“The Cui family?” Wang Heng was indeed taken aback, and the arrogance on his face lessened slightly.
He furrowed his brows and scrutinized the masked Princess Ming Zhao before him. “You’re from the Cui family? Which branch?”
“I’ve seen all the ladies of the Cui family, including unmarried cousins and young ladies, so why have I never seen you at any banquet?”
Wang Heng’s mother was the third younger sister of Cui Weijin’s father. By rank, Wang Heng should call Cui Weijin “Cousin Brother.” The Cui and Wang families were closely connected, and even if he wasn’t personally familiar with the young female members, he would have at least seen them before.
He suddenly scoffed, tapping his folded fan in his hand, mocking her. “Almost fooled me.”
“Parading around in the name of the Cui family? Young Lady, you have some nerve.”
Seeing his suspicion, Princess Ming Zhao remained even calmer. “Young Master Wang, that’s funny. There are so many people in the Cui Residence; you’ve seen all of them? I couldn’t be…”
“Be what?” Wang Heng interrupted impatiently, stepping closer. “The famous Cui cousins—Third Miss Cui, Fifth Miss Cui, and those married ones—I could recognize them with my eyes closed.”
“If you’re not one of them, you can only be a Maid from the Cui Residence.” He glanced at her outfit, noticing the quality of the fabric and the exquisite embroidery—it was far beyond what an ordinary Maid could wear. Her entire presence was unlike a servant’s.
Suspicion sharpened in his voice. “But which Maid dresses like that?”
“Speak. Who exactly are you? If you don’t tell the truth, don’t blame me for being unkind!”
【Resisting won’t work, showing weakness is worse.】
【Reveal my identity as Princess? Whether this idiot believes it or not, even if he does, if it spreads and people know I snuck out of the palace and got into this mess, it’ll be even more troublesome.】
She inhaled deeply. 【There’s only one way.】
Through the silver fox mask, she met Wang Heng’s suspicious gaze directly. “I am Cui Weijin’s personal Maid.”
The words seemed to hush the surroundings. Even the vendors’ calls and children’s laughter nearby seemed to fade slightly.
Wang Heng’s expression froze. He paused, then burst into laughter.
“A personal Maid? You mean a concubine Maid? Cui Weijin’s? Hahaha!”
He laughed until tears came. “Young Lady, your lie is ridiculous!”
“Who in Ye City doesn’t know Cui Weijin is famously uninterested in women, living like a monk?”
“There’s no way even a female mosquito could get near him, let alone a Maid. He’s as pure and ascetic as a monk.”
“Why not say you’re Her Highness Wang’s jade maiden?”
Wang Heng wiped his tearful eyes, and his gaze turned dark and greedy. “Alright, Young Lady, you’re stubborn, huh?”
“If you’re truly Cui Weijin’s personal Maid, I, Wang Heng, will kneel today and kowtow three times, calling you Madam!”
He reached to grab Princess Ming Zhao’s arm. “We’ll go to the Cui Residence right now and confront him!”
“If you’re not…” he tightened his grip, determined, “then obediently come with me. Tonight, I’ll make your status as a concubine official!”
Princess Ming Zhao’s arm was firmly held. She hadn’t expected him to be so difficult, not only disbelieving but trying to drag her to confront Cui Weijin.
She had thought invoking the Cui family would make him hesitate, but instead, it backfired, putting her in a more dangerous situation.
【What now? Why hasn’t he come yet? Isn’t this the time?】
Wang Heng held her tightly. The surrounding crowd either avoided or watched, no one daring to intervene in Wang Family affairs.
Cuiguo was blocked by guards, anxiously crying.
Just as Wang Heng was about to forcibly drag Princess Ming Zhao away, the sound of a carriage approached.
【A double-shaft green canopy carriage, the type commonly used by the Cui Residence.】
She had seen many carriages in Lingyang and paid attention to each family’s displays after returning to Ye City.
【Finally arrived, worth sneaking out of the palace!】
She had long inquired about Cui Weijin’s departure time and route. Today she waited for him here—who knew Wang Heng, that scoundrel, would appear?
Even Wang Heng’s attention was caught by the sudden carriage noise. He loosened his grip slightly.
Princess Ming Zhao no longer hesitated. She dropped her arm downward and slammed her right heel hard onto Wang Heng’s foot clad in brocade boots.
Wang Heng yelped in pain, releasing her hand.
Princess Ming Zhao bolted toward the carriage, her apricot-red dress fluttering in the lantern light.
The silver fox mask had already tilted and fallen to the ground from her running. A few strands of black hair escaped from her hairpin, sticking to her sweat-dampened cheeks.
“Brother Weijin, save me!”
Inside the carriage, Cui Weijin leaned against the carriage wall, eyes closed, resting.
The disturbances at the yamen earlier, the inquiries regarding Princess’s studies, and the red mark left on the cup rim had been forcibly suppressed, returning him to his usual aloof calm.
The unmistakably bold voice of the Princess struck again, breaking his meditation instantly.
Before he could ask anything, the carriage guard Cong Yi reported swiftly through the thick curtain: “Master, there seems to be a disturbance at the street corner ahead. The one shouting appears to be… Princess of Lin’an.”
Cui Weijin’s eyes widened.
Princess of Lin’an? She was outside the palace?
He extended two long fingers and lifted the carriage curtain. A red figure, wrapped in cold wind and a faint, sweet fragrance, collided into him!
Soft warmth pressed into him unguarded, the tip of her nose carrying the scent of youth. He stumbled backward, pressing against the hard carriage wall, instinctively raising his arms to support her.
The curtain was lowered again, the carriage returned to calm—but now with one more person inside.
He looked down. Her hair was slightly disheveled, a few strands clinging to her pale neck. Her collar was loose, exposing a small section of delicate collarbone.
His thoughts stopped completely. His mind was empty, only his heart beating furiously.
Why was she here? Why dressed like this? Did she just call him “Brother Weijin”? And this close proximity…
But his usually ironclad self-control snapped back immediately. One hand steadied her shoulder, pushing her away, while the other seized both her delicate wrists, twisting them behind her back.
The move was fluid, seamless, instantly turning her from a person seeking refuge into one restrained.
“Ow!” Princess Ming Zhao gasped in pain, her voice slightly trembling from running.
Her soft cry sounded incredibly suggestive to Wang Heng and Cuiguo, who had just caught up.
Wang Heng glanced at the guard in front of the carriage, his hand on a sheathed dagger, as cold as his Master. He hesitated, uncertain.
Could this madwoman be telling the truth?
Impossible. Cui Weijin, that icy block, having a personal Maid? The sun would rise in the west first!
Cong Yi maintained his poker face, hand firmly on the dagger hilt, but his mind was racing.
When did this Princess and Master have this… arrangement? How could I be completely unaware?
Master usually despises others getting close, especially women—yet she’s in his arms, on the street…
“Princess, you—” His voice was his usual crisp, cold authority, but she interrupted him.
Sweat dotted her forehead and nose from running. Her peach-blossom eyes glistened with moisture. She looked up at Cui Weijin, her gaze soft and intimate.
“Brother Weijin.”
She pouted slightly. “You hurt me…”