Princess Luoning's beautiful eyes sparkled with a hidden light as they darted back and forth between the two of them. "You two know each other?"
"We don't."
"We don't."
The two replied in unison.
Shen Li shot Xuan Yuanjue a glare and let out a cold snort.
Princess Luoning didn't seem to mind the frosty atmosphere between them at all. She looped her arms through Xuan Yuanjue's and Shen Li's respectively and said with a smile, "It's okay if you don't know each other. You'll get to know each other today. The more people, the merrier. I'll treat today. Let's go listen to a storytelling."
The original group of six had now swelled to eight.
When they reached the Binyue Teahouse, Princess Luoning waved her hand grandly and directly rented out the second floor of the teahouse.
Down on the first - floor stage, the storyteller was still eloquently recounting the legendary life of a great general from the previous dynasty, winning the applause of the audience on the first floor.
Even Princess Luoning clapped and cheered. Her maids were also listening happily.
Only Shen Li and Xuan Yuanjue remained unmoved.
"Little thing, why are you hanging out with that girl?" Xuan Yuanjue motioned in Princess Luoning's direction with his head. "Don't blame me for not warning you. She's a troublemaker."
Shen Li rolled her eyes and silently retorted in her heart: Trouble - maker? Isn't that you?
"Humph. I'm kindly warning you, and this is the look you give me? The fact that this girl sneaked out might have already been discovered. If the Empress finds out that you led her daughter astray, you'll be in big trouble."
Shen Li glanced at Princess Luoning, who was laughing happily, and whispered uncertainly, "It shouldn't be like that, right?"
"It's better to send her back to the palace quickly before something really bad happens." Xuan Yuanjue reminded again.
Shen Li also decided in her heart that she would persuade Princess Luoning to go back after the storytelling.
Inside the palace, Princess Luoyao, accompanied by her maids, went to deliver the cooked green - stemmed rice porridge to Princess Luoning.
In the Ninghua Palace, the door to the Ninth Princess's chamber was tightly shut. Two maids, Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu, were guarding outside.
"Princess Wuyao is here!" After a shrill voice announced, Princess Luoyao appeared in front of everyone.
The eunuchs and maids in the Ninghua Palace all knelt down to pay their respects.
Princess Luoyao glanced at the closed door and asked Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu, who were kneeling in the front, "Where's your princess?"
Dong Zhu's body trembled slightly. Before she could say anything, Qiao Zhu replied in a calm tone, "Your Highness, after the Ninth Princess finished her lunch, she practiced calligraphy for a while and then took a nap."
Princess Luoyao nodded and pointed to the porridge carried by Ting Qin behind her. "This is the green - stemmed rice porridge cooked by the imperial kitchen. Remember to let the Ninth Princess eat it when she wakes up."
Qiao Zhu took the tray with a smile. Princess Luoyao gave them a few more instructions to take good care of the Ninth Princess and then turned to leave.
After walking just a few steps forward, she seemed to have a sudden doubt. She turned back and asked, "Has the Ninth Princess left her room today?"
Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu, who had just relaxed, tensed up again. Even Qiao Zhu, who had seemed calm before, felt a bit flustered.
"Your Highness, the Ninth Princess has been practicing calligraphy in the room all day. She said she wanted to practice hard to show it to the Empress." Qiao Zhu adjusted her breathing silently and replied calmly.
Princess Luoyao didn't say a word after hearing this. She just stared at the two of them sharply.
Qiao Zhu managed to keep a smile on her face, but Dong Zhu, who was timid, was already sweating profusely on her back. Her hands were shaking, and she almost couldn't hold herself up and fall to the ground.
At this moment, Princess Luoyao suddenly said with a slight smile, "Little Nine has become so hard - working. I must reward her well."
As she said this, she took the tray from Qiao Zhu's hand. "I'll deliver it to Little Nine myself. She'll surely be very happy to see it."
Qiao Zhu was greatly shocked when she lost the tray in her hand, but she still tried to persuade Princess Luoyao not to go in. "Your Highness, the Ninth Princess is still taking a nap. Why don't you come and see her after she wakes up?"
Princess Luoyao already suspected something, so how could she listen to her? She simply picked up the porridge and said, "Little Nine sleeps too much. I'll go in and wake her up."
These words seemed to be addressed to Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu, but in fact, they were meant for everyone present. There were many gossips in the palace, so she had to think twice about every word and deed.
"You two should go in and serve the Ninth Princess."
After Princess Luoyao said this, she walked forward. The maid opened the door of the chamber. She still walked in with a dignified smile, carrying the porridge, and Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu followed closely behind.
As soon as the door of the chamber closed, Princess Luoyao immediately changed her calm and dignified demeanor. She suddenly strode towards the Ninth Princess's bed. Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu tried to stop her, but it was too late.
Princess Luoyao had already stepped forward. Staring coldly at the bulging quilt on the bed, she directly reached out and lifted the quilt.
"Prin... Princess, please spare my life."
Inside the quilt was Yu Zhu, wearing the Ninth Princess's nightgown. She was so frightened that her face had turned pale. Her hands and feet were shaking as she crawled to the ground and kowtowed to Princess Luoyao, begging for mercy.
Qiao Zhu and Dong Zhu also looked extremely pale. They crawled on their knees and knelt down in front of the Fifth Princess with their heads bowed.
Looking unhappily at the three people still kneeling on the ground, Princess Luoyao waved her hand and said, "Alright, be quiet."
"Tell me, where's your mistress?" Her face cold, she pointed at Dong Zhu, who was shaking the most, and said, "You answer."
Dong Zhu lowered her head. Her tears had formed a small puddle on the ground. "Your Highness, our mistress... she went out of the palace."
Although she had suspected this in her heart, Princess Luoyao still couldn't believe that Princess Luoning had the audacity to sneak out of the palace privately. She knew that if this matter got out, not only would all the maids and eunuchs in the Ninghua Palace be beheaded or punished, but even the Ninth Princess herself might be beaten or put under house arrest.
Princess Luoyao gently touched her palm with her slender fingers. After just a brief thought, she continued to ask the three of them, "Who did your mistress go out of the palace with? Where was she going after she left the palace? Tell me everything you know."
"The princess's act of sneaking out of the palace is a serious crime. If you really care about your mistress, don't hide anything. Tell me everything, or your lives will be in danger."
This time, Princess Luoyao didn't specify who should answer. She sat on the couch behind her and looked at the three of them.
"Our mistress dressed up as a eunuch with Rui Zhu and went out." It was Qiao Zhu who spoke. She was the smartest. Knowing the seriousness of the matter at this moment, she didn't hide anything and told everything.
"As for where she went after leaving the palace, our mistress didn't say."
Qiao Zhu was also sad. Her Ninth Princess was kind - hearted, easy to get along with, and never harsh on her servants. But after all, she was still young and loved to play. Before, they had tried their best to persuade the Ninth Princess, but she was stubborn and naturally wouldn't listen to them.