The candlelight in the room was dim, and Pei Yan's shadow was reflected in the window frame, looking tall and straight.

He walked slowly to the bed. Half of the curtain was hung up with silver hooks, and the other half hung down with it.

On the large and soft bed, his little princess was sleeping soundly.

The sleeping posture is quite proper, lying on its side with its two little hands placed next to its milky white face. Its breathing is even and slow, like a lazy little cat like a snowball.

Without him by her side, she was obviously much more relaxed. Her long black hair was casually scattered, and her pajamas were not as formal as usual. Perhaps because the weather was getting warmer, her collar was open, revealing the lilac-colored hooded sweater underneath, which was bulging because of her side-lying posture...

The warm candlelight shone through the smoky purple curtains onto her jade-like white skin, adding a hint of haziness and ambiguity.

Pei Yan sat leisurely beside the bed with his head slightly lowered. There was a sense of aloofness and coldness between his delicate eyebrows, no longer his usual warmth and gentleness.

The clean, slender fingers gently stroked her cheek.

Perhaps his fingers were too cold, Tao Ti's thick eyelashes lilted slightly, and her two thin curved eyebrows wrinkled.

There was a sleeping pill in the incense, and Pei Yan was not worried that she would wake up.

His knuckle-shaped hands touched Taoti's cheeks little by little, from the roots of her hair, behind her ears, and her chin. Her skin was very tender, like a peeled egg shell. He subconsciously didn't dare to use too much force, fearing that he would accidentally hurt her delicate little face.

Such delicate and gentle movements are like the most affectionate man in the world, gently caressing his beloved - if his deep eyes were not filled with indifference.

No human skin mask.

Pei Yan withdrew his hand, lowered his black eyes, and stared at the delicate and beautiful face in front of him, and recalled her lively little expressions in the past.

Yes, if there really was a human skin mask, how could he not notice any clues after sleeping in the same bed with her for so many days?

So what's the matter with her various behaviors since she entered the East Palace?

Or is it that there are people in this world who look exactly the same?

The person who was madly in love with Pei Changzhou before, suddenly became gentle, considerate and caring towards me... No matter how I thought about it, it felt wrong.

Pei Yan thought quietly, his deep eyes carrying a hint of mockery.

He suddenly pinched her small chin, his dark eyes were tinged with a dangerous dark color, and his voice was low and slow, "Is this a plan between you and him?"

The person on the bed was fast asleep, with an expression of defenseless innocence and simplicity between his features.

"If you stay so good, I can spare your life."

Pei Yan murmured, inadvertently glancing at her arm that was hanging outside. It was white and tender, like a piece of fresh snow lotus root.

His eyes suddenly darkened.

After sitting quietly for a while, he reached out to cover her with the quilt and stood up.

The curtains were lowered again.

There were footsteps and doors closing, and then everything returned to silence, as if no one had ever been there.

——

Tao Ti slept until she woke up naturally and felt extremely energetic.

When Linglong was helping her with her hair, she took a silver hairpin with a sunflower pattern and put it on her hair, and asked casually, "How did you taste the bread yesterday?"

Linglong paused holding the comb, and then she changed her mind and said calmly, "...the Crown Princess's cooking is naturally excellent."

"I didn't put too much sugar yesterday, I thought you might think the taste was bland." Tao Ti said to herself, "We can bake something else today. Hmm, the pork jerky is good. There are also candied fruits. The honey fried ones are so sweet that it takes a long time to take a bite. No wonder His Highness doesn't like it... I just made it all at once today. If I make it early, he can also eat it with the medicine."

Linglong whispered, "The Crown Princess likes to cook?"

Tao Ti looked at herself in the mirror and answered nonchalantly, "I don't have any other hobbies, I just like to think about food."

In modern times, she can still hang out with friends, enjoy the bright lights and nightlife, visit restaurants and check in, and live like a god. But now she is in this ancient time where her hands are tied and she is still a princess, with no love from her father and mother, and a dark history that is difficult to wash away... What else can she do except tossing around on food?

Linglong didn't say anything after that and just quietly combed Tao Ti's hair.

After lunch, Tao Ti went straight into the kitchen.

The ingredients used in the small kitchen are all of the finest quality. It is best to use fresh pork hind legs to make pork jerky, carefully removing the tendons and bones to leave only a piece of pure lean meat.

Tao Ti had chosen the ingredients and wanted Zi Shuang to mince the meat, but Zi Shuang disliked the fishy and sticky smell of pork and refused, saying that she had never minced meat before, which made it clear that she didn't want to do it. Tao Ti didn't force her and asked Ling Long to do it.

Linglong started without saying anything. Zishuang felt a little regretful at this moment and hurriedly followed Taoti, "Master, can you let me do something else?"

Tao Ti thought that she was the original owner's personal maid who grew up with her. Maybe she was spoiled by the original owner and developed her current temper. After thinking for a moment, she pointed to the basket of fresh fruits on the table and said, "Then go wash the fruits, peel the ginger, pit the hawthorns and apricots, and remove the seeds from the kumquats."

"Okay, I'll go right away." Zishuang agreed quickly and took the fruit to wash it.

Pork jerky and preserved meat are not difficult to make, and with the help of Linglong and Zishuang, it is much easier.

Soon, the Yaoguang Palace was filled with fragrance again. Sometimes it was the aroma of roasted meat, and sometimes it was the aroma of fresh and sweet fruit. The two aromas blended together, and the palace servants inside and outside the palace were all drooling secretly.

"I wonder what the Crown Princess made today? It seems to be more fragrant than yesterday's."

"It seems to be pork and preserved fruits? Oh, Xiao Liuzi, who worked there yesterday, gave me a small piece of cake baked by the Crown Princess. Wow, the taste and texture were absolutely amazing! I wonder if I can get some to try today?"

"You are so beautiful. I will be thankful if I can taste something made by the Crown Princess herself once."

"Hey, it seems that our Crown Princess is not completely useless. At least she is a good cook. I heard that the cakes she sent to Zixiao Palace yesterday were praised by Master Song and others after they ate them."

The spring scenery is warm, swallows are flying obliquely, and the quiet afternoon time becomes more gentle because of the aroma of food.

When the daylight faded, the pork jerky and preserved fruits were ready.

Tao Ti planned to personally escort her to Zixiao Palace this time. After all, she was the Crown Princess and had been in the East Palace for several days. She knew nothing about other places except Yaoguang Palace and the kitchen. She was free anyway, so she might as well take advantage of this beautiful spring weather to check out the map and get familiar with the living environment.

Zishuang also wanted to go with them, so Taoti asked her, "Are you familiar with the way to the East Palace?"

Zishuang, "..."

Seeing her speechless look, Tao Ti secretly wondered if she had acted too cold and was not as dependent on her as the original owner, which was why Zishuang had been so jumpy recently?

Alas, she has never been a leader before. How to balance the psychology of new and old employees...well, she still needs to think more about it.

After a moment of silence, she said to Zishuang, "Linglong, take me to familiarize myself with the route this time, and I'll take you out next time."

Upon hearing this, Zishuang hurriedly said, "I understand."

I felt a little more at ease, it seems that my master still cares about me.

Linglong, who had packed up the food boxes, came over and saw this scene, frowning slightly. She didn't say much, just walked to Taoti's side, lowered her eyes and said respectfully, "Crown Princess, the food is ready."

Tao Ti said "hmm" softly, and the master and servant went out together.