Ah, how tiresome—yet so exciting.

At this time, the Crown Prince was engaged in a conversation with the emperor. His fingers tapped on the wooden tabletop as he spoke confidently. Nevertheless, Hongyue could see his eyes indicating something to his mother. A chuckle slipped out from his lips, and there was a slow eye movement to the right before coming back to the left. A laugh sounded — another quick eye movement to the right.

Now, now, was that for her to catch or not for her to catch?

Hongyue dulled her eyes as she 'carelessly' dropped her spoon the floor. The silver utensil clanged on the ground for the fourth time, and the Crown Prince paused to look over. Hongyue huffed in exasperation as she reached over to pick up the spoon. Just as the eldest miss seemed to grab hold of it, it seemed to slip back out of her hands. The eldest miss's face became red as she fumbled for her spoon, and the Crown Prince turned back his head to his father's next words. Hongyue finally got the spoon within her fingers, and she quietly got back into her seat.

She already got what she needed.

Something was staring at her—not from the right or above but at the bottom corner of the Empress's chair. Just slightly tucked under the robe of the Empress, there was a pair of beady red eyes. She had just spotted it on the curve of her spoon.

Oh my~

Hongyue made a few more 'accidents' with her chopsticks before she seemed to be done with her meal.

When had the eyes appeared? Was it at the second time Qingyu warned her? Then did they arrive with the Crown Prince?

Tilting back her head, she swallowed a sip of diluted wine. Should she continue to wait? Her dark eyes roamed the surface of the light copper-colored liquid. However, it didn't seem like she would have wait too long. As her hand pa.s.sed over a linen cloth to wipe her mouth, she could see the Empress's eyes narrowing.

"Seeing that this is the first time the eldest miss has come to the palace, why don't you go escort her around the garden?" The Empress spoke directly toward Jiayi. Her face no longer held the anger she once had, and she smiled dazzlingly.

The emperor nodded at her suggestion. He looked towards the aide behind the eldest miss and gave a small nod. Hongyue lowered her head and stood up. As she moved to get up, her robes rustled loudly, and her right hand casually abandoned the spoon. At the sudden collision of the metal utensil to the tabletop, the eyes of the aide behind her abruptly dulled. It was just a slight movement, and no one seemed to have noticed it. As she moved, her robes excluded a faint silver fog that quickly faded into the air.

On the other side, Jiayi lifted his head and stood up as well. His footstep paused slightly before picking up the pace, leading the way out of the entrance of the palace hall. Hongyue nodded at the Emperor and Empress. Turning her head, Hongyue's eyes happened to meet the gray eyes of the Crown Prince. She let out a radiant smile before she continued on her way out of the door.

Now, let the game begin.

*******

In the royal garden under the warm sunlight, Hongyue rested on the stone pathway every once in while as she gazed at the attractive flowers before her. If Jiayi didn't know her any better, he would have genuinely mistaken her as someone innocent with the harmless expression on her face. His eyes floated to her fingers. While Hongyue seemed to be randomly placing them, she was touching everything rhythmically.

Eventually, Hongyue's finger hesitated on a dark purple blossom before her. Her eyes seemed to be concentrated on a dewdrop on the arch of the petal.

"Well? Don't you have anything to say?" Her voice was firm, nothing like the cheerful little miss in the hall. Jiayi was slightly surprised at the sound of her voice.

How dangerous.

Even though he knew about her other side, he could still be fooled by her act.

Jiayi's eyes focused on the girl in front of him, "What are you playing at now?"

A moment pa.s.sed without a sound.

Finally, a snapping of a stem could be heard. Jiayi frowned as Hongyue gave a slight smile, "Play? Does this miss look like she's playing?"