She held a black fox fur cape with a lining in her hand.
"This doesn’t seem like the Princess’s clothing!"
Although it looks similar, it’s so big, it definitely can’t be the Princess’s!
And these buttons...
Ying Luo turned the buttons over and examined them carefully.
"These buttons... are they made of agate? The Princess surely doesn’t have these!"
"Judging by the size, this seems like men’s cape, oh dear!"
"Could it be that she took the Fourth Prince’s clothing by mistake?"
Ying Luo was frustrated.
"Even if they look similar, it shouldn’t be so stupid!"
"However... these buttons look quite familiar! I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere!"
Ying Luo thought long and hard, and finally remembered.
During that raid on the bandits, she found one identical button on the ground, and the Princess gave it to her at the time!
She hurried to the storage room to take out that button for comparison.
When the two buttons were placed together, they were identical!
Ying Luo was shocked.
"Could it be... the masked person who saved the Princess last time was the Fourth Prince?"
"Hmm... it’s possible!"
"The Fourth Prince has an eccentric personality, such a minor thing should be nothing to him!"
She put the button back, picked up the button again, and pondered how to tell the Princess about it tomorrow.
...
Early the next morning.
Yue Er listened to Ying Luo’s report and looked at the so-called ’Fourth Prince’s’ clothing.
Her eyebrows immediately furrowed.
"Fourth Brother?"
"Fourth Brother doesn’t have this clothing, I’ve never seen him wear it!"
"Ah?" Ying Luo was stunned.
"Could it be... one of the other three lords’?"
Yue Er thought for a moment.
"If the owner of this clothing is the same person who saved me last time, then it implies... he is quite familiar with me!" Who would save her if they weren’t familiar?
"Could it really be Fourth Brother?"
Yue Er examined the clothing several times and finally confirmed.
"This clothing isn’t tailor-made, it definitely isn’t Fourth Brother’s!"
The Princes’ clothing is all custom-made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and each piece would have a marking, but there was nothing on this clothing, so...
"Could it be my two cousins?"
Yue Er muttered to herself, then shook her head.
"They’re not very familiar with me!"
They couldn’t possibly save her, especially whilst wearing a mask. It’s too mysterious, impossible!
Cousins, not like close relations, there’s no likelihood.
"That leaves only Young Master Shi!" Ying Luo cautiously said.
The Princess despises Young Master Shi, she usually doesn’t dare mention him!
Yue Er stared blankly at the black fox fur cloak with white lining, lost in thought.
"Shih Shaoling?"
Why would he save me, doesn’t he hate me the most?
Every time he sees her, he looks so displeased, how could he possibly save her?!
Yue Er couldn’t accept it for a while.
Ying Luo laughed and said.
"I’ve heard people say there are such people who are tough-talking but soft-hearted, saying one thing and meaning another!"
"He may say that, but in reality... it could be the opposite!"
Yue Er twitched the corner of her mouth.
"Is such a person mentally unwell?"
"Is it interesting to like something but pretend not to, making others guess?"
Ying Luo said nothing.
Yue Er moved the cloak aside and rubbed her forehead.
"I don’t want to see it now, I’m hungry, serve breakfast! I’ll visit Mother later!"
"Yes!"
Ying Luo carefully put the cloak away and turned to leave.
The room immediately fell silent, Yue Er lay askance on the couch.
Her gaze fixed on the window, on the budding plum tree.
The deep brown, rugged branches were adorned with clusters of flower buds the size of grains, reflecting the warm winter morning sun, very beautiful.
For some reason, her heart suddenly felt sweet, a sense of relief.
Like a child who cried for a long time suddenly getting candy, or like a long-troubled problem finally being resolved.
She felt very relieved.
"The weather is really nice!" She murmured, and the smile on her face blossomed.
Breakfast quickly filled the table.
Not having had time for dinner last night, she had a ravenous appetite.
She finished a whole bowl of porridge and two plates of dishes.
The remaining half an egg was also eaten, she had some warm roasted fruits, and tasted some dishes she usually doesn’t care for.
Like roast quail, crispy small bread pieces, like... hot milk, and other things she hadn’t tried before.
Ying Luo’s eyes widened, a little unbelieving.
"The Princess has a good appetite today!"
Yue Er laughed.
"The weather is good, and it’s almost New Year’s, Mother always says I’m too thin, I need to eat more!"
"These new kitchen maids cook well, give them each a reward!"
Ying Luo was stunned, but obediently agreed, though she murmured to herself:
The Princess usually doesn’t reward people easily! These kitchen maids are really lucky!