3
Zhao Changnian’s mother had originally been merely a Junior Attendant. After giving birth to a “prince,” she rose in status by virtue of her son and was granted the title of Consort Qin. Perhaps because she lived in constant fear and anxiety, she did not live long.
On her deathbed, Consort Qin held Zhao Changnian’s hand and said only one sentence—
“Never stand out for your entire life. Just live safely and steadily.”
Keeping this last words firmly in mind, Zhao Changnian had lived safely and steadily for nineteen years. She had thought she would just coast through her entire life like this. Who could have foreseen such a sudden accident?
If the Fourth Prince offering the phoenix-shaped red coral had been a slap in the face of the Crown Prince, who had offered an ordinary coral, then her eighteen century-old pearls would be equivalent to stepping on the Crown Prince’s face and whipping it, eighteen lashes in a row, every lash drawing blood.
But the problem was, this whip was not hers, nor should it have been hers.
A few noble ladies smoothed things over with some superficial pleasantries and had all the princes take their seats. Zhao Changnian’s legs trembled for a long time before she could stand steady, and she was practically dragged to the main hall by the palace attendants.
The birthday banquet in the main hall had already begun. The table was laden with fine wines and delicacies. Yet she had no appetite at all. Trembling, she could only think: where was a place even more remote than the Fourth Imperial Brother’s fief? Should she pack her bags in advance?
“Your Highness.”
Someone was calling her. The voice sounded rather pleasant. Zhao Changnian thought dazedly that this person was probably quite good-looking.
“Your Highness.”
A set of court robes drifted before her. Zhao Changnian looked up in a daze and saw that this person was indeed quite good-looking. He had handsome brows and bright eyes, and a small, light-colored mole below the corner of his right eye. When he smiled ambiguously, he looked like a big gray wolf who had cultivated into a spirit.
But why did this handsome big gray wolf look so much like the Duke of Fuguo?
“Is there something dirty on my face?” Ye Jiangbai lowered his gaze to look at her and asked quietly.
With a jolt, Zhao Changnian finally snapped back to reality.
“Duke… Duke of Fuguo!”
Seeing how distracted she was, Ye Jiangbai furrowed his brow. “Your Highness, please take your seat.”
“No, no, no!” She grabbed his sleeve and said anxiously, “About the matter of the Warden, I have something to say!”
Ye Jiangbai glanced back at the lively feast behind him and said with disinterest, “That matter will be discussed after three days.”
“In three days, I don’t even know if I’ll still have the chance to discuss it.” Thinking of the Crown Prince’s sharp glare, Zhao Changnian felt utterly hopeless. “While I can still speak, we’d better get things clear.”
Perhaps it was because her tone was so pitiful that Ye Jiangbai fell silent for a moment and then, unusually, complied. He exchanged a few words with the palace attendants nearby and led her toward the back garden.
As soon as they were away from the crowd, Zhao Changnian couldn’t stop herself from explaining. She babbled on at length, saying that she had only gone to relieve herself and that she truly was not the murderer.
“With my small arms and legs, I couldn’t possibly kill the tall and sturdy Warden. It just doesn’t make sense!”
Ye Jiangbai listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over her, then nodded.
This argument was quite convincing. Among the seven current princes, six were heroic and imposing, and only this one was as small and thin as a monkey from Mount Emei—strong winds could blow him away.
“So, Your Highness, did you see what the killer looked like?”
Zhao Changnian pulled a long face. “I only saw a shadow.”
“That is to say, you saw at least something.” Ye Jiangbai mused, “Then you might need to come forward and testify.”
Hearing him say this meant he believed she hadn’t killed anyone. Zhao Changnian let out a sigh of relief, but continued to hang her head. “If I’m still in the capital when the trial begins, then testifying is fine.”
“Hmm?” Ye Jiangbai lowered his gaze and asked, “What happened?”
“My birthday gift was swapped by someone for eighteen century-old pearls.” Just mentioning it made Zhao Changnian’s legs tremble again. “The Crown Prince only gave one, yet my gift turned out to be eighteen.”
It would be a miracle if that didn’t send her ten thousand miles away.
“Gifts clashing is a common occurrence.” In contrast to her trepidation, Ye Jiangbai was very calm. His eyes glimmered slightly as he said in a low voice, “If Your Highness believes you have been wronged, perhaps you should go explain it to the Crown Prince.”
Explain it to the Crown Prince? Zhao Changnian shook her head repeatedly. “He won’t see me.”
For a prince like her, with no power or influence and no involvement in power struggles, exchanging a casual greeting with him when they met was one thing, but if she ever tried to visit his palace, the Crown Prince simply wouldn’t receive her.
Observing this little monkey shivering in the cold wind, Ye Jiangbai said rather kindly, “Then would you like me to pave the way and introduce you?”
Hearing this, Zhao Changnian looked up at the man before her and felt that he was practically radiating the compassionate light of a Buddha!
“Then I thank the Duke!” She bowed repeatedly, overjoyed. “With you introducing me, the Crown Prince is sure to hear me out!”
“Easy enough.” Ye Jiangbai tucked his hands into his sleeves. “Tomorrow at the hour of the Goat, please prepare yourself, Your Highness.”
With that, he bowed to her and returned to the feast.
Zhao Changnian watched his retreating figure with tears of gratitude in her eyes, thinking that the Duke of Fuguo was actually a very kind and good person. Why did people say he was inscrutable, dangerous, and treacherous? Look at him—he was clearly a living, breathing savior!
Ye Jiangbai held an extremely high position in the court, and even the Crown Prince had to yield to him. With his help, Zhao Changnian happily swallowed her worries back down into her stomach. She even began to think that if she could stay in the capital this time, she would definitely break open her little treasury and give a grand gift to the Duke of Fuguo to express her gratitude.
The birthday banquet began, and Ye Jiangbai returned to his seat.
“Where did you go?” Feng Tingyun, the Vice Minister of Revenue, raised his wine glass to shield his mouth and asked in a low voice.
Ye Jiangbai smiled gently and said, “The banquet was boring, so I went foraging for some wild game.”
Wild game? Feng Tingyun looked left and right, didn’t see anyone, and could only curl his lip.
Ye Jiangbai was a man who devoured people without spitting out the bones. Whoever he had set his sights on as wild game was certainly some unlucky fool.
Zhao the Unlucky Fool Changnian knew nothing. She simply felt that everything would be handled properly. She happily ate her fill at the birthday feast, then went back to her palace and slept soundly, waiting for news from Ye Jiangbai.
She assumed Ye Jiangbai would just send someone casually to inform her. But to her surprise, at noon the next day, Ye Jiangbai came in person.
“Your Highness is in good spirits?” Looking at her cheerful, smiling face, Ye Jiangbai curled his lips as well, his tone very gentle.
If it weren’t for the fact that she was still dressed in men’s clothing, Zhao Changnian would almost have been drooling over him. This man had impeccable temperament and outstanding looks. Even without his many talents, he would surely have secured a high official position at court.
“The very thought that you would help me, Duke, fills me with joy.” Zhao Changnian bounced as she pulled him along. “In all these years, no visiting official has ever set foot in my little palace.”
Ye Jiangbai followed behind her, thinking to himself that the rumors about the Seventh Prince being foolish weren’t entirely unfounded. If he went to visit any other prince, they would surely invite him to take the seat of honor, offer him fruits and refreshments, and flatter him generously. But this one? She hadn’t even offered him a seat before dragging him straight out.
Moreover, her hands were truly too small—pale, delicate, and rather effeminate.
**