The shadows of the trees swayed, leaves rustling softly. Silence enveloped the surroundings.
Cang Ying scanned the area warily, about to draw his sword, but Xiao Moyuan raised a hand to stop him.
“Our guest has been here for quite some time, watching me without making a move. It seems they are not here to kill me.”
The lamplight flickered, and in the next moment, a black‑clad woman appeared inside the room.
Cang Ying’s eyes widened instantly. He reached for his sword on instinct—only to find it gone.
“Looking for this? Here, catch.” Jun Ning raised her hand and tossed the sword she held back to the stunned Cang Ying.
He caught it reflexively, ready to strike, but then heard his lord’s voice: “Cang Ying, leave us.”
“Your Highness!”
“I said, leave.” Xiao Moyuan’s tone carried unexpected authority.
“…Yes.”
Now, only Xiao Moyuan and Jun Ning remained in the study.
At this moment, Xiao Moyuan was not wearing his mask. Jun Ning saw clearly the savage scar across his face—a wound that began at his forehead, cut through his brow bone, and stretched all the way to his right ear.
The face that had once been bright and handsome was now marred, made fierce and frightening by that scar.
Though years had passed, Jun Ning felt she could still glimpse the despair he must have endured through that mark. He had once been the pride of heaven, admired by all the young ladies of the capital. Now he had become like this.
Jun Ning rose, walked to his desk, and picked up the scroll lying upon it. Only when she was close did she realize—the characters on the scroll were not ordinary writing. Each one was slightly raised to the touch.
No wonder Xiao Moyuan, though blind, could still read—he was tracing each character by touch. She had been petty, suspecting his blindness was only an act.
“The days in the residence are dull, so I had someone make this book. Is Second Miss interested as well?”
From beginning to end, Xiao Moyuan remained gentle and courteous, as though nothing in the world could stir his emotions.
Incense burned in the room, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance—likely calming and restorative. It was the scent that always clung to Xiao Moyuan.
Jun Ning set the book down and sat on the cool mat beside him, answering obliquely: “I thought I hid myself well, yet I didn’t expect Your Highness to discover me.”
“At night, insects are many. They are drawn to warm blood. When you hid in the tree, your movements made some noise. Though I am blind, my ears are sharper than most. That is how I found you, Second Miss.”
“Cough, cough…”
Perhaps the wind was strong; Xiao Moyuan covered his mouth and coughed twice, his cheeks flushed red from the effort.
Seeing him so frail, Jun Ning’s gaze deepened, her emotions unreadable.
If, at the summer banquet, she requested the Emperor to grant her marriage to Prince Xuan, she could escape the shackles of the Earl Pingkang household and force Xiao Yunjie to call her “Imperial Sister-in-law.” Why not?
With the title of Princess Consort Xuan, she could accomplish many things that had once been beyond her reach.
“My health is poor. I hope Second Miss will be understanding.”
Jun Ning: “…” Though he was also a son of Emperor Yongchu, Xiao Moyuan seemed utterly different from the other princes—gentle, courteous, almost making her reluctant to scheme against him.
Now that she had come to Prince Xuan’s residence, there was no turning back. With her purpose far from innocent, Jun Ning asked directly: “Does Your Highness have someone you love?”
At these words, Jun Ning clearly saw Xiao Moyuan’s hand tremble around his teacup. After a pause, he gave a self‑mocking smile.
“In my current state, how could I possibly have someone I love?”
Jun Ning sat not too near, not too far from him, able to see every subtle expression on Xiao Moyuan’s face.
When he said he had no one he loved, his features clearly carried a trace of bitterness and loneliness. Even if he truly had no one now, surely before his injury, there must have been someone he cherished.
But that no longer mattered. Jun Ning clapped her hands lightly and, taking the chance, proposed: “Since Your Highness has no beloved, and I have none either—why don’t… Your Highness and I marry?”
“Cough, cough, cough…!” Xiao Moyuan hadn’t even swallowed his sip of water before Jun Ning’s words startled him into choking.
Jun Ning innocently patted his back, surprised by how strong his reaction was.
Xiao Moyuan gripped a gray‑green handkerchief, wiping the water from his lips, his fingertips turning pale from the pressure.
Before Jun Ning appeared, Xiao Moyuan had never encountered such a bold woman. Sneaking into the prince’s residence was one thing—but to calmly suggest marriage was another. Three years ago, such words might have held some credibility. But now…
“Second Miss must know my situation. If you marry me, you will become the laughingstock of the entire capital. Gossip is cruel. As the legitimate daughter of the Earl household, it is harmless to joke with me, but if ill‑intentioned people overheard, it would ruin your reputation.”
Xiao Moyuan had fully accepted his disfigurement and blindness. He felt no anger at what he assumed was a jest. He was calm, like a still lake in February. Even now, he thought only of protecting Jun Ning.
Jun Ning suddenly felt reluctant to deceive him. This man was so good—almost foolishly good. She drew out a square piece of white jade from her sleeve, placed it in Xiao Moyuan’s palm, and said: “Jun Ning has come rather abruptly. It is only natural that Your Highness finds it hard to decide at once. I will wait until tomorrow at the hour of Shen. If by then Your Highness still refuses, simply send this jade pendant back to the Pingkang residence, and I will never trouble you again.”
“It is late. Jun Ning will not disturb Your Highness further.”
Jun Ning had come suddenly and left just as suddenly. As her words fell, a gust of wind brushed past, and the black‑clad silhouette vanished into the moonlit night.
The palm‑sized jade pendant of creamy white still carried Jun Ning’s warmth. Xiao Moyuan was left speechless. Did Jun Ning truly understand what it meant to gift a man her jade pendant? Perhaps she knew. Perhaps she did not.
Outside, Cang Ying had watched Second Miss Jun disappear into the darkness. Without delay, he pushed the door open and entered. At a glance, he saw his lord seated at the desk, looking both stunned and at a loss for words.
“Your Highness, are you all right?” As Cang Ying stepped closer, he noticed his lord clutching something, fingers gently tracing it.
At the sound of his voice, Xiao Moyuan seemed to return to himself. “Cang Ying, Jun Ning… forget it. It is nothing.”
Cang Ying had braced himself for orders, but after waiting, all he heard was that it was nothing.
“Your Highness, I have followed you since childhood. If there is anything, I will speak without reservation!” Cang Ying dropped to one knee, his words firm and resolute.
Xiao Moyuan sighed. “She said she wants to marry me.”
Cang Ying nearly lost his balance, almost collapsing to the floor!
“Y‑Your Highness… that woman must surely… have ulterior motives.”
By the end, even Cang Ying’s voice faltered. Though his lord still held the title of Prince Xuan, in his current state…
Not to mention the daughters of noble families—even those from humbler households would be unwilling to marry him. So why was Second Miss Jun insisting on marrying into his household?