An Lingrong is reborn to live for herself.

After talking with Fucha Yilan, An Lingrong felt confused. However, now that the Empress Dowager had arranged for her to stay in Shou Kang Palace, she could not return to Suiyu Pavilion to discuss the matter with Zhen Huan for the time being. She could only suppress her feelings and tell herself to wait and see.

However, there were many things about Fucha Yilan that she couldn't understand. For example, she envied Fucha Yilan's glorious family background, but Fucha Yilan envied her simple family background with few worries.

Thinking of this, An Lingrong put down the pattern she was drawing, tapped her shoulder lightly, and chuckled softly. It is said that all people suffer, but is it the world that is suffering, or is it the insatiable human heart that makes it hard to escape suffering?

-------

As dusk deepened, it was time to light the lamps.

Frost and snow were tending to An Lingrong as she painted and embroidered patterns. This required careful observation, so she went out for a while and then brought back several palace lanterns from somewhere, which she lit. Perhaps worried that it wouldn't be bright enough for An Lingrong, she also placed a red candle, about the thickness of a child's arm, on the windowsill not far away.

Sure enough, after all that fuss, the room was much brighter.

An Lingrong raised her head, looked at the candlelight, and pondered slightly, "Did you quietly move all the palace lanterns and candlesticks from Shou Kang Palace here?"

Shuangxue chuckled, "Does Your Highness consider me a mouse?"

Upon hearing this, An Lingrong realized that what she said might not be quite right, so she smiled and said, "Look at all the lanterns you've lit, I don't know what to say for a moment. Who did you ask for these lanterns from?"

"It's a long story. I know that the palace doesn't have enough lamps, so I went to Aunt Zhuxi, who is in charge of the lighting, to borrow some. However, Aunt Zhuxi said that the Empress Dowager is always frugal and has a set amount for her daily expenses. If we need them now, we can only borrow some from the Empress Dowager's palace."

"How could I dare to answer? I could only say that I suddenly thought that if you were rushing to meet the deadline, you might need to embroider at night as well, so I came to inquire first. But it doesn't seem so urgent now, so it's alright if I don't have any right now."

An Lingrong nodded. Shuangxue was intelligent and quick-witted, which reassured her. "Your answer is very good. During the day, the Empress Dowager instructed Fucha Yilan and me to complete the Wanfu embroidery scroll for the end-of-month prayer ceremony. If I were to forcefully ask for it now, it would make me seem arrogant. I am very grateful that you thought of me," she said with a smile. "However, where did these lamps come from?"

“The palace lanterns were sent by Miss Fucha and the Fifth Prince,” Shuangxue replied.

If Shuangxue hadn't mentioned it, the palace lanterns used in the palace were all similar in shape, making them difficult to distinguish. It was only after Shuangxue pointed it out that An Lingrong noticed that the intricate patterns painted on the palace gauze used on the two lanterns were different.

After hearing this, An Lingrong was puzzled. "I heard that the Fifth Prince's injuries have not yet fully healed and he is still recuperating. How come he seems to know so much about what's happening in the palace?"

Shuangxue replied, "This servant doesn't know either, but the person who delivered the palace lanterns was someone I know. Can you guess who it was?"

An Lingrong slightly raised her eyelids, looking at Shuangxue's expression as if she couldn't hold back her words, and deliberately said angrily, "I can't guess. If you don't want to say, then don't say. It's tiring to guess."

Frost and Snow were anxious and quickly replied, "Please don't be angry, Your Highness. I'll tell you! The person sent by the Fifth Prince to deliver the palace lanterns is the guard Shi Ran."

An Lingrong asked in surprise, "How could he be in Shou Kang Palace? Palace guards are only allowed to walk in front of the emperor. Even those on duty in the inner palace have never been allowed to live in the palace."

Shuangxue replied, "This servant also finds it strange. However, yesterday when I went to Aunt Zhuxi to collect my supplies, I followed her directions to the east storeroom. On the way, I passed by Shoudong Palace and saw guards on duty at the gate. I don't know why."

“Shoudong Palace was a place set aside by the Empress Dowager for the Fifth Prince to live in…” An Lingrong said softly.

