I insist

Chapter 397: Becoming Friends

"There's something else I need you to do personally. Hurry up and get it done..."

"Stepfather!"

Interrupted by Liuli's sudden cry, the old eunuch frowned in displeasure. Just as he was about to say something else, he saw the other person's gaze.

Looking into those determined eyes, he felt even more regretful.

He opened his mouth, and after a long while, he let out another sigh.

"You're a good child in every way, except that you're too stubborn."

"Don't worry, stepfather. I know what I'm doing. If I really can't get it, I won't keep pursuing it."

The old woman overheard this, but knew it was meant for him, and her brows furrowed even more deeply.

However, he also knew his stepdaughter very well, so he naturally wouldn't say much to avoid causing further trouble.

Liuli noticed the old eunuch's appearance and knew that he wouldn't do much to stop her, so a slight smile finally appeared on her small face.

"You look best when you smile, don't always look so gloomy."

“My stepfather is right.”

Liuli smiled at the old eunuch, then turned her head to look at something else, her eyes filled with melancholy as she pondered many things.

"All these years, I've always let you..."

"Liuli? Are you too tired? Why don't you go back to your room and rest?"

Hearing this, she finally came to her senses and forced a smile at the slightly frowning old eunuch once again.

Seeing her like this, the old eunuch frowned slightly, got up, and told the maid to take her back to her room to rest. Then he turned around and left.

A few days later.

Song Miqiu sat in the small cubicle that the demon concubine had specially prepared for him, and yawned out of boredom, when he heard the voice of a palace maid outside.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Is the person still inside?"

Upon hearing the voice that had been echoing in her mind all this time, Song Miqiu stood up, walked straight to the door, and pulled it open.

He made eye contact with the other person and then smiled.

"Your Highness, please come in. Is there something you need from me?"

"What, can't I contact you if there's nothing wrong?"

The demon concubine was not polite at all. She walked straight into the room and casually picked a chair to sit down lazily.

Seeing the snacks Song Miqiu had placed on the table, he randomly picked one and popped it into his mouth.

After tasting it, he squinted his eyes contentedly, a smile curving his lips as he stared intently at her.

"Are you just standing there, expecting me to look up at you?"

"How could I dare? I will sit down now."

Unable to fathom what the other person was thinking, Song Miqiu could only helplessly choose a spot where he could see the other person's face to speak.

The demon concubine paid no attention to her wariness, instead staring intently at her for a long time before lowering her head.

I thought he was trying to hide his expression and was about to say something else when I heard a soft laugh.

"These dried fruits are delicious, why don't I have any?"

"If Your Highness likes them, I'll buy some more for you tomorrow?"

The demon concubine nodded in satisfaction, then suddenly reached out and grabbed at Song Miqiu.

Although she didn't know what the other person wanted to do, or what they wanted to test, she suppressed her physical instincts and let them grab her arm.

"eat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am not hungry right now. Please eat more if you wish."

The demon concubine didn't speak, but she didn't withdraw her hand either, just staring straight at Song Miqiu.

Seeing the other person's expression, she knew that refusing was futile, so she could only open her mouth and swallow the food.

Satisfied, the demon concubine watched as the person ate the food, nodded, and then got up and walked straight out.

Song Miqiu hadn't expected this, and frowned in confusion. Finding the taste in her mouth rather strange, she reluctantly spat it out.

Seeing another wormhole on the preserved plum, she sighed helplessly and threw it directly into the bucket in the corner.

Such things are not uncommon. These past few days, the demon concubine has been coming over, and her comings and goings have actually sparked a lot of gossip.

"I didn't know Your Highness liked these things. If you really need them, I'll bring some over tomorrow."

"That's good, it'll keep things from getting too boring here."

Song Miqiu silently memorized the general stories from those few storybooks, and then saw the people off right on time.

The demon concubine, however, was reluctant to leave and sighed as she stood at the door.

The beauty lowered her eyes slightly, raised her hand to cover her chest, and let out a resentful sigh. Her eyes kept sweeping over her body, and Song Miqiu almost stopped her.

"Your Majesty, if you do not return soon, the Emperor will send someone to look for you."

"I am aware of this, but it is not easy to have a chance to chat about stories, and you want to kick me out. It is really heartbreaking."

Song Miqiu frowned, then finally gave a helpless smile.

"If Your Highness feels that we haven't talked enough, I can chat with you some more."

"That would be great, but unfortunately you are not as important as the Emperor. Let's talk again tomorrow."

Hearing the concubine say this, he understood that she had had her fill of fun. He smiled slightly and watched the Empress leave, then walked out of the small house and strode towards the Imperial Hospital.

But just as she reached the wide road, she saw a figure walking in this direction from afar, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.

He lowered his head, trying to avoid it, but when he heard the approaching footsteps, his brows furrowed.

Why can't you just let her go for one day?

Although Song Miqiu thought this way, she knew she couldn't go against him, so she sighed helplessly, then adjusted her expression and looked up again.

When Hong Mama's gaze met hers, she could only manage a helpless smile.

"Is Granny Hong looking for me?"

"Lord Song is a very important person. I searched for a long time before I found out that you were with the Empress."

Seeing the ambiguous smile on the other person's face, Song Miqiu inwardly cried out in alarm, but there was no way to avoid it. He could only pretend to have discovered something and look up to the side.

Fooled by these actions, Granny Hong immediately looked in the same spot, only to find that there was nothing there, and immediately understood what was going on.

He quickly looked away and saw that Song Miqiu had already walked some distance away.

But Granny Hong was in no hurry. She simply waved to the guards at the palace gate and was stopped by the two men.

"Granny Hong, there are so many people in the Imperial Hospital, there's no need for you to specifically look for someone like me."

"Besides, I'm a bit tired today..."

"It was the Empress Dowager who sent me to see you."

Upon hearing that it was the Empress Dowager speaking, Song Miqiu knew that there was no way to leave, so she could only nod obediently and follow behind Zashi.

Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Granny Hong breathed a sigh of relief and turned to lead her people forward.

Originally, they thought that no one else would be involved, but Song Miqiu was unwilling to keep it up. After walking only a few steps, she started asking questions and her mouth never stopped.

Annoyed by the noise, Granny Hong quickened her pace and finally arrived in front of the palace.

He bowed to Song Miqiu, then stood still at the door as if he were a doorman who had lived there all his life.