“Thank you, Princess.” Luo Sheng felt that since she had spoken up for her, even if she didn’t say much… it wasn’t meddling, “I see that the Princess’s complexion is pale, you might have caught a cold.  Eat some warming things these days to dispel the cold.”

Xingyao’s eyelashes trembled slightly, a little excited, “You, can you tell by looking at someone’s complexion?”

Luo Sheng certainly couldn’t, but she could talk nonsense, “I’ve had poor blood circulation since I was a child, so I know a little.”

Xingyao stroked the fan bone in her hand, gazing at her for a long time, as if undergoing a fierce internal struggle before saying, “Thank you for reminding me, Miss Luo. I will pay attention.”

Yuan Mo, listening to their conversation, thought that Xingyao was kind, a princess even chatting with a stupid illegitimate daughter, she didn’t even bother to look.

Luo Sheng simply bowed and left.  When no one was paying attention, she walked towards the direction where Deng Yu and Deng Miaoqin had left.

Deng Yu was scolding Deng Miaoqin in the small bamboo forest.  He noticed the figure following behind him and paused slightly, turning his head to look.

The bamboo forest was shady, covering the figures of the people inside and outside, but the pomegranate-colored skirt still showed through the gaps.

Deng Yu was secretly pleased.  She had indeed followed using a little trick.

Deng Miaoqin didn’t know what he was thinking and was refuting his scolding, “I didn’t do anything wrong. What I said was the truth…”

Deng Yu came to his senses, “Don’t you know that Father and I are trying to win over the Luo family? You embarrassed her in front of so many people, aren’t you ruining our efforts?”

Deng Miaoqin pulled the corner of her lips discontentedly, “It was clearly her who embarrassed me. If she admitted that she liked you and was polite to me, it would be much better. She just can’t see her own status and always makes it seem like I’m the villain.”

“Girls care about their reputation. Even if you and I know this, you can’t say it openly. What if it gets ruined?”

“Isn’t an illegitimate daughter also taken as a concubine? You’re trying to elevate her to the heavens now, what about after she enters the door?” Deng Miaoqin scoffed, “Besides, I’m helping you. Once it gets out that she likes you, her reputation will be ruined, and she’ll have no choice but to marry you.”

Deng Miaoqin continued, more and more self-righteous, “The Crown Princess’s younger sister is fickle. Once this gets out, the Crown Princess’s reputation will also be affected. To protect the Crown Princess’s reputation, they will definitely give her to you.  Why give an illegitimate daughter so much face?”

Deng Yu listened and suddenly realized this was a brilliant plan. Once Luo Sheng’s reputation was ruined, she would have to beg to marry him.

At that time, their family would be in a high position, and they could easily manipulate the Luo family, “You, although you always cause trouble, you always come up with good ideas.”

Deng Miaoqin became a little proud, “Of course.”

“Alright, go back.” Deng Yu straightened his clothes, “Someone will be seeing me soon.”

Deng Miaoqin looked at him, “Who?”

Deng Yu gave her a look, “You’ll know when you go out.”

Deng Miaoqin vaguely understood.  She thoughtfully didn’t continue to ask and slowly walked out.

Sure enough, she saw Luo Sheng pretending to pass by, standing beside a tree plucking leaves.

Deng Miaoqin snorted coldly.

Luo Sheng snorted back, not to be outdone.

Deng Miaoqin rolled her eyes, a plan forming in her mind, her mood improving.

Let’s see how she denies it this time.

Luo Sheng, seeing her walk away, threw away the leaves in her hand and saw that Deng Yu didn’t seem to have left the bamboo forest yet.

She had actually wanted to eavesdrop on Deng Miaoqin being scolded, but found that the distance was too far, and the surrounding sounds were too noisy to hear clearly, so she gave up.

Forget it, she was here to get her things back, and once she did, she wouldn’t care about anything else.

When Luo Sheng entered, she saw Deng Yu with his back to her, the sachet still hanging on his waist.

She couldn’t help but call out to him, “Cousin.”

Deng Yu only turned around when he heard her call, “It’s Cousin Shengsheng, are you still angry?”

Luo Sheng looked closely at the sachet. It was indeed the one she dropped. She pointed to his waist, “This is mine, can you give it back to me?”

Deng Yu pretended not to understand, “What?”

Luo Sheng walked closer, “This sachet.”

Her eyes were still red from crying, and she looked at him with such watery eyes that Deng Yu’s throat felt dry.

These eyes are really suitable for crying in bed, crying even more pitifully.

“I have several of these hanging here, are you talking about this one?” Deng Yu deliberately chose the wrong one.

Luo Sheng pointed closer, “It’s this…”

Her hand had just reached out, and whether it was a coincidence or not, it just happened to touch Deng Yu’s outstretched hand, and he grabbed it.

Luo Sheng’s hand trembled, and just as she was about to pull it back, he tightened his grip, “Cousin?”

The man’s hot palm pressed against her tender back of her hand, “Huai Xi, take what you want yourself.”

