The food overwhelmed Lan Lan with dishes she had never seen before. By her previous living standards, a month’s salary would barely cover this meal, leading her to think about the poor and reflect on the saying: “Behind luxurious doors lie rotting meat, while frozen corpses lie in the streets.” She decided to set such thoughts aside and enjoy the meal.
As she picked up her chopsticks, she noticed everyone was motionless, waiting for Long Junhao to start. What strict etiquette!
She secretly kicked him under the table, and he played dumb, wanting to tease her. Annoyed, Lan Lan dramatically put down her chopsticks, deciding not to eat.
Realizing he had angered her, Long Junhao quickly picked up his chopsticks, serving her a large bowl of food and feeding her a bite. Lan Lan was appeased and began eating happily.
This scene didn’t surprise Long Feng and Long Yun, who were used to such interactions. They knew the prince was extremely protective of her, wanting to keep her close at all times.
The bookkeeper and Xiao Yue were stunned by Long Junhao’s affectionate display, hardly recognizing the usually cold prince. However, he quickly returned to his aloof demeanor and said, “Eat.”
Everyone began eating, grateful for the meal they could not typically afford. Normally, masters and servants would not dine together, but Lan Lan insisted, stating they couldn’t finish the food alone and wouldn’t enjoy the meal otherwise.
After eating, as they prepared to leave, a man rushed up and whispered in Long Junhao’s ear. He frowned, then told Lan Lan, “I have an urgent matter to handle. You go back first! Long Yun will come with me, and Long Feng and Xiao Yue will go back with you.”
“Okay! Come back early!” she urged him.
Lan Lan watched him leave with reluctant eyes until he disappeared, then turned to Xiao Yue and Long Feng: “Let’s walk around.”
As it grew dark and Long Feng’s hands were full of items, they reluctantly returned to the Wang Mansion. There, Lan Lan asked Xiao Yue to distribute the gifts to everyone. Soon, everyone recognized her kindness, beauty, and approachability, considering her the perfect choice as Wang Fei.
Lan Lan never expected such small gifts would win their hearts. Since her last outing, she had been longing to go out again.
Xiao Yue informed her about the beautiful Li Mountain and the popular Hongfa Temple in the north of the city, where many traveled to make wishes. High-ranking officials’ wives and young ladies gathered there to offer incense and enjoy the fresh air.
Lan Lan had been in the palace for nearly four months. Although she was happy with Long Junhao’s companionship and willing to spend her life with him, a subtle melancholy lingered in her heart.
She had asked Long Junhao several times about Grandpa Long’s whereabouts, but no one knew where he was. Grandpa Long was detached, disliking fame and fortune, and rarely stayed in the palace. Unless he returned on his own, no one could locate him.
Fortunately, only a few in the palace knew that Grandpa Long’s Dragon Battle Technique had reached the highest level of ten, with its specific power unknown. At level nine, he was already invincible, which alleviated worries about his safety, especially since he usually returned once a year to check in.
Hearing Long Junhao’s reassurances, she felt disappointed, hoping daily that Grandpa Long would return soon.
She knew that if he could bring her here, he could help her learn about her parents.
After hearing from Xiao Yue about a temple, she was eager to try her luck, hoping to find a wise monk who could resolve her doubts.
Today, seeing Long Junhao and Lin Bo leave early, Lan Lan found the men’s clothing Xiao Yue had obtained. Dressed as a handsome young gentleman, she looked charming, though slightly short. She left a note and slipped out the back door.
After asking locals for directions, she headed north alone. Walking on a deserted road, she felt incredibly lonely, wishing she had brought Xiao Yue, whose chatter would prevent loneliness.
After walking most of the day, she reached the foot of Li Mountain. A tea house below allowed travelers to rest before ascending.
Inside the tea house, two groups were present: an elegantly dressed gentleman with another person, and two women from official families, accompanied by a maid and two guards.
Her entrance caught attention. She smiled faintly, sat down, ordered tea, and began to drink calmly.
Wanting to rest quietly, she was unexpectedly approached by Liu Jiaorong, daughter of a third-rank official in the capital.
Today, her cousin Liu Xiangrong was visiting the Hongfa Temple to fulfill a vow. Bored, she had brought two bodyguards in hopes of a potential romantic encounter.
Seeing a handsome youth, her desires stirred. He appeared around fifteen or sixteen, slightly short and not fully developed—she preferred shy boys. The bashfulness heightened her sense of conquest. She signaled her maid to invite him over.
“Young master, our miss would like to invite you to join her,” the maid said, blushing.
“Sorry, please tell your miss that I do not enjoy sharing a table,” Lan Lan deliberately spoke loudly enough for the young lady to hear. He disliked pampered women and preferred to stay away.
However, Liu Jiaorong, known for her reputation, couldn’t accept rejection. Infuriated by the young scholar’s indifference, she approached Lan Lan with an arrogant demeanor. “Young master, I am Liu Qi’s daughter, Liu Jiaorong. Would you be willing to accompany me?”
She believed her father’s reputation would sway him, as he managed all scholars’ examinations and appointments. In her experience, many scholars had become her playthings through this trick.
Speaking of Liu Jiaorong, she married the son of a high-ranking official at sixteen. Her husband died of a serious illness within three years, leaving her a young widow. Liu Jiaorong, reminiscent of a fox spirit, flirted with others. After being caught in an affair with a farmhand by her father-in-law, she was sent back to her parents’ home.
Back in the capital, she became even more dissolute, gossiping with frivolous socialites and exploiting her father’s power to seduce unstable scholars, earning the nickname “Capital’s Social Butterfly.”
She was truly arrogant and licentious. Lan Lan, tired and thirsty, hadn’t even finished her tea before being disrupted by Liu Jiaorong. Annoyed, she said, “Inconvenient! Miss, please yourself!” and continued drinking her tea.
Liu Jiaorong, enraged by the disrespect, instructed her bodyguards, “You two, come over and beat him severely. Destroy his manhood, just be careful not to kill him!”
No way! This woman was too cruel!
Just for refusing her, she wanted to destroy his manhood—she must have done such extreme things many times before. But how could he defend himself without martial arts? The two people in the corner seemed to have seen and heard nothing, leisurely continuing to drink their tea.
He could only rely on himself. It seemed that ancient people were just as heartless and would watch someone die. God help him! Lan Lan desperately thought.
Now he regretted not having Long Feng accompany her.
“Boy, stop looking. No one’s coming to save you! Just wait to die!” The man laughed and threw a punch. Lan Lan saw the teapot filled with hot water and threw it at the large man.
“Ah…” A cry erupted from him. Seizing the moment, Lan Lan immediately ran away.
While running, she shouted, “Robbery! Murder! Help!”
“Stop right there!” the other bodyguard chased, his voice right behind her.
I’ll run! Run faster! Lan Lan wished her mother had given her an extra leg, blindly running into a small path. After a while, the path ended with nowhere to go. Turning back, Liu Jie’s sinister face was right in front of her.
“Boy, where else can you run!”
