Binglu turned to look and was stunned, desperately tugging at Qiao Zhao’s sleeve: “Miss, such a handsome young master! Ah, ah, ah, so handsome—”

Chi Can stood beneath an apricot tree. Upon hearing this, he turned to Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng, saying: “That girl is nothing special, but her maid has good taste.”

After speaking, he turned to look at Qiao Zhao, his beautiful eyes narrowing.

Young Master Chi stood gracefully beneath the apricot blossom tree, waiting for Qiao Zhao to come over and greet him. However, Princess Zhenzhen, after her initial shock, walked over.

“Cousin.” In front of Chi Can, Princess Zhenzhen felt none of her superiority as a princess. The thought that her mother’s consort had been a servant in his household left her feeling only bitter.

“I wondered who it was—turns out to be Your Highness, the Princess.” Chi Can clearly didn’t want to say much to Princess Zhenzhen, his eyes constantly watching Qiao Zhao.

Princess Zhenzhen misunderstood his meaning and raised her chin toward Qiao Zhao: “You, come here for a moment.”

Chi Can glanced at Princess Zhenzhen.

This princess’s airs were truly nauseating!

Seeing the three of them, Qiao Zhao felt the same sentiment about how small the world was. She smoothed her skirt and walked over, curtsying to the three of them.

Before she could speak, Princess Zhenzhen said: “Why bother with such empty courtesies? Just tell us about that oil pot coin retrieval from earlier. If it wasn’t immortal guidance, what unconventional techniques were used?”

Chi Can barely manage to listen to the end, no longer able to bear it. He nodded reservedly at Qiao Zhao: “Come with me!”

Qiao Zhao: “…” After so many days, this person still acted so willfully.

Princess Zhenzhen immediately widened her beautiful eyes.

She hadn’t misheard, had she? Cousin Chi, who had never shown a kind face to any woman, actually told some yellow-haired girl to follow him?

She glanced at the unperturbed young lady, thinking with no small amount of malice: Yes, it must be that this girl’s foolish appearance displeased her cousin, and he wants to teach her a lesson!

Seeing that Qiao Zhao did not react, Chi Can became unhappy. His exquisite lips curved as he said lazily, “What are you standing there for? We’re inviting you for tea.”

As he spoke, he secretly kicked Yang Houcheng.

Yang Houcheng secretly rolled his eyes.

If you want to invite someone for tea, just say so directly. Why drag him and Zhu Yàn into it?

However, upon seeing Qiao Zhao again, Yang Houcheng was still quite happy. With Princess Zhenzhen present, it wouldn’t be appropriate to show that they were acquainted, so he smiled and laughed awkwardly: “That’s right, young lady, we brothers are inviting you for tea.”

Chi Can and Zhu Yàn: “…” This tone of molesting innocent women—how could they resist the urge to beat him to death?

Yang Houcheng was also stunned.

He didn’t mean to say it that way, but in this situation where they knew each other yet had to pretend they didn’t, he, being such an honest person, had no idea how to respond. He accidentally went astray!

“Cough, cough, what I mean is, we brothers have no ill intentions—we just want to have tea with you—”

“Shut up!” Chi Can could bear it no longer and slapped Yang Houcheng.

Zhu Yàn looked at Qiao Zhao gently, smiling to smooth things over: “Miss, please don’t mind him. We’re very curious about what you just mentioned. With people coming and going here, it’s inconvenient to talk much, so we’d like to invite you to move to a teahouse where we can properly ask for your guidance.”

Chi Can breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he still had one friend who could speak like a human being.

“Aren’t you coming?” In front of an outsider (Princess Zhenzhen), Young Master Chi’s patience had reached its limit. He glanced at Qiao Zhao sideways, then turned and walked away.

She was his lifesaver after all. Miss Qiao only considered for a moment before lifting her feet to follow. Mindful of someone’s unpredictable temperament, she walked directly beside Zhu Yàn.

Chi Can caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye and snorted coldly.

Did he eat people or something?

Princess Zhenzhen watched as several people walked past her one by one. Shocked and somewhat dazed, she lifted her feet to follow.

Chi Can paused mid-step and turned his head: “I didn’t call you.”

Princess Zhenzhen’s face immediately flushed red. Angry and ashamed, tears welled up in her eyes, which she desperately held back to avoid falling in public.

She and Chi Can were cousins. Even if they couldn’t be called childhood sweethearts, he didn’t need to be so heartless, did he? She had less face than a yellow-haired girl who appeared from nowhere!

She was a royal princess, after all. Just who was this girl? First, Master broke protocol to summon her, even keeping her for a meal, and now, upon meeting Chi Can’s group, she was invited for tea!

Whatever the reason, she had never heard of Chi Can’s little circle accepting anyone else, let alone a woman!

Wait—in the storybook she had secretly read recently, there was a fox spirit who could bewitch people’s hearts just like this!

“Demon woman, stop right there!” Princess Zhenzhen shouted coldly.

The three of Chi Can immediately stopped, all turning their heads with strange expressions.

The Miss Qiao who had been called a “demon woman” walked forward quite a distance before turning around, asking in surprise: “Why did you stop?”

The three of Chi Can: “…”

Right, Princess Zhenzhen had shouted “demon woman”—why did they stop?

“Are you sick?” Chi Can raised an eyebrow and asked.

Princess Zhenzhen normally wasn’t such a rash person, but one incomprehensible event after another had left her confused. Biting her lip, she pointed at Qiao Zhao: “I’m not sick, cousin. She’s the one with problems!”

Chi Can simply turn around, waving his gold-lacquered folding fan, and ask: “What problems does she have?”

Zhu Yàn’s smile faded as he looked calmly at Princess Zhenzhen.

Yang Houcheng widened his eyes even more, looking back and forth at Qiao Zhao: “What problems? I don’t see any!” Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you can say whatever you want!

Chi Can closed his fan and tapped Yang Houcheng’s head, whispering: “Don’t stare randomly!”

He just wanted to hear the inside story about the oil pot coin retrieval—those who didn’t know might think the three of them wanted to do something improper.

Princess Zhenzhen pressed her lips together and asked: “Haven’t you noticed how sinister she is? You’ve only met her once and already want to invite her for tea! I’ve heard that some people who know evil arts have such abilities.”

Chi Can sneered.

Zhu Yàn and Yang Houcheng exchanged glances and both smiled.

What did she mean by “met once”? They had spent many days and nights with Miss Li.

But speaking of that girl being sinister, there was indeed something to that!

They had never seen such a capable young lady.

“What are you laughing about?” Though no one spoke, Princess Zhenzhen felt deeply mocked. She emphasized her tone: “Don’t dismiss this lightly—she has problems—”

“Enough!” Chi Can completely lose his patience and said coldly: “Our affairs are none of Your Highness’s concern.”

After Chi Can spoke, he turned and walked away. Zhu Yàn, however, hesitated somewhat.

After all, she was a noble princess. While Chi Can didn’t care about making things too ugly, he and Yang Houcheng couldn’t bear the consequences.

Moreover—

He looked worriedly at the silent young lady, thinking: If Shixi embarrasses the princess like this, Miss Li will have a hard time in the future.

Seeing Qiao Zhao’s completely calm expression, he wanted to laugh again.

It was truly a case of the emperor not being anxious while the eunuch was looking at Miss Li’s appearance; she didn’t seem afraid at all.

Qiao Zhao seemed to sense Zhu Yàn’s thoughts. She looked up and nodded gently at him, then walked to Princess Zhenzhen and invited: “If Your Highness is interested in hearing about it, why not join us for tea?”