The medicinal fragrance in the pool had mostly dissipated, and Ye Lisheng was drinking tea alone.
"Is Sixth Brother feeling any better?" Ye Xuanling's voice rang out.
He was shirtless, seemingly intending to take a bath with Ye Lisheng.
Ye Lisheng gave a cold snort.
He pretended not to know anything and asked, "Sixth Brother, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?"
Seeing that he didn't speak, she grinned and said with a gossipy look, "Why did I see Sister Qiu Kui running out with a red face when I came here just now?"
Just as he finished speaking, a strong gust of wind swept towards him, and Ye Xuanling quickly dodged it.
Seeing the towel on the ground, he patted his chest in fright and complained plaintively, "Is Sixth Brother trying to kill me to cover it up?"
"Outsiders have no knowledge of Yuzhu Pavilion. How did she manage to barge in? Explain this to me!"
He touched his nose guiltily: "Heaven knows!" Then he immersed himself in the medicinal pool.
"Sixth Brother, is this medicinal pool really effective?" A hint of worry flashed across Ye Xuanling's brows.
Ye Lisheng paused, skipping the topic, and asked, "Is there any movement from Prince Yu's side?"
Knowing that he didn't want to say more, Ye Xuanling didn't press the matter further.
"On the day of the banquet, the hidden guards saw him go to the Celestial Master's Mansion. Apart from that, he spent his days practicing martial arts, playing with his concubines, and also..."
He paused for a few seconds, glancing at Ye Lisheng.
"Tell the truth!"
Faced with his firm and unquestionable tone, he had no choice but to honestly tell the truth.
"And then there's the daily, tireless act of sending letters to the Prince of Anyang's residence!"
The moment the words left his mouth, a hint of anger flashed across his face.
Ye Xuanling's lips curled up, and she asked with a curious look, "Sixth Brother, have you fallen for Sister Qiu Kui?"
"How could I possibly fall for a woman like her, so vulgar and tasteless!"
"Why did Sixth Brother give her a cat and treat her differently from others?"
"Perhaps it's because she looks like Murong Kui! You know how much I owe her!"
It felt like my heart had been stabbed several times with needles. I walked halfway before realizing I'd left something inside, so I thought I'd go back to get it.
I never expected to hear such a conversation.
The sun baked the earth, making it warm and cozy, but my heart felt like it was raining.
"Lingxin, what kind of person was I before?" I asked, resting my chin on my hand, feeling dejected.
"Why did you suddenly ask about this, Miss?"
"I want to know!"
Seeing my listless appearance, Lingxin put down her work.
"Miss used to be a princess, incomparably noble, exuding elegance and grace in every gesture!"
"She is the object of admiration for many princes and nobles!"
I think I see the pride in Lingxin's eyes, and at this moment it's as if Murong Kui is standing right in front of me.
"Ye Lisheng should be a good match for a woman like this!" I thought to myself.
"Miss, why did you disappear? And how did you get back? Why are you dressed so strangely? Why do you call yourself Okra? Don't you recognize us?"
A barrage of questions startled me, and I took a step back, afraid to look Lingxin in the eye, lest she discover something.
"I...I don't know either!" In her panic, she almost bit her tongue.
In an unseen corner, Lingxin saw my panicked state and a sinister smile curled at the corner of her mouth, a sight that sent chills down my spine.
The corridor became my own little world, a place where not many people would notice me.
"Thump!"
A small pebble fell into the pond, splashing water and startling me.
"Oh my god! That scared me to death!"
While calming my heart, I looked up.
Princess Ling Shuang was peeking out from behind the bamboo fence, looking at him with a smug expression.
"Did you throw the pebble?" I demanded.
"Yes!" she readily agreed.
I rolled my eyes at her, sat back down on the veranda, and ignored her.
To everyone's surprise, she also came to the corridor.
"Where is Brother Ye?"
I looked at her with a puzzled expression: "How should I know!"
"Why are you so unhappy that Brother Ye dumped you?"
"How can a princess be so gossipy!"
"You know I'm a princess! So why don't you bow to me?"
"That's true!" I was speechless at her question.
"Greetings, Princess!" I replied perfunctorily.
"Come on! That look on your face, like I'm forcing you, anyone who didn't know better would think I, the princess, am bullying you!"
Princess Ling Shuang was dressed simply and did not have a maidservant with her.
I asked with some skepticism, "Were you dismissed because you lost favor with the Emperor?"
She rolled her eyes at me: "It's porridge distribution today as usual, so this princess naturally has to be more approachable!"
Hearing her say that, I got excited too: "I've never seen anything like it before!"
She looked at me with disdain: "You used to steal the spotlight all the time, why are you denying it now!"
Where?
"Fine, I won't hold it against you. I'll take you to see it!"
"I've been here for quite a while, why haven't I seen Ling Ran and the others?"
She spoke casually, as if it were a casual question, but a blush on her face betrayed her true thoughts.
"Why is the princess so concerned about Lingran?" I asked, my curious expression behaving just like a gossipy village auntie.
Just a casual question!
"Oh, really?"
She felt a chill run down her spine from my stare and said somewhat impatiently, "Do I, as a princess, need your interference in everything I do?"
"Murong certainly wouldn't dare to interfere with the princess, but I just saw Ling Ran go over there, over there..."
I pointed in a direction vaguely and randomly.
She grabbed my hand urgently, her big, bright eyes seeming to speak volumes.
I stood up and dusted myself off: "I have some things to ask Ling Ran for advice on!"
Her eyes lit up when she heard that, and she followed me around like a puppy.
Ling Ran is skilled with a whip; whenever he has nothing to do, he can be seen practicing his whip skills in the other courtyard.
He was honest and kind, and had a handsome and refined appearance.
"Lingran!" I called out.
Seeing me and Princess Ling Shuang approach, he stopped practicing his whip technique, glancing at Ling Shuang somewhat unnaturally out of the corner of his eye.
"Greetings, Your Highness!"
Ling Shuang smiled, revealing two small tiger teeth, with a hint of shyness.
I quietly slipped out, leaving the two of them alone to whisper to each other.
Ling Ran kept his head down and didn't dare to look at her.
She handed him a purse, which startled Ling Ran so much that he took a few steps back.
"What does Your Highness mean?"
His head never lifted up throughout the entire process.
"Please lift your head and look at me!"
Ling Ran shook his head.
She grew impatient and roared, "This princess commands you to raise your head!"
He shook his head again and lowered his head a little: "The princess is so noble, while Ling Ran is just a lowly guard!"
"Then take the purse!"
"Absolutely not!"
Her anger flared up instantly; she threw the purse at Ling Ran, turned, and ran away.
Watching Ling Shuang's departing figure, Ling Ran picked up the purse, looked at the strange-looking animal embroidered on it, and revealed a sweet smile.
He clutched the purse to his chest as if it were a precious jewel, a hint of melancholy in his eyes, and a touch of tenderness in them.
"You are a princess!" The tone was full of desolation and helplessness!
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