He Is Fasting Alone in the Forbidden Garden

Grace smiled and asked, "I have a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it?"

"What is it?"

Grace took out the handkerchief. "This belongs to you, right?"

Princess Xinyao bit her lip. "Why do you have it?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you wanted to express... that kind of feeling to my big brother, right?"

Princess Xinyao took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, that's right! I like Jason Zhuo."

"What does the princess like about my brother? Is it just because he saved you?"

Princess Xinyao thought for a moment and said, "The person who saved me had this faint herbal scent. I really liked that."

Later, I found out it was him, and I liked the way he looked too.

Then I started asking around about him, and I really liked his character too!

Basically... I just can't forget him. I keep thinking about him, and I always want to go wherever he goes...

Seeing the look in her eyes, Grace had to admit—this girl was hopelessly in love...

"Alright, I understand," Grace said. "On behalf of my brother, thank you for favoring him, Princess."

"So, what does he mean by all this?"

"Princess, you're smart, beautiful, and gracious—of course my brother likes you too," Grace said for her brother. "But he's always thinking of others. He sees himself as just an adopted son of the Prime Minister's estate, so I doubt he'll respond to you."

Princess Xinyao's eyes dimmed. "So, was it your idea for me to go to your house on his birthday?"

Grace nodded. "Princess, I wanted you to come."

Princess Xinyao was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll go."

...

This time in the palace, from start to finish, there was no sign of Colin Gu.

Grace let out a sigh of relief.

Looks like he's too scared to face her right now, haha.

The weather had been bad for the past couple of days, all gloomy and gray.

Today was even worse than yesterday—it looked like it might rain any minute.

Grace urged the carriage to hurry back, but on the way to the Zhu residence, she ran into Louis Lin.

Louis Lin had been on his way to find her at the Zhu residence, but they bumped into each other on the road.

"Is there news from the General?" Grace asked.

"No," Louis Lin replied. "I wanted to ask you to check on Cutie Pie."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He won't eat or drink, just stays alone in the Forbidden Garden," Louis Lin said. "Cutie Pie was already recovering from old injuries, and now, seeing him like this is really worrying!"

Grace frowned and said, "Let's go!"

She rode a horse and went to the General's Manor with Louis Lin.

Just like Louis Lin said, Cutie Pie looked really bad.

A little snake was curled up on the edge of the pond, its head drooping on its body, looking listless.

"Cutie Pie." Grace walked up to him.

He glanced up at her, then dropped his head again.

"Are you still mad at me?" Grace asked.

No response.

"Louis Lin said you haven't eaten anything. Aren't you hungry?"

Still no response.

"You're still recovering from your injuries, you can't just stop eating. Be good, go have something to eat!" Grace poked him gently.

The Antler Serpent still ignored her.

"You really are..." Grace was both annoyed and worried. She frowned and took out the Vermilion Order from her spatial realm, holding it up in front of him. "Are you mad about this? Here, take it! I don't even want it anymore, you can bite it or eat it if you like!"

The Antler Serpent finally glanced at her.

"Mm! Here you go!" She held the Vermilion Order to his mouth.

The Antler Serpent slowly got up, but didn't touch the Vermilion Order.

He entered her spatial realm.