The dragon boat race was an annual grand event in the capital, and Xu Yun’s three elder brothers had also returned.
Since the Xu family was in the same group as the Young Crown Prince, the Xu young masters entered the palace every other day. The Emperor had specially designated a lake for the Crown Prince to practice.
This was the Crown Prince’s first time participating in the dragon boat race. While winning the championship wasn’t the goal, his performance couldn’t be too poor either.
Xu Yun followed her brothers into the palace. Unwilling to watch under the scorching sun, she took her maidservant to the Star-Gazing Hall.
“Princess, the young lady of the Xu family has arrived.”
Empress Xu had one son and one daughter. The Young Crown Prince was only twelve years old and was the Emperor’s only son.
Besides the Young Crown Prince, she also had a daughter.
Upon hearing the palace maid’s report, Princess Mingyue rose from her couch.
She was slightly older than Xu Yun, dressed in plain clothes with minimal jewelry, her hair simply tied up with a jade hairpin.
However, contrasting with her simplicity were the red patches on her face. Large patches of redness spread from her eyes to her ears, making her appear like a demon.
As Xu Yun’s footsteps drew nearer, Princess Mingyue quickly took a veil from the palace maid. Though the veil covered her face, it couldn’t conceal her eyes, leaving a few red patches still visible.
“What brings you to the palace today, cousin?”
Princess Mingyue’s voice was gentle as she slightly lowered her head, trying to hide the red patches on her face.
Xu Yun seemed oblivious to her discomfort and stepped forward to link arms with her. “Naturally, I missed you, cousin.”
“You mischievous girl!”
Princess Mingyue had few playmates. Others would have nightmares upon seeing her face, but only Xu Yun wasn’t afraid of her.
The days when Xu Yun visited the palace were her happiest times.
“Cousin, you don’t know—I recently met a very interesting young girl. If you met her, you’d surely like her too.”
Xu Yun held Princess Mingyue’s hand and told her about Jiang Fu, even letting her smell the fragrant beads Jiang Fu had given her.
“Look, these were made by Sister Ah Fu. I know you like rose scent, so I specially picked this one for you.”
Princess Mingyue reached out to take it. Although she stayed confined in the palace all day due to her flawed appearance, she was deeply cherished by the Emperor and Empress, enjoying the finest food, clothing, and luxuries, which had honed her discerning eye.
As soon as the rose-scented beads touched her hand, Princess Mingyue knew they were of the highest quality.
“They smell wonderful.”
“Right? Sister Ah Fu is truly amazing.”
Xu Yun smiled with her eyes crinkling. Hearing Princess Mingyue praise Jiang Fu made her even happier than being praised herself.
After all, she was the first to discover Jiang Fu’s uniqueness.
Princess Mingyue had never seen Xu Yun like this before, and she grew curious about Jiang Fu.
“If there’s a chance…”
She wanted to say that if there was a chance to meet that Fourth Miss Jiang, but thinking of her own ghostly appearance, Princess Mingyue fell silent.
“This jade bracelet was bestowed upon me by Mother Empress. Please give it to Fourth Miss Jiang on my behalf. I really like her fragrant beads.”
“Alright!” Xu Yun pretended not to catch the underlying meaning in Princess Mingyue’s words and accepted it with a smile.
The two chatted for a long while, and Xu Yun left just before lunchtime.
Princess Mingyue wasn’t accustomed to removing her veil in front of others. Despite visiting the palace so many times, Xu Yun had never stayed for a meal.
Xu Yun felt deeply sorry for her cousin. Though a true princess of noble birth, she had to hide in the palace, meeting people with constant caution.
If only Grand Physician Ye were still alive. His medical skills were even better than Grand Elder Xie’s, and perhaps he could have found a way to treat her cousin’s red patches.
However, it had been nearly thirty years since the Ye family was executed to the last member. Such thoughts were meaningless now.
Xu Yun emerged from the Star-Gazing Hall and encountered Xiao Jing at the palace gate.
She had only met Xiao Jing a few times before and had never spoken with him.
