A five-year-old goddess, raised to become an emperor for all time through a bronze mirror.

Pei Hechuan's handsome, sword-like eyebrows were tightly furrowed together, like two thick, dark mountains lying across his forehead, deep and solemn.

In his deep, pool-like eyes, a cold glint flashed briefly, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky—a fleeting yet chilling sight.

He leaned down slightly and asked softly in a low voice, "Niannian, tell your brother quickly, why did that old woman treat you like this?"

Niannian's delicate, pretty face was now filled with a look of grievance, as pitiful as a flower petal covered in morning dew.

She pouted slightly and muttered softly, "That naughty nanny never lets me go out to play! She even calls me an unwanted little bastard and says I have no right to walk around freely in this palace."

Every time she looks at me, she has a cold, fierce face; it's terrifying!

After listening to Niannian's aggrieved account, Pei Hechuan felt a raging fire instantly ignite in his chest.

How dare a mere nanny bully a princess like this! She's utterly audacious and lawless to the extreme!

However, he also knew very well that he absolutely could not act rashly at this moment;

We must calm down and think of a solution. We must help Nian Nian get rid of that evil nanny's clutches completely.

Then, Pei Hechuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and a sly smile suddenly appeared on his originally kind face.

That smile was like the golden rays of the warm spring sun shining through the clouds, seemingly warm and gentle, but actually concealing a hidden secret.

Then, he reached out and gently beckoned to Niannian, saying in an incredibly gentle tone:

"Niannian, come here quickly! Your brother has come up with a brilliant idea!"

Filled with curiosity, Niannian tiptoed to Pei Hechuan's side.

Pei Hechuan leaned down slightly, bringing his handsome face close to Nian Nian's ear.

He deliberately lowered his voice, but spoke as quickly and clearly as a storm, explaining his meticulously planned scheme to Niannian all at once.

As Pei Hechuan continued speaking, Nian Nian's slightly puzzled expression began to subtly change.

At first, she was only slightly taken aback, but then a look of surprise, like spring flowers blooming, gradually spread across her pretty face.

Her previously downturned lips slowly turned upwards, forming a beautiful arc, like a crescent moon hanging on her rosy cheeks.

At the same time, her big, watery eyes shone with excitement, twinkling like bright stars in the night sky.

"So... you can actually do that!" Niannian couldn't contain her excitement and murmured a heartfelt exclamation.

That gentle voice was like a spring breeze, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet brimming with joy.

Seeing that Nian Nian already understood the whole plan, Pei Hechuan nodded slightly to show his approval and encouragement.

Then, he gestured to Niannian with his eyes to get started quickly;

Niannian nodded knowingly, obediently bent down, and gracefully took off her small, exquisite shoes, casually tossing them to the edge of the pool not far away.

The pair of delicate and adorable little shoes traced a brief arc in the air before landing precisely at the edge of the pool.

The sunlight reflected off the shoes, giving them a subtle sheen that made them particularly eye-catching by the pool.

Immediately afterwards, Pei Hechuan raised his finger and gestured towards the dense flower bushes to the side, signaling to Nian Nian to hide among them as soon as possible.

Niannian nodded lightly again, then tiptoed and carefully slipped into the flower bushes.

Her petite figure was quickly hidden among the lush foliage and beautiful flowers, leaving only her pair of large, dark eyes, like two black gems.

Through the gaps in the flowers, she stared intently at Pei Hechuan, seemingly awaiting his next instructions.

Seeing this, Pei Hechuan straightened up, straightened his clothes slightly, cleared his throat, and then shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Help! Help! Come quick! Look! How come there's the princess's shoe by the pool? Oh no! The princess has probably met with some misfortune! Come quickly and rescue her!"

His shouts echoed through the sky, reverberating endlessly in the silent courtyard.

His deep, magnetic voice, like a thunderclap, ripped through the silent palace, echoing and reverberating throughout the empty halls.

The sudden noise startled the eunuchs and palace maids who were busy nearby.

They rushed over like startled birds, their faces filled with fear and confusion.

When everyone arrived at the scene, their eyes were drawn to a pair of small, exquisite shoes by the pool.

The shoe lay alone by the pond, as if telling a story unknown to others; suddenly, a murmur arose from the crowd.

"What on earth is going on... These shoes really look like Princess Nian Nian's..." a palace maid murmured in astonishment.

"Ah! Are you sure? Wasn't Princess Nian Nian always being looked after by Granny Rong? How could she suddenly be here?" Another palace maid asked, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“That’s right… Just now, when Rong Mama wasn’t paying attention, the princess slipped out in a flash…” a young eunuch answered tremblingly, a fine layer of sweat already seeping from his forehead.

At this moment, Pei Hechuan stood quietly to the side, seemingly anxiously waiting for the adults to come and deal with the matter, but in reality, he was already overjoyed.

This meticulously planned farce is unfolding smoothly according to the script he envisioned, and everything is under his control.

At this moment, all he needs to do is patiently wait for the exciting plot to unfold.

To avoid arousing suspicion, Pei Hechuan deliberately feigned panic, pointing with a trembling hand to the shoes by the pool, and stammered:

"I...I just got here and found these shoes. Could it be...?"

He stopped abruptly before he could finish speaking, leaving everyone present with endless room for imagination.

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs and palace maids exchanged bewildered glances, none of them able to make up their minds.

Just then, a slightly bolder eunuch stepped out from the crowd.

He carefully squatted down, gently picked up the shoes from the ground, and then examined them closely.

After some examination, he finally confirmed that the shoes did indeed belong to Princess Nian Nian.

He suddenly stood up, his face grave, and shouted to the others, "Quickly, inform Her Majesty the Empress! Princess Niannian may be in trouble!"