After Azula finished speaking, Ren fell into thought.
Whether it was a popsicle, shaved ice, or ice cream, something would usually be left in your hand afterward.
But generally speaking, people did not leave the cone after eating ice cream.
Then Ren remembered a critical detail: Azula tended to throw away the waffle cone instead of eating it.
Mai went last and said flatly, , “I don’t really like eating them.
It doesn’t look very elegant to eat, though I often see people bite down and crush them.” Mai and Azula exchanged a glance, then both smiled.
Based on the clues, Ren was completely certain that Mai was a fellow guard.
Azula sounded like a guard, but Ren knew about her habit with the cones, and nobody ate the wooden stick left over from a popsicle.
Therefore, Azula’s vague phrasing was definitely an attempt to hide the fact that she was the spy.
I’ve got this won win, Ren thought, the corners of his mouth curving up into a confident smirk.
Ty Lee noticed that after Mai spoke, the atmosphere inside the carriage had suddenly grown subtle.
As the host, Ty Lee felt that everyone’s descriptions sounded too normal to be spy.
She began to worry that she was too slow to figure it out.
Fortunately, she was the host.
She did not have to strain her brain guessing.
Thinking that, Ty Lee grew happy again.
“The second round of voting begins!” As soon as Ty Lee finished speaking, Ren, who was first in order, immediately said, “I vote for—” Stare.
Ren had been about to vote for Azula, only for Azula to pin him in place with a death glare.
Her eyes seemed to say, If you dare vote for me, I’ll break your legs.
Ren spinelessly averted his gaze.
Then his eyes met Mai’s.
Mai had her arms folded, her expression cool, as if she did not care about the result at all.
Did she really not care?
Ren was not sure.
The longer he looked, the more he felt that a trace of hostility was forming in Mai’s eyes.
Left with no other choice, Ren threw his hands up in defeat.
“I abstain!” The turn quickly reached Zuko.
Already absorbed in his own deduction, Zuko had not noticed the shift in the carriage at all.
He rubbed his chin and began analyzing.
“Looking at it overall, all four of our descriptions have similarities.
But Ren, you mentioned texture.
That was obviously meant to mislead everyone.
So I vote for you.” Ren’s eyes widened.
He had never expected this honest-looking guy Zuko to be the first one to stab him in the back.
I didn’t even vote for you, you traitor!
Azula looked at Ren with amusement, the corner of her mouth lifting in a small smile.
“Well, I think Zuzu’s reasoning makes sense.
Ren, I vote for you too.” “Ren,” Mai added seamlessly, always inclined to go with the flow.
Ty Lee announced excitedly, “Ren has three votes!
He’s out!
“Quick, quick, turn over your slips and see which side won!” Zuko had not expected his reasoning to be accepted by everyone at once, and a small part of him felt rather proud.
But the moment he saw Ren turn over his slip, he froze.
“Uh… how did that happen?” Ren stared at Zuko with deep resentment, as if saying, Even as a ghost, I won’t let you off.
Zuko scratched his head awkwardly.
Everyone turned over their slips.
Ty Lee looked at the paper pinched between Azula’s fingers and cheered, “The undercover wins!
Azula, you’re amazing!” Azula spun the slip of paper neatly between her fingers, perfectly composed.
“Of course.
I’m the strongest.
No matter what it is, I don’t lose.” … “Your Highness, we’ve arrived at the palace.” Hearing the guard, Ren lifted the carriage curtain.
The familiar, bustling streets came into view, and he stretched lazily.
“I’ve only been away for a while, but I actually missed this place.” “Me too,” Zuko said, arms folded as he looked out the window, clearly agreeing.
Everyone climbed down from the carriage, only for their attention to be drawn at once to the graceful, elegant figure waiting at the palace gates.
“Mother!” Zuko called out happily and ran to her without thinking.
“You’ve gotten a little darker.
Stronger, too.” Ursa gently straightened Zuko’s collar, her expression both tender and proud.
“Mother.” Azula bowed properly, glanced at Zuko as he “acted spoiled,” then reluctantly stepped to Ursa’s left side.
“Mm.” Ursa nodded to Azula before looking at the three others—mostly at Ren.
After all, she was already familiar with Mai and Ty Lee.
As Azula’s close friends, they often came to the palace to play.
Before Ursa could ask, Ren bowed respectfully and introduced himself.
“Your Highness, my name is Ren.
I’m a friend of Prince Zuko and Princess Azula.” “Ren?” The name sounded familiar.
Ursa thought for a moment, then looked at him with some surprise.
“You’re the child Azula insisted should accompany Zuko to study under Master Piandao?
“I’ve heard Master Piandao rarely accepts disciples.
To catch his eye, you must have something remarkable about you.” Ursa finished with a warm note of praise.
“I was fortunate, that’s all,” Ren said modestly.
“Thankfully, I didn’t waste the effort Her Highness put into arranging it.” Azula lifted her chin, proud as if she were showing off an expensive toy.
“Anyone I value is naturally no ordinary person.” Ursa’s gaze moved between the two children.
A proper, handsome young man, Ursa noted silently, approving of his demeanor.
Seizing the moment, she offered an invitation.
“You must all be tired after the journey.
Zuko and Azula must have caused you plenty of trouble along the way.
Since you’re here, join us for a simple meal.” Faced with an invitation from the Princess Consort, who would dare refuse?
Well, as it turned out, some people certainly would.
Ty Lee and Mai immediately excused themselves, citing how deeply they missed their own families, and bid Ursa farewell.
As for Ren, although he desperately wanted to head to a dessert shop and buy some ice cream—having craved it for days now—it was far too late to back out.
He could only offer a respectful bow.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Ursa began leading the way into the palace grounds, offering a gentle, elegant smile as she walked.
“There is no need to be so formal.
Please, treat this place as your own home.” “Yes, Your Highness,” Ren nodded immediately.
Deliberately slowing her pace to fall a step behind Ursa, Azula leaned in close to Ren’s ear and whispered, “You seem rather tense.
Are you afraid I might eat you alive?” Ren looked at her, entirely speechless.
“This is the imperial palace.
If I commit a breach of etiquette here and your mother gives the word, a squad of imperial fire benders could instantly burst out from the shadows and incinerate me into ash, wouldn’t they?” Hearing Ren’s dramatic comparison, Azula rolled her eyes at him.
“My mother isn’t that ruthless!” “Oh, she isn’t?
I automatically assumed she would be exactly like you.” “Are you implying that I am ruthless?” “How could I?
In my heart, Princess Azula is absolutely the most benevolent person in the entire world.” … Ursa held Zuko’s hand as they walked.
She glanced back at the two whispering behind her, thoughtful.
Upon reaching the residential pavilions, Ren found that Ursa had already instructed the servants to prepare a magnificent spread.
With the assistance of the attendants, they removed their shoes and took their respective seats around the table.
Ursa took the head of the table, gesturing for Ren to sit directly on her right.
Even though Ren was a transmigrator, he had spent enough years in this world to become thoroughly well-versed in etiquette.
He recognized that the Princess Consort was extending this special courtesy out of concern that he might feel out of place as a commoner.
She really is thoughtful and gentle.
Glancing at Zuko sitting beside him, Ren couldn’t help but feel that the prince’s fundamental personality had been inherited straight from his mother—it was just wrapped in the fiery temperament characteristic of the Fire Nation royal lineage.