CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 344: I CAN TELL HIS HIGHNESS HAS A SECRET AILMENT

Song Yuanbao pondered for a long while, then steeled himself and looked at Zhao Xi, "Is His Highness truly determined for me to provide a reason that would convince you?"

Zhao Xi’s expression remained unchanged, merely looking at him.

That demeanor clearly indicated for him to speak.

Song Yuanbao coughed lightly and said earnestly, "Our family has a hereditary skill, the ability to read faces."

"Oh?"

Song Yuanbao gazed intently at Zhao Xi’s face for a long time, "I observed Your Highness’s face and discovered a secret."

Zhao Xi raised an eyebrow slightly, "Go ahead, no harm in saying it."

Before Song Yuanbao could speak, Zhao Xi changed his tone, "If you are wrong by even a fraction, you will try marriage tonight."

Song Yuanbao deliberately tantalized, "What I saw is a secret unknown to others, don’t mind if I say it in front of the servants?"

Zhao Xi’s pupils slightly contracted, listening as Song Yuanbao continued to speak boastfully, "Of course, if His Highness thinks I’m being mysterious for no reason, I can say it now without issue."

He cleared his throat, just about to open his mouth.

Zhao Xi furrowed his brows, gesturing for Eunuch Sanbao to dismiss the others.

Once only the two of them remained in the hall, Zhao Xi sat more upright and proper, his cold, sharp gaze swept over Song Yuanbao’s face, and after a long time, he uttered one word: "Speak!"

Song Yuanbao shook his head with a swagger, "According to your face, I can infer that His Highness has a ’hidden ailment’ concerning sleep."

Zhao Xi’s brows furrowed more deeply, a dangerous glint burst from his slightly squinted eyes, "You inferred this?"

"Yes, I told you earlier that I can read faces."

Seeing Zhao Xi’s reaction, Song Yuanbao knew he didn’t believe him and quickly added, "But rest assured, Your Highness, only I know of this matter, no outsider will ever find out."

Looking at his smug expression, Zhao Xi’s handsome face tensed, "Nonsense!"

Song Yuanbao did not want to do the dishonorable act of exposing other’s flaws, but he had no choice.

Fearing Zhao Xi might genuinely get angry, Song Yuanbao feigned nonchalance, "If His Highness is in a hurry for the palace maid to attend to the bed, then I can try marriage tonight."

Zhao Xi pinched his brows, not giving him a proper glance, "Out!"

Song Yuanbao sensibly exited the main hall and then busied himself selecting palace maids.

Eunuch Sanbao dutifully reported Song Yuanbao’s actions to Zhao Xi.

When Zhao Xi heard that that little rascal was indeed selecting palace maids planning to try marriage tonight, he instructed Eunuch Sanbao, "Send all the palace maids back."

As Eunuch Sanbao was about to leave, Zhao Xi threw a copy of the "Huayan Sutra" to him, "Give this to Song Hao, and he can’t sleep until he finishes copying it!"

Song Yuanbao already knew that Zhao Xi had no solution if he stirred up trouble, copying texts was entirely expected, he was accustomed to it anyway, so he didn’t mind. Just as Eunuch Sanbao was about to take the palace maids away, Song Yuanbao wore an expression of reluctant longing on his face, "Did His Highness mention when he’d compensate me with a lovely wife next time?"

Eunuch Sanbao replied to him, "Perhaps, if Young Master Song kneels and begs His Highness, maybe he might relent and leave them all for you, so you can have them attend to you however you wish."

Song Yuanbao: "...Get out!"

——

West of the city, Kangding Bo Mansion.

Lady Kang Ding, Mrs. Yao, was in the garden trimming the branches of just-bloomed Western Crabapple.

Seeing Chulu approaching, she paused her actions, "How is it?"

Chulu answered truthfully, "Madam, the Fifth Miss is still the same, she likes to daydream alone, and the maids find she isn’t keen to talk."

Mrs. Yao asked, "Did she eat the meal sent over?"

"Ate half of it."

"That’s good." Mrs. Yao sighed in relief, "She has lost her memory, so everything in our mansion is unfamiliar to her at the moment; not adapting quickly is normal. We shouldn’t force her, give her some more time."

Chulu hesitated for a moment, remembering something, then spoke up, "Earlier, the Fourth Miss went to play with her."

"What for?" Mrs. Yao had no fondness for the concubine-born daughters of the mansion.

"The Fourth Miss dismissed the maids as soon as she went in, so what she said to the Fifth Miss inside, the maids don’t know."

Putting down the garden shears, Mrs. Yao personally went to Li Huairu’s yard.

The young girl was standing under the corridor, looking up into the distant blue sky, unaware even as Mrs. Yao approached.

To avoid startling her, Mrs. Yao whispered a few words to Chulu as she neared her adopted daughter.

