"You! How did you get here?" My first reaction was shock.
Then, my second reaction - anger - quickly followed. "You actually followed my brother and eavesdropped on our conversation!"
Hearing this, he laughed and walked around to my side. "Yes, I came here just to eavesdrop on how your brother speaks ill of me every day."
I snorted. Seeing his rascally attitude, I immediately calmed down and retorted, "So what if you heard it?"
He smiled. "It doesn't matter. As long as you, Xihe, don't believe it."
As he spoke, he stepped closer to me. Knowing his intention, I calmly took a step back and smiled at him. "Sorry, but I really do believe it."
He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. I continued, "This is the Twin Hall. It's said that no one is allowed to enter without my brother's and my permission. Shouldn't you leave?"
"Oh? What if I don't?" Yu Chi Cheng stood to the side, his hands behind his back, as if really challenging me.
I wasn't in a hurry. I simply said, "If you don't leave, I'll have to shout for assault."
Yu Chi Cheng laughed but ignored me.
I added, "I'll count to three. If you still don't leave, I'll really shout."
He remained motionless.
"One..." He stepped forward and looked at the furnishings in my room.
"Two..." He put down an antique and picked up another.
"Three..." He walked back to his original position, looking at me playfully. Tilting his head, he said, "I knew you, Xihe, wouldn't have the heart to do it."
I was speechless. Then I said, "I've already shouted."
"When?" He was a bit caught off guard. I waved him over and whispered something. He didn't hear clearly and frowned, leaning closer. "What did you say?"
Seeing this, I cupped my hands around his ear and shouted, "Assault!"
He immediately covered his ears and stepped back, his face contorted.
The next second, all the maids in the Twin Hall came out with brooms. Seeing Yu Chi Cheng, they rushed forward and started hitting him randomly. Yu Chi Cheng looked at me in disbelief. "Xihe, you're really doing this?"
I nodded. "Of course. This broom army has been prepared for you for a long time. It's just right to use it today. In fact, you can stay here if you like."
Yu Chi Cheng was beaten into a sorry state by the maids with brooms. He groaned in pain. "Fine, fine, fine. You're ruthless, Xihe!"
I couldn't help but put my hands on my hips and laugh. He didn't hesitate any longer. Shouting "Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!" he covered his head and left. How could a noble and self - respecting person like him really fight with a group of maids?
I knew that in the North Cold region, a real man never hits a woman. So I specifically arranged for a group of women to attack him, leaving him with no way to complain. This tactic was extremely simple. As long as it was a woman with a broom, she could carry it out. It was created on the day when I was carried to the Huiyang Palace after falling into the water. I didn't get a chance to use it then, but now I finally did.
Watching Yu Chi Cheng groaning in pain, I burst into laughter. I had never felt so good before.
...
When my brother came back with the token, I had already cleared up the mess. I told all the maids to put down their brooms and return to their positions.
As soon as my brother entered the door, he waved a bag of silver in his hand and shouted happily, "Xihe, come on. Get ready and go out of the palace with me. Brother will take you to eat delicious food and have fun!"
At that time, I was sitting in the hall drinking tea. Seeing his dissolute look, I spat out a mouthful of water. He said in disgust, "Xihe, you're a girl. Pay attention to your image!"
I gave him a sad look and immediately went back to my right chamber to change clothes. Who would have thought that just as I took off my outer robe, my brother knocked on the door. "Wait a minute, Xihe. Try this set of clothes!"
I was curious. I wondered when my brother had clothes for me. So I told Shuifu beside me to get them. When Shuifu brought them back and unfolded them for me to see, I couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time.
This wasn't my clothes at all. It was clearly the moon - white long gown that my brother used to love but could no longer fit into. I originally thought it would be better not to wear men's clothing, but Shuifu beside me said, "Why don't you, Princess, dress up as a man just once so we can all have a look. We're all very curious to know if you'll be as handsome as the eldest prince when you dress up as a man."
I couldn't help but pout. I was also a bit curious about myself, so I had to let them do as they pleased.
After all this dressing up, when I appeared in front of the mirror, even I was startled.
Was that handsome young man in the mirror really me? It really did bear a bit of resemblance to my brother. Although we were born on the same day, my brother grew faster than me. The clothes he couldn't fit into fit me perfectly.
After Shuifu tied my belt and inserted the men's hairpin for me, I was very satisfied. I imitated my brother and swaggered out.
As soon as I opened the door, my brother was also startled. But after a moment, he started cheering. "This is great! This is great!"
I immediately snatched the folding fan from my brother's hand and swaggered out. I said complacently, "I'll take this. I'm going to charm a bunch of women today."
My brother almost spat out blood. After a few seconds, he said, "Alright. Who did you learn this from?"
I looked at him seriously and said, "I naturally learned it from someone by being constantly exposed to it."
My brother immediately stumbled but managed to grab me. With a glimmer of hope, he asked me, "So this is how I usually act?"
I nodded seriously. "That's right."
Then my brother turned his head sadly, tears streaming down his face. I waved his fan more proudly and walked towards the door.
Well, I've heard that the civilian world is a great place. I'm going to have a good look around today.
Outside the palace, the warm sun shone through the carriage window on my whole body, making me feel cozy.
My brother and I were sitting in a low - key and simple carriage. We pulled open the curtain on the window to feel the bustling atmosphere as much as possible.
"Brother, where shall we go to play later?"
"Um... go to..." My brother thought for a while. Suddenly, his eyes lit up suspiciously. He said in a very questionable tone, "Go to a great place..."
I couldn't help but shiver. My brother told the coachman - guard, "Go to the busiest street in the imperial city. I'm going to take Xihe for a good stroll."
"Yes." The voice from outside was very steady.
"Brother, what's on that street that makes you smile so slyly?" I studied his expression for a long time and finally couldn't help but ask.
My brother stroked my head and said, "Be good and listen to me. Don't ask so many questions. Later, just do as your brother says."
I nodded very obediently. At that time, I had no idea what kind of thrilling event was about to unfold.
...
After getting off the carriage, the guard followed us as we wandered on the street. He said it was to protect us, but my brother was no ordinary person. He pulled me through the crowd a few times and managed to shake off the guard without knowing where he went.
My brother smiled proudly and pulled me into another alley. I stopped and said, "Brother, shouldn't we wait for him?"
My brother tapped my head hard and scolded, "Stupid! I came here specifically to get rid of him. Do you want a tail following you when you're having a good time outside?"
Suddenly, I understood why my brother had said to the guard when he parked the carriage, "There are a lot of people here. If we get separated later, wait here by the carriage in the evening."
At that time, the guard had sworn, "Don't worry, I won't let the prince and princess get separated."
In the end, my brother and I didn't get separated, but we got separated from him...
"Alright, don't worry about him for now. I'll take you to a really fun place. Follow me!"