Without Ying Ning's protection, Yu Yun was bullied terribly and often came to class looking disheveled.
The master didn't care about these things, and Xiao Li just watched the show from the sidelines. The Seventh Princess, however, felt a little sorry for Yu Yun and stopped him a few times.
But after her study companion Nalan Hui persuaded her, she gave up, and Xiao Li developed a little interest in Nalan Hui.
Later, she learned that Nalan Hui was the Seventh Princess's cousin, and the two were related by marriage. Xiao Li then stopped paying attention to the Seventh Princess and the others.
The master praised Xiaoli several times, and Xiaoli's paintings received high praise from the master. His Majesty the Emperor also rewarded her several times.
Yu Yun finally placed his bets on Xiao Li, showering her with attention several times. Each time, Xiao Li would toss the gifts he gave her to Yun Yiyi.
"Princess, Prince Yu is quite pitiful, why don't you help him?"
Yun Yiyi has been getting a bit carried away by the gifts she's received lately, and Yu Yun has secretly flattered her several times. She thinks she can finally speak up for herself in front of Xiao Li again.
Xiao Li countered, "Why should I help him?"
Yun Yiyi thought that Xiaoli had taken it to heart, and she pondered for a moment.
"Prince Yu is exceptionally handsome, humble, polite, and approachable. He is often bullied. He is all alone here, far from his homeland. How pitiful he is."
Xiao Li snorted coldly, "Dongxia Kingdom has repeatedly violated the border. He was sent here by his father. What's so pitiful about him? If anyone is to blame, it's his father, the emperor."
Yun Yiyi dared not say anything more, and could only nod and agree.
Xiao Li put down her calligraphy brush. "It's not impossible to help him. Just make him my servant, and I'll protect him."
Yun Yiyi was dumbfounded. Yu Yun was a prince. Was it okay to humiliate him like this?
“Go tell Yu Yun that if he becomes my servant, I will protect him and guarantee that Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother will not beat him.”
Yun Yiyi was heartbroken. She didn't want to deliver the message, but she had no choice but to go.
Without Xiao Li's protection, there would be no medicine for my injuries or a life of luxury.
Yu Yun's days were much harder, and he was beginning to doubt whether he could leave Xiling alive.
Yun Yiyi went to Weicui Palace with a heavy heart and stammered out Xiao Li's message.
After listening, Yu Yun's face turned ugly, and the pen in his hand broke in two.
"Third Prince Yu, I have conveyed the princess's message, so I shall take my leave now."
Yun Yiyi quickly ran away; Prince Yu Yun was too terrifying.
Yu Yun remained silent with a cold face. He was furious. How dare a princess humiliate him like this? When he returned to Dongxia, he would definitely raze Xiling to the ground.
But this hurdle must be overcome first. The reason why the Fifth Prince hates himself so much is because his maternal uncle's family all died on the border, at the hands of the Dongxia people.
He's torturing himself like this because he wants to kill himself.
A true man can bend and stretch; he exhaled, knowing that only by living can there be a future.
Having figured it out, Yu Yun changed into a clean set of clothes and used powder to cover up some of the bruises on his face, making him look much better. Then he walked towards Chaoyang Palace.
When Yun Yiyi saw Yu Yun come in, she was completely stunned. He actually agreed to the princess's outrageous request?
Yu Yun noticed her surprised expression and gave a self-deprecating laugh. Even a lowly study companion looked down on him.
I must endure humiliation and live on with strength.
"Princess, Yu Yun has arrived."
Yu Yun bowed to Xiao Li.
Xiao Li was practicing archery with a bow and arrow.
"Yun Yiyi told you, right? You play a tune to liven things up first."
Yu Yun breathed a sigh of relief. He walked to the zither, sat down, picked a piece he was good at, and began to play slowly. The zither music tinkled and sang, quite melodious.
Xiao Li stopped shooting arrows and plopped down on the table. Lan Xiang, who was very perceptive, brought out tea, fruit and wine.
Xiao Li picked up a sword and threw it to Yun Yiyi.
"Let's have a sword dance. Music alone isn't enough, don't you think?"
Yun Yiyi blushed so much it was almost dripping with water. She thought of the prince playing the zither, and she didn't feel so ashamed of her sword dance anymore.
She had no choice but to pick up her sword and start dancing, which made Yu Yun grit her teeth in anger.
It's one thing for him to play the piano for the princess, but why should he provide background music for a mere reading companion?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became, and he played the piano faster and faster, while Yun Yiyi also jumped faster and faster.
Gradually, Yun Yiyi's strength gave out, and she stumbled, almost cutting her own leg.
Ouch!
Yun Yiyi fell to the ground, casting a resentful glance at Yu Yun.
Yu Yun didn't even look at Yun Yiyi. He looked down at his bleeding fingertips. He had used too much force and cut his fingers.
Xiao Li yawned. "Lanxiang, I'm tired. Help me back to sleep."
Lanxiang quickly stepped forward, and Xiaoli helped her back into the house.
After a while, Lanxiang came out, and the two of them were still in that position.
She coughed and cleared her throat. "The princess said that you two can go back now."
Yu Yun snorted coldly, strode out of the courtyard, and returned to Cuiwei Palace.
Yun Yiyi was almost in tears. Why were they all taking their anger out on her? She was also very wronged.
Xiao Li sent Yun Yiyi to deliver a message to the Fifth Prince, presenting him with the golden yang wood bow bestowed upon him by the Emperor. The Fifth Prince finally agreed to stop causing trouble for Yu Yun.
As for the Sixth Prince, he's the Fifth Prince's lackey; once the Fifth Prince is dealt with, the problem will be solved.
In truth, the Fifth Prince knew that his father would not allow him to get rid of Yu Yun, so he went along with it, accepted the gift, and agreed to let Yu Yun go.
Besides performing at Xiaoli's palace every day, Yu Yun also has many other things to do.
For example, one day the princess got the idea and pulled up all the flowers in the garden and planted vegetables instead.
He spent his days digging, planting vegetables, watering, weeding, removing pests... he was exhausted.
But when he reaped the rewards, he actually felt a great sense of pride, which was really strange.
The princess wanted to eat osmanthus cake, and under Yun Yiyi's watchful eye, he had to pick fresh osmanthus flowers still covered in dew when the sun was just rising in the morning.
Each piece of rice is washed clean and then cooked with hand-ground rice flour; the process is tedious and complicated.
Yu Yun was exhausted, but she finally managed to make a dish. Xiao Li ate two bites and then rewarded the head palace maid.
He was so angry that his eyes turned red.
If the princess wanted to eat fish, he had to dig up the bait himself and then go to the small river in the royal garden to fish.
Yun Yiyi muttered to herself, "If it's too big or too small, it won't do; if it's too fat or too thin, it won't be up to standard; if the color is too dark or too light, we have to start over."
Finally, Yu Yun personally scaled the fish, gutted it, fried it until golden brown, and served it with a secret sauce.
Xiao Li enjoyed her meal, but Yu Yun's hands suffered, frequently getting scratched.
The princess also had many quirky ideas: watching the flower rain in spring, drinking iced tea in summer, brewing fruit wine in autumn, and cooking tea and wine in winter...
Yu Yun hadn't had a single day of rest, but time flew by, and her days were incredibly fulfilling.
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