Chu Yixin: “……” Cough…
Chu Yixin: “……”
Ahem, Master, Guard Xie is at that age where youthful passions stir. There’s no need to…”
“Go now.” The words were cut off by a cold, stern voice.
Chu Yixin fell silent, bowing his head. “Yes, this servant will go immediately.”
…
Xie Ling arrived quickly, kneeling on one knee in the center of the room with a stern and serious expression. “What instructions does Your Highness have for this subordinate?”
The gaze resting on his scalp was so sharp it made him somewhat flustered.
Had he done something wrong?
Qi Fan sat behind the square table, tapping the surface. “Did she ask you to escort her back to her room just now?”
“Ah?”
Xie Ling was momentarily stunned, but after a few breaths finally understood—could His Highness be referring to that celestial maiden-like young woman?
He was still regretting not having asked for her name earlier.
“Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate took the initiative to escort her back. I saw that she was injured and felt somewhat responsible, so I offered to accompany her to her room.”
Upon hearing this, the man’s lips pressed into a tight line.
Chu Yixin, standing beside him, struggled to suppress the corners of his rising lips and asked with feigned seriousness, “Did Miss Jiang say anything to you?”
Miss Jiang?
So her surname was Jiang?
Two sharp taps on the table—thump thump—snapped Xie Ling out of his thoughts.
“Don’t remember? Or unwilling to say?”
The man’s voice was icy, sending chills down Xie Ling’s spine.
Xie Ling shook his head slightly. “Reporting to Your Highness, this subordinate encountered Miss Jiang in the kitchen…”
Xie Ling recounted every word he had exchanged with Jiang Zhuoying verbatim.
Including his offer to deliver meals to her, which she declined, and her inquiry about the shoe prints.
After finishing, he remained kneeling on one knee in the same position, awaiting his lord’s instructions.
“Dismissed.”
Yet Xie Ling hesitated. Why was His Highness asking about these things?
Instead of rising immediately, he cupped his hands and said, “Your Highness, although this subordinate has not known Miss Jiang for long, I find her to be kind-hearted, gentle, and timid. She truly doesn’t seem like a cunning spy who schemes with ulterior motives.”
Hearing this, Qi Fan suddenly met his eyes, his gaze piercing.
Xie Ling paused briefly before continuing, “This is merely this subordinate’s opinion. Your Highness may investigate and verify as you see fit.”
“Leave.” This time, the tone carried more displeasure than before.
“Yes!”
…
After Xie Ling withdrew, Chu Yixin glanced sideways at Qi Fan. He opened his mouth to speak but ultimately remained silent.
“What, are you going to speak up for that girl too?”
Chu Yixin sighed softly. “Master, this servant naturally understands your temperament. I won’t say anything more, only hope that you won’t forever confine yourself within that invisible cage.”
“If Her Majesty saw you like this, how could she rest assured?”
After offering this gentle advice, he too turned and left…
Jiang Zhuoying understood—her timing was far too coincidental. She claimed expertise in raising carp, yet as soon as she arrived, Zhuozhuo met with an accident.
And it just happened to be her who noticed the clues, and Zhuozhuo just happened to be fond of her…
All these events combined were far too coincidental to be normal.
The great ice block was inherently suspicious by nature, so it was no wonder he doubted her.
In that case… she needed to find a way to dispel his suspicions.
As for the shoe print?
The person who wanted to harm Zhuozhuo was certainly no ordinary individual. If it were a servant from a wealthy household, their attire would have been uniformly procured.
I wonder if we could uncover something by investigating from this angle?
After finishing her meal, Jiang Zhuoying openly went to the back gate, intending to examine the legendary shoe print.
Unexpectedly, she encountered Xie Ling and Pei Yun there once again.
Upon seeing her, Xie Ling’s face showed clear delight: “Miss Jiang, where are you headed?”
Jiang Zhuoying gave a slight curtsy and took half a step back: “After much thought, I remain deeply troubled by what happened to Zhuozhuo, so I wished to take a look at the shoe print you mentioned.”
“Might the two of you be so kind as to show it to me?”
“Well…” Xie Ling scratched his head, his gaze drifting toward someone behind her.
“You wish to go?”
