Junior Edina woke up in the evening after sleeping through the entire first half of the day. As she stirred, her personal maid, Lian Hua, immediately began helping her get dressed. With a beautiful hanfu and elegantly tied-up hair, Junior Edina looked every bit the young lady she was.

"Thank you, Lian Hua," Edina said softly as she admired her reflection.

"You look lovely, Young Mistress," Lian Hua replied, smiling warmly.

Junior Edina took a steady branch to use as a cane, a makeshift solution after losing her original cane during the abduction. The branch, found on Zunzon Road during their escape, had served her well. With Lian Hua's support, she started walking towards the entrance of the Shining Blade Sect, where Princess Huangshu had promised to meet her.

As they approached the entrance, Junior Edina felt a mix of nervousness and excitement. She had never had a close friend before, and the prospect of spending time with Princess Huangshu felt both thrilling and daunting.

"Are you ready, Young Mistress?" Lian Hua asked, noticing Edina's hesitation.

Junior Edina took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, I am."

They continued their walk, the grand halls of the Shining Blade Sect behind them, and the bustling town ahead. As they reached the entrance, they saw Princess Huangshu waiting with an eager smile.

"Edina! You look wonderful!" Huangshu exclaimed, rushing over to greet her.

"Thank you, Princess Huangshu," Junior Edina replied, her voice shy but warm.

"Please, you already said you will stop calling me that! just call me Huangshu. We're both princesses and friends, aren't we?" Huangshu said, linking her arm with Edina's.

Junior Edina nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "Yes, Huangshu."

With that, they made their way to the carriage where Jinhai, the princess's personal guard, was already seated. He greeted them with a nod, his expression stern but respectful. The carriage, luxurious and finely decorated, offered a comfortable space for their outing.

"Where would you like to go first?" Huangshu asked as they settled in.

"I've never really explored a town like this before," Junior Edina admitted. "I'll follow your lead."

Huangshu's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Then let's make the most of it! We'll start with the market square. It's always bustling with life and full of interesting things to see."

The carriage began to move, the gentle rocking adding to Junior Edina's sense of adventure. She glanced out of the window, watching the buildings and people pass by. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of normalcy returning.

Jinhai, seated opposite them, observed the two young princesses with a protective eye. Despite his stern demeanor, there was a hint of a smile as he saw Huangshu's enthusiasm which usually is reserved only for close friends and family.

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As they approached the market square, the sounds of bustling activity grew louder. The carriage came to a halt, and the door was opened by a footman. Huangshu stepped out first, followed by Junior Edina, who took a moment to steady herself with her makeshift cane.

The market square was a vibrant tapestry of colors and sounds. Stalls lined the streets, filled with everything from exotic fruits to intricate textiles. The air was filled with the scent of street food and the chatter of townsfolk.

"Isn't it amazing?" Huangshu said, her eyes wide with wonder. "There's so much to see and do!"

Junior Edina nodded, her own excitement building. "It really is."

"Let's start with that stall over there," Huangshu suggested, pointing to a beautiful woodcraft store. "I think you'll love it."

Huangshu took Junior Edina’s arm from Lian Hua and, with a nod, guided her into the woodcraft store. Junior Edina was puzzled as to why they were visiting a woodcraft store instead of a clothing or jewelry store, which she had expected for this outing.

"We need to get you a cool-looking cane! Just like those war-hardened warriors in Genma! You will look so cool, Edina!" Huangshu said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Ge... Genma? The book by Xi Kong?" Junior Edina replied, her curiosity piqued. Huangshu’s face turned red with a mix of excitement and embarrassment. Genma was a romance novel written by Xi Kong, an underrated author known as the romantic genius. Many people wouldn't admit to reading his books, as they were often seen as amateur works rather than serious literature.

Huangshu knew that Edina read romance novels because she had seen her with one during their last meeting a year ago, but she hadn’t had the opportunity to talk about it then. This shared interest was why Huangshu had been so excited to meet Edina at the coming-of-age ceremony of the Shining Blade Sect's young master. She had always wanted to meet another princess, especially one who loved the same genre she did.

As they explored the store, Huangshu's enthusiasm was contagious. She pointed out various intricately carved canes, each one more elaborate than the last. "Look at this one, Edina! It's carved with scenes from The Warrior's Journey. Isn't it amazing?"

Edina's eyes widened as she examined the cane. "It’s beautiful. And the detail is incredible."

Huangshu beamed. "You should have something that reflects your strength and spirit. Just like the heroes in our favorite stories."

Edina felt a warmth in her chest, touched by Huangshu’s thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Huangshu. This means a lot to me."

Jinhai observed a person walking towards them and instantly moved to intercept her. "Stop right there!" he commanded.

The woman stopped and scrutinized him. "I don't recognize you. Are you a new guard for Edina?"

Jinhai raised an eyebrow, realizing she must know Junior Edina. "No, I am the sole guard of our esteemed little phoenix of the empire, Princess Zhou Huangshu."

At his words, the woman and everyone in the store instantly bowed. Huangshu face-palmed. "Rise, everyone. And Jinhai, do you have to declare who we are? Now our cover is blown everywhere we go."

Junior Edina looked at the woman and instantly recognized her. "Sister Lu Lan! What are you doing here?!"

The woman lifted her head, revealing her elegant features. She had a poised demeanor, with sharp, intelligent eyes and a warm smile. "Nothing much, Liu wanted to open a store in this town, so we were here on a sightseeing trip when I saw you. But it seems..."

She glanced at Huangshu, who was holding a cane styled after the ones in Genma. She then added with a chuckle, "It seems you are on a royal shopping spree, huh?"

As soon as Lu Lan said that, Huangshu’s eyes lit up. “You... You understood the reference! I don’t know who you are, but you understood the reference!!”

Jinhai face-palmed and said, “Your Highness, she is Lu Lan, formerly Cha Ling. She is the eldest grandchild of Sect Leader Liang Feng of the Blazing Dawn Sect.”

Lu Lan Yang (formerly Cha Ling) is Lu Shun’s elder sister and Edina’s cousin. Lu Lan had married the son of Yang Commerce’s head, Liu Yang, right after her coming-of-age ceremony and left the sect to live near the capital with her in-laws and husband. Lu Lan and Lu Shun used to dote on Edina every chance they got when her parents were alive. It had been a few years since Lu Lan saw her, but anyone could recognize that bright red hair anywhere.

Huangshu continued excitedly, “I’ve been trying to give hints to Edina, but she doesn’t get the references no matter what! But you got it instantly!”

Lu Lan chuckled. “Of course she didn’t, Your Highness. She refuses to read Hidden Love because apparently, the female lead is annoying to her.”

Huangshu’s jaw dropped as she looked at Junior Edina. “What?! It’s Xi Kong’s best work!”

“I know, right?” Lu Lan chimed in.

Jinhai stood to the side, dumbfounded at how easily Her Highness seemed to have bonded with this stranger. He noted that he might have to read these so-called romance books to ensure he could protect Her Highness from getting lured into a dark alley by a stranger with one of the book references.