"Xixi, run faster, oh—you're so clumsy."

"Hey, watch out, watch out, ah—my kite."

As everyone gazed at the kites flying far into the sky, Nan roared in exasperation, "Xixi, how many kites is this? They're incredibly stupid, hopeless!"

Xiao Xi looked at the kite string in her hand speechlessly. Why couldn't she fly a kite properly? She kept losing the string and felt very embarrassed. She turned to Nan and said, "You're just standing there yelling. If you're so good, do it yourself."

"Hmph, you've grown quite temperamental. If it weren't for my clothes making it difficult to move around, I could only watch helplessly," she wanted to let it go, but her lover dressed her up so ladylike, and Qingyun was watching her like a tiger eyeing her from the side. Otherwise, she would have already let loose and started playing around.

"Hehe, Sister Tong is too scared to do it. She's very timid and frail. We should put it out and she can just watch over it," Zhenzhen chimed in.

Xiao Xi chuckled. "Timid and weak, did you hear that right?" she said, glancing at Nan Yi with a mocking look and a wicked smile on her lips. She bit her lip and asked, "Is that so, Sister Tong?" Fighting and sneaking away were things she had done, things that only a timid and weak person would do.

Nan Yi didn't take it to heart and chuckled, "In the past, in the past, huh? Those days are best left unsaid."

He walked over to Zhenzhen and whispered a few words in her ear. Zhenzhen nodded repeatedly.

"Someone's here?"

"This servant is here."

"Take Qingyun to rest. She's been playing for a long time and must be tired. Also, don't let anyone get close. We have something to talk about."

"yes"

Nan Yi soared into the sky, grabbed a kite, and ran off against the wind. Zhen Zhen and Xiao Xi laughed heartily as they watched. Nan Yi, wearing a flowerpot, ran incredibly fast.

The artificial hill and pavilion not far away provided a clear view of the open space where they were playing. On the day that Zhenzhen had arranged for Nan Yi, Lao Shi informed Ba Ge and Jiu Ge.

The three of them gathered in the pavilion. The Eighth Prince and the Tenth Prince were sipping wine at the table, while the Ninth Prince, unable to contain himself, walked to the side and peered out, his eyes glued to the scene, as if afraid of missing a single moment. Even after her identity was revealed, she seemed completely unconcerned, still able to enjoy herself so much. He said he would break off all ties with her, yet she didn't seem to care. What a heartless girl! He felt a tightness in his chest; it was so unfair.

Seeing that she had run a little further away, he stood on tiptoe to look again, but was unexpectedly blocked by the branches extending to the side. He became anxious and said, "I'll go take a look," before disappearing in an instant.

The tenth prince and the eighth prince looked at each other and smiled, then raised their cups and drank heartily.

"Did the myna bird investigate?"

"There are still some questions."

In the garden, Nan Yi ran around holding a kite, which flew very high, while Xiao Xi and Zhen Zhen cheered and applauded from the side.

Wanting to show off, she became carried away and leaped onto the flowerbed. Just as she was about to steady herself, she forgot that she was wearing flowerpot-shaped shoes and couldn't stand steadily on the top of the petals.

She swayed from side to side, her hands flailing wildly in the air, about to fall flat on her face. Suddenly, a brilliant idea flashed into her mind. She lightly pushed off the flower branch, gathered her strength, and leaped upwards, spinning around to land.

A shadow suddenly flashed past to her side. Before she could see it clearly, someone grabbed her and pulled her to the ground, where she rolled several times and let out a few muffled groans.

She was held so tightly that she almost couldn't breathe, and she was so dizzy from the fall that she couldn't come to her senses for a long time.

Heavy breathing filled the air above her head, and a familiar voice called out anxiously, "Nan Yi, are you alright?"

"......Don't make a fuss," Nan Yi muttered weakly. Her head was spinning, and she felt nauseous. In her mind, she cursed and hurled insults at the person who was causing the trouble. She could have landed safely on her own, but someone had to interfere.

The person holding her didn't give up. Thinking she was injured, they rolled over and slowly felt her legs, urgently calling out, "Nan Yi, where did you fall? Tell me, tell me quickly, where did you fall?"

Nan Yi struggled to regulate her breathing, sensing the strange sensation in her body. Suddenly snapping back to reality, she rolled to the side, abruptly stood up, and roared, "Damn it! You dare to take advantage of me? You're asking for it..." The word "death" caught in her throat as she stared in astonishment at the Ninth Prince. Was it him?

The person who caught her was none other than the Ninth Prince, who had been secretly following her. Since he couldn't see her from the pavilion, he hid behind her by the flower bed. Suddenly, he heard her scream. He had just peeked out when he saw her fall. Before he could react, he had already jumped out and caught her, rolling on the ground.

The sudden emptiness of her chest startled the Ninth Prince. After a moment, he frowned, patted his chest, and sat up. Seeing that she was completely unharmed and still had the strength to curse, he was relieved and said with a slight change in expression, "Go on."

Nan Yi lowered his gaze guiltily, standing with one foot higher than the other. His robes were covered in mud and grass clippings, and his hair was disheveled, making him look quite pathetic and wretched.

The Ninth Prince watched coldly. Nan Yi felt slightly uncomfortable, and his feet were also uncomfortable. So he simply took off his shoes and carried them in his hand. The air condensed into fog, making people feel damp, sticky and uncomfortable for no reason. Even breathing was tainted with dust.

Xiao Xi and Zhen Zhen watched in fear from a distance, and the people in the pavilion also noticed the sudden situation and ran over to check.

The Ninth Prince stood up, rubbing his ribcage which was throbbing from her impact, and said, "Don't you have anything to say, hmm?" He could just say she was an ingrate; he saved her, so he should at least say thank you.

"Thanks."

"Cough..." The Ninth Prince choked on his saliva, and a suspicious blush rose on his fair face. Could this be considered telepathy?

He stared intently at her lowered head, and after a long while, he only gave her two words. How come he never noticed before that she was so sparing with words? Back then, when she kept nagging, he felt like banging his head against the wall. Now he realized that listening to her nagging was actually a happy thing.

"Anything else?"

"What else?" Nan Yi was speechless, muttering, "Didn't you say we were breaking up..." Ugh, Nan Yi was so annoyed she wanted to bite her tongue.

"You..." The Ninth Prince heard her whisper and instantly flew into a rage, his teeth grinding together. Nan Yi heard this and shrank back. She knew this would happen. Why did she have to say that? Why bring up the sore spot? That wasn't what she wanted to say.

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