Bai Zhi’er watched as the little eunuchs left safely.
Then she lifted her small head, her round black eyes clear and shimmering.
She had just cried, her cheeks still red.
"Bad brother, humph." She stomped her little foot and left directly.
Qingmei had always been afraid of the Xiuluo Guard.
She didn’t dare delay, gently bowed to Feng Fuce, and quickly chased after Bai Zhi’er.
Bai Zhi’er, with Qingmei, came to a small scenic garden in the palace.
In the garden, a slender stream flowed through.
Luckily, the sun had come out today, melting the ice on the stream, which tinkled softly under the dusky night and the surrounding palace lanterns.
Bai Zhi’er carried a small basket, inside were several river lanterns she had made that afternoon.
"Brother Eunuch, may you be safe in your next life, free of illness and disaster."
The little person’s voice was soft and tender as she placed the tiny flame-lit river lantern into the stream, watching it drift away into the distance.
Qingmei watched the Princess’s small figure crouching by the river, looking like a cute little fairy.
She gently comforted, "Your Highness, I inquired, this little eunuch had no family in life, no one to rely on."
"However, the Imperial Affairs Bureau has already, as per your instructions, buried him well in the green hills, and with your blessing, this is also his fortune."
Bai Zhi’er’s face was pink and adorable, beneath her curved willow brows, her round eyes soaked in contemplation.
Qingmei’s gaze followed the stream into the distance.
Suddenly, Qingmei’s expression changed.
"Princess, Marquis Wan is here."
The little one lifted her eyes and looked ahead.
She saw Feng Fuce walking alone towards her.
The young boy’s face was calm and indifferent, with a layer of laziness and recklessness shading his brows under the night.
When he reached Bai Zhi’er, she was already standing up.
The little one clenched her fists, pouted her cheeks angrily: "The bad brother is here again, I’m not crying!"
Saying this, she stood on tiptoe, blinking her long lashes, as if to prove it to him.
A trace of dark humor flitted across Feng Fuce’s cold eyes.
He stretched out the hand he had behind his back before her.
Bai Zhi’er saw in his palm a damp river lantern.
"Your river lantern went out."
Bai Zhi’er pouted, her displeasure somewhat easing.
She asked Qingmei to take the river lantern.
Then she mumbled, "How did you know it was mine?"
Feng Fuce’s tone was indifferent: "In the palace, only the Princess has the courage to set river lanterns in memory of the deceased."
Bai Zhi’er squatted again by the stream, the rabbit fur scarf around her neck making her face appear even fairer and softer.
She gazed at the shimmering water surface.
"He was Zhi’er’s friend."
Feng Fuce raised an eyebrow, patiently taking a step closer to stand by Bai Zhi’er’s side.
"Friend? Just a eunuch, would the Princess also consider him a friend?"
Qingmei frowned warily.
Why was Marquis Wan suddenly interested in the Princess’s affairs?
Would he take the chance to push the Princess into the water?
Qingmei stood guard beside her, ready to protect the Princess at any moment.
Bai Zhi’er’s moist eyes stared at the glistening stream.
"Eunuchs are human too, though I never clearly saw his face each time we met, he once shared an orange with me, and I even taught him to write, of course, he’s a friend!"
Feng Fuce couldn’t help but let out a snicker at her comment.
Bai Zhi’er immediately turned her head, puffing out her rosy cheeks, her eyes lively yet cutely fierce as she glared at him.
"The bad brother laughs at me again, you definitely don’t understand the sadness of losing a friend!"
She stood up, ready to leave.
As they passed by each other, Feng Fuce suddenly spoke—
"How do you know the little eunuch you cried for is the one you knew?"