In the dark forest, there was a campsite with a bonfire burning.
A grill was set up over the fire, with neatly cut pieces of meat laid out on top.
The flames sizzled and crackled, sending out a rich aroma that made anyone’s mouth water.
But even though Ye Ruoshui was the closest to the grilled meat and her stomach was growling, she didn’t have any appetite at all.
“It’s just not the same without Her Highness.
Even the barbecue doesn’t taste good.”
Ye Ruoshui poked at the grill listlessly, making sure the delicious food wouldn’t burn before her Highness came back.
“It’s been almost an hour.
Why isn’t she back yet? Did she run into some bad people?” But then she thought about it—her Highness was already a powerful martial artist at the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Even in all of Great Xia, she was one of the best.
Who could possibly threaten her Highness? Ye Ruoshui stared at the fire in boredom, trying to see her Highness’s beautiful face in the flames.
Not far away, the sound of branches snapping came, and two auras rushed over.
One was strong and very familiar—it was the one she’d been missing so much, Xiao Minghuang.
As for the other, weaker aura, Ye Ruoshui didn’t pay it any attention.
Sensing Xiao Minghuang’s presence, she immediately stood up, showing a gentle smile tinged with a bit of happiness.
But—
“Wanqiu, go find a place to rest for a bit.
I’ll check if the barbecue is ready.”
“Okay!”
Ye Ruoshui looked up and saw her Highness walking side by side with a graceful, beautiful woman.
Her Highness was even smiling gently at that woman.
The scene in front of her made Ye Ruoshui’s mind go blank.
She stood there, frozen, unable to say a word.
Xiao Minghuang glanced around the camp and saw Ye Ruoshui standing by the fire, staring at her in a daze, lost in thought.
She walked over and gave a slightly apologetic smile.
“Ruoshui, sorry to keep you waiting.
I’ll explain everything in detail over dinner.
Can we eat now?”
Ye Ruoshui nodded absentmindedly.
After getting her answer, Xiao Minghuang called Lin Wanqiu over to eat.
Even after the three of them sat down, Ye Ruoshui still felt like her mind was a blank.
During the meal, Xiao Minghuang briefly explained why she was late and introduced Lin Wanqiu to her.
But Ye Ruoshui didn’t hear a word of it.
She never would have thought that in just a short while, her Highness would bring back a strange woman from outside.
And except for her chest being a bit smaller, this woman was just as good as her in every other way! A sudden sense of crisis welled up in Ye Ruoshui’s heart.
While they ate, Xiao Minghuang noticed Ye Ruoshui wasn’t moving and reminded her, “Ruoshui, eat up! You’re still growing!”
Hearing her Highness remind her to eat, Ye Ruoshui felt a bit comforted.
It seemed her Highness still cared about her.
But then—
“Wanqiu, you should eat more too.
You and Ruoshui are both at the Body Tempering stage, so you need lots of meat to replenish your qi and blood.
That’ll help you advance.”
That last sentence made Ye Ruoshui’s mood, which had just started to improve, plummet again.
Because of Ye Ruoshui’s gloomy mood, the meal was tasteless.
After dinner—
Xiao Minghuang, worried that Lin Wanqiu would cause more trouble, ordered her to go sleep in the tent.
Lin Wanqiu gave her a flirtatious look, then swayed gracefully into the tent.
Ever since they got back to camp, Xiao Minghuang had noticed Ye Ruoshui’s low spirits.
With Lin Wanqiu around, she hadn’t been able to ask, but now that Lin Wanqiu was gone, she could finally find out what was wrong.
Ye Ruoshui was sitting on a rock by the fire, resting her cheek on one hand.
Even the bright firelight couldn’t bring any sparkle to her eyes.
Xiao Minghuang walked over, wrapped an arm around Ye Ruoshui’s slender waist, and asked softly, “I brought you a gift this time.
Want to see it?”
Ye Ruoshui was feeling down, but when she heard her Highness’s gentle voice in her ear, her heart fluttered, her cheeks flushed, and she nodded slightly.
Xiao Minghuang took out a crystal-clear Water Ganoderma and a fiery red spirit fruit, placing them in front of Ye Ruoshui.
“These are both hundred-year-old spirit medicines.
After you take them, you should be able to advance two minor realms.”
“Thank you… sister!”
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang was surprised.
Why did Ye Ruoshui suddenly change how she addressed her?
She’d said before that she saw Ye Ruoshui as a little sister, but the girl had never changed how she called her.
Now, all of a sudden, she did.
Xiao Minghuang didn’t know why, but she was happy about it.
She habitually patted Ye Ruoshui’s soft hair and replied gently, “Mm!”
This time, Ye Ruoshui didn’t call Xiao Minghuang “Your Highness” like before, but used “sister” instead.
She was starting to realize that someone as outstanding as Xiao Minghuang would definitely attract more and more girls in the future.
If she kept being just a little maid, always following behind Xiao Minghuang, she’d end up left far behind.
Even if Xiao Minghuang liked her, she wouldn’t be able to stay in the most important place in Xiao Minghuang’s heart.
So, she had to change her strategy.
Maybe even take the initiative!
Ye Ruoshui took the Water Ganoderma, then suddenly lifted her face, her beautiful eyes staring straight into Xiao Minghuang’s.
The next moment—
She suddenly straightened up and planted a light kiss on the corner of Xiao Minghuang’s lips, quick as a dragonfly skimming the water.
After that, instead of running away in embarrassment, Ye Ruoshui threw herself into Xiao Minghuang’s arms, burying her face in her chest and greedily breathing in her scent.
She mumbled, “Sister, I like you! Please don’t send me away, okay?”
Hearing that, Xiao Minghuang froze for a moment, then patted Ye Ruoshui’s soft hair and said gently, “Sister likes Ruoshui too.
I won’t send you away.”
Hearing the word “like,” Ye Ruoshui finally relaxed, sinking into Xiao Minghuang’s embrace, wishing this moment could last forever.
Right now, she just wanted time to stop, to make this moment eternal.
But—
The image of that strange woman popped into Ye Ruoshui’s mind, and she couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, who is that woman?”
“Didn’t I introduce her to you at dinner?”
Ye Ruoshui nuzzled her face into Xiao Minghuang’s chest, embarrassed.
“I was so sad just now, I thought you were going to send me away, so I didn’t really listen…”
As she spoke, her voice started to tremble, making Xiao Minghuang’s heart ache.
She knew Ye Ruoshui had lost her parents young and only had her as family, so she was more important to her than anything else.
So to Ye Ruoshui, her attitude really mattered.
She gently stroked Ye Ruoshui’s slender back.
Even through the thin clothes, she could feel the soft, warm skin.
“She’s called Lin Wanqiu, the daughter of the Lord of Beiyang City.
The reason I came back late was because I happened to save her… Also, before I was born, she and I were betrothed by our parents, so I guess there’s some connection.”
