Lazily Yours.

"Princess Ye Bai, this is the minister of finance from the neighboring empire. He is here as the envoy sent for the gifts. And this is the prince of…" 

The man next to Lyca continued to introduce the people around them. After a couple of minutes, Lyca finally found a way to leave and went to the back garden of the event hall. For her, socializing is still something exhausting. She would rather stay in her bed and sleep than talk to people who could easily stab anyone with their tongues. 

Even the previous Ye Bai, hated events like these. "I am wondering if the Princess already leave the party. Turns out… she is only hiding her. Are you perhaps hiding from me?" Lyca rolled her eyes when she heard Xu Ke's voice behind her. 

"You are thinking too much." She uttered.

"Are you still thinking that I am impersonating myself?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

Xu Ke let out a low chuckle. "I wasn't expecting that I would find someone so interesting in the royal family." When Lyca didn't answer him, he looked at the man-made lake in front of them. His eyes were on the colorful fishes. "Turns out coming in here was the best choice."

"I don't have any idea what you are talking about."

"Your highness, Young Master Xu." A man almost the same age as Ye Bai called out. He was wearing a blue robe. A gentle smile was on his face. "The Elders wanted you two to come back. They said… there will be games."

"Games?" Lyca's brow shot up. Who wants to play games?

"Yes, Your highness… the emperor and the crown prince, as well as the future princess consort, wanted everyone in the young generation to join the fun." The man was one of the close confidants of the crown prince who grew up with Ye Bai. Judging from the man's gaze, it was pretty obvious that he liked Ye Bai, but was too shy to say something. 

"Alright," Xu Ke put his hand behind him as he waited for Lyca to walk next to him. She complied and said nothing. She couldn't help but wonder what was Xu Ke's plan and who was his target.

Today, a lot of people were attending the banquet, and most of them were influential envoys from other empires. Some of them were even princess and princesses who came here to try and build some connections. 

"You have to shoot the target while riding a horse," Lyca said someone say. "This should be good for men but of course, women who would like to participate were all welcome to try." Lyca stared at the eunuch who is also working as the emperor's right-hand man. She couldn't help but wonder if the King specifically arranged this type of game for her to show off.

So hassle.

"Are you going to join?" 

Lyca leaned back when she noticed Xu Ke leaned closer to her. She gave him a look. "Why would I join?"

"If you will join. I would join too."

"You want to have some competition against me?" Xu Ke knew that she was hiding her identity as the general. So, she couldn't really show off her skills when it comes to using a bow and arrow.

"Of course." Xu Ke beamed at her. Seeing the latter's smile almost made her want to puke. Being close to him doesn't make her feel the butterflies that she felt when she was around Shen Qui. However, she would be lying if she says that she doesn't have any sudden urges to kill Xu Ke. She doesn't really care if the man dies but if given a chance, she would want him to die by her daggers too.

Such confusing emotions made her irritated.

"I heard that all the royalties of the Ye Royal household were trained in sword and bow and arrow?" As expected, Xu Ke made his voice louder, making the other people around him hear it.

"Considering that the Emperor was once a famous general, it is only natural that the emperor would share his genes to his children." Another one chimed on.

"I agree." Xu Ke smiled. "This is why I would like to challenge the second princess for today's game.'

"The second princess?"

"Why would he challenge the second princess?"

Xu Ke only smiled when he heard the other people's words. "Second Princess Ye Bai… would you like to use to me show the skills of the royal household?

That sentence is just so wrong! Lyca thought inwardly as she maintained the kind and gentle smile on her face. "No." Her words came as a surprise to everyone. Even the emperor's face changed when he heard her words. "However, if Young Master Xu wanted to bet something important with me then… I might just agree to show off." She smiled. "After all, playing a game without some prizes was just… like playing a child's game. It shouldn't be taken seriously. What do you think Young Master Xu?"

Lyca's bold words made the people around her gasped and whispered to each other. The Second Princess is actually one of the most lowkey royalty in the palace. She seldom left her quarters and doesn't attend most of the events in the palace.

These people didn't know that the reason why she wasn't seen all the time was that… she was attending these events as General Bai and not as Princess Ye Bai.

"You wanted to bet with me?" Xu Ke couldn't believe the words that he heard. After all, women should be more reserved, someone gentle, and don't really say something bold. However, when he remembered that Ye Bai was actually a general, he immediately realized that Ye Bai must have been influenced by those soldiers' way of speaking.

"Of course." Lyca smiled as she met his eyes. "Are you perhaps scared that you will lose?"

Xu Ke pursed his lips. To be honest, Ye Bai's boldness was really refreshing to him. "As long as his highness, the emperor had no problems with me betting against his beloved daughter, then I am in."

....

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