"This feeling is exactly like what I dreamed about before. It's just amazing!"
"Are you scared?" Evan Xiao asked her.
Grace turned to look at him and said, "With you here, I'm not scared at all."
Evan Xiao smiled and held her tightly in his arms. "It might rain soon. Let's take a quick spin and then head down."
"Okay."
Suddenly, as the Divine Dragon flew forward, a massive black storm appeared ahead.
Evan Xiao's eyes narrowed. "Turn back," he said.
Now that they've all been downgraded to Spirit Cultivators, if struck by lightning, he might revert to his original form.
Leon Zane turned the dragon's head and flew back.
But for some reason, the clouds below, which had been calm, suddenly rumbled—a huge bolt of lightning struck straight at them.
Leon Zane skillfully dodged and descended through a gap in the clouds.
Rain was already falling from where they'd come, lightning flashing across the land. If Leon kept flying low, they might be spotted.
He landed directly and dropped them off at Peach Creek Manor.
"Divine Dragon, you should head back," Evan Xiao said to Leon Zane. "We'll wait for the rain to ease before heading home ourselves."
Leon Zane nodded, left Peach Creek Manor, shrank down, and ran toward the city.
Leon Zane's cultivation wasn't as strong as Evan Xiao's, so he couldn't suppress his dragon energy perfectly. He needed to return to the pond at the General's Manor.
There, a magical array kept the dragon energy from leaking out.
It rained all night that evening.
Not just a downpour, but wild winds too.
They had no choice but to spend the night at Peach Creek Manor.
The next day, Grace returned home, a little worried about how she’d explain herself.
Yesterday evening, she’d told her dad she’d be out for a bit and would be right back.
Now, after being gone all night... Would her dad break her legs?
Sure enough, as soon as she got home, her dad called her over and interrogated her about where she’d been.
Grace said she’d met up with Bianca Whitefan, the Imperial Advisor’s junior apprentice, at Peach Creek Manor, but got stuck there because of the storm.
"Did the General go to Peach Creek Manor too?"
"...Yeah," she replied, a bit awkwardly.
Last night, she’d slept with Evan Xiao.
Though, they hadn’t done that kind of thing.
But... they’d definitely done other things.
Like, kissing and hugging and stuff... ahem.
"Then I’m relieved," Minister Zhuo nodded. "Alright, go on!"
"Huh? After staying out all night, that’s it?"
"Go on!"
"Oh..." Grace scratched the back of her head, feeling like her dad had suddenly become super reasonable.
In her last life, why did she think he was so unreasonable?
......
This time, her aunt’s sensing talisman had already been removed.
She needed to let her know the truth about Prince Cheng and the top courtesan Blossom Brooks.
But how could she get her to find out?
The best way was still to eavesdrop from the roof, just like last time.
But without a reason, she definitely wouldn’t agree to go.
She’d already said she’d trust Prince Cheng from now on, never doubting him again...
Luckily, Grace was clever enough.
She ran to Maya Summers and said mysteriously, "Auntie, did Prince Cheng ever mention that Diana Su’s man is back?"
"No! Why would he tell me that?" Maya Summers looked at her like she was being silly.
"I heard that the guy is someone we all know!" Grace said.
"Someone we all know? Who?" Maya Summers, being a woman herself, perked up at the gossip.