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The two ”brothers” slept on the ground with Lord Yuan Bao in the middle. Lord Yuan Bao was always the one with the best treatment with his own little bed. While it could not use his golden toilet any longer, the little princess had personally sewed a down feather blanket for it. Lord Yuan Bao was very satisfied—compared to Meng Fuyao, any lady was a lady.

This rabbit-like princess, Xuanyuan Yun, was still timid as a rabbit. When she first saw Meng Fuyao, she blushed, looked at Tie Cheng, blushed. Even when she saw Yuan Bao, she still blushed!

Naturally, Meng Fuyao's appearance was different from when she was at the True Martial Arts Meet. Since she had so many human skin masks, her hobby was now to pretend to be different beautiful young men; changing one's appearance could bring about trouble but also plenty of conveniences. Meng Fuyao was basically not afraid of any trouble, and so, naturally, she would have to plan to maximize the convenience.

The convenience it brought was apparent. At first glance, Xuanyuan Yun had taken a liking to her and especially allowed Meng Fuyao to enter the first three inner courts. But she was repeatedly instructed that the very last inner court could not be entered.

Meng Fuyao obediently promised and according to the usual schedule, brought Lord Yuan Bao in to keep her company for 2 hours every day.

This day, Lord Yuan Bao did not perform upon arrival. Rather, it grabbed Xuanyuan Yun's hand and started to sigh. Xuanyuan Yun turned to look at Meng Fuyao in shock.

Troubled, Meng Fuyao explained, ”It heard that one of its distant relatives was eaten by a wolf… it's in the midst of grieving.”

As she explained, she closely observed Xuanyuan Yun. 'Does she know of Zong Yue's kidnap?'

There was nothing odd about Xuanyuan Yun's expression, though, for some reason, she seemed to be greatly affected by Lord Yuan Bao and the corners of her eyes reddened. Sitting there, tears suddenly started to fall.

Meng Fuyao was elated. 'Something is going on!'

Yet, her expression was one of fear as she frantically apologized, ”This rabbit has caused your highness to be upset, I will bring it down to discipline it.”

”Don't” Xuanyuan Yun quickly stopped Meng Fuyao as she wiped away her tears. ”No… No… I just thought of some upsetting matters…”

Meng Fuyao kept her mouth shut as she looked at the sky blankly—she could not rush to ask her question right now. This child had been bottling up too much and would definitely spill the beans herself.

As expected, Xuanyuan Yun waited a while for Meng Fuyao to express her sympathy and regards but seeing that her reaction was as cold as others, she sighed in disappointment. Then, she hugged Lord Yuan Bao and gently commented, ”You could still grieve for your own distant relatives… But I don't even know who I should grieve for…”

Meng Fuyao continued to act like a deaf.

Xuanyuan Yun continued to ramble on without reserve. ”When will Brother Yue come back… Father promised me to bring him back and return him his position. Yet, till today, there's not a single news about it… Father said that he wouldn't come back…”

Meng Fuyao raised her eyebrows slightly.

'Xuanyuan Yun doesn't know that Zong Yue is already in the hands of Xuanyuan Cheng?'

'Xuanyuan Yun once begged Xuanyuan Cheng to return Zong Yue's position as a royal?

'In other words, she was the one that revealed Zong Yue's identity and hiding place?

'Why is this child, born in the dirtiest, darkest and unpredictable imperial family, still so childish?'

With anger, Meng Fuyao glanced at Xuanyuan Yun. This child was clothed in a pastel yellow dress. She had bright and teary eyes with exquisite, delicate features and silky smooth skin. Her cheeks were fluffy, and pink like cotton rose hibiscus, looking down at Lord Yuan Bao's smooth fur with her slightly redden eyes. That hibiscus looked so delicate and frail as though it could not even survive the cool autumn breeze.

'She is truly a protected, frail flower in a greenhouse, untainted by pain and sufferings of the human affairs.'

Not the Ya Lanzhu that traveled around the different countries at 12, nor the Feng Jingfan that had toured various countries in the ”name of Buddha”.

Her life had no cracks; it was as bright and clear as a mirror, lighting up her life. It was always her father creating the illusion of a rosy world for her, and the biggest hardship she ever suffered was probably the night where she stayed outside Meng Fuyao's residence all night.

No wonder her father eventually joined the True Martial Arts Meet—he was afraid of his pure daughter suffering and wanted to bring her back personally.

Meng Fuyao quietly sighed. What kind of method did Xuanyuan Yun even use to recognize Zong Yue and inform her father? That being said, it was her fault. Why did she take pity on her and let Xuanyuan Yun meet Zong Yue?

'At this point in time, there's no point in sighing. Since Xuanyuan Yun had no intentions to harm Zong Yue, that means that there is still hope.'

Her gaze had fixated on Xuanyuan Yun for too long. That child was after all a master of martial arts, and she quickly turned back, surprised by the intense gaze she felt. But Meng Fuyao had already kept her gaze.

She bid her goodbyes to Xuanyuan Yun and slowly made her way back to her own place. She had passed by the third inner court, she suddenly spotted a person sitting by the pond and flowers, under the pavilion.

From the back view and dressing, it seemed to be a slim man. Meng Fuyao had never seen a man's waist so slim before, nor had she seen a man's back view so… enchanting.

His long sleeves dangled and touched the surface of the water. The moon-white sleeves resembled a fluffy cloud, gently bringing about ripples on the surface of the water. The narrow waist and delicate fingers back-faced Meng Fuyao. It was like a flower in the blooming as his enchanting voice sang:

”Slowly, gracefully rises the moon from the sea, Cynthia the Moon Goddess flies to the east again… The goddess rises from her throne and lightens the sky… When she smiles, the world is bright… The scenery is like the Birth of Venus from the Aegean Sea…” [1. Lyrics from Beijing Opera, The Drunkened Beauty, a masterpiece by Mei Lan Fang, talking about Lady Yang Yuhuan, the Emperor's favorite concubine that was eventually neglected him.]