“If we accidentally harm Zhuozhuo, that would be an unforgivable sin!”
“Why don’t we carry the entire water jar away?”
“Then we’ll need to scoop some water out first.”
…
A group of servants gathered around her porcelain jar, whispering among themselves until they reached a consensus.
Jiang Zhuoying watched as someone began scooping water from her jar using a gourd ladle.
“Gurgle gurgle gurgle!”
She hid beneath the aquatic plants, blowing bubbles at these people.
She was the Second Prince’s carp!
What exactly were these people trying to do?
…
Jiang Zhuoying remained hidden under the aquatic plants, wishing she could squeeze her entire body into the crevices of the sinking stone.
Her heart was filled with unease and anxiety.
Now she was completely at their mercy.
But she soon realized these people didn’t intend to harm her—they just wanted to move the porcelain jar along with her inside it.
This must be the Second Prince’s order, but where were they taking her?
Jiang Zhuoying grew anxious. She didn’t want to leave this room.
Here, she could hear the latest news about her mother’s death. If she left, wouldn’t it be difficult to access such information in the future?
Frustrated, she circled the jar’s walls. No matter how anxious she felt, she couldn’t change the fact that she was being moved.
She looked up, watching the ceiling change from indoor to outdoor, from roof to sky…
She silently estimated the distance until, before long, the clouds above her stopped moving.
“Finally we’ve arrived! Quickly, put Zhuozhuo back!”
That sharp voice clearly belonged to the eunuch who accompanied that man.
Put back?
Jiang Zhuoying sensed trouble. She leaped upward in the porcelain jar and splashed back into the water.
After several attempts, she wondered if the eunuch could understand her message.
She didn’t want to “go back”!
She wanted to stay in this porcelain jar!!
“Oh, look how impatient Zhuozhuo is! Hurry, hurry!”
Jiang Zhuoying: “…”
The red carp fell back into the water with a “plop” and stopped jumping.
To this day, Jiang Zhuoying still couldn’t understand why she had to become a red carp.
Even if she were a cat or a parrot, that would be better!
As a red carp, she couldn’t make any sounds—only gurgle bubbles.
Moreover, her range of movement was extremely limited to places with water…
In utter despair, she drifted with the current and plunged with a “splash~” into deeper pond waters.
Chu Yixin smiled and clapped his hands. Immediately, someone presented a tray carrying what used to be her night-shining pearl and mandarin duck ornament.
Jiang Zhuoying watched as the eunuch dumped all the items from the tray into the pond.
“Zhuozhuo should be happy now.” Chu Yixin nodded with satisfaction.
He turned to the person beside him and ordered, “Go find more things that Zhuozhuo likes. Anything shiny that can float in water will do, but make sure they’re large enough that Zhuozhuo can’t swallow them…”
The eunuch’s soft voice lingered in Jiang Zhuoying’s ears as she looked up to observe her surroundings.
This appeared to be a pond in the backyard. Ahead of her was the main residence, and although blocked by rockeries and large stones behind, she could vaguely make out a row of rear side rooms.
The pond was remarkably spacious for her size, with bamboo and trees lining its banks that provided shade in summer. Clearly, the builders had put considerable thought into its design.
Jiang Zhuoying swam about casually before diving beneath the surface…
The bottom of the pond glittered brightly, and she finally understood why the eunuch had made that remark earlier.
Aside from ordinary pebbles and bricks, the pond bed was embedded with several Night-Shining Pearls and multicolored Glass Eastern Pearls.
Jiang Zhuoying was astonished—these treasures were no less magnificent than the jewels in her dressing case.
At least in terms of material possessions, the Second Prince was utterly generous toward this Scarlet Carp.
“The manager of Yuanbao Tower reported a few days ago that the shop has acquired a new batch of jade from beyond the frontier. Go fetch it and let Zhuozhuo choose first.”
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
What had she just heard?
“Yes, I’ll go at once.”
Yuanbao Tower was an extremely famous jewelry store in Luo Jing. She had once been a regular customer there herself—was the Second Prince actually the owner behind it?
Jiang Zhuoying suddenly sensed something amiss. In the several days she had been here, both the mansion’s decor and the Second Prince’s attire had been exceedingly modest and inconspicuous.
Could it be that the Second Prince, with his profound cunning, was intentionally hiding his abilities?
The rumors she had heard claimed the Second Prince was untalented, mediocre, and lacked imperial favor.
Could such an incompetent Second Prince truly manage Yuanbao Tower, which had taken Luo Jing by storm?
After Chu Yixin left with his attendants, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky.
Jiang Zhuoying looked around and noticed a Pond Pavilion had been specially built over the water’s surface. Given its size, could it possibly be meant for her to shelter from the rain?
Without further hesitation, Jiang Zhuoying flicked her tail and swam toward cover…
Just as she reached the pavilion, a tall, slender figure appeared at the end of the stone path in the distance.
It was the Second Prince—and he wasn’t even holding an umbrella?
The man carried a Food Box in one hand, walking toward her through the pattering, misty rain.
