By the time Sang Yao parted ways with them, they had walked quite a distance together.

Sang Yao held onto the spider’s leg, making sure they were far away before heaving a sigh of relief.

She was just an ignorant young woman, not used to talking to important people. Before being summoned by the Grand Princess last time, the most important person she spoke to was Xie Yun.

So meeting the Crown Prince today made her somewhat nervous.

After walking for a while alone, Sang Yao stopped in her tracks, looking at the unfamiliar surroundings with a blank face.

She thought to herself, as expected, she had gotten lost again.

She was such a fool, she could never figure out how to navigate the palace.

Even Sang Yinyue, who had just arrived at the palace, seemed to be better than her. When Sang Yinyue was analyzing the route to Li Yaoge just now, all she understood was the last sentence:

“You go wait in that thicket over there.”

She looked around, trying to find a young eunuch to ask for directions.

Before she could find one, she heard a call from behind, “Miss Sang.”

Sang Yao turned around, it was Luli.        

He stood amidst the overlapping flowers, the sunlight generously illuminating him. His smile was vivid, exuding a youthful vigor, completely different from the awkward and stiff person she had seen when she entered the palace last time.

Luli quickened his pace towards Sang Yao.

In no time, Luli stood in front of Sang Yao.

Sang Yao couldn’t help but glance behind Luli, Xie Yun didn’t come.

Luli understood Sang Yao’s meaning, showing a knowing expression. He kindly said, “Su Bai went to the Purple Chamber Hall to see my father. If you want to see him, I can take you somewhere to wait.”

Sang Yao quickly shook her head, feeling flustered, “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but that’s not what I meant.”

Luli looked at the slightly nervous girl and smiled, “You don’t have to be nervous, I’m actually very easygoing.”

Sang Yao noticed.

She remembered Luli’s demeanor when facing the Emperor, which was completely different from now. He seemed terrified and lacked the demeanor of a Crown Prince.

And just now, he looked very honest next to Xie Yun, showing a somewhat dependent attitude towards him in his words.

From the moment Sang Yao saw him earlier, he had a hint of a smile on his face.

When he smiles, his eyes slightly curve up, resembling a child’s.

Coupled with his exceptionally handsome appearance, not inferior to Luting, it’s easy for people to develop a favorable impression of him, which somewhat overturns Sang Yao’s previous perception of him.

The more Sang Yao thought about it, the more she felt complex emotions. She didn’t know what sin this Crown Prince had committed, for none of his in-laws seemed to regard him highly.

Even Xie Yun didn’t bow to him just now.

Poor guy.

Sang Yao looked at him and asked, “Your Highness, is there something you need?”

Walking alongside Sang Yao, Luli whispered, “I have something I’d like to ask you, Miss.”

He added, “I’m merely curious, no offense intended.”

Sang Yao replied, “Please, go ahead, Your Highness.”

Glancing around, Luli asked in a low voice, “Miss Sang, does Su Bai… like you?”

“Uh…” Sang Yao felt embarrassed, unsure how to respond.

Luli continued, “I’ve known Su Bai since we were children, and this is the first time I’ve seen him care so much about a woman.”

Sang Yao couldn’t help but think, leaving aside other matters, Xie Yun hasn’t cared about her either.

And he always acts indifferent towards her, as if he’s not interested. She told him a long time ago to be gentler with her, but he hasn’t changed.

Sang Yao denied, “Mr. Xie probably just pitied me earlier…”

Luli chuckled and said, “Su Bai isn’t that kind of person.”

Turning to Sang Yao, he said, “Let me tell you secretly, once when I fell off a horse and couldn’t get up, I reached out to him for help. Guess what he said?”

Curious, Sang Yao asked, “What did he say?”

Imitating Xie Yun’s disdainful demeanor, Luli said solemnly, “Sorry, Your Highness, your hands are too dirty.”

Sang Yao: “…”

She bit her lip silently, trying hard not to laugh.

She made a sorrowful expression and consoled, “Mr. Xie was probably young back then.”

Luli said, “No, that’s how he’s always been, from childhood to adulthood.”

Upon hearing this from Luli, Sang Yao suddenly felt a bit forgiving towards Xie Yun for not helping her back then.

After all, he didn’t even help the Crown Prince.

Luli turned to her again and asked, “By the way, Miss Sang, is the lady from the Silent Moon Palace…?”

Sang Yao replied, “Your Highness, that’s my sister.”

Luli nodded knowingly and said, “No wonder you two look somewhat alike.”

Looking at Sang Yao again, Luli praised, “To be honest, among all the imperial concubines, the one I like the most is the lady from the Silent Moon Palace.”

