The princess regretted it.

In a quiet corner of the Imperial Garden, a gentle breeze rustled the green trees, their lush branches swaying gracefully. Beneath an ancient willow tree, Lanzhu, dressed in a pale blue palace dress, stood there with a slightly nervous expression. She glanced around cautiously from time to time, her eyes filled with vigilance, as if waiting for someone.

A moment later, a eunuch hurried down another path. He was dressed in a gray eunuch uniform, his steps brisk yet cautious. He, too, carefully observed his surroundings as he walked, fearing detection. He slowed his pace as he looked at Lan Zhu, carefully scanning his surroundings. Seeing nothing unusual, he quickened his pace and approached.

The two exchanged glances and nodded slightly. The eunuch lowered his voice and said, "Miss Lanzhu, the master has a message for you." Lanzhu leaned closer. The eunuch continued, "The master said that at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, you should find a way to lure the princess to a side hall." Lanzhu nodded gently without questioning anything, and whispered, "Please tell the Third Prince that I will definitely live up to your trust."

After saying this, the two quickly separated, disappearing in different directions of the Imperial Garden, as if they had never appeared. A figure flashed by on a willow tree not far away. The Imperial Garden was instantly filled with tranquility and peace, as if everything that had just happened was just an illusion.

In the Cuizhu Pavilion, west of the palace, the Third Prince, dressed in plain clothes and a white jade crown, was painting at his desk when a eunuch in a gray uniform bowed and entered. Without stopping his brush or even looking up, Changsun Wuwang asked calmly, "Did you deliver the message?"

The eunuch replied respectfully, "Yes, Your Highness!"

"Yes! I know!" Changsun Wuwang said calmly.

The eunuch naturally said nothing more, but just stepped aside quietly and stood with his head lowered.

After an incense stick of time, Changsun Wuwang finally stopped writing. He held the brush in his hand, staring intently at the still-inked painting for a long moment, as if he were glimpsing another world through the painting. After a while, he slowly lowered the brush. The eunuch then came forward with a damp handkerchief. Changsun Wuwang took it and gently wiped his hands.

"How about this painting?" Changsun Wuwang's faint voice sounded again.

"Your Highness, you are making things difficult for me! Although I don't understand, I feel that your painting skills are becoming more and more sophisticated. Look at these mountains and waters, they are right next to me." The eunuch said flatteringly, with a flattering smile on his face.

Zhang Sun Wuwang laughed out loud, then he looked straight at the eunuch beside him, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, "Xiao Xizi, you are becoming more and more pleasing to me!"

Xiao Xizi quickly bowed, a flattering smile plastered on his face. "Your Highness, thank you for your compliments. I was only speaking the truth. Your Highness's painting skills are already extraordinary, and I was merely expressing my thoughts."

Changsun Wuwang raised the corner of his mouth slightly and his eyes fell on the painting again.

It was a landscape painting of the Jin Dynasty. Across the scroll, towering mountains rose majestically, like a coveted dragon, majestic and vast. Peaks soared into the clouds, seemingly piercing the heavens. Green pines and cypresses stood proudly atop the mountains, like soldiers guarding the frontier. The swirling clouds and mist between the mountains resembled a galloping army. The peaks, barely visible within the mist, seemed to conceal endless secrets and opportunities.

Down the mountain, a mighty river roared past, its water surging and surging, crashing against the rocks on both sides. You could almost hear the deafening sound of the slapping. The riverside was covered with jagged rocks, but they still couldn't stop the rushing water.

The entire landscape painting uses bold and powerful ink, and the lines are strong and decisive.

Indeed, it must be said that Changsun Wuwang's painting skills are truly remarkable, and he has lived up to the hard work he has endured over the years to create a persona as gentle as jade and as elegant as a talented scholar. His endurance is unmatched by ordinary people.

After a long while, he smiled as if in self-mockery and slowly said, "Invisible swords and spears are everywhere in this palace. I can only find a moment of peace when I am painting."

Xiao Xizi put away the smile on his face and replied cautiously, "Your Highness, there is no need to be so. You are only temporarily trapped in the shallow stream. One day you will soar."

Upon hearing this, Changsun Wuwang turned to look at Xiao Xizi, his eyes revealing a hint of deepness: "Do you really think so?" The hint of pressure in these words made Xiao Xizi's heart tighten. He quickly knelt and saluted, and replied respectfully: "I dare not tease Your Highness. Every word I say is the truth."

"Alright! Get up!" Perhaps it was Xiao Xizi's attitude that pleased him, or perhaps it was Xiao Xizi's words that resonated with him. A satisfied smile appeared on Changsun Wuwang's face.

"We cannot take the current situation lightly. You need to keep a close eye on Lanzhu and report any situation in time." Changsun Wuwang did not continue with the previous topic, but changed the subject.

"I understand, Your Highness, don't worry." Xiao Xizi replied respectfully.

"Well! Go down and make some arrangements. I'm going to leave the palace in a while." Changsun Wuwang said softly.

"Yes." Xiao Xizi replied respectfully, then bowed and walked out.

Changsun Wuwang paced to the window and gazed quietly out. The yard was small, and the planters were mostly emerald green bamboo, with few exotic flowers. There were only two or three pots of seasonal flowers, none of them rare or valuable. A gust of wind blew, picking up newly fallen bamboo leaves from the ground. The wind was not strong, so it didn't carry the leaves up into the air, nor did it carry them out of the yard. It simply carried them from one corner of the yard to another.

Changsun Wuwang quietly watched the scene unfold in the courtyard. Suddenly, he slowly raised his left hand, as if feeling the sudden gust of wind, and slowly moved his palm up and down. He murmured, "A shallow stream? How long can you trap me?" At this moment, Changsun Wuwang's eyes became sharp and gloomy. He clenched his palm into a fist and struck forward with force, saying in a deep voice, "I want to see how long this shallow stream can hold me! I will eventually break free from you! This Great Jin will belong to me!"

A moment later, Xiao Xizi came in and said, "Your Highness, the carriage is ready at the palace gate. Do you want to go now?"

"Well! Let's go!" Changsun Wuwang didn't say anything else. He turned and walked out of the yard. Xiao Xizi quickly turned around and followed him.