Qi Fan wore an ivory-white long gown with a matching sheer wide-sleeved overrobe, which appeared even more ethereal in the rain.
Jiang Zhuoying stared in a daze. This Second Prince was truly peculiar—braving the rain just to feed her?
Her guess proved correct. The man stopped by the pond, bent down, and sat, staring expressionlessly at her as he tapped the Food Box with his fingertips.
The wooden lid of the Food Box emitted a “thump-thump~” sound.
“Come here.” His voice was somewhat muffled by the rain but still audible.
The rain shelter where Jiang Zhuoying was happened to be near the shore.
Having skipped breakfast, she felt rather hungry. Since the man was being so sincere, she didn’t hesitate much and slowly swam over to him.
A faint smile finally appeared in the man’s eyes as he lifted the lid of the Food Box.
Jiang Zhuoying’s gaze shifted to his hands—broad palms with distinct knuckles.
At a glance, one might think such hands suited his face perfectly.
But then she noticed something that made her stare intently…
The thick calluses on the Second Prince’s palms contrasted sharply with the back of his hands, almost as if they belonged to two different people.
The man leisurely used the Food Box lid to shield the porcelain spoon, ensuring the food within would not get wet before Jiang Zhuoying could eat it.
A fiery red carp leaned against the pool wall, swallowing bite after bite of food fed directly into its mouth…
Jiang Zhuoying was full. She turned and dove into the water, then waved her tail toward Qi Fan—her way of expressing gratitude.
Though it was peculiar for him to deliver food in the rain, she had benefited from it and ought to thank him.
Seeing her move away from the shore, Qi Fan said nothing more, simply closing the food box and placing it on the bank.
The man stood up. The rain had lightened somewhat, but he was already drenched from head to toe. The soft, light-colored fabric clung to his form, accentuating his tall and robust stature.
Jiang Zhuoying quietly sank lower into the water, leaving only her eyes above the surface. Her face felt warm…
Immodest sights, do not look! Immodest sights, do not look!
How could she act like this!?
The man on the shore paid no attention to her actions. His water-beaded hands moved to his waist, and he began to untie the sash of his outer robe.
Jiang Zhuoying: “!!!”
What was he doing?
The scarlet carp in the pool plunged beneath the surface with a “swoosh~,” followed by a stream of bubbles.
Qi Fan slightly lifted his gaze, glanced at the spot where the little plump carp had vanished, then turned sideways to continue what he had been doing.
Jiang Zhuoying huddled at the bottom of the pool, staring toward the shore.
Heavens, this Second Prince was truly insane!
What had provoked him? Could it be that he had been demoted again?
Jiang Zhuoying watched his back as he removed his outer robe and stepped into another pool adjacent to her fish pond.
She had never noticed before that there was another pool beside the one she inhabited?
The fiery red carp slowly emerged above the water. Jiang Zhuoying observed carefully and noticed faint wisps of steam rising around the man.
Could this be a hot spring?
Bathing in a hot spring while standing in the rain—the Second Prince was truly— baffling and incomprehensible.
The man had been facing away from Jiang Zhuoying but suddenly turned his head without warning, catching the little plump carp peeking out from the water.
Jiang Zhuoying: “!”
Startled and flustered, she swiftly submerged. What was wrong with this Second Prince?
Did he have eyes in the back of his head?
But she had seen it—a long, distinct scar stretched across the man’s well-defined abdomen.
The scar, about the width of a finger, nearly spanned his entire belly. At a quick glance, it was quite startling.
She had never heard that the Second Prince had led troops into battle?
In all of Rong Country, who would dare to assassinate a prince?
Jiang Zhuoying hid under the shelter of the pavilion until the rain ceased.
She didn’t wait for the man to leave; instead, she once again encountered Chu Yixin.
He held a tray in both hands, piled with fresh clothes for his master to change into.
Jiang Zhuoying cast a bored glance and noted they were bluish-gray, still without any embroidery.
“Your Highness, the midday meal is ready. Where would you prefer to dine?”
After a few moments, Jiang Zhuoying heard a deep voice from behind: “Serve it in the pavilion.”
“Yes.”
…
Before long, two attendants arrived in the rear courtyard carrying food boxes.
They were all trivial, mundane matters, and Jiang Zhuoying had little interest.
Since the rain had stopped and she was in a new environment, she turned and began paddling her pectoral fins to explore the fish pond.
…
“Your Highness, please forgive us! We meant no harm! We truly don’t know how spicy flavors ended up in the meal!”
What was going on?
Jiang Zhuoying squeezed out from the crevice of the artificial hill. Wasn’t it just a bit spicy?
She loved spicy food the most!
Why were these servants so panicked?
Or was the Second Prince mistreating his servants?
But the demeanor of those attendants she had seen earlier didn’t seem like they were being mistreated.
“All of you, step back. Have Yu Ji investigate and report back.”
These words were spoken by Qi Fan. Apart from the faint beads of sweat quietly forming at his temples, his expression showed no obvious abnormality.