After the incident, Xia Miaomiao moved to Hua Wuyou's courtyard.
Hua Wuyou no longer allowed her to cook for the girls in the kitchen of the Palace of No Worries. Instead, she became his personal maid, only occasionally responsible for Hua Wuyou's meals.
Xia Miaomiao rarely entered Hua Wuyou's courtyard before, so she didn't have a chance to look for the treasure map. Now that she stayed by Hua Wuyou's side, it provided her with convenience.
However, she couldn't be too impatient. After her ankle healed, apart from making some snacks, Hua Wuyou also let her stay in the study together to read books about music theory.
Xia Miaomiao discovered that Hua Wuyou not only played the flute but was also proficient in many other musical instruments.
She remembered the night when Hua Wuyou saved her and played a tune that gave people a headache. How did he do it?
"Hua Wuyou, what tune did you play on the night you saved me?" Xia Miaomiao couldn't help but ask.
"It's the Lamentation Song," Hua Wuyou didn't conceal it either.
Xia Miaomiao pondered for a moment and asked, "Can anyone play this tune? Can I?"
Hua Wuyou put down the book in his hand and looked at her. "Come here."
Obediently, Xia Miaomiao stood up and walked to Hua Wuyou's side. "What's the matter?"
Unexpectedly, Hua Wuyou reached out and embraced her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
Startled by Hua Wuyou's actions, Xia Miaomiao exclaimed, "What are you doing? Let go of me!"
Hua Wuyou didn't make any other moves. Smiling faintly, he said, "Little rabbit, although I, Hua Wuyou, won't marry, I can have a confidante. You seem to have a good understanding of music theory. How about being my confidante and staying by my side for a lifetime?"
"..." Xia Miaomiao glared at him and asked, "Tell me, how many confidantes do you have now? Is the Purple Clothed Girl your confidante?"
Hua Wuyou laughed, "Of course not."
He leaned close to her ear, and warm breath brushed against her skin. "For now, you're the first."
Hua Wuyou's breath made Xia Miaomiao feel uncomfortable all over. She struggled a few times and said, "Let me go first!"
Sitting in his embrace, Xia Miaomiao unintentionally touched his most sensitive area with her struggling movements.
Hua Wuyou's gaze darkened instantly. "Little rabbit, if you continue to move recklessly, I might have to punish you on the spot."
Xia Miaomiao's struggling ceased immediately, her face slightly flushed. "Let go of me first!"
Hua Wuyou changed the topic, "Didn't you ask if you can learn the Lamentation Song?"
"Can I?" Xia Miaomiao instinctively asked. If she could learn it, she would at least be able to protect herself when facing danger.
Unexpectedly, Hua Wuyou said, "Kiss me, and I'll tell you."
Xia Miaomiao looked at him with an annoyed expression. "I don't want to! Hua Wuyou, you scoundrel, always trying to take advantage of me!"
Hua Wuyou chuckled softly, "Don't you like me? If I take advantage of you, shouldn't you be happy?"
"..."
"Could it be that you lied when you said you liked me?"
"..."
"Then staying by my side... is it for another purpose?"
Xia Miaomiao suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the lips, a bit defiantly. "Is it fine now?"
"Mmm..." Hua Wuyou nodded. "It's passable, I guess... But you won't be able to learn this Soul-Calling Song."
"..."
"Hua Wuyou, you're playing with me!" Xia Miaomiao pounded her fists on his shoulders in frustration.
But her effort was like tickling him, and Hua Wuyou burst into laughter. He reached into his waist and took out a small jade whistle for her.
"Keep this."
When Xia Miaomiao saw the jade whistle in his hand, she paused her actions.
"This jade whistle and my jade flute have a connection. Whenever you're in danger, blow this whistle, and no matter where you are, I'll come to save you."
Xia Miaomiao was taken aback as she accepted the jade whistle from his hand. "Why are you giving me this?"
Hua Wuyou casually smiled and said, "Because you're my first close female friend!"
"..."
Only then did Hua Wuyou release her and said, "Little rabbit, I feel like having grilled fish for dinner tonight."
Xia Miaomiao put away the whistle and stood up from his embrace. "Alright, I'll go to the kitchen and see if there's any fish."
After Xia Miaomiao left the room, Hua Wuyou watched her petite figure and gradually lost expression on his face.
What exactly were his feelings for Xia Miaomiao?
At first, he just found her cute and amusing to tease.
But now, he had grown accustomed to and even enjoyed having Xia Miaomiao in his life.
He even felt a desire for her, a desire he had never experienced with any other woman.
So, did he really fall for Xia Miaomiao?
Hua Wuyou pinched his brow, feeling that this sensation was sometimes beautiful, but other times, it made him unusually restless.
...
After Xia Miaomiao came out, she looked at the jade whistle in her hand, feeling both joy and sorrow in her heart.
She didn't know if someone like Hua Wuyou would genuinely develop feelings for a woman.
Although her purpose for coming here was to find the treasure map, she was well aware that she actually liked Hua Wuyou.
She hoped that Hua Wuyou would fall for her, but she also feared that he would genuinely fall for her.
It turns out that human emotions are truly complex.
Now, she somewhat understood the feelings Su Mo and Sang Li had before.
Xia Miaomiao sighed softly and left the courtyard.
She went to the kitchen area and found that Auntie Zhang and Lv Luo were preparing to go out.
"Auntie Zhang, I wanted to ask if there are any fish left. Hua Wuyou said he wants grilled fish for dinner."
Now, everyone in the Palace of No Worries knew that Xia Miaomiao was Hua Wuyou's person.
And only she dared to call Hua Wuyou by name.
"We're about to go to the city, to buy groceries," Auntie Zhang smiled. "If you need anything, just let us know."
Xia Miaomiao's eyes lit up. "You're going to the city? Can you take me with you?"
During her time at the Palace of No Worries, she hadn't had a chance to go to the city, and it had been a long time since she had contacted her sister, Li.
"Well..."
Xia Miaomiao immediately approached Auntie Zhang and acted coquettishly, "Auntie Zhang, please take me with you. I know what fish to buy to make the best grilled fish!"
Lv Luo also stepped forward and held Xia Miaomiao, laughing, "Auntie Zhang, let's take Miaomiao with us. She's so good at cooking, she'll definitely be better at buying groceries than us!"
"Alright, alright, I can't do anything with you. We're not here to play, so don't run around, okay?"
"Mhm, mhm!" Xia Miaomiao immediately nodded obediently.
All the way, Lv Luo's mouth didn't stop, constantly chattering in Xia Miaomiao's ear, not even allowing her to take a nap.
"Miaomiao, you're really capable! Just a few days after coming to the Palace of No Worries, you've captured the heart of the palace lord! It seems... to catch a man's heart, you have to capture his stomach first! No wonder Sister Ziyi couldn't win over the palace lord all these years!"
"..."
"Hehehe, not only did you win over the palace lord's heart, but you've also won over mine! These past few days, you haven't been responsible for our meals, do you know how much I've been craving and missing them? Sob sob sob... I really want to eat the food you cook. Can you cook something special for me, Miaomiao?"
...
Xia Miaomiao felt that Lv Luo was on par with Xiao Han. Her ears were about to develop calluses.
"Lv Luo, as long as you stop talking now and let me rest for a while, I'll cook something special for you tonight," Xia Miaomiao said helplessly.
Lv Luo immediately made a gesture of silence. "Alright, I'll obey!"
Xia Miaomiao's ears finally found peace.
The Palace of No Worries was not far from Chu City, but it was actually quite a distance away. It took an hour of carriage ride to reach the city.