When Ning Xihua heard his last name was He Lou, she turned around and looked at him again.

He Louche not only looks younger than her, but also has a baby face.

He has handsome features, and his eye sockets are deeper than those of people from the Central Plains. If you look closely, his pupils are a little gray. Not only does he have a high nose bridge, but it is also a hump nose, and the prominent curve makes his nose look even more upright.

Unlike the people of Dali where both men and women consider white as beautiful, the boy has a healthy wheat-colored skin and a bright smile on his face. He looks like the brightest sunshine in summer, hot and full of vitality.

Ning Xihua felt that this man should just ride his horse to his heart's content on the grasslands. It was really unfair for him to be stuck in the capital and wrongly accused of molesting a girl.

She guessed that his last name was He Lou, and even if he was not from the Beiqiong royal family, he had a close relationship with the royal family. She did not want to cause trouble, so she waved her hand and refused, "It's just a small favor, don't worry about it."

Seeing that she refused to reveal her name, He Louche thought that the people of Dali were conservative and she was reluctant to say more. He thought that he could ask the envoys when he returned to the post station, and he would be able to find out, so he stopped bothering her.

But he was really curious about how this girl could make the woman admit that she was lying with just a few words.

"I wonder how the young lady knew that the woman was framing you?"

Ning Xihua looked at He Louche's sparkling puppy eyes and felt that he was like a big golden retriever that was full of curiosity about new things. She couldn't bear to refuse him for a moment.

"There is no decent woman who, after being molested, would not cover her clothes tightly first, but leave her shoulders and neck exposed, fearing that others would not see her."

Ning Xihua explained, "And the incense she used was uniformly prepared and distributed by the Jiaofangsi. The girls in brothels often use this kind of incense."

He Louche was surprised and said with admiration: "Amazing! But how do you even know about this kind of incense?"

Song Yi's face turned pale when she heard this. Her princess had visited many brothels in Yizhou, big and small, so of course she knew...

Ning Xihua coughed twice and said awkwardly: "I just smelled it."

But He Louche was still a little confused, "But why did she confess everything when you told her she was from the Jiaofangsi?"

Ning Xihua said: "Because she didn't dare to report it to the police. If she was really bullied, a normal person's first reaction would definitely be to report it to the police, rather than dragging me to judge in front of a group of people."

Seeing that He Louche was still full of questions, she explained, "My lord, you don't know that the official prostitutes of the Jiaofangsi are not allowed to go out without permission. If she is really from the Jiaofangsi and she doesn't dare to report to the authorities, we can only say that she ran away secretly."

Ning Xihua recalled the woman's gleaming eyes and sighed, "If a prostitute who had escaped from the government was molested, she would definitely keep it to herself for fear of being discovered. She made it known to everyone, only to make money."

He Louche was surprised: "She is a runaway courtesan? If the girl knew, why didn't she report her to the authorities and have her arrested?"

Ning Xihua was puzzled when she heard this, "It's not like I was framed. Besides, weren't you the one who let her go?"

Moreover, she secretly felt that a courtesan who had gone through so much trouble to sneak out must have had a rough life. This matter was not her grudge, and she should not intervene and push her back into the abyss, adding to the cause and effect.

He Louche patted his forehead and smiled, looking cheerful.

"Yes, I let him go. Never mind, it's such a small matter, let's not worry about it."

He turned around and bowed to Ning Xihua again, "I still have to thank you, young lady. Although you don't want to reveal your name, if you need my help in the future, you only need to send someone to the post station to let me know. I will not refuse."

Ning Xihua nodded, thinking it was just a courtesy. She didn't take this little thing to heart, and turned around and took Song Yi back home.

…………

Late spring has passed, and summer has quietly arrived. This summer is particularly hot. It has just been the beginning of summer, but the air seems to be on fire, and the heat makes people breathless.

Ning Xihua was working as a human medicine in Linhua Palace as usual. The cicadas outside the window made it impossible for her to take a nap. She frowned and angrily put a handkerchief on her face, trying to block out the annoying noise.

