Leng Yue’er had no idea that her two earlier disappearances had already aroused Pei Qingmin’s suspicion.
A dark guard who did not even realize she had already slipped right under Prince Wei’s nose, what kind of “hidden” guard was that?
To her, there was no need to conceal her identity. As long as she could watch the drama and pass her days in peace, she could not care less about how others saw her.
Her figure moved like a fleeting shadow. In the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she had already reached her destination, the gate tower outside Chaoyang Gate, the very heart of the Qixi lantern spectacle.
The palace would also send out several exquisite lanterns, drawing crowds of men and women from across the capital, making this the liveliest place of the night.
Leng Yue’er slowed her steps, admiring the various lanterns hanging from the roadside shops while her fingers remained busy, picking up street snacks and tasting them one by one.
As a true daughter of Huaguo, for her, chasing excitement was essential, but food was just as important.
Before long, several bundles of her favorite snacks hung at her waist. She even thoughtfully picked up a few portions for the other dark guards around Pei Qingmin. With such “preparation,” slipping out again in the future would be far less troublesome. She had planned it well.
“Your Highness, perhaps we should not go over there.” A woman’s soft voice reached her ears. Leng Yue’er immediately swallowed her food, her eyes flashing with excitement. The drama was about to begin again.
She quickly finished chewing, scanning her surroundings until she locked onto a cloaked woman. Looking further, she spotted a tall and handsome man standing beside her, his demeanor gentle yet unmistakably noble.
“It is fine. Accompany me to hang a unity lantern,” said the man. He was none other than the Crown Prince, Pei Luo’an. His tone was warm, his gaze indulgent, filled with affection as he looked at the cloaked woman.
“But… if others see us, it may harm Your Highness’s reputation,” the woman replied softly, her voice delicate with feigned hesitation.
Passing by them, Leng Yue’er raised a brow slightly, taking in the woman’s coy act of retreating only to invite pursuit.
Pei Luo’an laughed openly. “What is there to fear? Mother has already given her approval. Once an auspicious date is chosen, you will be brought into the Eastern Palace.”
Leng Yue’er pressed her lips together, silently mimicking his tone, amusement flickering in her eyes. This Crown Prince truly made no effort to hide anything.
“Your Highness…” The cloaked woman lifted her head, revealing the face of Liu Jingyu. Her eyes held a trace of shyness, yet her words carried a probing intent.
“I have heard that Your Highness was deeply devoted to the former Crown Princess, Ji Hanyue. Now that you treat me this way, I…” Her tone feigned unease, but beneath it lay comparison and calculation, seeking to measure her place in his heart.
“Hanyue is gone. The past is past. I should look forward and cherish the one before me…” Pei Luo’an lightly patted her shoulder, his voice gentle yet somewhat perfunctory.
No one could rival his feelings for Ji Hanyue, yet at this moment, he clearly had no desire to dwell on it. With that, he turned toward a lantern stall to choose a unity lantern.
Liu Jingyu followed closely behind, a satisfied smile hidden in her eyes. She was certain she would replace Ji Hanyue and secure the position of Crown Princess.
“County Lady Jingyu!” A hurried voice suddenly rang out. Leng Yue’er, chewing on a candied hawthorn stick, immediately recognized it as Qu Xuexin’s voice. Her interest deepened.
Qu Xuexin approached quickly, dressed in plain maid’s clothing, her expression anxious.
Liu Jingyu’s face darkened at her sudden appearance. “What is it?” she asked impatiently.
“It failed!” Qu Xuexin whispered urgently, her face full of frustration.
“If it failed, then it failed,” Liu Jingyu replied coldly.
“But County Lady, what about the matter I asked of you…” Qu Xuexin pressed, her tone pleading.
“I remember,” Liu Jingyu said dismissively, eager to send her away. “I will have my mother keep an eye on it.”
At once, joy lit up Qu Xuexin’s face. She bowed quickly and hurried off, afraid Liu Jingyu might change her mind.
