Ji'an sighed. She leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms over her chest, which was still comfortably flat thanks to the artifact.
"Your Highness," Ji'an called out lazily. "Back so soon? Did you run out of people to annoy at the Guest Pavilion? And who is this? Your hired thug?"
The guards gasped. The maids stopped throwing petals.
To call the Second Prince a "hired thug"? That was treason. That was an execution-worthy offense.
Princess Ling'er looked ecstatic. "See?! See, Brother?! He's doing it again! He has no respect for the Imperial Family! Kill him! Cut out his tongue!"
Xiao Yichen finally turned his gaze toward Ji'an.
Ji'an braced herself. She gripped the rolling pin she had instinctively grabbed from the counter. She prepared for a verbal battle, or perhaps a quick Shadow Step escape.
Xiao Yichen looked at her. His eyes scanned her face, the messy hair, the smudge of flour on her nose, the defiant tilt of her chin.
