“Why would she do this?” Han Qingning’s head buzzed. Before coming, she had considered many possibilities, and they had even suspected her of feigning illness, but never in her wildest dreams had she thought Han Jintang would be meeting secretly with the Second Prince.
“Good question; I’d like to know as well,” Han Shengyu chuckled.
At her laugh, Han Huiyu felt her hair stand on end, silently lighting a candle in sympathy for Han Jintang.
“Shengyu…” Han Huiyu looked at her. “What do we do now? Are we still staying in Jincheng?”
She wanted to return to Yongding.
“Since we’re already here, we naturally can’t head back empty-handed.”
Would she not lose face?
At the side, Han Qingning softly chimed in, “Lesser Consort Yang is still waiting to see us, so we wouldn’t dare leave anyway.”
Without a hint of embarrassment from being exposed, Han Shengyu nodded with absolute gravity. “Makes sense. Whether it’s a person or a ghost, bring it out for a walk and we’ll know.”
“So we just wait like this?” Han Huiyu felt like a fish on a chopping board, simply waiting for the knife to fall.
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning exchanged glances, neither knowing what to do next or what they even could do.
Even if they knew Han Jintang might be joining forces with the Second Prince to trap them in Jincheng, they were merely weak young women. Aside from futile rage, they truly could think of no other way to turn the tide.
“Of course not.” Seeing the two looking pale as ghosts from fear, Han Shengyu decided to liven up the atmosphere and boost morale, saying, “I have something to verify; we’ll talk once Han Jing returns.”
Speak of the devil—just as Han Jing was mentioned, he returned.
“How went it?” Han Shengyu looked at him and asked.
“I walked down more than a dozen streets and asked many people; almost no one knows about Lesser Consort Yang asking you young ladies to come to Jincheng.” Han Jing’s expression was exceptionally grave.
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning traded glances. Han Qingning felt her hands trembling. “Eldest Sister, did I mishear?”
“No.” Han Huiyu realized her own voice was shaking as well. “This won’t do. We must write a letter back to let the family know about this.”
“No rush,” Han Shengyu said.
“Once the family receives the letter, they still need time to discuss it. By the time they reach a decision, several days will have passed back and forth, and who knows what might happen to us here in Jincheng.” Han Huiyu tried her best to suppress her panic, attempting to persuade Han Shengyu.
Without elders around, her heart was filled with anxiety.
“Jixiang, go next door right now and say that the three of us sisters wish to visit Eldest Cousin, and ask if it’s convenient.”
“Yes, Miss.” Jixiang immediately headed next door.
“Shengyu, what are you trying to do?”
“Verify one more thing.”
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning looked at each other in utter confusion, truly unable to fathom why Shengyu had so many things to verify.
Given the gap in their wits, they decided to watch and wait quietly—listening to the clever one certainly couldn’t go wrong.
Jixiang went quickly and returned just as fast.
“Miss, the steward matron beside First Madam said that Miss Tang is still feeling unwell today, and will invite you ladies over to talk once her health improves.”
Han Shengyu turned her head toward Han Jing. “Go immediately to the estate where the Second Prince and Han Jintang met secretly. Han Jintang is most likely there.”
Han Jing nodded. “If she is indeed there, what else should I do?”
“Han Jintang is the Second Prince’s fiancée, so their interactions should be open and aboveboard. Why do they need to be secretive? Talk to the residents or tenant farmers of the surrounding estates and see if you can gather any news.”
“Regardless of whether you can gather any news, return before nightfall.”
“Very well.”
Han Jing turned and departed.
Han Shengyu looked at Ruyi. “Go call Fu Zhouhang over.”
Fu Zhouhang was leading the men in the outer courtyard to tidy up the rooms, settling the people they had brought along and arranging patrol and night-watch duties. Upon hearing that Third Miss was looking for him, he came immediately.
“Third Miss, what are your orders?”
“Take your men and go inquire about matters concerning the Second Prince—whether it’s official business, casual affairs, or gossip, the clearer you find out, the better.”
Fu Zhouhang acknowledged the order and departed.
