Chapter 365: Being the Princess's Playmate

Mu Youyu blinked, "What do you like?"

Lu Wei glanced around, then softly said, "Compared to those, I prefer Art School."

She finished speaking, then quickly added: "But Mother says Art School is not a proper pursuit; a young lady of an earl's manor should study etiquette and musical arts, which is not something to show off."

Mu Youyu's steps unconsciously slowed, she turned her head, quietly gazing at Lu Wei's downcast profile, suddenly recalling her good friend Yu Yu.

Recalling long ago, she herself had also been asked a similar question.

Back then she was young, had few lessons; her second older brother Mu Xi saw she had been listless for several days in a row, so he squatted before her, smiling, and asked what she liked, whether there was anything she wanted to learn.

She said she wanted to learn to paint; Mu Xi without hesitation had someone buy her the best painting supplies. Mu Nian found out and furthermore had her hire Teacher Lin Tingsong, and had a painting studio built next to Mu Xi's piano room.

In the Mu Family, few people told her what she should or shouldn't do.

The elders would only patiently ask her: "What do you like? What do you want to do?" Then they would help her achieve it.

"Lu Wei." Mu Youyu's eyelashes trembled, she gathered her emotions.

Lu Wei raised her head.

Mu Youyu gazed steadily at her: "If you like something, just strive to do it."

As soon as she said that, the other person visibly stiffened, as if she couldn't believe what she heard.

"Painting is not an improper pursuit, and it's presentable." Mu Youyu spoke more softly, "If you like it, then it's important."

"But... Mother won't agree." Lu Wei bit her lower lip, "She hopes I study the painting among qin, qi, calligraphy, and painting, not the kind of painting that is just smearing."

"What's the big deal? You should know, I'm also studying Art School."

Jiang Liangjin stepped half a step closer to Mu Youyu, calmly adding: "No one can define your life, not even your family."

"A Jin is right." Mu Youyu smiled brightly, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes, "If you truly want to learn, I can help you introduce a teacher."

This way, Teacher Lin won't have her go to Art Competition every day.

Lu Wei stared blankly at the two before her, her expression moved, after a while she just said thanks.

The group walked on and off, strolling in the garden for nearly an hour, not seeing Mu Xianyan there.

Song Yusui said she had gone out; Mu Youyu gave up the idea of looking for her, her steps noticeably slower than before.

Jiang Liangjin immediately noticed, lowered his head and asked her: "Go back to rest?"

"Okay!"

On the way she met someone roughly her age she could chat with; Mu Youyu's complexion was much better than at the start, she looked at Lu Wei and said gently, "Would you like to go in together for a cup of hot tea?"

Lu Wei was flattered and repeatedly agreed.

Returning to the palace, Lu Wei waited in the living room; Mu Youyu first went back to her room to change clothes, Jiang Liangjin accompanied her upstairs, stopping at the door.

Downstairs, Lu Wei was already seated in the living room, holding a cup of hot tea, talking to Song Lujing, who was playing a game nearby.

Song Lujing looked utterly listless, obviously forced to work.

"So what games does Young Master Song usually play?" Lu Wei asked curiously, lowering her voice.

Song Lujing said weakly, "What game, what game? I'm a professional player, not a game streamer."

"Oh oh, then what do professional players usually do?"

"Eat, sleep, train, compete."

"Then do you get nervous during competitions?"

"Nervous about what? It's not the first time I've played."

"Then you..."

Before she could finish the question, Song Lujing raised his hands in surrender, "Please spare me, I really don't want to talk about this."

He was originally admitted through recommendation, so he had leisure to join the competition; he originally wanted to spend his free time accompanying his sister more, and the winter break was also specially arranged to accompany his sister.

Now he just wants to talk to his sister.

Seeing Jiang Liangjin enter, Song Lujing immediately gave him a pleading look.

Jiang Liangjin sat down expressionlessly beside him, with no intention of rescuing.

"You're just going to watch me be tortured?" Song Lujing lowered his voice to accuse.

Jiang Liangjin lifted his cup, "I see Brother is quite enjoying it."

"I'm not enjoying a damn thing!" Song Lujing gritted his teeth, "I just want to chat with my sister."

