William Baker reacted quickly and caught her, displeased, saying, “Tell your maid to take it.”

　　Hazel had been kneeling ever since she arrived, afraid of angering the Fourth Prince, and never expected things to turn out this way. She immediately took the bamboo basket and retreated to the side.

　　Grace Baker clasped her little hands behind her back, tilted her head, and gave William Baker a sweet smile. The autumn sun shone through the red persimmons, as if it filled her dimples, warm and sweet: “Thank you, big brother.”

　　William Baker was a little embarrassed by her smile.

　　He was used to his eldest sister’s willfulness and his third sister’s unruliness. Plus, his mother, Consort Xian, didn’t get along with the eldest princess’s mother, Consort Hui, so he actually didn’t like his eldest sister much, let alone her little follower, the third sister.

　　But this Fifth Princess, whom he had never met before, was completely different—delicate and gentle, her smile both beautiful and adorable, wanting to eat persimmons but also afraid. It made his little boyish urge to protect her surge uncontrollably.

　　Grace Baker thought of something, took out a begonia flower she had picked earlier in the imperial garden, and earnestly handed it over: “Mother said, ‘It’s impolite not to reciprocate.’ Since you gave me persimmons, I’ll give you this double-petaled begonia. Double-petaled begonias symbolize good luck—they’re very rare.”

　　At the end, she glanced reluctantly at the begonia flower, then resolutely placed it in William Baker’s hand.

　　The flower had been in her arms for a while, its petals warmed by her body heat. When it rested in his palm, it was soft and warm.

　　William Baker’s ears turned red with embarrassment.

　　Ah, what an absolute little cutie! Such a rare lucky flower, and she just gave it to me like that. She clearly didn’t want to part with it, but didn’t hesitate at all!

　　After giving the flower, Grace Baker waved at him and said sweetly, “Goodbye, big brother.”

　　She followed Hazel out, and when she reached the archway, she secretly looked back and gave William Baker a distant smile.

　　Through the slanting autumn sun, with the courtyard full of red persimmons, that smile was three parts shy and seven parts clever, almost melting his heart.

　　After they had walked some distance, Hazel, who had been sweating with anxiety, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at the persimmons in her hand, then at the little princess beside her who seemed unconcerned, and couldn’t help but ask, “Princess, do double-petaled begonias really symbolize good luck? I’ve never heard of that.”

　　Grace Baker didn’t answer, just smiled.

　　It’s right that you haven’t heard of it.

　　She just made it up on the spot.

Chapter 5 【05】

　　The persimmons in the bamboo basket were heavy, big, and red. In previous years, they could never get so many persimmons—just picking one or two occasionally to satisfy a craving. There were many rules in the palace, especially for someone in Violet Morgan’s situation, who had to be extra careful not to give anyone a reason to gossip over food.

　　But today, these persimmons were a reward from the Fourth Prince—dozens of them. Not only could they eat as much as they wanted, but the skins could be dried and used in cold dishes, and the leftovers could be pickled into persimmon cakes. The little princess and the Sixth Prince would have snacks for days to come.

　　Hazel didn’t think there was anything odd about her princess today. On the contrary, she felt that anyone would like such a cute little princess!

　　On the way back, they passed a row of orange trees. Grace Baker glanced at them, seemed to think of something, and stopped to say to Hazel, “I want to pick a few oranges.”

　　Hazel said, “The autumn oranges grown here are for decoration. The fruit isn’t edible—they’re very sour.”

　　Grace Baker didn’t listen: “I want two.”

　　Hazel didn’t try to persuade her further, and went with her to pick a few small, green oranges that looked extremely sour. Grace Baker wrapped them up and put them in her sleeve, then returned to Mingyue Palace.

　　Violet Morgan and Lillian Reed were still doing needlework in the courtyard. When they saw Hazel carrying the basket of persimmons, their expressions changed. Just as Violet Morgan was about to scold her, Hazel happily recounted what had happened.

　　After listening, Violet Morgan was a bit surprised. She glanced at Grace Baker, who was squatting in the yard with Charles Baker digging up an ant nest, but didn’t think much of it. She figured the Fourth Prince must have been in a good mood today and rewarded them, so she told Hazel to peel persimmons for the two children.

　　Grace Baker sat on the threshold, holding a sweet, glutinous persimmon, taking bite after bite, while looking at the tightly closed main hall doors across the way.

　　She had just overheard Lillian Reed and Violet Morgan chatting—those doors hadn’t opened all day, and Grace Baker was very satisfied with their reaction. All she did was mention someone was in the tree, and they got this scared. That meant her plan was on the right track.

　　In the afternoon, the main hall doors finally opened a crack. The slanting sun filled the courtyard and shone on the bare pomegranate tree. Edward Harris, supported by Hongxiu, glanced evasively at the pomegranate tree, then walked straight out, not looking to either side, her steps hurried.

　　Grace Baker sat on the threshold, staring at her. Edward Harris looked over twice, feeling like the little girl was watching her, or maybe something else—very unsettling.

　　It was nearly evening when she returned. By then, Grace Baker had already finished dinner and was playing shadow tag in the courtyard with Charles Baker.

　　As soon as Edward Harris entered, the two laughing children immediately stopped. In Charles Baker’s eyes, she was a bad person. His mother had told him to stay away from bad people, so he grabbed his sister and ran back inside.

　　But Grace Baker didn’t move. She just stood there, staring blankly, her expression dazed, eyes fixed on her.