The towering steed blocked out the sunlight, and Liu Yun felt only a shadow fall over her head as a rustling sound arose.
A pair of black brocade boots landed first, crushing the tender grass blades beneath them, stepping forward one by one until they stopped beside the girl's pink hem.
"You're injured?"
Another shadow descended at close range. Liu Yun, who was hissing in pain, vaguely saw the Crown Prince crouch down before her, his voice soft.
Xiao Heng pressed his lips together, a trace of regret flickering in his slightly lowered eyes.
Before she could even mumble an acknowledgment, she felt two long arms press toward her—one hooking around her shoulder, the other curling under the bend of her knee, as if he intended to scoop her up entirely.
Remembering who this man was, a thunderbolt struck Liu Yun's mind. The pain in her foot was forgotten, and propriety and decorum went out the window. She immediately shoved the man who was about to embrace her with all her might.
"You mustn't! You mustn't!"
In broad daylight, with so many people at the polo field—if the Crown Prince actually carried her into his arms, what would happen?
Her reputation could not be ruined, and certainly not at the Crown Prince's hands.
Was the Crown Prince mad?!
At the same time, Liu Yun's heart pounded with alarm.
That shove had used every ounce of strength she possessed, yet pushing against the Crown Prince only made his frame sway slightly—nothing more.
But perhaps the Crown Prince himself regained a measure of reason, for he quietly released her as well.
Seeing that some people had already noticed what was happening, Liu Yun paid no heed to anything else. Leaning on Jin He, she struggled to her feet, left a hasty remark, and fled with faltering steps.
"This humble girl is unharmed—Your Highness need not see her off."
The mistress and her maid ran off with lightning speed, leaving behind only the dark-faced Crown Prince Xiao Heng, and the colorful ball that had rolled slightly when her skirt swept over it.
"Is this prince so terrifying to behold?"
Clenching his fist, he asked Su Lin behind him with a gloomy expression.
The question nearly made sweat break out on Su Lin's brow—he had no idea how to answer.
At this moment, he wished he could hide to the ends of the earth.
But as the Crown Prince's close attendant, Su Lin had no way to escape. He had no choice but to choose his words carefully: "In reply, Your Highness, it is likely that Lady Liu is naturally timid by nature, and Your Highness's bearing is one of innate majesty, so Lady Liu simply cannot withstand it."
In truth, Su Lin knew that Lady Liu's timidity was only a secondary matter. Her rejection of the Crown Prince was likely because she truly harbored no improper intentions toward him. Otherwise, if it were someone with designs, she would have shyly and coyly submitted on the spot, then waited for the Crown Prince to grant her a title.
Not to mention the Crown Prince's confusion, Su Lin himself couldn't understand it either.
Was there truly a young lady who didn't wish to be connected to the Crown Prince?
But he dared not say this directly to the Crown Prince, and could only rack his brains for a plausible excuse.
The Crown Prince likely didn't think Lady Liu would look down on him either, and very naturally accepted his reasoning, his expression clearing up.
"No matter. She'll grow accustomed to it in time."
Watching Liu Yun's fleeing figure disappear into the distance, Xiao Heng spoke lightly.
Su Lin forced a smile, just about to chime in with a few words of agreement, when he heard the Crown Prince say: "Find a young novice monk. I have some matters to instruct."
Su Lin acknowledged the order, guessing in his heart that it must be for Lady Liu's sake.
…
Inside the meditation room of Ci'en Temple, Liu Yun was helped by Jin He to sit on the couch, patiently waiting for the old physician to examine her foot injury.
Liu Yun's mind began to wander, and she felt that the Crown Prince might be her jinx.
Why else would she suffer misfortune every time she encountered him?
Last time she was scolded by County Princess Rong'an, and this time she twisted her ankle. The more she thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
In the future, she should avoid the Crown Prince as much as possible.
"Fear not, young lady. The sprain is minor. Apply some medicinal oil, and with a day or two of rest, you'll be recovered."
The old physician's steady, forceful voice put both mistress and maid greatly at ease. They hurriedly thanked him: "Thank you, physician. Here is the consultation fee and the cost of the medicine."
