On a summer afternoon, the cicadas chirped incessantly.
The scorching heat made people drowsy.
Su Jingyuan, who had just woken from his nap, lay on the bed, his expression somewhat dazed, as if still lost in the absurd dream from moments ago.
In the dream, he had returned to the day when the horse was startled.
He lay in the carriage, spitting blood, looking utterly disheveled, yet he had not fainted.
Outside the carriage stood a strikingly beautiful young woman.
She stepped into the carriage, looking down at him from above.
Suddenly, a jade-like foot pressed against his chest, rumpling his clothes.
She crouched down, her radiant face more captivating than spring peach blossoms.
“So handsome.”
Her hand was smooth and cool, but when it touched his chest, it ignited a fire within him.
Breathing heavily, he grabbed her mischievous little hand in return…
“Princess!”
Su Jingyuan woke up drenched in sweat.
He sat up in bed, trying to shake off the lingering haze of the dream.
“Someone, prepare water for a bath.”
“Yes.”
A few maids brought in the water and left.
They knew that the second young master never liked to be attended to while bathing.
Su Jingyuan removed his sweat-soaked clothes, revealing his long legs and firm waist, and sank into the bathtub.
He let out a long sigh as sweat dripped from his brow.
“Princess Rongyang.”
News of Yun Chaorong punishing Yun Jingshan at the horse track had already spread beyond the palace, and Su Jingyuan had heard about it.
Recalling their first encounter, he felt that Princess Rongyang was likely far more interesting than most people imagined.
Perhaps it was this budding curiosity about her that had led him to dream of her repeatedly over the past two days.
In his dreams, she was sometimes enchanting and coquettish, sometimes willful and capricious—each demeanor utterly captivating.
Filled with curiosity, he longed to ask her in person: Why had she shown him such concern?
However, it seemed he would not have the chance to see her for some time.
Only after he had dealt with the two venomous snakes lurking within his household would he have the slightest qualification to stand before her.
In his current position, he did not even have the right to request an audience at the palace.
But it wouldn’t be long now. He wouldn’t have to wait much longer.
“Young Master! Young Master!” Si Shu’s voice echoed, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
“What is it?” came the calm reply from inside the room.
Hearing his master’s composed tone, Si Shu steadied himself and explained carefully:
“Princess Rongyang has arrived, saying she wishes to see you. Right now, she’s being held up at the entrance by the Duke and Old Madam Su.”
Splash—!
The sound of water followed.
Then came the rustling of fabric.
A few clattering noises ensued, as if something had been knocked over in the process.
“Young Master? Young Master?” Si Shu called out twice, puzzled by the lack of response.
“Come in!”
Si Shu pushed the door open.
Smack! A towel flew straight into his face.
“Come here and dry my hair.”
“Yes.”
“Have it done within half a ke.”
“…Yes.”
At the entrance of the Duke of Yu’s residence.
Two sides stood in confrontation.
Michun rebuked, “How dare you! It is an honor for you that Princess Rongyang has graced your presence. How dare you obstruct her!”
Su Mingyuan was momentarily at a loss for words.
Old Madam Su’s expression darkened. “My son is unwell and needs rest. He is not fit to receive guests. Moreover, as an unmarried woman, what reason does the princess have to visit the home of a subject to see an unrelated man?”
Michun was momentarily speechless. The latter part of Old Madam Su’s argument held some merit.
Pfft!
A soft laugh came from beneath the veil.
“This princess is the eldest princess of the court. My actions are guided by reason. When did it become your place to lecture me? Do you think this princess has no father or mother?”
When it came to intimidating others, Yun Chaorong was well-practiced.
Old Madam Su was meeting Princess Rongyang for the first time. Having long resided within the inner courtyards, she hadn’t heard about Yun Chaorong’s recent disciplining of Yun Jingshan.
She hadn’t expected such a formidable character and could only suppress her displeasure:
“Your Highness, forgive this old woman’s offense. I dare not. I merely spoke a few extra words out of concern for Your Highness’s reputation.”
Yun Chaorong rolled her eyes beneath her veil hat.
These people’s arsenal of attacks was too monotonous.
If it were an ordinary noblewoman, she wouldn’t dare to act.
But she was Yun Chaorong!
What! Did! She! Fear!
It would be better to spread a reputation for being formidable—it would make it more convenient for her to act domineeringly in the future.
“If you know you’ve spoken too much, then keep quiet. My reputation is not something for you to worry about.”
Yun Chaorong’s limited patience was already exhausted.
Moreover, the attitude of Su Mingyuan and his mother made her even more aware that something was amiss. This scenario looked all too much like a mother and son teaming up to bully Su Jingyuan.
Matters within large households were often tangled in unspeakable filth.
It was likely that Su Jingyuan’s daily life in the residence was far from pleasant.
Yun Chaorong waved her hand, and immediately two rows of attendants surrounded her.
“Attendants, clear a path for me. Anyone blocking my way is to be removed.”
Seeing this display, the servants of the Duke of Yu’s residence dared not resist the palace attendants and silently retreated.
Su Mingyuan’s forehead beaded with sweat the size of beans. He was torn between stopping her and letting her pass.
Old Madam Su, on the other hand, wanted to make a scene and block Yun Chaorong’s path.
But before she could take a step, Xiao Fengzi sent two eunuchs to drag her away!
“Since Old Madam Su’s legs are unsteady, let us servants assist you.”
“You, you all!” Old Madam Su had never suffered such humiliation before.
Her aged face flushed red with anger, yet she couldn’t utter the vulgar curses she wanted to.
She could only watch as Yun Chaorong led her attendants into the residence.
Su Mingyuan and Old Madam Su were pushed to the back of the crowd, their eyes filled with venom.
They racked their brains but couldn’t understand why Princess Rongyang would personally come to see that half-dead bastard!
Could it be… because of Prince Rui?
“Mother, could the princess have discovered something?”
Su Mingyuan, burly and rough, lost all composure in his panic, showing none of the poise and calm befitting a duke.
His square face twisted into a knot, and with his anxious expression, he looked less dignified than a sturdy farmer.
“What are you panicking about? She’s not an imperial physician—what could she possibly detect?”
Old Madam Su looked at Princess Rongyang with disdain.
This girl was so crude and ill-mannered—she was determined to spread this incident far and wide, making Yun Chaorong lose face.
At the front of the procession, Yun Chaorong had already stormed to the entrance of a small courtyard.
“Y-Your Highness, this… this is the Second Young Master’s courtyard,” the servant leading the way stammered.
Yun Chaorong stepped across the courtyard gate and immediately collided with Su Jingyuan, who was striding out.
“Princess Rongyang?”
Su Jingyuan paused mid-step, clearly not expecting the princess to barge in directly and head straight for his courtyard.
He had originally been on his way to the entrance to help her out of the predicament.
“Young Master Su, aren’t you going to greet me?”
Yun Chaorong’s voice was as cool as water, the hem of her sky-blue robe fluttering slightly in the summer breeze.
Su Jingyuan caught a faint, elusive fragrance in the wind, identical to the scent of the handkerchief he had picked up that day.
He lowered his gaze and bowed:
“I, Su Jingyuan, greet Princess Rongyang.”
Yun Chaorong: “Michun, Yingxia.”
“Your servant is here.”
“Your servant is here.”
“Clear all the unnecessary people from this courtyard.”
Yun Chaorong glanced at Su Jingyuan’s tall, graceful figure, like a pine or bamboo, and continued her orders:
“I have reserved this courtyard. Guard the gate well!”