From far away, a servant’s call drifted in.
“Your Imperial Highness, Her Majesty the Empress summons you to discuss some matters.”
Cynthia acknowledged the command, motioning for the servants to put away the clothing rack before turning to instruct, “Call the tailor over. The waistline and shoulder seams are not sitting quite right; have her alter them again.”
Su Zhao paid little attention to the content of the conversation, her gaze locked onto the virtual screen projected before her as she instinctively straightened her posture.
That was ten whole favorability points! Ten!
Such a generous reward! It was entirely worth it!
Even though she was happily dancing right on Cynthia’s emotional landmines, but…
It sounded even more thrilling.
Cynthia’s favorability had arrived so abruptly that Su Zhao always worried it would come quickly and go just as fast. She feared it might plummet like a roller coaster at any given moment.
In contrast, Evelyn’s favorability was completely different.
Through such a long period of getting along, Su Zhao had long since figured out her temperament. Every single increase in favorability was accumulated step by step through solid, down-to-earth effort.
Though the favorability values of the two were virtually identical, if Su Zhao had to choose between them,
she would choose Evelyn without hesitation, without even needing to weigh the pros and cons.
The servants quietly packed away the garments, removing the clothing rack and the precious items from the jewelry box one by one.
Cynthia took two steps toward the exit before suddenly pausing and turning back to look over her shoulder.
Her emerald eyes resembled deep pools, gazing steadily and leisurely at Su Zhao while a tender smile bloomed on her lips.
“Little sister, you are a good child, are you not?”
Upon hearing this, Su Zhao cheerfully waved at her, nodding in agreement without a single moment of hesitation.
“Yes, yes, yes! I am a good child, and I am Sister’s obedient little cotton-padded jacket!”
Her face remained completely unblushed as she even proudly puffed out her chest.
“I am the best! Sister, go ahead and get busy. I will stay right here and go nowhere.”
Cynthia’s smile grew even softer.
Before leaving, she did not forget to gently pat Su Zhao’s head, praising her in a low voice, “Good child.”
Su Zhao did not care whether this affectionate pat felt like petting a cat or a dog.
Either way, she was currently basking lazily in the crown prince’s tender treatment, feeling so cozy that it seemed as though all the bones in her body had melted.
Once Cynthia departed, the tension that had gripped Su Zhao for so long instantly relaxed, and she melted lazily into the soft seat.
There was no one else in the room, and it was exceptionally quiet now. The maids did not dare to disturb her, and Su Zhao’s thoughts naturally drifted toward that thorny dating quest.
She tapped the armrest absentmindedly, formulating several sets of plans in her mind. Yet, no matter how she thought about it, she felt that every single plan was riddled with flaws.
Given Cynthia’s sharp insight and control, it was utterly impossible to keep these under-the-table little movements hidden from her eyes.
After all, Cynthia was the high-and-mighty Crown Prince, holding vast power and commanding immense influence.
Su Zhao was weak and lacked a strong backing, so she really did not want to make an enemy of her directly, lest she truly push Cynthia over the edge and end up suffering the consequences herself.
Thinking it through until her head felt ready to burst, Su Zhao still could not come up with a foolproof strategy.
She simply fished out the blue gemstone pendant, preparing to dump this massive headache onto the all-solving Evelyn to handle.
Fearing that she might interrupt Evelyn while she was in the middle of a task, Su Zhao decided to follow Evelyn’s method from the previous day and sent her a text message first.
“Sister, are you done with your work?”
Evelyn did not reply immediately.
Realizing that she was currently busy, Su Zhao did not feel discouraged. She put away the blue gemstone pendant and looked around, only now realizing how terrifyingly quiet her surroundings had become.
The sound of Su Zhao’s footsteps echoed through the spacious hall. The oil paintings lining both sides of the corridor stretched out in the silence.
Luxury was piled high everywhere, yet there was not a shred of human warmth. Along with Cynthia’s departure, those busy servants who had been constantly flitting back and forth had vanished as well.
The entire palace was completely empty, so vast that it felt terrifying.
It felt as though it could swallow a person whole.
Could Cynthia possibly be planning to lock her up?
The thought flashed through her mind, but Su Zhao did not dwell on it. Raising her eyes casually, she suddenly caught sight of a pot of flowers she knew intimately, sitting right on the plant rack of the large balcony.
That was actually the flower she had been longing for!
“I still need to rush back and water my flowers.”
Su Zhao could not help murmuring to herself as her thoughts snapped back to the previous night. She recalled the excuse she had casually tossed out when asking Evelyn to send her back.
Because that sentence had mentioned the relevant materials, Evelyn had casually dropped a hint while drawing the teleportation magic array and talking to her.
Moonlight flowers, when combined with other materials, might be able to undo the love spell the succubus had cast upon her.
Yet throughout the entire Summer Palace, Cynthia’s garden had already been thoroughly ravaged by Su Zhao, and the only remaining moonlight flower seemed to be this very potted plant right before her eyes.