After a while, the scarf on her face was taken off. Ning Xihua glared at the man unhappily: "What are you doing?"

After she had embarrassed herself in front of Su Bi, Ning Xihua's airs as a princess in the front yard of the manor had completely collapsed. After her salty nature was exposed, she simply fell apart.

Thinking that they were already so familiar with each other, and Su Bi was not the kind of person who was fussy about formalities and difficult to get along with, she treated him more casually when they were together.

Although Su Bi would tease her, she was also very tolerant. The days in Linhua Palace were more fulfilling than those in Tingfeng Tower, and the maids and eunuchs were more familiar with each other.

Su Bi was not annoyed by Ning Xihua's disdainful look. She said softly, "Go to sleep in the waterside pavilion in the South Garden. Chang Yi and the others have already arranged it. It's cool there, and there are no cicadas."

Chang Yi was the eunuch who led her to the Linhua Palace when she first visited it. Later she learned that he was Su Bi's personal eunuch and could be considered the chief steward of the Linhua Palace.

Chang Yi is shrewd and sweet-talkerish. Seeing that Su Bi likes her, she lets Chang Yi be in charge of Ning Xihua's affairs in Linhua Palace.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Ning Xihua picked up her skirt and ran towards Nanyuan.

Su Bi shook her head. Since she came to Linhua Palace, she had become more and more rude to him.

In the water pavilion, Ning Xihua lay comfortably on the imperial concubine couch and let out a long sigh of relief.

This water pavilion is built in the middle of the lake, with four hollowed-out sides, allowing wind to blow in from all directions. The lake breeze blows the curtains around it, making them flutter, creating a unique style.

Ning Xihua's favorite fruits and snacks were already laid out in the waterside pavilion. She touched a piece of cake, took a bite, and felt the cool breeze from the lake, which took away the heat and boredom from her body. She suddenly felt that this was just what her ideal salted fish life was like.

Su Bi followed and sat down casually on the couch beside her. Seeing her enjoying herself, he also felt happy.

"Now you feel comfortable, right?"

Ning Xihua was too lazy to reply and just nodded with her eyes closed.

"Now that you feel comfortable, let's talk business. The Longevity Festival is coming soon."

Ning Xihua opened her eyes quickly upon hearing this, "What?"

Emperor Shao Yuan's birthday was in early summer, and once summer arrived, the All Saints' Day was not far away. Hearing about this All Saints' Day, many neighboring countries sent envoys to congratulate him.

Su Bi specifically mentioned the Longevity Festival. Could it be that something strange is happening with the male protagonist again?

Su Bi picked up a folding fan and fanned himself as he replied, "I received a tip that Su Xu has been communicating with the post station frequently recently, but I don't know which country's envoy he is in contact with."

The wind from Su Bi's fan just happened to blow on Ning Xihua's face. She closed her eyes again in comfort, not in a hurry: "No matter which country they are from, whatever conspiracy they have, we will know it once we get here."

"But this is confidential, right? Why are you telling me this?"

Ning Xihua was a little confused, then turned around and looked at Su Bi.

Su Bi remained calm, as if it was a matter of course, "I thought we were allies?"

They were allies, to be sure, but she knew very well that she was not the type to stir up trouble in the court or engage in intrigue and scheme.

For Salty Fish, standing on the right side and holding on to the right support is the smartest thing she can do.

As for how to bring down Su Xu, that depends on the boss's own efforts. She can only provide spiritual support from the side.

"Yes, what I mean is that you can't expect me to give you any advice or do anything myself. At most, I can use the power of Prince Ning's Mansion to help you a little at a critical moment."

Ning Xihua used her thumb and index finger to indicate a "small" area, looking as if she was afraid that Su Bi would ask her to do something.

Su Bi was almost laughing at her lazy and cowardly look. He tapped Ning Xihua's forehead lightly with his folding fan and said unhappily, "I don't expect you to do anything. I just want to share some information with you."

"Oh." Ning Xihua touched his forehead, felt relieved after hearing that, and lay down happily again.