“Miss, it’s time to get up. We’ll be late for the prayer ceremony.”

Sunlight dappled through the branches, showering pink and white petals onto the girl’s down-filled collar, resting gently against her soft, fair skin.

Luo Sheng remained oblivious, slowly opening her eyes from the chaise lounge. A few petals drifted down. “Coming.”

Her soft voice, still laced with sleepiness, sent a shiver down Han Shuang’s spine.

Approaching, Han Shuang helped Luo Sheng into her cloak. “Even though it’s spring, Miss shouldn’t sleep in the courtyard. If you catch a chill, Master and Madam will scold you again.”

As they drew closer, Luo Sheng’s faint, ethereal scent filled Han Shuang’s lungs, causing her to steal a few extra glances at her mistress.

Perhaps she had indeed caught a chill; Luo Sheng’s nose was slightly red, her lips a vibrant crimson, and her cheeks flushed. She already possessed striking, alluring features, and this vibrant flush contrasted sharply with the languid haze in her eyes, making her captivating even in a sleepy state.

Unaware of the impact of her gaze, she murmured softly, “Has Elder Sister gone?”

Han Shuang’s heart skipped a beat. Focusing on tying the cords of Luo Sheng’s collar, her eyes inexplicably fell on the petals again.

The pink and white petals clung to her skin, rising and falling with her breath. The white stamens and her skin, like mutton fat jade, were indistinguishable, the rosy hue disappearing into her collar, yet still outlining her chest even after being fastened.

It had to be said, their Third Miss was exceptionally alluring.

Han Shuang blushed, averting her gaze. “She’s gone, but Her Highness the Crown Princess hasn’t fully settled in yet, so she shouldn’t stay long.”

“Ah?” Luo Sheng, now more awake, rose with Han Shuang’s help. “Then I must hurry. I need to give Elder Sister my gift.”

“Miss, there’s no need to rush.” Han Shuang followed. “This is the Eastern Palace, and your Second Sister is the Crown Princess. Even if you want to see her, it’s not like you can’t.”

“It’s not that I’m afraid of disturbing Elder Sister’s rest,” Luo Sheng touched the sachet at her waist, containing a piece of nephrite she’d specially requested from Changming Temple to help with morning sickness. “I heard Elder Sister’s morning sickness is severe, and she’s lost weight from it.”

Today was a spring prayer banquet, specially organized by the Crown Prince because he felt the Crown Princess was suffering too much from her pregnancy. It was meant to alleviate her discomfort.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to the Eastern Palace and rested in a side room waiting for her sister.

Han Shuang knew that, although they weren’t biological sisters, their bond was deep.

Thinking of Third Miss’s past, Han Shuang sighed. It was truly unfortunate that such a kind and gentle girl had suffered so much.

The Eastern Palace’s flower garden prayer banquet primarily invited women from noble families. Their youthful faces and the vibrant spring flowers created a lively scene. Luo Sheng found her sister amidst the crowd.

However, her sister was with their mother and the Empress, making it difficult to approach.

Luo Sheng hesitated for a moment, deciding to wait.

She picked up a red prayer ribbon. A young noblewoman beside her greeted her warmly. “Shengsheng, your sister is so fortunate. It’s clear the Crown Prince truly cherishes her.”

Luo Sheng smiled. “Yes.”

The noblewoman leaned in. “What are you praying for?”

Luo Sheng covered the writing. “I won’t tell you.”

“Cut it out.” The girl scoffed, standing up. “I already know. Aren’t you praying for a husband as good as the Crown Prince?”

Luo Sheng didn’t understand.

She was here to see her sister, why would she pray for a husband?

Before she could respond, the surrounding noblewomen gathered, having apparently misheard. “Who’s so bold as to pray for the Crown Prince as their husband in front of the Crown Princess?”

“No, it’s not that.” Luo Sheng quickly denied it, realizing their misunderstanding.

