When Tao Ti heard the young eunuch say Pei Yan couldn't come, she frowned slightly.

Seeing this, Linglong thought she was unhappy and was about to say something to comfort her, but Zishuang interrupted her and said, "Master, if the prince doesn't come, it's fine. You can eat your food at ease. If the prince does come, you will have to serve him."

Zishuang's voice was already shrill, and when these words came out of her mouth, the meaning of disdain became even more obvious.

For a moment, the faces of the people in the East Palace in the hall turned unhappy.

Is this guy here to attract hatred for me? Tao Ti raised her eyelids and glanced at Zi Shuang, then called out in a deep voice, "Zi Shuang."

Zi Shuang felt a pang of disappointment when she glanced at him, and quickly lowered her head, "Master, I feel sorry for you."

"That's not necessary." Tao Ti said calmly, "Okay, I don't need you to serve me here."

"Aunt, Master..." Zishuang's face was filled with surprise.

"Don't you understand me?"

"...Yes." Zishuang looked frustrated, and when she left, she couldn't help but glare at Linglong.

Linglong was confused. When she came to her senses, she said to Taoti, "Don't be angry, Crown Princess. His Highness has always been diligent. He didn't mean to not come..."

Tao Ti smiled at her, "I'm not angry, I just thought that His Highness is still busy at this hour, can his body handle it?"

Just last night, he started coughing every time he spoke a little loudly. I wonder if he would be so tired from being busy that he would vomit blood.

Linglong looked at Tao Ti in surprise. She never thought that she was actually concerned about His Highness' health.

Tao Ti said, "Please serve the food. I am hungry too."

Before long, the sandalwood table was filled with a variety of dishes, as well as cakes and candied fruits on silver plates. It looked rich, but... still light!

Even the meat was stewed, and although the sauce was generous and the food looked good, Taoti, who loves spicy food, was still a little disappointed. She really wanted to eat hot and sour noodles, spicy hot pot, beef hot pot, chopped pepper fish head, boiled pork slices, spicy chicken, spicy fried rice noodles, pepper chicken...

"Linglong, can the kitchen of our East Palace make spicy dishes, or dishes with a stronger flavor?"

"Replying to the Crown Princess, Doctor Yu has said that Your Highness is weak and needs to eat light food, so the kitchen always cooks light dishes..." After a pause, Linglong added, "If the Crown Princess wants to eat something with a strong flavor, then I will go to the kitchen and tell them to make a few more dishes and send them over?"

"Forget it." Tao Ti called Linglong and glanced at the full table. This was enough for her to eat, and it would be a waste to make more.

As she ate her meal, she imagined all kinds of delicious food in her mind, wondering when she could go to the kitchen, cook for herself, and have enough food and clothing.

——

After eating and drinking, Taoti ordered a rose bath of the same type as those in ancient costume TV dramas.

After playing with the bright petals floating on the water for a while, Tao Ti closed her eyes and lay relaxed in the steamy bathtub, with the memories of her past life and this life intertwined in her mind.

Oh, I wonder how my parents would react when they knew she had gone to the underworld? And that stupid dog Qiongqi must be feeling guilty.

Unfortunately, I now have a human body and no magical powers. I can only wait until this body dies before going to the underworld to seek justice.

Just as Tao Ti was lost in thought, Pei Yan arrived outside the gate of Yaoguang Palace.

Seeing the maids standing guard outside the door, he frowned and asked, "Where is the Crown Princess?"

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess is bathing in the clean room."

"Aren't you going in to serve?"

"The Crown Princess said she wanted to be alone and asked the servants to wait outside."

Send the palace servants away and be alone?

Pei Yan suddenly thought of something, his face darkened, and he pushed the door open and walked in.

Palace people, "!!!"

The Crown Prince... could it be that he wants to play in the water with the Crown Princess?

Inside the house, Pei Yan strode towards the seven-foot-tall embroidered peony screen, a faint moist fragrance filling his nose.

After hesitating for a moment, he reached out and knocked on the screen.

There were two crisp "dong dong" sounds.

Tao Ti was almost asleep when she was suddenly awakened. She thought it was the palace maids urging her to come. She subconsciously said, "You really don't need to wait on me. I'll change my clothes and come out right away."

Pei Yan, who was standing outside the screen, "..."

I'm glad I didn't commit suicide.

Just as he was about to move, he heard a splashing sound of water.

The next moment, he caught a glimpse of a graceful figure projected on the screen out of the corner of his eye.