Before accompanying Cynthia to visit the Elven race, she had better get rid of this damn love spell on her body.
Su Zhao instantly regained her vigor.
The white petals of the moonlight flower resembled a full moon, and the entire plant was enveloped in a hazy white glow, as if its roots had been soaked in moonlight like a beautiful piece of art.
The only flaw was a tiny notch on it, the crescent-shaped mark Su Zhao had casually pinched out one night when she could not sleep and decided to torture the flora.
At first glance, it looked as though it had accidentally been bitten by a dog, which was the key reason Su Zhao recognized it instantly.
The petals swayed gently in the breeze, as if cheerfully waving at Su Zhao and signaling her to hurry and rescue it from its fiery trial, and it certainly was not afraid of her.
Definitely not.
Su Zhao was eager to save the flower.
However, being unfamiliar with Cynthia’s residence, she fumbled back and forth through the intricate palace corridors like a headless fly crashing into walls before finally locating the correct path.
From afar, Su Zhao spotted a few gardeners outside whispering to each other and pointing fingers from time to time.
It seemed they had noticed the moonlight flower’s terror and were preparing to move it away to a safer environment.
Oh no you do not, because that was her flower.
A wave of urgency washed over Su Zhao as she quickened her pace and strode forward.
However, just as she turned into the corridor and stepped toward the balcony, she slammed on the brakes and was forced to halt her steps.
The path leading to the garden was blocked off by a row of ferocious and terrifying thorny hedges.
Su Zhao reached out to brush past the withered thorns.
“What in the world is this now?”
The delicate vines and barbs looked utterly harmless. With her eyes fixated entirely on her moonlight flower, Su Zhao moved to step over the vines and force her way through.
The next second, however, the thorns beneath her hand seemed to spring to life. They wriggled like giant snakes, emitting a warning hiss.
The sound of gardeners dragging watering cans outside abruptly vanished, replaced deep within the thorny barrier by the soft, rustling sound of giant snakes slithering.
With a sudden sharp pain in her hand, Su Zhao failed to dodge in time and was viciously pricked by a sharp barb.
She instinctively stepped back half a step, standing on her tiptoes to avoid the slithering barbs at her ankles, and stared at the brand-new thorny hedge that screamed magical construct.
Su Zhao fell into deep thought.
When she was sneaking around torturing her sister’s garden earlier, had this layer of defense existed?
Obviously not, otherwise her soaking baths infused with precious moonlight flowers would not have gone quite so smoothly.
So why was it here now?
Su Zhao felt a tiny prickle of guilt.
Did she have an answer? Of course not.
Throughout the Summer Palace, magical constructs were rarely seen. Yet the thorny hedge before Su Zhao today was acting practically sentient.
Its vines swayed wantonly like flexible arms; the moment they sensed Su Zhao drawing near, they reacted as if facing a formidable enemy and instantly entered level one alert status.
Countless vines twined frantically together, blocking the corridor leading to the garden so tightly that not even a fly could have slipped through.
Su Zhao cautiously inched closer, keeping clear of the dagger-sharp barbs, and poked the tangled mass of thorny vines.
“Can you open the door and let me in?”
Her tone was like one used to coax a child.
The magical plants, thicker than her waist, suddenly flared with red spikes like a teased mimosa, shivering as a shower of petals drifted to the ground.
The vines and barbs slithered rapidly like serpents.
After a moment, they laboriously dragged a giant warning sign over.
Su Zhao rubbed her bruised hand and looked closely. In the middle of the thorns, an intricate mosaic of colorful little flowers spelled out her likeness, accompanied by a line of small text on the right.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow over the warning sign where the characters for Dorothy flickered in and out of view. This vivid floral warning sign read:
“Dorothy is prohibited from entering!”
Su Zhao: “…”
“Sister is so petty.”
Su Zhao kissed her pricked fingertip with a touch of sadness.
That was clearly a flower her sister had given her; how could she take it back just like that?
Even though across the entire Summer Palace, this was the only pot of moonlight flowers left,
the flower had to be retrieved, of course.
The love spell had to be broken, naturally.
Su Zhao did not want to endure another embarrassing scene in front of Cynthia like the one she had just experienced with Evelyn.
Though this body lacked magical talent, she had attended all the required classes at the magic academy and understood more or less about magical theory.
Resting her chin in her hand, she pulled out paper and a pen, staring unblinkingly at the thorns to meticulously record the magical fluctuations they were emitting.
She planned to find another magician later to help analyze it and see if she could find a way to crack it.
The thorns seemed to sense her ill intentions; wanting to hurt her yet lacking the courage, terrified out of their wits yet unable to speak, the vines twined together until they were nearly twisted into a knot.
After a long internal struggle, they retracted their barbs.
Wisps of small twigs stretched out tentatively.
Su Zhao glanced at them and ignored them. The vines kept tugging at her sleeve, desperately hoping she would get annoyed and wander off on her own.
Rather cute, actually.
She wanted to keep one.
Su Zhao could not help thinking.
