The Encounter

Bai Xiao suddenly pulled up a chair and sat opposite her, shielding her from Prince Jian's line of sight. Wan Ru felt a bit uneasy and said:

"Let us return."

As they stood up to leave, Prince Jian took a step forward and struck up a conversation:

"The performance is not yet over. Are you two gentlemen leaving so soon?"

She replied politely and calmly, "This humble one has urgent business and cannot stay."

"What is the harm in staying a bit longer? Perhaps we can get acquainted?"

Before she could speak, Bai Xiao beat her to it: "Please forgive us. We have matters to attend to and must decline your kind offer. If there is an opportunity, we shall seek you out to get acquainted later."

"Since you have said so, I shall not stand in your way."

They bid farewell and departed. Upon leaving the brothel, Wan Ru looked back and said:

"How terrifying. Had we stayed any longer, our identities would have been exposed."

Bai Xiao remained silent. Seeing his silence, she did not wish to say anything more.

They returned to the palace shortly after. She did not dare return to the Hanlin Academy, fearing she would be scolded by Grand Preceptor Yi Sheng.

The preparations for Princess Liao Wan Ru's birthday were meticulously made.

The servants and maids worked tirelessly at full capacity.

On her birthday, she could skip her lessons, avoiding having to face Master Zhang at the Hanlin Academy.

Countless gifts from all over were sent to her room, and many expensive garments were delivered to her hands.

Today, she wore dark red robes, looking exceptionally striking.

Today's birthday celebration was grand in scale. Perhaps it was to celebrate her return after five years of absence, and partly to signal that she was approaching the age of marriage.

She was sitting and reading when she suddenly paused at a line of poetry: "Loving you since our first meeting."

She immediately thought of Hao Qian and Xing Mei. Thinking it over, she felt there was something off about this young woman. She seemed to have no desire for wealth and glory, yet she always hid a deep affection in the depths of her heart. Wan Ru warned herself to remain vigilant against her.

Qing Yan had been busy preparing things for her, and only now did she run to her side, saying:

"Princess, the guests have all arrived. You should make your appearance."

She nodded, stood up, and headed to the Taihe Hall.

As soon as Wan Ru entered, countless eyes looked up. Her elegant and enchanting beauty, yet radiating an extraordinary aura, made her resemble a thorny rose—proud and unreachable.

Standing in the center, she smiled and said:

"Welcome, honored guests, for coming here to celebrate my fifteenth birthday."

She picked up a cup of wine from the table, raised it, and said:

"Everyone has gathered here in friendship. Now, I offer my sincerity to you all with this cup of wine."

Everyone raised their cups. Without hesitation, she drained her cup.

They all drank along with her.

After drinking, she sat in a secluded spot where she could still observe all the guests.

A few people came to congratulate her.

"Greetings, Princess."

She nodded slightly. They constantly wished her peace, but whether they were sincere or not, she could not tell.

As she sat alone, she caught sight of Grand Preceptor Yi Sheng and immediately stood up in a panic, running outside.

Just then, Grand Preceptor Yi Sheng turned to look toward the entrance, catching a glimpse of her retreating back.

She ran outside, deciding to find a secluded spot to hide, only to see Bai Xiao sitting alone on the steps.

Wan Ru rushed over to him upon seeing him and asked:

"Why are you here? Aren't you going inside?"

"I simply do not wish to go in."

Only now did she notice that he was dressed very simply, in worn-out robes. As the crown prince of a kingdom, entering in such a state would surely draw countless mocking laughs.

She sat down beside him and said:

"Then I shall not go in either."

"You are the main guest. Why stay out here with me? Do you not feel wronged?"

"What is there to feel wronged about? Someone is even more wronged than I am, so how could I dare go in?"

"And why are you not wearing the robes I gifted you?"

He smiled bitterly, looked at her, and said:

"That is my last shred of pride."

She also instinctively turned to look at him. Their eyes met—one side bright and radiant, the other deep and dark like a starless night sky.

"Princess."

Another voice suddenly intervened, and she startled, turning toward the source of the sound.

"Master."

"Why is the princess out here?"

She smiled to buy time to think of an excuse.

"I found the hall too stifling, so I came out here for some fresh air."

"Is that so? And who might this be?"

Bai Xiao stood up and bowed, saying:

"I am the Crown Prince of the Qi Shan Kingdom. And you must be the princess's Grand Preceptor, correct?"

The Grand Preceptor clasped his hands and bowed:

"It is an honor that the Crown Prince knows of me. I apologize for my rudeness just now."

The Grand Preceptor glanced at her, then turned to leave, saying:

"Princess, once you are finished, please meet me at the Hanlin Academy. For now, I shall not disturb you two."

She watched Master Zhang's retreating figure and muttered:

"How annoying."

"Perhaps Grand Preceptor Yi Sheng will not let your escape from the Hanlin Academy slide easily."

She turned to look at him, whimpering:

"Then what should I do now?"

Bai Xiao glanced away, seemingly calculating something, before slowly turning back to look at her and saying:

"I have a way."