Suddenly released, Pei Qingmin’s body swayed. Had he not managed to steady himself against the edge of the table, he would have collapsed straight to the ground.
This dark guard… did she even know her place?
Whether she was a dark guard or a visible guard, slipping away while on duty had already become routine. Now she had even left right in front of him without hesitation. There was not the slightest sense of reverence in her actions. Did she still see him as her master at all?
Pei Qingmin’s gaze locked tightly onto Leng Yue’er’s vanishing figure. His fingers clenched harder and harder until his knuckles turned pale. The anger in his chest mixed with the lingering suppression of his coughing fit, pressing down until his chest felt suffocated. Yet he could not act on it.
First, his body was too weak to withstand anger.
Second, this dark guard had been sent by Consort Zhu Jing. If he were to punish her rashly, it would likely invite suspicion and criticism.
He drew a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the irritation and the inexplicable frustration rising within him. A tickle surged in his throat, and he could not help but let out a low cough.
Meanwhile, Leng Yue’er had already followed Ji Youran’s trail, her figure darting forward like a streak of shadow. In an instant, she caught up to the group.
When she came to a stop, Ji Youran and her maids had already entered a private room at Yueyi Pavilion. Leng Yue’er glanced over the clothing shop. Well-dressed ladies and noble young women came and went in an endless stream. She immediately understood the place. This was a dowry shop belonging to Qu Moying’s birth mother, the younger Yue family branch. It had now passed into Qu Moying’s hands. Coinciding with the Qixi Festival, the shop had launched special events, which was why it was so crowded.
“It’s absolutely true. The Crown Prince just came here with County Lady Jingyu. She was wearing a cloak, so her face could not be seen clearly, but the Crown Prince’s indulgence toward her was obvious at a glance.”
“Just now, someone accidentally bumped into County Lady Jingyu, and the Crown Prince panicked immediately and personally supported her. He showed no restraint at all. It seems their good news is coming soon.”
“No way. Wasn’t it said before that the Crown Prince was deeply devoted to the late Crown Princess? How could he already be preparing to establish another Crown Princess so soon?”
“The late Crown Princess has already passed away. The dead cannot return. The Crown Prince cannot remain alone forever. Besides, County Lady Jingyu is noble in birth and outstanding in appearance. She is more than worthy of him.”
“I also heard that the Crown Prince and County Lady Jingyu just hung a pair of Qixi lanterns together, right where the fire just broke out. The fire started from their lanterns. Even though it was quickly extinguished, they still placed their lanterns together, saying it symbolized mutual devotion and everlasting unity.”
“Really? Are those lanterns still there?”
“Of course. They are right over by the lantern rack. Go see for yourself if you do not believe me. Once County Lady Jingyu enters the Eastern Palace and becomes Crown Princess, the concubines and attendants there will have no good days left. No matter how favored they are, they can never surpass the rightful wife. In the end, they are just servants.”
The words were filled with undisguised mockery.
The door of the adjacent private room suddenly swung open. Ji Youran stepped out with her maids.
She had heard every word clearly inside the room. Her usually composed face had darkened to the point of dripping water, her eyes surging with anger and unwillingness. The pressure around her dropped instantly.
Leng Yue’er leaned casually against a corridor pillar, arms crossed, her peach blossom eyes half-lidded as she swept a lazy, disdainful glance over Ji Youran and her group. A faint sneer curled at her lips. Foolish. Utterly hopelessly foolish.
If she had not known the plot from an omniscient perspective in advance, she would have found this kind of tangled scheming nothing but a waste of time. If she disliked something, she would simply eliminate it cleanly and be done with it. Why waste so much effort only to entertain others?
She gathered her thoughts and followed Ji Youran at an unhurried pace, keeping just the right distance behind her.
Soon, they reached the spot where the Crown Prince and Liu Jingyu had hung the Qixi lanterns. Broken lanterns, some burned and some damaged, were scattered on the ground. Among them, the pair belonging to the Crown Prince and Liu Jingyu stood out clearly. Each lantern bore a single character, one “Peace” and one “Soft,” written in a refined and elegant hand. It was unmistakably Pei Luo’an’s calligraphy.
Ji Youran recognized the handwriting at a glance. Her anger intensified. She clenched her handkerchief so tightly that the fabric nearly tore.
Just as Leng Yue’er passed by, a figure suddenly stepped forward and reached for the pair of Qixi lanterns.
One of Ji Youran’s maids immediately moved to stop her, but the woman shouted defiantly, “These lanterns are mine! Why are you stopping me?”
Ji Youran was already in a foul mood. Seeing someone daring to covet the Crown Prince’s inscribed lanterns only fueled her rage. She ordered coldly, “Slap her. How dare you spout nonsense here and covet the Crown Prince’s belongings.”
The maids did not hesitate. They stepped forward and struck the woman hard twice. The crisp sound of slaps immediately drew the attention of onlookers, and soon a crowd gathered.
From within the crowd, Leng Yue’er saw the woman’s face clearly. A flicker of amusement passed through her eyes. As expected, it was Qu Xuexin. She truly was impatient, always rushing to flatter Liu Jingyu. Unfortunately for her, she had been too hasty this time.
Leng Yue’er could not help but let out a soft whistle. It was not loud, but it carried clearly through the surroundings.
Ji Youran was about to turn toward the sound when a sudden change erupted.
A tall figure rushed in and shoved Ji Youran, who was surrounded by her maids, straight to the ground. He roared in fury, “How dare you hit my sister!”
“Your Highness, Consort!” the maids cried out in alarm as they rushed to help Ji Youran.
Leng Yue’er glanced over and immediately recognized the man as likely Qu Xuexin’s elder brother, Qu Mingcheng.
With this move, Qu Mingcheng had already committed an offense by openly assaulting the Crown Prince’s consort. There was no way out for him now.
Leng Yue’er grinned slightly and clapped her hands twice, satisfaction gleaming in her eyes. This scene had not been in vain after all.
She turned to head back toward Pei Qingmin, muttering inwardly as she walked. That sickly prince had probably really been angered by her earlier disappearance. She would need to be more careful next time and not act so openly.
As she wandered along, passing near Yueyi Pavilion, her steps suddenly halted. Not far away stood Pei Qingmin. Though frail, he stood firmly in front of two women. One of them appeared to be Qu Moying, and the other her maid, Yudong.
Leng Yue’er slapped her forehead, instantly recalling the plot from the book. In a blur like drifting smoke, she slipped back into position, lowering her gaze and resuming her “proper” dark guard demeanor. Yet beneath her calm expression, a trace of anticipation lingered.
It seemed another good show was about to begin.