The prince stepped on me to get to the top, I angrily flirted with the enemy's hostage

The eunuchs had no choice but to explain, "There are so many people in the palace, it's good that the emperor remembered His Royal Highness Prince Yu..."

This explanation doesn't have any basis in confidence.

The words he spoke afterwards became smaller and smaller.

Su Rou had a blank expression on her face. "Never mind. The emperor must have his reasons for doing this."

After seeing off the eunuchs from the palace, Gong Yu squatted down beside her.

"Why did you say that on purpose just now?"

Su Rou snorted coldly. It seemed that Gong Yu had seen through her thoughts...

Su Rou said, "You are just a hostage. It is impossible for the emperor to care about you. I just asked casually to help you. Look at how arrogant those eunuchs are."

Gong Yu smiled and said, "You are a good person. You actually helped me."

Su Rou stood up and said, "Of course, it's okay. Just know that I'm good to you..."

Her voice was soft and there was a hint of coquettishness in it.

Gong Yu smiled as he stroked her hair and said, "Since you're so nice to me, try not to get angry at me next time."

Su Rou said, "When have I ever lost my temper with you? You must have mistaken me for someone else."

Gong Yu laughed, his eyes full of helplessness and doting for her.

Her father and third brother would sometimes look at her with such expressions, and they could really tell each other's emotions at a glance...

Su Rou stood up and said, "These things the emperor gave you are not good at all. They are not as good as the ones I have. I won't fight with you for them."

Gong Yu picked up two gold bars and stuffed them into Su Rou's pockets, "New Year's money."

Su Rou was stunned. "Ah? Why are you giving me New Year's money? Why do I feel like you are taking advantage of me?"

Gong Yu is not her brother.

Gong Yu said, "Why are you so narrow-minded?"

Su Rou snorted coldly, but still accepted the gold bar he handed over.

The emperor gave Gong Yu only ten gold bars in total, which was probably Gong Yu's living expenses for the whole year. He would give him new ones on New Year's Eve next year.

Although it was a lot, it was really insignificant for a prince or noble.

The maids and servants in Prince Yu's Mansion were basically paid monthly by the palace, so Gong Yu could save some money.

Su Rou said, "But we should stay up all night to celebrate the New Year. I'm already an adult, so it doesn't matter whether I get lucky money or not."

In addition, she knew that Gong Yu must have brought money from the South Country, so she felt more at ease.

Gong Yu said, "You want to stay at my house? I've asked someone to prepare candied fruits and fried dough sticks. You can stay here tonight. I'll take you back tomorrow."

Su Rou waved her hand, "No, I have to go back today."

Before coming out, Ji asked her if she would go back tonight. If she didn't go back, wouldn't she be slapping herself in the face?

A trace of loneliness flashed in Gong Yu's eyes, "Hmm..."

Gong Yu's place was actually quite deserted, and Su Rou felt sleepy after staying here for a while.

Gong Yu saw her eyelids twitching and said, "I asked someone to buy some firecrackers. Do you want to play with them?"

Su Rou perked up, "Is it okay?"

Gong Yu nodded, "I bought a slightly larger one. I plan to order it after midnight. You can play with the smaller ones."

Su Rou happily asked the servants in the mansion to bring her two small flowers.

It was lit with an open flame and she squatted beside it, having a lot of fun playing with it.

The city had been under curfew for the past few days due to the invasion of the desert, but since this situation coincided with the New Year, the emperor naturally wanted to maintain the happiness of the people...

Su Rou said, "These days, you can see this thing everywhere in the city. I've always wanted to play with it, but the maids in the mansion were afraid that I would burn a hole in my clothes, so they stopped me from doing that."

Gong Yu sat in the room, took a sip of tea, and watched Su Rou squatting outside the door having fun.

Su Rou waited until midnight and was so sleepy that she couldn't stand it anymore.

Gong Yu was wearing a cloak and standing with her in the yard.

The servants in the mansion lit firecrackers, and Su Rou covered her ears and hid behind Gong Yu.

There was a loud "bang", and Su Rou's head was buzzing.

Seeing this, the servants hurried over to support Su Rou, thinking that she was frightened.

Unexpectedly, Su Rou laughed happily, "I'm fine, I'm just a little happy."

This is her first year since returning.

