Qi Fan glanced at him and said coldly, “As soon as possible…”
Chu Yixin immediately changed his tone: “This servant understands.”
The room suddenly returned to silence, yet no one could know what storms were raging in the heart of the scarlet carp within the blue-and-white porcelain jar.
What did the eunuch mean by those words?
Died under suspicious circumstances?
Her mother had fallen into the water, hit her head, and passed away. The physicians were helpless, all saying it was too late.
That period had been too dark for her. She knew her mother had been unable to eat or sleep, weeping daily over matters concerning her father, but she had always believed her mother had fallen into the water due to excessive grief and distraction.
She had never once doubted the cause of her mother’s death.
Died under suspicious circumstances?
Jiang Zhuoying sank to the bottom, letting the rippling currents wash over her body. She dared not think, yet she had to think.
Three years had already passed. Her mourning period had ended. If her mother’s death was truly suspicious, then she must uncover the truth behind it!
And the person closest to the truth was the man before her.
The current Second Prince of Rong Kingdom.
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly surged upward toward the water’s surface, but the man who had been standing there had already vanished without a trace.
Jiang Zhuoying swam in circles along the jar’s walls. Originally, she had hoped to return to the estate early.
But with this matter arising, she wanted to stay here until she uncovered the truth before going back.
She lay awake all night. By the time the sun was high in the sky, the fiery red scarlet carp still lay at the bottom of the jar…
When Jiang Zhuoying regained consciousness, the eunuch’s sharp voice came from above again.
“Your Highness, Zhuozhuo’s spirits seem rather low. Not only is her appetite worse than before, but she’s still resting even though it’s broad daylight.”
Jiang Zhuoying quickly shook her head and floated up to the surface.
“Ah? Your Highness, look! Zhuozhuo is finally awake!”
Qi Fan had clearly spotted the lively red carp immediately, a flicker of relief passing through his light, slender eyes.
He nodded faintly. “Mm, go to the kitchen and fetch Zhuozhuo’s breakfast.”
“Right away, this servant goes now!” Chu Yixin swept his whisk, beaming as he departed.
Jiang Zhuoying paused at the water’s surface, staring directly at the man’s face. As a young maiden, this was the first time she had so boldly and openly scrutinized a man.
It was said that Consort Wan had been extremely beautiful in her time, and the Second Prince likely inherited this advantage.
Though he wore extremely modest raven-blue robes without any embroidery, his figure was tall and straight, making him appear refined and noble.
Her gaze slowly traveled upward – thin lips sharp as a blade, a high and straight nose bridge, deep-set eyes, and an expression full of depth between his brows. His dark eyes seemed both profound and distant, as if they could absorb everything.
Jiang Zhuoying saw the man’s thin lips part: “Not hiding anymore?”
The little plump carp in the water swished her tail and dove back into the water.
So what if he’s handsome? He’s ultimately unloved by the Emperor, and he planted spies in her Guogong Fu?
So scheming, calculating so much yet still failing to gain the Emperor’s favor – clearly foolish.
The slight curve that had just appeared at the corner of Qi Fan’s lips suddenly smoothed away.
The man stared at the scarlet carp in the water that showed only its tail to him, his face as calm as water, though no one could tell what he was contemplating.
Jiang Zhuoying only heard the sound of steady departing footsteps. Sheltered by the aquatic plants in the jar, she swam about freely.
This was the third day since she inexplicably became a red carp. Though she had grown accustomed to her surroundings in this fishbowl, her days were gradually becoming dull.
Ever since her father and younger brother disappeared, followed by her mother’s passing, each day had been a struggle for survival.
Half a year ago, her three-year mourning period had finally ended. With two attentive maids constantly trying to cheer her up and clinging to that faint thread of hope in her heart, she had managed to persevere until now.
If her mother’s death was truly suspicious as the Second Prince claimed, she would definitely seek justice for her.
When her father and brother eventually returned, she would need to give them a proper account of everything.
…
“Zhuozhuo, time to eat!”
Just as she heard the call, Jiang Zhuoying caught the familiar scent of food. She began paddling her pectoral fins to swim upward.
However, the person holding the porcelain spoon today wasn’t the kind-faced eunuch, but the stern-looking man standing nearby.
Jiang Zhuoying didn’t have a favorable impression of him – from the rumors she’d heard about him, to the jade pendant incident, to his connection with the spies from the Guogong Fu. Not to mention he always maintained that cold, indifferent expression even when facing her.
Naturally, she didn’t feel inclined to be friendly either.
The scarlet carp remained stubbornly in the water, refusing to surface, only positioning her head toward Chu Yixin’s direction.
“Huh? Why isn’t Zhuozhuo poking her head out? Then I’ll have to pour this food into the water—”
Before Chu Yixin could finish his sentence, he saw the little plump carp lift her head above the water, just like yesterday.
But the problem was… Zhuozhuo was facing him…
Had she mistaken her owner after that illness?
As Chu Yixin coughed several times, he heard the man calmly instruct: “Go fetch some things she likes.”
“Yes, this servant will go immediately.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhuoying sank back into the water. Things she likes?
What could a red carp possibly like?
Yet facts proved her perspective was too limited.
Chu Yixin quickly brought the items, and Qi Fan picked through them before finally selecting a wooden mandarin duck ornament.
The man held the object in his palm and extended it above Jiang Zhuoying’s head: “Specially commissioned to be made – it can sink and float in water.”
