Xiaoxi finally reached the palace. Her "brothers" — Brother Chubby Bao, Brother Long Noodle, and Brother Tiny Dumpling — escorted her to the palace prison.
"Sorry, sister," Brother Chubby Bao said, scratching his head nervously, "we can't do anything. It's the prince's order. But just wait here — not for long. Give us until tomorrow. We'll find the real assassin and get you out."
Xiaoxi tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Don't worry," she said cheerfully. "Actually… it's not bad. At least I don't have to spend the night outside with wild animals… or ghosts… or… weird floating lights… or… bats that look like angry old men!" 😌
Brother Tiny Dumpling ran off like a rocket and returned with a mountain of snacks that could feed a small army — or an overly dramatic princess. Xiaoxi almost did a full bow — touching the floor with her forehead — and thanked all three of them so elaborately that they had to hide their laughter behind their hands.
"By the way," Brother Long Noodle asked, trying to be serious, "where did you come from? You didn't tell us yet. Should we make arrangements to send you back to your parents? They must be worried sick!"
Xiaoxi waved her hands dismissively.
"No… no one will worry about me… mmm… at least for 30 days. Maximum!"
The brothers exchanged worried glances.
"Why? Where are your parents?"
Xiaoxi's face turned dramatic.
"In their home… of course! Where else could they go? I was abandoned… yes… abandoned by the world 🥲"
Brother Chubby Bao looked at her with mock horror.
"Abandoned? By the world? By the gods themselves?!"
Xiaoxi shrugged.
"Not that dramatic… I just made… a few… mistakes… and got punished… very harshly."
The brothers' jaws nearly hit the floor.
"Punished?! Such a cute, tiny girl?! For what… for eating too much candy?"
Xiaoxi nodded solemnly.
"Hmm… hmm… something like that."
Brother Long Noodle frowned.
"But you still haven't told us… where are you from? Are you hiding something?"
Xiaoxi gasped in horror, thinking fast:
I can't tell them I'm the princess of Baiyun Kingdom… or they'll send me back… and Mother might… marry me off to some old king with bad breath! And also with a cruel mother in law!😱
Her imagination gets more wild then a whole zoo 😂 which was not even related to her case but still thinking every possible dangers her mother could create 🤣
"No way!" she shouted dramatically.
The brothers froze.
"No… no… what?!"
Xiaoxi added quickly, pointing to herself like a general giving a speech:
"Fine! I'm from… Baiyun Kingdom!"
"Ooooh," the brothers exclaimed. "That's a very big kingdom! We've heard they had a beautiful princess who studied abroad and was the favorite of the palace!"
Xiaoxi's mind drifted off:
Favorite… me… beautiful… yes, definitely me! 😁
She looked around slyly.
But the person they're talking about is right here… and it's obviously me… obviously.
Brother Chubby Bao clapped his hands.
"Hey, come back to reality! Why are you always lost in your thoughts?"
"He he he 😁" Xiaoxi giggled, twirling her hair like a mischievous little imp.
Finally, the brothers waved goodbye and wished her good night.
"Don't worry, sister. We'll find the assassin… and get you out soon!"
Xiaoxi waved back, already plotting her first prison adventure.
The prison guard arrived and, with barely a straight face, took her to the handcuffs on the wall.
"Just a precaution," the guard said, trying not to laugh. "What can a little girl like you do?"
Xiaoxi looked at him with mock indignation.
"Little girl?! I'll have you know I'm a highly trained… well… okay, maybe not trained… but definitely… very clever!"
The guard rolled his eyes and attached one hand to the cuff.
"Safe enough," he muttered.
Xiaoxi shrugged, already thinking:
One hand tied… plenty of room for fun. Hmm… what can I knock over first? Or maybe I can hide the guard's snacks… or… oh! I could pretend the handcuffs are earrings!
She sat down, munching her snacks, planning mischief in the most dramatic way possible, while the guards outside whispered and chuckled.
"She's… something else," one said.
"First prisoner who eats like a queen while in cuffs," another replied.