Auntie, What Are You Doing Here

The two stopped in their tracks, listening closely.

"Where exactly did your young lady go?" The man's voice was a bit shrill—clearly a eunuch.

Grace recognized the voice instantly. He was the chief eunuch serving Colin Gu—Gavin Gao.

"Maybe you should head back first, Eunuch Gao?" Claire said awkwardly. "As soon as our young lady returns, I'll send her to see His Majesty right away."

"How could that be? I'll wait a little longer." Gavin Gao was surprisingly patient.

Grace frowned. It's so late—why would Colin Gu summon her now?

If it were something important, he could've gone through her father, her older brother, or even Zuo Jingkang.

But sending Gavin Gao to fetch her? Why did that feel so strange?

She couldn't go.

No matter what his intentions were, she couldn't go.

Grace pulled Hope along, walking back until they were out of earshot of the tent. She whispered, "Hope, go back now and say I was almost killed tonight, I'm scared, so I went to sleep in my aunt's tent..."

Hope nodded repeatedly and turned back to the tent.

Once inside, she put on a surprised face. "Eh? Isn't this Eunuch Gao? What are you doing here?"

"Where's your young lady?" Gavin Gao asked.

"Our young lady was almost killed tonight. She's terrified, so she's staying with Princess Maya Summers!" Hope said. "Eunuch Gao, do you need anything? Should I fetch her from the princess's tent?"

By "our princess," Hope meant Maya Summers.

Maya Summers's formal title was "Princess Maya Summers."

"I see..." Gavin Gao thought for a moment, then waved his hand. "No need for now, I'll go back and report to His Majesty."

"Alright. Take care, Eunuch Gao."

Two maids saw Gavin Gao off. Then Claire whispered, "Where's our young lady?"

"She really went to the princess!" Hope said. "Why does His Majesty want to see our young lady?"

"No idea, Gavin Gao wouldn't say..."

...

Behind a clump of saber-toothed grass, Maya Summers had her eyes closed, her face flushed with anticipation, waiting for Prince Cheng to kiss her.

This was going to be her first kiss.

She was shy, nervous, and excited all at once.

But just then, someone suddenly grabbed her arm: "Auntie, what are you doing here?"

Maya Summers jolted and turned her head—only to see Grace!

The look of surprise on her face—what was that supposed to be?!

"Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing out here?" Maya Summers asked, flustered and annoyed.

"I almost died at the hands of Samuel Sun tonight. I'm still a little scared, and I just don't feel safe, so I can't sleep," Grace said.

"If you can't sleep, then don't! But why are you running around?" Grace had interrupted Maya's first kiss, and she was fuming.

"I want to sleep with you!" Grace grinned widely and ran over to hug her arm.

"You—" Maya Summers pulled her arm away, about to lose her temper.

"Eh? Prince Cheng, you're here too?" Grace suddenly exclaimed.

Prince Cheng happened to be standing in the shadows, while Maya Summers was in the light. Grace pretended she'd only just noticed him and bowed. "Greetings, Prince Cheng."

Prince Cheng smiled, "No need for formalities."

Honestly, all the Gu princes had good looks.

Prince Cheng wasn't just handsome—he was the most gifted among his brothers. Those dreamy peach blossom eyes, that rare elemental root... No wonder her aunt was so smitten.

"Uh... Did I just interrupt something?" Grace asked, looking innocent.