“Your Highness, Second Miss Jun has always been close with Prince Jing. Everyone in the capital assumes that once His Highness reaches marriageable age, he will wed her…”
“Silence.” Xiao Moyuan rebuked lightly. “Speculation cannot be taken as fact. Jun Ning is still unmarried—how can such words be spoken so carelessly?”
Cang Ying realized his mistake and quickly apologized: “This subordinate only fears that Second Miss Jun and Prince Jing may share some secret. Prince Jing’s wings grow stronger by the day, and he enjoys His Majesty’s favor. I worry they may be targeting you.”
The childhood bond between Prince Jing and Second Miss Jun was known throughout the capital. Even today, Prince Jing’s easy familiarity in entering Yunfei Courtyard showed just how deep their connection was.
The more it seemed so, the more anxious Cang Ying became.
“Rise. Investigate what has transpired between Prince Jing and Jun Ning in recent days. Report to me before the hour of Chen tomorrow.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” Cang Ying replied, though puzzled why his lord was so insistent this time. Before the hour of Chen—it was a rather urgent deadline.
The jade pendant of creamy white had already grown warm in Xiao Moyuan’s hand. Though he could not see Jun Ning’s face, her words and actions earlier lingered vividly in his mind.
Before him was still endless darkness. Three years of blindness had been monotonous and dull. Yet Jun Ning’s boldness today had stirred ripples in what had long been stagnant waters.
Whether Jun Ning harbored ulterior motives or not, in his current state—even if he lived a hundred years, it would be a life worse than death. Better to go along with the plan—at least it would add some measure of interest.
The next day.
Xiao Moyuan was not surprised by what Cang Ying had uncovered, though he hadn’t expected Jun Ning to have once entered the military camp for Xiao Yunjie’s sake.
Xiao Moyuan had fought on the battlefield himself; he knew all too well what kind of men lived in the barracks. For Jun Ning to endure that environment showed how deeply she had cared for Xiao Yunjie.
“Your Highness, Second Miss Jun’s martial skills must have been honed in the military camp. If she were to enter the prince’s household, it would surely bring you harm rather than benefit. I beg Your Highness to reconsider!”
Cang Ying knelt on the floor, his face full of worry.
Xiao Moyuan did not reply. He only raised his hand and drew out the jade pendant, feeling its shape.
“Cang Ying, do you find it dull, serving at my side?”
At these words, Cang Ying was horrified, thinking his lord meant to dismiss him. He immediately kowtowed: “Your Highness! I have followed you since childhood. As long as I remain by your side, even death would never feel dull!”
Xiao Moyuan knew he was overthinking. Cang Ying was loyal to the bone, and no answer could give him what he truly wanted to hear. So he said nothing more.
The room fell silent again. Since the assassination three years ago, such silence had become the norm.
Cang Ying remained kneeling, his eyes filled with sorrow.
…
By the hour of Shen, Jun Ning had not received the jade pendant back. Xiao Moyuan had agreed to the arrangement.
Jun Ning let out a quiet breath of relief. Whatever his reasons, at least he had accepted. That spared her the need to force matters.
“Miss, ever since you returned yesterday, you’ve been glancing at the water clock from time to time. Did something happen?” Yu Zhu sat beside her lady, fanning steadily with a round fan.
Jun Ning glanced at Yu Zhu, not even blinking. “Did I? Perhaps you misread.”
“Oh.” Yu Zhu scratched her head, convinced she must have been mistaken.
The summer banquet was approaching, and word had already spread through the palace. Once the families learned, their minds grew restless. Though called a summer banquet, everyone guessed the Emperor’s true intention.
There were only three princes of marriageable age. The Fourth Prince, Xiao Moyuan, was not considered. Families needed only choose between the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince, marry their daughters into one of their households, support them diligently, and glory would soon follow.
Unlike the turmoil outside, Yunfei Courtyard remained quiet as ever.
By Jun Ning’s order, anything connected to Xiao Yunjie was barred from entering Yunfei Courtyard. No matter how capable he was, he could not overcome Jun Ning. Once he learned the courtyard was layered with traps she had set, even his thought of forcing his way in died completely.
Jun Ning sat on the soft couch, one leg resting on a low stool, carefully polishing a short blade.
Yu Zhu stood relaxed before her, while Qing Tao stood nervously, hands clenched tight.
*Clack.*
The crisp sound rang out as Jun Ning slid the blade back into its sheath. She straightened slowly, gazing at Qing Tao’s pale face until the girl nearly burst into tears. Only then did she speak: “Qing Tao, you are already considered dead. If you wish to leave, I can give you some money. But I want to ask you for a favor—would you be willing?”
Before the words had even faded, Qing Tao dropped to her knees, crying: “Miss, this servant’s life was saved by you. Whatever you ask, I will do!”
Qing Tao was one who repaid kindness. Jun Ning leaned closer and whispered: “Tomorrow at the summer banquet, you will enter the palace with me. Tomorrow, at Funing Palace…”
With each word, Qing Tao and Yuzhu grew more astonished. Could their lady truly foresee tomorrow’s events?
Before dawn, while Jun Ning was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, a sudden commotion made her frown.
“Yu Zhu, go see who dares behave so rudely.” She spun her long spear, the wound on her back nearly healed, though still aching with each movement. To her, it was nothing.
Yu Zhu obeyed, and soon returned at a run—followed by several maids and servants carrying trays.
The steward at the front stepped forward to speak, but was met with a rush of cold wind. Before he realized it, a spear was leveled at his nose, firmly held in Jun Ning’s hand.
“Ah!” Steward Kang’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to his knees, sweat pouring down his forehead. “Se… Second Miss…”
Jun Ning withdrew her spear, bypassing the trembling Steward Kang, who was still kneeling on the ground, and lifted her skirts to sit at the stone table. Raising a cup of tea, she took a sip before asking in puzzlement: “Steward Kang, why such a grand courtesy today? Yu Zhu, help Steward Kang up.”
Steward Kang staggered to his feet, dizzy and flustered, lowering his head with far more humility than usual.
Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he said: “Second Miss, today is the summer banquet. Master ordered us to deliver the newly made garments from Nuanhan Pavilion for you to inspect.”
At his words, several maids stepped forward, presenting the clothes neatly arranged on their trays.
Jun Ning glanced at them briefly, her expression showing neither delight nor disdain.
“So these were first chosen by my concubine-born elder sister, and only then presented to me?”