She had always preferred tranquility, with no desires or demands. Her only wish was for her two children to grow up safely, and the current situation suited her perfectly.

But it was only a matter of her preference. For Grace Baker, this was just like defeating a minor monster—a mere warm-up.

She calculated the time and figured that the NPC whose favorability she had raised by a third should be arriving soon.

Sure enough, a few days later, she was playing shuttlecock in the courtyard with Charles Baker on a peaceful afternoon, when the sound of approaching footsteps and a string of anxious shouts came from outside the mottled palace wall: “Fourth Prince! Your Highness! Please stop running, wait for your servant! You mustn’t go there!”

A proud voice replied in annoyance, “Is there anywhere in this palace that I, the prince, cannot go?”

The voice was already at the door. The eunuch finally caught up with his master, grabbing him and pleading bitterly, “Your Highness, you mustn’t! There have been evil spirits in Mingyue Palace, it’s unlucky, you can’t go in!”

Was William Baker the type to listen? The more you told him not to go, the more he insisted. He immediately pushed open the door and strode inside.

Inside, Grace Baker was still playing shuttlecock with Charles Baker.

The autumn sun was pale, casting only a thin layer of golden light through the clouds. The little girl with two small buns on her head wore a light pink jacket and skirt, enveloped in that glow, smiling sweetly as she kicked the shuttlecock. Her small figure bounced and skipped, lively and adorable.

William Baker suddenly understood the saying, “as still as a maiden, as lively as a rabbit.”

He scolded the eunuch in displeasure: “My Fifth Royal Sister is like a little fairy—wherever she is, there’s only fairy aura, never bad luck! If you keep spouting nonsense, I won’t forgive you!”

Grace Baker heard his voice and looked up. The lively figure just now froze in place, the shuttlecock falling to the ground. She tilted her head toward the door, her two little hands nervously twisting in front of her, but her big, watery eyes sparkled with delight.

William Baker walked in, calling out excitedly, “Little Deer!”

She smiled shyly, lips pressed together, revealing sweet dimples, looking very happy that he still remembered her name. She obediently watched him come closer and closer, and when he picked up the shuttlecock in front of her, she lifted her little face and softly called, “Brother Jingyuan.”

Chapter 6 【06】

The Fourth Prince was so flustered by that soft and sweet “Brother Jingyuan” that he almost lost his bearings.

To be fair, ever since he was born, no one had ever called him that. The servants all called him “Your Highness,” the elders called him “Yuan’er” or by his full name, and the princesses either called him “Fourth Royal Brother” or “Fourth Younger Brother.”

Only today did he realize—so it could be said like this! It sounded especially intimate and pleasing to the ear!

Grace Baker took the shuttlecock he picked up and asked obediently, “Brother Jingyuan, why did you come over?”

William Baker pulled out a withered begonia flower from his robe. He had come over with confidence, but now, in front of his Fifth Royal Sister, he felt a bit embarrassed. Scratching his head, he finally said, “This is the double-petaled begonia you gave me. I’ve had the palace maids take good care of it these past few days, but it’s still about to wilt.”

Grace Baker blinked, reached out a fair finger to gently poke the petal, seemed to think for a moment, then looked up and said, “Don’t worry, I have a way!” She reached out and took his finger, “Come with me.”

William Baker glanced at the little hand holding his, coughed to hide his embarrassment, and changed the subject by looking at Charles Baker, who was still standing there blankly. “Who is he?”

Grace Baker paused, and her hand holding his slowly withdrew.

She seemed a little scared, head slightly bowed, her voice small: “He’s my brother. His name is Charles Baker.”

William Baker blurted out, “That fool?”

He immediately regretted it. Looking at Grace Baker, sure enough, her face showed a hurt expression, her head lowered even more, and even the two little buns on her head seemed to droop. Her voice was muffled, with a pitiful hint of tears: “My brother isn’t a fool, he’s just sick.”

William Baker was filled with regret.

After speaking, Grace Baker cautiously looked up to gauge his reaction, then reached out two soft fingers to tug at his sleeve, gently shaking it, and asked in a tiny voice, “Brother Jingyuan, will you dislike my brother like the others do?”

William Baker immediately declared loudly, “Of course not! Since he’s your brother, he’s naturally my royal brother too… How old is he?”

Grace Baker’s sweet smile returned: “My brother is seven this year.”

William Baker lifted his chin proudly: “I’m a year older than him, so I’m his royal brother. He’s my sixth younger brother—how could I dislike him?”

Grace Baker’s eyes sparkled, her hand still holding his sleeve, and she said softly and sweetly, “Brother Jingyuan, you’re so nice. You’re the best person I’ve ever met!”

William Baker was so pleased he nearly floated away.

The three of them walked together toward the side hall, the little eunuch following behind with a miserable face: “Your Highness…”

William Baker turned and glared at him: “You’re not allowed to come in!”

Inside the side hall’s courtyard, Violet Morgan was still doing needlework with Lily. Suddenly seeing her daughter walk in hand-in-hand with the Fourth Prince, everyone in the courtyard was startled. Grace Baker said crisply, “Mother Consort, Fourth Royal Brother came to play with me.”