After saying this, Gao Xiyue deliberately got angry and reached out to tease Su Lufu. Their laughter excited the ladies-in-waiting who were paying their respects nearby, and everyone cast disgusted glances at them. Su Lufu quickly straightened her clothes and timidly tugged at Gao Xiyue in private.

Gao Xiyue looked indifferent, and was about to retort, but seeing Su Lu supporting her, she swallowed her anger and stood obediently. Two young women discussed their life's most important matters before the Buddha. Each was filled with anticipation for the future, yet also with some fear.

On the way back, Gao Xiyue remained curious about what Su Lufu had asked Buddha for, but Su Lufu refused to say. Gao Xiyue could only tease her, "You're so stingy..." Su Lufu smiled and asked Gao Xiyue, "So what did you ask Buddha for?"

Gao Xiyue beckoned to Su Lufu with a mysterious look. Su Lufu leaned closer and Gao Xiyue whispered, "I pray to Buddha to marry me off to a prince..."

Su Lufu covered her mouth in surprise, dumbfounded: "A prince? But isn't this for the emperor's selection of candidates?"

Gao Xiyue blushed, a rare occurrence for her, and said dismissively, "Don't you know? Every year during the imperial concubine selection, the emperor chooses a portion of the young women to be assigned to the princes as princesses..."

Su Lufu bit her lip and asked, "But, but the current emperor only has three princes, and they all already have wives."

Gao Xiyue felt hot all over. She lifted the curtains to let in some fresh air and said expectantly, "It doesn't matter if it's not a Fujin (Prince's wife). The Emperor is so old, he could be my father. But it's different with a prince. If I'm lucky enough to be betrothed to a promising prince, in the future..."

Su Lufu understood Gao Xiyue's meaning, blushed and pushed Gao Xiyue away, laughing, "You really know how to plan...aren't you ashamed..." Gao Xiyue replied, "Don't you hope your husband is a young and handsome man? What's the point of staying by an old man's side all day?"

Su Lufu's face turned even redder, and she covered her face with her hands, saying angrily, "Oh, stop talking, I don't want to hear it anymore..."

"I knew it, I knew it... Anyway, I like young people..."

Two women were playfully pushing and shoving each other inside the carriage, chatting and laughing, while the servants and maids outside eavesdropped and chuckled...

Back at the inn, the atmosphere was strange even before entering. Everyone was gathered in the hall, each wrapped tightly in gauze, and every person who entered cast a wary glance at them.

"What's going on?" Gao Xiyue nervously gripped Su Lu's hand. The waiter scurried forward to greet her, bowing low. Gao Xiyue pointed at the people in the room and asked, "Why is everyone like this?"

The waiter scratched his head awkwardly and whispered to Gao Xiyue, "Replying to Miss Gao, it's...it's that a young lady on the second floor suddenly developed chickenpox..."

Su Lufu froze, shrinking behind Gao Xiyue. Gao Xiyue knew that chickenpox was contagious and could be quite severe once infected. She asked anxiously, "How could this happen? She was fine yesterday."

The waiter said apologetically, "Yes, we only discovered it this morning. The doctor is already examining it..."

Gao Xiyue turned to her maid without hesitation and said, "Go and find me another inn right now!" The maid looked troubled and whispered to Gao Xiyue, "Miss, all the inns in the capital are full right now. Have you forgotten that Miss Su couldn't find one before? If we leave, we'll have to sleep on the streets..."

Su Lufu was filled with worry after hearing this, and Gao Xiyue also began to feel at a loss. Looking at the nervous young ladies in the room, she felt very uneasy.