She was worried, but before Hua Chun could even react, He Chang’an laughed first: “If you can think this way, then I, your Second Brother, can rest easy.”

Huh? Wan Shi couldn’t quite process it — had something gone wrong with her ears today? First she heard Hua’er say all these strange things, and now even Marquis Gongyu agreed? This wasn’t how they were supposed to talk at all!

Hua Chun smiled at He Chang’an. “It’s only because Second Brother indulges me. If these words reached the Emperor’s ears, I’d probably get twenty strokes of the cane.”

“He won’t find out.” He Chang’an’s lips curved. “Only the two of us need know.”

A little secret, so to speak. As long as she could keep this outlook, he would wait. If her life remained peaceful, that would be heaven’s blessing. And if she ran into any trouble along the way, he would still be there to back her up.

No matter what, he wouldn’t let her suffer.

Hua Chun nodded, rubbing her stomach. “Does the residence serve meals?”

Wasn’t that a given? He Chang’an, torn between laughter and exasperation, promptly had someone prepare a midday meal.

Since Wan Shi still couldn’t be seen publicly for the time being, only Qing Niao was left to attend them in the back courtyard; the household servants brought the dishes in and then withdrew again.

“It’s been so long since I’ve had home cooking.” Looking at the table full of delicacies, Hua Chun sighed, and without another word picked up her chopsticks, snatched up a crystal pork knuckle, and took a huge bite.

He Chang’an asked her, “How’s the food in the palace?”

“Not bad.” Hua Chun said. “His Majesty is always finding ways to feed me meat, it’s just that sometimes the palace attendants stand there watching, and there are so many rules for eating that it’s hard to enjoy it.”

When the Emperor didn’t come to dine with her, the food was about as good as a modern-day boxed lunch. Through this she’d come to deeply understand why every consort in every palace wanted to dine with the Emperor.

“Then eat your fill today.” He Chang’an said. “Everything’s to your taste, and there are even a few sweets Madam Wan made herself.”

“Great!” Hua Chun smiled, and without a shred of restraint, picked up her bowl and shoveled in two full bowls of rice, sweeping through most of the dishes on the table. By the time she finished and set down her chopsticks, her expression was as satisfied as a well-fed cat.

Wan Shi said in an embarrassed, low voice, “My lord, Hua’er usually eats quite elegantly — she’s not normally this fierce about it.”

“Madam, there’s no need to mind.” He Chang’an said gently. “Since we’ve acknowledged her as a sister, she’s no outsider. If Consort Hua enjoys her meal, this Marquis is all the happier for it.”

Is that so? Wan Shi raised an eyebrow, then nodded, reassured.

After the meal, He Chang’an took Hua Chun back to her own room to rest.

“Wow.” Looking at the exquisite decorations in the room and the pale blue gauze curtains, Hua Chun felt utterly comfortable, and flopped onto the large bed, sighing, “Isn’t this heaven?”

Qing Niao stood to the side, and after surveying the surroundings for a while, said, “The Marquis truly went to great lengths.”

“Hm?”

“Look.” Qing Niao said. “Isn’t this room’s arrangement much like the old Prime Minister’s residence? Only many of the masculine ornaments have been swapped for vases and paintings of court ladies, all more feminine.”

Hearing this, Hua Chun looked again, and indeed it was so.

Feeling a little guilty, she scratched her head and asked, “How do I get him to treat me like an ordinary friend?”

Going to such lengths would easily put pressure on someone.

Qing Niao shook her head. “There are three things in this world that can never be hidden: a cough, poverty, and love. He may not be seeking anything in return from you, but expecting him to treat you like an ordinary friend — impossible. No matter what, he’ll show extra concern and consideration.”

“Then what can I do to repay him?” Hua Chun scratched her head. “If I accept his feelings, I can’t be with him — that makes me look like some manipulative flirt. If I don’t accept them, it makes me seem willfully cold and unfeeling.”

“Just be yourself.” Qing Niao said. “Cherish his feelings while staying loyal to His Majesty. And if one day the Marquis meets someone he truly loves, give him your best blessing.”

“That makes sense.” Hua Chun nodded. “I understand.”

The bedding was especially soft, wonderfully conducive to sleep. Hua Chun slept for an hour, and woke up full of energy.

He Chang’an was waiting outside her door, looking rather mysterious. “Your Highness, once you’re ready, change into commoner’s clothes and come out with me, Your Servant.”

Going out into the streets? Hua Chun perked up with interest and agreed at once, changing into a plain narrow-sleeved pale green dress brought from outside, tying her hair into a simple bun before bouncing out after him.

