Zhong Muyu picked it up and examined it carefully. Zhiyu said worriedly, "This thing is dangerous. Should we go outside to check it?"
"Alright, how will we know if it works or not if we don't try it?"
The three arrived at the training ground inside the Prince's mansion. This gun was an old-fashioned firearm that could only fire one shot at a time. However, Zhong Muyu was quite satisfied. With such low production capacity, it was admirable that they could manufacture it using only some finished products and blueprints.
"Bang!"
Hit the bullseye.
"The princess is amazing!"
Chengfeng cheered from the sidelines.
"Hmm, not bad. We can equip each of the guards in the manor with one."
"That's exactly what Your Highness intends to do."
Zhong Muyu placed the gun in Chengfeng's hand and asked, "When will Lu Ziyuan be back?"
"His Highness said he would be back tonight, but he is busy with official duties and may not be able to have dinner with you."
"Then I'll make one and bring it to him."
After thinking it over carefully, Zhong Muyu returned to Xiuyu House.
That evening, Zhong Muyu intended to have Zaochun deliver dinner to Lu Ziyuan, but Zaochun rushed over in a hurry: "Your Highness, the dinner you prepared for the Prince is missing!"
"It can't just disappear?"
"Yes, Qiao'er said she put the things in a food box and placed it by the stove, but I didn't see it. I asked her again, but Qiao'er didn't know either."
"That's strange. I didn't let anyone in this yard go hungry. Could it be that the rats stole their food?"
Just as they were wondering what was going on, Lianhua was carrying a food box and walking briskly towards Xiuyu House.
The laundry had been making her very anxious these past few days, but luckily, she overheard a conversation between some of the maids while she was eating.
So she didn't wash her clothes, nor did she tell Lianqin. She secretly ran back to change her clothes and put on makeup, and stole the food box when no one was looking before running away.
This is dinner for Lu Ziyuan; the outcome hinges on this moment!
The two guards at the gate saw a strange woman gracefully approaching and immediately stopped her: "Stop! What are you doing here?"
"Greetings, guard. This servant is from Xinxiang Courtyard. I have been sent by Her Highness the Princess to deliver dinner to the Prince."
The two guards looked at her suspiciously, but she was dressed in a smoky purple dress, which was unlike that of an ordinary maid.
It was obvious to everyone that Zhong Muyu was kind to her servants, so it was normal. Besides, the food box was the one they were familiar with. After thinking for a moment, they let her in.
Lianhua breathed a sigh of relief. When she reached a secluded spot, she deliberately opened her collar, revealing glimpses of her snow-white breasts.
It's a bit cold to wear these in this weather, but she couldn't care less at the moment.
A knock came at the door, and a deep voice came from inside: "Come in."
Upon entering, Lu Ziyuan, who had been engrossed in his work at his desk, did not look up.
Lianhua placed the food box on the table, and the incense emanating from her body wafted into Lu Ziyuan's nose.
"Your Highness, it's time for dinner."
The unfamiliar yet melodious voice made Lu Ziyuan raise his head in confusion, and then he saw Lianhua bowing her head in greeting.
"Who are you?"
"This servant is Lianhua, a maidservant of the Princess Consort. I have been ordered by the Princess Consort to deliver dinner to the Prince."
Lu Ziyuan didn't say anything, but he was secretly laughing inside.
The image of Zhong Muyu being jealous was still etched in his mind. How could she possibly let someone like that deliver his food? That would be like inviting a wolf into the house!
However, he was also very curious about what Lianhua wanted to do, so he said coldly, "Raise your head."
Lianhua was overjoyed and shyly raised her head.
"Your Highness, let me serve you your meal."
In short, it's a story full of twists and turns.
Lu Ziyuan deliberately said, "I'm not hungry right now."
"What does Your Highness want me to do? I can do anything."
As she spoke, Lianhua casually opened her half-closed collar.
“There really is something I need you to do. Come here.”
Lianhua was overjoyed and scurried over, only to see Lu Ziyuan pull a wooden bucket out from behind him and give it to her.
Holding the wooden bucket, Lianhua asked with a puzzled look, "Your Highness, what is this?"
"The trees in Xiuyu have lost a lot of leaves. Go and pick them up one by one. If you don't pick them all up, you don't need to go back."
"Your Highness, this..."
"I will send people to watch over you, so make sure you pick it up cleanly."
Lu Ziyuan stared at her and spoke slowly and deliberately. Lianhua stood there, stunned. The leaves hadn't completely fallen yet at this time of year. Even if she picked them all up, the wind would blow them away and another leaf would fall. How long would it take to pick them all up?
Before she could react, Lu Ziyuan summoned a guard and took her out.
On the other side, Zhong Muyu and Zaochun were still puzzled when Qiao'er rushed over to report: "Your Highness, Granny Wang in the backyard just said that Lianhua has disappeared, and even Lianqin doesn't know about it."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Muyu and Zaochun suddenly realized what was going on.
"I see, now I understand."
Zaochun said, "At this time, she should have already delivered the things, right? Why hasn't she returned yet? Your Highness, should we go and check on her?"
"Take Qiao'er to find out what she's doing. Don't say anything more, just come back and tell me."
Zhong Muyu didn't think Lu Ziyuan would be seduced by such a despicable trick. It was a pity that Hua hadn't returned yet, and she was also curious about why.
After agreeing in early spring, he took Qiao'er to Xiuyu House. Before they even got close, they saw a flickering light following a pretty figure walking back and forth in the garden.
Qiao'er looked completely bewildered: "What... is going on?"
Lianhua was already dressed lightly, and then she was made to pick up leaves. She was shivering from the cold. Early spring immediately understood that this must be Lu Ziyuan punishing her.
The guards, seeing that it was early spring, greeted her respectfully: "It's early spring. Is there something you need?"
"The princess sent us to check on the person who delivered the food. What is she doing?"
"Wasn't she sent by the princess to deliver food? I don't know if she angered the prince, but he ordered her to pick up all the leaves from Xiuyu House and not to go back until she finished."
"I see, then there's nothing to worry about."
Suppressing a smile, Zaochun went back and told Zhong Muyu the news.
"As expected of Lu Ziyuan, he really knows how to mess with people!"
Early Spring said, "Picking up leaves for one night is quite a punishment, but Your Highness, it's not good to keep someone like that around."
“I know what I'm doing. Since she dares to have such improper thoughts, I won't be polite anymore.”
Not long after, Lu Ziyuan finished his official duties and came to Xinxiang Courtyard.
"Yu'er, how was your day?"
He didn't have time to spend with Zhong Muyu all day, but now that he's back, he's clinging to her.
"Same as before. But you, did you like the dinner I made tonight?"
"It was originally quite delicious, but because the wrong person delivered it, it lost a lot of its flavor."
Zhong Muyu asked, "You mean Lianhua? She didn't do anything, did she?"
“She does have ideas, but how could I let her have them? I sent her to pick up leaves, and she’s not allowed to come back until she finishes picking them all.”
As he said this, Lu Ziyuan looked at Zhong Muyu as if he were seeking praise.
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