Huo Baichuan looked at Zhao Shu as if she were a goddess. Under the moonlight, this girl, who was not even ten years old, was indeed a girl, although he felt that describing her as a child would be more appropriate, as she was too childish. However, he would still reluctantly call her a girl.
The girl before him was none other than the audacious Princess Jun. She was... fairly cute. Of course, her lifeless eyes made him think for a moment that she must have been born into the wrong mother. But he had to admit that, aside from her eyes that seemed to have seen the vicissitudes of time, her features were extremely delicate. From the side, she looked soft and made him want to pinch her cheeks.
Thinking this, Huo Baichuan did just that. He reached out and pinched Zhao Shu's face, but Zhao Shu slapped his hand away and glared at him.
Just then, Little Fatty's voice was heard, "This humble one greets the Second Prince and Princess Neon."
"Ah! How did you suddenly appear behind someone!" Zhao Nihong exclaimed, and then scolded Xiao Pang.
"Neon, what kind of behavior is this, making such a racket?" Zhao Changyan quickly calmed him down, then said to Little Fatty, "Oh, it's Little Fatty. Where did he go?"
The chubby boy cupped his hands in a respectful bow and said, "I apologize for disturbing the princess and the second prince. I will take my leave now."
Zhao Shu hid behind the roses and glanced at Huo Baichuan. Even a little fat guy is so arrogant. No wonder Zhao Nihong wants to compete with her. If she treated people more politely and courteously, why would Zhao Nihong be so extreme?
Zhao Changyan felt embarrassed. The little fat boy ignored his question and his bowing gesture was perfunctory. A thin layer of anger appeared on his face.
"Little Fatty, where have you been? Where is your young master?" Zhao Nihong patted her chest, snapping out of her daze, and hurriedly asked.
The chubby boy was about to leave when he heard Zhao Nihong's words and paused, saying, "Young Master was having a long talk with his friend by candlelight and asked me to return to the manor first. Does the Princess have something to discuss with my young master?" The implication was that my young master was an outsider, and it was inappropriate for a royal princess to openly inquire about his whereabouts.
Zhao Nihong was speechless when he asked her that question. She stammered out, "It's nothing. My brother has something to discuss with you, young master."
The chubby boy glanced at Zhao Changyan, then bowed and greeted him again, "May I ask what business the Second Prince has with my young master?"
"It's nothing. I just read a few parts of the Analects yesterday that I didn't understand and wanted to ask Mr. Huo for advice. Since Mr. Huo is not here, I will come to bother you another day." Zhao Changyan made up a reason on the spot.
Having said that, so as not to embarrass Little Fatty any further, he spoke first: "It's getting late, Neon. Father must have already returned to the manor. We must pay our respects to Father. Aren't we leaving yet?"
Zhao Nihong was still somewhat reluctant. She had finally seen Xiao Pang, but she didn't see Huo Baichuan anywhere. Xiao Pang and Huo Baichuan used to be inseparable.
"Let's go." Zhao Changyan pulled Zhao Nihong, who still wanted to wait, and left shortly afterward, leaving only Little Fatty standing there.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Little Fatty said to Rose, "Young Master, the person is gone, you can come out now."
Huo Baichuan and Zhao Shu walked out from behind the roses. Little Fatty saw that Zhao Shu had a cold face, touched his nose, and thought that the princess seemed very unhappy.
"Mr. Huo, please take care." Zhao Shu emerged from behind the rose bushes, preparing to return alone.
She had only taken two steps when Huo Baichuan stopped her. "I said I'd treat you to a show. A gentleman's word is his bond. Little Fatty, lead the way." His gentle eyes met Zhao Shu's gaze, a half-smile playing on his lips, brimming with the legendary charm of a womanizer. However, Zhao Shu, having watched Korean dramas before, was quite resistant to such advances.
Most importantly, in this life, men are no longer important to her. In her view, Huo Baichuan is now a greater threat.
Little Fatty stood to the side, speechless at his young master. What grand show? He really wanted to say, "Young master, you just say you want to invite people to see a grand show, but you could at least say what kind of grand show it is. Your vagueness makes it very difficult for me, your page."
Also, didn't you dislike Princess Jun the most? Why are you being so gentle with her, like you were coaxing Young Master Gu? No, even gentler than you were with Young Master Gu.
Little Fatty secretly thought that it must be because Aunt Dan had been too nice to Princess Jun lately, and the young master was unhappy about it, so he wanted to compete with Aunt Dan for Princess Jun and then torment her. He was really wicked.
"Aren't you going to lead the way?" Huo Baichuan glanced at the dazed little fat boy and decided to punish him by making him chop 20,000 catties of firewood when they got back.
Little Fatty snapped out of his daze, gave Zhao Shu a smile that said, "Princess, take care," and then gestured for her to proceed. With this gesture, he already had a grand plan in mind.
Zhao Shu wondered what Xiao Pang meant by that pitying look in his eyes.
Before she could figure it out, she was taken to the top of the wall in Xiaoxiang. She sat on the wall, while Huo Baichuan stood on Xiao Pang's shoulders and leaned against the wall. Even a fool could tell that Huo Baichuan was punishing Xiao Pang. Zhao Shu silently bowed her head in sympathy for Xiao Pang; being Huo Baichuan's page was truly pitiful.
The moon was high in the sky, yet a lone lamp still burned in the Xiaoxiang Courtyard, presumably Consort Zhang was waiting for Prince Duan.
Under the silver moon, a solitary lamp burns, and from the neighboring courtyard drifts a mournful melody, so poignant it would surely bring tears to the eyes of a woman confined to her chambers, filled with sorrow.
"Only the new bride's smiles are seen, the old bride's sorrow is nowhere to be seen."
I hear the sound of the loom at dawn, and see the western mountains behind me at dusk; I only lament that this small space offers no freedom.
My black hair has turned to ash, my tears flow like a vast ocean; I wish I could drink a thousand cups of wine and wander through a world of fleeting dreams.
Her peach-blossom face, so pitiful, grows thinner day by day; her jade-like skin cannot withstand the weight of her clothes, her icy complexion seeps through the cold wind.
Her once rosy cheeks are now yellowed and worn, her delicate brows are constantly furrowed in sorrow; her heart is breaking with tears, her liver and intestines are as rotten as decay.
I still remember the vow made under the moon, but the red sleeves of the dancers are nowhere to be seen; the songs of Chu have not been heard, how can I bear to shed these endless tears…
A melodious yet mournful song, like a low sob, drifted endlessly from the night into Xiaoxiang Courtyard. Zhao Shu wondered if Consort Zhang would shed a few self-mocking tears upon hearing it. She thought that if it were in her previous life, she would surely shed a torrent of tears of resentment, sadness, despair, and hopelessness upon hearing it.
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