Xu Yun bowed in greeting and was about to leave when the man called out to her.
“Miss Xu.”
“Third Master Xiao?”
Xu Yun looked somewhat surprised.
They weren’t acquainted, were they?
“Has the Xu family reserved a private room for the dragon boat race day?”
Although the Xu family had produced an Empress, the capital was filled with prominent families.
The best private rooms for watching the dragon boat race had long been booked in advance, and the Xu family might not be able to secure one.
Xu Yun didn’t understand why Xiao Jing was asking her this and nodded in confusion, “My mother has already reserved the second-class private room at the Imperial View Pavilion.”
The private rooms at the Imperial View Pavilion were divided into three classes: first, second, and third. The first-class rooms offered the broadest view but were also the hardest to book, with only three available, all snatched up by the nobility long ago.
Even this second-class room was only secured by Madam Xu after booking half a year in advance.
Xiao Jing understood and took out a token from his pocket.
“This is a token for a first-class private room. I’ll be competing in the race and won’t need it. It would be a waste to leave it empty. Miss Xu can invite more of your close friends to watch together.”
“Ah?”
Xu Yun stared at the token in her hand, genuinely bewildered.
Why would Xiao Jing give her a token?
And for the hardest-to-book first-class room at the Imperial View Pavilion, no less.
Her maid, Chunyu, quick-witted, thought of a possibility.
“Miss, do you think Third Master Xiao might have taken a liking to you?”
“What nonsense! He’d have to be blind to fancy me!”
Xu Yun had some self-awareness. Xiao Jing’s avoidance of women surely meant he had high standards. With her average looks and modest family background, how could Xiao Jing possibly be interested in her?
However, the maid’s words gave her an idea. Xiao Jing had told her to invite her close friends. While she had a few friends she usually spent time with, the only one she could truly call a close friend was Jiang Fu.
Could Xiao Jing’s real target be Jiang Fu?
The more Xu Yun thought about it, the more sense it made. She had found it strange when Xiao Jing jumped into the water to save Jiang Fu before.
What kind of man was the Third Master of the Xiao family? He wouldn’t even blink if a noblewoman died before his eyes, so why would he kindly rescue someone?
He didn’t save Jiang Fu because she was nearby—he saved her because he fancied her.
Xu Yun tightly covered her mouth, suppressing her gasp of astonishment.
With Sister A’Fu’s beauty and temperament, it was only natural for Xiao Jing to like her.
But Sister A’Fu was Xiao Yuzhang’s former fiancée, whom he had broken off the engagement with. She almost had to call him “uncle.” How could he possibly make a move on her?
Xu Yun stared at the token in her hand with distress, feeling as though she were holding a hot potato.
How could she send someone as delicate and charming as Sister A’Fu into the tiger’s den?
Third Master Xiao was truly a beast!
…
The main branch of the Jiang family.
Jiang Yao and Jiang Lin were trying on clothes. The dragon boat race was even livelier than the Xie family’s lotus-viewing banquet. Most importantly, all the young gentlemen and sons of the capital would be participating, making it the perfect occasion for young ladies to choose their future husbands.
Jiang Yao was overwhelmed by the choices, feeling that none of the outfits were quite right—none could fully showcase her beauty.
“This pattern is so outdated! What fabric did Brocade Pavilion choose?”
The dress in Jiang Yao’s hands was a light green color, which wasn’t actually outdated. However, the green reminded her of Jiang Fu.
If only she had that little wretch’s face, finding a good husband would be no trouble at all.
Jiang Yao’s eyes filled with resentment. She took a pair of scissors and cut the dress to shreds, feeling slightly relieved afterward.
“Mother, you must marry Jiang Fu off soon. Scholar Lin’s health won’t hold out much longer.”
She wants Jiang Fu to marry that wretched old man and suffer torment day after day—being a widow simply won’t do.
That would be a life of ease.
Madam Yan nodded, “I’ve already spoken with your father. After the Dragon Boat Festival, we’ll host a banquet and invite Scholar Lin to our home. Once he sees her, he’ll naturally come to propose.”
“Excellent!”