“She’s more beautiful than the others.”

Finally, someone felt the same as Sang Yao.

She had always thought her sister was the most beautiful in the palace. If she were the Emperor, she would visit her sister every day.

As she wasn’t fond of interacting with strangers, Sang Yao had felt somewhat uneasy talking to Luti. But now, Luti’s words had touched her heart, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit fond of him.

“I also think my sister is the most beautiful,” Sang Yao said.

Walking beside Sang Yao, Luli said, “Miss Sang, where are you headed? Let me take you there.”

This reminded Sang Yao, and she said, “I was originally planning to leave the palace, but I got lost earlier and couldn’t find my way…”

Luli said decisively, “I’ll take you out!”

Sang Yao quickly declined, “Your Highness, there’s no need to trouble you. Just give me directions, and I’ll manage.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Sang Yao could only follow Luli, and as they walked, they gradually became more familiar with each other.

After about half an hour, Luli suddenly said, “By the way, Miss Sang, are you interested in raising cats?”

Sang Yao didn’t know why Luli suddenly brought this up. She replied, “I’ve never raised one before, so I’m not sure if I’d be able to.”

Luli sighed and said, “There was a heavy rainstorm a few days ago.”

Sang Yao nodded, remembering the day she accidentally overheard his fiancee with someone else.

“That day, I happened to be outside the palace and found a litter of kittens in a sewage ditch.”

“The mother cat was dead, probably killed by someone. Its limbs were all broken, it was in a terrible state. Some of the kittens were scattered around, three of them were already dead, and only three were left, so I brought them back with me.”

Sang Yao furrowed her brows and asked, “Oh? Are the kittens okay now?”

“They’re fine now,” Luli replied.

“It’s just not easy to raise cats in the Eastern Palace. I thought about giving them away, but I was worried that others wouldn’t treat them well, following the fate of the mother cat. I wondered if you’d be willing to adopt one?”

Sang Yao thought for a moment, realizing Luli’s concern was valid.

Without much hesitation, she agreed, “Sure.”

Luli’s eyes lit up with a smile, “That’s great!”

“If you have time, why don’t you wait in the palace for a while? I’ll have someone bring the kitten over.”

Sang Yao initially thought Luli would send someone to deliver the kitten to her, but then she realized that since she was already in the palace, it would be more convenient this way. So she agreed.

About fifteen minutes later, Luli led Sang Yao to a secluded hall and said, “Miss Sang, please wait here for a moment. I’ve already sent someone over.”

Sang Yao looked around at the unfamiliar environment and nodded.

Luli said, “If you have any business, feel free to arrange it. I suddenly remembered I need to visit my mother later. I’ll come back shortly.”

With that, Luli waved at her and smiled, “Well, I’m off!”

Top of Form

The door was gently closed, and the man let go of Sang Yao’s hand, striding away.

Sang Yao was in a small compartment. As Luli left, he closed the door behind him, making the enclosed space somewhat uncomfortable for her.

But it was just waiting for a kitten, so it shouldn’t take too long.

However, she waited for about half an hour, and no one came. Feeling uneasy, she decided to leave and pushed open the door.

Coincidentally, she met a sweating eunuch hurrying over. He said, “Miss, you’ve been waiting for a long time!”

Sang Yao asked, “Where’s the kitten?”

The eunuch replied, “When we sent someone to fetch it, we found out that some children had taken the kitten to play. We’ve already sent people to find it.”

He added, “But don’t worry, Miss. It’s been found. It’ll be here in about the time it takes to burn incense. I was afraid you’d be anxious waiting, so I hurried over to inform you.”

Sang Yao finally felt relieved and said, “Thank you for your trouble.”

She returned to the room.

Although she wasn’t particularly clever, she had a basic sense of caution.

When she agreed to come here with Luli, although there was an impulsive element, she had also thought it over.

Luli didn’t seem like someone who would harm her, and Sang Yao couldn’t find a reason for Luli to harm her.

This was the palace. Although her father wasn’t particularly powerful, he was still a court official. If something happened to her, it wouldn’t end well.

Plus, she trusted Luli for a reason she couldn’t explain even to herself.

That reason was the way Xie Yun treated Luli just now.

Although his tone wasn’t gentle, even cold, it was clear that they were familiar with each other. And Luli seemed somewhat dependent on Xie Yun.

After pondering for a while, the door was finally opened again.

It seemed that the kitten had been brought over.

Sang Yao quickly stood up and ran to the door, lifting the beaded curtain.

“Meow!”

The door closed.

Beside the door, Xie Yun paused as he was taking off his outer garment, lifted his eyelids, and met the gaze of the joyful young girl.