If everyone at the Fifth Prince's residence was on duty, then it wouldn't be surprising if Shi Ran, as an imperial bodyguard, was assigned to the position. The Emperor had mentioned it when he first heard of the Fifth Prince's injury at Suiyu Pavilion; at that time, Shi Ran should have been by his side as his bodyguard.

Judging from this, it seems that Shi Ran is quite trusted by the Fifth Prince, which is why he is even entrusted with tasks such as delivering items.

However, guards are men after all. If someone with ulterior motives sees them having sex, it will be a handle for them to use against them. What is the Fifth Prince's intention, or is it a deliberate arrangement by someone?

"Do you know who is serving the Fifth Prince now?" An Lingrong asked after a moment's thought.

"I heard that the Fifth Prince is being served by a eunuch named Yunxiu. Originally, the Fifth Prince also had a wet nurse who had taken care of him since he was a prince. But I heard from the people in the storeroom that the wet nurse was partly to blame for the Fifth Prince's injury. Now the wet nurse has been dismissed, and only this eunuch is left by his side."

Seeing that An Lingrong had stopped writing, Shuangxue hurriedly came over, unfolded the patterns that An Lingrong had drawn, and pressed down the few patterns that had dried ink.

Seeing that An Lingrong did not respond, she continued, "I overheard some gossip and it is said that this young eunuch Yunxiu is about the same age as our Fifth Prince, but he is very clever."

Although she was assigned to serve the Fifth Prince after he moved to Shou Kang Palace, she took excellent care of him. This time, when the Fifth Prince fell from his horse, it was Yunxiu who risked his life to shield him from the galloping horse's hooves.

An Lingrong couldn't help but marvel, "This young eunuch may be young, but he is quite loyal." She thought to herself that the Empress Dowager must have been protecting the Fifth Prince for a long time, which is why she chose such a clever young eunuch to serve him closely.

"Yes, there are people who were there serving at the time. They said that Yunxiu was also seriously injured when he returned. It must have been because of the chaos at the time, and he was injured while protecting the Fifth Prince."

"So, lately, there's been no one else serving the Fifth Prince?" An Lingrong asked again.

Shuangxue shook her head and said, "Then this servant doesn't know either. But there is one more thing. When Shi Ran brought the palace lanterns over, he suddenly said that he wanted to thank you."

An Lingrong was taken aback. "Why are you thanking me?"

"That's really a nonsensical statement. I asked him the same question, but he just turned around and left."

An Lingrong frowned slightly, a growing sense of doubt creeping into her heart. It would be understandable if he were apologizing, after all, it was Shi Ran who had threatened her with a knife in the Yimei Garden. But now he was suddenly thanking her, which was rather puzzling.

"Didn't Shi Ran say anything else? But who sent the palace lanterns?"

"Your Highness, the palace lanterns were indeed sent by the Fifth Prince. The people from the storeroom also came over and brought some lamp oil. I suppose the Empress Dowager knows about this as well," Shuangxue replied.

An Lingrong smiled faintly, "That's interesting. The lamps were moved from the Fifth Prince's palace, so how come the people in the storeroom knew I was short of lamp oil?"

Shuangxue replied, "I also think it's a coincidence, but the people in the storeroom are very tight-lipped, and I couldn't get any answers from them."

"Did Fucha Yilan send the palace lantern before or after Shi Ran?" An Lingrong tilted her head, looking at the palace lantern that was tinged orange by the lamplight, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

Shuangxue looked up at the window, thought for a moment, and replied, "Miss Fucha was a step ahead of Guard Shi, probably by less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea."

"This servant remembers that Miss Fucha's lamp was moved here by Miss Erxue with two eunuchs from the storeroom. I saw those eunuchs in the storeroom before."

An Lingrong's smile widened upon hearing this. She thought to herself, "Fucha Yilan, what are you really up to? You're constantly testing me, yet you always leave openings. Are you taking advantage of my weakness, or are your methods truly too clumsy?"

Seeing An Lingrong's smiling face, Shuangxue stepped forward and asked, "What are you smiling about, Your Highness?"

An Lingrong slightly raised her chin, looked towards the palace gate, and said, "Put all the palace lanterns that Miss Fucha sent in the courtyard; they look festive."