Ye Ru Shuang didn't know that she had already fallen to a lowly status in this young master's eyes. She looked around and saw that the large hall on the second floor was empty, so she chose a seat by the window: "That one will do."

  "Alright!" The shop assistant quickly ran over and wiped down the table and chairs with a towel slung over his shoulder, "Please sit down, sir!"

  Qing Luan couldn't help but glance around with a hint of disdain, then took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the table and chairs before saying to Ye Ru like frost: "Miss, please sit!"

  Actually, Ye Ruxue didn't mind these things that much. When she was still in training to be an assassin, she could eat anything and wouldn't care about anything, even if it meant spending a night by the swamp. It's just that now, really enjoying this kind of life without so many hardships, seems like it's indeed much better than before. She never knew that when she indulged herself, she wasn't any different from those young masters and ladies. Even though in her heart, those people weren't worthy of being compared to herself.

  The night was like frost, he sat down and didn't say a word, just gazing out at the streets outside.

  Qing Luan furrowed her brow and asked Xiao Er, "What do you have in your store?" Even if she thought it was something a young lady should eat, it had to be available in this store.

  The young shop assistant seemed to be unaware of Qing Luan's disdain and smiled as he greeted: "Our store has everything, as long as it's not Ginseng Immortal Dan, our store can still make do! After all, it's one of the top two large restaurants in the capital!"

  Although Qing Luan didn't think much of it in her heart, she still nodded: "Then let's pick the good ones and put them up."

  "Coming right up!" The shopkeeper wiped his sweat with a towel and hurried off with quick steps.

  "Miss, if the old lady finds out that we snuck out like this... I'm afraid you'll definitely be punished! If it were only the second madam, she's just a concubine, whereas you're the legitimate daughter, and your status is above hers. But the old lady is the king's birth mother, and when the late king was still alive, she was already very formidable, controlling the entire inner courtyard of the palace. There are hardly any children born out of wedlock, and if not for her being infertile, perhaps she wouldn't have adopted a concubine-born son as the king."

  Even now, the entire compound of the Wang Fu is under her control. The second madam was just a figurehead, all major decisions in the household required the old lady's approval.

  Night Frost merely gazed at the bustling pedestrians on the street outside, nodding slightly: "Don't worry. You can sit down too, it's not necessary to be as formal as in the mansion."

  Qing Luan was deeply moved, but still hesitated and refused: "No, no, no, it's not right for a slave to sit at the same table as her master! It's better for me to stand and serve Miss!" In the past, when Miss was still foolish, she relied even more on Dong Hua. Now that Miss only valued herself, Qing Luan was truly moved! Since Miss valued her so much, she must not let Miss down!

  Ye Ru Shuang turned her head to look at her, seeing that she was nervously clutching her sleeve, and faintly hooked the corner of her mouth: "I've already said it's not necessary to be like this, since we're outside, you should have a more relaxed demeanor, how can I enjoy myself if you're like this?" She's just that kind of person, only giving me what she wants to give, not what I want.

  Qing Luan hastily responded, sitting down across from Ye Ruxue. For the first time, she was clearly both delighted and worried about being so close to her mistress, fearing that others might find out and think it improper, yet enjoying the feeling of being so intimate with Miss Ye.

  "What's going on?" The accountant on the first floor asked in a low voice as soon as he saw the shop assistant come down. He saw that those two young ladies were dressed and adorned unlike ordinary people's daughters, if they were really from a wealthy family, how could they be so casual about going out...

  The shopkeeper snorted, humming a cold tone: "Who knows where she came from, and she looks down on our store!" Which Qinglou Chu's prostitute dared to show off like this outside, even if it was a thousand gold miss, I'm afraid she didn't learn the rules. Otherwise, which girl would go out like this? Seeing the accountant's thoughtful expression, he patted his chest and said, "Forget it, don't think about it, they want something good, since you said it doesn't matter if it costs money, then let's get it!"

  Divider line

  A young lady and two princes going out for a spring outing didn't seem right, so Xia Ying Shen found out and had someone go to the Right Chancellor's mansion across the street to deliver an invitation to Chancellor's eldest daughter, Miss Lan, to join them on their spring outing.

  "How's that?" Chen Yu finished styling Xia Tianmeng's hair and nodded in satisfaction as she looked at the result in the copper mirror, not forgetting to ask for Xia Tianmeng's opinion.

  Xiatian Meng simply nodded, stood up and let Luoyan help her change into a white lotus-patterned skirt with a white cicada-winged gauze on top. A few strands of green silk were dotted with a hint of white, and her temperament was ethereal, like a blooming snow lotus.

  "I don't know if Miss Lan can spare some time today." Chen Yu put away the things beside him, and his face showed a few points of worry.

  Xiatian Mo nodded slightly, adjusted her skirt: "If it can't be empty, then we'll go." She knew the importance of male-female segregation, but after all, they were with Nan Yi and Nan Jiu, people she didn't think needed to be guarded against, so she didn't feel the need to invite someone else along to prevent gossip.

  The fish sank helplessly and shook his head, finding that the young lady had become much more 'temperamental' after being injured. Even her former hobbies had changed. She used to love playing the piano in the courtyard, but now she thought playing the piano was too boring, and would rather appreciate flowers or read books.

  "Miss, miss!" The maid outside ran in and saw Xia Tianmeng hastily bowing, "The Right Chancellor's mansion has returned the invitation card, saying that Miss Lan will be here soon!"

