Borrowing books was merely a fleeting thought, for she knew that with her status, it would be harder than climbing to the heavens.
The Yijin Study in the prince's residence was said to have been built by imperial decree of the late emperor, with a plaque bestowed by the imperial brush itself. The collection of books inside was said to be quite extensive, and there were dedicated female officials who managed the volumes and tended to the texts.
Gu Youning recalled passing by this place last night during her patrol, though she hadn't paid it much mind at the time.
Now that this idea had taken root in her mind, she naturally planned to keep an eye out during her evening patrol. If she could somehow make the acquaintance of the female official of the Yijin Study, perhaps there might be some hope.
Who knew that when she arrived at the inner watch room, she would hear some big news: because of what had happened the night before, His Highness was displeased and had ordered the head steward to reform the inner watch room. The head steward had therefore specially assigned several sturdy servant girls to assist with the night patrol. These servant girls were all strong and robust, armed with wooden staffs, clacking their watchmen's clappers. Anyone who dared to resist them during their patrol could be dealt with on the spot without needing to report upward.
In addition, regular refreshments were now provided in the inner watch room. Anyone keeping watch through the night could receive a share.
When this news came out, the entire inner watch room erupted. Everyone beamed with joy, and upon seeing Gu Youning, they all gathered around and said: "After all that ruckus last night, our inner watch room has finally caught His Highness's eye. Look, good things keep coming one after another. We've been patrolling the nights for half our lives and have never come across such good fortune!"
Old Woman Hu was naturally pleased as well, but she still urged everyone to faithfully perform their duties and not slack off. Everyone readily agreed. It was only after the crowd had finally dispersed that only Lin Bingzhong's Wife and Gu Youning remained in the room. Lin Bingzhong's Wife happily hugged the food, eating until her mouth was full of flavor.
She then leaned over to Gu Youning and said: "However I look at you, I keep thinking you're a lucky star. If it weren't for you last night, how could we have made such a fuss? We would have just suffered in silence, and having suffered that silent wrong, we'd be bullied at every turn from now on!"
She had seen it clearly enough: in this prince's residence, once someone trampled on you, everyone would trample on you.
Hearing all this, Gu Youning actually felt somewhat unsettled inside. She thought back on her encounter with Prince Duan that morning and couldn't help feeling that tonight's benefits were probably related to her.
The thought was rather self-flattering, but… the rules had been changed so suddenly and without warning—it was hard not to overthink.
Over the next few days of night patrols, she was naturally even more anxious and fearful, dreading that something might happen again. She even found herself thinking about what she should do if he tried anything with her—bite off her tongue and kill herself?
No, that would be too painful. But how else could she protect her innocence?
Amid all these wild thoughts, several days passed, and to her surprise, everything was peaceful—nothing happened at all. She didn't even catch a glimpse of Prince Duan…
She couldn't help but mock herself, and after the self-mockery, she calmed down.
Ever since the incident in Concubine Chen's courtyard, the entire residence had become even more orderly than before. Everywhere in the inner quarters, things were tidied as they should be, lights were extinguished as they should be, and no one dared to breach the rules in the slightest. Their night patrols thus became much easier—simply making the rounds as usual, without having to waste a single extra word.
That night, it happened to be Gu Youning and Lin Bingzhong's Wife's turn to patrol the night rounds again. At the second watch, as the two of them passed the Yijin Studio, she remembered the bookstore owner's words and couldn't help but feel a pang of longing. She instinctively looked it over—a small tower of gray tiles and blue brick connected by corridors, its slender wooden latticework with diamond-shaped panes looking refined and antique. Before the tower stood two crabapple trees, their trunks ancient and gnarled; they were said to have been transplanted during the previous dynasty, already over a hundred years old.
It was a spring night, yet the trees were covered in blossoms, fresh and exquisitely elegant.
She knew that every plant and tree here was no ordinary thing, and with maids standing guard, this was not a place she could casually set foot in.
And yet, just outside this grand prince's residence, in the crowded servants' quarters, her fifteen-year-old younger brother was longing for a book.
Of course she knew he was craving something beyond his station. But she truly wanted to grant his wish.
Seeing her slow her steps, Lin Bingzhong's Wife reminded her, "Watch where you're going—there are steps ahead."
The Yijin Studio had side chambers on either side and east and west wings in front. They were currently passing behind the recessed porch at the back of its wings; they had to go through here to reach the other courtyards of the inner residence.
At these words, Gu Youning quickly withdrew her gaze and collected herself. "Mm, I know."
Carrying their lanterns, the two of them descended the bluestone steps, passed through the crescent moon gate, and were about to head into the inner residence.
But at that very moment, there was suddenly movement from behind the porch. A door opened, and someone walked out.
Lin Bingzhong's Wife looked over in mild surprise, and saw two young servants in blue leading the way with an ox-horn and glazed-glass lantern. Behind them, a man walked in the shadow of the lamplight. He was tall, and his dark robe seemed almost to melt into the night.
It was Prince Duan.
Gu Youning hadn't expected it either—after days without encountering him, they suddenly ran into him today. Lin Bingzhong's Wife was even more astonished to come face to face with the prince so abruptly!
In their surprise, the two hurried forward to pay their respects.
Prince Duan, who had just lifted his robe to step out, heard the greeting and raised his eyes coolly to look over.
In the halo of the glass lantern's light, Gu Youning clearly felt a gaze settle gently on her face. Though faint, it was impossible to ignore.
She was bowing her head desperately, hoping to be overlooked, yet she felt she could not escape his notice.
Her heart pounded wildly; she half-feared that Lin Bingzhong's Wife beside her could hear it.
Then Prince Duan spoke. "You two look somewhat familiar."
