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"Meet her? That's simple," Edward suddenly blurted out, startling everyone. All eyes, including Mengdie's, were on him, but their expressions were filled with distrust.
Mengdie's tail swayed indifferently, "Hey, don't tell me you plan to use your identity as the Prince of Yinyue and just show up at the castle gate."
Edward quickly waved his hands, his face flushing red, "No, no, no, even if I'm foolish, I know I should hide my identity now. Before the selection ball that day, I was informed about the Third Princess's habits. She likes to walk in the royal garden around 3 PM every day. Recently, I've been hanging around the castle and noticed that gardeners can enter and exit the castle freely. So, we just need to ask a gardener to let us in, and naturally, we'll be able to meet the princess."
Upon closer consideration, Edward's suggestion seemed reasonable but was actually highly impractical. Access to the royal garden was strictly controlled, especially since it's a place for the princess to enjoy. How could they easily allow strangers in? However, it seemed there were no better options, so they decided to give it a try.
After a quick meal, the four left the inn and headed towards the residence of the gardener Edward mentioned.
They walked along the hard marble staircase towards the castle, circling up the gentle mountain path. Passing the opera house, museums, libraries, and other grand buildings, they reached the wealthy area around the castle. However, the gardener's residence was not here. As they continued, the marble streets gradually turned into dirt roads, leading them to a small civilian area near the castle, their first destination.
Along the way, Edward shared what he had learned about the gardener. Reportedly, the gardener was an old man in his sixties who had worked in Luowei City for over ten years. He was known to be reclusive, without children or a spouse, and didn't interact much with city residents, thus not very well-liked. His most distinctive feature was his hunchback, resembling a small hill, making him easy to recognize.
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"An elderly gentleman with a disability... we must inquire very politely," Mengdie thought to herself after hearing the description.
As they walked, Xiu asked, "But Your Highness, since this old man has worked here for over ten years, is it possible for him to break the rules and let us in?"
Edward couldn't answer, but Mengdie shrugged and spread her hands, "Let's just try. Ah, we're here. I'll knock."
The old gardener's wooden house was built against the wall of the castle. Outside the house, numerous flowers and plants were displayed, with a corner set aside for cultivating soil and flowerpots. Like its owner, the house was isolated, appearing quite solitary.
Mengdie cautiously approached, cradling her tail amidst the flowers and plants, and gently approached the wooden house. Once the others carefully followed, she straightened her clothes, took some water from a nearby pipe to groom her ears and tail, took a deep breath, and gently knocked on the door.
"Excuse me, is anyone there?"
There was no response from inside. Mengdie knocked again and asked, but still, silence.
"He might be tending to the flower beds. It's the hottest time of the day, and the flowers in the royal garden need watering to avoid wilting," she agreed with Xiu's suggestion. They decided to wait for the homeowner's return.
As the afternoon sun grew more intense and the streets became emptier, the four grew thirsty waiting outside the gardener's door. Edward took a hose nearby, gave Nia some water, then passed it to Mengdie, while he and Xiu drank from a water bucket.
While drinking from the hose, Mengdie noticed the flowers under the harsh sun looking parched and wilted. She smiled, took the hose to the flowers, and started spraying water on them. In the sunlight, the misty water created a beautiful rainbow behind her as she moved, her tail swaying rhythmically.
Nia, Edward, and Xiu were captivated by the sight, forgetting their thirst as the mist cooled their skin.
Unnoticed, the door of the wooden house had opened slightly. An eye peered out, surprised at the sight of the girl in the garden with the rainbow behind her, looking breathtakingly beautiful...
"Creak..."
The door made a soft sound, startling Mengdie. She and the others turned to see a hunched figure standing in the shadows.
"Come in, girl," a raspy voice invited them from inside, and then the figure vanished.
Mengdie and the others exchanged glances, then Edward, sword in hand, led the way into the house. Mengdie followed, then Nia, and finally Xiu. Once they were all inside, the wooden door closed slowly, just as it had opened...
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