"Gu Mama! Where are you going?" Xu Ling Ai called out when she saw Gu Mama walking out of the manor.

She has been living in her room quietly for a few days. The memory of him saying those words repeating in her mind. Today she decided to help out so Li Zhao won't pick her again.

"I'm heading to the market to buy some kitchen supplies. Do you want anything Princess Consort?" Gu Mama respond.

"No. But I can help you." Xu Ling Ai run to her direction. She link her hand around Gu Mama's arm.

"Please ask His Highness first. These days it is very dangerous to go out." Gu Mama again with her nagging.

"Why?" Xu Ling Ai tilted her head. She really had no idea what is going on with the town.

"A several case of people being killed. But the scariest thing is their heart is being rip out." Gu Mama whispered to Xu Ling Ai.

The emperor had told the people to spread news about it anymore so Gu Mama is being cautious.

"Really? Like the vampire and werewolf stories?" Xu Ling Ai curiously question. She try to remember all the fan fiction she had read.

"Did the murderer had been catch?" She added.

"Not yet but His Highness Duke Chen and our His Highness Duke Su is investigating it." Hearing his name, make Xu Ling Ai's perk up.

"Princess Consort why are asking so much about this matter?"

"Just curious! Let's go to the market! Xu Ling Ai lied then dragged Gu Mama out.

Li Zhao's Study Room

Wu Xi who happen to see the scene rush to Li Zhao's room. He went straight into his room without waiting any permission.

"Your Highness. Princess Consort has follow Gu Mama to the market."

Li Zhao had told Wu Xi to keep any eyes on Xu Ling Ai. Not because of him suspecting her but more of worried because of the horrid case.

"Send a few shadow guards to watch her from afar." Li Zhao instructed. Wu Xu nodded.

"Did you provide Gu Mama enough money to buy things?" Li Zhao hesitantly asked.

Self aware that she tried to avoid him. He knew she had been staying in her room without coming out. Whenever he look at the fan, he will feel guilty.

"Yes. Probably excessive to use in one day."

Yesterday, when Gu Mama told him that she wants to go to the market. Wu Xi provide her with four bags of sliver. So he is pretty sure it will be enough to buy the kitchen needs.

"Anyway Your Highness have you heard about Empress Yi explode?" Wu Xi laugh remembering the story.

"Stop gossiping."

"If you don't want to know it is fine. Princess Consort was so brave anyway." Wu Xi pretend to close his eyes and thinking about Xu Ling Ai. Wu Xi knew they are fighting so he tried to get them back.

"Spill it." Li Zhao keep his eyes on the scrolls but demand for an answer.

"I thought you don't want to know..." Li Zhao's cold eyes flustered Wu Xi. He is giving a warning.

"The other day when Princess Consort went to the palace she cause a huge chaos. The servant talk about it because it was the first time Empress Yi really lost her temper. Her Majesty was screaming like a crazy lady because Princess Consort ignore her." Wu Xi excitedly storytelling.

"And the servants also said that Princess Consort refuse Empress Yi's request and even threatened Her Majesty." Wu Xi added.

"Princess Consort is amazing. Whoever had the chance to marry her is very lucky." Wu Xi peek his eyes looking at Li Zhao's expression.

"I misunderstood her." Li Zhao muttered. Guilt eating him up.

"Gu Mama wait a minute." Xu Ling Ai saw a bunch of children begging for some money.

"Sure." Gu Mama then handed her some silver.

"I have my own money. No worries." Xu Ling Ai refuse it as she still had balance from selling the hair pin. Xu Ling Ai smile at Gu Mama and went towards the children way.

After distributing some money to all of them, she and Gu Mama head to some stalls to bought some fish and chicken.

"Gu Mama let me help you." Xu Ling Ai offer a hand when she saw Gu Mama hands is full.

Earlier, Gu Mama wanted to bring a guard but Xu Ling Ai insisted that she can bring all the things that she bought.

"It's heavy." Gu Mama said but Xu Ling Ai had already lift the goods.

"See no problem." Xu Ling Ai bring two different kinds of vegetables and some fish. Both of her hands were full.

"But Princess Consort we actually got more.." Gu Mama hesitantly glanced at Xu Ling Ai.

Xu Ling Ai eyes widen up when she saw a bunch of stuff behind Gu Mama. Several kinds of bags. They literally need another man to help.

"Gu Mama what did you bought so much?" Xu Ling Ai whined loudly. She wasn't expecting her to shopping all the things in the market.

"I told you to bring a guard but you refuse." Gu Mama gave a reasonable explanation.

Sighing heavily, she regretted for interrupting Gu Mama on bringing someone earlier. Xu Ling Ai thought it was only a little. Not a major shopping.

"We got no choice but to bring it on our own to the carriage. Put some of the stuffs on me Gu Mama." She instructed Gu Mama. Gu Mama then gave her some more goods.

Putting weight after weight, Xu Ling Ai's face frowned. However, a hand suddenly interrupted Gu Mama moving stuffs activity.

"I can help." A man suddenly picked up the stuffs. Xu Ling Ai turned to see who he is. But he is an unfamiliar person.

