“Paying respects to the Noble Consort.” Zhaohua curtsied.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao looked down from her elevated position at the bowing Zhaohua and said indifferently: “Rise.”

Zhaohua straightened and stood in place with lowered eyes, waiting for Imperial Noble Consort Xiao to leave first.

However, Imperial Noble Consort Xiao seemed to be in the mood for conversation and said casually: “This is the first time this palace has seen Lady Yu come out.”

Zhaohua replied properly: “In response to Your Ladyship, previously His Highness brought this concubine to Miss Luo’s place.”

“Oh?” Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s pair of delicate eyebrows rose slightly. “Could it be for that cook?”

Seeing the bewilderment on Zhaohua’s face, Imperial Noble Consort Xiao smiled faintly: “This palace is just about to go see Miss Luo. Lady Yu, accompany this palace.”

“Yes.” Zhaohua lowered her head and walked behind Imperial Noble Consort Xiao, suppressing the joy that surfaced in her eyes.

Though the Crown Prince had nodded in agreement beforehand, having the Noble Consort actively take her along was even better.

She had tossed and turned all night, barely sleeping at all. Today she was determined to go see Miss Luo.

But what if Miss Luo truly was the County Princess?

The more this seemed possible, the more cautiously she proceeded, not daring to be careless in the slightest.

If Miss Luo was indeed the County Princess, she was unwilling to bring the County Princess even the slightest risk of having her identity discovered.

“Lady Yu followed the Crown Prince when he was still at Prince Pingnan’s estate, didn’t you?” Walking along the path, Imperial Noble Consort Xiao asked casually.

“Yes.”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao smiled faintly: “No wonder Lady Yu appears to be about the same age as this palace.”

Zhaohua quickly said: “Your Ladyship jests. Your Ladyship is in the prime of youth, while this concubine is nearly thirty years old.”

“Is that so?” Imperial Noble Consort Xiao examined Zhaohua carefully, her tone ambiguous. “Lady Yu appears to be only in her early twenties.”

She hadn’t paid attention before.

A Crown Prince’s concubine wasn’t worthy of her attention—it was only after the Crown Princess’s matter caused a stir not long ago that this Lady Yu had entered her field of vision.

Having paid attention, she couldn’t help but privately sigh at how kindly the years had treated this woman.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s carefully maintained fingernails lightly swept across her cheek.

The cheek was fair and full—just as Lady Yu had said, she was at the age when a woman’s appearance was at its peak.

But what about in a few more years?

She had worn the most magnificent clothes, tasted the most sumptuous delicacies, and used the most luxurious items, but all of these would probably eventually be lost as her looks faded.

Not having a child at her side was the greatest sorrow for a palace woman.

This Lady Yu was indeed different from the rest.

Luo Sheng’s tent wasn’t far from Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s golden tent. At this moment, she was asking Luo Yue how to weave flower garlands.

“Third Sister, you’re weaving it wrong. It should be woven like this…” Luo Yue mercilessly mocked the flower garland Luo Sheng had woven.

Hong Dou snorted coldly.

Had Fourth Miss forgotten the times she’d been disobedient and the young lady had taken a whip to her?

Three days without a beating and they’ll tear the roof tiles off—the old saying was exactly right.

Speaking of which, why didn’t the young lady enjoy wielding her whip anymore?

The little maid stared at the soft whip coiled at her master’s waist, falling into contemplation.

Luo Yue patiently instructed Luo Sheng on the secrets of weaving flower garlands, while Luo Qing smiled and handed selected flower branches to her two younger sisters.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao caught sight of this scene from afar and couldn’t help pausing.

She remembered that Grand Commander Luo had only one legitimate daughter, which was Miss Luo.

Everyone said Miss Luo was arrogant and domineering—yet here she was getting along so harmoniously with her concubine-born sisters?

“Your Ladyship—” an inner attendant respectfully requested instructions.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao nodded slightly.

“The Imperial Noble Consort has arrived—” the inner attendant called out.

The women walking nearby heard this call and hurriedly gathered to pay respects.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao nodded reservedly: “This palace is merely taking a casual walk. Ladies, no need for excessive courtesy.”

