Zhuangyou walked around the screen and saw that the green gauze curtains were scattered and fluttering in the wind. With the dim light of the red candle, Zhuangyou could see that the bed was completely empty.
Even the blanket that had been pulled back was still warm!
Xia Yi and the wet nurse Jiang lagged half a step behind. When they entered and saw this scene, Xia Yi, the little palace maid, turned pale with fright. She quickly ran over, grabbed the quilt, and searched frantically, muttering, "No, no, that's impossible! The little princess was sleeping soundly just now, and that's why I went out to light the candles!"
Zhuang You's face was grim. She glanced at Xia Yi's panicked back and couldn't bring herself to scold her. She looked around and saw the wide-open window, through which a cool breeze was blowing in.
"The little princess is used to sleeping with adults. She probably ran out yesterday because we let her sleep by herself. Today, the Fifth Prince will be with her, so she naturally won't run out again."
Zhuang You glanced at Xia Yi, who was still muttering to herself, and walked to the window as she spoke. Seeing that the latch was broken, she sneered and gritted her teeth, "Our little princess won't run away, but that wicked bastard can still run."
Xia Yi ran to Zhuang You's side and saw that the latch had been knocked open. It must have been someone from outside who came in. Otherwise, if someone inside wanted to go out, they could have just pulled the latch open.
The wet nurse, her face turning ashen with anger, turned and walked out, muttering resentfully under her breath:
"That little bastard! I've never seen a young master from any family be so outrageous!"
"Even the local thugs at the edge of the village wouldn't do something like breaking into someone's boudoir and kidnapping them!"
"Does he really think the people of the Hengchang Prince's Mansion are easy to bully?! We haven't even settled the score with him for tricking our little princess yesterday, and today he's come to rob us?! That's outrageous! Absolutely outrageous! I'd like to see what excuse he can come up with today!"
"..."
Seeing that Granny Jiang was heading angrily towards the main hall of Xiaochen Palace, looking like she was there to interrogate her, Zhuangyou quickly followed her.
Xia Yi immediately followed Zhuang You's steps.
However, Zhuang You caught sight of her and quickly took out a handkerchief from her bosom, turned around and stuffed it into Xia Yi's hand, while instructing as she walked, "Don't follow us anymore. Go find some water now and wet this handkerchief, then sprinkle the perfume powder from this bottle onto the handkerchief."
As she spoke, Zhuangyou took out a small jade bottle from her sleeve and handed it to Xia Yi.
Xia Yi, still holding the item, was a little confused and couldn't help but ask, "Yes, then... and then what?"
Zhuangyou quickened her pace and hurried away, leaving only a gentle, urgent voice drifting from afar in the empty courtyard: "Then just wait under the eaves."
In the blink of an eye, only a little palace maid, Xia Yi, was left in Mengxia Pavilion, standing in the middle of the courtyard, holding a handkerchief in one hand and a small jade bottle in the other, staring blankly in the direction where Zhuang You had disappeared.
"Squeak—"
A slight sound came from behind, and the door to the side hall opened a crack.
"Sister Xia Yi, what happened? Is there anything Xiao'er can help you with?"
A soft, faint voice rang out, and Xia Yi was immediately jolted back to her senses. She turned her head and saw a slender figure walking gracefully towards her, as if she would be blown away by the August night wind.
Upon recognizing the person, Xia Yi's eyes flashed, and she quickly replied, "No, it's nothing. It's just what I'm used to doing. No need for you to worry, Miss Xiao. Please go and rest. Our little princess is waiting for you to play with her tomorrow."
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