“You’ve been cooped up in the palace so long, you must be stifled.” He Chang’an said. “Let’s sneak out — there’s a market today, plenty of good food on the streets.”

“Yay!” Hua Chun nodded, and bringing Qing Niao along with a few hidden guards who stubbornly refused to leave her side, they slipped out of the residence through the back gate.

The streets were truly lively today — even the main road not far from the residence was bustling with noise and crowds.

Hua Chun carefully tucked her pouch inside her clothes, making sure everything valuable on her was secure, then said, “Let’s go, into the crowd we go!”

He Chang’an couldn’t help laughing. “This wary?”

“How could I not be wary?” Glancing at him, Hua Chun said, “Second Brother had better tuck your pouch away too, don’t leave it hanging at your waist.”

“Not afraid.” He said. “Who would dare steal from me?”

Hua Chun shrugged and didn’t bother persuading further, turning to go enjoy the sensation of being jostled by the crowd in the lively market.

As it turned out, they hadn’t even finished walking down one street before the jade pendant and pouch at He Chang’an’s waist had vanished entirely.

“Pfft, hahaha!” Without a shred of sympathy, Hua Chun pointed at him and laughed wildly. “How does that saying go? Ignore good advice, and suffer the consequences right before your eyes!”

He Chang’an was rather helpless. “I didn’t notice a thing.”

“Of course not, nonsense — those were professionals. If you’d noticed, what good would they be?” Hua Chun shook her head. “Second Brother’s belongings must have all been quite valuable, what a shame.”

He Chang’an reached out, feeling around inside his sleeve, and pulled out a pair of white jade mandarin duck pendants. “This was the most valuable thing — good thing it wasn’t lost.”

Huh? Hua Chun blinked; this thing looked familiar.

Just as she reached out to take a closer look, He Chang’an placed it directly into her palm. “You’ve already lost this once before. This time, keep it safe.”

The white jade mandarin duck pendant — wasn’t this the wedding gift Marquis Gongyu had once given Hua Jinghua? Later, when she’d been imprisoned, everything valuable on her had been confiscated, and this thing’s whereabouts had become unknown, never to reappear.

She hadn’t expected it to end up back in He Chang’an’s hands.

“Thank you, Second Brother.” Nodding gratefully, she took out her pouch and carefully tucked the pendant inside.

“Let’s keep walking.” He Chang’an said. “There’s a shop up ahead that makes especially good soup dumplings.”

Though she’d eaten a great deal at midday, after her nap her stomach felt empty again. At the mention of soup dumplings, Hua Chun’s mouth watered, and she couldn’t help but urge them on: “Let’s go, let’s go, quick!”

He Chang’an smiled, his gaze gentle as he followed her, watching her pull Qing Niao along, riding the waves of the crowd all the way to squeeze into the Tang family’s dumpling shop.

The shop was packed with customers, not a single empty table left. He Chang’an was about to suggest getting the food to go so she could eat on the road, but the girl marched right up and sat down beside a young lady already seated at a table, smiling as she asked, “Mind sharing the table?”

The young lady looked utterly dazed, clearly startled, staring at her blankly.

“I mean, let’s just sit together and eat.” Hua Chun gestured amiably. “There’s no room left here.”

The girl wanted to refuse, but her eyes flicked past and caught sight of the tall, clear-featured man standing behind — and she nodded shyly at once.

So He Chang’an sat down beside this young lady along with Hua Chun, while Qing Niao had already gone to line up and buy dumplings.

“May I ask your surname, miss?” Bored, Hua Chun couldn’t resist teasing the well-bred young lady.

“My humble surname is Tang.” The Tang girl said timidly. “This dumpling shop belongs to my father.”

Hua Chun realized. “No wonder you can sit alone at such a big empty table.”

Miss Tang smiled, her eyes constantly sneaking glances at He Chang’an, who was gazing out at the bustling street and hadn’t noticed.

Could this look be what they call love at first sight? Hua Chun blinked, studying the girl more closely — quite pretty, really, and judging by her age, probably fifteen or sixteen. Next year she might well be sent into the palace for the imperial consort selection.

“Dumplings are here!” Qing Niao happily set down two steamer baskets in front of them. “Please enjoy, Master.”

Instantly distracted by the food, Hua Chun immediately picked one up, and the moment it touched her lips, she was scalded half to death, letting out an involuntary yelp.

“Slow down.” He Chang’an said. “This filling is very hot, especially the broth inside.”

“Mm.” She agreed even as she went right on recklessly biting in, showing not the slightest care for her image while eating.