After the banquet
By the time Li Lanru returned to the Post Station, all her earlier arrogance had vanished. She followed the envoys in a daze, as though her soul had left her body.
In her heart, she wanted to believe in her father.
But reason reminded her of all the suspicious things he had done when several of her older sisters had died after being sent to other countries.
No matter what, she could no longer trust her father as unquestioningly as she once had.
The Post Station
That night,
Li Lanru tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep.
About seven minutes later
She got out of bed, put on her shoes, and decided to go outside to admire the moon and clear her head.
She passed through a long corridor and came to a secluded pavilion.
As she raised her head to gaze at the bright moon, longing crept into her eyes.
She wondered whether her father had already gone to bed.
Whether he missed her as much as she missed him.
Whether... he was worrying about her as he always had, wondering if anyone was bullying her.
Her eyes dimmed slightly.
Father...
Rustle.
A faint sound suddenly broke the silence of the night.
Instinctively, she ran into the bushes nearby and hid.
Tap, tap.
The footsteps drew closer.
Li Lanru looked up and secretly watched.
When she made out their faces, relief washed over her.
They were familiar faces.
They were the envoys from Eastern Li, trusted courtiers at her father's side.
She gathered up her skirts and was about to stand and step out.
Then she suddenly heard them say-
"I never thought the Tenth Princess would be every bit as stupid as His Majesty said. She had barely arrived in Southern Zhao before