The young woman was slightly taken aback. Just then, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a figure clad in fine jade robes.
A tall and slender figure stood there, blocking a large portion of the sunlight. The young woman looked up and met a pair of eyes as brilliant as stars.
Across the vast night sky, countless stars twinkled, but his gaze was like the most distant, brightest one.
Shining and dazzling, exquisitely beautiful.
It was a pity that most of his face was covered by a silver mask, preventing her from seeing his entire visage.
However, one could imagine that beneath the mask lay a peerless face capable of shaking mountains and rivers.
"Is this bowl of water specially for me?" he asked softly as he dismounted the carriage and stood before her.
"Yes, please do not disdain it, Your Highness." The young woman offered the bowl to him.
"Your Highness, this servant will drink it first..." Xue Lan stepped forward, reaching for the bowl in the young woman's hand.
The young woman, however, withdrew her hand, tilted her head, and asked innocently, "Can Your Highness not drink it?"
"All water Your Highness drinks needs me to taste it first," Xue Lan said, reaching for the bowl.
The young woman hugged the bowl to her chest, her tone betraying displeasure. "I collected this for Your Highness. By what right do you drink it?"
Xue Lan was stunned, her expression turning somewhat unpleasant. It was the first time anyone had spoken to her like this.
"Give it to me, I will drink it," the Crown Prince extended his hand to take the bowl.
Xue Lan grew anxious. "Your Highness, you must not."
"Is Your Highness afraid it is poisoned? Then I will drink it first." The young woman lifted the bowl and took a sip.
Then, she looked up, her clear eyes asking, "Can Your Highness drink it now?"
Xue Lan wanted to say no, but the Crown Prince had already taken the bowl and, tilting his head back, drained the water in one go.
This Crown Prince did not sip it lightly, nor did he drink only a little. He drank it all in one breath.
"I will keep this bowl," he said.
With that, the Crown Prince carefully tucked the bowl into his sleeve.
Xue Lan: "..."
The young woman: "..."
Prince Xue Fu: "..."
Xue Lan couldn't help but twitch her lips. She stepped forward and whispered, "Xue Song, your act is a bit over the top. His Highness would not be like you."
Taking and keeping? Did he covet the bowl just because it was jade?
"Xue Lan," the Crown Prince suddenly spoke.
Xue Lan trembled all over. This voice, this was His Highness's voice.
"It is I."
Xue Lan took a step back. If the person before them was indeed His Highness, then everything that had just happened was done by His Highness?
Your Highness, what is this game you are playing?
Prince Xue Fu's eyes lit up. He stepped forward and bowed, "Your subordinate greets Your Highness."
"Prince Xue Fu, there is no need for such formalities. I am here in Fenzhou on my father the Emperor's orders."
Prince Xue Fu said, "Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. I have prepared rooms. Would Your Highness like to rest first?"
"No need. I have a place to rest. Prince Xue Fu is very thoughtful."
Prince Xue Fu showed no displeasure at this, and then said, "Your Highness, I see you only have one maid. I have prepared a maid for you."
Xue Lan knew it was her turn to step forward. She curtsied and said, "Your Highness accepts the Prince's kindness, but it is not necessary. Your Highness is not accustomed to strangers serving you."
Prince Xue Fu beckoned, and a figure approached. Xue Lan was stunned; it was the young woman who had delivered the water earlier.
"Your Highness, this is the maid my subordinate has prepared for you."
As Xue Lan was about to refuse, the Crown Prince spoke, "I will accept her."
Xue Lan trembled all over. She looked up at the Crown Prince in disbelief, only to find his gaze fixed on the young woman beside Prince Xue Fu.
For some reason, she felt a bad premonition.
Prince Xue Fu slightly raised his lips. "Thank you, Your Highness, for understanding my intentions."
To be honest, he was also very surprised.
In the past, he had offered many beauties, and all had been refused without exception.
Why had he agreed today?
He instinctively looked at the young woman beside him. While she was pretty, she was still a few years away from being a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
Perhaps, he suddenly remembered the recent rumors that the Crown Prince favored young girls.
Regardless, accepting her was a good thing.
"Go, and take good care of His Highness," Prince Xue Fu said from the side.
The young woman merely glanced at him and then followed him into the carriage.
Xue Lan stepped forward and grabbed the hem of the young woman's skirt, saying coldly, "You sit outside. This is not a place for you."
"Miss Feng, please come in!" The Crown Prince's voice came from inside.
Xue Lan twitched her lips. His Highness was truly determined to embarrass her.
The carriage was spacious. The Crown Prince sat inside, his eyes closed, resting.
Xue Zining withdrew her gaze. She also had not expected the Crown Prince to keep her.
Suddenly, a rumbling sound echoed. Her face flushed slightly. She had skipped breakfast this morning, and it was now noon. It was normal to be hungry, but must it be so obvious?
"There are snacks behind you."
Xue Zining was startled. She looked up; the Crown Prince's eyes were still closed.
She looked back and indeed saw many boxes filled with snacks.
Xue Lan, who had also boarded the carriage, looked at the snacks in front of the young woman and her gaze paused slightly. These were not the snacks she had prepared for His Highness.
These snacks... Xue Lan's gaze towards the young woman turned cold.
Xue Zining had no time to consider what Xue Lan thought of her. She was indeed a bit hungry.
She picked up a pastry and took a bite, her expression freezing the moment it entered her mouth.
It was delicious.
Xue Lan's eyes grew slightly colder. "The pastries from Song Feng Ji are delicious, but they are also famously expensive. This box of pastries is probably equivalent to a commoner's annual expenses."
Yet, in front of the young woman were five or six boxes. His Highness had never been so extravagant before. What was happening today?
Could it be? Xue Lan's gaze dimmed. Were the rumors true? His Highness liked young girls in their prime?
"Delicious?" a voice asked. Xue Zining nodded.
Suddenly, she looked up and saw the closed eyes beneath the silver mask open, instantly becoming as bright as stars, like a galaxy.
A slender, fair hand reached out, took the pastry from her hand, and put it into his mouth. "Indeed, it is delicious."
Xue Zining was stunned. Was she being teased by the Crown Prince?
Xue Lan trembled all over. The Crown Prince was acting very strangely today. In the past, he never ate such outside snacks; he only ate what she made.
Today, the Crown Prince was repeatedly shattering her perceptions.
"We have arrived," a voice called from outside.
Xue Lan got off the carriage first and lifted the curtain. She saw the Crown Prince extend his hand, and the young woman hesitated for a moment before reaching out.
A cool sensation transmitted into the young woman's palm.
Xue Zining frowned slightly. This Crown Prince was acting strangely.
"Does Your Highness wish to bathe first?" Xue Lan asked.
The Crown Prince turned to look at the young woman beside him. "Miss Feng, do you wish to bathe?"
Xue Zining took a step back, shaking her head warily. "I... I am not feeling well."
This Crown Prince was sick, perhaps he had some peculiar habit. She needed to stay far away from him.