Prince! The political conspiracy is not a play, the show is real

"Boss, how much is this one? I want to buy it."

Tao Yao was about to reach into her pocket to take out some silver when the stall owner shook his head, smiled, and pushed Yao Zhuo in front of her. He said, "This wooden sculpture is destined to be with you, young master. It wants to go with you of its own free will. I won't accept any money from you."

"Ah? You really gave it to me!"

Tao Yao took Yao Zhuo as if he were a treasure, holding it in her hands, looking at and smelling it. She didn't expect that this wood carving was not only exquisitely carved to make Yao Zhuo look vivid, but when she smelled it carefully, she could also smell a faint fragrance of peach blossoms, as if Yao Zhuo had truly come alive in her palm.

"Today, Chunfeng Tower is going to perform a play about this fox fairy. If you are interested, you can go and watch it."

The stall owner pushed over a small wooden sign with a line of gold-splashed characters engraved on it, stating that only distinguished guests of Chunfeng Tower could carry this sign, and with this sign, they could watch the "Fox Fairy Record" specially arranged by Chunfeng Tower for the Lantern Festival.

Tao Yao suddenly realized that it was a salesman sent by Chunfenglou to the street to promote their plays. She hurriedly asked, "Could it be that you want to give me a wooden sculpture first and then blackmail me into buying this Chunfenglou sign?"

Tao Yao pushed the wooden sign back without hesitation and said, "Don't try to force a sale on me. I only want this fox carving, nothing else. How much is it? I'll give it to you."

Tao Yao felt that something was wrong with the stall owner. The fox mask on his face looked half-smiling and extremely evil - just like someone.

Tao Yao leaned down, supported herself on the stall with her hands, and approached the stall owner inch by inch. Through the fox mask, she gradually matched the man in front of her with the outline in her memory.

"Xiao Chu?"

Tao Yao called him tentatively.

The stall owner's eyes were a little evasive, but he still pretended to be calm and pushed her away, saying, "Sir, if you are not interested, forget it."

Tao Yao completely recognized the man in front of her as Chu Huanjun. She laughed heartily and called him, "Little Chu!"

Chu Huanjun couldn't stand her, so he surrendered and took off his fox mask. The moment the mask came off, Tao Yao also removed the black cloth covering her face and laughed even louder. "Hahahaha, it's really you! Tell me, you're a noble, how did you end up selling your skills in the streets?"

Seeing her smile so happily, Chu Huanjun joined in the laughter and said nonchalantly, "The New Year is almost here. I've been staying in the palace with my father all day these past few days and I'm almost getting bored. It just so happens that today is the first day of the Lantern Festival, so I came to join in the fun and have some fun."

Tao Yao shook the fox wood carving in her hand and said with a smile, "Is this what you're looking for fun? I never thought that despite your usual arrogant appearance, you actually have quite a bit of skill!"

Chu Huanjun handed her another wooden sculpture of "Chang Yu" and said, "If you like them, take both away. This is a gift for you."

Tao Yao shook her head, pushed Chang Yu back to his hand, and held the Yao Zhuo in her hand before her eyes as if it were a treasure, looking at it again and again, and said, "I only like this one, I don't want any other."

Chu Huanjun scolded her, "You have no taste. This one is the better one."

Tao Yao's eyes rolled around, as if she had thought of something, and suddenly asked, "Did you recognize me a long time ago and deliberately talk to me? How did you recognize me! - I was wrapped so tightly."

Chu Huanjun coughed a few times. She certainly hadn't imagined that he'd bribed several of the Shi Mansion's servants to spy on her, knowing her every move. All of his chance encounters were deliberate, and today was no exception—knowing she was coming, he'd set up his stall in the most conspicuous spot on the street, waiting for her.

But Chu Huanjun simply changed the subject nonchalantly: "Didn't you recognize me too?"

"Okay." Tao Yao was too lazy to go into the details. Anyway, there would be no chance for them to meet again.

Although she had seen his most terrifying face in the foreseeable future, he was indeed a good person during the days they knew each other. Since they would go their separate ways in the future, it would be better to part ways amicably tonight.

"What are you thinking about?" Chu Huanjun's voice sounded in his ears.

Tao Yao came to her senses and found that Chu Huanjun had packed up the stall at some point, leaving only a large sack there.

Tao Yao was filled with admiration for his amazing hand speed. "I was wondering how you managed to put all this away in such a split second. Just like many things you do, you can complete them beautifully in the blink of an eye when no one is paying attention."

Chu Huanjun tilted his head and thought for a moment, then asked, "For example, what about that day when I rescued you from the bamboo forest?"

Tao Yao shook her head and said, "More than that. Although I haven't known you for long, in the time we've known each other, I feel that you're not a bad person. I hope you keep doing this and continue to be a good person in the future."

Her conversation was so confusing that Chu Huanjun was completely bewildered. "What do you mean by 'I'm not a bad person'? What do you mean by 'I'll continue to be a good person in the future'? Shi Taoyao, am I really that intolerable in your eyes?"

Chu Huanjun usually had a playful look on his face, but now he suddenly became serious, which made Tao Yao feel a little uncomfortable.

He was a little angry, thinking that Tao Yao shouldn't judge him as "good" or "bad" without any basis. Besides, there is no distinction between good and bad in this world, right and wrong are in the human heart.

He was angry because anyone could think he was a bad person, but Shi Taoyao couldn't.

——He thought that he had never been bad to Tao Yao, and it had always been like this from the past to the present.

After Chu Huanjun asked this, Tao Yao heard the dissatisfaction in his tone. She suddenly realized that she always looked at Chu Huanjun from the perspective of a future omniscient person, but perhaps - the current Chu Huanjun did not know what the future would be like.

If she had not entered this world and replaced the original Shi Taoyao, would they have truly loved each other and become husband and wife?

Taoyao shook her head, trying to shake off the thoughts that had just popped up in her mind. The Taoyao in the past was the Taoyao in the past, and the Taoyao now was her. Since she knew the ending in advance, she would not be like a moth flying into the flame.

"I'm speaking frankly, that's what I mean. I hope you will always be a good person. Isn't this a very sincere and heartfelt wish? It's just like, I hope you will always be well in the future, it's the same meaning." she added.

Chu Huanjun sneered and replied, "Is that really what you mean? Shi Taoyao, I always feel like you're avoiding me. Why?"

Tao Yao was frightened by his words. She was indeed deliberately avoiding him, but she didn't expect it to be so obvious that he knew it.

"Why else? You're an extremely noble prince, and I'm an insignificant nobody. We shouldn't have had any contact." Tao Yao replied quickly, "I should be the one feeling strange. Prince Yi is of noble status and has high standards, so why would he care about my attitude towards you?"

Her question left Chu Huanjun speechless.

"No reason, I'm just happy."

Whenever this happened, Chu Huanjun's attitude would become ambiguous.

"Yes, you are right. An ordinary person like you would be invisible in a crowd, let alone catch the eye of me, Chu Huanjun."

Then, he would instantly turn into a hedgehog with irritated hair and deliberately say some angry words.

Tao Yao had expected him to say these words, and she couldn't help but feel happy. Suddenly, her eyes smiled and her brows relaxed, and her expression was no longer as solemn as before.

I really don't know what's wrong with Chu Huanjun. Not only did she catch Chu Huanjun's eye, but she could also make things happen at will and easily mess up his mood.