Chu Yunge chuckled with a ‘pfft’. “Hahaha, it means snacking on melon seeds while listening to gossip. It’s not actual melon.”
Yan Feng: “……”
“Come on, don’t you think it’s interesting?” Chu Yunge’s eyes sparkled.
After transmigrating, everything in ancient times seemed quite interesting, but without a phone, it felt like missing a hand—nothing felt right.
She couldn’t scroll videos or dramas, or read gossip; it was truly boring.
Fortunately, before transmigrating, her phone had been confiscated for over a month, so the worst of her phone addiction withdrawal had passed; otherwise, it would have been even more painful.
Since she couldn’t surf the web for gossip, watching it live wasn’t bad either.
Chu Yunge led Yan Feng as they kept searching for the beaten woman until they spotted her embracing a guard-dressed man in a corner of the Princess Mansion. Excitedly, she pulled Yan Feng to hide nearby and watch the drama.
Yan Feng looked at Chu Yunge, who tightly gripped his arm while staring at the pair, his expression somewhat blank.
He had never seen a princess like this before.
Her eyes shimmered with waves of light, like brilliant stars, making her whole face glow radiantly and impossible to look away from—but it was because of peeking at people hugging that…
Yan Feng noticed the fine beads of sweat on the tip of her nose. “Your Highness, if you’re really tired, we should go…”
He was still somewhat worried that Chu Yunge might suddenly change face and lash out.
“Shh.” Chu Yunge hurriedly shushed him. The two were about to kiss—how could they leave now?
She hadn’t expected the plot to be so twisty. Turns out, the guard had liked the embraced maid from the start—let’s call her Maid A for now—but his family disagreed and arranged Maid B for him. Maid B grew furious seeing her fiancé with A, and her acquaintances beat A out of solidarity.
Now both were in agony, but Maid A had decided to break up and cut ties completely with the guard.
The guard painfully agreed, and the two shared a heartbroken farewell kiss.
Once they left, Chu Yunge was still not satisfied.
“That was so interesting. Yan Feng, which maid do you support more?”
Yan Feng: “……” He supported neither; he didn’t get what was interesting about it.
But in the end, he replied, “The guard was indecisive and abandoned his post without leave. He deserves punishment.”
Chu Yunge nodded. “The guard was indeed indecisive and hurt two girls.”
Yan Feng had dodged her question, leaving Chu Yunge somewhat deflated. If only she had a confidante maid; she would definitely understand her love for gossip.
“I wonder how the follow-up will go. I’ll keep an eye on it later.” Fortunately, gossip was even more engaging than serialized dramas, and she could find a like-minded confidante maid for gossiping together later.
Though it was quite difficult at the moment. Among the maids, except Du Ruo who was a bit better, the others all feared her because of the princess’s reputation.
Yan Feng hesitated for a moment. “Does Your Highness still plan to punish them?”
Chu Yunge was baffled. “Punish what? Their emotional entanglements are none of my business. I was just watching the show.”
Yan Feng truly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
Leaving aside how Yan Feng would punish the guard, Chu Yunge perked up and went to find Qingchen to help him detoxify.
The Lotus Flower Tower where Qingchen stayed was temporarily arranged by Xie Wangze and surprisingly suited the Lotus Prince perfectly.
Qingchen sat on a stone bench by the lotus pond, holding Buddha Beads and meditating. He was somewhat surprised to see Chu Yunge arrive.
“Your Highness.”
Chu Yunge stopped a few steps away. “Will I disturb your meditation?”
“No. Please sit, Your Highness.” Qingchen knew the princess had come to help him detoxify.
“Ordinary daily activities are all paths to the Dao. As long as one is mindful, no matter where they are or who is beside them, they can meditate.”
“Good.” Perhaps due to Qingchen’s own temperament, Chu Yunge felt her heart calm down as she sat beside him.
Yan Feng, following behind, tactfully moved to the side to stand guard vigilantly.
Qingchen had someone serve tea. The maid serving it was perhaps nervous, her hands trembling. Qingchen waved her away.
