The Seventh Prince looked up, staring blankly at Xiao Yu.
Suddenly, she lowered her eyes,
and replied softly, "Thank you, Little Imperial Uncle..."
Bitterness and heartache rose unbidden within her.
No one had ever told her, "You don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of everything."
For as long as she could remember, her Consort Mother had told her she had to play the Seventh Prince well and never let anyone discover her true identity.
Otherwise, both mother and daughter would be put to death.
She lived in constant fear, her heart never at ease. She always worried that her imperial father would someday learn the truth, become disappointed in her, and cast her aside.
Then have her executed.
She never dared spend time with the other princes, afraid they would notice something amiss.
She often hid alone in her room, doing her best to make herself invisible,
hoping no one would remember she existed.
As she had hoped, nearly seven or eight years passed that way.
But as she grew older, her Maternal Grandfather began bringing her out of her room, taking her to meet ministers she did not know.
She could not even refuse.
She often passed the Empress's chambers, where laughter and cheerful voices could frequently be heard.
Her Little Imperial Sister, Xiyue, had a laugh as lovely as silver bells.
She envied her.
They were both princesses, yet from the moment Little Xiyue was born, she had been showered with love.
Meanwhile, she had to abandon her identity as a girl and dress as a boy, doomed to spend her entire life hiding,
never able to step into the light.
Today was the housewarming banquet her Little Imperial Uncle had held after moving out of the Eastern Palace. She had not wanted to join