The physician had been summoned by the young novice monk in the temple, but the silver ought to come from their own pockets.
However, the old physician waved his hand in refusal and said with a chuckle: "You may not know, young lady, but someone has already paid the fees. This old man would never accept a second payment."
The mistress and maid wanted to ask more, but the old physician simply walked away with a smile, giving them no chance.
"Milady, could it be…"
Jin He's expression was subtle as she tentatively began, but before she could finish, Liu Yun cut her off.
"It shouldn't be. Who would that person be?"
Was he someone easy to deal with?
Jin He said no more, seeming to agree.
Inside the meditation room, after Jin He had applied the medicinal oil to her mistress's foot, another young novice monk entered.
"Benefactor, someone has entrusted me to deliver an item to you, along with a few words."
"What is it?"
One thing after another today—Liu Yun was caught completely off guard.
The young novice monk produced an object from his robes and said solemnly: "That person said that today's fault was his own, and he ought to make amends. If the young lady ever encounters difficulties in the future, she may bring this item to Tianqin Tower to seek him out."
At first, Liu Yun was still confused, but the moment she saw clearly what was in the young novice monk's hand, her pupils immediately trembled.
That damned White Jade Dragon Jue!
How had it come back again?
"I—I don't want this. I won't have any difficulties in the future either. Little master, you—you should return it to him."
Clearly, this person was the Crown Prince.
That shadow of dread rose up again, and Liu Yun's teeth began to chatter faintly. As if facing a flood or a beast, she pushed the jade disc away.
But this clearly put the young novice monk in a difficult position. He insisted, pressing the jade disc toward Liu Yun's hands.
"Please accept it, benefactor. Otherwise, I'll have trouble reporting back."
"Consider it a kindness to a poor monk."
Remembering the noble person's cold and stern words, the young novice felt uneasy.
"You must make her accept it, or else…"
The noble person's words trailed off, but the novice could feel the authority behind them.
Liu Yun saw the fear in the young novice's eyes and felt a pang of sympathy.
He was just a child of eleven or twelve—she couldn't bring herself to harm him.
So, summoning her courage, Liu Yun kept the Jade Disc.
"How annoying!"
She wished she hadn't come to the Bathing Buddha Festival at all.
Liu Yun wanted to cry but had no tears, secretly pounding the White Jade Dragon Jue a few times to vent her frustration.
Jin He watched from the side, wanting to speak but holding back.
She felt that the Crown Prince was acting a bit strange, but she didn't dare speculate in that direction.
After all, he wasn't an ordinary man—it seemed highly unlikely.
…
After returning from the Bathing Buddha Festival, Liu Yun rested at home for a few days, and her foot injury healed completely.
It hadn't been a serious injury to begin with.
But when her parents learned of what had happened, they exchanged a silent glance, both quiet for a few breaths.
Liu Yun had pressed them for answers at the time, but her parents said in unison that it was nothing, brushing her off with cherry pilaf.
Liu Yun was carefree by nature and didn't dwell on it. Besides, her birthday was only a few days away, and she was full of anticipation.
She wondered what gifts her parents and younger brother would give her at this year's birthday banquet.
She really wanted the Flower God Mule from Tianqiao Studio, and also a new dress made of jade gauze…
Unlike the imperial relatives and nobles who enjoyed the finest of everything, Liu Yun didn't lack for food or clothing, but she rarely got to enjoy the best things the capital had to offer.
When the daughters of imperial relatives and high-ranking ministers could wear the Floating Light Brocade bestowed by His Majesty and go out for spring outings, she only hoped for a beautiful dress made of jade gauze—that would make her happy enough.
Time passed slowly in Liu Yun's anticipation, until suddenly rain fell over the capital, and quite heavily at that.
Rainy days were already annoying—everything felt damp and musty, and going out meant getting one's shoes soaked.
Liu Yun disliked rainy days, so she stayed cooped up in her boudoir for days on end, making little trinkets she enjoyed.
Unlike the outstanding young ladies of the capital who excelled in refined arts like qin, chess, calligraphy, painting, flower arranging, tea ceremonies, and incense blending—earning widespread praise—
Liu Yun could only make little trinkets, things that outsiders might consider unworthy of display.
