Wei Zhao was startled.
“…Why are you waiting for me? I already left the pearls for you.”
“I guessed they’d be big pearls. Tomorrow I’m going to sew them onto my shoes.” She beamed. “I also want to show you something made from the Luminous Silk. I’m sure you’ll like it.”
“There’s no need. I don’t need anything.”
Wei Zhao assumed she had sewn him a gift.
“Huh? You wouldn’t have any use for it anyway. I’m not giving it to you—I just want you to take a look.”
Wei Zhao thought, Fine. Looking won’t hurt.
Jiang Yihuan pulled him over to the window. Pale moonlight filtered through the lattice, hazy as mist.
“What is it you want me to see?”
Her long black hair flowed like water, contrasting sharply against her snow-white sleeping robe.
Then she slipped off the robe.
Beneath it was a dudou made of Luminous Silk.
As expected of Luminous Silk—it instantly outshone the moonlight itself.
Wei Zhao froze.
He immediately shut his eyes and fumbled to wrap her back up in her robe.
But he had overestimated himself.
Instead of dressing her properly, his hands accidentally brushed places they absolutely shouldn’t have, and his palm instantly felt as though it had been set on fire.
Jiang Yihuan stood there blankly.
“…Y-you… I only wanted you to look. I-I didn’t tell you to touch me… Your hand is so hot.”
At that moment, not only were Wei Zhao’s hands burning—even the tips of his ears were scorching.
The usually composed and elegant Junior Grand Tutor Wei nearly tripped over the doorway as he fled.
In the courtyard, Zhu Xian watched with curiosity.
Did Master get beaten up again?
Hee hee… Just look at him, as if he’d lost his soul.
Early the next morning, Old Madam Wei was enjoying her breakfast porridge, secretly relieved that Jiang Yihuan hadn’t come to bother her today.
“Hmph. She’s just a child. How many days can she possibly keep this up? Trying to fight with me? She still—”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yihuan came in carrying a wooden box.
“Old Madam! I’ve come to see you! Look—I brought some huge pearls!”
She plopped down across from the old lady.
“Nanny, please serve me a bowl of porridge too. I haven’t had breakfast yet.”
The maid acknowledged the request.
Jiang Yihuan grabbed a shrimp cake with one hand while opening the box with the other.
“Old Madam, Wei Zhao gave me these big pearls. I want to sew two of them onto my shoes—they’ll look so impressive.”
Old Madam Wei was stunned by the quality of the eastern pearls.
“…Such beautiful pearls, and you want to sew them onto your shoes?”
“Yes! I heard the maids in your courtyard are excellent with needlework, so I came to ask for your help.”
The old lady snorted.
The nanny leaned in for a closer look.
“Oh my, these really are exquisite. I’ll have someone sew them on for you.”
The task wasn’t difficult.
Before long, Jiang Yihuan had a beautiful pair of cloud-patterned embroidered shoes adorned with large pearls.
They looked stunning.
“Yihuan,” Old Madam Wei asked eagerly, “there are still five pearls left. What are you planning to do with them?”
“I haven’t decided yet. But I’m sure Old Madam isn’t interested in things like these, so I won’t trouble myself with giving them to you.”
With that, she happily ran off wearing her pearl shoes and carrying the box.
Old Madam Wei opened her mouth to speak.
Actually… she did like them.
Wei Zhao had never given her a gift before.
Halfway back, Jiang Yihuan ran into the nanny serving Madam Heng.
“Greetings, Miss Jiang. My mistress asked me to inform you that the banquet at the Grand Princess’s residence is the day after tomorrow. She’ll be taking you with her.”
Jiang Yihuan’s eyes lit up.
“A Princess? A Grand Princess? That means her status is very high, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed. The Grand Princess is His Majesty’s aunt and enjoys tremendous prestige in the capital.”
The Grand Princess had a fiery temperament. She had never cared much for Old Madam Wei, but she was quite fond of the gentle Madam Heng.
Being kindhearted, Madam Heng brought not only Jiang Yihuan but also all the daughters-in-law and younger members of the Wei family to the banquet. Several carriages were filled to capacity.
“Madam, why isn’t Old Madam coming?”
“She values her pride too much. Since the Grand Princess doesn’t like her, why would she come and embarrass herself?”
Nowadays, even Madam Heng dared to make a few remarks about her mother-in-law.
She then reminded Jiang Yihuan,
“When we get to the Grand Princess’s residence, you must behave yourself, all right?”
“Mhm! I’m very well-behaved. Don’t worry about me.”
Madam Heng sighed inwardly.
Well… even if she isn’t, what can I do? My son will simply stand up for her anyway.
Upon arriving at the Grand Princess’s residence, Madam Heng led the young ladies forward one by one to pay their respects.
When it was Jiang Yihuan’s turn, every gaze turned toward her.
Her skin was as white as fresh snow.
Her features were breathtakingly delicate, like a lotus blooming in midsummer.
The Luminous Silk hugged her graceful figure, while the large pearls decorating her shoes shimmered brilliantly.
