Once they were far from the palace gates, out of sight of the royal city, Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief and stole a smile for a long while, as if she had gained something precious. Prince Four playfully flicked her forehead: “Look at you, so easily pleased.”
Qingqing realized her slip, covering her mouth with a cough to show she was composed. Suddenly, Prince Four pulled her aside, and she thought they had been discovered, quickly hiding behind him out of fear.
After waiting for a long time without any movement, she only heard Prince Four’s increasingly suppressed laughter. Qingqing was furious: “It’s not right for the dignified Prince Four to tease a mere girl like me. Humph—”
Prince Four, looking at her indignant face, finally suppressed his laughter: “You’re my eunuch now, you can’t walk ahead of me.”
Only then did Qingqing notice that she had been walking in front of the “prince.” What little eunuch would dare to be so bold? Realizing this, she obediently followed behind Prince Four, head bowed.
Prince Four was dressed in casual attire, and as they approached the market, he rented a room in an inn for Qingqing to wait, explaining that her eunuch attire was inconvenient and would attract attention. He would buy a common servant’s outfit for her to change into before they went to the market.
Qingqing was not convinced: “Why can’t you be the servant?”
Prince Four laughed heartily, pointing at Qingqing: “Have you ever seen a ‘young master’ so frail hiring someone as imposing and magnificent as me?”
Qingqing spat at him but had to admit his point was reasonable. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Prince Four returned with a gray men’s outfit, urging Qingqing to change quickly, saying the market was already bustling.
