Chapter Thirty-Six: The Princess Climbs the Wall

In just half a day, Xiao Chengze’s mouth hadn’t stopped, constantly flaunting his extravagant lifestyle at every turn.

“Oh, you all wash your hands in copper basins? I only use golden ones.”

“You only have one maid to attend you? I have a whole retinue of palace maids waiting on me.”

“You only have these few dishes to eat? Honestly, the taste is rather mediocre.”

If Xiao Jingxuan hadn’t reminded her that he was a guest and it would be rude to lash out, Yunbai would have already given him a beating.

“I don’t mean anything by it,” Xiao Chengze protested, “I just find it fascinating how different we are. Aren’t you curious about me?” Xiao Chengze truly found Yunbai unique in every way. She lived freely, dealt with matters as she pleased, even had parents who were different from everyone else’s. Life in the palace was cold and rigid, every detail strictly regulated. Yunbai, on the other hand, could glare when she was unhappy, and was intimately close with her mother. Only by coming here did he realize how vast the difference was between a mother and an empress.

“I’m not curious,” Yunbai replied haughtily. Deep down, she was proud and wished Xiao Chengze were mute—lively without being so insufferably talkative.

“Your Highness, Young Lord, His Grace has said that Her Ladyship needs to rest. You can’t stay here today—why not go to the Luo Jing Pavilion?” Xiao Jingxuan trusted no one. Fearing someone would discover Su Jingluo’s secret, he had Ruihuan sent to tidy up the Luo Jing Pavilion. Yunbai had only been allowed to see Su Jingluo because she threw a tantrum and refused to eat dinner.

“No, I want to stay with Mother,” Yunbai clung to Su Jingluo, who was toying with a string of pearls.

“I want to stay with Yunbai,” Xiao Chengze echoed, seizing Yunbai’s hand as well.

Ah, they’d promised to just take a quick look, but this whole family was proving a headache. Zhuo Yue’an had no choice but to use the tricks Xiao Jingxuan had taught him—children could be easily persuaded.

“Young Lord, the physician came by this afternoon. He said Her Ladyship must rest, or she won’t recover. You wouldn’t want her to stay like this forever, would you? Without rest, it could get worse—she might even become unable to take care of herself at all.” Zhuo Yue’an began his elaborate ruse.

Catching the look of shock and fear in Yunbai’s eyes, Su Jingluo thought Zhuo Yue’an was truly ruthless. Was he taking revenge on her for his master?

Watching Yunbai leave the small courtyard, clinging to Xiao Chengze, turning back every few steps with deep worry and reluctance, Su Jingluo felt a pang of guilt. But, oh, my child, your mother had no other choice. With walls so high, even I can barely get out on my own, let alone drag you along. On top of that, I have to play the fool right now. Su Jingluo felt far less guilty toward Xiao Jingxuan—if you treat me badly, why shouldn’t I deceive you? But my son is my own flesh and blood.

That night, Xiao Jingxuan didn’t come; Ruihuan and Yunbai were both absent. Su Jingluo was a little bored, counting her gold one moment, her pearls the next. The sensation of overnight wealth made her want to shout from the city wall, “I am rich!” There was no desire to hide it.

After counting her money, Su Jingluo lay in bed, reflecting on all that had happened recently. The thought of Xiao Jingxuan’s kiss on her cheek made her face burn. She turned over, burying herself in the quilt, and soon drifted off into sleep.

At dawn, with the sky still shrouded in mist, Su Jingluo rose early and perched on the wall, hoping to find a way out. When a woman comes into money, and there’s no chance to indulge in shopping, there’s only one explanation: online shopping exists. But since it doesn’t, there’s no way to resist the urge.

Ah, luck was with her today. From the distant mist emerged a young man, his expression tense. The hem of his azure robe fluttered in the breeze, his face as smooth as white jade, every feature touched with a gentle smile that seemed sweet and inviting.

To meet such a handsome gentleman at daybreak—surely, fortune was on her side.