"Is this valuable?"
Xiao Xue'er asked Su Fan with a strange expression.
"Of course it's valuable! This is a Martial Essence Stone, a treasure that can help martial artists comprehend cultivation techniques!"
The two shining stones Su Fan found among the jewelry were indeed Martial Essence Stones.
Since entering the game, Su Fan had obtained a limited number of Martial Essence Stones. The most he ever got was when he annihilated a bandit den, yielding only about ten Martial Essence Stones per den. One could imagine how precious they were.
He never expected Xiao Xue'er to have simply placed them among a pile of jewelry.
"How many do you have left?"
Su Fan asked expectantly.
If she could casually place them with jewelry, she clearly didn't care about them. In her eyes, they were just ordinary items, and she might have more.
"Uh, just these two."
Xiao Xue'er said with an embarrassed smile.
Su Fan: ...
"Wasted effort."
Su Fan was somewhat disappointed.
With only two Martial Essence Stones, he could only upgrade two skills by one level.
"Take both of them, and then help me, okay~"
Seeing the excitement fade from Su Fan's eyes, Xiao Xue'er immediately pulled him and acted spoiled.
"Alright, alright. Even a mosquito's leg is still meat. Go find a set of disguise clothes."
Su Fan reluctantly agreed to Xiao Xue'er's request for the sake of the Martial Essence Stones.
He was short on Martial Essence Stones right now, and with these two, he would only have a total of 9.
"I've already prepared them. Palace maid, eunuch, soldier, and Imperial Guard. Which one do you want to use?"
Xiao Xue'er directly produced several sets of clothes.
So, she had prepared everything for leaving the palace long ago, only needing someone to accompany her.
"Imperial Guard. I'll wait for you outside."
Su Fan had Xiao Xue'er change into Imperial Guard clothes. As an Imperial Guard himself, it was reasonable for him to escort another Imperial Guard out of the palace on official business. Escorting others might not allow them to safely pass through the palace gates.
Soon, Xiao Xue'er changed and came out. Her long hair was tied up and hidden under her hat, making her look quite convincing. However, she was too fair-skinned, and her appearance was delicate, not like a martial artist.
"No, you're too fair."
Su Fan, without explanation, pulled Xiao Xue'er back into the room.
While Xiao Xue'er looked on in refusal, he smeared some dust on her face.
She instantly looked grimy. Su Fan looked at her, spread the dust evenly, making her less pale.
"Perfect."
Su Fan nodded silently, looking at his masterpiece. This way, she wouldn't be easily discovered.
"Let's go."
Su Fan led Xiao Xue'er towards the palace exit.
"Go this way."
Xiao Xue'er pointed to another path.
Su Fan was lost again...
Along the way, they encountered palace maids who walked past them without a second glance, clearly not suspecting them.
Su Fan nodded silently. As long as they weren't suspected, it was fine.
"Go, this way."
Su Fan found a familiar path and waved to Xiao Xue'er.
Around the corner behind them.
The Third Prince happened to pass by. He frowned slightly as he saw them, then his brow relaxed.
"Go, tell the gate guards not to stop Su Fan."
The Third Prince said to the attendant beside him.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xiao Zhihong chuckled softly.
Su Fan claimed there was nothing between him and the Princess. Yet, they were about to elope, and he still said there was nothing?
But this was good. The more chaotic the imperial city, the more beneficial it would be for him.
Su Fan and Xiao Xue'er arrived near the city gate and walked straight out of the palace.
At this moment, both of them were quite nervous. If they were discovered, Xiao Xue'er might not have a problem, but Su Fan would be in trouble.
They pretended to be calm as they walked towards the city gate. The soldiers on both sides stared straight ahead, as if they hadn't seen them.
This made Su Fan breathe a sigh of relief.
"Halt!"
Just as Su Fan relaxed, a soldier suddenly called out to them.
Xiao Xue'er's heart tightened, and so did Su Fan's.
"Is there something?"
Su Fan asked the soldier, feigning calmness.
"Which guard unit are you from? What are you going out for?" Normally, Imperial Guards rarely left the palace alone unless it was for a secret mission. However, when on a mission, the gate guards would be notified in advance. But they had not received any notification today.
Su Fan calmly took out his waist token.
"I am the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, and we have a secret mission."
Su Fan told the soldier.
The soldier took Su Fan's waist token and examined it carefully, then glanced discreetly at Xiao Xue'er.
Xiao Xue'er immediately lowered her head, afraid of being recognized.
"You may go."
The soldier returned the waist token to Su Fan and actually let them pass.
Su Fan took back his waist token and immediately led Xiao Xue'er away, lest the soldier discover any flaws.
After Su Fan left, the two soldiers began to discuss.
"We just let them go? That was... the Princess!"
Xiao Xue'er's simple disguise had not escaped their eyes. They had already noticed the Princess's disguise.
"Didn't the Third Prince instruct us not to stop them? Both the Princess and the Third Prince trust Su Fan so much, why are you worrying? Also, do you think His Majesty doesn't know?"
The soldier warned the one beside him.
"His Majesty knows about this?"
The other soldier was very surprised. Did His Majesty not care about the Princess?
"Do you think anything that happens within the palace can escape His Majesty's eyes? Stop chattering, be careful not to bring disaster upon yourself with your words!"
The soldier didn't want to say more. The Emperor's informants were everywhere in and out of the palace, and they might inadvertently bring disaster upon themselves.
A figure was crouching discreetly on the palace wall. After seeing Su Fan and Xiao Xue'er leave, he returned to the palace to report to the Emperor.
...
After Su Fan brought Xiao Xue'er out.
"Alright, I've brought you out. You can go wherever you want now."
Su Fan said to Xiao Xue'er.
"You can't leave me!"
Xiao Xue'er became anxious. She had never left the palace before. If Su Fan abandoned her here, she truly didn't know what to do.
"I don't have time to accompany you. I'll be going on a bandit suppression mission in a couple of days. I can't always be with you, can I?"
Su Fan didn't want to abandon Xiao Xue'er, but he genuinely didn't have the time. After arranging things with Xiao Yan, he would be leaving. At that time, Xiao Xue'er would still have to face life on her own.
"If you can't bear it, then return to the palace."
Su Fan said to Xiao Xue'er.
A pampered princess would certainly not be accustomed to life outside. If Xiao Xue'er truly couldn't stand life outside, she should return quickly, so as not to implicate him.
"I don't want to!"
Xiao Xue'er had finally managed to get out, and she didn't want to go back so soon.
"Then take care of yourself, bye-bye."
Su Fan waved goodbye to Xiao Xue'er.
"How can you be like this!"
Xiao Xue'er stamped her feet in anger.
This Su Fan was too infuriating. Couldn't he indulge me a little?
"It's not that I won't help you, I truly can't. Either wander around on your own and return to the palace when you're tired, or go back now."
Su Fan wouldn't indulge her. She was the Emperor's princess, not his princess.