Gong Yu sent her back to the general's mansion.

Su Rou got off the carriage and looked back at Gong Yu. "I'm going to go back and rest first. Come to my house tomorrow. Tomorrow is the first day of the new year. I'll go out with you."

On the first day of the new year, ministers from all walks of life in the court sent gifts one after another. Some were for Su Wan, but some were specifically for Su Rou.

The yard was packed with people, and Su Rou had nowhere to step when she got up early in the morning.

It was just dawn outside and she had already been called several times by the maid.

Su Rou was wearing a bright red dress and yawned as she stepped into the main hall.

Everyone in the room immediately stood up and bowed respectfully to Su Rou.

"Miss Su, Happy New Year."

Su Rou was stunned when she saw the room full of people. Don’t these people sleep on New Year’s Eve?

Su Rou politely responded, "Happy New Year, uncles and aunts."

"Captain Su, General Su is away, so my master ordered me to deliver the New Year's gift. I hope you will accept it."

The person who spoke was wearing the official uniform of the Censorate, and everyone present could recognize him.

Su Rou narrowed her eyes slightly. The Queen's incident had caused the Censor to take some care of her...

Su Rou said, "Thank you."

Everyone gathered together, one person left and another came.

Su Rou is so busy that she has no time to spare.

In previous years, when someone came to visit, it was always her father who was in charge of handling it. Seeing this, she felt that it would be better to make Ji Shi the legitimate heir as soon as possible...

The eldest lady is the housekeeper, so there is no need for her, the legitimate daughter, to step out and act as the face of the household.

Suddenly, a maid rushed in from outside the door. She walked quickly to Su Rou and stopped. She leaned down, leaned close to Su Rou's ear, and said in a low voice, "Miss, something happened. Please come with me outside."

Su Rou looked over the maid's shoulder and saw a man in armor standing outside.

She realized something was wrong, stood up, and told the other maids, "Take good care of these adults."

Come to the yard.

The maidservant lowered her voice and said, "Miss, Master and Miss Yuan's caravan encountered some trouble on the road. They were robbed by bandits. This person came back specifically to inform them that the Second Madam has escaped..."

Su Rou's brows knitted together, "ran away? Or disappeared?"

The maid's eyes wandered, and she looked troubled as she gave her a definite answer, "He ran away..."

Su Rou raised her hand and slapped her forehead. This Meng might have regained some consciousness a long time ago and was just looking for an opportunity.

Su Rou didn't quite understand what the purpose of Meng's behavior was.

In today's world, if a weak woman like Meng runs away with no one to protect her, will she be able to return to her country by herself?

Su Rou looked at the soldier and asked, "Brother, have you sent anyone to look for them? As long as they haven't fallen into the hands of bandits or criminals, the rest will go with the Second Madam."

The Second Lady had been in the General's Mansion for so many years, and she had a second brother. She had always thought that she had no other thoughts.

She was really caught off guard by the news that came back on New Year's Day.

The soldier said, "Master said that if he can't find it, he will keep looking for it and he will give Second Master an explanation..."

Su Rou said, "Go back and tell him that even if he finds it, it's useless. It's better to reach the Southland as soon as possible and avoid causing any more trouble."

The soldier nodded and turned to leave.

Su Rou then asked the maid, "Did the Second Madam have any money with her when she ran away?"

The maid shook her head. "The Second Madam's condition hasn't improved, so the money is all with the Fourth Madam."

Su Rou: “…”

It will take at least until the New Year for things to slowly recover. Meng has no money on her, so there is only one outcome for her: either she will be caught by some criminals passing by.

Or starve to death in the wilderness.

Su Rou returned to the main hall, and the adults asked with concern, "Miss Su, what happened?"

Su Rou waved her hand and said, "Nothing, it's just that the maid in the mansion broke a plate and she's afraid that I'll blame her."

What a joke! How could they possibly tell them about the scandals in the general's mansion?

As soon as Su Rou sat back down, a familiar figure appeared outside the door.

Everyone in the room saluted the man and said, "His Royal Highness Prince Yu has come to wish Miss Su a happy new year."

Su Rou looked towards the door.

Gong Yu's long hair was tied up, and the beautiful and exquisite hair crown looked very familiar. She seemed to have seen this style on Xie Yuan's head...