The screen was made of the finest silk, which was translucent but not transparent. Under the bright candlelight, the figure had graceful curves and a slender waist.

Pei Yan's cheeks felt slightly hot and he quickly looked away. At this moment, a soft "ah" sounded from behind the screen.

"Well, could you please help me get that bra, er, bellyband, please? I forgot to take it."

Pei Yan: “…”

His eyes fell silently on the table, where a smoky pink sweater was stacked on the tray.

It was made of thin brocade material, embroidered with a pattern of bird-playing-with-lotus flowers, and the ropes used to tie it were not ribbons but thin gold chains.

He was silent for a moment and walked to the desk. The sharp-knuckled hands twisted a gold chain, and the small triangular pocket was lifted lightly.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

He knocked on the screen three times and stretched out his coat.

Then, a fair and delicate arm stretched out and quickly took the coat. The little girl inside said thank you in a crisp voice.

Pei Yan's Adam's apple moved slightly, and he walked out without saying a word.

The palace servants outside the palace were a little surprised to see the prince coming out again.

Pei Yan was seen standing in the corridor with his hands behind his back, his jade-like chin slightly raised, as if admiring the moon.

The bright moonlight shines on his hair, his handsome features, and his graceful figure.

The breeze blows by, and his clothes flutter, just like a banished immortal.

After Tao Ti put on her pajamas, she didn't see any palace maids coming in for a long time, so she went to the door by herself.

She raised her hand and gently pushed the door open. The next second, she was stunned.

Mom, I, I saw a fairy, oh no, a fairy boy!!!

Perhaps it was because Tao Ti's gaze was too hot, Pei Yan slowly turned around.

Tao Ti shuddered and subconsciously raised her hands to touch her mouth and nose. Fortunately, she was not drooling or bleeding from the nose.

"Your Highness, when did you come? Why don't you sit inside? Although it's March now, the wind at night is still a little chilly. You'd better be careful not to catch a cold." After she finished speaking such a long string of words, she realized that she seemed to be very nagging. Would he find her annoying?

Pei Yan caught her annoyed expression at a glance, and raised the corners of his lips slightly, "The moonlight tonight is beautiful."

Tao Ti gathered up her light purple coat, took two steps outside, raised her head and took a look, "It's quite round."

She was standing next to him, so close that Pei Yan's nose was filled with her faint sweet fragrance.

He wondered what kind of bath bean recipe she used for bathing that smelled so good?

Tao Ti looked at the moon and chatted casually, "Your Highness, have you had dinner?"

"Yes, I have used it." Pei Yan said, and looked at her with some apology, "I was dealing with things before, so I didn't come to have dinner with you. I hope you don't mind."

Tao Ti raised her two little hands and waved them, "It's okay, it's okay, I don't mind, you go about your business, don't worry about me, just pay attention to the balance between work and rest."

Pei Yan's gentle gaze lingered on her two white and tender hands for a moment, and then he retracted his gaze, "Hmm."

Suddenly, Tao Ti smelled an unpleasant smell of medicine.

She followed the smell of medicine and saw Pei Yan's personal eunuch Fu Xirui coming over with a tray, "Your Highness, it's time to take the medicine."

The black medicine was served in a jade bowl, steaming and with a strong bitter taste.

When Tao Ti smelled this, she couldn't help but pursed her lips. Is this thing for people to drink?

But Pei Yan remained calm, picked up the medicine and drank it in big gulps.

He didn't even frown throughout the whole process.

After finishing the medicine, Pei Yan simply rinsed his mouth with water.

Tao Ti asked Fu Xirui, "Why don't you prepare some sugar or preserves? It can help to reduce the bitter taste after taking the medicine."

Fu Xirui was slightly startled, "This..."

Pei Yan put the handkerchief he used to wipe his mouth back on the tray and said nonchalantly, "I am not a child. I will cry after taking medicine and not having candy."

Tao Ti frowned and whispered, "But this medicine looks very bitter, and who said that adults can't eat sweets?"

"One bowl in the morning, one bowl before going to bed, 360 days a year, every day like this." Pei Yan showed a forced smile on his warm face, "I'm used to this bitter taste."

I'm used to it.

Just three simple words made Tao Ti feel a little choked up.

After thinking for a while, her voice softened unconsciously, "Then I'll prepare some candied candies for you in the future, so you don't have to suffer so much."

Pei Yan was startled when he heard the voice, then he smiled warmly at her, "Okay."

The ancients believed in working at sunrise and resting at sunset. The prince was in poor health, so his work and rest schedule was more regular.

