As soon as Zhu Xingxu walked back to Ji Chiying, she suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to tell Pei Xie about the Vermilion Bird jade token.
Now that the token had vanished without a trace, there was no way she could recover it on her own.
She had to tell Pei Xie.
Next time, she would simply go to his residence to find him.
Ji Chiying slipped her hand naturally into the crook of Zhu Xingxu’s arm and immediately noticed that one of her earrings was missing.
“Did you drop that earring in the Fifth Prince’s carriage?”
Zhu Xingxu reached up and touched her ear. Sure enough, her right ear was bare.
She turned around, but Pei Xie’s carriage had already shrunk into a tiny dot before disappearing from sight.
“I’ll ask him next time,” she said casually.
Ji Chiying studied her curiously. “Are you very close with the Fifth Prince?”
Zhu Xingxu considered how to answer.
They were quite close, comrades who had been through danger together. But everything between her and Pei Xie seemed like it ought to remain confidential.
“It’s alright. We’ve met a few times.”
Suspicion filled Ji Chiying’s eyes.
Sensing that she was about to press further, Zhu Xingxu quickly changed the subject. “How are things between you and the Third Prince?”
As expected, Ji Chiying was immediately flustered, a blush blooming across her cheeks. “It’s… it’s just that.”
Seeing her shy expression, Zhu Xingxu’s heart sank slightly.
Fated love, once it met and lingered, would spark fiercely.
Tentatively, Zhu Xingxu asked, “Then what do you think of the Fifth Prince?”
Ji Chiying looked back at her with a smile. “I think he’s quite good. Very suitable for you.”
Zhu Xingxu jolted. “Don’t talk nonsense. That’s impossible between us.”
Setting aside the fact that she had no intention of marrying, Pei Xie was determined to walk a path that led to his death. Would she not end up a widow?
Ji Chiying blinked in surprise. “Why?”
Zhu Xingxu had no way to explain and could only reply, “That’s just how it is.”
Ji Chiying nodded in confusion, and the two resumed eating and wandering through the streets.
A few days later, Zhu Xingxu went to the Fifth Prince’s residence.
In the Great Rui Dynasty, once princes completed their coming-of-age ceremony, they were allowed to leave the palace and reside independently.
When the servants announced her arrival, Pei Xie was momentarily stunned.
“Invite her in.”
By the time Zhu Xingxu entered, Pei Xie was already seated in the main chair of the reception hall, waiting.
She dispensed with formalities and sat directly opposite him.
The hall was simple, almost devoid of ornamentation, much like Pei Xie himself, who never did anything unnecessary. At least, that was Zhu Xingxu’s impression.
A servant promptly brought tea.
She took a sip. “Your tea is quite good.”
A faint smile touched Pei Xie’s eyes. “If you like it, you may take some with you.”
At the sight of her, he thought of the earring. His gaze lingered on her earlobe.
Though Zhu Xingxu was somewhat slender, her earlobes were round and delicate, adorably so.
Suppressing the stirrings in his heart, Pei Xie took a measured sip of tea.
“Good,” Zhu Xingxu replied cheerfully. There was no reason to refuse something free.
After finishing her tea, she spoke plainly. “The Vermilion Bird jade token is missing.”
Pei Xie paused.
When the assassin had been sent to prison, he had personally searched him and found no such token. He had assumed Zhu Xingxu had taken it.
Though worried about her safety, he had only quietly strengthened the watch over her, ensuring he could reach her quickly should danger arise. He had never intended to demand the token from her. If she wanted it, she could keep it.
Now that it was not in her possession either, his thoughts began to piece together.
Their investigation had confirmed that the assassin was from the previous dynasty, and from the start his target had been the Vermilion Bird jade token. Zhu Xingxu had merely been used as a convenient tool to facilitate his escape from Zhenguo Temple.
After a moment’s reflection, Pei Xie said, “It should be in the Crown Prince’s hands.”
He had informants within the Crown Prince’s residence. Although he knew the token was there, the Crown Prince would not take it out casually to admire it, so even those informants did not know its precise location.
Zhu Xingxu froze.
If it had fallen into the Crown Prince’s hands, did that not mean she would never have a chance to retrieve it?
Her head drooped in disappointment.
Seeing her like this, Pei Xie felt his own heart sink.
“Do you truly want it?”
She nodded and looked at him expectantly.
Under her gaze, something within him softened.
“I understand. I will think of a way.” As if afraid she might misunderstand, he added, “But I may need your help.”
Zhu Xingxu nodded.
Although their recent experiences had been exhausting, at least they offered a glimmer of hope.
She did not misinterpret his motives. The Crown Prince was Pei Xie’s enemy, as well as the Third Prince’s.
After sitting a while longer, she rose to leave. “Thank you. I’ll go now.”
A flicker of reluctance stirred in Pei Xie’s chest. “Stay for lunch.”
His tone was calm, as though it were an entirely ordinary invitation.
Zhu Xingxu instinctively wanted to decline, but then she realized she had never dined at a prince’s residence before, and curiosity won out.
She plopped back down. “Alright.”
A quiet pleasure warmed Pei Xie’s heart.
He instructed the servants to prepare the meal and chatted with her in the meantime.
Recalling what she had once mentioned about Ji Chiying, he said, “Third Brother truly seems to have feelings for Second Miss Ji.”
Ji Chiying was the second daughter of the Ji family; Ji Qingqing ranked third.
Zhu Xingxu sighed. “I’ve noticed too.”
She was merely a supporting character. The male and female leads’ destiny was beyond her control.
