Inside Chengqian Palace, He Xue recounted her experiences over the years to the Imperial Noble Consort. She had visited many places, some of which could only be truly appreciated through personal visits.
"Girls should take the opportunity to travel more!" the Imperial Noble Consort said to He Xue. She was trapped in the palace; would He Xue also be trapped here?
"He Xue, your aunt has noticed that you don't seem as close to the Crown Prince as before?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked. The Crown Prince had been wearing a dark expression all evening, which was probably related to He Xue.
"Really?" He Xue smiled. "With so many people around, I need to be mindful of my manners! I can't be like I was when I was a child!"
"Didn't you see that the Crown Prince has had a dark expression all evening?"
"I was wondering why the Crown Prince was acting so strangely today!" He Xue suddenly realized.
"Aunt, why won't Uncle the Emperor allow my brother, the Crown Prince, and his wife to get married?"
"I don't know about this either!" The Imperial Noble Consort vaguely guessed that it must be related to the Crown Prince, otherwise, who would be worth making Kangxi go to such lengths!
He Xue pondered that it must also be related to the Crown Prince. She only learned this time that Shi Jingrou had already married. The Crown Prince's official wife was gone. Who would marry the Crown Prince?
Moreover, Tana has already been betrothed to the Eighth Prince, and the wives of the other princes are the same as in history, except for the Crown Princess. Could it be because history has changed?
"Aunt, may I go to Yuqing Palace to see my brother, the Crown Prince?" He Xue was a little worried after hearing what the Imperial Noble Consort said. She also knew that it was not appropriate for her to go to Yuqing Palace now.
"Are you worried about the Crown Prince?" the Imperial Noble Consort asked.
"Yes!" He Xue nodded.
"Go!" the Imperial Noble Consort said to He Xue with a smile. He Xue would most likely be betrothed to the Crown Prince. Although she did not want He Xue to marry the Crown Prince, judging from the Crown Prince's attitude, he would probably not give up until he married He Xue. Moreover, it was indeed quite touching that the Crown Prince was willing to wait for He Xue to grow up.
"Huh?" He Xue looked at the Imperial Noble Consort in disbelief. Her aunt had agreed to let her go?
"What are you waiting for! Go and get ready! Honeysuckle will accompany you later!"
"If you don't go, the Crown Prince probably won't have a good night's sleep, and you certainly won't feel at ease either! Since that's the case, then go! Your aunt will make all the arrangements for you!" the Imperial Noble Consort said to He Xue.
"Thank you, Aunt!" Xue felt that the Imperial Noble Consort's words were a bit strange, but she didn't think about it too much before getting ready.
He Xue, dressed as a palace maid, went to Yuqing Palace with Ren Dong under the pretext that the Imperial Noble Consort was delivering food to the Crown Prince.
He Zhu was pacing anxiously outside the Crown Prince's study. The Crown Prince had gone into the study as soon as he returned from Chengqian Palace, and there had been no movement for so long, except when he was told to get out.
"What's He Zhu doing? Grinding a millstone?" Ren Dong teased, looking at He Zhu's appearance.
"Oh, Auntie, what brings you here? You're always teasing me!" He Zhu immediately went up to Ren Dong when he saw her.
"Her Imperial Noble Consort knows that His Highness the Crown Prince didn't eat much for dinner, so she specially ordered the kitchen to prepare some and send it over to His Highness!" Ren Dong said.
“This servant thanks Your Highness on behalf of His Highness the Crown Prince for his kindness, but Aunt, His Highness the Crown Prince has locked himself in his study since he returned and won’t let me disturb him! What do you think…” He Zhu looked at Ren Dong with some difficulty.
"What's wrong with my Crown Prince?" He Xue asked anxiously.
Upon hearing the sound, He Zhu noticed that there was someone following behind Ren Dong, and upon closer inspection, he realized it was He Xue.
He Zhu was overjoyed; there was hope!
"Princess, you've arrived! That's wonderful! His Highness the Crown Prince will surely be pleased to see you!" He Zhu smiled so broadly that his eyes narrowed into slits.
"Didn't you say that the Crown Prince is nowhere to be seen?"
"Your Highness is joking. His Highness the Crown Prince will not see anyone, and he will certainly not see you!"
He Xue didn't believe He Zhu's words at all. "I'll go give it a try!"
"Princess, this servant will return to Chengqian Palace first, and will come to fetch you again after an incense stick has burned!" Ren Dong said.
"Auntie, there's no need to trouble yourself. When it's time for Gege to go back, I'll personally escort her back!" He Zhu clasped his hands together in a gesture of pleading.
The Crown Prince must have a lot to say to the Princess; a stick of incense's time is far from enough.
Seeing He Zhu's expression, Ren Dong glanced at him and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Eunuch He!"
"Auntie, you're too kind. This servant will definitely ensure that the princess returns to Chengqian Palace safely!" He Zhu said ingratiatingly.
"Princess, this servant will head back now!" Ren Dong said to He Xue.
“Okay!” He Xue replied.
“I’ll arrange for someone to take Auntie back!” He Zhu said, following behind Ren Dong.
He Xue carried the food prepared for the Crown Prince towards the study.
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