The words of Ning Zhuangyan made Chu Qitong slightly stunned, but she didn't hesitate for long. She actually scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it to Ning Zhuangyan's mouth. This was because Ning Zhuangyan was sitting on the right side of Chu Qitong. When Chu Qitong fed Ning Zhuangyan the soup, she turned her body around halfway, almost facing Ning Zhuangyan.

Watching the woman obediently take the spoon I handed her, Chu Qitong felt a sense of indescribable satisfaction welling up in her heart.

"Huang Jie!" Chu Qitong's actions made Chu Mingze's expression look a little unpleasant. No matter what, he couldn't imagine that Chu Qitong would stoop so low as to do something that only servants would do for a woman of unknown origin. Although he had an instinctual fear of Chu Qitong in his heart, he couldn't help but speak up.

Chu Qitong stopped her hand movement and turned her head to look at Chu Mingze. There seemed to be a ray of sunshine in her eyes, warm and gentle. Her voice was so tender that it seemed to instantly seep into one's heart. She said, "Aze, Yanyan is injured and it's inconvenient for her to use chopsticks. It's not a big deal for me to feed her, so don't make a fuss about it."

After Chu Qitong finished speaking, Ning Zhuangyan blinked at Chu Mingze. Chu Mingze's face grew even more unpleasant. He remembered very clearly that this girl was injured on her left shoulder. Moreover, they had already eaten half of the meal when she asked Princess Huang to feed her. Chu Mingze didn't even need to look to know that she was lying, but his own Princess Huang believed her and actually went to feed her with great respect and dignity.

Chu Mingze could only feel that he was becoming more and more unable to understand his royal sister.

The meal was quickly finished. Chu Qitong was about to go to the Qinyu Palace to pay respects to Empress Wen, while Chu Mingze had to go to the Royal Academy for his classes. Originally, Chu Qitong intended to leave Ning Zhuangyan at Qiwu Palace and wait for her return. However, Ning Zhuangyan said she wanted to see what the imperial palace looked like. Unable to refuse her, Chu Qitong reluctantly agreed.

Chu Qitong went to ask Liruo for a set of palace maid's attire. In order to avoid drawing attention, Chu Qitong had Ning Zhuangyan take over Liruo's position, pretending to be her personal maid and accompany her to the Qinyin Palace.

"Your Highness, I fail to understand why you are so protective of this girl. I know that you wish to maintain a perfect image, but even so, you wouldn't bring just anyone into the palace, would you?"

Taking advantage of the opportunity when Ning Zhuangyan went to the inner hall to change clothes, Chu Mingze couldn't help but speak, and his disgust towards Ning Zhuangyan was no longer concealed in his eyes.

Chu Qitong glanced at Chu Mingze, then stood up from her chair and lowered her head to smooth out the slight wrinkles on her clothes before saying, "Aze, Yanyan is not just any cat or dog; she is not a tool for me to manipulate."

Chu Qitong didn't know why, but when she heard Chu Mingze say that Ning Zhuangyan wasn't good, she felt a slight irritability in her heart. Without thinking, the words slipped out of her mouth, and in that moment, the mischievous smile of the girl in the red dress appeared in her mind.

"Huang Jie, even if that girl is not just a random person, she is still a demon. Look at you, you've only known her for such a short time and she has already captivated you. As a woman, you've been bewitched by her to this extent. Imagine if a man were to see her, it would be even worse. Moreover, think about her appearance when she smiles. It's exactly like a fox spirit from a storybook. Huang Jie, you..."

Azhe, that's enough. When did you start spouting so much nonsense? What time is it? Aren't you supposed to be at the school by now? Do you want to be late? It has nothing to do with you if Yanyan is a demon. You should hurry up and go to class.

Chu Mingze hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted by Chu Qitong. There was not a trace of gentleness in Chu Qitong's tone this time, only a bone-chilling coldness that struck to the bone. Chu Mingze instinctively took two steps back and then bowed to Chu Qitong, not daring to say another word.

His imperial sister, she looks like this. In front of others, she appears gentle like a soft spring breeze in March. But in front of him, she turns cold and icy, as if it were the depths of a bitter winter.