Late at night, Tao Ti and Pei Yan slept in the same bed like they did last night.

Tao Ti's black hair was piled on top of her head like a satin. In her previous life, she had neat short hair, but the hair in this body was long and thick, and it could fall down to her hips. She spent most of her time taking a bath tonight on her hair. Now her hair was spread out, and a faint floral scent filled the red wedding curtains.

Pei Yan smelled the sweet fragrance that belonged to his daughter's home, and his eyes couldn't help but darken. He tried to breathe calmly, but his mind kept thinking of the scene of him handing her the clothes.

A touch of smoky pink, a section of delicate snow-white.

At this moment, a small, soft voice suddenly sounded in my ears, "Your Highness, are you asleep?"

In the darkness, Pei Yan's eyelashes twitched slightly. After thinking for a while, he replied, "What's wrong?"

The soft voice sounded again, "I just want to tell you something. I don't know if you have heard of the saying, "It is difficult to draw the bones of a dragon or a tiger, and you can know a person's face but not his heart..." In this world, some people look good, but in fact, their hearts are not so good..."

Pei Yan narrowed his eyes, "Hmm?"

Tao Ti continued, "You are a very good person, but if you are too good, you will be easily bullied and schemed against... Then we have to talk about another saying, don't have the intention to harm others, but be on guard against others... Uh, do you understand what I mean?"

Pei Yan bent his lips and said softly, "I don't quite understand."

Tao Ti bit her lip, suddenly turned over, propped up half of her body with her elbow, and faced towards him.

After two seconds of hesitation, he said bluntly, "We have paid our respects to the Queen today. The Queen is quite kind so far. But the Second Princess, I personally feel that she is not that friendly..."

Seeing Pei Yan didn't say anything, she felt a little guilty. Did she say too much? She tried to explain, "Your Highness, don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to sow discord. I just want to remind you..."

After a long silence, Pei Yan's gentle voice rang out, "Well, I know."

Taoti, "..."

"I know what you said." Pei Yan turned around, his eyes bright in the faint light coming through the curtain, "I am weak and sickly, but I still occupy the position of crown prince. I can understand that my third brother and Lingbi are dissatisfied. But it won't be long... ahem, at most another year, I can give up the position of crown prince to him."

Seeing him coughing again, Tao Ti was surprised, "Are you okay?"

Pei Yan turned to the other side, coughing and saying, "No... I'm fine..."

"You're coughing like this, how can you say you're fine?" Tao Ti lifted the quilt and stood up, saying, "I'll go get you a glass of water."

She was sleeping in the bed, and if she wanted to go out, she had to pass Pei Yan who was sleeping outside.

It was difficult to walk, so she could only crawl over. First she crossed his body with one hand, then her legs... When she was halfway across, she subconsciously looked down, and unexpectedly, Pei Yan was also looking at him.

Face to face, eye to eye.

Looking at the man's handsome and innocent face, Tao Ti felt like a bastard who ruined a decent woman?

"Ahem..." She looked away awkwardly and crawled over swiftly.

A strand of soft hair brushed across Pei Yan's face, and a faint fragrance lingered around his nose. He tilted his head and stared at the petite and well-proportioned back.

Tao Ti quickly brought a cup of warm water over and said softly, "Here, the water temperature is just right, not hot."

She was wearing a snow-white nightgown today. Perhaps because she had just slept, it was a little loose at the moment. The collar was slightly open, revealing a corner of the pajamas. Faintly, you could still see the thin gold chain hanging behind her neck, shining with tiny golden light.

Pei Yan pursed his thin lips unconsciously, took the cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Seeing that he stopped coughing after drinking the water, Tao Ti breathed a sigh of relief and put the cup back.

She returned to the bed and crawled over from the foot of the bed to avoid the initial embarrassment.

After seeing her lying down, Pei Yan raised his slender, cold white arms slightly, and the big red curtain dropped again, enveloping the room with fragrance.

"You have to go back tomorrow, it won't be good if you're late." He said, "Go to sleep."

Going back home? Tao Ti was startled.

If Pei Yan hadn't mentioned it, she would have forgotten about it.

Thinking of the situation at the original owner's mother's home, the Yongwei Marquis Mansion, Tao Ti felt a little worried. It seemed that there would be troubles again tomorrow.

Pei Yan heard her sigh and comforted her, "Don't worry too much. I will go back with you tomorrow."

Tao Ti understood that he accompanied her back to the Yongwei Marquis's mansion to show everyone how much he valued her and to save her face.

She was grateful and said softly, "Thank you."