"Third Miss Mo, since there's no one in this direction, perhaps we should try another path."
Nanny Qingyu, accompanied by a group of servants, was about to hurry off again.
"But... what if she just happened to miss Lu Chao? Nanny, let’s keep searching!"
Lu Chao noticed the anxious look on Third Miss Mo’s face as she hurried forward, determined to push into the restricted area. Her certainty that her sister was trapped there made him suspicious.
Nanny Qingyu’s patience was wearing thin. Originally, the young ladies had only mentioned gathering peach blossoms nearby for a competition, so the servants hadn’t stopped them, assuming they wouldn’t wander far. Who could have guessed they’d take advantage of the servants’ momentary distraction and sneak up the mountain? Now, everyone was in an uproar, forced to search for them.
The Grand Princess, already exhausted, had her good mood completely ruined by this commotion.
"Third Miss Mo," Nanny Qingyu said with a slight frown, suppressing her irritation, "you know how vast the back mountain is. Time is of the essence in finding them. We’ve been walking this path for half an hour now. Think about it—if Second Miss Mo got lost in unfamiliar terrain, she wouldn’t have strayed so far from the main path, would she?"
Third Miss Mo bit her lower lip, her face pale. She lowered her head stiffly and murmured, "Yes..."
Her foolish sister was clearly over there—why had Lu Chao claimed not to see her? Strange.
In a peach tree, a young woman in a verdant silk dress clung tightly to the trunk, her usual grace replaced by sheer panic. She muttered under her breath, "I’m doomed, doomed! There’s no escaping a whipping when I get home. How long has it been? Why hasn’t Zhenzhen come to save me yet?"
"Second Miss Mo?" A deep voice suddenly called from below.
Mo Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. She glanced down and was startled to see Lu Chao—the fiancé of the famed female general.
Most women would have been mortified to be caught in such a state by a stranger, but Mo Zhao’s eyes lit up with relief.
Just as she was about to speak, Lu Chao’s expression turned stern. He raised a finger to his lips in warning, then swiftly ducked behind the tree.
Moments later, two armored guards marched past, their sharp eyes scanning the surroundings like hawks. After confirming nothing was amiss, they moved on.
Once their footsteps faded, Lu Chao signaled to Liu Yao, who nodded in understanding. With a nimble leap, Liu Yao landed silently behind Mo Zhao.
"Don’t make a sound, miss," Liu Yao whispered urgently. "This area is strictly forbidden by the Grand Princess. If the guards catch you, you’ll be in serious trouble."
Mo Zhao’s heart sank like a stone. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and steeled herself.
"Forgive the intrusion!"
Liu Yao grabbed the back of her collar and, with a swift motion, lifted her down from the tree.
Mo Zhao’s face was ghostly pale. Lu Chao couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Did Second Miss Mo not do her research before coming here? After Princess Yunying, the Grand Princess’s beloved daughter, passed away, she was buried in the most scenic part of Taoyuan Mountain," Lu Chao said quietly, frowning slightly.
"I..." Mo Zhao stammered, suddenly recalling the faint scent of incense she’d caught while in the tree. A chill ran down her spine, her face growing even paler.
Her grandmother’s words echoed in her mind: Princess Yunying was mischievous from childhood, especially fond of climbing trees. The Grand Princess doted on her only daughter, even having thick vines wrapped around the peach trees to prevent accidents.
Mo Zhao remembered the thick vines coiled around the tree she’d climbed. A cold sweat broke out on her back at the realization.
"Thank you for saving me, Lu Chao!" Mo Zhao quickly composed herself and bowed deeply.
"You’ll know what to say when the search party arrives," Lu Chao replied calmly before instructing Liu Yao to lead her to the main path.
Once there, Lu Chao left Mo Zhao behind and took a shortcut down the mountain with Liu Yao.
"Why did you save her, young master?" Liu Yao couldn’t contain his curiosity.
He’d assumed Lu Chao had taken a liking to the simple-minded Second Miss Mo, but after a few words of advice, Lu Chao had deliberately distanced himself, refusing to speak another word to her.
"She has good taste," Lu Chao mused, stroking his chin. Though not the brightest, the girl had an eye for people.
Earlier, when the crowd learned he was Lu Chao, reactions had varied—some even sneered in disdain.
Only Second Miss Mo had muttered under her breath, "General Xiao is dashing and heroic, a true heroine! And Lu Chao? Beautiful as a flower! They’d make a perfect pair!"
Lu Chao had overheard and found her amusing, even sparing her an approving glance.
"What do you mean, ‘good taste’?" Liu Yao scratched his head.
"Think about it. By saving her, we preserved the Grand Princess’s mood, didn’t we?"
Liu Yao nodded.
"Which means Prince Kang stays in good spirits, right?"
Another nod.
"And if Prince Kang is happy, so is the Emperor."
"So, doing good deeds benefits everyone!"
As soon as Lu Chao and Liu Yao returned to the estate, they heard the news: Second Miss Mo had been found.
Meanwhile, Miss Song had twisted her ankle while searching and was carried down the mountain by Prince Kang.
Back at the gathering, Mo Zhao apologized to everyone for the trouble.
The Grand Princess sighed in relief. As long as nothing major had happened, she could rest easy—she didn’t need petty nobles using Taoyuan Mountain for their schemes.
"The roasted meat is ready. Serve it to our guests."
The warm spring sun bathed the mountain, lending a leisurely air to the gathering. Yet beneath the calm, undercurrents swirled.
Miss Song, injured and leaving early, was carefully carried down by Prince Kang under everyone’s gaze. Such an intimate gesture left no doubt—their betrothal was all but certain.
For a moment, the noble ladies present were lost in their own thoughts. Their gazes drifted toward the composed Miss Wang, their eyes filled with both curiosity and admiration. They mused silently—truly, the daughter of a prestigious family could remain so unperturbed, even indulging in roasted meat amid such a situation.
Lu Chao paid no heed to the undercurrents around him, wholly focused on devouring his meal. After exceeding his usual physical exertion today, he was ravenous, his stomach practically clinging to his spine—how could he spare attention for anything else?
Xiao Youcheng’s sharp brows furrowed slightly as he inadvertently caught Third Miss Mo’s fleeting glances toward Lu Chao. Recalling the day’s events, a pensive glint flickered in his eyes.
The Grand Princess, advanced in years, could not indulge too much in her beloved roasted venison despite her fondness for it. After a few bites, she set down her chopsticks.
Her eyes swept across the room, noting how everyone seemed preoccupied with their own concerns, their minds far from the delicious venison before them. She shook her head faintly, sighing inwardly at the waste.
"Liu Yao, bring another plate."
Hearing this, the Grand Princess lifted her gaze and saw Lu Chao eating with such relish that his eyes had narrowed into contented slits, resembling nothing so much as a satisfied little cat—a sight that softened hearts effortlessly.
"About that matter you mentioned earlier… I agree," the Grand Princess said, patting Prince Kang’s hand.
Prince Kang was taken aback.
"Does Your Highness mean… you’re willing to attend Xiao Zheng’s coming-of-age ceremony?"
The Grand Princess nodded.
