TFWYH – Chapter 605 Gift Exchange

Thinking of this, Yuan Yuan smiled as she accepted the hairpin, then removed her own and handed it over.

“Friends should exchange gifts. You gave me a hairpin, so I’ll give you one too—that’s how it should be!”

Huangfu Ronglan accepted it, flattered and delighted, grinning foolishly. “Pretty!”

“Yes, it looks best on you,” Yuan Yuan said warmly. “My name is Yuan Yuan. What’s your name?”

“I… I’m called Lan’er!”

“Then we’re good friends from now on. Can I come visit you often?”

“Yes, yes… come play with Lan’er. You’re pretty, I like you!”

At that, Huangfu Ronglan suddenly tucked the hairpin away and began looking around nervously.

Yuan Yuan asked gently, “What’s wrong?”

“Friend’s gift… must hide it. Cui Liu will snatch it!” With that, she ran back into the room.

It looked like she had gone to hide the hairpin.

Yuan Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle, then turned to Huangfu Yi. “Your Highness, the young lady is so adorable.”

Huangfu Yi gave a helpless smile. “You’re very patient. Even her own mother wasn’t this patient—otherwise she wouldn’t have been bullied by a few wretched servants.”

Yuan Yuan sighed softly. “If she were my child, seeing her like this would break my heart. I’d only cherish her more. The Princess Consort is her birth mother—how could she truly ignore her? There must be some misunderstanding.”

Huangfu Yi let out a cold laugh. “What misunderstanding could there be? She simply saw that the child was foolish and stopped caring. I must have been blind to marry such a vicious woman.”

Yuan Yuan rolled her eyes inwardly but continued to persuade him gently, “How could that be? Your Highness, you’re overthinking. All parents love their children—even a cow protects its calf. The Princess Consort is of noble status and must have a mother’s heart. How could she truly neglect the young lady?”

Huangfu Yi shook his head and lightly tapped her forehead. “You’re just too kind. That woman is worse than a beast. Otherwise, how could Lan’er have lived in such conditions before—unkempt, dirty, and poorly clothed? If she truly cared, at the very least her basic needs would have been properly arranged.”

“Th-this…” Yuan Yuan was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Enough, don’t mention her,” Huangfu Yi said. “It only annoys me. I see Lan’er likes you very much—you must come visit her often from now on.”

Yuan Yuan nodded. “The young lady is noble, pure, and lovely. For her to like me is my blessing. I’ll definitely come often to keep her company and play with her.”

Huangfu Yi chuckled, about to tease her further, when a servant came to report:

“Your Highness, Vice General Wan of the Black-Scale Cavalry has arrived.”

“Alright, I’ll go now,” Huangfu Yi said. Then he turned to Yuan Yuan. “Stay here and keep Lan’er company. I’ll come back later to have dinner with you.”

“Go attend to your matters, Your Highness. I’ll take good care of the young lady!”

Huangfu Yi kissed the corner of her lips, earning a coy glare from her, then left with a laugh.

Once he was gone, Yuan Yuan’s smile gradually faded.

At that moment, Huangfu Ronglan came out again, tugging gently at Yuan Yuan’s sleeve.

“Friend… play!”

“Alright. What would you like to play? Shall I tell you a story?”

“A story?”

“Yes. Once upon a time…”

…

Perhaps because Huangfu Ronglan was Ling Yu’s elder sister, Yuan Yuan showed her exceptional patience.

The two female shadow guards exchanged a glance and quietly withdrew.

Since Huangfu Yi had said he would dine here, they went to instruct the kitchen to prepare his favorite dishes.

However—

not long after they left, a group of people stormed toward the garden pavilion in force…