Nianyao’s heart nearly leapt to her throat.
Her thoughts were tangled like hemp, her eyes fixed only on the intricate and delicate patterns of auspicious clouds.
She didn’t even notice when the man stopped in his tracks, his gaze falling upon her with indifference.
Pei Jinyan’s eyes swept to the side.
That maid—he had some impression of her from Shouning Palace.
Though Nianyao’s mind was a mess, she did not neglect the proper etiquette.
Her body was lowered to the ground, assuming an extremely cautious posture. The peach blossom wooden hairpin in her bun swayed gently in the breeze, accentuating her soft and delicate figure.
Even in the most ordinary palace maid attire, her waist was cinched so slender, like a willow in summer, seemingly ready to be gently embraced and indulged.
A flicker of darkness passed through Pei Jinyan’s pitch-black eyes.
His throat tightened slightly. For some reason, every time he saw this woman, the image of a delicate, dewy begonia flower, ripe for the picking, would appear before his eyes.
Pei Jinyan’s brow furrowed slightly as he pushed this inexplicable feeling aside.
The woman who had dared to climb into his bed while he was drunk that day had yet to be found.
If he ever discovered who it was—and if she had also stolen the Jade Ring his late mother had left for him—
He would surely have her torn to pieces!
Nianyao had no idea what the man standing before her was thinking, but a sudden chill made her shiver uncontrollably.
When the long boots finally moved away, Nianyao let out a sigh of relief.
Qīng’ér, standing beside her, exerted some effort to help the weakened Nianyao to her feet.
Qīng’ér rubbed her own arms, her teeth chattering.
“The Crown Prince is just too intimidating. Even just passing by made my heart leap out of my chest.”
Nianyao glanced at Qīng’ér and nodded in agreement.
However, there were other matters to attend to now.
And so, the two of them easily put the incident behind them.
When they arrived at Qīng’ér’s quarters,
Nianyao had been there before, but she couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.
Qīng’ér was the head maid of the Fourth Prince. Now that the Fourth Prince had gone to the academy, Qīng’ér had seized the opportunity to seek out Nianyao.
Looking at Qīng’ér’s small single room, complete with a desk and chairs, and a spacious, bright bed, Nianyao couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy.
Qīng’ér took something out from the cabinet and placed it in front of Nianyao.
“Come on, you can admire it all you want later. But if you want to send this letter out today, you’d better hurry.”
She paused, glancing at the sky outside. “Otherwise, once the palace gates are locked, even the heavens won’t be able to help.”
Nianyao knew she was putting Qīng’ér in a difficult position this time.
A flicker of guilt passed through her eyes, but she quickly sat down on a small stool, picked up a brush, and began writing on the yellowish rice paper.
It had been a long time since Nianyao had held a brush, but she had been personally taught by her father back at home.
As soon as the ink touched the paper, characters began to appear on the page.
Qīng’ér, standing beside her, couldn’t help but marvel.
“Nianyao, your handwriting is truly exceptional.”
Unlike her usual timid demeanor,
she wasn’t writing in the delicate, flowery script commonly learned by noblewomen.
Her strokes were sharp and powerful, grand and majestic, as if filled with mountains and rivers, showing no trace of a weak woman’s hand.
Nianyao continued writing quietly, saying nothing.
Back when she was in the study at home, her father would hold her still tender little hand, teaching her to write stroke by stroke.
Even her mother, who came to the study to bring her father some soup, would look at her handwriting and say with a smile, “Yao’er’s writing is the most like her father’s.”
Thinking of her late father, Nianyao felt a pang in her nose. If it weren’t for the urgency of the situation, she feared she might have broken down in tears.
Fortunately, aside from some stiffness in her wrist at the beginning, Nianyao soon found her flow. In less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, she had finished writing the letter.
She stretched out her hand, rubbing her sore wrist. It had been a long time since she last wrote, and though she was burdened with matters now, it felt refreshingly satisfying.
Nianyao spread out the letter paper, blew on the still-wet ink, and looked up at Qīng’ér with a faint smile in her eyes.
It had been a long time since Qīng’ér had seen Nianyao smile so genuinely, and she was momentarily lost in thought. “Nianyao looks so much prettier when she smiles more often.”
Nianyao was taken aback, only then realizing it, and lowered her head. A touch of bitterness welled up in her heart.
Over the years, first her father passed away, then the entire household was raided. Now her mother was missing, and her younger siblings were suffering outside the palace. How could she possibly bring herself to smile?
Only when reminiscing about the days back in the Jiang residence did her heart find a bit of solace.
Not wanting to worry Qīng’ér, Nianyao glanced at the dried letter, carefully folded it, and handed it to her. She instructed cautiously, “Please help me deliver this to the first house on the left of the big jujube tree in the eastern suburbs of Zhaojing. This matter concerns my younger siblings. If…”
Nianyao swallowed hard, suppressing the ache in her heart. “If this letter doesn’t get delivered this time, I’m afraid my aunt and her family will truly…”
Qīng’ér patted Nianyao’s hand, stopping her from continuing. Her gaze held a touch of pity as she looked at Nianyao. “I understand, don’t worry. I’ll make sure this letter gets delivered, even if it costs me my life.”
Sending money or jewelry outside the palace might risk being stopped by patrolling guards, but a simple family letter wasn’t too much of a concern.
With a heavy weight lifted from her heart, Nianyao even felt a throbbing pain in her forehead. She looked at Qīng’ér and forced a smile. “In that case, I’ll trouble you with it.”
Seeing that Qīng’ér still wanted to escort her, Nianyao quickly waved her hand. “No need. If the Fourth Prince returns soon, you’ll need to be on duty. Shouning Palace isn’t too far from here, I can go back on my own.”
Qīng’ér glanced outside and immediately stopped the idea of escorting Nianyao back. Hesitating for a moment, she nodded. “Alright, then I’ll have Xiaozzi help deliver the letter for you. You…” Qīng’ér sighed. “You must take care of yourself in Shouning Palace. Even if the Empress Dowager doesn’t like you, you have to endure it.”
She reached out and gently stroked Nianyao’s soft hair. “We palace maids must endure. Once we reach twenty-four, it’ll be better.”
Nianyao nodded, a faint dimple appearing on her cheek. “Then I’ll head back now.”
After reluctantly bidding farewell to her only close friend in the palace, Nianyao set off on the road back to Shouning Palace.
Her heart felt empty, yet her thoughts had already drifted beyond the palace, lingering on her younger siblings outside. At the same time, she felt a twinge of guilt.
That letter was addressed to He Jingzong, the last disciple her father had taken before his passing.
Back when the Jiang family faced disaster, everyone was eager to sever ties with them. Only he, holding an imperial token, protected her and her still-young siblings.
And he sent her into the palace.
Saying that if there was an emergency, she must seek him out.
The note with the He residence’s address was already crumpled beyond recognition.
And this was the first time she had written to him in the two years since entering the palace.
Nianyao lowered her gaze and walked toward her room.
But before she could get close, she heard a commotion.
Nianyao was slightly startled when a trembling maid from the same room pulled her aside.
Whispering to her, “I heard there’s a thief in our room!”