The evening stars are shining brightly.

"Tap tap tap".

Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Meng Yun had to put down her pen, turn around and push open the door, only to see a smiling little face.

"Sister Yun, I came secretly." Before Meng Yun could reply, An Ning shrank back and slipped into the house.

Looking at her, Meng Yun chuckled softly, "You must have been very busy today."

An Ning stopped and carefully took out a jade hairpin from her bosom: "Sister Yun, look at this. I came across it on my way out of the manor today. It's clear and lustrous, and it suits you perfectly, so I bought it. Oh, right, there's also a little wooden bird. It's really interesting; its wings can move up and down."

As she spoke, she grasped the jade hairpin in her hand, intending to put it in Meng Yun's hair, but as soon as her hand touched the hair, she abruptly pulled it back.

“Sister Yun, I have overstepped my bounds. I am not worthy to comb your hair. Here, if you like this hairpin, you can wear it and play with it yourself. Consider it my way of repaying you.”

Meng Yun parted her lips slightly, raised her eyes slightly, and carefully examined the little eunuch in front of her. The smile in her eyes deepened. Little Ningzi knows his place, knows how to be grateful, and is a good child.

“I really like the hairpin. It’s just a bottle of medicine. There’s no need to worry about it so much.”

"Hehehe, I'm glad you like it, Sister Yun. Even though it's just a bottle of medicine, you're the first person in this world to be kind to me."

Hearing that Sister Yun liked the little trinket she bought, An Ning was overjoyed. Like a proud mother showing off a treasure, she poked the wooden bird on the table, trying her best to make Sister Yun happy.

Meng Yun looked at the toys that only three or four-year-old children would play with and smiled helplessly: "Okay, Xiao Ningzi bought them, and Sister Yun likes them all. Here, I made some pastries today when I had nothing to do. Have some."

An Ning's eyes lit up immediately: "The pastries made by Sister Yun herself must be delicious."

As he spoke, he reached out and picked up a piece, but before he could even taste it, the door was slammed open.

"Auntie had some pastries, why didn't you invite me?"

Anning was startled, and the pastries in her hand fell back onto the plate.

Mu Ange's cool gaze swept over An Ning, the warning clear: 'You damned eunuch, how dare you try to bribe your aunt with such worthless stuff.'

"Auntie, if you are missing a hairpin, just let me know."

He walked straight to Meng Yun's side and picked up the jade hairpin on the table.

Meng Yun was slightly nervous, staring at his face as she slowly said, "Although it's not anything valuable, I really like it."

Mu Ange's cool fingertips traced the jade hairpin, then she suddenly looked up at Anning: "It seems Auntie really likes this eunuch."

No sooner had the words left her lips than the jade hairpin snapped in Mu An's hand.

An Ning was slightly taken aback. She clearly felt a suppressed murderous aura, as if what he held in his hand was not a jade hairpin, but herself. As he wished, he could easily crush her, as easily as stepping on an ant.

The reason he was so wary of her was because of Sister Yun. Judging from his attitude towards Sister Yun, she must be one of the few people Mu Ange was close to in this world.

"Your Highness, this hairpin is from my sister Xie Yun's bottle of medicine powder. I had no other intentions. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can have someone examine the hairpin to see if there's anything wrong with it." To save his life, he couldn't let Mu Ange think he would harm Sister Yun!

Mu Ange casually tossed the jade hairpin aside, about to speak, when she heard Anning say:

“I have been out of the palace for two days. Today I recruited several girls to the Prince’s residence. I think they can serve the Prince very well. If the Prince agrees, I will return to the palace tomorrow and will not stay in the Prince’s residence to cause trouble for the Prince.”

An Ning lowered her head, looking extremely aggrieved, but inside she was practically bursting with joy.

"Xiao Ningzi, An Ge didn't mean that," Sister Yun hurriedly explained, afraid that Xiao Ningzi would misunderstand.

"Alright, I will send you back to the palace tomorrow." Mu Ange shifted his gaze from An Ning to the crudely made wooden bird, his eyes filled with disdain.

An Ning bowed respectfully and said in a calm tone, "Thank you, Your Highness."

After speaking, she straightened up and looked at Meng Yun, her tone full of reluctance: "Sister Yun, I don't know when we will meet again after I return to the palace this time. In the past two days, I have really felt that the Prince's mansion is full of dangers. Sister Yun, you must take good care of yourself and not be implicated by the Prince. If fate allows, I will buy you some little trinkets to keep you entertained."

Sister Yun bit her lower lip and replied helplessly, "Alright, the palace is not a safe place either. Xiao Ningzi, you must be careful at all times. If there is a chance, I will send you some pastries."

“Okay.” An Ning nodded in agreement, turned around and went out.

The door closed again, and a gentle breeze blew by. An Ning shivered from the cold and stretched out her hand. Two pieces of osmanthus cake lay quietly in her palm. These were given to her by Sister Yun before she left. Looking at them now, she couldn't help but feel her eyes well up with tears.

"Eh."

Even if there are a thousand words in my heart, all that comes out of my mouth is a sigh.

——————————

at the same time.

Tianlan Country.

"Master Xi, the dozen or so handsome men you selected are all here. Are you satisfied?"

The man's fawning voice, coupled with his submissive and obsequious manner, did not bring joy to Master Xi; instead, it enraged her.

"The quality of your Qiaolangju is getting worse and worse. I spent so much money, and you bring these mediocre women to see me. If you don't want to work here, just say so. There are plenty of people who will take over."

As she spoke, Lanxi stood up, kicked the pitch-pot in front of her away, and made as if to leave.

“Master Xi, please don’t be angry. We sent fifty men to your residence a few days ago. Time is too tight right now, and the new ones can’t keep up. Please don’t be angry. Give us a few more days, and we will definitely find you the best handsome men in Tianlan Kingdom.”

The thought of being sent to the Great Qi for a political marriage, where she would have no chance to enjoy the company of handsome men, filled her with extreme irritation.

"That old, decrepit emperor of the Great Qi Dynasty, doesn't he even know his own worth? How dare he marry me, his aunt? It's one thing for an old ox to eat young grass, but this old ox, almost in his grave, wants to marry more than a dozen beautiful girls at once! How despicable and shameless! How utterly despicable and shameless!"

"Oh dear, my good master, you can't say such things carelessly. The election was decided long ago. Even if the king is unwilling, he can't break the rules. Besides, with such beauty as Consort Xi, the Emperor of Daqi will surely dote on you."

Lanxi was furious and turned around, intending to slap him.

"stop."

A sharp female voice suddenly rang out.

Those present were taken aback at first, then bowed in unison.

"May Prime Minister Liu be well."

The newcomer wore a dark purple official robe, his hair was simply tied up, he had a handsome face, and exuded an air of authority.

Lanxi frowned slightly, reluctantly lowered her hand, and said in a very perfunctory manner, "Good morning, Mr. Liu."

Prime Minister Liu nodded slightly: "Princess, the King requests your presence."

Lanxi waved her hand: "I know, I know, all you ever do is try to catch me."

“Princess, with the general election approaching, we should prepare in advance.”

Speaking of this, Lanxi was furious. The Great Qi Dynasty was a patriarchal society, while Tianlan had always been a woman-dominated society. These two countries were so different, yet they insisted on forming a marriage alliance. What was the difference between this and herding pigs up a tree? She really didn't know what kind of nonsense was going through the Great Qi Emperor's head.

Lanxi lifted her skirt and stormed back to the palace, shouting as she went.

"I, your humble lady, refuse to be like the women of the Great Qi Dynasty, groveling and serving men!"