No sooner had she left than a drenched and disheveled man stumbled forward and collided straight into Liu Jingyu.
Watching from the crowd, Leng Yue’er let out a crisp whistle, her eyes gleaming with amusement. Was this not the same Young Master Wang who had fallen into the water earlier? He had arrived quickly indeed.
“You reckless fool! Let go at once!” Liu Jingyu’s maid cried out in panic, rushing forward to pull the man away.
Dragged upright, the man was indeed Young Master Wang. His face still bore the marks of his earlier mishap, his eyes burning with anger and resentment. Grabbing the maid’s wrist, he demanded harshly, “It was you! You told me to scheme against the Fourth Miss of the Qu family. What is her background? Did you set me up on purpose? If not for her, how would I have ended up like this?”
The maid winced in pain, her face turning pale as she struggled to deny it. “I do not know you. Let go at once. Stop spouting nonsense here!”
Their struggle drew a growing crowd, murmurs and pointing fingers spreading among the onlookers.
Liu Jingyu’s expression turned icy. Fearing implication, she immediately ordered the matrons beside her, “Slap him. How dare he spread such lies!”
The matrons stepped forward without hesitation and struck Young Master Wang twice. The sharp sound of the slaps rang out, and he spat blood, yet still refused to relent, continuing his furious curses.
A ruthless glint flashed in Liu Jingyu’s eyes. “Tie him up and send him to the authorities. Let him be thoroughly interrogated.”
The matrons quickly bound him and dragged him away toward the yamen. The crowd gradually dispersed.
At that moment, Pei Luo’an returned, holding two unity lanterns. Seeing the scene in disarray, he frowned slightly. “What happened here?”
Liu Jingyu immediately concealed her earlier harshness, adopting a meek and aggrieved demeanor. “Just a drunken madman causing trouble. I have already had him sent to the authorities. I hope it did not disturb Your Highness.” She spoke smoothly, omitting any mention of Young Master Wang or the scheme against Qu Moying.
Pei Luo’an did not question further and waved it off. “It is nothing.” The two exchanged smiles and walked toward the lantern sea to hang their unity lanterns.
Watching the farce conclude, Leng Yue’er felt a trace of lingering dissatisfaction. Her gaze shifted toward the pavilion ahead of the lantern sea. She knew that whistle she had let out earlier had surely drawn someone’s attention.
But she did not care. She had never intended to interfere, only to quietly watch the show. Whoever wished to notice her could do as they pleased.
Above in the pavilion, Qu Moying withdrew her gaze and turned to Pei Yuanzhun beside her. “Your Highness, you heard that whistle just now, did you not?”
Pei Yuanzhun nodded, his fingers lightly tapping the railing, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. “Yes, I wonder whose dark guard it was. Their movements were swift, their presence well concealed. An ordinary person would never detect them.”
For him to give such an evaluation, it was clear that Leng Yue’er’s stealth skills ranked among the finest even among elite dark guards.
A trace of surprise crossed Qu Moying’s eyes. “Even you do not know her identity?”
Pei Yuanzhun raised a brow and replied calmly, smoothly changing the topic. “There are countless dark guards in the world. It is impossible to know them all. Rather, Liu Jingyu, the Crown Prince, and that young lady of the Qu family have been causing trouble repeatedly. Shall I deal with them for you and spare you future inconvenience?”
Qu Moying bowed slightly, her voice firm. “Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but it is unnecessary. These grudges, I will settle them myself.”
In her previous life, as Crown Princess Ji Hanyue, she was killed by Pei Luo’an and Ji Youran. Her father had died unjustly, and her younger sister’s fate remained unknown.
In this life, as the Fourth Miss of the Qu family, she would not only avenge her past self and her family, but also uncover the truth behind her birth mother, Xiao Yue, and reclaim all justice owed.
Far away, Leng Yue’er continued munching on her snacks, her attention already drawn to another lively scene, completely unaware that she had caught the attention of two powerful figures.
Right now, she was about to witness—
A blaze of lights like trees of fire and silver blossoms.