337. Mission Failed

"Help her?" Qu Zijin was even more confused. "Why should we help her?"

Xie Wenling replied, "Naturally, it's to make her expose herself more quickly. She wants to get close to the prince, so we'll create opportunities for her to do so. The more eager she is to complete the mission, the easier it will be for her to reveal her flaws. Then, her secrets will naturally come to light."

He looked at the little girl: "Princess, are you willing to believe me? Let's help her see the little prince, okay?"

"Okay, as long as it can protect the little prince, Yue'er is willing!" Although the little dumpling didn't know exactly what Xie Wenling wanted to do, she knew that her brother Xie would not hurt the little prince, nor would he let her be harmed.

Qu Zijin looked at Xie Wenling's confident demeanor. Although he still had some doubts, he nodded and said, "Since you have a plan, I will cooperate with you. Just make sure to protect the prince and the princess."

"Don't worry," Xie Wenling nodded, taking the little dumpling's hand, "Let's go."

The three of them walked towards the main hall.

-

Tao Wanbi had already run to the entrance of the main hall.

She took a deep breath, straightened her brocade coat, and wiped her face to make sure she didn't look too disheveled.

[Host, when you see the male lead, ignore everything else, just rush over, hug his leg, and cry out for him.]

I refuse to believe he can ignore you like this.

"I understand!" Tao Wanbi gritted her teeth, pushed open the palace door, and strode inside.

She searched the palace but couldn't find the little prince.

She paused for a moment, then couldn't help but mutter to the system, "Didn't you say the male lead was inside? Where is he? How can we force an interaction if we can't find him?"

[I don't know either... I was just attacked and haven't fully recovered yet, so the location is inaccurate.]

Having exhausted all other options, Tao Wanbi moved further outside the hall.

A gust of cold wind blew, and she shivered, but her eyes lit up.

Under the eaves outside the palace gate, the young prince was standing there, talking to the little princess.

She immediately crouched down and stealthily moved towards the corridor.

The snow crunched underfoot, a soft sound that alerted the little princess.

The little princess frowned, looked around, and quietly tugged at the little prince's sleeve: "Jiayou, I think I heard a sound, like someone is nearby."

Upon hearing this, the young prince casually glanced around, but saw no one in his field of vision: "Where is anyone? It's probably just the sound of the wind, don't worry."

"Is that so?" The little princess had a bad feeling. "Where are our guards?"

"I don't know..." From beginning to end, there was no trace of Tao Wanbi in the little prince's eyes.

To him, Tao Wanbi was like an invisible ghost, unable to enter his sight no matter where she stood.

Tao Wanbi had already made her way to the vicinity.

[Host, quick! Now! Rush up and hug him!]

[As long as you hug him, even if he can't see, he can still feel you and will definitely notice you!]

"Understood!" Tao Wanbi took a deep breath and rushed out!

She reached out and hugged the little prince around the waist.

"Oh!" the little princess exclaimed in shock, "Jiayou!"

The young prince froze, feeling as if a pair of hands had suddenly wrapped tightly around his waist.

But when he looked down, there was nothing there.

The corridor was empty, and it was clearly only him and the little princess there.

But the feeling of those hands was terrifyingly real, clinging tightly to his waist.

"Who?!" the young prince exclaimed in terror. He struggled violently, flailing his arms and legs. "Let go! Let me go!"

The feeling of being held without being able to see anyone sent chills down his spine.

He struggled with considerable force, and coupled with Tao Wanbi's lack of physical strength at the age of three, he actually managed to break free.

The young prince hurriedly ran towards the little princess.

The little princess rushed forward, shielding the little prince with her outstretched arms like a bird protecting its companion: "How dare you! What are you doing? You mustn't hurt Jiayou!"

Tao Wanbi stumbled and almost fell as the young prince jostled her. She cried out anxiously, "Young prince! It's me! Look at me!"

She waved frantically, trying to get closer to the young prince, but his gaze remained fixed on the empty space, staring at her in terror, without any reaction whatsoever.