Everyone immediately understood: the Noble Consort had come to Miss Luo’s place to mooch a meal—everyone else should go about their business and not cause trouble.

It wasn’t that they were quick to react—mainly, these past few days the Crown Prince and Prince Kaiyang had been constantly coming over, so they were used to it.

To avoid annoying the Noble Consort, everyone tactfully dispersed.

“Paying respects to the Imperial Noble Consort.”

“Miss Luo, no need to be formal. You didn’t go hunting today?”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao walked over.

“Today I wanted to rest a bit. I didn’t expect the Noble Consort would come by.”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao smiled faintly: “This palace ate the beggar’s chicken made by Miss Luo’s cook yesterday and found it very much to my taste, so I came to thank Miss Luo.”

“Your Ladyship honors this subject daughter too much.” Though Luo Sheng’s tone was modest, her expression remained calm. “If Your Ladyship wishes to eat anything, just send word. As long as Xiu Gu knows how to make it, I’ll have her prepare it and send it to Your Ladyship.”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s eyes flickered: “Oh, Miss Luo’s cook is called Xiu Gu?”

“Yes, she’s called Xiu Gu.”

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao nodded: “This palace will remember. I wonder if this palace might see the cook who can make such delicious food?”

Luo Sheng smiled gracefully: “That would be her honor. Hong Dou, go summon Xiu Gu.”

Before long, a woman with an ugly face appeared before Imperial Noble Consort Xiao.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao’s bright eyes lingered on Xiu Yue’s face for a moment, slightly surprised in her heart.

She hadn’t expected the cook’s appearance to be so unsightly—her face had been disfigured.

However, the other’s respectful yet neither servile nor overbearing attitude gave her a favorable impression.

“Will you be making beggar’s chicken today?” Having examined Xiu Yue, Imperial Noble Consort Xiao asked Luo Sheng.

“We were planning to make several.”

“This palace would like to watch how it’s made.”

That year, she had eaten the fat chicken secretly sent by a maid with great relish, not bothering to think about how a little maid without a master’s backing had obtained it.

Later, when she wanted to ask, she never had the chance again.

That was the only warmth from her youth, only it was far too brief.

“Xiu Gu, go make several beggar’s chickens now for Her Ladyship to watch.”

Xiu Yue curtsied slightly to Imperial Noble Consort Xiao: “Your Ladyship, please follow this commoner woman.”

The place for cooking was some distance from the tent.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao followed Xiu Yue, and a group of palace attendants followed along.

In the blink of an eye, only Zhaohua remained in place.

Luo Sheng looked toward her.

Zhaohua met her gaze, scrutiny hidden in the depths of her eyes.

Having heard Xiu Yue’s words, her mind was in complete chaos, her thoughts running wild. She even wanted to convince herself to just believe it.

Believe it—as long as she believed the County Princess was still alive, she could still be the true Zhaohua and wouldn’t have to live so exhaustingly.

But truly standing before Miss Luo, seeing a woman with a completely different appearance from the County Princess, how could she believe the person before her was the County Princess?

Soul possession—did it truly exist?

“Is Lady Yu not going to watch?” Luo Sheng walked toward Zhaohua.

Watching the woman approach, Zhaohua inexplicably felt somewhat flustered.

“I’ll go…”

“Then I’ll accompany Lady Yu.”

Luo Sheng smiled faintly and naturally walked side by side with Zhaohua.

Ahead was the rising fire, only it was blocked by the palace attendants Imperial Noble Consort Xiao had brought, revealing only a corner.

A barely audible voice sounded: “Do you still remember Yang Zhun?”

Yang Zhun was Xiu Yue’s fiancé, with whom she was mutually in love.

Only, what no one including herself had known was that before Yang Zhun became Xiu Yue’s fiancé, Zhaohua had quietly placed him in her heart.

On the day when Xiu Yue and Yang Zhun’s betrothal was announced, she had happened by chance to witness Zhaohua cutting down the ribbons tied to the laurel tree.

Seeing she had been discovered, Zhaohua had begged her not to mention it to Xiu Yue.

“Though this servant has long admired Yang Zhun, it was merely private admiration. Now that Sister Xiu Yue is betrothed, this servant has let him go.”