Luo Sheng wasn’t a naive little girl, how could she not understand the implication?

Moreover, Deng Yu suddenly called her by her childhood name.  Luo Sheng’s blood rushed to her head. Her childhood name was given by her father and mother out of affection.  When her father and mother called her that, it was always with love and tenderness.

Being called that by an outsider, Luo Sheng was startled.  Her wrist was restrained, preventing her from retreating.

She couldn’t match the man’s strength, and was pulled forward by Deng Yu. Her cheeks flushed, she wanted to refuse, but only managed to say, “What are you doing?”

This refusal sounded like flirting. Luo Sheng anxiously wanted to cry again, “Cousin, don’t do this.”

“I’m just here to get my sachet, you… let go of me.”

In this secluded bamboo forest, there were no other people for a while, Deng Yu became even more unscrupulous, stepping up to her toes, “Since you like me, why won’t you admit it? What does it matter if this sachet is given to me?”

Luo Sheng retreated in fright, and suddenly her wrist was grabbed by another large hand.

She was easily pulled back, away from Deng Yu’s grasp, and then Luo Sheng’s back hit a hard chest.

The feeling was familiar, and a more familiar cold voice came from above, “This sachet is mine, it’s inconvenient to give it to you.”

Luo Sheng was slightly stunned, and the next moment she was pulled behind Xiao Chuhuai.

By his broad figure, she saw Deng Yu’s face turn pale.

Deng Yu bowed, quickly untied the sachet from his waist, and offered it with both hands, “This subordinate didn’t know it was the Fifth Prince’s, I offended you.”

“If you don’t know who it belongs to, you can just take it?” Xiao Chuhuai took it, his cold gaze still on him, “It seems that your demotion didn’t teach you a lesson.”

Deng Yu suddenly felt a chill, his body bowing even lower, afraid that he wouldn’t even be able to keep his eighth-rank official position, “Your Highness, this subordinate knows his mistake, this subordinate will definitely not repeat it.”

Xiao Chuhuai didn’t pay much attention to him and left directly.

Luo Sheng quickly followed.

*

By Qujiang Pool, in the pavilion, the Princess and the girls who didn’t want to get involved had left, but Yuan Mo and her friends remained.

Yuan Mo propped her chin, watching the whole farce, feeling a little tired, “Who was the one who cried?”

“The Crown Princess’s illegitimate younger sister.”

Yuan Mo made a sound, listlessly, “I thought it was something. Such a small matter is worth making a fuss about, those from humble backgrounds are just not presentable.”

“What’s wrong?” Yuan Jiaying, seeing her low spirits, couldn’t help but smile, “On such a good day, who upset Sister?”

Yuan Mo picked up her teacup and put it down again, becoming angry when she mentioned it, “Who else could it be?”

Yuan Jiaying knew her thoughts, “The Fifth Prince didn’t agree?”

Yuan Mo frowned and didn’t speak.

Yuan Jiaying comforted her, “Sister, don’t be angry, the Fifth Prince has always been like this.”

The people around echoed, “Yes, the Fifth Prince is at least willing to talk to Mo Mo, we don’t even have the chance to talk to him.”

Yuan Jiaying continued, “For so many years, besides the Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince hasn’t favored anyone. Besides, hasn’t His Majesty recently asked Father to talk about marriage? When the imperial decree comes down, it will be a done deal.”

“But he doesn’t seem to like me.” Yuan Mo was still in low spirits, “Will he agree?”

“He doesn’t like you, and he doesn’t seem to like anyone else. He’s the same to everyone, it doesn’t affect you, he can’t disobey the imperial decree, can he?”

Yuan Mo’s mood improved.  That’s true.

In the entire capital, in terms of status, appearance, and talent, no one was more suitable to be with Xiao Chuhuai than her.

Not far away, Deng Miaoqin came back from the small bamboo forest and bowed to Yuan Mo, “Brother scolded me just now, I was too reckless, and disturbed everyone’s enjoyment, it was really inappropriate.”

Yuan Mo wasn’t interested in their little matters, “What? Did you resolve the misunderstanding?”

“Yes,” Deng Miaoqin said deliberately, “Sister Shengsheng came to apologize, saying that she was also at fault, and she’s chatting with my brother now.  She hasn’t come out yet, so she must have forgiven me.”

Yuan Mo found it interesting, “Didn’t she say she didn’t like your brother? Why did she get angry and go into the bamboo forest with him?”

Deng Miaoqin looked intentionally towards the exit of the small bamboo forest, “This… I don’t know, I guess my brother has to coax her. I dare not say anything.”

Everyone in the pavilion looked curiously in the direction Deng Miaoqin was looking.

The young ladies around sighed, “What you said makes sense, why won’t she admit it?”

“I don’t know.” Deng Miaoqin sighed, “Maybe it’s because I told her before that she’s illegitimate and probably can’t be our main wife, so she wouldn’t admit it.”