Xiu Yue reached out to take the food box.

One hand was white as jade, the other rough and coarse.

Though they were the same age, to others they appeared to differ by a generation.

Zhaohua stared at that withered, wrinkled hand and nearly shed tears.

The Princess Consort had carefully selected the four of them to grow up alongside the Princess. In terms of appearance alone, each one was chosen from a hundred.

Twelve years, and little sister Xiu Yue had become like this.

That rough hand landed on the handle.

Zhaohua almost uncontrollably touched that hand lightly with her icy fingertips.

Xiu Yue gripped the handle forcefully and took the food box.

Zhaohua’s heart felt as if stung by a wasp.

Painful and helpless.

She stared blankly at Xiu Yue, only to see Xiu Yue retreat to Luo Sheng’s side, obedient and silent.

Zhaohua slowly shifted her gaze to Luo Sheng, doubt rising in her heart.

Why was Xiu Yue so respectful toward Miss Luo?

She understood Xiu Yue’s temperament—simple and stubborn, completely incapable of acknowledging anyone other than the Princess as her master.

Seeing Zhaohua looking at her, Luo Sheng curved her lips in a smile: “Selected Attendant Yu, we meet again.”

“Yes, I see Miss Luo again.”

Luo Sheng smiled and looked toward Wei Qiang: “So the bowl of sour broth noodles Your Highness took away was sent to Selected Attendant Yu.”

Meeting the young woman’s half-smiling gaze, Wei Qiang felt annoyed.

He was, after all, the current dynasty’s Crown Prince, yet he was being teased by a young girl more than ten years his junior.

Did this little girl not put him in her eyes at all?

But Luo Sheng seemed completely oblivious to Wei Qiang’s dissatisfaction. Pulling Xiu Yue’s hand, she smiled proudly at Zhaohua: “Selected Attendant Yu, are you satisfied with our restaurant’s head chef’s skills?”

Zhaohua looked at Xiu Yue and nodded forcefully: “Satisfied, very satisfied.”

Saying this, she paused, unable to conceal her regret: “If only I could frequently eat the meals this chef makes.”

Luo Sheng showed an expression of helplessness: “With Selected Attendant Yu’s status, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be convenient to dine at our restaurant.”

Zhaohua smiled desolately: “Indeed.”

She turned her eyes toward Wei Qiang: “Your Highness, we’ve imposed on Miss Luo for quite some time. Shall we return?”

Wei Qiang nodded and took his leave from Luo Sheng.

On the way back, Zhaohua was taciturn.

Seeing this, Wei Qiang consoled her: “It doesn’t matter if you can’t go to the restaurant. The restaurant’s chef is right here, isn’t she? Once we reach North River, there will surely be opportunities to taste that chef’s cooking again.”

Zhaohua hesitated: “Won’t that trouble Your Highness?”

“You needn’t worry about such things. Miss Luo will at least give me that much face.”

Zhaohua’s pale cheeks flushed with color, joy gleaming in her eyes: “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Hong Dou, however, pursed her lips after Wei Qiang left, muttering quietly: “Freeloading is one thing, but to take food for his concubine too—he really has no shame.”

Seeing Shi Yan about to leave, the little maid quickly called out: “Hey, Shi Sihuo, where are you going?”

Shi Yan stopped and replied: “To find my master.”

“Weren’t you kept here by Prince Kaiyang to wash dishes?” Hong Dou’s eyes widened in surprise.

Shi Yan paused, then said calmly: “I’ve already finished washing them.”

Watching the young guard stride away, Hong Dou blinked: “Miss, Shi Sanhuo’s younger brother turns out to be a fool.”

Sheng Sanlang interjected: “I don’t think he’s foolish. He seems even more steady than Shi Sanhuo.”

“How is he not foolish?” Hong Dou rolled her eyes at Sheng Sanlang. “Prince Kaiyang’s meaning was clearly to keep Shi Sihuo here to help the miss with chores. Shi Sihuo washed the dishes from this meal and left. If he’s not foolish, who is?”

