Ushiha stayed to have dinner with Xueying before returning to his own place.
After A Luo had the maids clear away the dinner that they had just finished eating, she had someone bring hot water to wipe Xue Ying's back and change the dressing on her ankle before sending them away so that she could keep watch for the night herself.
"Come up here and sleep with me. It's cold lying on the bed with Xia." Xueying said, lying in the tent.
"Then I'll go wash up and come right away," A'Luo said, her heart warmed. She had grown up by Xueying's side since childhood, and although they were mistress and servant, their bond had long surpassed that of sisters. In the past, when the weather was cold, Xueying would often call A'Luo to go to bed with her.
Xueying hummed in agreement and then lay alone on the bed, pondering the events of the day.
After A Luo finished washing up, she brought in some red charcoal and added some to the brazier before taking off her clothes, blowing out the candles, and getting into Xue Ying's bed.
After the two of them were sleeping in the same bed, A'luo said, "Princess, you deliberately sprained your ankle today, just to test that Fourth Prince. Was it worth it? Seeing how swollen your ankle, it breaks my heart."
“Of course it’s worth it! At least it lets me know that he doesn’t hate me that much!” Xueying slowly opened her slightly curved eyelashes and said softly.
“The Fourth Prince has always been cold to you, as if you were his mortal enemy. I never expected that he would actually carry you back today,” A-Luo said.
“My aunt and the Niohuru clan have been at odds for over ten years, so it’s not surprising that he considers me his sworn enemy. But actually, we’re not sworn enemies at all, and we might even be allies in the future,” Xueying said.
“Princess, now that he is engaged to the princess of the Fucha family, how do you get him to turn to you?” A’Luo said, “The Duke is really something, making you do so much without even considering what you will do in the future.”
"Father's actions are actually an investment in me. He told me I must find a way to marry Hongli, which shows he values his future. Judging from the current situation, Prince Yong's chances of inheriting the throne are almost certain." Xueying's eyes were half-open, as if she were talking in a dream.
A'Luo understood her mistress's temperament and the burden she carried, so she sighed and said, "Mistress, besides this, have you taken a fancy to the Fourth Prince?"
"Anyway, I'm going to marry this person. What difference does it make whether I like him or not?" Xueying mumbled drowsily, and finally her eyes closed.
A'Luo saw that Xueying had fallen asleep, but she couldn't sleep. She knew that her master had many things on her mind, and she also had to act as a messenger between her master and the Duke of Yingguo from time to time.
When their master first entered Prince Yong's residence, Duke Yingguo summoned Xueying to his study and spoke with her for a long time. He instructed his master to win Hongli's favor and marry him, even as a concubine. If Hongli succeeded, Xueying could then divorce him; if Hongli succeeded, Xueying, even as a concubine, would not have a low status. No one could have predicted that Duke Yingguo would have such plans. He was even capable of scheming against his own daughter; this was perhaps the reason why the Ulanara family had stood firm through three reigns.
When she heard a cooing sound outside, A'Luo got up again to add more charcoal to the fire before lying down next to Xueying and falling asleep.
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