Upon hearing the voices, Li Huairu pulled her gaze back and turned her head. Seeing it was Mrs. Yao, she parted her lips and called out, "Mother."

"How does Ruru feel today?" Mrs. Yao asked with concern.

Li Huairu nodded and said she was fine, then pointed to the sky above her head and said, "It’s a very sunny day today."

Mrs. Yao asked her, "Do you like this new home?"

"I like it."

Although she said she liked it, she didn’t display the overwhelming joy and satisfaction a six-year-old should have.

Mrs. Yao sighed softly and looked at Chulu, "Go to the back kitchen and bring the medicine for the Fifth Young Lady."

Just as Chulu was about to leave, Li Huairu spoke up, "Mother, I’ve already taken the medicine."

Seeing Mrs. Yao’s doubt, she added, "I just drank it a moment ago."

Mrs. Yao stepped forward, looking at her with kind eyes, "Child, you’ve chosen this new home, so you must learn to adapt. The things of the past, forget them, don’t be afraid. From now on, you’ll have parents who love you dearly, and you’ll also have a princely heir brother. We are all your family, understand?"

After saying this, she gently gathered Li Huairu into her arms.

Hearing Mrs. Yao’s gentle words, warmth spread through Li Huairu’s heart. She sniffed and nodded emphatically, "Mm."

She was only six years old, without the worries of adults, without memories, nor did she think much. Her silence was simply because she hadn’t yet adapted; at times like these, whoever could offer her warmth would earn her special dependence.

Soon, Li Run’s voice was heard at the end of the corridor.

"Mother, I arranged to go out for a spring outing with friends today and came to bid you farewell."

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Yao slowly released Li Huairu and turned to look at her son.

Li Run wore a blue robe, his dark hair half tied up, and his fair face bore the unique freshness of youth.

A height not considered tall for a ten-year-old, yet among his peers, he was already quite outstanding.

With only one son remaining from four, Mrs. Yao had raised him to be gentle and well-mannered, so young yet as refined as jade.

"Just now your sister mentioned that it’s a very sunny day today," Mrs. Yao said, "Indeed, it’s a rare day for a spring outing."

Pausing, she then thought of her adoptive daughter and told Li Run, "Run’er, why don’t you take your sister with you?"

"Her?" Li Run showed surprise.

Not unwilling, just that this sister who suddenly came into their lives seemed somewhat aloof, not very approachable. Since entering the mansion, the words she’d spoken could be counted on fingers; even if he wanted to take her, she might not appreciate it.

"What’s the matter?" Mrs. Yao asked, looking at him.

Li Run said, "Taking the Fifth Sister is fine, but shouldn’t you ask for her opinion first?"

Mrs. Yao looked down at Li Huairu, her voice becoming gentler, "Ruru, do you want to go out for a spring outing with your princely heir brother?"

Li Huairu raised her head and met the clear eyes of the young princely heir. She didn’t know what "spring outing" meant, but without much hesitation, she nodded, "I want to."

The voice still held the innocence of a six-year-old girl.

Li Run didn’t expect her to agree and was momentarily stunned, but couldn’t find the words to refuse.

Mrs. Yao patted his shoulder, "Don’t just stand there dazed; hurry up and have more food prepared."

After Li Run left, Mrs. Yao took Li Huairu’s small hand and returned to the room, specifically choosing a light yellow dress for her to change into, personally tying her hair into buns, and finally adorning it with pearl flowers.

The little girl’s skin wasn’t particularly fair, but after Mrs. Yao dressed her like this, she suddenly seemed tender and adorable.

Looking at herself in the bronze mirror, Li Huairu almost couldn’t recognize the girl who had once sneaked into a carriage to steal food because of hunger.

Ever since the adoptive daughter entered the mansion, Mrs. Yao had been keen on dressing the little girl up, always liking to tidy her up neatly.

From the bronze mirror, looking at her adoptive daughter’s little face, Mrs. Yao smiled with satisfaction and advised her, "The place your princely heir brother is going to today is quite far, make sure you stick close to him, okay?"

"Got it." Li Huairu nodded earnestly.

Mrs. Yao finally heard the little girl’s longing and excitement for the outing in these three words, and smiled again with gratification.

Soon, with everything ready, Li Run personally came to the inner yard to fetch Li Huairu.

Mrs. Yao entrusted her to him, "I had your father arrange for guards to accompany you. On this trip, you need to take good care of your sister, don’t let anything happen to her, understand?"

"Mother, rest assured, it’s not my first time going out for a spring outing."

After assuring his mother, Li Run reached out to Li Huairu.

Li Huairu hesitated for a moment but finally handed her small hand to him.

Li Run held this sister who suddenly appeared, and step by step they walked towards the carriage.

The small hand wrapped in his palm was soft, seemingly without much strength.

One was ten years old, the other six, standing together revealed a noticeable difference in stature, making the girl seem particularly petite.