She couldn’t help but grow anxious. She recalled what Zhao De had whispered to the emperor at that time. She had already instructed Qing Táo on the route beforehand, so she instinctively believed Qing Táo would not be discovered.
But now, thinking it over again, had she been too arrogant? Even with memories from her past life and her thorough knowledge of the palace, Zhao De had lived there for more than fifty years—surely he was far more familiar with its workings than she was.
Qing Táo hadn’t returned to the manor. Could it be that Zhao De had discovered her? The more Jun Ning thought about it, the more her heart trembled. Her mind raced, desperate to find a solution.
“Miss, don’t worry yet. Qing Táo will come back on her own. Perhaps she was just delayed on the road.”
Yu Zhu herself was uneasy. If the worst happened, would her mistress be implicated? No—no, surely she was just overthinking!
Suddenly, Jun Ning’s eyes sharpened. In the next instant, she pulled Yu Zhu two steps back.
An arrow whistled through the air, grazing Yu Zhu’s shoulder, and embedded itself in the wooden pillar behind them.
Jun Ning turned her head and saw a slip of paper tied to the shaft. She intended to step forward and take it, but as soon as she moved, the humming of the arrow seemed to magnify in her mind a hundredfold.
Clutching her head, Jun Ning staggered, nearly unable to stand.
“Miss, are you all right!?” The sudden turn of events startled Yu Zhu. She quickly supported Jun Ning and helped her onto a bamboo chair. “Miss, here’s some water.”
Jun Ning pressed her head with one hand, seized the teacup, and drained it in one gulp.
The moment from her past life—when an arrow pierced her heart—replayed in her mind again and again, as if time itself had rewound, leaving her skull splitting with pain. Only after a long while did Jun Ning recover from the dizziness.
“Yu Zhu, go… bring me the paper from that arrow.”
Yu Zhu dared not delay. It took her considerable effort to untie the slip of paper from the arrow.
Jun Ning took the note, carefully examining the handwriting. Her expression gradually shifted from grave to relaxed.
“Miss, is there news of Sister Qing Táo?”
“Yes, you guessed right. It seems I won’t be able to repay Prince Xuan’s favor anytime soon.” Jun Ning placed the letter on the table and sighed for no apparent reason. She no longer knew whether being entangled with Xiao Moyuan was a blessing or a curse. He was nothing like the rumors that painted him as a blind and useless man.
Though his eyes could not see, he possessed an extraordinary mind of clarity and brilliance. How could such a person ever be the ‘waste’ spoken of by others?
“Miss, I don’t understand—what connection could Sister Qing Táo have with Prince Xuan?”
“Prince Xuan overheard my conversation with Jun Qingnian in the hall. He then sent Cang Ying out ahead of Zhao De to find Qing Táo and placed her under Princess Yongjia’s protection. You know Yongjia’s temper—Zhao De wouldn’t dare search anyone around her.”
Princess Yongjia was the emperor’s third daughter, born of Consort De. Bold and fiery in nature, yet deeply cherished by the emperor.
But in the previous life, when Prince Jing eventually held power over the court and Consort Yan Zhuang rose in influence, Consort De was forced to take her own life. Her entire family was exiled a thousand miles away, and Princess Yongjia was used as a bargaining chip, married off to the barbarian lands of Nanmo.
The Nanmo royal family practiced succession through marriage. When the Nanmo king died, his wives were treated like property and passed on to the next king.
Princess Yongjia, strong-willed and unyielding, would rather die than endure such humiliation.
That year, a fire broke out in the Nanmo palace. Princess Yongjia chose self-immolation, declaring to all that a princess of Bei would never bow her head.
Thinking of all this, Jun Ning felt the weight of her sins. If in her past life she had not trusted Xiao Yunjie, if she had not aided a tyrant, so many lives would not have been lost in vain.
Her brother, the soldiers of the Southern Garrison, Consort De, and all those princes and princesses.
“Miss, Miss, why are you crying?” Yu Zhu hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe Jun Ning’s tears. “Miss, don’t frighten your servant.”
Jun Ning brushed her eyes, forced back the tears, and managed a smile. “Silly girl, don’t be afraid. Your mistress is fine.”
Yu Zhu hesitated for a moment. But right now, her mistress’s smile looked even sadder than her tears.
“Tomorrow at noon, Qing Táo will leave the capital and return to Ruyang. We’ll go to Xifeng Crossing to see her off.”
“…Yes, Miss.” Yu Zhu answered, though her heart felt a little empty.
Sister Qing Táo was truly a good person. If only she could continue serving alongside them. Now that she was going home, who knew if they would ever meet again?
“Miss, Third Miss is outside the courtyard. She says she wishes to see you.” A maid from the outer yard came to report. Jun Ning remembered there was indeed this matter she had yet to deal with.
“Let her in.”
“Yes, Miss.”
“Miss, Third Miss follows Miss Qingnian around all day. If she suddenly comes to see you, it can’t be for anything good.”
Jun Ning patted Yu Zhu’s hand reassuringly. “It’s fine. I know.”
Before long, Jun Rongpei entered the inner courtyard with a maid in tow.
“Younger sister greets Elder Sister.”
“Come, sit.” Jun Ning had already composed herself. Now she looked no different than she had in the palace.
Jun Rongpei cautiously studied Jun Ning’s expression. Too much had happened today. She never imagined her elder sister would want to marry Prince Xuan, while the concubine-born sister married Prince Jing.
Prince Xuan was weak; Prince Jing was strong. Looking at the long term, how could Elder Sister possibly contend with the concubine-born sister?
Jun Ning poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Jun Rongpei. “What are you thinking about?”
“No… no, I wasn’t thinking anything.” Jun Rongpei lifted the teacup and absentmindedly took a large sip, only to realize too late that the tea was scalding hot.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Burned by the heat, Jun Rongpei coughed violently. Jun Ning gently patted her back and casually asked, “Were you thinking that since I am to marry Prince Xuan, while Jun Qingnian enters Prince Jing’s household, I’ll end up letting Jun Qingnian twist and mold me however she pleases?”
Her secret thoughts were spoken aloud word for word. Jun Rongpei shuddered in fright. In her panic, she rose too quickly, kneeling on the floor and accidentally overturning the steaming tea. Kneeling there, her clothes soaked through, the hot liquid stung her skin. Yet she dared not utter a sound.
“Elder Sister, you misunderstand. Rongpei would never dare think such a thing!”
Jun Ning glanced at her and smiled. “But you’re not wrong. As things stand, it does seem that way. As the saying goes, ‘Those who recognize the times are wise.’ I won’t force you. Either you walk out of this courtyard, and I’ll pretend you never came here today—you can continue serving at Jun Qingnian’s side. Or you swallow this pill, and from then on, I’ll protect you.”
Yu Zhu, standing nearby, stared in astonishment. She had no idea where her mistress had produced such a pill. Strange—where had Miss gotten it?
“Elder Sister… is this poison?”
“What do you think?” Jun Ning countered instead of answering directly.
Jun Rongpei’s face turned deathly pale.
“A joke. It doesn’t quite count as poison, only…”