Sheng Sanlang had a sudden realization: “Right! By keeping Shi Sihuo here, Prince Kaiyang could come over at mealtimes.”

A cool voice cut in: “Good that he left. The meals Xiu Gu makes are barely enough for us to eat—why should we share with others?”

The youth had a stern face, very displeased with Hong Dou’s attempt to keep Shi Sihuo.

Sheng Sanlang explained: “Cousin doesn’t know—Prince Kaiyang is a regular customer of the restaurant who prepaid silver. We should give him some preferential treatment.”

“How much did he prepay? My elder sister doesn’t lack silver.”

Sheng Sanlang stroked his chin: “He prepaid ten thousand taels, which is only enough to eat for about a month.”

Luo Chen: “…” If that’s the case, eating a bowl or two of noodles would be fine.

Luo Sheng was generous with money, and she would have many places to spend it in the future. A major customer like Prince Kaiyang should indeed be well maintained.

Shi Yan, who had just been discussed by several people, returned to Wei Han’s side: “Master.”

Wei Han’s expression darkened slightly: “Why have you returned?”

“The dishes have been washed.” Shi Yan said respectfully.

Wei Han was silent for a moment, then said indifferently: “You may withdraw.”

Forget it. When they returned, the two brothers needn’t switch after all. The task of scrubbing chamber pots suited Shi Yan better.

In the carriage, Xiu Yue emotionally grasped Luo Sheng’s hand: “Princess, it really was Zhaohua! Zhaohua truly became that vile man’s concubine!”

Luo Sheng patted Xiu Yue’s shoulder soothingly: “Calm down. Wasn’t the purpose of our coming to the autumn hunt to make contact with Zhaohua? Xiu Yue, behaving like this makes it easy to ruin things.”

Xiu Yue covered her face with both hands: “This servant just… just can’t believe it. How could Zhaohua yield herself to our enemy? Sleeping beside that heartless, ungrateful man—doesn’t she feel disgusted?”

The carriage fell silent for a moment.

After a long while, Luo Sheng asked softly: “Did you see the bracelet Zhaohua wore on her wrist?”

Xiu Yue lowered her hands and looked at Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng raised her wrist: “That bracelet forms a pair with the one I’m wearing now. It was entrusted to Zhaohua’s care when I came of age back then.”

“Princess—”

Luo Sheng sighed lightly: “I told Zhaohua to guard the bracelet for me no matter what. Can you guess what Zhaohua said at the time?”

Xiu Yue answered almost without hesitation: “The bracelet exists when the person exists; the bracelet perishes when the person perishes?”

This was true whether for Zhaohua or herself, or for Jiangxue and Shufeng.

Back then, if she hadn’t known the Young Prince had escaped with his life and held onto the hope of finding the Young Prince to continue the Zhennan Prince Manor’s bloodline, the moment she learned of the Princess’s death, she would have followed the Princess in death.

“Yes, Zhaohua did say that. But I told her the bracelet must exist.”

Xiu Yue’s expression shook. After a long time, she murmured: “Was Zhaohua guarding the Princess’s bracelet…”

“Xiu Yue.”

“This servant is here.”

“Zhaohua cooperated with our side’s plan to come see you. I believe she’s still your sister Zhaohua. However, twelve years is enough to change too many things. Whether to reveal my identity requires further contact and judgment. I’m entrusting this task to you.”

Xiu Yue nodded forcefully, somewhat at a loss: “But as the Crown Prince’s concubine, even after reaching North River, Zhaohua probably won’t find it convenient to come see us.”

The North River hunting grounds had a traveling palace and separate villas. The Emperor and Crown Prince resided in the traveling palace, while meritorious nobles and ministers stayed in the villas. For Zhaohua in the traveling palace, eating meals she cooked might be possible, but coming over in person would be difficult.

Regarding the secret of the Princess’s rebirth, it was impossible to pass messages through written notes.

Luo Sheng smiled slightly: “If Zhaohua can’t come over conveniently, you can go to her.”