“I just hope Ji Chiying can be happy.”
Pei Xie watched her expression closely, searching for something beneath the surface.
Yet there was only sincere well-wishing for Ji Chiying, no trace of regret or jealousy.
A servant came to announce that the meal was ready, and Pei Xie led her to the dining hall.
Once they entered, the attendants withdrew to wait outside.
Zhu Xingxu disliked being served while eating; she preferred picking dishes herself.
Glancing at the attendants, she remarked, “I’ve noticed there are no maidservants in your residence.”
Pei Xie ate slowly. “I’m not accustomed to having women around.”
Curious, she asked, “Hasn’t His Majesty arranged marriages for you and your Third Brother?”
His chopsticks paused slightly. “Third Brother has one arranged, but he said he has someone he likes and asked Father Emperor to let him choose.”
The Emperor concerned himself greatly with the selection of a Crown Princess, but for the other princes, he showed little interest.
Zhu Xingxu pressed on. “What about you? Do you also have someone you like?”
Pei Xie lifted his eyes to her.
Her light brown eyes were filled with unguarded curiosity.
Earlier in the reception hall, the airflow had dispersed her scent. Now, seated closer in the dining hall, the sweet fragrance of grapes once again invaded his senses.
“No.” He looked away.
Zhu Xingxu leaned back and resumed eating.
It was the expected answer. In the original novel, he had not been given a romantic storyline.
What a pity. She thought he was actually quite a good person.
After the meal, she lingered a little longer. “Your chef is truly excellent.”
Pei Xie sipped his tea, using the cup to hide the curve of his lips. “You may come often.”
She nodded, not taking it too seriously.
After she left, Pei Xie walked back toward the inner rooms and caught sight of the teacup she had used. A servant was clearing the table.
“Leave,” he said briskly.
The servant bowed and withdrew.
Pei Xie picked up the teacup and held it beneath his nose.
Though Zhu Xingxu had been gone for quite some time, he imagined he could still detect her lingering scent.
With that thought, he inhaled greedily for a long while.
At last, he carried the cup back to his chamber.
From beneath his bed, he retrieved a small box and opened it gently.
Inside lay a smoky-blue begonia-shaped earring. He placed the teacup inside.
After drawing in a deep breath, he closed the lid and slid the box back under the bed.
The Fifth Prince’s residence was not far, so Zhu Xingxu had not intended to take a carriage.
Walking along the bustling street, she looked around casually.
Suddenly, a voice caught her attention.
“Goddess, that’s my special nickname just for you.”
She turned toward the sound. In a secluded corner, a richly dressed man was speaking to an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
With his back to her, she could not see his face.
The woman blushed and gave him a playful push. “You really do have a silver tongue.”
The man seized her hand and pressed a light kiss to it. “Baby, you’re the most beautiful.”
At that sentence, Zhu Xingxu felt her blood rush to her head.
What did he just say?
As if sensing her gaze, the woman grew embarrassed, pushed the man away, and hurried off.
The man blinked in confusion as he watched her retreating figure. “Why’d she run off again?”
Zhu Xingxu approached slowly and poked him.
He turned around and looked at her oddly. “What’s wrong, babe?”
She ignored the address. “You… aren’t from this era, are you?”
He frowned, then his eyes widened. “Don’t tell me you’re also—”
She nodded vigorously.
Suddenly he burst into tears and threw his arms around her. “Damn, it’s been so long! I’ve finally met someone from home!”
Zhu Xingxu was equally excited. Heaven knew how much she longed for someone to share her struggles with.
They found a table in Xianlai Tavern and sat down.
The man introduced himself as Shang Wenxiu. Like her, he had transmigrated into this world from birth.
Pointing around the tavern, Shang Wenxiu declared proudly, “Mine.”
Zhu Xingxu stared in shock.
“When I arrived, my parents were just peddling small goods in the streets. I studied business in my previous life, so I put it to use and became the richest man.”
He had been waiting for this day for a long time. Nothing felt better than showing off in front of someone from the same hometown.
Zhu Xingxu introduced herself in turn. “Eldest legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue.”
Shang Wenxiu made an exaggerated noise. “Oho, eldest legitimate daughter, how impressive.”
She punched him lightly.
“Do you know we’re inside a novel?”
He nodded. “Yeah. My younger sister bought it, but I never read it, so I’m clueless.”
Zhu Xingxu gave him a rough summary of the story.
He did not seem particularly concerned.
He had never encountered any of the novel’s characters, living as though on a separate storyline parallel to the plot.
“Let me never run into the male and female leads. I just want a peaceful life here.”
Before discovering the book, Zhu Xingxu too had lived outside any plotline.
Whether her encounters with the protagonists were fortunate or not, she could not say.
They poured out their grievances to one another, each trying to outdo the other in misery.
Shang Wenxiu recounted the hardships of building his business. “Half the time people didn’t even understand what I was saying. I had to explain everything one by one.”
Zhu Xingxu complained about feudal restrictions. “Don’t get me started. Being a woman in ancient times comes with endless constraints. After marriage, you’re expected to bear children nonstop.”
After nearly an hour, they finally paused.
Zhu Xingxu poured herself a cup of water to soothe her throat.
Shang Wenxiu took a sip as well and sighed. “I really want to go back. Ancient times are so inconvenient. Even a minor illness can be fatal.”
Setting down her cup, Zhu Xingxu stared at him.
He glanced at her. “What, dazzled me?”
She shook her head. “I know how to go back.”