The Wronged Little Lamb

"What do you mean by this? Are you all siding with her against me now?" Cecilia Chen snapped angrily.

What's gotten into the guards in this manor, one after another?

Justin Guo acts like this, and now they do too!

"Cecilia Chen, you've misunderstood! We're only following the General's orders to protect and care for the Silver Dragon Stallion," Aiden explained. "It's our duty, and we hope you'll understand."

"Get out of my way!" Cecilia huffed, and when words failed, she simply barged past them, lunging straight at Grace.

But Aiden and the other guard were quick, blocking her path in a flash.

Cecilia struck at them with both palms, and the two guards met her attack head-on.

In the blink of an eye, they exchanged seven or eight moves.

Cecilia was frustrated to realize that both guards were at the third rank!

Even one-on-one, she might not be their match.

Now that it's two against one, there's no way she could beat them.

It's just a horse—do they really need two third-rank guards to protect it?

Are they here to protect the stallion, or Lily Bai?

Cecilia withdrew her hands and glared at them coldly. "Fine! You dare collude with a spy? Just you wait!"

Throwing out her threat, Cecilia spun around and stomped off.

Grace guessed she'd go complain to Evan Xiao—accusing her of being a spy, and probably saying Aiden and Leon were in on it too...

"Goldie, are you alright?" Aiden asked.

Grace shook her head. "Thank you both!"

"Hehe, no need to be polite! Just treat us to dinner next time!" Aiden joked, practically drooling.

"Of course!" Grace replied with a smile.

Leon was much more straightforward than Aiden. He said, "If you want to thank someone, thank Commander Guo! If he hadn't given the order, we wouldn't dare do this."

Grace nodded thoughtfully.

She really ought to thank Justin Guo.

Not only thank him, but also build a good relationship—she might need his help someday!

But before that, Grace had one more thing to do.

Last night she sent a signal but didn't go out; Tenner must be worried sick.

She needed to step outside the manor to reassure him.

Evan Xiao usually didn't return to the manor until close to noon.

Grace figured, even if Cecilia wanted to snitch, she wouldn't catch him at this hour.

So, after feeding the stallion and telling the stable manager, she left the stables.

Getting a gate pass just to leave the manor was such a hassle, so she decided to climb over the wall near the Forbidden Garden.

When she reached the Forbidden Garden gate, she saw it chained up tight. Apparently, it only opened on the first day of the month?

She was a bit nervous, worried a dragon might leap out from inside, so she dashed past and climbed over the wall.

Sure enough, Tenner was nearly frantic—he'd almost gone to the Prime Minister's manor to call for backup.

Grace calmed him down, then—with Tenner's help—climbed back over the wall.

Thankfully, after two deaths in the rear garden yesterday, there wasn't a soul around today. Her trip went off without a hitch.

Just before noon, right as Grace expected, someone came and took her to Cold Moon Pavilion.

Cecilia must've just finished tattling to Evan Xiao. The moment she saw Grace, she got all worked up: "General, she admitted it herself! She said she's a spy! If you don't believe me, ask her!"

Evan Xiao looked at Lily Bai.

Lily Bai kept her head down, clutching her sleeve, looking like a wronged little lamb.

"Lily Bai, did you really say that?" Evan Xiao asked.

Grace glanced up at him cautiously and nodded.

"Are you a spy?"

She lowered her head again, saying nothing.