At last, classes were over. Ye Tangtang and Ye Mushuang walked along together, chattering away about who knew what.
Ye Tangtang kept glancing warily ahead and behind. When she suddenly spotted Jun Yuyuan, she shuddered in fright and nearly dropped her schoolbag.
"What guilty deed did you commit to make you so scared?"
"N-no, nothing! Why would I do anything wrong? Jun Yuyuan, hurry back. You don't need to worry about me."
Ye Tangtang pushed Jun Yuyuan ahead, then went back to whispering with Ye Mushuang. Together, they took the fork to the left.
That was the road out of the palace!
Jun Yuyuan quietly followed them. Who knew what this little girl was plotting now?
Ye Tangtang pulled Ye Mushuang out of the palace with her. She had a Palace Exit Token, and no one dared stop the Ninth Princess anyway.
The two boarded a luxurious carriage.
"Tang Tang, are we really going to buy those sorts of storybooks? What if Father finds out?"
"Don't worry, Seventh Sister. If neither of us says anything, no one will know we secretly went to buy storybooks. I've finished all the ones you gave me. They're just so good! I want to buy a few more to keep reading."
Ye Tangtang acted as though she had discovered some wonderful treasure, staying up late every night to read.
Ye Mushuang fidgeted uneasily, while Ye Tangtang read the book about the pampered little wife with relish. Now and then, she even brought it out to share a passage, her grin growing ever more unrestrained.
Before long, they arrived at Yihong Bookshop. As soon as Ye Mushuang led Ye Tangtang inside, the proprietress came over and greeted Ye Mushuang with a beaming smile.
"Why, Miss Shuang is here! You're one of our regular customers. We've