The voice of the man behind her was unmistakable—cold and clear, as if it could pierce straight through one’s heart.
Jiang Zhuoying stiffened, immediately turning around to curtsy: “Your Highness.”
The man gave a slight nod and strode forward, his grayish-blue robe carrying the faint scent of sandalwood as it brushed past her nose.
He hadn’t permitted her to rise…
Jiang Zhuoying pressed her lips together, her voice soft and gentle as she explained quietly: “Your Highness, this servant shares a certain bond with Zhuozhuo and remains deeply unsettled about the incident by the pond. Thus, I wished to examine the shoe print.”
After speaking, she waited patiently, but no one around responded.
She could feel his scrutinizing gaze.
The muscles in her slightly bent legs grew stiff and sore. Jiang Zhuoying gritted her teeth inwardly—she couldn’t hold the position much longer.
Making a swift decision, she feigned dizziness the next moment, stumbling as if about to collapse to the side…
She staggered to regain her balance and quickly crouched down: “Your Highness, please forgive this servant’s impropriety.”
This time, she simply remained crouched, which felt far more comfortable than holding that awkward half-crouch moments earlier.
“Rise.” The man’s voice was faint as mist, as if he hadn’t even noticed her earlier discomfort.
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
Suppressing her irritation, she replied in a delicate, gentle tone: “Thank you, Your Highness.”
Jiang Zhuoying was seething inside as she slowly rose, supporting herself on her knees.
For a moment, she even considered abandoning this endeavor entirely.
This Second Prince was truly difficult to deal with.
Yet, he possessed what she needed. To uncover the truth she sought, she was determined to overcome such minor setbacks.
Jiang Zhuoying narrowed her eyes. She refused to believe that even if she exerted all her efforts, she still couldn’t earn his trust.
She was resolved to play this maid’s role to the end!
“Follow me.”
That familiar, chilly voice spoke again. Jiang Zhuoying hurriedly nodded: “Yes.”
She trailed behind the group as they exited the courtyard gate and headed straight north.
After walking for only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xie Ling and Pei Yun, who were leading the way, halted beneath an osmanthus tree.
“Your Highness, the footprints closer to the courtyard have been deliberately erased. Only here was one overlooked.”
With that, the two stepped aside, allowing their master to approach for a closer look.
Jiang Zhuoying also moved closer. Without disturbing the others, she found a small gap to crouch in, her petite frame allowing her to slip into the space.
The shoe print was pressed into the mud, its pattern intricate.
Jiang Zhuoying recalled the unfamiliar servant who had fed her crab meat that day—he had been wearing the standard attire of the Second Prince’s household servants.
But what about the sole of this shoe?
“Notice anything?”
A cold voice suddenly sounded beside her ear.
Jiang Zhuoying paid no heed, not believing the words were directed at her.
“Miss Jiang, His Highness is calling you?”
“Ah?” Jiang Zhuoying looked up in confusion, her eyes meeting the Second Prince’s dark, profound gaze.
“This servant… Your Highness was asking this servant?”
Among the present company were not only guards like Xie Ling but also his personal eunuch. How could the opinion of a mere maid like her be sought?
Yet the man stared only at her, his expression unreadable: “Since you volunteered, you must have some insights to offer.”
Jiang Zhuoying drew a soft breath. This man held more disapproval toward her than she had anticipated.
The young girl shook her head gently, lowering her eyes as if afraid to meet his gaze: “This servant is dull-witted and can discern nothing. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness.”
Her tone was pitiful, tinged with dejection. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, her face a mix of panic and unease, as if fearful of punishment from the man before her.
“Your Highness, in my subordinate’s view, this person must have made thorough preparations…” Xie Ling reported with cupped hands, his voice resonant.
“When did I ask you?”
The man abruptly cut off Xie Ling, his expression darkening.
“Your Highness, Miss Jiang is merely a delicate woman. Why must you…”
Xie Ling furrowed his brow, hesitating. He had meant to say ‘why must you make things difficult for her.’
But after all, His Highness was His Highness, and he could not overstep his bounds.
Jiang Zhuoying felt a surge of gratitude. She hadn’t expected Xie Ling to speak up for her.