His voice was indifferent, clearly a casual remark.
Hearing this, Lin Bingzhong's Wife was overcome with nervous gratitude, flattered beyond measure—the prince remembered her!
She hastily dropped into a curtsy and bowed again, answering respectfully and carefully, "In reply, Your Highness—it was the two of us at Fangting Court some days ago. At the time…"
She paused briefly before continuing, "Thanks to Your Highness's decision, our work in the inner watch room has become much easier."
Prince Duan listened, then asked mildly, "How often are the rotations in the inner watch room?"
Lin Bingzhong's Wife replied, "Every five days, my lady. Each night shift lasts three days. We rested a few days before, and today happens to be our turn on duty."
Prince Duan gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over Gu Youning once more, almost imperceptibly. Then he instructed the servant beside him, "Night patrols are hard work. Give tonight's supper to these two."
The servant hurriedly bowed and answered, "Yes," then motioned with his eyes for the two women to wait a moment.
At this, Lin Bingzhong's Wife was overjoyed, scarcely able to believe it—but Gu Youning's heart sank slightly.
Fortunately, Prince Duan said nothing more. He stepped up onto the stairs and was about to leave.
Gu Youning stood respectfully behind, seeing Prince Duan off together with Lin Bingzhong's Wife.
A young attendant standing nearby hurried forward, holding a glazed lantern high to light his way, while another walked closely ahead to clear the path, and the rest followed behind one after another.
Even at night, within the inner residence, the grandeur of an imperial prince was enough to inspire awe.
Gu Youning was just thinking of this when her gaze inadvertently lifted—and at that very moment, Prince Duan suddenly turned his head to look back.
Caught off guard, their eyes met squarely in the cool night air.
Gu Youning froze. She felt her gaze caught by Prince Duan, and there was something in his eyes, something hard to name—seemingly puzzled, probing, as if he needed her to answer something.
Answer what…
Gu Youning was momentarily at a loss, and then, as if enlightenment had struck, she seemed to understand.
Just now, she had been staring straight at the Yijin Studio, her mind on the book her younger brother so eagerly hoped for, so she had failed to notice—Prince Duan must have been up in the studio tower at that time.
There had been no lights upstairs, but he had indeed been there.
Looking from darkness into light, one could see very clearly. She had been carrying a lantern, and she had been below—he could naturally see her at a glance.
So… he had seen her lapse in composure, had known she was looking toward the Yijin Studio?
Then what would he think?
Gu Youning's heart pounded. She suddenly realized that at a moment like this, he must believe she had been looking at him.
Such a misunderstanding…
Gu Youning flushed red to her ears, not knowing where to put her hands and feet, feeling both embarrassed and alarmed.
And yet, at this very moment, Prince Duan was gazing at her without blinking.
Moonlight poured down like flowing water, the lantern in her hand swaying gently in the night breeze. There were clearly many people around, yet in this moment, everything else seemed to cease to exist. His gaze rested quietly on her face—cool, and yet scalding.
Gu Youning's breath tightened. She stared blankly, completely at a loss for how to react.
By now, Lin Bingzhong's Wife and the attendants nearby had clearly noticed something amiss as well. No one understood what was happening, but since Prince Duan said nothing, since Prince Duan did not move, no one dared to move. Everyone held a somewhat stiff posture, standing carefully, not daring even to breathe.
No one knew how long it lasted—perhaps an instant, perhaps a long while—before Prince Duan finally withdrew his gaze.
It was only the slightest movement, yet it set everyone's hearts racing.
All strained their ears, and then heard his light, faint voice: "Go."
Just two words, and everyone's suspended hearts settled.
The hand with which Gu Youning clutched her lantern was nearly trembling. She fought with all her might to compose herself, looking at the man beneath the corridor.
The distance was not all that close, but perhaps the moonlight was too beautiful—she could see him very clearly, could even make out the contours of his profile.
The bridge of his nose was narrow and sharply defined, below it thin lips, the upper lightly resting upon the lower, softer even than the moonlight.
Gu Yueqiu's calligraphy was beautiful—upright in structure, graceful in form, with a lively elegance—even the illiterate found it beautiful.
Prince Duan's features were also beautiful—beautiful in profile, seemingly beautiful from the front as well. Even though Gu Youning had scarcely looked at any men before, she knew he was handsome.
So this was how handsome a man he was.
Gu Youning suddenly felt as though she had drunk a cup of wine—clear, refined, and lingering—her whole heart intoxicated along with it.
By this time, Prince Duan had already left. She stared blankly after him as he departed, the pale night air like a dream veiled in thin gauze. He wore a loose, flowing robe, its hem drifting gently in the night breeze.
Gu Youning bit her lip, forcing herself to look away.
There were plenty of beautiful things in this world—spring flowers, autumn moons, blossoming peaches and plums were all lovely sights. As for him, he simply happened to be handsome, that was all.
Besides, he hadn't been standing there for her to look at anyway.
This was a prince—the Prince of Duan's residence itself. Even the concubines there could barely catch a glimpse of him. Sun Yue threw daily tantrums, but really she just wanted to become one of his concubines—and even she couldn't get so much as a look at him, let alone a single glance from his eyes.
With Prince Duan gone, the group that had been standing stiffly finally breathed a little easier.
Lin Bingzhong's Wife cast a cautious glance at the few maidservants nearby—they were the ones who attended to the brushes and ink and organized the books in the Yijin Studio.
The maidservants had evidently only just recovered themselves as well. They exchanged a look, then stepped forward and said to Lin Bingzhong's Wife and Gu Youning, "Madams, His Highness has just rewarded you both with a late-night meal. Please come with us."