Chapter 38 A ten-mile-long pavilion, where one hears the sound of a noble lady every ten thousand steps.
As Mu Jianjian watched the Kongming lantern fly higher and higher, she silently expressed her blessings and hopes.
The boy stared blankly at the woman's profile as she closed her eyes to make a wish, when suddenly the little shadow cried out, "Yaoling, your stones are about to spill!"
The boy quickly looked away, while Mu Jianjian suddenly looked down and saw that most of the black and white stones in the bag tucked at her waist were visible.
She quickly stuffed the stone back in and tied the ribbon again.
"What is this?" Why is there a stone in the cloth bag at the waist?
The boy asked, puzzled.
Before Mu Jianjian could explain, Xiao Yingzi quickly interjected, "This is a birthday gift that Yaoling made for you!"
"How could that be!" Mu Jianjian's voice instantly rose eight octaves as she desperately tried to argue, "Who gives a stone as a birthday gift!"
"That's not a stone, Your Highness, those are black and white chess pieces that Yaoling is going to grind for you!" Little Shadow looked at the exasperated Mu Jianjian in confusion and said to the boy, "Yaoling said she's going to grind chess pieces for you to relieve your boredom."
"Ugh! Why did you have to tell me!" Mu Jianjian stomped her foot in frustration. "Where's the surprise now? I shouldn't have told you, Little Shadow!"
What a terrible teammate! I'm so angry!
Little Shadow then realized the reason for the other party's explanation and knew that she had done something wrong with her good intentions. "I'm sorry, Yaoling, I didn't know."
Mu Jianjian knew he didn't mean it, so she was only slightly annoyed. She waved her hand and said, "It's okay."
"I didn't hear anything." The boy lowered his head, hiding the smile on his lips, as he listened to the two arguing.
Mu Jianjian knew, of course, that the little prince was just teasing her. She smiled and suddenly thought of her birthday banquet a few days later.
"Your Highness, have you decided on a name for your birthday banquet yet?"
The young prince is younger than Bai Ji, but because he is not favored and has a special status, it is said in the palace that he spent his birthday with Bai Ji—even the crucial sixteenth birthday examination.
"I've made up my mind." The young man's gaze towards the woman in pink held a tenderness he himself was unaware of.
She would never know that she could count the exact number of steps she took each time she stepped into the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
Calculating time, expressions, and stories.
Why do I still have so much sincerity and love for this terrible life...?
Every day, every moment, her light footsteps, accompanied by a cheerful voice and a smile, are what make her consistently dazzling.
A pavilion stretches for ten miles, and one can hear your voice every ten thousand steps.
This is the origin of his name, and it will be his lifelong aspiration.
"What's it called?" Mu Jianjian asked curiously, leaning closer. Little Shadow chimed in, "I want to hear it too! I want to hear it too!"
"Call out—" The boy's unspoken words were interrupted.
"Yaoling, His Highness requests your presence." A maid with a cold expression appeared at the other end of the stone bridge, breaking the warm atmosphere that had been lingering between the three of them.
The condescending tone instantly soured Mu Jianjian's mood, but she still helplessly waved to the two of them.
Then he hurriedly left with the maid.
Little Shadow watched Mu Jianjian's departing figure with confusion, then suddenly noticed the glittering stone on the ground. He quickly picked it up and called out, "Yaoling, you dropped your stone!"
Seeing that the two had walked away and no one was responding, the little shadow said to the boy, "Your Highness, I'll go give this to Yaoling."
Seeing the boy nod, the little shadow ran off quickly.
——
Mu Jianjian felt utterly hopeless.
Today is the Wan Cai Festival! Shouldn't Bai Ji be feasting and drinking in the palace? Why is he here...?
It's like being stabbed in the butt with a knife and having your eyes opened.
Mu Jianjian cursed Bai Ji in her heart again, but when she walked up to him, she still pretended to be very obedient.
Seeing that Bai Ji didn't speak, she didn't want to bring up the topic first, but it had been too long!
Mu Jianjian broke the silence first, "Your Highness, what brings you to me today?"
"What is it?" Bai Ji approached the woman in pink, almost able to see the blush that had just faded from her face. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you this?"
Mu Jianjian naturally knew that the other party was referring to "gaining the young prince's trust," and she rolled her eyes inwardly.
I don't understand why the chosen one of the upper realms would target his unloved younger brother like that...
The young prince has such a good personality, yet he is constantly being ostracized and disliked!
Even if there are some hidden reasons, doing this is still going too far.
She lowered her eyes slightly and said, "Your Highness, there's been no progress. The young prince doesn't easily trust others. I've tried many methods..."
"Liar." The moment Bai Ji got close to Mu Jianjian, she immediately smelled the sandalwood scent on the other person, which was rich and alluring.
"Your Highness, I..." Mu Jianjian looked up to explain and met the gaze of the young man in purple and gold brocade robes in front of her. His eyes seemed to be looking through her body and into her soul.
"Are you Yaoling?" Bai Ji asked, enunciating each word clearly.
Mu Jianjian's fingertips felt cold, and a chill ran down her spine. She had no choice but to compromise, and smiled, "Your Highness, after I fainted in the pool, I was a little confused about some things, but you must believe that I am absolutely loyal to you... I specially prepared all this for today's Wan Cai Festival to move them..."
Seeing that Bai Ji's eyes were completely calm, Mu Jianjian bit her lip and continued, "...Otherwise, why would I do all this on purpose? How could I...Don't you think so?"
"And another thing." A hint of a smile finally appeared in Bai Ji's eyes, as if he had confirmed something, almost like a handout.
"I did all this on your orders, all for your sake." Mu Jianjian felt like vomiting.
"Seven days from now will be my sixteenth birthday. I hereby order you to prepare a banquet and cook the food," Bai Ji's fingers gently stroked Mu Jianjian's cheek, "and stay by her side at all times."
The woman's smile gradually faded, and as if he had found some kind of wicked amusement, he whispered in her ear, "When the spirit is examined, I invite you to watch a grand show."
Once Bai Ji and the maid had walked away, Mu Jianjian began to vigorously wipe her chin.
Ugh, just talk, why do you keep touching people!
After calming her chaotic emotions, Mu Jianjian prepared to walk back when she suddenly noticed something reflecting the moonlight—
Those were stones that had fallen out of her bag.
——
“Your Highness, there was clearly someone behind the bushes just now. Why didn’t you let me drag him out?”
“That’s what makes it interesting. Isn’t it entertaining to watch dogs fight each other?” Bai Ji wiped his fingertips. “Knowing all this, his reaction will definitely be amazing.”
——
The little shadow ran back.
He recounted in fits and starts what he had heard in the woods to the young prince, but the boy's reaction remained indifferent.
“Your Highness! Yaoling is a spy! She only approached us because of Your Highness's orders, how can you not be angry at all? I must have been blind…”
The more happy and joyful Little Shadow was just moments ago, the more angry and resentful she is now.
“I told you from the beginning,” the boy glanced at the little shadow and closed the book in his hand, “but she’s not a spy, she’s just being controlled by someone and has no other choice.”
Even though I knew perfectly well what was going on, I still felt a surge of resentment and jealousy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
