“If relatives and friends in Luoyang ask about me, say I have a piece of ice heart in a jade vase.”

Zhaohua thought of the origin of her title and felt a wave of nausea.

She had endured for so long, and now could finally spit in disgust in front of her closest people.

Xiu Yue was also thoroughly disgusted and sneered: “That kind of person only has a heart like a wolf and lungs like a dog. How does he have the face to claim an ice heart?”

An ice heart toward the Princess?

How dare he mention it!

Luo Sheng was instead completely calm: “It’s rare we’re gathered together. There’s no need to mention him.”

Scum like that wasn’t worth bringing up at such a good time to add vexation. There would be time to deal with him later.

Zhaohua and Xiu Yue both nodded together.

“Zhaohua, the matter with the Crown Princess—”

The corners of Zhaohua’s lips curved up, showing some pride before Luo Sheng: “This servant did it!”

This pride carried a young girl’s innocence, making Luo Sheng’s heart ache to see it.

She gently patted the back of Zhaohua’s hand and urged: “Be careful alone in the palace. Don’t put yourself in danger.”

“Princess, rest assured. This servant understands.”

It’s just that people have weaknesses, and dragons have reverse scales. The bracelet was her weakness and her reverse scale.

Even if the Crown Princess stepped on her face, she could endure it, but if she tried to take the bracelet, she would stake her life to get it back.

Zhaohua looked at Luo Sheng and smiled: “This servant will protect herself and accompany the Princess all the way forward.”

During those twelve years without the Princess, the bracelet was her weakness. Now and in the future, the Princess was her weakness.

The Princess wanted her to accompany her forward, so she would grit her teeth and keep going.

“Young lady, the sedan chair has arrived.” The golden tent curtain lifted, revealing Hong Dou’s youthful and pretty face.

Luo Sheng’s tone was soft: “Help Court Lady Yu out.”

The little maid cheerfully responded and quickly walked in to embrace Zhaohua.

Zhaohua hurriedly said: “Just help me up.”

Hong Dou pouted: “Your foot is twisted. Supporting you could also pull at it. Carrying you is much more convenient.”

Without waiting for Zhaohua to speak, she horizontally lifted her up.

Zhaohua didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and looked toward Luo Sheng.

Luo Sheng smiled: “Let her carry Court Lady Yu. This way is indeed safe and convenient.”

“Then many thanks.” Zhaohua looked deeply at Luo Sheng, then winked at Xiu Yue. “I have no talent for cooking arts. Today I still didn’t remember much. In the future, I’ll have to trouble the head cook more.”

Xiu Yue bent her knees slightly: “The noble lady can just call this commoner woman Xiu Gu. That the noble lady likes to learn is this commoner woman’s honor.”

Hong Dou didn’t give the two more chance to chatter and carried Zhaohua out with quick steps.

Zhaohua looked at the little maid’s pretty and lively face, sighing softly in her heart.

This child lived so happily, just like they did back then.

Shu Feng was well-read, with the ability to never forget what she saw. The Princess once said laughingly that if she took the imperial examinations, she would surely pass as the top scholar.

Shu Feng had said: “When this servant gets older, I’ll become a teacher, teaching girls to read and write, letting more girls live with bright eyes and clear hearts.”

Jiang Xue had exceptional natural talent in martial arts. Before the Princess’s marriage, she had already arranged for her to command a unit of the Zhennan Prince Manor’s household troops.

But Shu Feng, who wanted to be a teacher, dashed herself to death against the vermilion painted corridor pillars of Pingnan Prince Manor. Jiang Xue, outstanding in martial arts, fought her way out to bring news to the Princess, covered in blood, and died in the Princess’s bridal chamber.

Zhaohua didn’t dare think further.

A tear silently rolled down, dripping onto the back of Hong Dou’s hand.

Hong Dou looked at her, her mind quickly calculating as she comforted: “Does the Court Lady’s twisted ankle hurt very much? They say eating something treats the corresponding part. Later, I’ll have Xiu Gu cook a pig’s trotter to send to you.”

