“That maid only spoke a partial truth. There’s obviously something wrong. Boss, why didn’t you point that out to the Young Marquis as a kind reminder?” Kong Hou asked, puzzled.
Tian Miao didn’t answer Kong Hou’s question and asked her another question instead. “Do you think your dragon horns look good?”
“Yes, they look good.” Kong Hou was just so full of herself and delightfully caressed the dragon horns on her forehead.
“Yes, I think they look good too. So cute and pleasant to touch too.” Tian Miao also reached her hand out to touch Kong Hou’s round, smooth and shiny dragon horns.
Kong Hou was even more delighted.
“Back when you were growing these dragon horns, did you find it comfortable?” Tian Miao asked again.
“No, not comfortable! It was painful and itchy.” Kong Hou shook her head from side to side as though it were a rattle drum.
“This is it. To reap good results, the process to get there is often painful.” Tiao Miao smiled and looked at Kong Hou, who seemed to understand what she was saying. She couldn’t help but remember when she’d first picked up Kong Hou, a chubby little dragon girl who’d stuck her butt out while pawing and prowling through the sand to look for seashells. Under the sunlight, the little fat girl’s dragon tail swept across the beach and swayed all around. The sight was simply so cute it could’ve melted anyone’s heart.
Dong Xiao chipped in a concise line of explanation. “What Boss means is that she wants the Young Marquis to see some things clearly for himself.”
“In this way!” Kong Hou’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her.
“Besides, you really think the Young Marquis is just a sweet, naïve fool?” Tian Miao smiled.
“Well isn’t he?” Kong Hou frowned and said, “His family’s kept him too well-protected. He just seems so silly.”
“He’s confused because he cares. When he calms down, he’ll naturally understand that there’s a problem. Besides, he has his own ideas.” Although Tian Miao agreed with Kong Hou on the point that the Young Marquis’s family kept him too well-protected, she didn’t agree with the part about him being silly.
“But he’s still going to go?” Kong Hou was puzzled.
“Humans are the most inquisitive creatures. They’re afraid to know the results, and yet they want to know more than anyone.” Tian Miao quietly sighed, then said, “Even if it might leave them with bruises all over…”
“This is why humans are nothing but fools,” Kong Hou confidently concluded with a sense of righteous indignation. Even if Princess Young An was injured, it would never be Ji LIruo’s place to send someone to tell the Young Marquis about it. For her to do such an abrupt and strange thing was a big problem in and of itself. The Young Marquis had it all figured out, yet he still wanted to go, even while anticipating that there was likely nothing good waiting for him there if he went. What a foolish way to approach a situation!
“No, this is what’s so cute about humans.” Tian Miao looked at Kong Hou, and couldn’t help but laugh. Her eyes were wide open, and her face was filled with bewilderment. Then she said, “Of course, our little fat girl is also very cute.”
“Wow, Boss. I’m no longer fat like I was before,” Kong Hou protested with a huff.
…
Xuan Ling Nunnery, which was situated outside the capital, wasn’t far away. It only took Xiao Anning a little more than half an hour to arrive at the nunnery on horseback.
When he met with Princess Yong An, she had just finished a vegetarian meal with Ji Liruo and her mother, and they were just about to have some tea. When Princess Yong An saw Xiao Anning appear before them, she briefly froze in place.
“Mother, are you all right?” Xiao Anning was still a little out of breath.
“I’m fine.” Princess Yong An was a little confused.
“Your foot, is it okay?” Xiao Anning asked worriedly.
“My foot? Oh, it’s okay. Just a slight sprain, but it’s nothing serious. It’s not red or swollen, so don’t worry.” It was only after Princess Yong An heard Xiao Anning’s question that she understood what was going on. One of their servants had gone to tell Xiao Anning, right? No, the servants of the Duke’s residence weren’t people who dared take matters into their own hands without permission. Besides, her foot really wasn’t seriously injured.
Just as Princess Yong An was wondering to herself, a voice interjected, “Is this the Young Marquis? He is indeed a fine-looking man who seems to be talented in wielding both pen and sword.” The tone of this voice carried an obvious hint of flattery as it’s owner praised him.