Holding a lantern, guiding souls across, Lady Hou comes from the underworld.

"Ruozhen".

Zhao Wan pulled her robes tighter and called out the princess's name, but no one answered.

She sensed something was wrong, so she took a few steps inside. Suddenly, she heard Princess Ding'an's soft voice coming from inside.

She paused for a moment and looked in the direction of the sound, where she saw a screen made of clear silk gauze.

The princess's figure was reflected on the screen...

What Zhao Wan found strange was that there was more than one figure on the screen; it looked more like Princess Ding'an, who was lying on top of another person.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Wan was terrified. She immediately shouted, "Ruozhen! Who are you with?"

The princess was startled by her voice and quickly sat up.

When Zhao Wan hurriedly went around the screen to look, she found that there was only the princess on the soft couch, with only a snow-white rabbit beside her.

"Why are you here, Sister Wan?"

Princess Ding'an glanced at it lazily, then lay down again, still holding the rabbit.

Her voice was soft, her posture was listless, and she seemed to have no strength left in her body.

She was completely different from the lively and spirited princess she used to be.

Seeing Zhao Ruozhen like this, Zhao Wan felt a strange unease. She frowned and asked, "Ruozhen, why are you so downcast?"

She felt somewhat helpless, seeing that all the windows and doors were tightly closed, and not a single ray of light could get in, so it was no wonder it was so cold and gloomy.

"Someone, open all the windows for me."

As soon as Zhao Wan gave the order, the palace servants immediately filed in and opened the windows one after another.

Princess Ding'an said nothing, but remained motionless on the couch.

Seeing this, Zhao Wan had no choice but to sit down next to her and gently suggested, "The weather is so nice outside, why don't we go for a walk in the Imperial Garden?"

"I don't want to go."

Princess Ding'an hugged the rabbit tightly and turned her body to one side.

Zhao Wan thought for a moment and continued to persuade her, "Then would you like to play shuttlecock? Or pitch-pot? You used to love those the most."

"I don't want to either."

Princess Ding'an said in a muffled voice, "I don't want to think about anything right now. If you don't have anything to say, Sister Wan, please try not to bother me."

Zhao Wan patted her shoulder and said softly, "If you really don't want anything, you shouldn't hide in the palace all day. Do you know how worried everyone is about you?"

Upon hearing this, Princess Ding'an turned slightly to the side, glancing at her with a sidelong look, her tone even colder.

"You don't need to lie to me, nobody in this palace cares about me at all."

Zhao Wan was somewhat displeased. "Ruozhen, I don't like hearing that. If I really didn't care about you, would I have come to the palace to see you?"

Princess Ding'an remained silent.

The two sisters were at an impasse for a while, and Zhao Wan patiently tried to coax her again, but unfortunately, her cousin, the princess, was completely unmoved.

The princess herself wasn't exactly known for her good temper, and seeing that she couldn't persuade her, she simply left.

After Zhao Wan left, Princess Ding'an sat up while holding the rabbit and ordered the palace servants to close the doors and windows.

She was left alone in the room again.

She walked barefoot on the cold ground, her long, unbound hair falling across her thin, pale face, making her once beautiful features appear more melancholic.

She reached out and stroked the rabbit, a sickly smile suddenly appearing on her face. She said, "Little White, now it's just us left. Come out and keep me company."

Upon hearing this, the rabbit jumped off her, and the moment it landed, it transformed into a man in white.

He opened his arms, and Princess Ding'an threw herself into his embrace.

The man in white bent down slightly and gently lifted her up.

Two figures were reflected again on the silk screen, while only the woman's laughter and whispers remained in the empty palace.

……

When Zhao Wan came out of Shuyu Palace, she was in a very bad mood. After reporting to Fengluan Palace, she left the palace.

However, as soon as he arrived at the palace gate, he saw Yu Lang's figure in the distance. The gloom in his heart was immediately swept away, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

Yu Lang originally wanted to leave first, but hesitated when he saw the princess's carriage.

After thinking it over, he decided to wait obediently by the carriage for Zhao Wan to come out of the palace.

They waited for almost an hour.

Zhao Wan dismounted from the palanquin and jogged over to Yu Lang, asking, "How long have we been waiting?"

Yu Lang, who was in a daze, was startled when he heard her voice.

"No...it didn't take long."

The Golden Feather Guard commander, who was responsible for protecting the young master, said, "Young Master Yu has been waiting for almost an hour."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Wan's smile deepened. "Come on, this princess will treat you to a meal."

The two then went to Zuihualou. Yu Lang originally wanted to tell her that she didn't need to spend money, but then he thought that after being away from the capital for so long, she really should eat something good.

Princess Fenghua has always been extravagant. Even though there were only two of them eating, she still ordered a large private room and a portion of each of the restaurant's signature dishes, with plenty of food.

This was exactly what Yu Lang wanted to do. Just as he was about to enjoy his meal, Zhao Wan suddenly sighed.

Yu Lang keenly sensed that something unpleasant must have happened after she entered the palace, so he asked, "Did the Empress summon you today, Princess?"

Zhao Wan nodded, and then poured out her grievances to him as if a floodgate had been opened.

Upon hearing this, Yu Lang couldn't help but sigh, "I never imagined that Princess Ding'an would be so devoted to Lord Ren."

Zhao Wan scoffed, "How old is she? What does she know about romantic love? She clearly sees Ren Fengjue as something that belongs only to her and doesn't want anyone to take him away."

She then added, "Just like I... back then."

These words carried a deeper meaning, as if... they were specifically said to Yu Lang...

Yu Lang, of course, sensed this as well, and immediately chimed in, "The princess is indeed a bit young..."

Zhao Wan continued, "However, I went to Shuyu Palace today, and I felt something was off. Ruozhen's expression... seemed a bit sinister, and even her palace had an eerie atmosphere..."

"Moreover, when I first went in, I clearly saw two shadows on the screen, but there was only Ruozhen inside. I don't know if I was seeing things..."

"I always feel like something's not quite right..."

Yu Lang pondered for a moment, "Should we send Master Yan to take a look?"

Zhao Wan had the same idea, but then said, "It seems unlikely that it will work. Unless Her Majesty the Empress or His Majesty agrees, Master Yan won't be able to get in."

Empress Zhang has always been averse to discussing ghosts and spirits in the inner palace. Speaking openly about it would definitely not work unless there was evidence.

However, since the emperor dotes on the princess, how could he allow a Taoist priest to enter the princess's palace without concrete evidence?

Yu Lang suddenly coughed lightly, "Princess, I have an idea, but it may be a bit risky."

Zhao Wan immediately leaned closer, "Tell me about it."

As the two drew closer and a faint fragrance lingered around his nose, Yu Lang couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

He subtly created some distance before saying, "Or perhaps we could have Daoist Yan follow Miss Xia's example and make a trip to the palace?"