Chu Yunge didn’t notice the maid; her attention was drawn to the tea.
“This is Lotus Seed Heart Tea. It tastes somewhat bitter but nourishes the heart and calms the mind. Your Highness, give it a try.”
“Alright.” Chu Yunge found it acceptable.
After finishing the tea, Chu Yunge glanced at Qingchen’s hand on the stone table, pulled a strange tales novel from her sleeve, held the book in one hand, and placed her other hand on his arm. “There, you continue.”
Qingchen glanced at Chu Yunge’s hand and hummed in acknowledgment.
But his heart grew somewhat restless, unable to focus as before, so he ended up chanting sutras and praising Buddha.
Chu Yunge felt utterly comfortable listening to it.
A gentle breeze blew, undisturbed by anyone. Chu Yunge finished the strange tales novel and finally couldn’t help but look toward Qingchen.
Qingchen was truly so pure and holy, and moreover, he smelled fragrant. Compared to the scent she smelled upon first transmigrating, the current lotus fragrance was even more elegant—a faint, refreshing aroma that soothed the soul. She unconsciously chased that subtle scent, finding herself liking it more and more.
Just… smelling too much made her a bit hungry for it…
Chu Yunge swallowed.
Qingchen had long noticed Chu Yunge’s gaze but hadn’t expected her to stare so persistently. Finally, he helplessly opened his eyes.
“What is Your Highness thinking?” Why was she staring at him like that?
“I want to eat lotus flowers.” Chu Yunge swallowed again.
After Chu Yunge placed her hand on Qingchen’s, the even more avoidant Yan Feng suddenly looked over.
“What?” Qingchen was stunned. Realizing what she meant, shock appeared on his face, and he frowned slightly. He had just said Your Highness wouldn’t be like that—how had it started again?
Qingchen hadn’t expected her earlier eager gaze to mean she wanted to eat him. Memories from before involuntarily flashed in his mind.
He withdrew the arm Chu Yunge had placed her hand on. “Your Highness, you…”
Chu Yunge then realized her words weren’t precise and had been misunderstood.
“I meant eating fried lotus flowers, not you this lotus flower.”
After explaining, Chu Yunge added, “Also lotus seeds and lotus root powder.”
Qingchen chuckled upon hearing this and relaxed slightly. “I see.”
“Right, This Princess was simply tempted by the lotus fragrance on your body.” Chu Yunge had clarified it.
Qingchen, however, looked toward the top of Chu Yunge’s head. “Your Highness, there’s a spider.”
He stood up to swat away the spider descending on its web, but Chu Yunge looked up, her expression changing.
“Don’t touch it—it’s a Poison Spider!”
Chu Yunge had coincidentally seen a spider exhibit once, and if she remembered correctly, the one overhead was a Poison Spider.
A bite could claim a child’s life within fifteen minutes—extremely dangerous.
If Qingchen got bitten, it would be trouble.
“Yan Feng, kill the Poison Spider.” Chu Yunge shouted while pushing Qingchen’s arm away. Qingchen saw the spider about to land on Chu Yunge’s neck and pulled her aside, rolling away.
Qingchen rolled two full circles to ensure they avoided the Poison Spider.
Yan Feng rushed over at top speed, dealt with the Poison Spider, and climbed the tree to check for any others.
Chu Yunge turned her head to look and breathed a sigh of relief.
With Yan Feng handling it, there wouldn’t be any oversights.
“That scared me.”
Chu Yunge relaxed against Qingchen. “Let me catch my breath.”
As she spoke, she suddenly remembered. “Qingchen, you’re not injured, right?”
She didn’t notice that her breath brushed against Qingchen’s neck as she spoke.
“No.” Qingchen answered. Chu Yunge had just relaxed when she suddenly felt the lotus fragrance at her nose grow even richer.
It was even close to the scent at her nose when she first transmigrated.
Chu Yunge looked at Qingchen in surprise and saw his ear tips flushed red, the heartbeat by his ear pounding louder and louder.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but Qingchen’s body temperature seemed a bit higher too.