Wriggle, wriggle, wriggle~
On the plum-blossom scroll-end table, three white worms, like enormous grubs but fatter and rounder, rolled and spun as they gnawed huge mouthfuls from lettuce wraps beaded with water. They shook their heads and wagged their tails, utterly ignoring the blood-red "Chuan" markings carved onto their backs.
"Look, they used to look exactly like the Third Prince," Long Li said, peeling apart a cabbage and tearing it into strips to feed the white worms.
"No, I think the Third Prince was a little fatter than them. He ate more," Long Yao said with certainty.
"Hah? This prince is dashing and handsome. How could I possibly have looked like that before?" Little Mirage Dragon crossed his arms, curled his lip, and lightly stroked his jade-white dragon horns with a claw, clicking his tongue. "You two women are truly pitiful—so young, yet already dim-eyed and senile. Fine, we've known each other for ten years. Even if there's no merit, there's been hard work. I'll persuade Boss to provide for you in your old age. Don't be afraid!"
The Dragon Girls rolled their eyes and ignored him.
"Hmph hmph, why aren't you talking now? Got no answer, have you?"
Silence.
The white worms crunched away at the grass.
"Hey! You two!"
Little Mirage Dragon flew before them and waved his claws.
"Damn it, running off halfway through speaking—you're ruining this prince's reputation! Vicious! Shameless! Black-hearted! Colluding with Fatty like jackals and wolves!"
"You only dare say that because A Fei isn't here..." Long Li muttered.
"What did you say?" Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Little Mirage Dragon shot up against the ceiling. "I'm avoiding its edge? Even if it stood right here in the room, this prince would still say it to its face!"
"Whether that's