Joy of Life: Starting by clinging to the eldest princess's coattails!

The fire for grilling the fish was burning perfectly.

Wu Feng didn't waste the few fresh fish he brought. He and several maids cleaned them, rubbed them with salt, oil, and seasoned spices, and slowly roasted them over a fire.

Li Yunrui lay on her side on the chaise lounge, and she suddenly felt that such a leisurely afternoon was not bad.

After the fish is grilled.

Wu Feng first selected the fish that was roasted to the most golden brown, carefully removed the bones, placed it on a small porcelain plate, and presented it to Li Yunrui with both hands.

"Your Highness, please try it."

Li Yunrui sat up, took the plate, and used silver chopsticks to pick up a small piece and put it in her mouth.

The outer skin is slightly crispy, the inside is tender, the saltiness is just right, and it also has the unique aroma of charcoal.

"The skill is acceptable," she commented softly, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Wu Feng chuckled and then distributed the remaining grilled fish to Chunmei and the maids.

Everyone sat around the blanket, enjoying the snacks they had brought, and ate quite comfortably.

Chunmei took a bite of fish and glanced at Wu Feng. This guy wasn't stingy; he even took care of them.

Less than fifteen minutes after eating.

Li Yunrui gently covered her mouth and yawned, a faint glimmer of moisture appearing in the corner of her eyes.

"I'm sleepy," she said, her voice languid and nasal. "Let's go back to the palace."

"Yes, Your Highness," the others replied.

Wu Feng immediately got up and, together with Chunmei, helped her into the car.

The maids tidied up the camp with ease, carrying screens, blankets, and chaise lounges back to the carriage one by one.

The wheels rolled over the cobblestone road, slowly heading towards Kyoto.

……

Chang Le Palace.

The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the Empress Dowager, unusually, stepped out of her bedchamber and sat on a soft chair under the eaves to bask in the sun.

Chief eunuch Hong Sixiang stood respectfully three steps away, bowing deeply, like a silent statue.

An elderly nanny approached quietly and stopped beside the Empress Dowager, her voice extremely low: "Your Majesty, everyone in the household is in place and awaiting news from Taiping Villa."

The Empress Dowager slowly opened her closed eyes.

In that instant, a ruthless and cold light flashed in her eyes, like an icy blade in a winter night.

"The news has spread," the Empress Dowager said calmly, yet with a hint of coldness. "Ye Qingmei is likely to give birth prematurely. Just in case, we must act tonight."

The old nanny bowed her head: "Yes, Your Majesty. However, that Wu Zhu is always a troublesome person, staying at the Taiping Villa."

The Empress Dowager said calmly, "Wu Zhu, there's no need to worry. Someone will handle him. Go and tell the Empress to prepare."

"This old servant understands." The old nanny bowed and withdrew.

The corridor returned to quiet.

Hong Sixiang raised his eyes slightly: "Empress Dowager, should we inform the Princess about this matter? Although the Junshan Society under her control has been greatly weakened, it is still an ally."

"No need." The Empress Dowager's tone revealed a hint of disdain. "His Majesty said that Li Yunrui's Junshan Society has long been infiltrated by the Surveillance Bureau. Telling her will only make things worse."

"She is increasingly disappointing me. That Junshan Society is of no use whatsoever, except for occasionally killing a few people for the Emperor."

Most importantly, Li Yunrui developed thoughts that she shouldn't have, and couldn't possibly have.

Hong Sixiang bowed slightly and said nothing more.

……

Guangxin Palace.

After Li Yunrui returned, he went straight to his bedchamber and slept for more than an hour before waking up.

Wu Feng was not idle.

He took two newly assigned maids with him and picked flower petals for his evening bath in the small garden.

Peonies, roses... I only pick the ones that are in full bloom and have the strongest fragrance.

Wu Feng taught them how to cut the flowers without damaging the branches and how to select the petals to ensure they remained intact.

The two young palace maids studied very diligently, their eyes sparkling, and they would steal glances at Wu Feng every now and then.

This young eunuch is handsome and has a good temper. It's rare to find someone who can patiently teach them while serving His Highness.

Inside the bedchamber, Li Yunrui had just woken up and was sitting in front of the dressing table, slowly combing her long hair with a jade comb.

Chunmei quietly entered and stopped beside her, her voice extremely low: "Your Highness, they may be about to make a move against Taiping Villa."

Li Yunrui paused in combing her hair.

In the bronze mirror, her eyes instantly brightened, like a candle suddenly lit in the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, a complex emotion appeared on her face, a mixture of excitement and hatred, giving her face an unusual radiance.

"Keep an eye on it," Li Yunrui's voice was soft, but it trembled slightly. "I need to know the situation at Taiping Villa at all times."

"This servant understands." Chunmei bowed and withdrew.

Li Yunrui continued combing her hair, stroke after stroke.

The beauty in the mirror had delicate features and fair skin, but the emotions surging in her eyes made it hard to look closely.

……

As the sun gradually set in the west, it dyed the horizon a blood-red hue.

After dinner, Wu Feng helped Li Yunrui take a walk in the small garden.

Chunmei didn't follow; she was seen bustling about inside and outside the palace all afternoon.

Wu Feng also noticed that Li Yunrui's mood was a bit strange after she woke up from her afternoon nap.

As if he was trying to suppress something, there was always a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, but his eyes were surprisingly bright.

"Your Highness," he couldn't help but ask softly, "did something happen this afternoon?"

Li Yunrui stopped in his tracks.

She turned around and leaned slightly to look at Wu Feng. The collar of her pale yellow palace dress loosened slightly with the movement, revealing a small section of her fair collarbone.

The warm light of a spring evening shone on her face, giving her skin a soft glow.

She raised her delicate hands, her cool fingers gently cupping Wu Feng's face.

The two were very close, close enough that Wu Feng could see the curve of her eyelashes and smell the faint fragrance in her breath.

"Xiao Wuzi," Li Yunrui's voice was low, carrying a unique, chillingly morbid tenderness, "Do you know? That woman... is about to die."

Her smile deepened, but her eyes held a cold excitement: "I really want to... watch her die with my own eyes."

Wu Feng was completely shocked.

The Empress Dowager, the Empress... are they finally going to make their move?

Li Yunrui's warm breath sprayed on his face, carrying a rich, cool fragrance, but he froze there, forgetting even to breathe.

Just then, Chunmei came hurrying along the path.

She waved her hand, signaling all the palace maids standing around to step back and move away.

Li Yunrui released Wu Feng's face and turned to look at Chunmei.

Chunmei quickly walked to her side, her voice extremely low: "Your Highness, they've made their move. Two blindfolded men, just like Wuzhu, appeared at Taiping Villa and lured Wuzhu away!"

Li Yunrui's eyes instantly blazed with even more intense excitement.

She looked up and gazed towards the east side of the palace.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the eaves of the palaces, over the city walls, and land directly on that quiet villa five miles east of the capital.

Standing beside her, Wu Feng looked at her beautiful profile and suddenly felt that this spring evening was particularly bloody.