"Crying again... Oh, don't cry! How about this—I promise Cutie Pie won't bite you anymore, and I'll even give you two extra Legacy Stones. How does that sound?"
A few leaves turned toward her, curling up and rubbing against her finger, looking utterly aggrieved.
Grace helplessly stroked it and said to Cutie Pie, "Cutie Pie, I know you don't really want to hurt it, but don't scare it anymore, okay? It barely gets enough to eat, grows so slowly, it's already pitiful enough."
I'm not trying to scare it. I just want to yank it out.
But Grace had already scooped him up. "If I can't feed it, I have to at least feed you. Come on, I'll make you something delicious, okay?"
Cutie Pie looked over from Grace's shoulder. Of the tree's five leaves, the first four curled up, while the last one stretched straight toward the sky—like a fist with only the pinky extended.
Huh! That thing really is sentient!
It mimics human behavior so perfectly!
Cutie Pie shot it a cold look, then snuggled his head against Grace's neck, acting all close and affectionate.
The little tree stopped sticking out its pinky, and all its leaves stretched wide, as if gazing at them longingly...
......
After Jason Zhuo was exonerated and promoted to Third Rank Cavalry General, Princess Olivia told the Empress Dowager about it.
To everyone's surprise, the Empress Dowager didn't voice a single objection.
In her eyes, Jason Zhuo was handsome and promising. Even though he was only the adopted son of the Prime Minister's family, he already seemed destined for greatness through his own abilities.
Compared to those spoiled sons of noble families living off their ancestors' glory, the Empress Dowager preferred someone like him.
She invited Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu over and shared her intentions.
Naturally, Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu was reluctant.
She didn't want the Zhuo family to get further entangled with the Gu family.
Especially when it came to something as major as marriage between their children.
But she couldn't outright refuse, so she just said Jason Zhuo was only an adopted son without inheritance rights—hardly worthy of a princess.
The Empress Dowager simply said that inheritance rights didn't matter at all.
Once he becomes the Princess Royal's consort, what could he possibly lack?
Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu could only force a smile and didn't say anything more.
She was already thinking about discussing it with Minister Zhuo once she got home, hoping to find some way to wriggle out of this marriage that had dropped out of nowhere.
But before they could come up with a plan, the Emperor's imperial edict for the marriage arrived.
The edict said a Princess Royal Residence would be built, and once it was finished, they could pick an auspicious date for the wedding.
The entire Zhuo household, young and old, accepted the edict together.
Afterward, everyone had their own reaction.
Kevin Zhuo looked pale, his face full of unwillingness.
Grace, of course, was thrilled.
Maya Summers cheerfully slapped Jason Zhuo on the shoulder and said, "Not bad, Consort!"
Jason Zhuo smiled, the gleam in his eyes betraying his delight.
But Minister Zhuo and Dowager Lady Evelyn Zhu both looked a bit more serious.
Grace and Jason Zhuo both knew what was on their minds.
Later, no one knew what Jason Zhuo said to them, but they stopped objecting and quietly accepted the marriage. Lena even started preparing with great fanfare...
......
Because entering the second floor of the Alchemist's Tower required at least Spirit Master level cultivation,
Grace worked hard at her cultivation every day.
While waiting for news from the Spirit Alliance, she used the spiritual energy in her pocket dimension and broke through to seventh-rank Spirit Practitioner at lightning speed.
That day, Minister Zhuo returned from court and told her, "Someone from the Vermilion Spirit Alliance is here."
Grace's eyes lit up.