The maid looked at Bai Ruozhu with pleading eyes. Bai Ruozhu shook her head at her, indicating she wouldn't hurt her; she just wanted to first get a sense of what was happening in the room.
Qingqiu pinned a ruby hairpin into Princess Yingtong's bun, and while looking into the mirror she said, "Cousin, you have both looks and birth, how did you end up fancying someone like that?"
Princess Yingtong felt displeased and reached up to remove the hairpin. "I don't like being so formal. Something simple is fine."
"We're cousins; I truly am doing this for your own good. Gaochang is in chaos now—do you really think you can stay above it all? You might as well consider Father's proposal. Once the second prince succeeds to the throne, we might still muddle through, but I fear you won't be able to take a single step," Qingqiu said again, now in a tone of earnest persuasion.
Yingtong's brow furrowed tightly. Right now she was worried about Chu Hai; she honestly had no mind for anything else.
