As the melody came to an end, TanTan lifted her gaze toward Prince Li. He did the same, their eyes meeting for a brief moment.
Silence settled over the pavilion.
It was finally broken by Minister Hua, who began clapping his hands.
"What a beautiful performance! I was completely captivated by your playing, Your Highness."
Prince Li was clearly not interested in the compliment. His attention remained fixed on TanTan, his gaze unusually intense.
"So... you remembered the song after all." His voice carried a hint of disappointment. "Perhaps we should play another one?"
TanTan caught the disappointment in his tone. It made her feel rather awkward, especially after experiencing the memories that had just surfaced.
HuaMuTan's emotions seemed to be stirring inside her heart and mind, leaving her unable to face Prince Li's gaze.
She turned her face away.
"No... not now. I'm tired."
TanTan then looked toward Minister Hua.
"Uncle Hua, thank you for teaching me. Perhaps we can do this again another time?"
Minister Hua smiled regretfully.
"Certainly, Young Lady. Perhaps after I finish arranging the delivery of Queen Grandmother's gifts. Since Prince Li is here, perhaps this would be a good opportunity to continue our discussion about the arrangements?"
He turned toward Prince Li.
Prince Li remembered their previous conversation and answered coldly,
"Of course. Let's discuss it. So, the gifts will be delivered tomorrow, correct?"
TanTan immediately became interested in their conversation.
Tomorrow?
An opportunity suddenly appeared in her mind. If she could accompany the delivery, she might finally get a chance to leave Li Mansion, even if only for a little while.
"Can I join the delivery too?"
"No!"
Prince Li's objection came so quickly that TanTan was caught off guard.
He stood up and approached her, his expression clearly displeased.
"What are you thinking?"
"I... I just want to see the delivery for myself. After all, it's my gift to Queen Grandmother, isn't it? Is there anything wrong with that?"
Feeling offended by his reaction, TanTan instinctively stepped backward.
"Just let my men handle it. You'd better stay here and behave yourself, wifey. Don't get yourself into any more trouble."
Prince Li continued approaching until he was close enough for TanTan to see her own reflection in his eyes.
His sudden proximity made her nervous. She could feel her heartbeat quickening, but she tried to remain calm and gently pushed him away.
"Okay... okay! I won't cause any trouble again."
She took another step back before asking,
"Just let me know what time the gifts will be delivered."
Minister Hua answered politely,
"They will be sent tomorrow morning, Young Lady."
"And when will they arrive here?"
"If everything goes smoothly, they should arrive the following morning."
TanTan's eagerness to know the schedule only made Prince Li more suspicious.
"All right, that's enough. My wife seems to need some rest."
Prince Li smoothly placed his hands on TanTan's shoulders and guided her away from the conversation. He then turned toward Minister Hua.
"Why don't we continue discussing the arrangements somewhere else?"
Without waiting for TanTan's response, he gestured for Minister Hua to follow him.
Minister Hua understood and politely excused himself.
"Don't worry, Young Lady. I won't disappoint you with the gifts."
With that, he left the pavilion alongside Prince Li.
Once they were gone, TanTan finally released her frustration.
"What a narrow-minded man! It's not as if I'm planning something evil with the gifts!"
Unfortunately, Prince Li was already too far away to hear her complaint.
Now that she was alone, TanTan took a moment to settle her mind after all the memories she had experienced.
Having witnessed how Prince Li had rescued HuaMuTan from Prince LongYi, she finally understood why HuaMuTan had developed feelings for him.
He had appeared at the right moment, protected her from a terrible situation, and even risked offending his own royal brother to help her.
It was no wonder HuaMuTan's heart had begun to change after that incident.
Thump!
Suddenly, TanTan's heart pounded again as she recalled the memory.
Then came another wave of images.
Short fragments of HuaMuTan's past flashed through her mind: the moments when she encountered Prince Li, the little things he did, the way she gradually became more conscious of him, and how her affection grew stronger with every passing encounter.
These memories had never affected TanTan so intensely before.
She clutched her chest, frightened by the unfamiliar emotions overwhelming her.
"STOP! STOP IT, HUAMUTAN! I'M NOT YOU! THESE AREN'T MY FEELINGS! WHY?! WHY ARE YOU MAKING ME FEEL THEM TOO?!"
"Are you all right?"
QingQing's sudden appearance startled TanTan.
She stared at TanTan with a strange expression, clearly wondering what had just happened.
