Yun Xiang and Yun Wei, who were currently helping tidy up the courtyard, were so startled by the person who entered that the brooms in their hands flew quite a distance.
A young girl dressed in a plain white ruqun, appearing to be roughly in her teens, walked in slowly with her hands behind her back.
Her face was exquisite and fair, yet it carried an air of arrogance.
Following behind her was a small maidservant.
However, unlike ordinary maids, this one was dressed quite luxuriously; it was likely that even the daughters of some wealthy families would feel overshadowed upon seeing her.
“Prin—”
The words slipped out of Yun Wei’s mouth subconsciously, but Yun Xiang immediately covered her mouth.
Yun Wei was confused, but Yun Xiang signaled with her eyes for her not to speak recklessly.
The young girl before them was none other than the current Grand Princess, His Majesty’s biological daughter, the Crown Prince of the Empire, and the future Son of Heaven, Xiao Yue.
When the Princess traveled, there was usually a grand display.
On the surface alone, there would be dozens of escorting guards, not to mention the hidden experts of the Fenglin Guards and others.
But today, the Princess had only brought one personal maidservant and several eunuchs dressed as simple laborers.
She also wore a low-key ruqun, making her look like a pampered Young Lady from a prestigious family that one might see anywhere in the Capital City.
There was surely a reason for such a disguise.
If Yun Wei had finished shouting “Princess,” it would likely have been the end for the Wuding Marquis Residence.
“This—isn’t this Miss Xiao Yue? What brings you to Mu’en Hall today?”
Yun Xiang adjusted her expression and pretended to greet Xiao Yue warmly.
The other party was clearly satisfied with Yun Xiang’s quick wit and nodded repeatedly.
“The Eldest Miss of the Yun family.”
“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare. In your presence, who would dare call themselves ‘Eldest’…”
Yun Xiang felt her scalp tingle.
Facing this young Crown Prince, her heart was incredibly restless.
After all, she was the future Son of Heaven.
Every word Yun Xiang said now could potentially affect the future of the entire Marquis Wuding’s estate.
“I heard His Majesty reopened Mu’en Hall today, so I felt curious and came to take a look. Incidentally, I also came to repay a debt of gratitude.”
“Repay a debt?”
While Yun Xiang was dazed, Shen Yu, who was carrying a pile of junk out of the room, noticed the extra strangers in the courtyard.
She took off her mask and looked closely.
Wasn’t this the little girl with Asthma she had saved on the street before?
“Is it you?”
As soon as Shen Yu spoke, Xiao Yue, who had been talking to Yun Xiang, suddenly brightened.
Her face, which had been somewhat arrogant and looked down upon everything, was instantly filled with a bright smile.
“Sister! I finally found you! We parted so hurriedly last time that I didn’t even have time to thank you.”
Xiao Yue spread her arms and rushed toward Shen Yu with great enthusiasm, naturally reaching out for a hug.
This scene left both Yun Wei and Yun Xiang stunned.
The Grand Princess, who resided deep within the East Palace and was known as the “Genius Crown Prince” and “Omen of Restoration,” was a girl who was cold and guarded toward everyone by nature.
Although she was very intelligent and possessed the bearing of a wise ruler at a young age, as the saying goes, “the heavens are jealous of geniuses.”
This brilliant Crown Prince’s body was a weak medicine jar.
There were even those who asserted that the Grand Princess would definitely not live to the age of her enthronement.
Regarding these rumors, the Grand Princess appeared broad-minded.
Furthermore, since the first year of the Wangshu Kingdom, she had lived in the East Palace to help her Empress Mother handle affairs.
Because of her forceful methods—some of her schemes were things people couldn’t believe a child could devise—she had helped the Empress stabilize a portion of the government during those unstable times in the first year of Wangshu.
Some said that without the Princess’s counsel, the Wangshu era might not have lasted until this fourth year.
Others said it was merely a show staged by the Empress to secure the Grand Princess’s position as Crown Prince.
In any case, the image the Grand Princess projected was one of coldness that kept people a thousand miles away.
It was absolutely impossible for her to pounce into Shen Yu’s arms like she was acting spoiled now.
“It’s you, the pretty little sister with the lung condition.”
Hearing Shen Yu call her a “pretty little sister,” Xiao Yue’s steps became even lighter.
Her whole body almost leaped into the air as she charged toward Shen Yu’s chest.
“Wait a moment!”
But as she ran up, she was gently stopped by Shen Yu.
This caused Xiao Yue, whose emotions had risen to a peak, to feel as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her.
She stood dazed on the spot.
At this moment, Xiao Yue watched as Shen Yu seriously untied her apron, her mind filled with… ‘I’ve come this far, why doesn’t she want to hug me? Does she hate me? Does she not like me? Is it because I’m not pretty? Why? Why? Why!!??’
“You reckless girl. What did I tell you? Your disease needs to be nurtured slowly, and you should avoid dusty places.”
“Look at me. I just finished tidying the courtyard and I’m covered in dust. If you jumped into my arms and inhaled a breath of dust, what would happen if your lung condition flared up?”
Shen Yu’s tone carried a hint of earnestness.
She was clearly lecturing Xiao Yue for being forgetful, but to Xiao Yue’s ears, it sounded unexpectedly warm.
Especially after learning that Shen Yu had stopped her for her own sake and didn’t actually hate her…
The little face that had just slumped immediately broke into a smile again.
“Alright, come here.”
Shen Yu took off the dirty apron and repeatedly used a clean feather duster to brush herself off before taking the initiative to pick the little girl up.
Perhaps due to her long illness, the little girl was unexpectedly light.
Shen Yu had always been the type of person who didn’t like to ruin others’ moods.
Especially as a Pediatric Master among Pediatric Masters—a director among directors—she had her own set of insights and plenty of patience when dealing with children.
The little girl didn’t mind that she was so dirty, so this late hug was definitely a compensation Shen Yu had to give her.
“Tell me, has your illness flared up again lately?”
Shen Yu sat on a stool nearby and naturally settled Xiao Yue onto her lap, as if the current Grand Princess and future Son of Heaven was just an ordinary little sister from next door.
“No. Sister, I looked for you for a long time, but you didn’t leave a name. If my illness flared up again, what would I have done?”
“That was a lack of consideration on my part. However, if you feel unwell in the future, you can come to this Mu’en Hall to find me. I will treat you for free. I have quite a bit of insight into your disease; it’s just that some medicines will take a bit more time before I dare to use them on you.”
Shen Yu pulled a piece of candy from her pocket.
Watching Xiao Yue’s face, which had been puffed up with anger because of her departure, slowly relax as the one candy entered her mouth, Shen Yu also felt a sense of relief.
What a cute little girl—pretty, sensible, and obedient.
It was just a pity she suffered from the same Stubborn Disease as the current Princess.
Sigh… life is truly unpredictable.