“Very good, brother, continue!” Xiao Hua agreed and continued to release the water.

Hongxuan was speechless. He struggled lazily, but on the surface, he looked at Xiaohua with great interest and asked, "Why?"

Xiao Hua knew immediately what the prince was asking. She stopped and made a difficult gesture to hug Hong Xuan, but answered very respectfully, "Prince is the master, and I am a servant. I shouldn't have done this. Besides, Prince's smile is very warm and kind. Furthermore," she said, her eyes dimming and her voice filled with sadness, "I have a younger brother. If he were still alive, he would be about your age."

Hongxuan was stunned for a moment after hearing this. Such a reason? After regaining his senses, he asked, "Aren't you afraid that the people who ordered you to do this will retaliate against you?"

“I’m scared!” Xiaohua answered resolutely. “But, brother, you are innocent. Besides, you are so young and so good. I hope you live, live with a warm smile, and don’t die at such a young age like my brother.”

Hongxuan was a little confused. It was because of this? Well, this reason was really, well, quite powerful.

For a moment, he had the thought that after this incident, it wouldn't be impossible to spare the maid's life.

Thinking this to himself, he continued aloud, "But you should know that even if you don't really want my life, you have still taken action, and that is an unforgivable crime of treason, and you will inevitably die."

His words showed no regard for the other party's potential for mutual destruction after hearing them—or rather, for dragging others down with them even if it meant their own demise.

“Brother, you don’t need to test me.” Xiaohua’s eyes were smiling, a smile of relief. “Everyone wants to live, and I am no exception. But if I really harm you, I will not be at peace. When I go to the underworld, I will not have the face to see my mother and my brother. Besides, your smile is so warm, so very warm. How could I bear to do that?”

"Aren't you afraid of death?" Hongxuan frowned. "If you reveal who ordered you, I can..."

"Thank you, Your Highness, but there's no need," Xiaohua refused. "I will repay the debt of gratitude with my own life, and that will settle everything. As for you, Your Highness, you are innocent."

As they were talking, Hongxuan and Xiaohua saw the servants who had rushed over after hearing the cries for help, and they came running from a distance.

Xiao Hua panicked and tried to keep running while holding Hong Xuan, but she couldn't hold him steady and could only adjust her holding position on the spot.

However, in Hongxuan's view, the other party was not flustered at all, which was evident from the fact that the person continued to answer his questions.

"This servant is a little regretful, regretful that I will never be able to see your warm smile again, my lord."

Hongxuan wasn't in a hurry, since the other party really didn't intend to kill him. He was curious about the person in front of him, so he looked at the servant running towards him and asked, "What's your name?"

"Little Flower".

Hongxuan was somewhat surprised that his smile was also the reason why the other party was unwilling to make a move. So he withdrew his gaze from the servants rushing over and looked at Xiaohua, continuing to ask, "Does my smile really have such great power that it makes you so reluctant to kill me?"

"Yes!" Xiaohua nodded almost imperceptibly. "That's true."

After listening, Hongxuan lowered his eyes, lost in thought: His mother had taught him to make good use of his strengths.

At this moment, the servants arrived and he was "rescued" from Xiao Hua's arms, while Xiao Hua, who "had ill intentions towards him," was forced to kneel on the ground.

After being thoroughly checked and found to be unharmed, Hongxuan was put down by the servants. As his feet touched the ground, he murmured softly, "In that case, smile more in the future. Don't be like Father."

"What did the prince say?" asked Xiao Li, Hongxuan's personal eunuch, because Hongxuan's voice was too soft to hear clearly.

Hongxuan glanced at Xiao Lizi, said nothing, tucked the things in his sleeve back into place, then turned to look at the maid who was being forced to kneel on the ground with her head down, and calmly ordered, "Take her away and bring her with you, Master."

After saying that, he took the lead and went to the front yard.

Before long, they ran into Gao Wuyong, who had rushed over after hearing about the incident.

He instructed Gao Wuyong, "Steward Gao, she is now in your care. Ask who gave her the order, but don't let her die. We'll discuss the details when Father returns."

As he spoke, he glanced at Xiaohua. She was actually quite nice; she was grateful for kindness but hadn't lost her principles—a person with a bottom line.

Moreover, the other party didn't kneel down and beg for mercy, but instead used her past kindness in letting him go to get him to spare her life. He was quite satisfied with this.

If she maintains her principles under the pressure of Chief Steward Gao, then what's wrong with him pleading with his father to spare her life?

"Don't worry, young prince, this servant knows what to do." Gao Wuyong spoke respectfully and kindly to Hongxuan, but when he turned to face Xiaohua, his face instantly turned cold.

As expected of those who follow the Fourth Master, they have learned some of his icy aura, and everyone felt their body temperature drop.

"Take him away." After giving the order, Gao Wuyong turned around and immediately changed his expression, asking Hongxuan with concern, "Brother, are you alright? This servant will have a doctor come and take a look."

Although it is a question, the tone and expression are firm.

Hongxuan, who had initially intended to refuse, thought about it and then nodded in agreement.

As he was walking back to his yard, he suddenly remembered something and stopped.

"Young Master, what's wrong?" Gao Wuyong, who had just ordered someone to fetch a doctor, turned around and saw this scene, and couldn't help but ask.

Hongxuan turned his head and asked with some worry, "Does Mother know about this?"

Mother is pregnant, and if she gets upset because of what happened to her, something bad might happen to her... Just thinking about this possibility, the little guy narrowed his eyes dangerously. No matter who it is, he will definitely take revenge.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!