Seeing Lin Qinghe's expectant face, You Rong could not bear to refuse. She had entered the palace since she was young and had never been out. Taking her out for a walk and letting her see the changes outside the palace would be good.
You Rong nodded slightly, "Yes, I will have Eunuch Wang prepare. We will go out of the palace for a walk tomorrow."
Lin Qinghe was so overjoyed that she almost wept, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are too kind! Tomorrow, this servant will definitely pick more plum blossoms..." for you to give to Xu Ling'er to win her favor.
The latter half of the sentence, Lin Qinghe naturally swallowed back. She wanted to create a surprise for You Rong's meeting with Xu Ling'er tomorrow, so she couldn't say it yet.
You Rong's ears turned red, and he coughed lightly to cover it up, "... If you like it, then pick more."
"Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Then this servant will go back to prepare for going out of the palace tomorrow. Please rest early, and this servant will take leave."
"Yes."
As soon as Lin Qinghe left, Wang Gonggong could not help but say anxiously, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you forget what Lin Qinghe did to you before? Even if she no longer obeys Consort Duan, she sees that you have regained the Emperor's favor, and she is vain and pretends to be good to you. You must not be deceived by her!"
You Rong's face darkened displeasedly, "Eunuch Wang, I told you, I have my own plans regarding Qinghe's matters, and... she will never harm me again!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please listen to this servant's advice, she..."
"Eunuch Wang, there is no need to mention this matter again! Go and quickly handle the letter you were asked to secretly send to my uncle at the border." With that, You Rong added, "Prepare the carriage, I will take her out of the palace tomorrow."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince..."
"Eunuch Wang, go."
Wang Gonggong looked worried, and repeatedly tried to persuade You Rong, but You Rong did not listen and waved his hand, letting him retreat. He had no choice but to retreat.
That night, in the Eastern Palace, You Rong and Lin Qinghe lay on the couch, both with their eyes open and unable to sleep.
Lin Qinghe was excited. She remembered that the last time You Rong met Xu Ling'er, the progress bar had increased by twenty percent. Calculated this way, if You Rong met Xu Ling'er a few more times, the progress bar would reach one hundred percent, and the first system world would be successfully cleared.
You Rong placed his hand over his chest, his expression serious, still pondering why his heart raced at times and felt an ineffable discomfort at other times upon seeing Lin Qinghe.
As the night deepened, You Rong forced himself to stop overthinking and closed his eyes to rest.
The night passed, You Rong informed the Grand Tutor that he needed to go out of the palace today, and the lessons would be suspended. He then took Lin Qinghe into the carriage and went out of the palace.
Sitting in the carriage, Lin Qinghe was very interested in the bustling crowds and the continuous hawking of the vendors in the market. She leaned against the window, staring intently at the outside.
"Um... stop the carriage for a moment, Zhu Hong, go and buy me a skewer of candied hawthorn, I want to eat it! And pastries, I want those too, that... that... I want a portion of everything!"
Seeing the bright smile on Lin Qinghe's small face, You Rong's gaze couldn't help but soften.
You Rong sighed slightly and said with a hint of helplessness, "If you want to wander around the market, then go down and wander. We'll go to the plum blossom grove later."
Lin Qinghe shook her head resolutely, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this servant is just craving some snacks and doesn't really want to go down and wander. When Zhu Hong buys the snacks, we'll continue to the plum blossom grove."
You Rong did not insist, "Yes, as you wish."
Lin Qinghe then secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The invitation sent to Xu Yi specified the time. If they went to the market and then to the plum blossom grove, they might be late. Although she was very interested in the market, she was unwilling to be late for an important matter because of it.
Zhu Hong bought everything Lin Qinghe wanted, and the carriage continued to drive towards the plum blossom grove.
Lin Qinghe took a bite of the candied hawthorn, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.
Ancient snacks were naturally not comparable to potato chips and happy water for fat people, but it was better than nothing, and the taste was alright.
As she was eating, Lin Qinghe belatedly realized that there was still one person in the carriage.
It seemed a bit rude to eat alone.
Lin Qinghe tentatively offered the candied hawthorn, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this candied hawthorn is sweet and sour, would you like to try a bite?"
Lin Qinghe had actually just been being polite and didn't really want to give it to him. She thought You Rong would refuse, but surprisingly, he hummed and took the candied hawthorn from her hand.
You Rong took a bite, "The taste is acceptable."
Lin Qinghe: "..." I didn't really want to give it to you.
As things stood, she had already given it and couldn't take it back. She could only sigh in her heart that she hadn't even had a bite of the candied hawthorn and would have to buy another one on the way back.
Wang Gonggong, who was accompanying them outside the carriage, was so shocked that his jaw almost dropped to the ground.
His Highness the Crown Prince had always disliked sweets, and rarely ate pastries, let alone something as sweet as candied hawthorn.
The degree to which His Highness the Crown Prince doted on Lin Qinghe, would she become the Crown Princess in the future?
The carriage traveled for half an hour and arrived at the plum blossom grove that Lin Qinghe had mentioned.
Zhu Hong held an umbrella and helped Lin Qinghe out of the carriage. Standing at the entrance of the plum blossom grove, she looked around as if searching for something, and did not go in for a long time.
Seeing this, You Rong frowned slightly, "Why don't you go in?"
"This servant... this servant saw that the plum blossoms outside are also blooming very well, and wanted to look at them before going in..." Lin Qinghe casually made up a reason to prevaricate.
Didn't they agree to meet outside the plum blossom grove at noon? Could it be that Xu Ling'er and the others weren't coming?
Just as Lin Qinghe was worrying, another carriage drove over. The carriage stopped, and the curtains were lifted. It was Xu Yi and Xu Ling'er getting out of the carriage.
Lin Qinghe immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Great, they're finally here!
Seeing Xu Yi and Xu Ling'er approach, You Rong instinctively looked at Lin Qinghe. Seeing her looking at Xu Yi with unconcealed happiness, his heart suddenly tightened. His previous pleasant expression instantly disappeared, and he put on a cold, stern face.
Xu Ling'er curtsied and saluted, "This humble woman greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"Your humble servant Xu Yi, greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
You Rong was extremely cold. Without even glancing at Xu Ling'er, he said sternly, "Lord Xu, why are you here in the plum blossom grove today? Is it another coincidence?"
These words stunned Xu Yi, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, didn't you send an invitation to our mansion, asking this official to admire flowers and drink together in the plum blossom grove?"
And he had hinted that he would bring his elder sister along, but Xu Yi dared not say this part aloud.
You Rong's eyes sharpened, "I sent you an invitation?"
Xu Yi was dumbfounded, "Could it be... it wasn't an invitation from Your Highness the Crown Prince?"
Seeing this, Lin Qinghe knew something was wrong. Why did they start talking about the invitation as soon as they met? But as things stood, she could only brace herself and step forward to explain.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince..." Lin Qinghe said guiltily, "This servant sent the invitation to Lord Xu."
In an instant, You Rong's face became terrifyingly grim.
It was her!
She sent an invitation to Xu Yi and asked him to come here. Did she want to see Xu Yi that much!
You Rong was furious. His hands under his wide sleeves clenched into fists, and he said coldly, "Lin Qinghe! How dare you! Do you know that forging the Crown Prince's letter is a capital offense!"