That year, she and Consort Yan, who had just entered the palace as one of the four favored consorts. Newly beloved by the emperor, even Jun Ning had to yield to her.
A few days after Prince Xuan was attacked, he entered the palace for the first time. Blind and inconvenienced, he accidentally blocked Consort Yan’s path and was harshly scolded.
When word reached the emperor, within days, Consort Yan suddenly died in Qingyang Hall. The Imperial Medical Bureau kept silent, claiming only that she had caught a sudden illness.
Consort Yan Zhuang, long seasoned in palace life, understood well: she had been in favor, yet the emperor dismissed her death so lightly. The only explanation was that she had offended someone untouchable.
Emperors were ruthless by nature, yet for Prince Xuan, he had killed his most beloved consort without blinking. Even she, Consort Yan Zhuang, backed by her powerful family, dared not touch the emperor’s reverse scale.
“Out! All of you, leave at once!”
“Mother Consort—!”
Xiao Yunjie was stunned. Xiao Moyuan had been so brazen before her, and yet his mother consort let him go?
“Silence!” Consort Yan Zhuang shot him a warning glare, watching as Xiao Moyuan departed with Jun Ning’s support. Her fingers, clad in enamel filigree nail guards, dug into the redwood table as she swallowed her frustration.
Jun Ning guided Xiao Moyuan out of Yuxiu Palace. Beneath the palace walls, they found Yu Zhu waiting anxiously.
“Yu Zhu? Why are you here?”
“It was I who asked her to follow,” Xiao Moyuan said suddenly.
Relieved, Yu Zhu dropped to her knees. “Miss, forgive me. I feared for your safety and took it upon myself to seek Prince Xuan.”
She did not understand why her mistress suddenly wished to marry a man she barely knew, but she trusted Jun Ning had her reasons. Since Consort Yan Zhuang was Prince Jing’s mother, if she turned her anger on Jun Ning, Yu Zhu could only beg Prince Xuan to protect her.
Jun Ning understood Yu Zhu’s loyalty. In her past life, Yu Zhu had stayed by her side until death, never betraying her.
“Yu Zhu, rise. I don’t blame you.” Jun Ning bent to lift her up, wiping away her tears. “See? I’m fine. Don’t cry.”
This Jun Ning was utterly different from the cold figure moments ago. Xiao Moyuan, blind, could not see her expression, but hearing her gentle voice, he imagined her face softened with kindness.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Xiao Moyuan replied warmly, “I did little. With your ability, they would not have bullied you.”
Jun Ning hesitated. “Xiao Yunjie is narrow-minded. After today, he may bear a grudge. I mean… be careful, don’t get hurt.”
Though meant as concern, her words came out stiff.
Xiao Moyuan’s lips curved faintly. “Mm. I’ll be careful.”
Jun Ning’s gaze drifted upward, catching sight of his lips. Her ears flushed red. She had kissed him recklessly, only to make Xiao Yunjie give up. Now, recalling it, she realized how bold she had been.
Xiao Yunjie had claimed Xiao Moyuan already had someone he liked. He seemed a man of restraint. Would he be angry at her rashness?
“Miss, the carriage from the manor has already left. How shall we return?”
Yu Zhu fumed. Her mistress was the legitimate daughter of Pingkang’s household. How could her father treat her so?
“Don’t worry. We’ll think of something.” Jun Ning patted her shoulder. She was long used to such treatment. Her father, Jun Daoyuan, would never forgive her for publicly choosing Xiao Moyuan, a prince with little hope of succession. She had disgraced the family, and he surely wished she were not his daughter. Why would he send a carriage to wait for her?
“If you don’t mind, you may ride back in mine.”
“I…” Jun Ning instinctively wanted to refuse. Not that she minded, but after kissing him, she suddenly didn’t know how to face him.
Before she could speak, someone emerged from the palace gates—none other than Xiao Yunjie, his face full of despair.
Without thinking, Jun Ning accepted Xiao Moyuan’s offer. “Thank you. Let’s go now.”
Xiao Moyuan knew she had meant to refuse, but something had changed her mind.
“Cang Ying, bring the carriage.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
The curtain fell, and the two entered. Yu Zhu and Cang Ying sat in the front.
Xiao Yunjie looked up just in time to see them together. Already furious from Jun Ning’s rejection and his mother’s scolding, seeing them share a carriage made him clutch his chest, gasping for breath.
“Du Yi…!”
His attendant rushed to steady him, patting his back. “Your Highness, don’t harm your health.”
“They… they…!” Xiao Yunjie pointed at the departing carriage, his face pale as death.
Had he truly done wrong? Only for speaking one word in defense of Jun Qingnian? She had never been so petty before. Could it be that she truly liked Xiao Moyuan?
“Impossible. Jun Ning cannot like anyone but me.”
Du Yi sighed, then tried to soothe him. “Your Highness, Consort Yan Zhuang is right. One day, you will ascend the throne. Crushing Prince Xuan will be easier than killing an ant. Then Second Miss Jun will still be yours alone.”
He added, “Besides, Prince Xuan is disfigured, blindand , frail. He has refused every beauty the emperor bestowed. I suspect he is no longer capable as a man. Even if she marries him, there will be no true union.”
His words revived Xiao Yunjie like a draught of medicine.
“You’re right. Xiao Moyuan is already a spent force. How can he compare to me?” His eyes gleamed with madness. “Ning, I’ll let you be willful for now. In the end, you can only belong to me.”
…
At Pingkang’s manor, Jun Daoyuan was stunned to see his daughter escorted home by Prince Xuan himself. Knowing he was in the wrong, he dared not face Xiao Moyuan and kept out of sight.
Jun Ning returned to Yunfei Courtyard, expecting Qing Tao to have arrived before her. But after searching the grounds, she found not a single trace of her maid.