Chapter 760 - 704: How Can You Taste the Flavor of a Little Maid?

Seeing Xie Pan’Er’s agitated state, Princess Ata couldn’t help but scoff. "Why are you so worked up? Looking at you, anyone who didn’t know better would think I just went to see your little sweetheart."

Princess Ata teased Xie Pan’Er, provoking her to spit and retort, "Bah! Why are your thoughts always so improper? I’m Xiaosuisui’s beautiful elder sister! Can’t I even ask about her safety?"

Xie Pan’Er didn’t stop at spitting at Princess Ata; she also reached out and fiercely pinched Princess Ata’s thigh. The pinch made Princess Ata cry out, "OW, OW, OW!"

"OUCH, IT HURTS, IT HURTS! Why are you pinching people, you rascal? You’re not at all like the graceful young ladies from prominent families they talk about in rumors."

"I was never any graceful young lady from a prominent family to begin with. I was a servant, ordered about by others, living a poor and dependent life since childhood. If I hadn’t met Xiaosuisui and gained her favor, and if the Second and Third Madams of the Ji Family hadn’t felt that Xiaosuisui needed a companion, I wouldn’t have received their help to leave my clan and avoid the fate of becoming a pawn!"

Princess Ata hadn’t known any of this about Xie Pan’Er. Hearing this, only one thought echoed in Princess Ata’s mind:

So you’ve also had a difficult life!

Xie Pan’Er twitched her lips into a helpless smile. "If we’re talking about suffering, who in this world doesn’t suffer? Aren’t the beggars on the street suffering? Aren’t the soldiers who spend years at the border defending against foreign invaders suffering? And what about those who toil head-down in the fields year in and year out? Compared to them, I’m actually quite fortunate, a favored child of the heavens, even," Xie Pan’Er added with self-mockery.

Princess Ata became quiet.

Xie Pan’Er isn’t old, she mused, but her heart is like that of an elder who has lived for decades, even centuries. She sees things clearly, is capable of self-reflection, and her mental fortitude is far greater than mine.

"Why haven’t you ever cultivated?" Princess Ata suddenly asked.

Xie Pan’Er blinked. It was a question she had never considered.

"I don’t know. Maybe it’s because no one ever told me when I was young that I should cultivate, or even that I could. So, I never thought about learning martial arts, or practicing Witchcraft like you all, or becoming a Daoist disciple by joining a Daoist Sect, like the Second Madam."

Hearing Xie Pan’Er’s words, Princess Ata also fell silent. The room was quiet for a long moment. After that long moment, Princess Ata suddenly looked at Xie Pan’Er as if a thought had struck her.

"You’ve never cultivated, so how can you communicate with Dafeng? And that rabbit, Xiaobai, he seems to listen to you too. Can you communicate with him as well?"

Xie Pan’Er nodded.

"Actually, at first, I didn’t know I could communicate with animals either. But after Dafeng flew into the Imperial Palace, Xiaosuisui said I could understand it, and then I could."

Princess Ata was very surprised. "Xiaosuisui said you could understand, and just like that, you could?"

Xie Pan’Er chuckled, her tone helpless. "It’s strange, isn’t it? Xiaosuisui’s words... they’re enough to make anyone feel both affection and fear."

Princess Ata opened her mouth, then closed it. "Her words, indeed... Anyone would be afraid of them. If someone with ill intentions encountered her, they probably wouldn’t even know how they died."

Finally, Princess Ata could only sigh.

"Stop sighing and tell me quickly, where did you see Xiaosuisui? Was it like last time? Did she pull you into some Dream Realm again?"

When Xie Pan’Er heard Princess Ata say she had been pulled into some Dream Realm by Xiaosuisui, she felt a distinct pang of jealousy.

Speaking of closeness, shouldn’t I be closer to that little girl? Why has Xiaosuisui met Princess Ata a few times but not me?

"Are you... jealous?" Seeing Xie Pan’Er’s expression, Princess Ata blinked, then, realizing, burst out laughing and teased her.

"HAHAHA... Xie Pan’Er, you’re truly amusing! You’re not jealous over your sweetheart, but you’re jealous of me and a little girl!"

Xie Pan’Er was furious, both ashamed and annoyed. She fiercely pinched Princess Ata’s leg several more times.

"You and your glib tongue! Such a chatterbox! I’ll teach you to run your mouth!"

"OW, OW, OW! It hurts, it hurts! It’s killing me! Stop pinching, please stop! I beg you! I was wrong, I was wrong, alright?"

Young Master Ata pleaded repeatedly, and only with great difficulty did he finally get Xie Pan’Er to stop.

"Now quickly tell me, how did you meet Suisui?"