Xueyu tried to hit on Scarlet Leaf, and Lingcai froze like a rabbit under a flash of lightning.

Well, damn, you’re trying to NTR me—steal my girl like a midnight thief?!

Lingcai grabbed Xueyu by the back collar and dragged her away from Scarlet Leaf, like yanking a stray cat from a fish stall.

What kind of person are you! Yesterday you were pining for Xiaoyue, and today you’re going after Leaf. You’re dead today!

NTR must die! Pure-love warriors never lose!

Before Lingcai could decide how to deal with Xueyu, Scarlet Leaf heard something off again, like a plucked string out of tune.

Um… why are you calling me Leaf? Only my A’Cai calls me that…

Crap. In the rush of feeling, her mask almost slipped.

After tossing the leering Xueyu aside, Lingcai sat down and, after a hard think, patched a flimsy excuse like paper over a leaking roof.

Uh… it’s because your husband in the palace misses you every day, so he keeps saying your name, like a drumbeat in the halls… I got used to it… do you mind?

A warm blush drifted across Scarlet Leaf’s face like sunset, and she drew her hand back, a little uneasy.

Only then did Lingcai notice she had edged right beside Scarlet Leaf, a kitten poised to pounce the next second.

Please don’t lean so close… I’m from the countryside and don’t know court manners. I’m afraid I’ll be rough and rude to Your Highness, like muddy boots on polished floors…

Scarlet Leaf spoke as she shuffled her kneeling legs backward, like a crab inching from surf. The tiny blonde girl’s closeness left her flustered.

She wondered if city girls were all this open—leaning in, grabbing hands at first sight, a hug one breath away like a warm wind.

Seeing Scarlet Leaf grow awkward, Lingcai panicked like a sparrow startled from a branch.

Not rough, not at all! My Leaf could never be crude, like jade washed clean by rain!

If anyone’s crude, that potty‑mouthed elf princess is rougher than a storm drain compared to my Leaf!

Of course, she only shouted it inside. For now, Lingcai had to wear the fake‑princess mask, stiff as a borrowed helm.

At least prove she’s safe, then coax Scarlet Leaf home, like guiding a skittish deer back to a grove.

Lingcai cut her off, firm as a nailed plank. No way! You’re the kindest, gentlest, most considerate girl I’ve met! Not like some petty people—bad temper, selfish, bullies. Oh, and those trashy women who hit on anyone, circling pretty girls all day, flirting with whoever they see. Compared to them, Leaf, you’re an angel blazing in a gray sky!

Who she was cursing needed no subtitles, like arrows already buried in a target.

Xueyu heard her share in that rant. She bottled it like steam trapped under a lid.

Lingcai didn’t notice the gap shrinking. She leaned to a handspan from Scarlet Leaf’s neck and drew a deep breath, a moth lured by a lantern.

The homely tang of hearth smoke and young‑girl warmth washed over her, comforting and nostalgic like winter tea.

Back home, Scarlet Leaf ran a smithy. Like other country girls, she grew on labor, strength braided with the years.

Yet a girl minds her scent, like tending a small flower behind the forge.

Seeing the tiny blonde with springy curls lean in, nostrils fluttering like a puppy sniffing her, Scarlet Leaf felt shock twined with shame.

Do I… do I smell weird?! I rushed here night and day, sweat all over, no time to bathe! I’ll go wash!

She started to rise, but Lingcai caught her hand, fierce as a hawk over its nest. No one slanders my wife, not even she herself.

Lingcai seized both her hands and declared, voice bright as a bell. It’s fine! I like you just like this! Labor is the highest honor!

Uh… this… Scarlet Leaf blinked like a fish caught in sunlight.

Clearly, Lingcai hadn’t seen from Scarlet Leaf’s side. To her, this first‑meeting princess was too warm, nerves singing like a taut string.

A stray thought bubbled up: Maybe the princess is into girls. Damn. Scarlet Leaf shook it off, like popping a bubble. No, surely not.

But Lingcai’s eager hands and hovering steps kept nudging in, like a twitching compass needle, and something felt off.

If a man had tried that, Scarlet Leaf would’ve swatted him like a fly. But this clingy princess was a cute girl with bright eyes fixed on her. It felt cruel to shake her off coldly.

It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re both girls. A little touching won’t cost any flesh, like clouds brushing shoulders.

Maybe this is how city folks say hello, like sleeves brushing in a crowded street.

She never guessed the tiny girl before her was the very Lingcai she pined for like the moon behind clouds.

Thinking she still hadn’t seen Lingcai left her heart hollow like a drum. She probed on, voice careful as stepping stones.

Then… Your Highness, can I ask something? What does my A’Cai do in the palace?

The sudden question made Lingcai dizzier, like a boat losing the North in fog. Uh… well, what does she do…

Everything, everything, Xueyu cut in, tossing words like grain to chickens. All kinds of big and small odd jobs. The princess even sent five thousand silver notes home with a letter. You got them, right?

Scarlet Leaf sat stunned, then pulled the letter and silver notes from her coat’s inner pocket. Relief fell through her like a stone into a well. So it was real… I thought A’Cai did something shady to get so much money, so she didn’t dare see me… Now I’m relieved.

Well, not exactly sunlit—being a stand‑in isn’t exactly clean, Lingcai thought, keeping it tucked like a leaf under a mat.

Xueyu didn’t see any problem. She blurted without a filter, her voice spilling like an upturned cup. How’s that shady? She risked her life! That one stab she took saved half the realm single‑handed!

As her words fell, a liquid hit the floor. Drip.

Huh?

Xueyu hadn’t clocked her mistake. Scarlet Leaf’s shoulders trembled, and two clear tears slid down. Her rabbit hairpin drooped with her mood, like ears gone limp.

Then came Scarlet Leaf’s wavering voice, like rain on paper. Did something happen to A’Cai… Don’t hide it from me… Is that why he can’t see me…!

Lingcai shot Xueyu a blazing glare. Her face practically spelled three bold words: (This is on you!).

Great. Now you’ve made Scarlet Leaf cry. How do we explain anything now, with ink spilled over the map?

Lingcai scrambled to fix it, hugging Scarlet Leaf’s arm and patting like smoothing ruffled dove feathers. Don’t cry, don’t cry! She’s fine! Alive and well! I’ll have A’Cai visit you soon, okay? Don’t cry…

Xueyu hadn’t expected “took a stab” to blow up like this. She babbled, flailing like a fish on a dock. It’s fine! Really fine! I swear on my head, I’ll return Caicai to you whole!

Scarlet Leaf sniffled, looked up at Xueyu with wet eyes, then murmured through tears, words wobbling like a cart wheel. Whole… you mean all that’s left is a whole corpse? Waaah—

Lingcai turned, fury scrawled five new words across her face: (Look what you did!).

I didn’t mean it like that! Why does she jump straight to dead? Xueyu protested, aggrieved like a kicked dog.

Scarlet Leaf stopped crying. A thread of hope rose like dawn, and she asked Xueyu, voice tight as a bowstring. Then tell me, why did my A’Cai get stabbed? How deep? How bad?

Oh, nothing much, she just served as Her Highness’s stand‑in…

Halfway through, Xueyu realized the trap, like stepping onto thin ice. Lingcai’s stare spelled five fresh words: (Are you an idiot?).

Scarlet Leaf heard it too. She turned and eyed the curly‑haired little thing before her. My A’Cai? A stand‑in for the princess? Forget gender—how does that body even match?!

Oh no. We’re cooked, like a clay pot cracking over fire.

In that instant—right that instant! She knew Xueyu’s logic was garbage, yet a hairline doubt spread like a crack on ice. Could it be…?