Lin Feilu said, "You can hand over this rabbit to me. I will take it back to my palace and help raise it for you. That way you can see it anytime you want. How about that?"
The young boy's eyes lit up for a moment before dimming again. He asked in an embarrassed tone, "Then… how can I explain it to my mother? She asked me to bring back the corpse of the rabbit."
Lin Feilu: "…"
How could the Empress be so cruel? How could someone be so cruel towards their own son?
No wonder she managed to secure her place as the Empress.
Lin Feilu pretended to think for a while, then she offered a suggestion. She said, "You can just tell your mother that you really couldn't bear to do it, so you found a place where there was no one and left the rabbit there. Tell her you left it to fend for itself. It's very difficult for a weak rabbit who has no owner to survive within the Imperial Harem. You neither want to kill it directly nor disobey your mother's words. This way, you still completed the task she gave you. She understands your character well. If you did bring a rabbit's corpse to her, she might be suspicious of you instead."
When the young boy heard her suggestion, he felt that what she said was logical and reasonable. His sad face gradually transformed into a bright smile.
Emperor Lin's and his wives' genes were very impressive to be able to pop out so many beautiful looking princes. His smiling face was warm and soft like an early spring's sun, glowing warmly on petals of flowers.
Ah, who doesn't love a gentle and handsome young boy.
Such a vicious and merciless mother gave birth to such a soft and kind-hearted son. The heavens must love their cruel jokes.
Lin Feilu wiped the tears away from his face with her little fingers and comforted him by saying, "Don't be sad. For every problem, there always exists more ways to solve them. Whenever you encounter something that cannot be solved in the future, don't cry, come to me instead. I will help you find a way to solve it!"
The young boy's cheeks blushed and he turned his face away in embarrassment. He let out a sound of acknowledgement from his nose, "Mm!"
Lin Feilu took out a few jujubes out of her pockets and handed it to him. She said with a smile on her face, "Here, have some jujubes!"
Her voice was soft, but she had an assertive undertone. She seemed to exude a kind of aura that said "Don't be afraid, I'll protect you!". The young boy looked at the little girl who had two little buns on her head. He chuckled as he took the jujubes and in exchange handed the rabbit over to her, "Then I'll have to trouble you, please take care of the rabbit from now on."
Lin Feilu proudly patted her chest and said confidently, "Just leave it to me!"
The young boy asked again, "Which palace are you from?"
Lin Feilu blinked her eyes in return. "I live in Mingyue Palace."
"Mingyue Palace?" There was a hint of surprise on his face. He looked at her for a long time, as if recalling something. He said hesitatingly, "Little Lu… Are you the Fifth Princess Lin Feilu?"
She tilted her head. "Yes!"
The young man could not help but to break into a smile. "So it was you. You're not at all like what the rumours say. Now it can be seen as clear as day that they were all made up lies."
Lin Feilu made a "I don't understand what you're saying" expression in response.
The young man stood up and put the jujubes away into his sleeves. He said softly, "Feilu, please take care of the little rabbit. When I have time, I will come to visit Mingyue Palace."
Lin Feilu nodded repeatedly. She wrapped the little bunny in her cloak and hugged it in her arms, only exposing its small head. After waving her hand at the young boy, she walked away.