Upon hearing Chu Bai’s words, Lin Zhaoyue almost instinctively replied:
“No.”
“Why?”
He gazed intently at her, urgently saying:
“I truly can do anything. This time I mean it, Miss. I won’t run away again…”
Lin Zhaoyue interrupted him before Chu Bai could finish speaking. Her crimson martial attire accentuated her delicate features, lending them a cold, unfeeling air:
“You are not suited to stay by my side. Once you have rested, leave! The capital has more suitable places for you.”
Chu Bai’s throat moved slightly. Knowing her decision was firm, he lowered his eyes, a dark glint flashing within them, and pressed his pale lips tightly together.
How could he stay by her side for a long time?
He had a premonition that only by following her could he uncover his own origins.
After saying this, Lin Zhaoyue left the room.
When Lin Zhaoyue returned from sword practice and reached the courtyard, she heard rustling sounds inside. Upon entering, she saw Chu Bai diligently sweeping with a broom, his slender, tall figure appearing solitary and lonely.
“Have you rested? Who told you to sweep?”
Chu Bai gripped the broom, lowering his gaze:
“No one ordered me to clean. I did it myself, Miss. I truly can do anything.”
Lin Zhaoyue took a deep breath, fearing she might soften, and turned away:
“If you have rested, then leave!”
“Miss, did I do something wrong? Running away yesterday was my mistake, but I truly am willing to do anything. Please let me stay.”
“You…”
Before Lin Zhaoyue could say anything, a robust voice rang out from outside the courtyard:
“Zhaozhao, you paid two hundred silver for him. Since he’s willing to do anything, just keep him! Our Lin Residence doesn’t lack food for him.”
Duke Lin walked in with a beaming smile, followed by two servants carrying a carved tray covered with an engraved iron lid.
His joy was evident.
Seeing Duke Lin, Chu Bai respectfully bowed to him:
“Greetings, Duke Lin.”
Duke Lin waved his hand, saying:
“You first…”
Duke Lin’s words paused momentarily when his smiling eyes met Chu Bai’s face, a sharp glint flickering in his gaze. But instantly, he resumed his cheerful demeanor.
Taking the carved tray from the servant, he said:
“Alright, you all may leave now.”
After everyone had left, Duke Lin spoke mysteriously:
“Zhaozhao, guess what your father brought for you?”
Lin Zhaoyue answered without hesitation:
“Food.”
Duke Lin: “…Isn’t that obvious? It’s on a carved tray and placed on the table—what else could it be?”
Then he added:
“Guess again.”
Since it was served on a jade tray, it likely required chilling. And given her father’s treasured expression, it must be an imperial bestowal.
It was spring now, and every year at this time, various vassal states would send tribute of many fruits. Among them, her father’s favorite was watermelon.
So…
“It’s watermelon.”
“No, not watermelon.” Duke Lin shook his head, a hint of pride in his eyes.
“It is watermelon. Father, don’t try to trick me. Zhaozhao guessed correctly, right? It’s watermelon.”
Lin Zhaoyue said, reaching out to remove the lid.
She was grown up now; she didn’t want to play guessing games!
When the lid was opened, the carved tray was filled with vibrant red fruits, like rubies embedded among green leaves, with a layer of crushed ice beneath the leaves.
Just looking at it makes it seem delicious!
“Father, what is this? I’ve never seen it before?”
“This is lychee. It was brought as tribute from a vassal state today. His Majesty rewarded us with several crates, while that old scoundrel Xuan Ping Hou got nothing.”
As he spoke, Duke Lin’s eyes deepened with a smile.
He took out a lychee, carefully peeled it, revealing the tender white flesh.
“Here, try it, Zhaozhao. See how it tastes.”
Lin Zhaoyue took the lychee from her father’s hand. As soon as she bit into it, the juice burst forth, filling her mouth with a refreshing sweetness and fragrance. Her eyes lit up:
“It’s delicious.”
Seeing his daughter’s delight, Duke Lin peeled another one for her.
“Father, you have some too! Do Mother and Sister have any?”
“They’re eating some right now. I came over because I saw you practicing swordplay and didn’t want to disturb you.”
As father and daughter enjoyed the lychees, Duke Lin asked casually:
“That young man earlier—is he the one you bought from the Black Market?”
Lin Zhaoyue nodded.
“Father noticed he has an extraordinary bearing, unlike someone from the Black Market. Do you know anything about his background, Zhaozhao?”