She stole a glance and noticed the Second Prince’s expression had soured.
Indeed… his own guard speaking up for an outsider maid.
If she were the Second Prince, she would certainly feel displeased.
It seemed Xie Ling truly felt remorseful toward her and wished to express his apology this way.
But she didn’t want to tarnish Xie Ling’s standing with Qi Fan over such a matter.
Eventually, she would obtain the information and leave, but Xie Ling was Qi Fan’s guard and still had to make a living under him.
Thinking this, Jiang Zhuoying suddenly spoke up, breaking the awkward silence.
“Replying to Your Highness, this servant carefully examined the footprints in the mud. I believe that since this person dared to infiltrate the courtyard undetected, they must have employed thorough disguise.”
“For example, they might have changed into the attire of a servant from Your Highness’s residence, and likely switched to shoes worn by Your Highness’s servants as well.”
“I presume the clothing for the servants in Your Highness’s residence is specially tailored and purchased, with fixed quantities. Could we perhaps investigate in detail from this angle?”
Jiang Zhuoying spilled all her conjectures in one breath, though she wasn’t entirely confident in their validity.
But she only wanted to shift the topic and extricate herself from Xie Ling’s defense.
After she finished speaking, not only did Chu Yixin glance at her in surprise, but even Qi Fan’s expression shifted slightly, and Xie Ling looked utterly astonished.
In fact, Jiang Zhuoying had guessed correctly.
That morning, Pei Yun had already followed the footprints and searched the surroundings, but even after half a day, he had found nothing.
What puzzled both of them even more was that the pattern on the footprints matched one uniformly customized and procured for the Second Prince’s residence.
All those accompanying His Highness to the Osmanthus forest were his trusted aides, with no traitors among them.
Qi Fan cast a calm glance at Xie Ling: “Did you hear that?”
“Your subordinate will investigate immediately!”
Pei Yun and Xie Ling took their leave, departing first. The latter glanced back halfway down the path.
The young maid beneath the osmanthus tree remained kneeling on the ground, her figure petite and frail.
When the bleak autumn wind swept through, she seemed to tremble visibly, making it difficult for anyone not to feel a protective urge toward her.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you—she’s not someone you can covet.”
A cool voice sounded by his ear. Xie Ling turned his head: “What do you mean?”
Pei Yun’s expression was wooden: “She has no interest in you.”
Xie Ling’s face immediately darkened. He furrowed his brows and clenched his fists: “Miss Jiang is shy and timid… She even helped me out of a predicament earlier. Besides, how would you know?”
Pei Yun shot him a look as if he were a fool: “I thought… anyone with eyes could see it.”
“You—!”
“Don’t fixate on this.” Pei Yun offered one last reminder before turning and walking ahead.
Xie Ling clenched his fists even tighter, dismissing Pei Yun’s words entirely.
Wasn’t Pei Yun just like him—unmarried? How could he possibly understand a young woman’s heart?
He refused to believe it.
Jiang Zhuoying still knelt beneath the tree. Ever since she had voiced her speculation, the man before her had ignored her.
She hadn’t been permitted to rise, but fortunately, the soil beneath her was soft, making kneeling somewhat less strenuous.
Qi Fan glanced down at the little maid kneeling before him. She had only stayed in his courtyard for a day and met Xie Ling twice, yet she had already stirred his trusted guard to such an extent.
With such an excessively captivating face, who knew what trouble she might cause if she stayed longer?
The man’s dark eyes were utterly indifferent: “Are you feeling better?”
Jiang Zhuoying stiffened. Since when did such words come from this man’s mouth?
She lowered her head and replied softly, “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This servant—”
Wait! For the Second Prince to suddenly ask such an unreasonable question, there must be an ulterior motive!
Jiang Zhuoying abruptly recalled his earlier words—that she should recover fully before returning…
‘Are you feeling better?’
Her eyes flickered. They had just finished lunch, and he already wanted to send her back to the estate?
“Since you took the initiative to leave the courtyard and had the mind to analyze these shoe prints here, it seems you’re already well enough.”
She hadn’t even responded, yet the man had already finished her thoughts for her.
