I was sold when I opened my eyes! My sick and disabled husband comforts me every night after he wake

"That won't do."

Lan Zhi quickly intervened to stop him.

"You tried to sneak out of the palace dressed like that? It's obviously a lie. What if the Emperor finds out..."

"Shh!"

Yu Jie covered her mouth with her finger and shushed them, then glanced around to make sure no one was paying attention to them before looking at Lan Zhi with a pitiful expression.

"Please, take me out of the palace. Otherwise, you can take me out and go about your business. I'll wander around the streets and wait for you at the palace gate at dusk. Then you can take me back into the palace. That way, even if we are discovered, as long as you don't admit it and I don't admit it either, Father won't blame you."

"You rarely leave the palace. What if you get lost on the street?"

"That……"

Yu Jie pouted, frowned and pondered for a moment, then grinned.

"Then show me around. We've just gotten to know each other, and you don't want to lose a good friend like me so soon, right?"

Seeing that Lan Zhi was still hesitating, Yu Jie grabbed her arm and shook it repeatedly, "Lan Zhi, please, take me out! I really want to leave the palace and see the world, I'm so bored in here."

Seeing Yu Jie's pitiful appearance, Lan Zhi nodded helplessly, "I can take you out of the palace, but you have to listen to me after we leave the palace and you can't run around."

"well."

Yu Jie nodded hurriedly.

"I'll do whatever you say."

Lan Zhi then gave her a wink and whispered a reminder.

“You’re just a little eunuch, don’t try to pull me around like that. What kind of behavior is that? Get behind me.”

Yu Jie, abandoning her previous arrogant demeanor, obediently ran behind Lan Zhi. To avoid being recognized, she kept her head down and quickly followed her toward the palace gate.

Upon arriving at the palace gate, Lan Zhi presented her exit token. The guard looked up at her, then at Yu Jie behind her, whose head was bowed, and frowned as he asked:

"You always leave the palace by yourself, why are you bringing someone with you this time?"

Lan Zhi frequently walked back and forth inside and outside the palace, and had gradually become familiar with these gate guards. She quickly explained:

"I wanted to buy some things when I left the palace this time, but the Empress Dowager was worried that I would not be able to carry too many things, so she allowed me to take people with me when I left the palace."

"Did the Empress Dowager give permission?"

Seeing the guards' suspicion, Lan Zhi quickly and generously responded.

"Of course, otherwise who would dare to take someone out of the palace? That would be a matter of losing one's head. Why don't you go ask the Empress Dowager?"

The gatekeeper immediately waved his hand.

"The Empress Dowager is not someone a lowly servant like me can see casually. You may all leave now!"

Lan Zhi nodded, then gave Yu Jie a wink and quickly led her out of the palace.

Walking down the streets of the capital, Yu Jie was curious about everything, looking at the calligraphy and paintings here and the jewelry there. Lan Zhi couldn't help but whisper a reminder to her.

"You said you would listen to me and not run around."

Yu Jie's eyes darted left and right as she replied:

"I haven't run away. I've been right here with you. Oh, right, I brought some money with me. How about you take me out to eat at a restaurant for lunch, and then we'll go buy some nice things?"

"Come home with me first. Aren't you afraid of arousing suspicion if you parade around in these clothes?"

Yu Jie then remembered that she was dressed as a eunuch. She immediately slapped her forehead and giggled:

"No wonder the stall owner kept staring at me when I was looking at jewelry, as if he was afraid I would steal something from him."

"That's right. With your current outfit, you don't need a woman at all. What's the point of buying jewelry?"

"Hahaha……"

Yu Jie covered her mouth and laughed.

"Actually, those eunuchs are quite pitiful. They can't even marry a wife because of their livelihood. My father is different. He has three palaces and six courtyards and has married countless wives. It's really unfair!"

"Where is there any fairness in this world? Take you for example, you've been living a life of luxury since childhood, with nothing to worry about, but how many people have been hungry and cold since childhood, and even suffered beatings and scoldings..."

Speaking of this, she thought of the original owner's childhood and couldn't help but sigh.

Yu Jie, however, did not agree with her statement.

"You're lying. Everyone knows that the people of our Northern Wei Kingdom have always lived a peaceful and prosperous life, with plenty of food and clothing. How could anyone be starving or cold? Look how lively the streets of the capital are! Everyone is dressed smartly and their faces are full of happy smiles."

Lan Zhi couldn't help but smile bitterly to herself. It seemed that this pampered princess Yu Jie had no idea about the hardships of life.

"After you change your clothes at my house, I'll take you around and show you what human suffering is like, and what the real life of ordinary people is like."

Yu Jie, however, scoffed at this.

“I’ll watch. If there really are people like you, who are starving and cold, I’ll not eat meat for a month.”

"Is this true?"

Lan Zhi turned her head to look at her, pursing her lips in confirmation.

"A princess of a nation must keep her word."

Yu Jie patted her chest and replied:

"Of course, but on the condition that you don't try to fool me with two beggars."

"I don't have that ability yet, let's go!"

As she spoke, Lan Zhi quickened her pace, and Yu Jie followed closely behind.

When they returned home, Xiangxiu and Aqi were looking out the door with Mao Mao, seemingly waiting for her to come back.

"Xiangxiu, Aqi, Mao Mao..."

She waved in their direction, and Mao Mao was the first to see her. He rushed over happily, and Xiang Xiu and A Qi also walked over quickly.

"Sister, you're finally back! I've missed you so much."

Lan Zhi looked down at the little cat clinging to her leg and smiled gently.

"Mao Mao, your sister misses you too. Have you been good these past few days?"

Mao Mao nodded quickly.

"I used to have Sister Xiangxiu to keep me in line, and now there's Sister Aqi too. I can't disobey her even if I want to."

As he said this, Xiangxiu and Aqi came over and tapped her on the head together.

Ah Qi was the first to complain:

"You brat, didn't I just tell you not to tattle on me to Sister Lan?"

Xiangxiu echoed:

"After Sister Lan leaves, we'll bully you again..."

Mao Mao grinned immediately, then looked at Yu Jie, who was standing next to Lan Zhi and dressed in eunuch's clothes.

"Sis, who is she?"

Lan Zhi then remembered Yu Jie.

"She is my friend, her name is Yujie."

Mao Mao tilted her little head up and looked Yu Jie up and down, then couldn't help but pout.

"Neither male nor female, no wonder he has such a name. Sister, could he be a eunuch from the palace?"

This……

Just as Lan Zhi was about to explain with a smile, Yu Jie immediately put her hands on her hips and glared at Mao Mao.

"You brat, you're the one who's neither male nor female."

Mao Mao pointed at her defiantly.

"Look at her, she talks like a woman, so effeminate."

"you……"

Yu Jie wanted to tell him that she was originally a woman, but Lan Zhi was already laughing so hard she was bent over.

"Alright, Xiangxiu, go to my room and find some clean clothes. Have Yujie go to your room to change."

Xiangxiu immediately shook her head and refused.

"Sister Lan, Ah Qi and I have a room that's practically our private space. It's not appropriate for him to change clothes in our room. Let him go to Mao Mao's room instead!"