“Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, we will make our move.” Ling Chuxi saw how the first prince ended up and then looked at the bloody traces over the entire floor and sighed lightly in her heart. No wonder Fu Chengyu did not wish for her to get mixed up in this fight. The palace was indeed a huge vat of dye, anyone in it was stained.
“Wait a moment, Miss Ling. I have yet to properly thank all of you. We’re all right this time thanks to all of you rushing over. Let me properly think about how to award you with titles that match up to your current abilities,” said the emperor. Actually, awarding them titles as thanks them was not the emperor’s true motivation. Wanting to win this group over yet another step was the truth behind his offer.
“Your Majesty has spoken too highly of us. This outcome was all thanks to Your Majesty’s outstanding wisdom. We merely contributed a little energy to the proceedings, that’s all. If Your Majesty really would like to express thanks, the peony cake made by the imperial kitchen the last time was not bad at all. If I could enjoy some daily, that would be good,” joked Ling Chuxi. She did not wish to be too caught up in this whirlpool of royal fights.
“Well, isn’t that request easy to fulfill? Just have Imperial Father send the Imperial Chef over to your manor. Wouldn’t that work then? He could make it for you every day,” said the fifth princess with a smile.
“That would be good. It’s decided then.” The emperor could perceive Ling Chuxi’s intentions and glanced at her admiringly. She wasn’t proud even after gaining such merit, she knew when to advance and when to retreat, and was able to see the big picture always. Ling Chuxi was indeed not a creature belonging to a small pond.
“Let’s go Master. Let’s leave the palace.” The fifth princess took hold of Ling Chuxi’s arm and walked towards the main hall’s doors with her.
“Where are we going?” Ling Chuxi asked.
“Naturally, to have a good meal to celebrate your safe return, to celebrate you winning big time and to celebrate you…” The fifth princess chattered away. By now, the fifth princess had recovered to her usual lively self.
Ling Chuxi laughed. She almost forgot that with her invaluable influence, the fifth princess had also become a foodie of a certain level.
“Imperial Father, I will also take my leave,” said Fu Chengyu to the emperor with a bow.
“Go on,” replied the emperor with a nod.
The fifth princess was chattering non-stop as she left the palace together with Ling Chuxi and the rest.
Observing their retreating figures, the emperor fell into deep thought.
In the main hall, the remaining princes and princess were all shocked to the point of their souls departing and even wetting their pants. Only Fu Chengyu was calm from the beginning till the end and the fifth princess acted as though nothing had happened after her sadness over Ling Chuxi’s supposed death faded. Both their mental strengths were obviously far stronger than those of their siblings.
It was a pity that Fu Chengyu was innately indifferent to the matters of this world and was decisively uninterested in administration. As for the fifth princess? The emperor looked at the fifth princess’ departing figure and pondered.
The fifth princess dragged Ling Chuxi and the rest of their posse out of the palace and straight to a restaurant for a big meal.
“Master, really. To secretly return and not even notify me. You worried me so…” grumbled the fifth princess angrily as she stuffed a chicken wing into her mouth. “Such behavior is just too terrible. I even thought something really bad had happened to you, Master.”
Ling Chuxi found this a little funny and turned to look at the fifth princess with her cheeks puffed with food, saying “All I did was rush through the night to get here as fast as possible with the others. What could have happened to me? Don’t think too much.”
“Since bad people live forever and good people die young, your master who is a disaster of a thousand years won’t die so easily,” tossed out Baili Han suddenly as he was eating.
When the fifth princess heard this, her eyes lit up and she was just about to agree enthusiastically when she saw Ling Chuxi throw her a dangerous look. She immediately shut up and then left the table to search diligently for more delicious food to add to their feast.
“Baili, quick! Take a look! Why is Xinyu walking with another man?!” exclaimed Ling Chuxi suddenly as she looked out the window in astonishment.
“What? Where?!” Sweeping aside his calmness, Baili Han stood up hurriedly to take a look outside. However, how could there be anyone walking outside? A corner of Baili Han’s lip twitched as he turned back to look at Ling Chuxi who was smiling wickedly. He immediately understood that he was being teased by Ling Chuxi again.