"Then keep chatting." Jiang Liangjin took a sip of milk.

Song Lujing was momentarily at a loss, "... You weren't like this before."

"Quite good; now nobody treats him as anything."

Jiang Liangjin curled the corner of his mouth toward him, "Brother, what was I like before?"

Song Lujing had nothing to say.

Only then did Lu Wei realize she was disturbing him, feeling embarrassed; seeing Mu Youyu enter, she hastily stood up.

Mu Youyu walked over and sat beside her, seeing her awkward expression, she glanced at Song Lujing and asked, "Is Brother Lujing bullying her?"

"I didn't!" Song Lujing immediately protested.

Jiang Liangjin timely raised his hand, solemnly: "I testify, Brother Lujing did not bully anyone."

Lu Wei lowered her head embarrassedly, "I know Young Master Song is in the esports circle, so I just wanted to ask."

Song Lujing finally reacted, sitting up slightly, "Have you heard of me?"

Wow, this is the first time someone in M Guo has heard of him.

Lu Wei immediately replied, "Of course! I've been following you!"

Song Lujing slumped back down, "Then don't unfollow me."

The other couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, "How could that be?"

"Alright, alright, I won't disturb you girls chatting." Song Lujing stood up, ruffled his sister's head, "Sweetie, let A Jin accompany you, I'm going to find Yan Ge and the others."

Mu Youyu waved her hand, "Lu Jing bro, bye-bye."

Jiang Liangjin sat down on her other side.

The two young girls sat close together, the topic ranging from Z Country to M Country, and they chatted about the situation at Lu Wei's home.

The Earl's residence in M Country's noble circles is only mid-tier; her mother came from a good background, and after marrying in she has always kept a low profile, avoiding trouble.

"My mother taught me since childhood that in noble circles, keeping a low profile is the true way." Lu Wei sighed.

Mu Youyu listened, not expressing an opinion; she also liked keeping a low profile, but unfortunately the current Condition does not allow it.

Lu Wei finished speaking, her eyes flashed, she lowered her voice and asked: "Mingxi, do you know why Prince Qing An suddenly summoned me to the palace? I barely knew him before, only meeting him once at the Earl's banquet."

Mu Youyu couldn't answer right away; she really hadn't considered this question, not even knowing that her older sister Ruo Ya was hosting a tea party today until just now.

Lu Wei continued, feeling a bit anxious: "When I received the invitation, I thought it was some kind of prank! But when I opened it, I saw it was the genuine imperial palace seal, along with the prince's handwritten signature..."

No one would be foolish enough to forge the imperial palace seal just to prank her.

"What they call Ruo Ya Princess's tea party—normally when the princess isn't around, it's just a few noble ladies… the kind I rarely talk to."

She clenched her skirt hem and whispered: "You mean, does the prince have something he needs from me?"

Mu Youyu pondered for a moment, when Qing An strode in, followed by Qing Wei with a gloomy expression.

"Sister!" Qing An looked her up and down, "How did you get up? Still feeling unwell? I just went out to handle some matters, and as soon as I came back I came to find you."

"I've slept enough, come out and sit, I'm not feeling unwell anymore." Mu Youyu answered, then looked at Qing Wei behind him, "Qing Wei bro, are you back too?"

Jiang Liangjin nodded at the two of them.

After Qing Wei responded, his gaze lingered on Lu Wei for a brief second.

Lu Wei felt tense all over from his look, quickly stood and bowed, "Prince Qing Wei, I am……"

Qing Wei withdrew his gaze, "Please rise."

Lu Wei stood up nervously, eyes downcast, not daring to look at him.

Qing An only then noticed Lu Wei's presence, blinked, then realized, "Oh, you're that…… Miss from the Wa'ou Earl's manor?"

Lu Wei quickly replied, her posture formal, "Yes, yes, Prince."

"I had someone invite you here." Qing An smiled indifferently, his gaze falling on his sister, full of affection.

"Don't be nervous; I invited you because you got along well with my sister last time, thinking she lacks female peers her age here, so I asked you to come keep her company and relieve her boredom."

Lu Wei stood there, incredulous.

Did Prince Qing An use the imperial palace seal and a handwritten invitation just to have Mingxi Princess as a playmate?