Jun Ning raised her hand and caught Jun Rongpei’s wrist, frowning. “What happened here?”
“It’s just… just that I accidentally bumped into something.” Jun Rongpei shrank back, timid and unwilling to tell the truth. But the bluish‑purple mark on her forearm was clearly from someone’s grip—it could never have been caused by a mere bump.
“If you refuse to tell me the truth, then when this happens again, you may as well endure it as you always have.” Jun Ning released her wrist. She had no desire to meddle. If Jun Rongpei didn’t even dare to think of resisting, Jun Ning would not stand up for her.
“No, it’s not like that. This bruise was from our concubine‑born sister pinching me. Elder Sister, please, save us…” Jun Rongpei, panicked, was about to kneel, but Jun Ning steadied her by the elbow, stopping her.
“This is not the place to speak. Stay by Jun Qingnian’s side for now. When we return to the residence, come to Yunfei Courtyard and find me.”
“Yes, Elder Sister. I’ll go now. Please be careful.” Jun Rongpei left, her heart heavy with disappointment. Elder Sister had always advocated harmony within the household, never truly confronting Jun Qingnian. Even now, though her words sounded different, the result would surely be the same. And once Elder Sister married Prince Jing and became his consort, she would care even less about the lives of concubine‑born daughters.
Jun Ning watched her third sister’s retreating figure, thoughtful. Jun Rongpei had always been honest, and just now she hadn’t seemed to be lying. But anyone close to Jun Qingnian could not be trusted.
After some time in the Imperial Garden, the eunuchs led the guests toward Taihe Hall.
At the summer banquet, men and women were seated separately, with clear distinctions of rank. Because of her status, Jun Ning sat among the legitimate daughters, while the concubine‑born daughters were placed at the back.
Jun Ning glanced around, pausing when her eyes fell on the fourth seat to Emperor Yongchu’s left. That was Xiao Moyuan’s place—though he had yet to arrive.
Yu Zhu quietly returned to Jun Ning’s side.
“Miss, Qing Tao is ready. There is… one more matter,” Yu Zhu said hesitantly, her face conflicted.
“Speak freely.”
“Miss, on the way, I encountered Prince Jing. His Highness asked me to tell you that he knows he was wrong. He said no matter what happened, it was all his fault, and begged you not to stay angry with him.”
Yu Zhu thought her mistress would be pleased by this, so she grew bolder. In her mind, no matter how Jun Ning and Prince Jing quarreled, they would eventually reconcile. After all, hadn’t Miss learned martial arts for his sake?
But instead of smiling, Jun Ning’s aura grew colder.
Yu Zhu’s heart skipped. She twisted her hands together nervously—she must have erred again. “Miss, this servant was wrong.”
“Wrong about what? Did some fool dare offend our Ning again?” The familiar voice, the familiar presence—Jun Ning froze, whipping her head toward the sound.
A young man looked down at her, eyes warm with a gentle smile. The silver-threaded bamboo-leaf patterned robe only heightened his refined, upright bearing.
Jun Ning’s mind buzzed. Her body moved faster than thought, and before she realized it, she had thrown herself into Tao Yanzhen’s arms.
Caught off guard, her elder brother was stunned by the sudden embrace, but his heart swelled sweeter than honey. Soon, though, he sensed something was wrong.
“Brother, Ah Ning missed you so much.” Her voice trembled, choked with emotion. She had imagined countless times what it would be like to see him again, but when faced with his living face, all her rehearsed words dissolved into this single sentence.
How wonderful—her brother was still warm, still teasing her. Nothing had yet happened. She still had a chance to change everything.
Jun Ning sniffled, tears glimmering in her eyes.
Now Tao Yanzhen truly panicked. He pulled back slightly, gazing at her with deep concern.
“Ah Ning, tell me—has someone bullied you? If anyone dares bully my sister, I’ll beat him until he’s crawling on the ground!”
At that, Jun Ning broke into laughter through her tears. Back at Pingkang residence, she had felt nothing, but seeing her brother now, she realized—it wasn’t a dream. She had truly been reborn.
“With Brother here, who would dare bully me?” She clung tightly to his sleeve, as if letting go would make him vanish.
“His Highness Prince Ding arrives!”
“His Highness Prince Jing arrives!”
The eunuch’s cries rang out. Everyone in the Taihe Hall turned toward the doors and bowed.
Prince Ding, Xiao Xinzhe, three years older than Prince Jing, taller too, had shed his youthful softness and now radiated ambition.
Xiao Yunjie stepped inside, his gaze sweeping the hall—only to fix upon Jun Ning and never leave her. He seemed ready to speak to her, but seeing Tao Yanzhen at her side, he restrained himself and followed Prince Ding to his seat.
Seeing Xiao Yunjie hold back, Tao Yanzhen snorted coldly. “At least he knows his place.”
In her past life, Tao Yanzhen had disliked Xiao Yunjie. But Jun Ning, blinded by his false affection, had argued with her brother when he warned her to stay away.
Looking back now, she realized—her brother had already seen that Xiao Yunjie was not a man worthy of lifelong trust. Yet because she so rarely liked anyone, he had compromised, even helping Xiao Yunjie seize imperial power.
“Brother…” Jun Ning began, but he cut her off.
“Ah Ning, I know what you want to say. But I am your brother—I would never harm you. Listen to me: Prince Jing is not someone you can entrust your life to. The capital is full of talented young men. As long as it isn’t Xiao Yunjie, even if you chose a turtle, I could make him into a golden toad!”
Jun Ning: “…” Crude words, but not without truth. Indeed, Xiao Yunjie was worse than a turtle.
“Ah Ning, what’s so good about him? To be blunt, if not for your plea to His Majesty back then…”
Jun Ning kept her head bowed, silently listening. Tao Yanzhen grew more earnest in his persuasion.
“Brother, I don’t like him anymore.”
Tao Yanzhen: “…” Did he mishear?
“What did you say? Say it again.”
“I said—I don’t like him anymore.”
“…” It was as if the sun had risen in the west. In his lifetime, he never thought he’d hear Ning herself say she no longer liked Xiao Yunjie.
“Once spoken, words cannot be taken back. Ah Ning, you mustn’t deceive me.” Tao Yanzhen’s face was full of suspicion, afraid she would change her mind the next moment.