Ye Qichi smiled at the corners of her mouth, for the first time feeling that the noisy Lu You wasn’t so annoying.
She let her chatter on for quite a while before she finally spoke up, "The baby I brought back from Chongqing, has it been sent to the mansion?"
"It has been delivered, and is now under the care of the old nanny in the Prince’s courtyard."
Ye Qichi was still somewhat surprised.
Xiao Jinxing actually let the baby stay in his courtyard.
"Princess, why did you pick up a child and bring it back? You should have a child with the Prince," Lu You said discontentedly.
Ye Qichi didn’t feel like explaining.
She changed the subject and asked, "Has Xiang Qin settled in here?"
"Miss Xiang Qin has already been arranged to stay in our courtyard," Lu You replied respectfully, albeit unhappily.
Since Ye Qichi and Xiao Jinxing went directly to the palace, the others were asked to go back to Prince Chen’s Mansion first.
Ye Qichi nodded slightly.
"But Princess..." Lu You seemed to have something to say but hesitated.
"What do you want to ask?"
"I heard that the top courtesan in Yicui Pavilion is also called Xiang Qin, I mean..."
"But she is a courtesan?" Lu You blurted out, unable to hold back.
The illustrious Prince Chen’s Mansion, actually harboring a courtesan secretly.
And crucially, it’s not the Prince who is doing so.
Ye Qichi was just about to comment on how Lu You was making a mountain out of a molehill.
At that moment, she saw Xiang Qin standing not far away, seemingly waiting for her as well.
Lu You’s voice was not low just now.
Xiang Qin must have heard it too.
Lu You herself felt ashamed.
This servant, who only acts bravely within her own circle, couldn’t even meet Xiang Qin’s gaze now.
But Xiang Qin was quite generous.
Right now, as if she hadn’t heard what Lu You just said, she greeted Ye Qichi, "Princess."
"Didn’t you rest?" Ye Qichi was also quite nonchalant.
She truly felt that whether someone was a courtesan or not really didn’t matter to her.
"I took a nap, and now I just want to walk around a bit."
"Well, feel free to walk around, don’t be shy," Ye Qichi said welcomingly, adding, "Just think of it as if you’re at home."
"Thank you, Princess."
"You don’t need to be so formal with me," Ye Qichi said bluntly, "Just call me Ye Qichi when it’s just us like Gu Xingchuan does."
"That wouldn’t be right," Lu You suddenly mustered up courage again, "A Princess is a Princess, how can a commoner call you by your name."
As she spoke, she lowered her voice under Ye Qichi’s gaze.
"I’m talking about in private," Ye Qichi explained, "I’m not one for formality."
Xiang Qin, however, did not agree.
Probably still not daring to.
Ye Qichi didn’t press.
After all, whatever makes her comfortable.
She said, "This trip has really taken it out of me, my body feels like it’s falling apart. I’m going to get some sleep now, do as you please."
"Yes," Xiang Qin still replied respectfully.
Ye Qichi returned to her long-missed room.
Just as Lu You was about to help Ye Qichi change her clothes.
"How’s my rabbit?" Ye Qichi asked.
"..." Lu You was somewhat unhappy, "The Princess comes back asking about this and that, but never asked if your servant has been well or not?"
"You’re plump and fair-skinned, and you’ve even gained a bit of weight on your face. How could you be not well?" Ye Qichi teased.
"I haven’t gained weight," Lu You got a bit agitated, "I’ve been missing you every day, Princess, and couldn’t even eat..."
"Yes, yes, yes," Ye Qichi resignedly said, "then how have you been while I was away? Have others bullied you?"
"That hasn’t happened," Lu You said, "I don’t know if the Prince expressly ordered it, but all the servants in the mansion have been very respectful to me!"
"Princess, about what has happened between you and the Prince on this trip..." Lu You finally could not hold back her inquisitive heart.
"Shut your mouth," Ye Qichi said flatly, "just bring me the rabbit to take a look at."
She didn’t believe it.
That the Prince and Princess hadn’t grown closer at all during the trip.
Lu You brought the rabbit back to Ye Qichi’s room.
Ye Qichi took it and studied it attentively, looking very closely.
All the while still asking Lu You about the basic situation of the rabbit.
Lu You truly felt that the Princess cared about the rabbit more than her.
This rabbit might truly become a spirit one day.
"Alright," Ye Qichi stared intently for a long time, "take it down, I want to sleep."
"Oh," Lu You took the rabbit away.
Ye Qichi lay on the bed.
After observing her experimental rabbit, the red line on its body was almost gone. If nothing unexpected happens, it should completely disappear within ten days, and then it would only be necessary to observe for another two months. If the rabbit shows no side effects, the antidote could then be administered to Xiang Qin and the other assassins.
This would, at least, settle one matter.
Ye Qichi closed her eyes.
Yet her mind was still somewhat agitated.
Thinking about being targeted by Xiao Jinsen still caused her anxiety.
It was truly unpredictable what that ruthless man, Xiao Jinsen, might do to her!
She could only deal with it as it comes.
If soldiers come, block them; if water comes, cover it with earth!