Gu Mama also can't help but stare at the gentleman up and down. His attire was a bit different from Han's people. However, Gu Mama recognise the clothes. It is mongolians attire.

"Gosh! Thank you so much for your help! I will pay you." Xu Ling Ai finally snapped Gu Mama and herself out of their mind. She is so glad that her back didn't break into two.

They begin to lift up the stuffs and it perfectly enough of hands. Despite him in a proper mongolian attire bring some attention.

"I sincerely wanted to help you." He said smiling at Xu Ling Ai refusing the wage.

"Gu Mama we need to treat him some food before we went back home." Xu Ling Ai suggested to Gu Mama as she feel grateful to the man. And Gu Mama nodded.

"If you insists, then I will not refuse." Again the man smile.

"Anyway what is your name mister? I'm Xu Ling Ai."

"Chanyu." He decided to go with his real name.

"That's a unique name. Like a korean idol name." Xu Ling Ai smile a bit at him.

"Kor- what?" Chanyu eyebrows twisted trying to pronounce it.

"No offense though. It was a good meaning." She added no wanting him to get it in a wrong way.

Chanyu just stare at her who easily talk to a stranger. She really know how to make someone feel comfortable.

On the other hand Gu Mama feel anxious looking at her princess consort casually talk to a man. Even though he look decent and respecful, Gu Mama still feel uneasy.

"I am pretty sure that everyone is looking at us." Xu Ling Ai said in a small voice to Chanyu.

The passerby people would glance at them. Looking up and down. Probably wondering about what a mongolian and Han people doing together.

"Why?" Chanyu pretend like he don't know. She is the only person who couldn't recognise a mongolian.

"I must say I'm quite popular." She said flipping her hair. She feel comfortable talking to him like a friend.

"Are you sure?" Chanyu tilted his eyebrow at her silly remarks. He even chuckle at her action.

They finally saw a stall nearby. It is just a small stall selling some noodles. Since they feel tired so she decided to stop.

"Princess Consort. We need to be quick. I'm afraid if someone saw us." Gu Mama said near Xu Ling Ai's ear.

"Don't worry. We don't do anything bad. We are just dining in." Xu Ling Ai whispered back.

Chanyu on the other way, eavesdropping their conversation. Xu Ling Ai called the cooks to bring three noodles.

"Chanyu are you a foreigner from another country? Because your outfit seem different. It's unique anyway." Her question trouble him. While Gu Mama nervously stay silent because of Xu Ling Ai's question.

"I'm a mongolian." This left Xu Ling Ai speechless.

No wonder Gu Mama is afraid. She then realised that chinese and mongolian has been fighting since forever.

"Oh really? I have never met a mongolian before!"

Chanyu wasn't expecting that kind of reaction. He thought she would immediately left him there alone because Han people hate mongolian.

"So how long have you been here?" Xu Ling Ai question curiously.

"One week." Chanyu response looking at her while slurping the noodles.

"Are you here to work or just for business?" She asked again. Never once did he get the chance to ask her.

"I was thinking on settling down in Han." Chanyu hesitantly said.

"Oh really? I really would love to help you but I myself also jobless." She sigh. While Gu Mama look at her weirdly.

"Why would look for a job Princess Consort? His Highness will not be happy." Gu Mama accidentally exposed her identity.

"You're a Princess Consort? Pardon me for being insolent! I did not know your identity." Chanyu pretend to not know her.

He quickly stand from the table and stood to the side with his head bow down.

"This is it. Like seriously? I was just trying to make a friend." Xu Ling Ai exhale deeply.

"Chanyu you better sit back or I will punished you." She pretend like she is mad and Chanyu rush to sit.

"I'm just joking! Don't be too serious!" This time, Gu Mama also laugh at Chanyu panicked face. She now feel a bit at ease since she know that this young man is innocent.

"Princess Consort.." Before Chanyu could finished his word, Xu Ling Ai cut him off.

"We're friends right? Treat me comfortably just like we first met." Xu Ling Ai tease him back with her eyebrow going up and down.

"Sure." Chanyu gave her a small smile. The word friend was never in his vocabulary.

His father always remind him that having a friend is just another meaning of weak. Today is his first time making a friend.

Unknown to both Xu Ling Ai and Gu Mama, Ganba was sitting right next to their table.

He literally had a panick attack many times. Ganba were amaze by his master acting. He look genuinely happy.

"It was very nice meeting you." Xu Ling Ai beam at Chanyu.

It has been awhile for her talking to someone who is common and didn't treat her like a superior.

"May we meet again." Chanyu response at her with a smile. Just like that, her palanquin started moving living him there alone.

"Master you are very good in acting. I never knew that!" Ganba appeared out of nowhere.

"Of course. We are facing Duke Su's Princess Consort so we couldn't take it easily. But I never thought it was easy to get close to her." Chanyu smirked.

Deep down there, he know that he did not pretend while talking with her. He hasn't have a proper conversation with someone since his family die.

"Duke Su's Princess Consort seems to be very outgoing." Ganba comment when he remembered her.

"Indeed she is." Chanyu shortly replied.

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