As soon as he walked out of the Zixiao Palace, Tao Ti raised his hand and patted his chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

If the circumstances were not special, she would not be willing to lie, let alone lie to such a gentle, sickly beauty like Pei Yan.

Oh, this guilt...

"Crown Princess, are we still going to pick the locust flowers?" Linglong glanced at the darkening sky and reminded softly.

Tao Ti came back to her senses and said without hesitation, "We must go. Let's go, let's pick them while it's still light and steam them to eat at night. I tell you, the steamed locust flowers are so fragrant. Only in spring can you taste such fresh ones all year round. In addition to steaming locust flowers, we can also fry them in oil and make fried egg pancakes..."

Listening to the Crown Princess chattering on about the various ways of cooking Huaihua, Linglong's guard was unconsciously dispelled a lot, and her face, which usually had little expression, also showed a little more warmth.

Before she was sold into the palace, her grandmother would pick fresh locust flowers in the spring and cook porridge and cakes for her and her family. Those were truly wonderful times.

——

Under the snow-white locust tree forest, Tao Ti tilted her little head and directed the little eunuch to pick flowers.

"Yes, yes, yes, it's fresh over there. It's okay to cut off the whole branch. It will grow again next year."

"Be careful, pick them slowly, don't rush."

Looking at the locust flowers that were gradually filling up the bamboo basket, Tao Ti squatted down, scooped up a handful of flowers in her hands, sniffed them gently, and a smile appeared on her face.

Suddenly, she felt as if someone was looking at them.

Tao Ti raised her eyes and looked around. When she saw the two figures standing in the corridor not far away, the smile on her face froze.

In the corridor, standing in front was a man wearing a royal blue brocade robe, a jade belt around his waist, with a handsome face and an upright posture. Behind him was a thin and tall eunuch with drooping eyebrows and drooping eyes.

The master and servant were looking in their direction.

Although there was a distance between them and Tao Ti couldn't see the expression on his face clearly, she recognized the man's identity at a glance -

The third prince Pei Changzhou.

The scumbag who PUA'd the original owner and pushed her to commit suicide step by step!

The good mood of picking flowers disappeared in an instant, replaced by the rising anger in my heart.

She pursed her lips in anger, cursing in her heart: Look at me, you scumbag, you still have the nerve to look at me! !

Pei Changzhou also noticed that Tao Ti saw him. Thinking of what Pei Lingbi said to him a few days ago, his heart moved slightly.

He was about to raise his hand to wave to Tao Ti, but before he could raise his hand, he saw Tao Ti decisively turn her head away and no longer look at him.

Pei Changzhou frowned. Is he really angry?

But it doesn't matter if he's angry. This stupid woman is easy to coax anyway. As long as he says a few nice words, she will do whatever he says.

Thinking of this, Pei Changzhou straightened his collar and walked towards the locust tree forest with confidence.

The eunuch behind him was startled and reminded him in a low voice, "Master, this is the East Palace."

Pei Changzhou curled his lips and said disdainfully, "What happened to the Eastern Palace? I just said hello to my sister-in-law. Even if the prince knew about it, it doesn't matter. He is always gentle and tolerant and won't take it to heart."

Just when Pei Changzhou was about to reach the locust tree forest, he saw Tao Ti taking Linglong and the little eunuch who was picking flowers and walking in another direction.

Although they were only about ten meters apart, she pretended not to see him and didn't even give him an extra glance. She walked away so cleanly and neatly.

Looking at the petite figure gradually moving away, Pei Changzhou's handsome face darkened.

What does this woman mean? She is so shameless.

She has only been married into the East Palace for a few days, and she dares to be so cold to him...

Pei Changzhou felt a surge of anger in his heart. Could it be that this woman really turned to Pei Yan's side as Lingbi said?

No, this is absolutely not possible. Even if he has always treated her as a chess piece, she can only be a chess piece in his hands, belonging only to him!

Thinking of this, a sinister look appeared in Pei Changzhou's eyes. He had to find a way to get this chess piece back.

——

What bad luck!

Tao Ti returned to Yaoguang Palace in depression. She had been happily picking flowers, but her interest was completely ruined by that scum.

Zishuang came out with a gentle voice. Seeing Taoti's unhappy expression, she first asked, "Master, what's wrong with you?" Then she glared at Linglong with raised eyebrows, "Did you fail to serve the master well and make the master angry?!"

Linglong looked at Zishuang calmly without saying a word.

Seeing Linglong didn't say anything, Zishuang thought she didn't take him seriously, and her tone became even more aggressive, "What, you're not convinced after I said something to you? And you're glaring at me, you little bitch, you have a bad temper!"

Linglong said calmly, "Aren't you also a servant?"

Zi Shuang choked and retorted, "Are you worthy enough to compete with me? I have been with the master since I was eight years old, and you have only been with the master for a few days!"

Tao Ti was already a little annoyed, and now she was even more annoyed when she heard the two quarreling. She looked at Zi Shuang unhappily and said, "Okay, stop quarreling. This has nothing to do with Linglong. Zi Shuang, go down first. You don't need to serve here anymore."

Zishuang was still somewhat reluctant, but seeing Taoti's stern face, she had no choice but to step back.

Tao Ti looked at Linglong and said softly, "Zishhuang has been following me all the time. I didn't discipline her well enough. Don't take what happened just now to heart..."

Linglong lowered her eyes and said, "Master, don't worry, I won't take it to heart."

Tao Ti nodded and said, "Take two palace maids and wash a basin of locust flowers. We will steam some to eat tonight."