She eclipsed every guest in attendance.
The Grand Princess looked at her in surprise.
There was something strangely familiar about the girl’s face.
“Little girl, which branch of the Wei family are you from?”
Jiang Yihuan folded her hands and bowed politely.
“Your Highness, my name is Jiang Yihuan. Wei Zhao is the one taking care of me.”
She no longer wanted to introduce herself as Jiang Qianli’s younger sister.
Every time she mentioned her brother’s name, someone bullied her.
It was much better to mention Wei Zhao instead.
The Grand Princess’s eyes flickered.
The Emperor had already told her about how Wei Zhao had shot the Third Prince with an arrow.
So this was the girl it had all been for.
Perhaps… I should let the Emperor meet her as well?
As it happened, the Emperor was currently hiding in her residence.
Seeing the Grand Princess’s unusual expression, Madam Heng quickly signaled for Jiang Yihuan to go outside and play.
Zhu Xian didn’t dare let her out of his sight anymore and followed closely behind.
The Grand Princess’s garden was filled with blooming peonies, flourishing in a sea of blossoms that looked almost like drifting clouds.
The young ladies laughed shyly among themselves, each holding a pair of scissors, eager to cut a flower.
Jiang Yihuan looked on curiously.
“Zhu Xian, what are they doing? Are they stealing flowers?”
“The Grand Princess says peonies carry affection. Every guest may pick one blossom to give to someone they like.”
As soon as she heard that, Jiang Yihuan dashed into the flowerbeds.
“I have to choose the prettiest one… to give to my favorite person.”
Her eyes settled on a large, double-petaled pink peony.
Its countless layers of petals made it extraordinarily beautiful.
Just as she reached out—
Another pair of scissors reached for the very same flower.
She recognized their owner immediately.
Fu Xirong.
Both girls froze.
Ever since being taken hostage by Jiang Yihuan, Fu Xirong had stayed indoors for quite some time.
Still, she couldn’t bear to miss the Grand Princess’s banquet.
She had been carefully avoiding Jiang Yihuan all day, yet fate had once again thrown her directly into the disaster’s path.
Jiang Yihuan refused to back down.
“I saw this flower first.”
Fu Xirong trembled.
Thinking of her brother still imprisoned, she bit her lip and retreated.
She was afraid.
Truly afraid of Wei Zhao.
Jiang Yihuan happily picked the flower and skipped back toward Zhu Xian.
Fu Xirong gripped her scissors tightly.
Just because she’s a country girl, does that mean she gets to bully me whenever she wants?
Someone patted her shoulder.
It was Pei Nianfang.
Sympathetically, she said,
“Miss Fu, I heard about your brother. Please don’t be too upset.”
Fu Xirong showed no gratitude.
“Miss Pei, I also heard about your family. You and your brother actually went to apologize in person. How spineless.”
Pei Nianfang’s kindness was repaid with contempt.
Angrily, she shot back,
“Oh? So you’re the courageous one? Then why didn’t you fight her for the flower just now?”
The two young women glared at each other.
Then someone behind them announced,
“His Highness the Third Prince has arrived!”
The Third Prince entered with a smile, enduring the lingering pain in the top of his foot without showing it.
“Miss Fu, may I have a word with you in private? I have something I’d like to give you.”
In his hand was a magnificent crimson peony.
His peach-blossom eyes overflowed with tenderness.
How could Fu Xirong keep her composure?
Could it be…
Could the Third Prince have taken a liking to me?
The other young ladies couldn’t help but feel envious.
Aside from liking to take advantage of others, Fu Xirong had never stood out before.
How had she suddenly won the Third Prince’s favor?
Inside a secluded flower hall within the Grand Princess’s residence, the Emperor, dressed in light summer robes, sat facing Qiao Shaoqing.
“I’ve heard you’re investigating the Wuzhou provincial examination fraud.”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Poor scholars who studied diligently for years had their identities stolen and their achievements robbed. I will do everything in my power to obtain justice for them.”
The Emperor sighed heavily.
“Ruling the realm is truly difficult. One problem after another keeps appearing. I’m exhausted.”
Qiao Shaoqing thought silently,
Your Majesty… perhaps it’s simply because your abilities aren’t quite up to the task.
Back when Crown Prince Zhangde governed the country, state affairs had been managed flawlessly and with ease.
Aloud, he replied,
“With loyal ministers and capable generals serving Your Majesty, why worry that the realm cannot be governed well?”
The Emperor frowned.
“Capable generals? You mean Wei Zhao? He shot my son, and I can only pretend nothing happened! I regret appointing him as the Crown Prince’s Junior Grand Tutor! I really want to… really want to…”
He had once favored the Crown Prince for his gentle and benevolent nature.
Recently, however, he had grown more fond of the Third Prince.
At least the Third Prince dared to stand against Wei Zhao.
Qiao Shaoqing gave an awkward smile.
If His Majesty truly intended to replace the Crown Prince, Wei Zhao, as the Crown Prince’s Grand Tutor, would never allow it.