“What did you say?”
He took a step forward, and she retreated a step.
Until she was backed against the edge of the pool.
What kind of useless medical record did her junior sister give her? Didn’t it say he was physically weak and suffered from an unspeakable ailment?
Song Yunying avoided his gaze. “Ninth Prince, it’s broad daylight. This isn’t appropriate.”
“Oh?”
“The Emperor and Her Majesty are waiting for us to attend the palace banquet. Wouldn’t all this fuss make us late?”
Dugu Yu smiled faintly.
He leaned closer, water dripping from his long hair onto her collarbone.
The cold made her shiver.
The Song family was renowned in the capital for having many beautiful daughters.
Though Song Yunying was not as pure and delicate as her younger sister, she excelled in her striking, captivating beauty.
Now, having fallen into the water, her figure was wrapped in wet clothes, making her appear even more alluring and enchanting.
It was hard not to look twice.
Enough, Song Yunying steeled herself.
She couldn’t be bothered to put on the shy, delicate act of a young lady. She tore off her outer garment and stood up, dripping wet.
Dugu Yu’s eyes darkened.
He drew closer, and she closed her eyes.
But Dugu Yu merely chuckled softly and reached out to pull the outer robe from the clothes rack behind her.
“A good dog doesn’t block the path,” he said.
His tone was light, mocking her every move just moments ago.
So, he was only getting the robe.
…
Just then, a palace maid pushed the door open from outside. “Ninth Prince, Her Majesty requests your presence at the banquet.”
Song Yunying, now barely clothed and shivering from the cold, was so humiliated she wanted to dive back into the pool.
Dugu Yu, quick as lightning, pulled her into his arms, wrapped her tightly in the robe, and shielded her behind him.
“Stay still.”
The maid, realizing her intrusion, knelt on the floor. “This humble servant deserves death. Her Majesty sent someone to summon Your Highness to the banquet. I did not know Miss Song the Third was here…”
“Get out.”
“Your Highness…”
“Out.”
Dugu Yu’s voice was not loud, but it carried undeniable authority.
Song Yunying felt the maid looked familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
After a moment’s thought, she finally remembered her name was Chuntao, originally a servant in the Empress’s palace.
In her past life, Chuntao was convicted of seducing the Second Prince.
At that time, Dugu Kan had just married Song Yunying. To prove his innocence, he personally ordered Chuntao beaten to death with a staff, earning himself a reputation for unwavering virtue.
Chuntao’s appearance was no coincidence.
She kept referring to her as “Miss Song the Third.” Clearly, this was their first meeting, yet she recognized her accurately. Someone must have instructed her.
It was likely that scoundrel Dugu Kan had learned about the Song family’s marriage swap.
A concubine-born daughter replaced by a legitimate one—a windfall from heaven. Naturally, he hoped his ninth brother would have his way with the Song family’s concubine-born daughter, preferably making it known to everyone.
That way, he could rightfully marry the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Song and consolidate his power.
Dugu Yu glanced at Chuntao as if looking at maggots in a sewer.
“Go receive twenty palace staff strikes.”
“Your Highness!”
“Thirty.”
“This servant truly didn’t mean to.”
“Forty.”
Chuntao dared not respond further.
The Second Prince had promised that if she caught the Ninth Prince in an indecent act, he would take her as a concubine.
Everyone said the Ninth Prince was foolish and easy to manipulate.
How could this happen?
In the end, Chuntao was dragged into the courtyard and beaten until her flesh split open, falling unconscious.
Inside the hall, Dugu Yu handed Song Yunying a set of clean clothes.
“Change.”
It was widely rumored that the Ninth Prince had a strange, reclusive temperament and lacked social grace.
Seeing it for oneself was truly better than hearing a hundred tales.
You could hardly hear him speak more than five words at a time.
Song Yunying looked up at him. “You’re not foolish.”
His phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re pretending.”
She was certain he was pretending.
Medical records could be falsified, words and actions could be an act.
But his eyes couldn’t lie.
Dugu Yu placed a finger to his lips. "Shh—"
"You admit it?!"
Song Yunying truly admired his audacity.
Dugu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Heaven knows, earth knows, you know, and I know."
"…"
What was going on? Did he just admit it so straightforwardly?
Song Yunying almost regretted exposing him.
Palace intrigues were always filled with deceit and schemes. For someone of his noble status to feign incompetence, there must be an earth-shattering reason.
Next, Dugu Yu would either ask her to keep the secret together—
Or silence her permanently?
For a moment, Song Yunying wished Chuntao would wake up from her faint and share the burden of this secret with her.
Dugu Yu brushed away the water droplet on the tip of her nose.
"Quite clever."
"How dare you!"
She slapped his hand away.
It had been so long since she last used those words that they felt unfamiliar.
Indeed, in her past life, she had been a good-natured Taizifei, healing the sick and treating everyone with kindness.
But being toyed with repeatedly today was truly infuriating.
"Believe it or not, I’ll report this to The Emperor and have you charged with deceiving the sovereign."
Unfazed by the threat, Dugu Yu tightened his grip on her wrist and strode out of the palace.
"What are you doing?"
"Didn’t you want to tattle? I’ll let you speak your mind openly and freely."
"Hey!"
This little brat actually dared to corner her.
And so, the two of them tugged and pulled their way all the way to Zhaoyang Hall.
This palace banquet was personally overseen by The Empress. Though called a family feast, its true purpose was to let the two newly matched couples meet.
Throughout the banquet, fine wine and delicacies flowed endlessly, accompanied by song and dance.
The Empress asked, "Where is Yu'er? Why hasn’t he arrived yet?"
Dugu Kan stood up to reply, "Mother, please don’t worry. Ninth Brother is likely on his way."
"He has a rather unruly temperament. Everyone, please eat first. There’s no need to wait for him."
Song Yaoxian also raised her cup. "The Empress is generous and kind, always caring for us younger ones. I feel as if bathed in a warm spring breeze. This cup of wine, I drink first in your honor."
The Empress sized up Song Yaoxian. "Fourth Miss Song is quite eloquent, much more clever than your elder sister."
"My sister has a bold and straightforward nature. She loves to travel and explore the world. Unlike me, who only knows to hide in my chamber reading poetry and doing needlework."
The Empress didn’t take the bait. "Young ladies shouldn’t stay cooped up in their chambers all day. When Bengong was young, I also loved traveling the mountains and rivers with The Emperor. Later, when Yunying arrives, Bengong will have to hear all about her adventures."
"Yes…"
Having gained no advantage, Song Yaoxian sat down resentfully.
In her past life, this mother-in-law of hers, as Empress, had made things difficult for her at every turn, finding fault with everything she did.
In this life, she was just as harsh.
Song Yaoxian thought to herself, Fortunately, this time I’m marrying Dugu Kan, who will one day enter Donggong and inherit the throne.
The Empress is merely a nominal mother-in-law. In a few years, when her husband and son die, she’ll become a lonely old woman.
If she wants to live peacefully in her later years, won’t she have to depend on the goodwill of us, the couple?
There will be plenty of time to settle scores with her then.
Just then, Dugu Yu suddenly barged in, pulling Song Yunying along with him.
They were already a handsome man and a beautiful woman.
Under the glow of palace lanterns and candlelight, their abrupt appearance drew everyone’s attention.
"Ninth Highness—"
The palace servants knelt in unison.
Even Dugu Kan had to rise and bow. "Ninth Brother, you’ve arrived."