Pei Qingmin was asking Minghai in a low, casual tone about what had happened on the Crown Prince’s side after he left. He simply wanted to know what kind of reaction the Crown Prince would have upon discovering that his future Crown Princess had failed in her scheme and suffered the consequences instead.
But after thinking about it, he also found it rather uninteresting. What real impact could a man as selfish as that possibly feel? At most, it would just be a matter of losing face.
After turning a corner past a rockery, faint silhouettes of women came into view ahead. A closer look revealed that it was Fourth Miss Qu from the Qu family who had run into them.
However, they were not moving forward. It seemed they were being blocked.
Minghai slowed his steps instinctively, but Leng Yue’er quickened hers instead, even tugging at Pei Qingmin’s sleeve. Seeing that the Prince of Wei actually followed her pace, Minghai stamped his foot in anxiety and hurried after them.
“Who is your master? Why are you making our young lady wait? County Lady Xiangrong might still be waiting for her!” Yudong’s sharp voice carried clearly from ahead.
“Our master, our master… will be here shortly…” The eunuch on the other side broke into a cold sweat, too afraid to invent a name on the spot.
“If you refuse to say, then there is no need to keep waiting.”
Qu Moying gave a cold laugh and turned around, only to find two people standing about three meters behind them.
Leng Yue’er had been holding Pei Qingmin’s robe sleeve. Startled by Qu Moying’s sudden turn, she stopped as well. This caused Pei Qingmin to press lightly against her back, both hands resting on her shoulders before he finally steadied himself. A faint blush spread across his face, and when Qu Moying looked toward him, he quickly turned his head away.
“Fourth Miss Qu, please wait!” Before Qu Moying could formally greet the Prince of Wei, an excited voice from the eunuch rang out from behind, followed by a calm, familiar tone.
Leng Yue’er turned quickly, her lips brushing almost against his jaw as she passed.
“Don’t speak,” she said, then focused entirely on what lay ahead.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!” Qu Moying took a steady breath, and Leng Yue’er could sense the change in her emotions as she bowed gracefully.
“You are too courteous, Fourth Miss Qu,” Pei Luo’an said with a faint smile, offering a perfunctory gesture of acknowledgment.
“May I ask why Your Highness has summoned me?” Qu Moying asked politely.
Pei Luo’an’s gaze fell on the qin case in Yudong’s hands.
“May I ask who embroidered this qin cover?”
His tone remained gentle as he studied the butterflies on the cover, exquisitely detailed and elegant.
“It was made by an embroiderer in our household,” Qu Moying answered without hesitation.
Pei Luo’an paused for a moment. He had previously seen similar embroidery on another Qu family item. Was it truly all made by the same craftswoman?
He then looked at the qin.
“Does Fourth Miss Qu enjoy playing the zither?”
“A little,” she replied, already growing impatient.
The Crown Prince had clearly not noticed the presence of the Prince of Wei behind them. Either that, or he assumed anyone standing nearby was merely part of Qu Moying’s entourage.
“May I ask Fourth Miss Qu to play a piece for me?” Pei Luo’an asked.
“This is Princess Changyu’s residence, and there are no other young ladies present. It would be inappropriate,” Qu Moying replied calmly, declining him.
“Indeed, I was inconsiderate,” Pei Luo’an said lightly. “Perhaps another time.”
Then, as though struck by emotion, he added, “At the residence of the late Crown Princess in Ling’an Marquis Estate, I once heard Fourth Miss Qu play. It reminded me of her somewhat. Ever since she passed, any zither music I hear feels like hers… perhaps it has simply been too long.”
His expression turned mournful, full of lingering affection.
“Haha…”
A soft, ill-timed laugh came from Leng Yue’er.
It was intentional.
Pei Qingmin flinched at the sudden sound. He tightened his grip on her sleeve and reached to cover her mouth, but it was already too late.
“Who is there?”
“Presumptuous!”
Both the eunuch and Pei Luo’an spoke at once.
The Crown Prince had not expected anyone else to be present, much less someone laughing openly.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince,” Pei Qingmin said, shooting Leng Yue’er a sharp look, then pulled her behind him.
He coughed lightly.
“Crown Prince.”
Qu Moying turned and stepped aside, revealing Pei Qingmin behind her.
“Prince Wei, why are you here?” Pei Luo’an’s expression darkened instantly. Frustration surged in his chest, unable to be released.
“Brother Crown Prince,” Pei Qingmin replied, “this younger brother has been here the entire time. It is just that you were speaking with Fourth Miss Qu and did not notice me.”
He coughed again just as Minghai hurried over.
“This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!” Minghai bowed quickly, then turned to Pei Qingmin with concern. “Master, are you alright? You have only just recovered. We should return to the residence at once.”
“I am fine… cough…” Pei Qingmin’s voice was weak, his body swaying slightly as though he might collapse at any moment.
“Quick! Quickly! Support His Highness!” Minghai urged urgently.
“Yes, Eunuch,” Leng Yue’er replied lazily, stepping forward. She pulled Pei Qingmin into her arms to steady him.
Her movements were calm, practiced, almost indifferent, as though the earlier laugh had never come from her.
Pei Qingmin leaned into her without hesitation, one hand gripping her sleeve and the other instinctively holding onto the sash at her lower back. Strangely, he felt an inexplicable sense of calm in her presence.
Minghai bowed again to Pei Luo’an.
“Your Highness, we will take our leave now. Please forgive the disturbance.”
Pei Luo’an watched them, irritation flashing in his eyes. He said nothing further.
After all, a frail prince and an inconsequential shadow guard were not worth his continued attention.
Minghai supported Pei Qingmin carefully, while Leng Yue’er walked behind with a composed expression.
Qu Moying glanced once at Leng Yue’er’s retreating figure, her gaze deep and unreadable, before turning away.
“Your servant takes her leave,” she said.