The County Princess is Miss Luo.

Each word was like a thunderclap exploding in Zhaohua’s heart.

Exploding until her mind and spirit trembled violently. Clearly each word was so simple, yet together they became incomprehensible.

The County Princess is Miss Luo—what did this mean?

“Xiu Yue, what are you saying?”

The boiling soup pot, the sour aroma gradually growing richer, wisps of rising steam obscuring Xiu Yue’s expression.

“The County Princess is Miss Luo,” she repeated in a low voice.

Zhaohua instinctively shook her head: “Xiu Yue, are you joking? How can I not understand what you’re saying?”

Xiu Yue gripped the wooden ladle, looking at her steadily: “You know I never speak carelessly.”

“Then… what does it mean that the County Princess is Miss Luo?”

Xiu Yue glanced toward the doorway, her voice as low as it could go: “When the County Princess woke up, she discovered she had become Miss Luo.”

Why this had happened, even the County Princess didn’t understand—how could she possibly understand?

“Soul possession?” Zhaohua murmured.

Such an absurd speculation left her completely unable to believe it.

Zhaohua’s eyes contracted as she said in a low voice: “Xiu Yue, you haven’t been deceived by someone—”

Xiu Yue calmly placed the fish slices into the pot.

“Xiu Yue!” Zhaohua couldn’t help grasping her sleeve.

Xiu Yue glanced at her, her tone flat: “Though I’m not clever, I wouldn’t mistake my master.”

Zhaohua’s heart trembled, and she released her grip in a daze.

She had only thought that Xiu Yue was naive and feared she’d been tricked, but forgot that precisely because she was sincere and honest, Xiu Yue wouldn’t easily acknowledge a master.

But how could Miss Luo possibly be the County Princess?

In this world… did soul possession truly exist?

Zhaohua felt that her years of understanding were being impacted like a tidal wave.

She enjoyed reading and had always regarded such things as stories—how could they actually happen?

Glancing at the composed Xiu Yue, Zhaohua quickly made a decision: she would personally go see Miss Luo.

“The sour soup fish brain is ready. Has Milady learned it?”

Xiu Yue’s voice pulled Zhaohua’s rationality back.

She gently pressed her sore eyes and smiled bashfully: “To learn it all at once is still somewhat difficult for me.”

Xiu Yue scooped out the fish brain and poured it into a blue-and-white porcelain bowl prepared earlier, her expression respectful: “Then if this commoner woman has another opportunity, I’ll teach Milady again.”

“Thank you for the trouble,” Zhaohua collected herself, looked deeply at Xiu Yue once more, and carried the tray with the blue-and-white bowl out.

As soon as Zhaohua emerged, Dou Ren immediately came forward: “Lady, His Highness just asked where you had gone.”

Zhaohua nodded slightly, not looking back at Xiu Yue again, but walking composedly toward the sleeping quarters.

Xiu Yue stood quietly in the courtyard, letting the evening breeze disperse the cooking smoke smell from her body.

Zhaohua carried the tray into the inner chamber.

Wei Qiang had changed into a snow-white inner robe and was reclining on the couch reading. He looked over when he smelled the fragrance.

“Why did you bring it yourself?”

Zhaohua placed the tray on the desk and smiled: “I wanted to learn it so I could personally make it for Your Highness in the future.”

“Is that so?” Wei Qiang walked over, glanced at the sour soup fish brain with its perfect color and aroma, his smile deepening. “Yu Niang made this herself?”

The corners of Zhaohua’s mouth twitched slightly: “It was made by Miss Luo’s cook. This concubine hasn’t learned it yet.”

Wei Qiang suddenly understood: “No wonder.”

He could tell it wasn’t made by Yu Niang.

“Your Highness, this concubine wishes to properly learn this dish from Miss Luo’s cook. Would that be appropriate?”

Wei Qiang couldn’t help laughing: “What would be inappropriate about that? This place doesn’t have as many rules as the capital. If you want to learn cooking from Miss Luo’s cook, and Miss Luo agrees, just send palace servants to invite the cook over daily. Or when you come out of the tent during the day for fresh air, you could go over and take a look—that’s also acceptable.”