Mm, if Court Lady Yu really liked Xiu Gu, she might ask the young lady for Xiu Gu. Then let’s see if Xiu Gu still dares covet her position as head maid!

Hearing this, Zhaohua couldn’t help but laugh.

Sister Xiu Yue had the best temperament, yet unexpectedly became annoying in the little maid’s eyes.

Carefree and without worries—how wonderful that was.

As Zhaohua sat in the sedan chair gradually moving away, she couldn’t help but look back once.

Luo Sheng stood not far away, smiling as she watched her.

And Hong Dou ran back to her master with light steps, incidentally squeezing Xiu Yue to the side.

Zhaohua turned her head back, silently thinking: I only hope the Princess can live freely as Miss Luo, and that the little maid by her side can always remain this way.

Seeing Luo Sheng still standing motionless, Hong Dou asked with a grin: “Young lady, do you really like Court Lady Yu?”

Luo Sheng glanced at her but didn’t respond.

Hong Dou blinked: “Young lady, this servant feels that Court Lady Yu really likes Xiu Gu.”

Only then did Luo Sheng pinch the little maid’s baby-fat cheeks and warn: “Don’t think about sending Xiu Gu away. If Xiu Gu follows someone else, the wine shop will have to close.”

She really had never had such a jealous little maid who made no effort to hide it.

Hong Dou suddenly realized and firmly grasped Xiu Yue’s hand: “Xiu Gu, you can’t abandon the young lady to climb higher branches. Besides, our young lady is the sturdiest branch, better than anyone else’s.”

Luo Sheng and Xiu Yue both twitched their lips.

“Young lady, the beggar’s chicken should be ready.” Xiu Yue reminded.

Luo Sheng pondered briefly and instructed: “Pack one up and send it to Imperial Noble Consort Xiao.”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao had specially run over to watch Xiu Yue make beggar’s chicken, and in the end left without eating. Now that the beggar’s chicken was ready, naturally one should be sent over.

As for whether she would eat it, that wasn’t important.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao—thinking of this person, Luo Sheng smiled slightly.

A shout came: “Cousin, I’m back!”

Sheng Sanlang strode over with great strides, excitedly saying: “I hunted several deer today.”

“Cousin came back so early.”

Sheng Sanlang froze, then said again: “I got deer.”

What about the promised braised deer meat in jar?

Looking at the young lady’s indifferent expression, Sheng Sanlang sighed heavily: “Cousin, you don’t know how hard it was to hunt deer today. All those people went after the deer, otherwise I could have come back even earlier.”

Who knows what those people were thinking, acting as if someone would cook it for them just because they caught deer.

Wasn’t this self-deception? Yesterday, most of those wild boar legs that were cut off were just randomly roasted and eaten. Only a few lucky ones had theirs made into beggar’s pork legs by Xiu Gu.

“Where are Luo Chen and Xiao Qi?”

“Xiao Qi is taking cousin hunting. Cousin, are we still making braised deer meat in jar?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll go to the stream to clean the deer meat.” Sheng Sanlang immediately beamed with joy.

“I’ll go with cousin. There are particular ways to handle deer meat too.”

The cousins went to the stream together, only to discover someone was already earnestly separating deer hide.

“Why is the Prince here?” Sheng Sanlang was startled.

He thought he was the earliest to slip back.

The man cleaning the deer meat raised his head to look over. His gaze paused for a moment on the prey Sheng Sanlang was carrying, then said flatly: “Didn’t you say you were making braised deer meat in jar?”

Sheng Sanlang: “…”

Prince Kaiyang was so confident and justified—had he been getting close to his cousin behind his back?

Luo Sheng’s calm voice sounded: “Then cousin, give the prey to the Prince to handle. The Prince did quite well handling the wild boar before.”

Hearing this, Wei Han couldn’t help but curve the corners of his lips upward.

Was Miss Luo praising him?