Chapter 8: You Guys Are the Real Lovers

“Then let’s agree on this beforehand: no matter what I ask, you cannot get angry.” This was, after all, the Crown Prince's villa, and today, due to the selection ceremony, the security both inside and out was extremely tight.

This Great General's martial arts were certainly not lacking; if he became displeased at any moment, wouldn't she be in terrible shape?

“Ask away, I won't get angry.” Zhou Lingtian was truly curious about her.

Thinking back to her previous question, could this one be even more tricky?

He saw Lan Xiaoyu approach him slyly. There was a faint scent of iris on her, very fresh and pleasant. For some reason, Zhou Lingtian’s mind grew somewhat dazed as he stared straight at her charming face.

“Actually, Great General, do you and His Highness the Crown Prince have some sort of unspeakable secret?”

Her voice was still as crisp as a bell, waking Zhou Lingtian from his trance.

He was stunned and couldn't help but ask in surprise, “You figured it out?!”

Had she actually realized that the two of them had swapped identities?

But then he heard Lan Xiaoyu nod as if she understood everything: “I knew it! The one he likes isn't Lan Linglong, it's you! And you—I know you, Great General, have never married. You two are a match made in heaven, true love! Don't worry, I won't say a word. I will bless you both!”

She spoke with the expression of a "good brother who understands you" and even patted him on the shoulder.

She was faintly excited by this massive secret.

However, he saw Zhou Lingtian's face darken, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

At this moment, there was not a trace of his previous gentleness; instead, his gaze was extremely sharp, as if a single look were enough to strike fear into someone. Furthermore, the innate nobility about him made him appear inexplicably terrifying at this moment.

Lan Xiaoyu froze and silently took two steps back.

Was this Great General going to kill her to silence her? Because she had spoken the deepest secret in his heart?

*Aww, Lan Xiaoyu, you big mouth!*

Before Zhou Lingtian could lose his temper, she suddenly reached out and pointed behind him in feigned shock, “Your Highness, why have you come out?”

As Zhou Lingtian instinctively turned his head, Lan Xiaoyu bolted.

She stopped hiding her skills now; that extremely fast lightness skill was something an ordinary woman could never achieve. Like a light swallow, she vanished in an instant, leaving behind only the crisp tinkling of golden bells.

By the time Zhou Lingtian turned back, he only had time to catch a glimpse of her figure.

*A swallow passing without a trace... this lightness skill seems to be from the Wudang Sect. Could it be that she is not the daughter of a high official?*

No, that Lan Linglong was her sister; it seemed he could still track her down.

To dare say that the person he liked was Jian Ningxi—just what on earth was going on in that little girl's head!

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Lan Xiaoyu sprinted all the way, returning to the Prime Minister's manor in less than the time it took to burn an incense stick. She arrived at her own residence, Qingyuan Pavilion, panting heavily as if being chased by a ghost.

Her maid, Tuanzi, was in the courtyard helping her embroider a purse. Seeing her return, she immediately came forward to greet her.

“Miss, Miss! How was it? Did you see the Crown Prince? Is there any hope?”

“I saw him. There was almost no hope at all.”

Lan Xiaoyu casually poured herself a cup of cold tea from the stone table and gulped it down heroically before wiping her mouth and speaking.

Tuanzi couldn't stand her acting like this and silently handed her a handkerchief, then asked again, “Does that mean there is hope? Did the Crown Prince take a liking to you?!”

Her voice was full of pleasant surprise and excitement.