The concubines had hoped and yearned day and night, finally managing to see the Crown Prince, only for his attention to be completely stolen away by that little vixen, Virtuous Consort Xiao.
Not only that, but the Crown Prince had actually taken the initiative to offer to bring her along to the Empress’s birthday banquet!
Just where on earth did she get such great prestige?!
The crowd of concubines felt as if they had swallowed a lemon whole; they were incredibly sour.
Luo Qinghan stood up, preparing to leave.
The concubines rose one after another to see him off.
As Luo Qinghan passed in front of Xiao Xixi, he asked indifferently.
“Have you eaten your fill?”
Xiao Xixi patted her little tummy, wanting to say she could still eat a bit more, but when she met Luo Qinghan’s gaze, she had a sudden stroke of inspiration—
The Crown Prince suddenly asking this must have some other purpose.
Mm, since the boss wanted to put on a show, she, as his employee, naturally had to cooperate.
Xiao Xixi replied obediently, “I have.”
Luo Qinghan nodded slightly. “Then let us go.”
“Oh.”
Just like that, Xiao Xixi followed Luo Qinghan out.
The moment they left, the expressions of the women inside Cuiming Pavilion instantly changed, and the atmosphere grew stifling as well.
Clutching her handkerchief, Liangyuan Chen said sourly, “His Highness the Crown Prince is going to the Empress’s birthday banquet. Even if he didn’t bring us, he should have brought Sister Bai. In terms of status, appearance, and conduct, Sister Bai is far better than that Virtuous Consort Xiao.”
Side Consort Bai lowered her eyes, concealing the surging emotions in them, and coughed softly.
“I am tired and wish to go back to rest for a while. Please suit yourselves.”
Supported by her maid, she left Cuiming Pavilion.
Watching her retreating figure, Side Consort Li said disdainfully, “She is clearly jealous to death in her heart, yet she insists on putting on a calm and casual front. How hypocritical!”
After saying that, she flicked her handkerchief and walked away, swaying her slender waist.
After leaving Cuiming Pavilion, Xiao Xixi and Luo Qinghan slowed their pace.
Eunuch Chang saw that the Crown Prince had something to say to Virtuous Consort Xiao, so he waved his hand lightly, gesturing for the maids and eunuchs to step back a bit.
These past few days, Luo Qinghan had ordered people to investigate the Mystic Sect, but they had found nothing.
The Mystic Sect was simply too mysterious. Very few people knew of it, and trying to trace its whereabouts was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Luo Qinghan had no choice but to temporarily shelve the idea of continuing the investigation into the Mystic Sect, turning instead to having people keep an eye on Xiao Xixi.
He wanted to see exactly why she entered the palace. And why did she approach him?
Sensing the Crown Prince’s gaze hovering over her, Xiao Xixi raised her face and took the initiative to ask.
“Does Your Highness have something you wish to ask?”
Instead of answering, Luo Qinghan asked, “If this prince asks, will you answer?”
Xiao Xixi replied without the slightest hesitation, “Of course.”
“Where exactly is the Mystic Sect?”
“The Mystic Sect is in the mountains. That place is extremely remote, and ordinary people cannot find it. Even if they rack their brains and find it, they cannot get in.”
“Why?”
Xiao Xixi answered frankly, “Because they will get lost. The terrain in the mountains is very complex, and there are numerous mechanisms set up by the Mystic Sect. If outsiders wander in by mistake, they will definitely lose their way and end up going in circles before coming back out. As for those with malicious intentions, they will be injured by the mechanisms, and if their luck is bad, they might even lose their lives.”
“Then how did you find the Mystic Sect?”
“By intuition. This concubine can sense which direction the Mystic Sect is in, and I just follow my intuition.”
Luo Qinghan gazed into her eyes, his tone revealing a bit of probing.
“Can you bring this prince to the Mystic Sect?”
Xiao Xixi shook her head. “No. The Mystic Sect has rules. One cannot bring outsiders into the Mystic Sect. Violating the sect rules results in punishment, and this concubine does not want to be punished.”