzi and Ertai's hearts itch.

Go for it!

Inside, the emperor, with his exceptionally sharp hearing, raised an eyebrow at the rustling sounds outside, and handed the memorial in his hand to Xiao Luzi, who was waiting nearby.

"Xiao Luzi, go and see if there's a big rat grinding its teeth. I find it quite noisy."

The simple-minded Xiao Luzi believed the emperor's words and walked out with a flustered expression.

The Emperor didn't lower his voice, and the five people standing outside the door all heard his analogy. As they listened to the Emperor's words, Chen Nian's drowsy head began to clear, his eyes lit up, and he started watching the drama unfold.

The Emperor's metaphor is quite affectionate.

Unlike Chen Nian, who felt pampered, Xiao Yanzi felt extremely "insulted." Her hand, which was about to push the door open, suddenly stopped, and she wanted to give up.

Ertai, watching Xiaoyanzi prepare to give up, and remembering that Chennian was ill and needed to return to Cining Palace to rest, inadvertently "panickedly" gave a helping hand to Benjamin and Yongqi, who were eager to make a move.

Then, with swift movements, he pulled Chen Nian aside and hid to one side. When the door opened, the others quickly retreated and pressed themselves against the wooden door, and then they heard...

"Bang--"

"ah--!"

"Princess Pearl?"

While Little Swallow was completely bewildered, Lu Zi, who had come looking for the mouse, had already opened the door, and Little Swallow, with the help of Benjamin Yongqi, stumbled straight inside.

Outside the door.

Feeling the rough texture on his hand, Chen Nian moved his wrist uncomfortably.

"I'm sorry, I was worried you'd be found out."

The soft, delicate touch in his hand made Ertai's face flush instantly. He quickly let go, apologized, and explained the reason.

"It's okay, shh."

Hearing people start talking inside, Chen Nian shook his head, raised his index finger to signal for quiet, and then tilted his ear to listen to what was happening inside.

Thoughts: No one can disturb me from enjoying my gossip.

Seeing Chen Nian's actions, Ertai immediately shut his mouth and nodded.

Seeing Chen Nian's gossipy expression, Ertai took out pumpkin seeds wrapped in oil paper from his sleeve, opened them, took out a portion that had already been shelled, poked Chen Nian, and handed them over.

Chen Nian was busy eating melon seeds. He glanced at the food handed to him, saw that it was food, took it, and ate while listening to the sounds inside.

Ertai watched people eat melons while peeling pumpkin seeds, listening quietly to the sounds inside, and occasionally handing them peeled pumpkin seeds.

Listening to Xiao Yanzi's conversation inside, the hearts of the people hiding outside the door were also rising and falling, especially when Xiao Yanzi mentioned "a sinner for all time," which made everyone's hearts pound.

Fortunately, Little Swallow managed to make amends.

Hearing Xiao Yanzi mention that she was unwell because she hadn't managed to get the balloon, and that she had promised to bring it to him, Chen Nian's heart leaped into his throat. He prayed that she wouldn't bring up her past.

I should have never agreed to Xiao Yanzi's request. Why did I have to drag her into this?

Fortunately, Xiao Yanzi was loyal; she pulled at her but didn't drag her out.

"Ahhh, thank you, Father Emperor! Thank you, Father Emperor! Today is another day I like you even more."

After some rambling, Xiao Yanzi finally convinced the Emperor and successfully retrieved the balloon.

And it brought the four guards some shocking news—a men's and women's balloon-releasing competition.

...

...