"Your Highness..."

“Miss Xia, there’s no need for such formalities.” Feng Guang was about to get up and bow when Qi Mu stopped her, saying, “Since you’re here as a guest today, there’s no need for such politeness.”

Feng Guang smiled politely, "Thank you, Your Highness."

"This tea smells so good, it must be a tribute bestowed by His Majesty." Qi Mu snatched the teacup from the table and drank the warm tea in one gulp. Although the movement was quick, it was still elegant. "I was thirsty just in time. Hmm, the taste is not bad."

Since Qi Mu's arrival, Princess Xiao had lost the composure she had displayed in the face of glory. Looking at her son, her eyes held a mixture of worry and fear, "Mu'er..."

“Mother.” Princess Xiao had only uttered two words when Qi Mu interrupted her with a smile, “Let’s stop admiring the flowers here. There’s another place I’d like to take Miss Xia to visit.”

Princess Xiao moved her lips, but no sound came out.

"Let's go, Miss Xia."

Feng Guang glanced at Princess Xiao. At this moment, both the atmosphere and Princess Xiao's expression were somewhat strange, but she didn't have time to think about it. She got up and followed Qi Mu's steps.

"Your Highness..." Granny Guo called softly.

Princess Xiao finally couldn't hold back her tears and said painfully, "Granny, was I really wrong before? How could he think... how could he think I would want to poison Xia Fengguang... I am his mother!"

Granny Guo wanted to offer some words of comfort, but couldn't think of anything suitable. She could only sigh and feel deeply moved.

Feng Guang followed Qi Mu, who walked quite fast. She almost had to jog to keep up. She wanted to ask him where he was taking her, but when she looked up, she saw his hard-lined profile, which exuded indifference. She didn't dare to ask.

Finally, Qi Mu stopped in front of a room. "Miss Xia, I don't like having unnecessary people following me."

Feng Guang hesitated for a moment, then said to the maids, "You all wait for me outside the door."

"Yes," Yun'er and the other two maids replied in unison.

Qi Mu then opened the door. "Please come in."

Feng Guang entered the room with doubt, but was stunned when he saw the furnishings inside.

He closed the door and said with a smile, "Miss Xia, welcome to my world."

This resembles a study, yet the shelves inside are devoid of books. There are butterflies with bright wings, white doves with outstretched wings, white-furred rabbits, deer with their front hooves raised, a crouching gray wolf, and a tiger about to roar... All the animals in this room are preserved in their most beautiful poses, as if they were still alive. However, these are all specimens.

His smile was flawless, and these lifelike specimens became his backdrop, making him seem like the king of all things in the world.

Feng Guang was momentarily stunned, "Your Highness, why..."

“Don’t you think it’s interesting?” he said. “The creatures in this room are all recognized as the most perfect, and I’ve allowed them to achieve immortality in the most beautiful way.”

She quickly calmed down. "Is that all?"

“Of course not.” He walked to a wooden cabinet and stroked the soft fur of the rabbit. If one did not know that these animals had actually died long ago, one might mistake him for a gentle young man who loved animals. “Miss Xia knows that I cannot see these things, but when many people tell you how wonderful these things are, you can’t help but be curious. Perhaps, if I keep them with me and come to ‘look’ at them every day, I might be able to find out what they are like.”