Han Shengyu looked at Han Huiyu and Han Qingning. “Shall we go out shopping?”
Han Huiyu: …
Han Qingning: …
How could she think of nothing but playing!
And yet, it was so tempting.
The three sisters changed their clothes and stepped out the door with their maidservants and guards.
This time they didn’t go to Temple Front Street, nor did they go to Baocheng Street. Han Shengyu brought them to the most famous teahouse in the capital to drink tea.
Taverns and teahouses were the gathering places for gossip. They ordered a pot of tea, requested a few plates of pastries, and a plate of melon seeds. In the main hall, the storyteller’s cadence rose and fell, drawing applause and cheers from the patrons from time to time.
Han Huiyu and Han Qingning felt thoroughly uncomfortable. They were respectable young ladies of proper upbringing; even if they were to listen to storytellers, they would invite a female storyteller to their residence.
The two sisters shifted their gazes toward Han Shengyu, only to see her cracking melon seeds at top speed, her face beaming with delight, her eyes sparkling, tapping her toes up and down. Where did she look like a refined young lady? She looked more like…
Han Huiyu reached out and nudged Han Shengyu’s knee.
Han Shengyu clicked her tongue, but ultimately put her leg down. Her mouth, however, remained unyielding as she said, “Eldest Sister, when we come out to play, we ought to enjoy ourselves to the fullest. Managing too much makes one age fast.”
Han Huiyu’s expression shifted repeatedly, but she held it in.
Han Qingning didn’t dare try to mediate anymore and turned her head to listen to the story. After listening for a long while, she knitted her brows and complained to Han Shengyu, “What kind of rubbish is this story telling? Since her parents disagreed, how could a daughter force them with her own life? With parents’ orders and a matchmaker’s words, how could she be so rebellious as to elope with someone!”
“Eldest Sister, a forced melon isn’t sweet, but it quenches thirst.”
“This scholar is far too wicked. Knowing full well he was deliberately seducing a young lady from a respectable family, he still chose to harm her—simply shameless.”
“Eldest Sister, when a wild boar roots up a cabbage, so what if he’s a wild boar? If he roots up the cabbage, it just means he’s capable.”
“Whose side are you on anyway?” Han Huiyu grew angry.
“Don’t seek to climb, don’t seek to compare, don’t use livestock to make yourself glare. Eldest Sister, quell your rage.”
Seeing that Han Huiyu was too angry to pay her any mind, Han Shengyu added with a grin, “This scholar pursues the wealth and power he desires, while this young lady desires a romantic, picturesque love. Do you really think this young lady knows nothing at all? She’s merely relying on her parents to cover for her. Ten miles of spring breeze cannot compare to pleasing oneself.”
“Young lady truly possesses fine eloquence!”
As the three sisters heard a clear, refined male voice come from behind the folding screen, Han Huiyu’s and Han Qingning’s faces turned from green to purple, and from purple to red, feeling utterly embarrassed.
Han Shengyu, however, replied with grand nonchalance, “Sir, you flatter me.”
“Judging by your accent, young lady doesn’t sound like a native of Jincheng?”
“All men from the five lakes and four seas are brothers; all people under heaven belong to one family. A hero isn’t asked where he comes from, and a brave man need not insist on a name. I offer you a cup of tea, sir—I’ll drink mine, and you may do as you please.”
From next door came several sounds of tea being spluttered out, followed by a chorus of suppressed, light coughs.
Han Shengyu raised her brows at her two elder sisters, while both girls covered their faces with their handkerchiefs.
Tsk!
A melon seed shell flew from Han Shengyu’s lips, and no further strikes at conversation came from next door.
After quite a long while, Han Shengyu’s ears suddenly twitched.
“Fanhang, this girl is so interesting—are you really not going over to get acquainted?”
Fanhang?
That name sounded so familiar.
As Han Shengyu searched her memory for where she had heard the name, a surge of intense pain suddenly welled up from the depths of her mind. Swirling dark shadows flickered before her eyes; she gripped the wooden tabletop tightly, refusing to let the slightest sign of abnormality show.
Bai Fanhang!