Unfortunately, before she could finish mapping out the complete magical fluctuations, a commotion erupted outside.
Cynthia’s servants were searching everywhere for her: “Your Highness, your dance instructor has arrived!”
Su Zhao instinctively turned to respond, and the moment she stood up and spun back around,
she found that the entire garden connected to the terrace, along with the soil, crops, and the diligent gardeners watering them, had vanished without a trace.
The previously vibrant balcony was now as bare as a polished mirror.
An apple with a single bite taken out of it rolled forlornly to Su Zhao’s feet. Evidently, some magical plant had panicked so badly during its escape that it left behind its afternoon tea pastry.
Su Zhao bent down to pick up the apple,
and stared in silent mutual shock at a patch of empty wasteland.
The crown prince’s meticulously crafted beautiful garden had been reduced to a wasteland gnawed over by dogs.
“Was that really necessary?”
Su Zhao lifted her pierced hemline and sighed at the devastation.
Well, good job. Forget about getting the moonlight flower back; she had not even managed to pluck half a leaf.
The dance class was equally a nightmare.
Accustomed to laziness, Su Zhao followed the instructor through a few steps, her stray locks already damp with sweat.
As dusk deepened outside the window, Cynthia was likely too busy to return all day.
Su Zhao was no obedient model student. Seeing that Cynthia was delayed and nobody was supervising her, she immediately plotted an escape.
As she racked her brain for an excuse, right in the middle of a spin, the blue gemstone pendant resting against her chest grew faintly warm.
Evelyn was contacting her.
Taking the opportunity, Su Zhao faked a faint to bring an end to today’s lesson.
The moment the servants cleared out, Su Zhao bounced back to her feet, carefully locked her door, pulled the shutters closed, and collapsed into the bed to connect the communication line.
As soon as the blue stone lit up, Su Zhao blurted out eagerly, “Sister, you are done!”
Her voice was full of life, bearing no trace of the weakness of a faked faint.
“I have already captured the Duke of Nolland.”
The moment the Saintess spoke, she dropped a bombshell.
Su Zhao never expected that the puzzle she had agonized over all day long would be resolved so effortlessly.
The prerequisite conditions were met, and her quest now had a path forward. Without pausing to think, a string of fluent compliments flew out of her mouth.
“Sister is amazing! I knew none of these things would ever pose a problem for you!”
Evelyn explained softly, “The Duke of Nolland did not dare venture deep into the Sun Forest and was merely wandering around the outer fringes.”
“I have successfully subdued her. Barring any accidents, we should be able to pass through the Sun Forest’s magical teleportation array tomorrow and successfully return to the Imperial Capital.”
Without Su Zhao’s guidance, Evelyn alone could never enter the Summer Palace.
The invitation letter personally written by Su Zhao suddenly became exceptionally crucial at this moment.
Su Zhao said with a worried expression, “But I cannot get out of the Summer Palace.”
Judging by Cynthia’s behavioral patterns during this period, she had more or less guessed Cynthia’s intentions.
Cynthia had not returned all day.
Yet it was equally clear that she had no intention of letting Su Zhao leave. Every arrangement she made for her placed her strictly within the confines of Cynthia’s palace.
Evelyn offered a soothing reassurance, “Do not worry, I will find a way.”
Their conversation for the day ended here.
Only two days remained until the ball.
Su Zhao felt as though she and Evelyn were like a pair of ill-fated wild mandarin ducks, surrounded by obstacles at every turn.
Miserable and desolate.
When the sun set below the horizon, Cynthia was still nowhere to be seen. Su Zhao finally realized that she had become a bird in a cage.
Those dresses trimmed with silver bells always rustled whenever she approached the doorways. The maids lifted their hemlines and curtsied toward her, their snow-white necks curved into submissive arcs while the words tumbling from their throats were rigid consolations.
“Her Imperial Highness asks that you wait here.”
Outside the door, the knights silently built a human wall, the gazes gleaming behind their metal visors colder than the tips of spears.
It was a silent deterrence.
“Fine, I understand.”
Su Zhao stepped back twice. Every attempt she made to leave was blocked by the maids, a myriad of eyes locked onto her every movement, and surveillance from the shadows clung to her like a second skin.
Su Zhao suddenly saw the light.
Cynthia probably intended to place her under house arrest.
The Holy See’s delegations frequently entered and exited the Summer Palace.
Perhaps out of concern for Su Zhao’s personal safety, or perhaps simply to guard against any indirect contact between her and Evelyn through the Holy See’s clergy.
Judging by the current situation, Cynthia clearly wanted to avoid complications, choosing a once-and-for-all solution instead.
As expected of the Crown Prince: when it was time to strike, she struck without hesitation; her operational efficiency was extraordinary, and her execution maxed out.
Had the protagonist not been herself,
Su Zhao would have wanted to stand up and applaud her!
The servants refused to yield an inch.
Su Zhao felt a slight headache coming on and asked with a smile,
“If she never comes back, am I going to live here from now on?”