"Cutie Pie!" Grace's eyes lit up as she ran over and scooped it into her arms. "You're back?"
Cutie Pie nodded.
Then it burrowed straight into her embrace.
"That's wonderful!" Grace hugged it tightly and started walking. "Come with me!"
After a couple of steps, she stopped again and turned to look at Beanie.
Beanie used to be just as tall as her palm, but now it reached her knee.
It had gotten much thicker, sprouted several new leaves, and all the foliage was a vibrant green—looking especially healthy and beautiful.
Even its magic vine had grown plumper and sturdier.
"Whoa, Beanie! How did you suddenly get so chubby? And you shot up so much, too!" Grace asked curiously.
Beanie lifted a leaf and waved it at her cheerfully.
"Don't tell me..." Grace squatted down and eyed it suspiciously. "Did you sneak and eat some of my pills again?"
Beanie quickly waved its leaves, insisting it was innocent.
"Then what happened? Could it be... because you were near the Spirit Tree lately and soaked up all that spiritual energy?"
Beanie nodded with its leaves.
"Really?"
It nodded its leaves again.
"...You better not be lying to me! Naughty sprouts get no treats."
Beanie straightened up tall, showing it was definitely a good sprout.
With that, Grace patted it, scooped up Cutie Pie, and left the sanctum, heading back to her own room.
There was a letter tied to Cutie Pie's tail.
Grace opened the letter.
It was written by Evan Xiao.
He said that over on King Tianpeng’s side, they’d secured help from a faction within the Eastern Luo Empire, and that their secret message had been intercepted by that faction.
Things had gotten extremely dangerous for a while—he hadn’t even had a chance to send a letter to the Prime Minister.
But now, everything was fine.
He and Shannon were with Henry Tuoba, and they’d already taken control of the situation.
Evan Xiao told her to wait.
There would be news in three days.
Three days from now—wasn’t that the day of the Tree Planting Ceremony?
Grace burned the letter, grinning from ear to ear.
Cutie Pie thought her smile was adorable and leaned in to give her a kiss.
Grace caught it and laughed, "Cutie Pie, did you go off with Evan Xiao these past few days?"
Cutie Pie nodded.
"Is he alright? Was he hurt at all?"
Cutie Pie shook its head.
"The letter sounded pretty dangerous. Can you go back and find him again? Help me keep him safe." Grace asked.
Cutie Pie nodded.
He was planning to leave anyway.
It was Cutie Pie who found someone to subdue that faction in the Eastern Luo Empire—he couldn't leave now.
"Thank you!" Grace gave him a kiss and ruffled the fluff on his head. "Go on, hurry!"
But Cutie Pie dove into her arms again.
"Hey? Why are you so clingy all of a sudden?" Grace laughed, stroking him. After a long while, he finally left, looking back with every step.
...
The day before the Tree Planting Ceremony, Grace entered the palace and stayed in Eastgate Palace as usual.
She had barely settled in when Wendy Zhu arrived.
She kept calling her 'Sister' with every sentence, looking especially cheerful.
Grace found herself increasingly unable to understand her.
What was she so happy about?
With doubts in her heart, Grace finally asked, "Wendy, you seem even happier than I am! What are you so happy about?"
Wendy smiled, "Sister, you and His Majesty are finally getting your happily ever after. Of course your little sister is thrilled for you!"
Grace: "It's just the two of us here. Speak plainly."
Wendy laughed again. "You don't believe me? You think I should be jealous—crazy jealous, right?"
Grace looked at her, saying nothing.
"I'm really not jealous!" Wendy said. "Not only am I not jealous, but just thinking about you makes me genuinely happy!"
"How does that make sense?" Grace asked.