The Emotion of Joy

In her mind, it was as if drums were beating incessantly, echoing a powerful thought.
The battle had begun.
She bowed her head in respect as usual and said:
"Thank you for your concern."

Hao Qian, watching from a distance, was a bit worried for her. He walked over, bowed, and said, "Long time no see."
She glared at Brother Hao Qian, signaling for him to leave. Hao Qian understood and said:
"By the way, where did Liang Shan go?"
(Liang Shan was Hao Qian's eunuch.)
After that, Hao Qian also went elsewhere to let her deal with him on her own. She was trying to avoid Bai Xiao's gaze.
Bai Xiao saw through her heart and thought: *That stupid subordinate, thanks to your threatening her, she is now afraid of me. The punishment should have been even more terrible. Another period of time wasted.*

She thought of something and slowly approached Bai Xiao. Pulling a bun out of a cloth bag, she said:
"For you."
She smiled more gently than a cloud, more softly than an autumn breeze; anyone who saw it would have their heart melt. Bai Xiao took the bun and smiled happily:
"Thank you."
On the surface, she was smiling comfortably, but in her heart, she thought: *First, I must get close to him. Otherwise, I won't be able to convince him to refine the emotion soul.*
She handed the bag of buns to Qing Yan and instructed:
"Later, take these to the palaces of Imperial Father and the Empress Dowager."
Qing Yan took the cloth bag, bowed, and said:
"This servant understands."
After that, she also returned to her palace.

She resumed her life in the palace. The Emperor invited Hao Qian and Wan Ru to eat together and chat.
"Before, Wan Ru was just a little thing, and now she has grown so fast."
Hao Qian picked up a piece of food, put it in his mouth, and swallowed it immediately, saying:
"I think Wan Ru is still just a little thing."
The Emperor laughed heartily. Hao Qian continued:
"Wan Ru's birthday is coming up. And it seems several people from other countries are coming here for the banquet, right?"
"Correct. We must have precautions. In case he loses his utility value."
She nodded, picked up a piece of fish, and put it in her mouth, saying:
"Why doesn't Imperial Father try to form an alliance with the Maling Kingdom?"
The Emperor said: "Then you don't know. The King of that country is a suspicious and unpredictable man; We cannot let you go there."
Hao Qian said: "And we haven't heard anything from the Qishan Kingdom about fulfilling the marriage contract; at this rate, Wan Ru will surely be over twenty before she can be married off."
Wan Ru calmly set down her chopsticks.
"There is no need to rush, Brother. I am fine staying like this for my whole life."
The Emperor set down his chopsticks and said:
"That cannot be. We will surely find a suitable match for you."
Then he said to Hao Qian:
"I have recruited a bodyguard for you, Hao Qian."
"Yes, I heard about this from Liang Shan."
After eating, Hao Qian left immediately. Wan Ru stayed to hear a few instructions from her Imperial Father and then also left. She still remembered her Imperial Father's instruction:
"Keep an eye on Bai Xiao."

After returning to her palace, she sat and thought of ways to get close to Bai Xiao.
She looked calm as she drank tea. Qing Yan, holding a basket of apples, placed it on the tea table and said:
"These are the things the Princess ordered me to prepare."
She stood up, took the basket of apples, and said:
"Follow me to the Cold Palace."
She went to the Cold Palace; the gate there was still as dilapidated as before. She peeked through the crack in the door and saw Bai Xiao practicing calligraphy.
Wan Ru decided not to peek anymore and walked in. Bai Xiao seemed to sense someone more noble than himself approaching. He stood up and bowed.
She placed the basket of apples on the table and said:
"No need for formalities. I came here to visit you."
Bai Xiao sat down timidly and said: "I should have been the one to visit the Princess."
Only now did she have time to observe this place more closely. This place was no different from his inner self. And there were a few things she had to take note of.
First, he currently had no one serving him. Wan Ru wondered where his previous servants had gone.
Second, he was currently too thin; if they refined now, it could result in his death. Perhaps she should fatten him up.
She rested her chin on her hand, tilted her head in thought for a moment, and then said:
"From now on, stay in my palace."
If he were in her palace, it wouldn't just be easier to observe him. The Cold Palace was very far from the Inner Palace, making travel difficult. Moving him to the Inner Palace would be better.

Bai Xiao began to react against it: "Thank you, Princess, for thinking of me, but I am used to staying here, so I'm afraid..."
She knew he wouldn't accept, so she said:
"I see you have no one to serve you here, so I have the good intention of letting you move to my palace. And yet you don't dare to accept?"
Bai Xiao's hands clenched tightly as he gritted his teeth and said:
"I did not mean that."
"Then move now."
Bai Xiao was dissatisfied but still didn't dare to disobey. She smiled, knowing that he wouldn't dare to offend her. Bai Xiao was just trying to charm her.
If anyone looked at this situation, they would think she was bullying him, but they didn't know how scheming he was.
She stood up and said: "Farewell."
She turned and left. Bai Xiao intended to see Wan Ru out, but she walked too fast for him to catch up.
Returning to her palace, she appointed the person who would serve Bai Xiao—a eunuch.
"Remember to watch him carefully."
She also took care of Bai Xiao's living quarters. Bai Xiao's place was far enough from hers, but close enough for her to control the area.
The next morning, Bai Xiao moved in. She was busy sleeping in, so she didn't welcome him, letting Qing Yan do the honors.
When she finally woke up and was being prepared by another maid, Qing Yan returned with a letter in her hand.
Qing Yan silently handed the letter to her.
Wan Ru opened it and saw it was a letter from Hao Qian, so she became more alert of her surroundings.
The content of the letter was that in the East, in the Donghai region near the Xianlang Forest, there was a soul suitable for creating the emotion bead of Joy.
She folded the letter just as Qing Yan brought out a candle. Wan Ru used the candle to burn it.