Besides the storybooks she couldn't speak of, there were other things.
Like making lip balm, rose water, pastries, and sewing cloth dolls.
These weren't the skills a proper, virtuous young lady should possess, but Liu Yun loved them.
Every moment of leisure spent in her boudoir making these little things brought her immense joy.
If others didn't understand, so be it. If they thought her unrefined, let them. She wasn't some noble lady anyway.
She was just an ordinary daughter of a minor fifth-rank official.
As long as she was happy living this way, that was enough.
The rain fell for two days and one night, and Liu Yun spent that time in her boudoir sewing cloth dolls—two in total.
One was a rabbit, the other a kitten.
She had planned that as soon as the sky cleared, she would go find Zhenzhen and let her pick one.
But instead, news came that her father had been thrown into the Court of Judicial Review prison.
The servant who had accompanied him rushed back, pale and frantic, stammering out the gist of what had happened.
The reason was that the Wanshou Pavilion, built by the Ministry of Works half a year ago, had collapsed, and His Majesty, in his fury, was demanding accountability.
Wanshou Pavilion, as the name suggested, was built to pray for longevity and blessings. It had been constructed by His Majesty for the Empress Dowager, demonstrating his filial piety to the world.
But it had suddenly collapsed. After investigation, it was discovered that the construction had cut corners and used inferior materials, which was why it couldn't withstand several days of rain and eventually rotted and collapsed.
The Ministry of Works had pushed forward Liu Yun's father, the Director of the Construction Bureau, claiming that the Wanshou Pavilion incident was his responsibility.
That was true—the Construction Bureau was the division responsible for building and construction, and her father was its head. By all rights, it should indeed be his responsibility as the Director.
But the truth was, this project hadn't actually been under her father's direct management.
The Liu family had no real connections in the capital. Her father's position as a fifth-rank Director had been earned through a mix of grinding hard work and sheer luck.
Building a pavilion for His Majesty was a lucrative assignment that brought honor—naturally, it attracted covetous eyes.
Her father's subordinate, the Assistant Director of the Construction Bureau, was the nephew of the Vice Minister of Works, both from the Chen clan.
For such a plum assignment, Vice Minister Chen had simply bypassed her father, the Director, and given it to his nephew.
So from start to finish, her father had never even had a chance to get involved—it had all been snatched away by Vice Minister Chen's nephew.
And now that something had gone wrong, they suddenly remembered the assignment belonged to her father?
Three days before her birthday, disaster had struck the Liu family. How could Liu Yun possibly still look forward to her birthday?
She set aside the finished cloth dolls and, like her mother, began desperately racking her brains and running around for help.
Her younger brother was busy with his studies, and the mother and daughter had tried to keep it from him, but he'd learned of it through the Imperial Academy and had gone to plead with the academy's officials—but received no firm promises.
The mother and daughter's efforts fared much the same—some were powerless to help, and others simply didn't want to offend the Chen family for the sake of the Lius.
After all, the Chen family still had the old master serving as an academician of the Hanlin Academy.
The rain had stopped for a day and a night, but Liu Yun could not muster any joy.
Even though her mother kept trying to reassure her, the furrowed brows on her mother's face told her that the matter was far more serious than it seemed.
Liu Yun felt she had to do something, or her father would truly be in trouble.
Minister Wei of the Ministry of Works and Vice Minister Chen were not relatives, but having served as colleagues for many years, their bond was close. As long as he refused to relent, the entire Ministry of Works would maintain a unified stance.
And with His Majesty unaware of the truth, there was no telling whether he might be severely punished.
Or even stripped of his post.
Years of hard work would go down the drain—drawing water with a bamboo basket, all for naught.
Liu Yun had barely slept half the night, managing only two hours of rest before gritting her teeth and making a risky decision.
After a quick wash, she had Jin He apply some powder to her face to conceal her haggard complexion, changed into a proper set of attire, and solemnly retrieved the White Jade Dragon Jue to carry on her person.
Her mother was not at home—likely out pleading on her father's behalf—so Liu Yun's sudden departure drew no questions.
"To Tianqin Tower."
The coachman said nothing more and drove toward the largest restaurant in the eastern part of the city.