TanTan quickly tried to compose herself.
"I... I'm fine!"
QingQing tilted her head slightly before giving her a mischievous smirk.
"You seem to have a love problem, girl. Were you talking about feelings just now?"
TanTan looked at her for a moment.
For some reason, she suddenly felt like asking QingQing for advice. She didn't really have anyone else she could talk to about this strange situation.
"If... your heart developed feelings that you didn't want to have, what would you do?"
QingQing narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"Hmm... That's never happened to me. I always follow what my heart tells me. My heart is usually right!"
But this isn't my body... and perhaps it isn't even my heart. I'm trapped inside someone else's body.
TanTan could only sigh.
"Never mind. Did you come here looking for me?"
QingQing suddenly remembered why she had come.
"Oh, right! You wanted to know when you could enter the black market, didn't you?"
She smiled brightly.
"You're in luck, HuaMuTan! My sister just sent me a message. She has found out the right time and place for us to go!"
TanTan's eyes widened.
"Really? That's great! When is it?"
"Tonight."
QingQing answered calmly.
"What?!"
TanTan nearly jumped out of her seat.
"Tonight?!"
QingQing looked slightly apologetic and forced a smile.
"Well... my sister said she has repaid her debt to you. She doesn't particularly care what you intend to do with the information."
"Great..."
TanTan couldn't have been happier.
"So... does that mean you're not going?" QingQing asked curiously.
"Of course I'm going!"
"Do you want to go somewhere, YangMu?"
A little voice suddenly interrupted them.
It was FangFang, who had come looking for TanTan. ShuangAi was accompanying her and also looked rather puzzled by TanTan's enthusiastic declaration.
"MuTan Jie, where are you planning to go?"
Their sudden appearance startled TanTan.
She was sure they hadn't heard the entire conversation, but she still needed to come up with an excuse.
"I mean... I'll go back to the kitchen. It's almost lunchtime, and I want to find something to eat."
"Me too! I'm hungry, YangMu!"
As she had been doing all morning, FangFang clung to TanTan's arm.
QingQing smiled and gently stroked the little girl's head.
"That's right, little girl. I'm hungry too. Why don't we all have lunch together?"
TanTan glanced at QingQing. She actually wanted to discuss their plans for tonight in greater detail, but then she looked at FangFang and ShuangAi.
Remembering what ShuangAi had told her about FangFang's birthday and the anniversary of her parents' deaths, TanTan sighed.
"Very well. Let's all have lunch together first."
"Hurray!"
FangFang immediately cheered.
ShuangAi, however, seemed to remember something. She glanced at the time and spoke apologetically.
"Um, MuTan Jie... I'm afraid I have to go home now. I'm sorry I can't join you for lunch."
"Why don't you come back after lunch?"
TanTan genuinely wanted ShuangAi to stay, especially since they hadn't had enough time to talk that morning. There were still so many things she wanted to ask about HuaMuTan's past.
"I'm really sorry, but there's a patient I need to examine. It can't wait. How about I come back tomorrow and have lunch with you instead, MuTan Jie?"
ShuangAi was thinking about the man she had once rescued from the river.
She was still worried about his condition, and although she regretted leaving TanTan, she couldn't ignore her patient's needs.
TanTan looked at her with admiration.
ShuangAi really is a good doctor. She's so concerned about her patients that she's even willing to give up her lunchtime to treat them...
She nodded.
"Okay. But don't forget to eat something after you've finished treating your patient."
"Of course. Thank you for your concern, MuTan Jie."
ShuangAi smiled and excused herself.
As TanTan watched her walk away, a sudden flash of memory struck her.
She saw Prince Li holding ShuangAi tightly in his arms.
An unfamiliar feeling of discomfort suddenly rose in her chest.
TanTan froze, startled by her own reaction.
"Are you all right, YangMu?" FangFang asked worriedly.
TanTan shook her head, trying to clear away the images.
"I'm fine... Let's go."
QingQing approached her, and TanTan immediately gave her a meaningful look. She leaned closer and whispered,
"We'll talk about tonight later!"
"Sure."
QingQing nodded before suddenly looking around.
"By the way, where's XiaoRue? I haven't seen her."
"I think she's still preparing the medicine in the kitchen. Let's check on her too."
TanTan continued walking, with FangFang enthusiastically leading the way.
"Oh, I see."
QingQing shrugged and followed them.