Lin Zhaoyue shook her head, stating firmly:
“Anyway, he’s not a bad person. Did you notice anything wrong, Father?”
“No, I was just chatting with you.”
After finishing the lychee in his hand, Duke Lin wiped his hands with a handkerchief and said:
“Alright, come to the front hall for dinner once you’re done here. The kitchen has already prepared the meal.”
“Okay, Father.”
Duke Lin left Lin Zhaoyue’s courtyard and stopped on a small path, his voice turning serious:
“Lin San.”
A breeze seemed to pass by, and in the blink of an eye, a figure in black appeared behind Duke Lin.
“Investigate the young man Zhaozhao bought from the Black Market. Look into his connection with the Ninth Prince of the Chiyan Kingdom.”
“Yes.”
Another gust of wind swept by, and when he looked up again, the figure in black had vanished without a trace…
…
Although Father had said that adding an extra bowl of rice for Chu Bai was nothing, Lin Zhaoyue still felt it was too dangerous for him to stay by her side.
In her past life, he had already sacrificed his life for her. If he were to give his life for her again, she truly wouldn’t know how to repay him.
Upon learning that he was still to be expelled from the Guogong Mansion, a flicker of gloom passed through Chu Bai’s clear eyes. His voice was low, lacking confidence:
“But my injuries haven’t healed yet.”
Hearing Chun He’s report, Lin Zhaoyue paused slightly, the comb in her hand stilling. Then, with an expressionless face, she said:
“Let him leave once his injuries are healed!”
…
Imperial Palace.
Xiao Yan, dressed in a black python robe with golden trim, had just left the Imperial Study. Remembering something, his thin lips pursed slightly as he ordered two plates of lychees to be brought to Qingyao Palace.
Xiao Ran had just finished her last lychee and was about to ask the Imperial Kitchen for more when she heard her third brother’s deep, pleasant voice:
“Ranran, are you still not full?”
“Brother Crown Prince, what brings you here?”
Xiao Ran’s eyes brimmed with delight. Although her brother came to court every day, she hadn’t seen him since her coming-of-age ceremony.
“I came to see if our Ranran has been doing her homework properly. The female tutor told me you’ve been quite mischievous these past few days.”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s words, a hint of unease flashed in Xiao Ran’s eyes. Then, placing her hands on her hips, she lifted her head and puffed out her chest, declaring matter-of-factly:
“The lessons the female tutor teaches are so dull, Ranran gets a headache just hearing about them. Besides, as a Princess, I won’t be governing the country or becoming an official. I’ll just marry a Tanhua as my consort in the future. And with my imperial father and Crown Prince brother backing me, would he really dare to look down on me just because my studies are poor?”
“You! That’s all the ambition you have, but you still ought to learn…”
As soon as Xiao Ran heard Xiao Yan’s lecturing tone, she quickly changed the subject:
“Crown Prince brother brought lychees over.”
As she spoke, Xiao Ran lifted the lid of the jade plate and indeed saw the chilled lychees.
She hurriedly took them and brought them to the table to eat.
Seeing Xiao Ran’s demeanor, Xiao Yan sighed softly.
Never mind, he would protect her in the future.
The siblings enjoyed the sweet lychees while chatting about everyday matters.
“These lychees are really delicious. I wonder if Zhaozhao has had any. I’ll have someone send some to her tomorrow.”
Lately, Zhaozhao had been very diligent, and he didn’t know what had spurred her to strive so hard.
Hearing Xiao Ran mention Lin Zhaoyue, Xiao Yan’s hands paused slightly as he peeled a lychee.
Ever since dreaming of Lin Zhaoyue’s death last night, he had been restless, inexplicably filled with a strong desire to see her—a feeling he couldn’t suppress no matter how hard he tried.
His dark eyes flickered slightly as Xiao Yan said calmly:
“Ranran can’t leave the palace. Why not invite the Second Miss Lin to the palace to keep you company? Today, the vassal state sent a lot of fruit as tribute. You could share it with her.”
Xiao Ran thought this made sense and nodded. But halfway through nodding, she suddenly realized something was off.
The latter part of Crown Prince brother’s sentence sounded as if he was afraid she wouldn’t invite Zhaozhao to the palace and had said it on purpose.
Had Crown Prince brother taken the wrong medicine?
Or had Zhaozhao finally warmed the heart she had been trying to win over for two years?
“Crown Prince brother, is it that you want to see Zhaozhao?”