Beside a rockery not far away, a pale-purple figure had appeared. She trembled, seemingly crying in secret.
"Lange, do you want to earn merit for the Yu Kingdom and be rewarded by your imperial father?"
"What brilliant idea have you come up with now?"
Chu Lange instantly perked up.
Chu Youning pointed at the figure and said slowly, "See her over there? Make friends with her and keep her by your side every day for the next few days. As long as she stays safe until the envoys from the Flourishing Kingdom leave, your imperial father will reward you."
"Why? Who is she?" Chu Lange's gaze sharpened, and wariness surfaced on her face. "Don't tell me she's another daughter of Father's who popped up out of nowhere!!!"
Chu Youning gave her forehead a helpless little tap. "What are you thinking? Come here, and I'll tell you..."
Chu Youning whispered several sentences into Chu Lange's ear. Once she had successfully kindled Chu Lange's burning desire to be rewarded by her own father, she withdrew without hesitation, her mission accomplished.
Little Wukong had finally been let out, a rare occurrence. Knowing there would be good food at Perching Phoenix Palace, Chu Youning headed there without hesitation.
After bathing and changing, Little Wukong emerged in a brand-new outfit. When he saw Chu Youning, he instinctively wanted to speak.
But for the sake of his pride, he could only turn toward a palace maid nearby.
"Big sister, where's Mother?"
"Eighth Prince, Her Majesty said you love the green rice dumplings she makes, so she went to make them for you herself."
"Oh."
Little Wukong casually took a seat nearby.
Chu Youning made no particular effort to acknowledge him either. She contentedly cracked a handful of sunflower seeds, engrossed in the latest storybook from the