Ming Li: ...?! I suspect this female lead wants to mess with me.
As Consort Su's gaze met Ming Li's, she was about to say something when her eyes suddenly stung, and the words she intended to speak were swallowed back.
Ming Li: ...Tsk tsk! Does that hurt already? The pain the original host suffered in her previous life was much worse. Although the original host's wish was to stay away from the male and female leads, since it was her who had arrived, she still had to claim some interest for the original host. Otherwise, what was the point of the original host's suffering and harm in her previous life? Why should they, after harming the original host so terribly, still get a happy and fulfilling ending?
The wet nurse beside Consort Su saw her mistress covering her eyes and looking very uncomfortable. She quickly went to help Consort Su up to return to the palace to find an imperial physician to examine her eyes.
Consort Su was helped up by the wet nurse, enduring the discomfort in her eyes. "This consort feels a bit unwell. Let the flower viewing banquet end here for today. When this consort has recovered, I will invite everyone to the palace for tea another day."
A group of noble ladies and young ladies who had only just arrived and were enjoying the flowers and tea: ...?! What else could they do? Since the principal guest had spoken, they could only leave. They couldn't possibly stay here without permission.
So, the group of noble ladies and young ladies bowed in unison. "Since Consort has not been feeling well today, these humble daughters will take their leave."
After Consort Su left, a young eunuch, about ten years old, led the noble ladies and young ladies away from the imperial palace. The group of noble ladies and young ladies followed the young eunuch back the way they came, leaving the imperial palace and arriving at the palace gates.
Just as Ming Li was about to board her carriage, she caught sight of the young girl in the pink dress with a double-ringed bun, whom she had seen at the palace gates earlier. The young girl was running towards her with great haste, her cheeks flushed, while the maid behind her was anxiously chasing, afraid she would fall.
Ming Li didn't think this young girl was coming for her, so she nimbly jumped into the carriage. Cui Zhu, standing beside her, silently withdrew her hand that had been raised to help her young lady board.
Ming Li got into the carriage and was about to crawl inside when she saw the young girl from before run up to her carriage. "Sister Bai, wait for me!"
Ming Li: ...?! Who is this person? Could the Sister Bai she's referring to possibly be me?
Ming Li looked back. Well, it was indeed her that the person called Sister Bai. The evidence was solid.
Ming Li turned and got out of the carriage, her gaze assessing the young girl in front of her. The young girl was very cute and seemed quite likable. Seeing that the young girl had stopped in front of her and was staring at her, Ming Li didn't know what she was thinking. She cleared her throat and said lightly, "What do you need from me? If she remembered correctly, the person in front of her should be the third daughter of Minister Lin, Lin Yun'er, who was quite favored by Minister Lin."
Lin Yun'er: Doesn't Sister Bai remember Yun'er?
Ming Li: I remember. In the original plot, this young girl was considered the only true friend of the original host. When the original host entered the palace later, she even advised her, but at that time, the original host was solely focused on the male lead and couldn't heed anyone's advice.
Hearing Ming Li say she still remembered her, the young girl excitedly wanted to pounce on Ming Li, but Ming Li dodged, leaving the young girl to embrace the air.
Ming Li: ...?!
Lin Yun'er, seeing that she hadn't managed to pounce on Ming Li, felt a slight bit of disappointment, but it vanished in an instant. Then she happily chattered beside Ming Li.
Ming Li listened speechlessly, not wanting to say anything.