At midnight, the vast Prime Minister's residence fell into a deep sleep, utterly silent. This was precisely when the Prime Minister's troops' reconnaissance capabilities were at their weakest.
Xiao Zhuo sat up from the ground, changed into a set of night clothes, and planned to sneak into the Luo family ancestral hall at night.
Unable to contain himself before leaving, he reached out and peered through the curtains, wanting to catch a glimpse of his beloved's sleeping face. As expected, he was rewarded with another fluttering heart.
Satisfied, Xiao Zhuo climbed out the window and disappeared in an instant.
The Prime Minister's Ancestral Hall was one of the key places guarded by the local soldiers.
Xiao Zhuo carefully used the cover of night and his familiarity with the terrain to evade the many layers of protection and surveillance.
He entered from above, lifted the roof tiles, and leaped inside.
He walked up to the incense burner, suddenly bent down, and picked up something from the ground.
Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be the earring that Luo Jiu had lost.
Xiao Zhuo guessed that Luo Jiu had probably been drugged by cigarettes in this very spot. He stretched out two fingers and rubbed them back and forth on the ground, as if searching for something.
Suddenly, Xiao Zhuo noticed a faint trail, but following the trail, it quickly disappeared.
Why is this the case?
Xiao Zhuo speculated that it was left behind after Luo Jiu was taken away by someone, but why did it suddenly disappear?
Could it be...
He stepped forward, placed his hand on the burning white candle, and slightly tilted it.
Beneath the incense burner, a hidden passage appeared in Xiao Zhuo's field of vision.
He curled the corner of his mouth into a smile, picked up the earring that had fallen to the ground, and walked step by step toward the secret room.
...
In the early morning, Luo Jiu slowly sat up in bed, warmed by the sun.
It's a new day again. Today isn't the day I was woken up by Jinxia. That's quite novel.
"Hey, are you still there?"
Luo Jiu said something in the direction of Xiao Zhuo from her memory, but unexpectedly received no response.
"Miss, you're awake. Are you looking for the Prince? Have you forgotten that the Prince has to attend the morning court session?"
For some reason, Luo Jiu sensed sarcasm in Jin Xia's words.
"Who...who said I was looking for him?"
Luo Jiu stubbornly insisted, "I'm just asking if he's here... is that not allowed?"
Jin Xia has now thoroughly figured out Luo Jiu's personality and understands this two-faced woman very well.
But since Luo Jiu is a "young lady," she's spoiled.
"Alright, alright." Jin Xia went over and helped Luo Jiu with her washing and grooming. Then she went outside and called out a few times, leading Luo Jiu to the dining table.
“Miss, this was specially ordered by the Prince. Before dawn, he sent someone to buy hibiscus cakes, knowing that you like them. They even have to be hot. The Prince really dotes on you.”
Jinxia has gotten bolder and bolder lately; she even dared to tease me when I arrived.
Luo Jiu thought to herself, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up slightly. "Alright then, I'll just have to eat a little."
That being said, Luo Jiu didn't stop eating after finishing one. Before long, even the last piece of hibiscus pastry in the small box was gone.
When Luo Jiu reached out to take it again, there was only an empty food box with a few small crumbs.
She quickly withdrew her hand and covered her restless, delicate hand with a handkerchief.
"I didn't finish it. I only ate a little bit, that's right."
After speaking, Luo Jiu nodded firmly. Lacking confidence, she compensated with her tone.
If that stunningly beautiful face hadn't been smeared with the powder from hibiscus pastry, this statement would have been more believable.
"Let me see which little rascal is being naughty and stealing food!"
Xiao Zhuo's voice rang out from behind Luo Jiu.
"Ahem!" Luo Jiu felt embarrassed at being caught, and quickly turned away from him.
He haphazardly wiped his face with a handkerchief, attempting to destroy this last piece of evidence.
Xiao Zhuo followed Luo Jiu around, raised his hand, and gently touched Luo Jiu's face.
He rubbed the little bit of residue left on Luo Jiu's face and couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth into a smile.
"Hey, I caught a little glutton."
He gently wiped away the fine shavings from Luo Jiu's face, touching her smooth, eggshell-like cheeks, and couldn't help but press harder.
Luo Jiu couldn't hold back any longer and slapped his hand away. "That's enough! Do you think I won't get angry?"
Xiao Zhuo smiled and, being good-natured, remained silent.
He loved watching Luo Jiu get flustered because of him; it was so cute it filled his heart.
"You...you're supposed to be Liang Ye, can't you at least do some of the things a prince should do!"
Luo Jiu really couldn't understand why this person was so idle, hanging around in front of her every day.
"Well, you've already said it yourself. I'm not a prince, so naturally, the things that a prince should do are for him to review and approve himself."
Xiao Zhuo's words sounded perfectly reasonable, yet they gave Luo Jiu an urge to hit him for Liang Ye's sake.
Poor Third Prince, his identity has been stolen, and he still has to do his homework.
It's just like me bowing my head hard to my homework.
Frustrated and hiding in the secret room, Liang Ye sneezed violently. Looking at the huge pile of official documents in front of him, which he didn't know when he would finish reviewing, he couldn't help but sigh.
"However, there really are plans for today."
Upon hearing this, Luo Jiu didn't hesitate to shoo the person away:
"Then go quickly."
Xiao Zhuo's eyes darted around, revealing a mischievous smile: "However, I need you to come with me."
Luo Jiu was stunned, her face full of questions.
Can I refuse?
At this moment, a hidden quest that had disappeared for a long time was suddenly issued.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have triggered a hidden quest. Quest: Go to Jing'an Temple, find the fortune teller, and say the password, "If you can tell fortunes, I can even feel bones." Reward: 10% progress in the main story; Penalty: 20% progress in the main story.]
-this……
Luo Jiu hesitated for only two seconds before giving in.
He immediately turned around and asked Xiao Zhuo, "Where are we going?"
Jing'an Temple.
Before long, Luo Jiu was already sitting in the carriage heading to Jing'an Temple.
Originally, Luo Jiu wanted to ride a horse, but when she thought about how she was still blind, she realized that if she rode a horse, it would inevitably become an awkward situation where two people would have to ride together.
Therefore, she wisely refrained from revealing her thoughts, intending to maintain her ethereal image in the carriage and let herself be beautiful in solitude.
However, Xiao Zhuo also sat down.
Suddenly, Luo Jiu thought of something and reached out her paw towards Xiao Zhuo's cheek. She even pinched it hard.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong? Are you satisfied with the feel of this?" Xiao Zhuo teased.
"What are you thinking? I just want to see if you're still using Liang Ye's face. Even though I can't see it, it just feels weird."
Luo Jiu's voice carried a hint of annoyance, but this pleased Xiao Zhuo greatly.
He reached out and covered Luo Jiu's eyes, as gently as if he were caressing a fragile treasure.
"It's okay, I'll let you see."
A hint of heartache flashed in his eyes, and his voice, though slightly hoarse, was unusually firm and convincing.
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