At this moment,
The little princess Song Ling'er, who was being lectured by her parents, was pouting on the wall of Prince Rui's mansion.
As the saying goes, hesitation leads to defeat.
While she was still contemplating how to get down, she directly tumbled into the courtyard of Prince Rui's mansion.
Coincidentally, it didn't hurt at all.
Just as she was about to dust herself off and leave, her sleeve was caught.
A gust of wind blew.
Petals of peach blossoms urged her to turn back.
When she turned, she saw the person lying on the ground.
The young man looked up, the string of his mask had snapped, revealing his sharp brows and eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Catch the assassin!"
————
The Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, something is wrong!"
Song Qingchao's hand, which was reviewing memorials, did not stop.
"Has the little princess snuck out again?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Song Qingchao sighed, "Do you know what she went out to do this time?"
"The little princess said she caught an assassin."
"This is truly unruly."
Song Qingchao couldn't help but sigh.
Her daughter, like herself when she was young, only wanted to run outside all day.
It must have been difficult for her father.
Neither daughter nor granddaughter was easy to manage.
Bai You'an, who was preparing tea nearby, showed no reaction.
Even after so many years, his charm had not diminished in the slightest.
"You'an, you spoil her too much."
"Me?" Bai You'an smiled lazily. "Ling'er is very much like Zhaozhao; I like her a lot."
Song Qingchao: "..."
She had nothing more to say to this doting father.
Parenting was a headache.
Song Qingchao remembered that Lin Tingwan had not yet left, so she took some wine and went to find her.
Lin Tingwan had experience, so she needed to learn from her.
After a few rounds of wine,
She completely forgot about the important matter.
It was Lin Tingwan who, with her hands propped on the table, asked,
"Do you think there's a possibility that we are living inside a book?"
Their Lin family had now become imperial merchants, and they could come and go freely in the palace.
"You mean, we don't actually exist, but were created by someone?"
Song Qingchao took a sip of wine and retorted.
"That's what I mean. Our appearance, voices, and personalities were all designed by someone. What do you think?" Lin Tingwan pressed on.
"What do I think?" Song Qingchao chuckled. "I think if that were the case, then at least write me to be more beautiful."
"Why don't you say write yourself to be happier?"
"If that were the case, would I meet you?" Song Qingchao raised her wine pot and clinked it against Lin Tingwan's. "Everyone has their own destiny. If I lived a different life, perhaps I wouldn't be as at ease as I am now. The present is the best."
"So you don't care if your world is real?"
"Hmm, even if I am fake..." Song Qingchao frowned, then relaxed. "But so what?"
She raised her wine cup and drank it all in one go. Drops of crystalline liquid trickled down her fair jaw, onto her collarbone. "I am alive. I can feel happiness or pain, so why should I care about the form of my existence?"
She continued,
"Even if I am created, I am still myself. My life is walked by me, and no one can interfere. My personality is partly innate, and partly shaped by experience. If, one day, the author were to demand my surrender, I would definitely refuse. Even if I had to break through these limitations, I would show her my resolve."
"Your resolve for what?"
"To overthrow dynasties."
Lin Tingwan finally tutted.
She wasn't that noble; she only cared about getting rich.
Song Qingchao, tipsy, returned to her sleeping quarters.
She didn't know why Lin Tingwan had traveled all this way just to say this to her.
But looking at Bai You'an, who was lying on the couch, she blurted out,
"Do you think there's a possibility that we are living inside a book?"
"Why would you ask that?" Bai You'an closed his book and asked with a smile.
"Um... I'm just saying, what if we were all created?"
"So what?" Bai You'an pulled her into his arms, his eyes sparkling. "We are alive, aren't we?"
After he spoke, he pressed down.
The aroma of wine and medicine mingled together, gentle yet fierce, each wanting to overpower the other.
Until finally, the chaos blended into a crystal-clear, viscous liquid.
The scent of medicine released the scent of wine first, then wound its way to the nape of her neck.
A gentle sip, trickling down.
He was also a little drunk.
Fair, smooth, and unparalleled.
With a pull from his long, calloused fingers, he tried to delve deeper.
"Wait a moment."
Bai You'an gave a vague "En?" his lips still reluctantly leaving the smooth, roundness.
Song Qingchao, drowsy, pulled up her half-undone clothes. "Someone is watching."
"Who is it..."
Song Qingchao was about to say more when he pressed her down.
"Her."
"Don't listen to her nonsense."
"What if it's true?"
"True?"
Bai You'an turned his head and glared at you outside the screen, "Miss, it's improper to look. You can turn it off now."