After Linglong left, Tao Ti collapsed on the couch, staring at the ceiling and calculating in his mind -

According to the current performance of Linglong and Zishuang, she prefers Linglong, who is quiet but down-to-earth. As for Zishuang, she is a bit noisy and likes to stir up trouble...

Maybe Zishuang is really devoted to her master, but judging from her current behavior, it seems that the possibility of her betraying her master is greater.

Forget it, let's just observe for a while. If Zi Shuang continues to make such a fuss, I'll consider whether to let her stay or leave.

She turned over and thought about Pei Changzhou again.

I have to say that the scumbag is still good-looking. That's right, Emperor Zhaokang and Empress Zhou are both good-looking, so the probability of giving birth to an ugly monster is not high.

But what did he mean by walking towards her? Why, seeing that she was not dead, he wanted to trick her again?

Tao Ti cursed in her heart and made up her mind to avoid Pei Changzhou the next time she saw him and never have anything to do with this kind of scum again.

However, facts have proved that flags cannot be set randomly.

On the afternoon of the second day, when Tao Ti was humming a little tune while mixing the fillings for the locust flower buns, Zi Shuang came over mysteriously and said, "Master, I have something important to report."

Tao Ti didn't even raise her head. "What's the matter?"

Zi Shuang's eyes flickered, and she glanced at the other palace maids beside her, and said in a low voice, "Master, regarding this matter...should you go with me to the palace?"

Tao Ti frowned slightly, "......?"

After thinking for a moment, she put down the work in her hands, wiped her hands, and walked into the hall with Zishuang.

The hall was quiet, with the master and servant facing each other.

Tao Ti poured herself a cup of tea and took two sips, then looked at Zi Shuang and said, "There's no one here now, just tell me what you want to say, there are still steamed buns on the stove."

Zishuang reached into her sleeve and took out a letter. She bent her waist and respectfully handed it to Taoti with both hands, "Master, here's the letter."

Believe...what believe?

Tao Ti's eyelids jumped, and her mind was full of ideas. Could it be that besides the identity of a wedding bride, she had some other alias? For example, a beautiful undercover agent?

She took the letter with a serious expression. There was no signature on the cover.

"Who sent this?"

"Master, it's..." Zishuang didn't say the name, but just stretched out her hand and made the number three.

Tao Ti was slightly stunned, "... Pei Changzhou?"

Zishuang smiled ambiguously and nodded.

After quickly reading the contents of the letter, Tao Ti's frown could have killed a fly.

Did Pei Changzhou eat a copy of "The Complete Collection of Earthy Love Talks"? Disgusting! Greasy!

After adjusting her mood, Tao Ti placed the letter on the table beside her, then turned to look at Zi Shuang, "How did you get this letter?"

Zishuang originally wanted to take credit for it, but when she looked up and saw her master's serious expression, her heart skipped a beat.

After a moment of silence, she said carefully, "Master, this letter was given to me by Hu Jin, the eunuch who is beside the Third Prince. He asked me to pass it on to you, Master."

Tao Ti narrowed her eyes and said coldly, "How many benefits has the Third Prince given you? Do you want to harm me like this?"

Upon hearing this, Zishuang's face turned pale and she said in panic, "Master, what are you talking about? What good or bad? I am loyal to you, how could I harm you?"

Seeing her eyes flickering, Tao Ti knew that she had something to hide, and her tone became even colder, "Isn't this harming me? If what happened today were known to others, how would they look at me? And how would the prince look at me?"

Zi Shuang met that cold gaze and felt her legs go weak. She immediately knelt on the ground, trembling, "Master, calm down. I, your servant, your servant..."

She couldn't understand what was going on. In the past, when her master received the third prince's letter, she would be very excited, but why now... was she so heartless?

Looking at Zishuang kneeling on the ground, Tao Ti pursed her red lips. Yesterday she was thinking of giving her another chance, but she didn't expect that she would step on a landmine and explode today.

It turns out that the original owner had a spy around him who was a traitor.

No wonder I had an indescribable weird feeling the moment I first met Zishuang.

Now that this has happened, Zishuang definitely can't stay by my side anymore.

After a moment's silence, Tao Ti whispered, "You must keep your mouth shut about what happened today and don't tell anyone about it. Do you understand?"

Zishuang was startled for a moment, then quickly agreed.

"Stop kneeling, stand up." Tao Ti said calmly, "Your personality is not suitable for serving in the palace, so go back to the Yongwei Marquis's mansion tomorrow."

Zi Shuang was about to stand up, but when she heard this, her knees fell back to the ground. She said in panic, "Master, don't you want me anymore? I know I was wrong, I really know I was wrong, I will never send you a message again... Please don't chase me away, let me stay by your side and serve you!"

Tao Ti did not say anything, but just listened to her crying quietly. When her crying became quieter, she said softly, "Tell me, if I give this letter to the prince, how will the prince deal with you?"

Zi Shuang's pleading voice suddenly stopped, and she stared with disbelief, "Master..."

Tao Ti said, "Wipe your tears, go back to your room and pack your bags. It's better to go back to the Marquis' Mansion to work than to die in the East Palace."

Having said that, Zishuang knew that there was no point in saying more. She looked at Taoti with resentment and left.

The hall became quieter.

The bright sunlight shines in through the window lattice and falls on the piece of letter paper covered with love words.

The last line was Pei Changzhou asking her to have a talk at Yueying Lake in Shenchu ​​Primary School Garden tomorrow.

Tell? Tell a ghost!

Tao Ti rolled her eyes, picked up the letter, and threw it into the incense burner without hesitation.