“Oh, if it’s Shengsheng, it’s probably fine,” the noblewomen giggled. “Even though Shengsheng is a concubine’s daughter, the Crown Princess loves her younger sister. To solidify her position during pregnancy, she might give Shengsheng a chance to become a concubine.”

Luo Sheng found their words increasingly absurd. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Yet, her soft voice and gentle tone made even her anger sound like a playful complaint.

The noblewomen ignored her displeasure, continuing their chatter. “Although the Crown Prince is wonderful, I still prefer the Fifth Prince.”

“Then you’ll have to work harder. That one doesn’t seem to be someone who understands human warmth.”

Luo Sheng overheard their discussion and looked in the direction of the voices, noticing the Fifth Prince, Xiao Chuhuai, entering the garden.

The man, in a dark brocade robe, was dignified and handsome, his expression cold and aloof. He only spoke a few words to the Crown Prince before leaving, his steps steady, without a glance at the spring flowers.

From a distance, one could sense his aversion to the scene.

Luo Sheng vaguely remembered him. Her sister had mentioned that he and the Crown Prince were close as brothers. His mother had committed a crime and become a nun, and Xiao Chuhuai was raised by the Empress. Although a prince, he was also a close advisor to the Crown Prince.

When the Emperor granted Xiao Chuhuai a mansion and appointed him Prince Jing, the Crown Prince kept him in the Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace was as large as two princely mansions; having one more person wouldn’t make much difference.

Although their relationship was good, their personalities were completely different. The Crown Prince was amiable, while Xiao Chuhuai was aloof and distant, unapproachable, always advising the Crown Prince, as the crown prince, not to be nice to everyone.

But the Crown Prince still smiled at everyone.

Although Luo Sheng didn’t interact with him much, she was naturally timid and somewhat afraid of him, often avoiding him when visiting her sister in the Eastern Palace.

But on second thought, their statuses were worlds apart, and they wouldn’t have any interaction anyway.

The noblewomen continued their conversation, hanging their prayer ribbons.

“So what? Marriages are arranged by parents. I heard the Emperor is already looking for a princess consort for the Fifth Prince. Even if he’s not interested, the Emperor will arrange a marriage, and he’ll likely accept it.”

Luo Sheng paid no attention, hanging her ribbon on a branch. The characters on Luo Sheng’s ribbon were neat and elegant: “May my parents be healthy, my brother successful, and my sister blessed.”

Han Shuang felt a warmth in her heart when she saw it.

Our sweet little darling.

“All right.” Luo Sheng brushed off the dust from her hands, forgetting the unpleasantness, noticing fewer people around the Crown Princess. “Let’s go give Elder Sister our gifts.”

She lifted her skirt and happily trotted a few steps, then suddenly stopped.

Luo Sheng patted her waist. “Where’s my sachet?”

Luo Sheng checked again, realizing the sachet was indeed gone. “Did you see my sachet? It was hanging here just now.”

Han Shuang hadn’t seen it. “It was still there when we came. Maybe it fell on the way?”

Luo Sheng thought that was likely. “Tell Elder Sister to wait for me; I’ll go back and look for it.”

“Hey, Miss…” Han Shuang wanted to help her search, but Luo Sheng was too anxious and rushed back to look for it.

Luo Sheng walked back along the path, searching as she went.

In a secluded part of the garden, Luo Sheng caught sight of a light pink tassel in the corner of a grove. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly picked it up. It was indeed her sachet. “Goodness, I thought I’d lost it.”

As Luo Sheng stood up, she heard a man’s voice from a nearby path.

“Your Highness is a remarkable person, and your learning and insight are not inferior to the Crown Prince’s. No wonder the Crown Prince values you so much.”

Besides the Crown Prince, who else could be in the Eastern Palace?

As usual, Luo Sheng didn’t want to encounter this prince. Her quick mind raced, spotting a closed courtyard nearby. She quickly ducked inside.

Luo Sheng thought that once they passed, she would come out. It was a perfect plan.