Dou Qingyi’s eyes lit up. "Eunuch Yu is here too?"
The maid shook her head cautiously. "Eunuch Yu didn’t come, but instead..."
Dou Qingyi asked anxiously, "Instead what? Speak!"
The maid whispered, "His Highness brought a woman back."
Dou Qingyi’s face turned ashen. "What?"
The carriage entered the Crown Prince Mansion through the main gate and stopped in front of the inner residence.
Beyond this point, the carriage could not proceed further.
Cui Hu set up the step stool and lifted the curtain.
Lu Zhaoyan alighted from the carriage.
Liu Qingyun followed behind him with composure, showing neither fear nor nervousness in her demeanor.
Cui Hu couldn’t help but feel secretly surprised. This woman was far braver than the lady of the house.
On Madame Dou’s first day entering the residence, she had been somewhat restrained and apprehensive.
Speaking of restraint and apprehension... Cui Hu carefully sized up Liu Qingyun.
Was it just an illusion?
Why did he feel that this woman’s disposition bore some resemblance to the madame’s?
Liu Qingyun said to Lu Zhaoyan, "Let me make things clear. I came with you to the Crown Prince Mansion not out of any ulterior motive, but because I’m worried you’ll harm my son. Unlike the women in your household, I have no intention of offering myself to you."
Cui Hu thought: Women? There’s only one madame in the residence! Also, shouldn’t it be the Crown Prince who should be worried? Since Linyuan’s arrival, the Crown Prince has been living in constant turmoil.
Lu Zhaoyan did not argue, simply stating, "I will have someone prepare a courtyard for you."
Liu Qingyun raised her hand to refuse. "I’ll stay in my son’s courtyard; that’ll suffice."
Cui Hu thought: And you think this doesn’t count as forcing your way in?
Lu Zhaoyan nodded. "Follow me."
Liu Qingyun followed Lu Zhaoyan to the main courtyard.
The attendants saw the Crown Prince bringing a woman over. At first glance, they thought she was Dou Qingyi and hurriedly stepped forward to greet her. "Your Highness, Madame――"
Liu Qingyun interrupted, "Don’t address me incorrectly."
The attendants, hearing a discrepancy in her voice, raised their eyes and were taken aback.
Oh heavens! This was not the madame!
Had they just mistaken her identity?
The attendants nervously glanced at the Crown Prince.
Lu Zhaoyan said, "Prepare... a room for the guest."
The attendants were dumbfounded: G-Guest? Since when could a guest stay in the main courtyard?
Liu Qingyun said, "I’ll stay in my son’s room."
The attendants’ expressions grew even more astonished.
Lu Zhaoyan hesitated, pausing before asking, "Are you certain?"
Liu Qingyun responded casually, "What? Is there a problem?"
Lu Zhaoyan frowned. "Wouldn’t that be a bit inappropriate?"
The attendants nodded in unison.
Yes, very inappropriate!
A woman of unknown background, arriving here and staying in the Crown Prince’s main courtyard―how could the madame endure this?
Liu Qingyun said firmly, enunciating each word, "Where my son resides, I shall reside."
Lu Zhaoyan gestured towards the master bedroom.
Liu Qingyun entered without looking back.
On the table were snacks her son loved. The wardrobe contained his clothes. His scent lingered on the pillow.
Indeed, this was her son’s room.
It seemed she hadn’t been mistaken―Lu Linyuan truly was Ayuan.
Liu Qingyun had taken a nap in the carriage earlier, so she wasn’t sleepy now, but hunger gnawed at her.
She called over a young maid stationed at the door and asked her to fetch something to eat from the kitchen.
She had originally intended to make do with whatever was brought out. She had not expected the kitchen to serve up a full table of dishes, half of which were her favorites.
"The Crown Prince Mansion’s meals aren’t half bad. My son must not have had a hard time here... I wonder how my daughter-in-law is doing. My son isn’t with her..."
As Liu Qingyun ate, she realized there were quite a few people she needed to find.
Suddenly, a muffled noise came from the window lattice, as if some heavy object had crashed against it.
Liu Qingyun walked over alertly and pushed the window open.
A hunting eagle, dazed from colliding with the window, clambered up, its eyes spinning in confusion.
Liu Qingyun grabbed it by the scruff. "So, you’re here at the Crown Prince Mansion too."
The hunting eagle flapped its wings. "Caw!"
She had been worrying about how to contact her son, and now a perfect opportunity presented itself.
Liu Qingyun untied her hair ribbon and fastened it to the eagle’s leg. "Go find my son and tell him I’m at the Crown Prince Mansion."
The hunting eagle soared into the sky.
But instead of heading towards the Imperial Palace...
The damn bird still held a grudge because she didn’t have jerky for it. Nope, not going!
The eagle turned and flew towards the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion instead.
Since Meng Qianqian entered the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion as Elder Yan’s disciple, she had been staying with Lady Yan.
During the day, Lady Yan went to the Elder Hall to help manage the sect’s miscellaneous affairs.
Meng Qianqian wanted to follow her, to explore the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion more and awaken memories from her past life.
"The Thousand Mechanism Pavilion isn’t as simple as you think. Stay put in the courtyard and dry those herbs."
No matter how many times Meng Qianqian asked, the answer was always the same.
Tan’er sat in Lady Yan’s courtyard eating candied hawthorn. "Sister, if you want to investigate something, I can help!"