After she and Asang had breakfast, on their way to the laundry department, a young eunuch stopped them and gestured for them to proceed.
Xiao Qingyin immediately recognized that they were people sent by Yelü Sui, and she took Asang's hand and followed them.
Asang quietly asked her, "Is this the guy you found? He's quite handsome."
Xiao Qingyin: "..."
This girl has a really big heart.
Have you forgotten about yesterday so quickly?
She replied softly, "This is His Highness the Crown Prince's person."
Asang's face stiffened, and she tightened her grip on Xiao Qingyin's hand.
"We can't be..."
"It should be fine."
Xiao Qingyin comforted her.
If they were really going to die, they wouldn't have invited them over in front of everyone.
The young father-in-law led them to a lakeside not far from the laundry department, where there was a wooden boardwalk, at the end of which was a small pavilion with an octagonal roof.
Yelü Sui stood in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, his back to them.
The young man stopped and asked them to go by themselves.
Xiao Qingyin calmly walked onto the wooden boardwalk.
Asang clung to her, his expression growing increasingly tense.
"Will His Highness throw us in to feed the fish?"
"No," Xiao Qingyin said expressionlessly. "They might tear us apart and eat us."
Asang: "..."
Hearing this joke, she calmed down.
She was almost bitten to death yesterday. She's already died once, so what's there to be afraid of?
That's really pathetic.
So, just like Xiao Qingyin, he straightened his back and walked forward calmly and composedly.
Upon reaching the pavilion, the two stopped and performed a curtsy.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Yelü Sui turned around and smiled slightly: "No need for formalities, please sit down."
He pointed to the stone table and chairs in the center of the pavilion.
Neither of them dared to sit down and politely declined.
Yelü Sui did not insist.
His gaze swept over the two of them, lingering for a moment on Asang's neck, before he looked at Xiao Qingyin and asked, "Did you save me last night?"
The word "save" is used very aptly.
They were transformed from attackers into rescuers, redefining what happened last night.
Xiao Qingyin understood immediately and replied, "I was so eager to save Your Highness that I have inadvertently injured you. Please forgive me."
Yelü Sui looked at him with admiration: "You did that to save me, what crime have you committed? I am grateful beyond words."
After saying that, he picked up the two sandalwood boxes on the table and handed them to them respectively.
"This is just a small token of my appreciation."
Asang hesitated for a moment, but seeing that Xiao Qingyin accepted it readily, she reached out and took it.
The two said in unison, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Yelü Sui waved his hand: "I should be thanking you."
The two of them naturally looked as if they didn't deserve the honor.
Yelü then turned his attention to the events of the previous night: "I don't quite remember what happened after taking the Chinese medicine. Could you tell me?"
Xiao Qingyin gave a brief explanation, and then said with trepidation, "We didn't mean to abandon His Highness; we were just too scared, so we ran back."
Yelü Sui chuckled, "It's alright, I understand. Do you still remember the fist technique I used to knock me unconscious?"
Xiao Qingyin hesitated and said, "I was too nervous at the time and don't quite remember how I threw the punch. If I encounter a similar situation, I might be able to recall it."
Yelü Sui nodded: "That's right, you were so scared back then, you definitely won't remember."
He asked a few more questions before saying, "The laundry department should send people soon; I won't take up any more of your time."
Xiao Qingyin and the other person quickly bowed and took their leave.
On the way back to the laundry department, Asang quietly opened the sandalwood box and took a look.
Wow, what a beautiful string of agate beads!
She exclaimed in amazement.
"Quick, look at what's that?"
Xiao Qingyin opened it for her to see.
"It's also a beaded necklace."
Asang blinked.
"Why do I feel that your string of agate beads is prettier?"
"Is that so?" Xiao Qingyin chuckled. "If you like, we can exchange them."
Asang immediately shook her head.
"That won't do. This was a gift from His Highness the Crown Prince; it can't be exchanged casually."
She paused, then lowered her voice and said, "I think His Highness seems to have taken a liking to you."
Xiao Qingyin raised an eyebrow: "Where did you get that idea?"
Asang replied, "He only asked you questions, not me, and the beads he gave you were prettier than mine."
Xiao Qingyin sighed inwardly.
That's because she's useful to him.
However, she didn't say that to Asang, but just smiled and said, "You're overthinking it."
Asang said confidently, "I'm sure I'm not mistaken. I bet His Highness the Crown Prince will come looking for you again."
She guessed right.
From that day on, on her way back from work, Xiao Qingyin would be invited by the young eunuch to the pavilion in the middle of the lake to meet Yelü Sui.
Yelü Sui, under the guise of expressing his gratitude, sent her a lot of food.
His gaze toward her grew increasingly intense.
Rumors were circulating in the Chuxiu Palace that she had caught the eye of the Crown Prince and was destined for a meteoric rise to become a concubine.
She received many admiring glances.
Asang was very proud of her keen observation skills: "I told you long ago that His Highness had taken a liking to you, but you didn't believe me. Now you do."
Xiao Qingyin smiled but remained silent.
Asang continued, "We're best friends. Don't forget me when you become an empress."
Xiao Qingyin laughed and said, "Why don't you come and keep me company? If I can really charm the Crown Prince, he probably won't object to having you as well."
Asang immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