What's going on?! Why can't he see you?!

The system panicked too.

[Impossible! There's definitely something wrong! What could be the reason?!]

"How should I know!" Tao Wanbi was almost in tears. "He just can't see me! He just said he didn't hear anything, he can't sense me at all!"

She tried to reach out and take the little prince's hand, but the little princess blocked her way.

Xiao Tuanzi, Xie Wenling, and Qu Zijin finally arrived.

The little dumpling was already extremely anxious.

However, Xie Wenling remained unmoved, and even muttered something to Qu Zijin, as if he had some kind of plan.

The little dumpling asked anxiously, "Little Cloud, are you alright? How is the little prince?"

Xie Wenling raised his hand and beckoned, and the guard who had just been sent away immediately walked over quickly: "Your Excellency, Prime Minister."

"Take her down," Xie Wenling said without hesitation. "She disturbed the young prince for no reason. Detain her here immediately and send someone to inform His Majesty."

The guards immediately stepped forward and took Tao Wanbi's arms on either side.

Tao Wanbi struggled violently: "Let me go! I didn't do anything wrong! I just wanted the little prince to see me! Let me go!"

But she was no match for the strength of the guards and was quickly pinned down, unable to move.

Looking at the still terrified look on the little prince's face, at the wary look in the little princess's eyes, and then at the guards who had surrounded them... her heart sank completely.

She seems to have messed up again.

And it was a complete disaster.

It's over...it's completely over...

This time, even the system couldn't recover.

He can't see you, the guards have arrested you again, and the emperor is coming soon. There's no way to turn things around this time...

Tao Wanbi's struggling strength gradually diminished.

She stared at the empty space and murmured to herself, "Yes, there's no turning back... The mission failed, I can't go back..."

This is probably what it means to be utterly heartbroken; you lose all strength to move, leaving only a cold emptiness.

Qu Zijin hesitated, looking at Tao Wanbi's distraught appearance.

Xie Wenling gestured for him to step forward as planned.

Qu Zijin hesitated.

Xie Wenling, using his wide cloak as cover, subtly elbowed Qu Zijin.

Qu Zijin was forced to move.

He stepped forward, waved to the guards, and signaled them to release her.

Then he squatted down, looked Tao Wanbi in the eye, and said in a gentle tone without any reproach: "Good girl."

Qu Zijin's voice was soft, yet it reached Tao Wanbi's ears clearly: "I know you must have your reasons. I saw how nervous and flustered you were when you presented your poem in the hall just now. Someone forced you to do it, didn't they?"

Tao Wanbi was stunned for a moment, then raised her face and looked at Qu Zijin.

This person was just questioning her along with Xie Wenling, so why is he saying these things to her now?

Isn't he a member of Jin Lanyue's camp?

Qu Zijin continued, his eyes gradually softening with genuine emotion: "I believe you are a good child. You are just young, or perhaps you have been bewitched by something, which is why you have done these foolish things."

"You see, although you made a mistake in the hall just now, no one really blames you, right?"

"In this life, who hasn't done a few foolish things?"

"The important thing is to know that you are wrong and be willing to correct it."

"His Majesty is benevolent. As long as you sincerely admit your mistakes and explain your predicament, His Majesty will surely forgive you."

Even without those poems, even if others don't notice you for the time being, just be yourself, study hard, and grow up well...

"There will always be someone who sees your good qualities, and you will always have your own life to live."

His words were earnest, and the concern in his eyes seemed genuine.

Tao Wanbi stared blankly at him.

Throughout her life, no one has ever praised her as a good child, and no one has ever gently advised her instead of punishing her when she made a mistake.

She was used to the system's accusations, the opinions of others, and the cold stares of others.

This was the first time someone had spoken to her so gently, saying they believed she had her reasons, that she was a good child, and that she would have a good life if she grew up well.

She opened her mouth, then tears suddenly streamed down her face: "I..."

Don't listen to him; he's lying to you.