Chapter Seventy-Six: Here Comes the Clingy Troublemaker Again

"Ruihuan." Su Jingluo called out instinctively, and both Alan and Ruihuan entered the room.

"Where’s Yunbai? Has he eaten?" Su Jingluo immediately remembered and wondered if Yunbai had missed his meal as well.

"Your Grace, the young master has already eaten. He’s chatting with the Grand Tutor now," Ruihuan replied, handing Su Jingluo a towel so she could freshen up.

With a sudden smack, the towel slipped to the floor. Why was Song Yunmo here? This man was like a persistent ghost, haunting her steps. Either she ran into him by chance, or he came seeking her out. He was simply like an unshakeable leech.

"Your Grace, is something wrong? Would you like to eat? Or would you like to see the Grand Tutor or Lady Lin?" Ruihuan asked nervously, while Alan hurried to pick up the towel.

"Is Lin Wanwan still waiting in the front hall?" Only then did Su Jingluo recall that Lin Wanwan had also arrived. Why was the prince’s residence so lively today?

"She couldn’t endure it for long. You really can sleep, Your Grace—two whole hours. Lady Lin grew restless after the first hour, pacing back and forth, and was eventually invited to Scarlet Moon Pavilion by Concubine Lin. Do you wish for her to come over?"

As Ruihuan tidied Su Jingluo’s clothes, she relayed all of Lin Wanwan’s movements in detail.

"Oh, let her go then; there’s no need to call her. I’m hungry. I want to eat. And bring more meat," Su Jingluo’s stomach was already growling.

"Of course," Alan replied, dashing out to prepare the meal. Ruihuan glanced at Alan’s retreating figure, her eyes flickering with thought.

"Your Grace, do you like Alan very much?" Ruihuan probed carefully.

"Of course. She’s clever and quite pretty," Su Jingluo replied offhandedly, not thinking much of it.

"Is Ruihuan not as pretty or as capable as her?" Ruihuan asked, her tone tinged with worry. Su Jingluo had stood up for Alan that afternoon, which left Ruihuan with a deep sense of crisis.

"What are you thinking? How long have you been by my side? She was beaten by three people, her face nearly ruined, but she stood up for me. When people treat us well, we should treat them well in return. You and I are like sisters—you’re not the same as others, so don’t be petty." Hearing Ruihuan’s insecure words and anxious tone, Su Jingluo realized that Ruihuan was jealous. Sigh, being too likable is a problem—now even the girls around her were in love with her. Su Jingluo felt a swell of pride.

With Su Jingluo’s reassurance, Ruihuan immediately brightened and nodded vigorously.

"Alan’s really not bad. She warned me this afternoon to be wary of Qiu Hong," Ruihuan added. Just moments ago she’d been jealous, and now she was speaking up for Alan. It seemed the world itself wasn’t complicated—people were.

"Is that so? Then keep an eye on her." Judging by how Alan handled the aftermath of those three, she was a careful and dependable girl.

Before long, Alan had set the table with all sorts of dishes—this was the best meal Su Jingluo had ever had at the prince’s residence. She’d asked Alan for more meat, and she’d truly delivered: braised pork knuckle, spiced beef, imperial roast chicken, steamed perch...

"So much food. Alan, when I said more meat, I didn’t quite mean there shouldn’t be a single vegetable," Su Jingluo said, looking at the table laden with dishes. Even a starving ghost would be overwhelmed.

Alan looked a bit embarrassed. She’d prepared the dinner according to Su Jingluo’s usual style—if she said more, it meant to go all out, didn’t it?

"All right, all right, it’s fine. Have you two eaten?" Su Jingluo looked at the two girls, guessing from their hungry expressions that they hadn’t.