  Xia Tian Miao nodded slightly and stepped out, Chen Yu Luo hastily followed with things, dressing up for nearly half an hour, and didn't know if the Second Prince and Ninth Prince were impatient! How could it be said that letting guests wait so long was the host's discourtesy.

  Because of the big defense, Nan Yihe and Nan Jiu did not take a horse-drawn carriage either, but each rode a horse. Perhaps because they had been waiting for a long time, the horses were stomping their hooves impatiently on the spot. Nan Yihe and Nan Jiu, however, did not look impatient, just chatting in a few sentences.

  "I heard that the barbarians have started a coup? Is it the third prince who wants to overthrow his father?" Although Nan Yi Ke didn't care about court politics, as a prince he would inevitably hear such news. He slightly raised an eyebrow and looked at Nan Jue, "The Great Han of the Barbarians is seriously ill, the court seems stable but is actually on the verge of collapse... I wonder if this time Father Emperor will listen to those military generals' opinions and attack the Barbarians?"

  Nan Jiu straightened his back and looked forward, but his eyes took on a rare gloom: "The barbarians now have little real power, although they can't be easily defeated, it's not much different. Moreover, those three princes I've seen before, perhaps skilled in politics, but in battle, they're just armchair strategists. Last time, if he hadn't disagreed with the general's suggestion, they wouldn't have lost 10,000 troops. If Father Emperor is unwilling, then so be it. But if he's willing, I won't personally take the field unless the two sides' military strength is equal. Attacking them now would just be taking advantage of their weakness!" He knew some generals had suggested that he lead the army in person, but he wouldn't eat unearned food!

  Nan Yi obviously knew Nan Jiu's 'temperament' long ago, and rolled his eyes: "As long as you refuse, Father Emperor won't force it. In recent years, many generals have emerged, and the power of our Imperial Xia Dynasty is flourishing, with many good ministers accumulated. Can't we just not make the imperial son take personal action?"

  Nan Jiu's eyes changed color as he slowly spoke: "I remember that not long ago, Big Brother recommended a certain able minister to the Emperor, didn't he?" He and Nan Yi Ke were equally uninterested in court politics; compared to those 'hidden' schemes and intrigues, he would rather spend more time practicing martial arts at home. However, with his mother in the palace, the front and back palaces were closely related, and only if he did well could his mother live a good life. Although he didn't care about fame or fortune, seeing Big Brother recommend someone else to enter officialdom still made him feel somewhat disheartened in his highest domain.

  Even if he understood that his elder brother was recommending a capable minister for the prosperity of the country.

  Nan Yi was somewhat embarrassed and didn't know what to say. He had always followed his older brother since he was young, and considered him the most admirable person in his heart. However, as he grew older, his relationship with Lao Jiu became closer, and he understood that Lao Jiu's dissatisfaction wasn't directed at his older brother, but rather a personal sentiment. Nevertheless, hearing this suddenly still made him feel uncertain about how to react.

  "Clatter, clatter......" The sound of the carriage wheels and horse hooves gradually approached, and they too stopped their conversation, looking towards the newcomer.

  "Have you arrived?" A bright and clear laughter came from the luxurious carriage, "Miss Xia invited me to go on an outing together, how come she didn't mention it in advance? If Miss hadn't been at home today, wouldn't that have been a wasted invitation?"

  It was summer when Meng came out and heard the sound of Lan Xiao's teasing, couldn't help but smile and say: "The gentleman's '交' is as thin as water, since you and I are not familiar with each other, why bother to invite in advance? If you're not there, then forget it, just think that Miss Lan didn't have the good fortune."

  This street was exclusive to the imperial high-ranking officials' residences, so Lan Xuan and Xia Tianmeng didn't mind being overheard by others. But Lan Xuan suddenly lifted the carriage curtain, her beautiful face full of playful teasing: "You, you, after not seeing each other for many days, are still like this. If we weren't familiar with each other, you should invite me to come and visit Miss." Although her tone was domineering, due to her stunning beauty and smiling words, it only seemed cute.

  "What's this?" Sun Guan looked at his own prepared carriage and then at the one brought by Lan Xiao Fan, somewhat hesitant.

  Lan Xiao Fan understood his intention and nodded slightly: "Our carriage can still seat a few more people, let Tian Meng ride with me! It'll be fun along the way!" After seeing Xiatian Meng nod, he looked at Nan Yi Ke and Nan Jue, smiled, "Please give my greetings to the Second Prince and Ninth Prince, I'm afraid this humble 'woman' is not in a position to pay respects while on the carriage."

  Nan Yi Xun was indeed aware of Lan Xiao Fan, and she was almost as famous as Xia Tian Meng. However, because her personality was too straightforward and bold, and she was also the legitimate daughter of the Right Chancellor, she was rarely mentioned outside. The only reason she was known was that when she was 13 years old, she attended the grand birthday banquet of the Holy One and directly told the regent king of the neighboring country, Sangyuan, that she wanted to marry him.

  Three years have passed now, and Lan Xuanfan has yet to marry out, while that regent king also has yet to take a wife.

  His Majesty also smiled and said several times that if it was not for Lan Xiang's numerous talents and his own fondness for her, he would have definitely granted her a marriage.

  Nan Jiu's mind was entirely on Xia Tian Meng, and it wasn't until she boarded the carriage that he came back to his senses.

  He didn't know what was wrong with him, but every time he saw her his heart would beat faster...