Jiang Zhuoying seethed inwardly but suppressed her anger, replying meekly, “Yes, Your Highness sees everything clearly. This servant does feel much better now.”
“Stand up first.” His tone was cold, as emotionless as ever.
Stand up? She couldn’t possibly rise so easily!
For now, feigning dizziness remained her only option.
Jiang Zhuoying nodded, then rubbed her arms a few times to emphasize that she felt cold.
Hunching her shoulders, she slowly rose to her feet. Before she could straighten up, she suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice already feigning extreme weakness.
“Y-Your Highness… Forgive this servant…”
No sooner had she spoken than her knees gave way, and she collapsed straight downward…
The soft soil beneath the tree wouldn’t cause much harm from a fall, but it meant she’d have to change her clothes again.
Yet before she hit the ground, a scorching palm caught her by the waist. The grip was so forceful she nearly bit her tongue stifling a cry of pain.
Had the sun risen from the west?
She had never imagined this man would catch her—let alone sweep her up into his arms…
“My lord?”
“Hmm, take a look at the shoe prints on the ground—are they still intact?”
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
“Nope! These shoe prints are perfectly fine.”
“Then let’s head back.”
“Right away! By the way, Miss Jiang—should this servant fetch another physician?”
“No need.” As soon as the words fell, Jiang Zhuoying felt the vibration of the chest against her cheek.
The arm encircling her waist was firm and strong, holding her steadily.
Following the inertia, Jiang Zhuoying turned her face toward his chest and slightly opened her eyes to secretly glare at him.
She knew it—this Second Prince was heartless!
She had fainted right in front of him, and not only did he care only about the footprints, but he wouldn’t even call a physician for her!
“Have the kitchen brew the prescription the physician wrote for her last night and bring it over.”
“Ah, this servant will go right away.”
Footsteps faded into the distance—likely Eunuch Chu heading to the kitchen.
Carried horizontally, Jiang Zhuoying sensed the surrounding light dimming; she must have been carried into the room.
Then, her shoulders and back met something soft—she had been laid on the bed.
Immediately after, all sounds in the room ceased, not even footsteps could be heard.
Clearly, he hadn’t left but was standing right by her bedside.
Jiang Zhuoying didn’t dare make a move. She struggled to maintain even breathing, not even allowing her eyelashes to tremble slightly.
Qi Fan looked down at the girl on the bed, her eyes closed. He had thought her Peach Blossom Eyes were the most captivating—clear and bright, like a sparkling spring.
But now, even with her eyes shut, her delicate, pointed face and snow-white, nearly translucent skin, along with her slender shoulders and narrow waist, were enough to evoke pity.
The man’s expression remained indifferent as he studied the girl on the bed, then suddenly turned toward the window frame nearby…
Jiang Zhuoying heard hurried footsteps approaching the window and quietly cracked open her eyes.
Through the hazy bed curtains, she saw Qi Fan heading straight for the drawer…
Oh no!
Her heart pounded wildly. The cursive script she had dried in the sun was tucked away in that very drawer.
If the Second Prince were to see it…
“Cough, cough, cough…”
In the quiet of the afternoon room, a girl’s light cough suddenly broke the silence. The coughing grew increasingly severe, shaking the bed curtains as if they trembled along.
A chilly autumn breeze blew in through the window, causing the curtains to sway.
Inside, the silhouette of the girl appeared frail and slender, her waist so delicate it seemed a mere handful. As the coughing intensified, her slender waist trembled with each fit.
Jiang Zhuoying coughed with all her might, occasionally stealing a glance.
The figure outside the curtains showed no sign of moving, remaining steadfast and unmoved.
She bit her lip and suddenly hatched a plan.
The coughing gradually subsided, replaced by the girl’s weak, hoarse voice: “Your Highness, does Your Highness despise this maid?”
“I don’t know what I’ve done wrong to have inadvertently displeased Your Highness.”
After she spoke, a cold voice finally came from the shadows beyond the curtains: “You don’t know what you’ve done wrong?”
Author’s Note:
Hehe, it’s early today since it’s Sunday, and here’s another plump chapter~
Ying Bao: This is outrageous! I’m so delicate and pitiful—why won’t he take the bait?
Qi Dog: …