Zero five.

No need to thank me, it was just a small gesture. You only left because Lady Lv DeFei used deceitful means against you back then. I couldn't bear to see it, so I gave you some silver. Shen Qingyu remembered that the bag of money was obtained by selling the ornament that was rewarded by the Empress Dowager. She smiled and continued, "As a young girl traveling alone, it's always good to have some money on you."

Indeed, Yu Linzhi owes her a life, but it is also because of Yu Linzhi that she has been able to survive and make a living on her own in recent years. The cruelty of fate has completely killed the fifteen-year-old Mu Lingsu. The current Mu Lingsu is accustomed to bloodshed and no longer has many expectations for the future, seemingly no longer arrogant.

Shen Qingyu didn't really want to exchange pleasantries with Mu Lingsu, so she changed the topic: "How come you get along so well with Yu Linzhi? What's the story behind it?"

Mu Lingsu had nothing important to do after dinner, so she went to Yulin's room to take his pulse and then went straight to the Yufu garden. Before she could even take a walk, the eunuch close to King Yiyang came to find her, saying that King Yiyang wanted to see her.

Mu Lingsu originally didn't want to bring up those past events, but suddenly remembered that when she left back then, Shen Qingyu had entrusted some money to Mei Liaoliao to give to her. Mu Lingsu realized that she had not properly thanked him yet and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your help back then. You gave this commoner silver coins when I was in need."

Mu Lingsu knew that after so many years, Shen Qingyu must have thought that everything from the past had faded away with time. However, she could not forget that the Empress intentionally sent her foster father to diagnose Lady Lv's pulse in order to bring her down. Later, the Empress reported to the Emperor that Lady Lv was pregnant. Eventually, Lady Lv was falsely accused of having a fake pregnancy, and her son, the Third Prince, lost his eligibility to become the Crown Prince. After that, the Emperor discovered the clues and traced it back to Mu Lingsu's foster father, who was then accused of deceiving the Emperor. She could not forget that the Empress intentionally sent her foster father to diagnose Lady Lv's pulse in order to bring her down. Later, the Empress reported to the Emperor that Lady Lv was pregnant. Eventually, Lady Lv was falsely accused of having a fake pregnancy, and her son, the Third Prince, lost his eligibility to become the Crown Prince. After that, the Emperor discovered the clues and traced it back to Mu Lingsu's foster father, who was then accused of deceiving the Emperor.

The commoner really can't eat anymore. Mu Lingsu admitted directly. She knew that Shen Qingyu calling her over so late at night was definitely not just to have her eat jujube paste cakes. She tentatively asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, what is the matter for summoning me?" The implication was that if there was nothing important, she would have to leave first, after all, her stomach was about to burst.

Mu Lingsu had several pig's feet for dinner. Even if she borrowed another stomach now, she couldn't eat anymore. She looked at Shen Qingyu, who was eagerly waiting for her to eat a plate of jujube paste cake, feeling both struggling and embarrassed. She wanted to tell Shen Qingyu that she was full, but she didn't want to refuse him directly.

It's somewhat incredible," Mu Lingsu said, "He's been risking his life for me, even though he's still carrying the burden of my father. Don't think that I've lost my mind." She smiled and sat down against the pillar of the pavilion.

Shen Qingyu looked at Mu Lingsu pretending to be relaxed, and for a moment didn't know how to respond. The person in front of her was clearly the one she had liked since childhood, but why were her every expression and every word she said different from before?

What's wrong? Shen Qingyu noticed her strangeness and asked, "Do you think this one is better than Fengzuogong?"

In her opinion, when facing the past, it is better to forget it. Yesterday, like the day before yesterday's death, it is useless to cling to the past. No matter how much nostalgia, it cannot bring back the friendship between her and Shen Qingyu. The harm caused by immaturity will only become deeper.

To eat or not to eat?

Mu Lingsu really didn't want to continue this topic, without even saying goodbye, he hurriedly left the pavilion.

You seem to have changed. Shen Qingyu squinted her eyes, trying hard to see the difference between the current Mu Lingsu and the past her. "Eight years, and so much has changed."

Shen Qingyu wanted to continue this topic, but she quickly got to the point, obviously not wanting to chat with him. Her expression was slightly awkward, and she forced a few laughs, saying, "It's nothing important, I just wanted...". He hesitated for a moment, "I just wanted to catch up with you."

Before she left the palace, news of the mysterious grandson of Prime Minister Gu and his severed ties quickly spread throughout the capital. Everyone knew that the young master of the Prime Minister's mansion was going to acknowledge his birth father in the world. Not long after, Mu Lingsu was expelled from the palace by the empress. Although she had enough money, she was ultimately alone. Within a few days of leaving Nanjing, she encountered bandits on the mountain road.

Therefore, she chose to forgive Yu Linzhi who had helped her, but could not let go of her resentment towards Shen Qingyu, who she chose to ignore while in distress.

How did they get so close?

Over the course of eight years, Mu Lingsu lost her father, who had raised her single-handedly, lost the glory of her family, and lost her originally stable life. She had to wander the rivers and lakes, relying on the reputation of her family to open a medical clinic and make a living with the medical skills she had acquired. If it weren't for the timely appearance of Yu Linzhi, she might have died at the hands of bandits long ago.

In Shen Qingyu's mind, these eight years of separation didn't seem very long. Mu Lingsu should be exactly the same as when she was fifteen years old - pure, sunny, and sweetly smiling and talking to him when she saw him. But he forgot that eight years was a fate-changing period for Mu Lingsu.

Long time no see.Shen Qingyu seemed to have been waiting for her in the pavilion for a long time. As soon as he saw her walking through the corridor and entering the pavilion, he burst into laughter. He pointed to the pastries on the table and said, "I remember that when we were in the Phoenix Palace before, you liked to have the kitchen chef make you date paste cakes. I specially bought some for you to taste."

Shen Qingyu had no idea what she was thinking. He thought she couldn't relax because of the many attendants around him, so he asked all the eunuchs and maids around him to leave: "Now there are no idle people, let's just be like before. These date paste cakes won't be fresh if we don't eat them soon, so please eat some quickly."

Indeed, he is the grandson of the Prime Minister and a supporter of Empress Dowager's faction; she is the daughter of the Chief Physician of the Imperial Hospital and a supporter of the Empress's faction. It is clear that they are two opposing forces. Moreover, it was the Prime Minister Gu Cheng's strong remonstration that led to Mu Lingsu's foster father's exile and indirectly caused his death. To put it bluntly, their hatred for each other can be described as irreconcilable.

People who know the inside story would probably think the same way. Clearly, they are enemies, yet they can be so close. Unless they have gone insane, they may forget their deep hatred and enmity.

Yulin happened to pass by at that time and saved her, so she showed him her illness in return. As time went by, the two of them became closer. Now, as long as no one deliberately mentions it, they will tacitly forget the past family grievances. This is the best way, as both of them have bid farewell to their past. Coincidentally, neither of them likes to owe favors, so they became friends by repaying each other. This is the best way, as both of them have bid farewell to their past. Coincidentally, neither of them likes to owe favors, so they became friends by repaying each other.

Mu Lingsu was taken aback by this question, and for a moment, her thoughts became somewhat confused.

... ... Thank you, Your Highness. Mu Lingsu nodded, agreeing with her mouth, but her body didn't move at all, still standing at the entrance of the pavilion. She didn't know how to face the person who she once regarded as the only one in the deep palace whom she could confide in and trust, but who ultimately abandoned her to face all the dangers alone.

But it was only Yu Linzhi who saved her at her most embarrassed moment.