After saying this, he tossed the wooden mandarin duck ornament right in front of Jiang Zhuoying.
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
Ridiculous. She wasn’t a real red carp – why would she be interested in such childish toys?
But… since it was right in front of her, playing with it a little couldn’t hurt.
Thinking this, Jiang Zhuoying extended her pectoral fin to touch the duck. The mandarin duck ornament drifted slightly away from her push, but nothing else happened.
The man above her chuckled softly, and Jiang Zhuoying immediately retracted her fin.
What right did he have to laugh at her?!
The man remained silent, simply pushing the wooden mandarin duck ornament into the water.
Jiang Zhuoying watched wide-eyed as water flowed into the wooden duck, causing half of the originally floating ornament to sink beneath the surface while the other half remained above water.
She immediately understood the principle behind it, but ultimately couldn’t resist the red carp’s innate nature. She rushed over and pushed the ornament toward the bottom of the bowl with her head, then watched as it wobbled back to the surface…
After one such exchange, the man retrieved the mandarin duck ornament and picked up the porcelain spoon again, his intention clear in his eyes.
If she ate what he fed her, she could have the little toy.
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
How shallow!
The man’s expression remained unchanged as he directly showed her the contents of the tray that Chu Yixin was holding.
Far more than five or six fist-sized Night-Shining Pearls!
Jiang Zhuoying was genuinely astonished. A Night-Shining Pearl of this size alone was a rare treasure, extremely difficult to obtain—how could he have so many?
While she was still frozen in place, Chu Yixin ventured a new speculation: “Your Highness, Zhuozhuo has been acting so strangely lately… could it be…”
“Hmm?”
The man noticed the Scarlet Carp in the water seemed drawn to the Night-Shining Pearls and picked out the largest one, bringing it before Jiang Zhuoying.
Chu Yixin paused, choosing his words carefully: “Zhuozhuo has been alone all year round. Perhaps she’s feeling lonely?”
Jiang Zhuoying: “?”
Qi Fan’s expression instantly darkened, the aura around him turning icy.
Chu Yixin hurriedly bowed his head: “This servant spoke out of turn. Throughout the land, no carp is worthy of Zhuozhuo.”
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, finding the Second Prince more agreeable than ever before.
Eager to change the subject, Jiang Zhuoying moved closer to Qi Fan and bit the porcelain spoon.
“Oh dear, ancestor! Please don’t hurt your mouth!”
Their attention was immediately captured by the scene, and Jiang Zhuoying was satisfied.
After she finished her morning meal, three Night-Shining Pearls and the wooden Mandarin Duck Ornament were added to her Porcelain Jar.
The room fell silent again, everyone having left. Jiang Zhuoying poked at the Night-Shining Pearls repeatedly.
If she could get three fist-sized Night-Shining Pearls every time she ate, then in time…
This deal was a sure profit with no loss—after all, the honor of the Second Prince’s household would eventually rely on her.
The plump carp in the blue-and-white Porcelain Jar shook her head. What was she thinking?
Even if these Night-Shining Pearls were given to her, she couldn’t take them away!
Besides, strictly speaking, these things weren’t for her—they were for the real red carp.
…
A day passed, and Jiang Zhuoying had acquired nine Night-Shining Pearls. She piled them together at the bottom of the jar, forming a small hill.
The glow from the nine pearls lit up her eyes, but the brightness made it hard to sleep.
Jiang Zhuoying could only distance herself as much as possible, turning her back to the hill of pearls and settling at the bottom of the jar to sleep slowly.
The next day.
Jiang Zhuoying discovered the hill she had built was gone!
Not a single Night-Shining Pearl remained!
She looked up toward the water’s surface—her Mandarin Duck Ornament was missing too!
“Zhuozhuo, time to eat.”
The eunuch’s thin, sharp voice came from above the water again.
Puzzled, Jiang Zhuoying floated upward. As soon as she broke the surface, she saw the Night-Shining Pearls and the Mandarin Duck Ornament on the tray.
She abruptly turned to look at the man, who appeared completely unruffled.
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
How could he be so shameless?
Qi Fan repeated his old trick, picking out the Mandarin Duck Ornament from the tray and letting it bob unsteadily on the water’s surface.
Furious, Jiang Zhuoying turned and sank back to the bottom. This time, no amount of sweet talk or apologetic smiles from Chu Yixin could coax her up.
Did these two really think she was just a carp?
Her memory was excellent—she wouldn’t forget!
Chu Yixin was dumbfounded by the situation. He glanced sideways: “Your Highness?”
“Heh, saying it’s become a spirit wasn’t an exaggeration after all.”
The man tossed the porcelain spoon aside and left, with Chu Yixin hastily following.
Jiang Zhuoying fumed for a while before her anger subsided, replaced by a tinge of regret—she should have eaten her meal before throwing a tantrum.
She tugged at the Aquatic Plants at the bottom of the jar when suddenly the door was pushed open. A series of footsteps entered one after another. As Jiang Zhuoying floated upward, she pricked up her ears.
Soon she saw a group of servants gathering around her water vat.
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle!”
What were they trying to do?
Feeling somewhat panicked, Jiang Zhuoying sank to the bottom of the water.
“What should we do? Last time Zhuozhuo was unconscious, but catching her won’t be so easy this time.”
Jiang Zhuoying’s eyes widened in disbelief. What? They still wanted to capture her?