Zhaohua’s eyes brightened: “I can really go over?”

Wei Qiang rarely saw Zhaohua show such delighted expression, and his tone became even gentler: “If you want to go, then go. Just bring more attendants along.”

In his impression, Yu Niang had always been calm and indifferent, seeming uninterested in everything.

Seeing her like this, he naturally felt pleased as well.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Zhaohua said with a touched expression, gently and obediently leaning against him.

Leaving the traveling palace, Xiu Yue walked forward silently in the evening breeze as an inner attendant held a lantern, illuminating the path ahead clearly.

Raising her head, the sky was already filled with stars.

Xiu Yue gazed at the sky, involuntarily lost in thought: Beihe’s sky is truly high—somewhat like what she’d seen in Nanyang City.

Here, they had found Sister Zhaohua.

Xiu Yue passed the inner attendant who had stopped while holding the lantern to wait for her, and walked forward quickly.

The inner attendant left behind shook his head silently.

Had this cook been frightened by the traveling palace’s magnificent grandeur? Why did she seem a bit dazed?

The separate courtyards for accompanying princes, high officials, and their families were at the foot of the mountain.

Luo Sheng, who had already bathed and changed, reclined on the couch quietly reading for a while before casually asking Hong Dou: “Xiu Gu hasn’t returned yet?”

Hong Dou pursed her lips: “Not yet. Perhaps she won high favor and was kept to dine.”

Xiu Gu, that ungrateful one—here the young lady was still worrying about her.

If she was so capable, she might as well stay in the palace! She alone could serve the young lady perfectly well!

Luo Sheng was nearly amused by Hong Dou.

The little maid spoke ill of people so directly.

“Go take a look. If Xiu Gu has returned, have her come see me.”

“Yes.” Despite her indignation, Hong Dou still went out obediently.

Luo Sheng read for a while longer before Hong Dou led Xiu Yue in.

In front of Hong Dou, Xiu Yue couldn’t say much and only curtsied to greet Luo Sheng.

“Hong Dou, go stand guard outside. Don’t let anyone disturb our conversation.”

Hong Dou shot Xiu Yue a sidelong glance before turning and going out.

Hmph, she was the young lady’s confidant—when it came to guarding doors and keeping watch, it still had to be her.

The room fell quiet for a moment, a red candle sputtering.

Luo Sheng slowly began: “How did it go?”

Xiu Yue nodded excitedly: “Zhaohua wanted to give the bracelet to this servant!”

A smile appeared in Luo Sheng’s eyes.

“Understood. Go back and sleep early.”

Xiu Yue curtsied slightly and withdrew.

Hong Dou, standing guard outside the door, widened her eyes.

She had just gone out to stand guard—how had Xiu Gu already left?

It seemed the young lady didn’t have much to say to Xiu Gu after all.

The little maid entered the room happily.

The night passed without incident.

The next day brought another beautiful day with clear autumn skies.

Sheng Sanlang was quite puzzled: “Cousin, you’re not going hunting today?”

“Not going. I’ll take a rest.”

“But hunting isn’t tiring at all,” Sheng Sanlang said, thinking of the scenes he’d glimpsed during each hunt, growing even more confused.

Each time, Prince Kaiyang’s big white horse would pester Cousin’s date-red horse, leaving the master aside.

The master didn’t even need to ride the horse at full gallop—what was there to be tired about?

“Cousin, take Luo Chen and the others. When you return, I’ll make braised venison in clay pot.”

Upon hearing this, Sheng Sanlang immediately forgot about calling Luo Sheng to come along and bellowed to Luo Chen and the others: “Let’s go! Today we’ll hunt a deer—Cousin wants to make braised venison in clay pot!”

Braised venison in clay pot?

Those who heard this shout all pricked up their ears.

Good, today’s hunt had a goal.

The participants in the hunt spurred their horses toward the vast grasslands.

Imperial Noble Consort Xiao emerged from the golden tent just as Zhaohua was coming out of the adjacent tent.