As night fell, Prince Xuan arrived under the moonlight.
By this time it was already close to midnight. Inside the room, the candlelight flickered softly. The two of them had not been particularly intimate that day—after bathing, they simply lay beneath the covers and chatted casually.
“Tomorrow you return to your natal home. Do you want this prince to accompany you?” Prince Xuan asked gently.
“Your Highness is most considerate, and I am grateful,” Shen Jingyi replied. “But after all, I am merely a secondary consort. If I act too conspicuously, I fear it may invite jealousy.”
Prince Xuan thought this over and found it reasonable. However, recalling the poisoning incident from the previous day, he added rather bluntly, “You may already have made enemies.”
Shen Jingyi sighed softly and said helplessly, “Perhaps so… alas, things have come to this. I suppose it’s only because I’m too likable.”
As she spoke, her eyes flickered playfully as she glanced at Prince Xuan with a coquettish look.
The corner of Prince Xuan’s mouth twitched slightly. He gave a dry laugh. “Heh… Tomorrow I’ll be heading in that direction for official business anyway. How about I pick you up on the way back?”
She agreed readily. “That would be perfect. Then I shall return to the residence together with Your Highness.”
In truth, she understood clearly—this was Prince Xuan deliberately giving her support. She had no intention of rejecting his goodwill.
Prince Xuan then asked, “If I recall correctly, your elder brother serves at the Hanlin Academy, does he not? He seems not yet married. Could it be that your stepmother is unwilling to arrange a marriage for him?”
At the mention of this, Shen Jingyi grew a little melancholy.
She sighed softly and said, “My brother did have a fiancée before, but later some complications arose. After the woman’s grandfather passed away, she returned to her hometown with her family to observe mourning. It was agreed that she would return last year for the wedding, but unexpectedly, she suddenly broke off the engagement. Later, we heard she married the son of the local prefect. From then on, my brother became what one might call an ‘overage bachelor.’”
Prince Xuan smiled slightly and teased, “Heh… that description is rather apt.”
Shen Jingyi smiled embarrassedly. “Your Highness flatters me. It is simply the truth. After that, my father’s… ah, my father’s wife did try to introduce several families, but none were satisfactory. Either the household was too chaotic, or the young woman’s character was questionable. And so the matter has been delayed until now.”
“You dislike your stepmother?” Prince Xuan asked.
“Your Highness, surely you already know something of my family’s circumstances?”
Prince Xuan nodded. Any woman entering the prince’s residence would have her background thoroughly investigated.
“In truth, I suspect that my mother was harmed by that woman. She may have sensed my suspicions as well, which is why she later begged my maternal grandfather to have a maid trained in medical knowledge to stay by my side.”
This was something the original owner of the body had long suspected and secretly investigated, yet never found proof of.
“Do you want this prince to help?” Prince Xuan asked as he looked at her.
“If Your Highness is willing to assist, that would be most wonderful!” Shen Jingyi replied with visible delight.
The original owner had pursued this matter for many years without success. Now that she was confined within the inner residence of the prince’s manor, continuing the investigation on her own would be extremely difficult.
But with Prince Xuan’s support, progress would surely be much faster.
After all, he held power, influence, and connections.
She had taken over this body—naturally, she should fulfill its unresolved wishes and protect its family.
The two chatted for a while longer before extinguishing the lamps and resting.
The next morning,
Prince Xuan needed to attend early court and rose very early.
Shen Jingyi also got up with him—something she rarely did—and even volunteered to serve him while he washed and dressed.
However, due to her lack of experience, she accidentally splashed water onto Prince Xuan’s collar, soaking his clothes.
As for helping him dress… well, she didn’t manage that very well either. In the end, he dressed himself.
Serving him breakfast? Sigh. Though Shen Jingyi claimed she would serve him, in reality she simply sat and ate together with him.
After a bout of utter chaos, Prince Xuan was finally sent off to court.
As he left, he said something rather helpless—but Shen Jingyi liked it very much.
“Iy’er, you’re not suited to serving others. In the future, let’s each find our proper place and simply do what we’re capable of.”
She felt this was absolutely right. There was no need for her to wake up so early again. Being a virtuous wife clearly didn’t suit her—sleeping in was far better!
So, seeing that the sky hadn’t even fully brightened yet, she returned to bed and went back to sleep.
She slept until chen zheng—around eight in the morning—before being woken by Nanny Qin.
“Secondary Consort, it’s time to get up. You still need to go pay respects to the Princess Consort.”
“All right, I’m getting up,” Shen Jingyi said as she sat up, though her eyes were still closed.
Nanny Qin hung up the bed curtains and turned back, feeling helpless at the sight of her mistress.
She turned to Spring Peach and instructed, “Hurry and help the Secondary Consort wash her face—wake her up properly.”
“Yes, Nanny.”
Before long, after much rubbing and tidying, Shen Jingyi finally became alert.
Just as they were about to head to the main courtyard, a young maid entered, accompanied by Hongyin from the Princess Consort’s side.
“This servant greets the Secondary Consort.”
“Ah, Miss Hongyin is here,” Shen Jingyi said with a smile. “Does Elder Sister Princess Consort have any instructions? We were just about to go pay our respects.”
“In reply to the Secondary Consort,” Hongyin said respectfully, “I was sent by the Princess Consort to convey a message. The Princess Consort says that the Secondary Consort need not come to pay respects today. The gifts for your return home have already been prepared. She asks that you spend time peacefully with your family and need not rush back.”
As she spoke, she handed over a gift list to Spring Peach, who stood closest.
Spring Peach took the list and passed it to Shen Jingyi.
Shen Jingyi flipped through it casually. The items were ordinary—nothing special, but nothing improper either. She didn’t mind at all; in fact, she found it quite satisfactory.
She smiled faintly and said to Hongyin, “Please convey my thanks to the Princess Consort for her trouble. The return gifts are very appropriate.”
She then turned to Xia Zhu. “I recall I have a pair of gold-inlaid pearl earrings. Go fetch them for Miss Hongyin. Her ears are small and delicate—they’ll suit her perfectly.”
“Yes, I’ll go get them right away,” Xia Zhu replied with a smile.
“Then this servant will shamelessly accept them. Thank you for the reward, Secondary Consort,” Hongyin said happily.
Soon after, Xia Zhu returned holding a box. Hongyin accepted it, thanked her again, and left joyfully.
Shen Jingyi stood up, stretched her arms, and gave an entirely ungraceful yawn.
Then, with a bold wave of her hand, she said, “Let’s go. It’s time to return and see those demons and monsters. Nanny Qin, Spring Peach, Xia Zhu, Autumn Chrysanthemum, and Winter Plum will come with me. Qiukui and Xia Xue—you two stay behind with the others and guard the courtyard. Don’t let anyone in.”
The maids all responded cheerfully, “Yes.”
Only Nanny Qin twitched at the corner of her mouth and couldn’t help reminding her, “Miss… you must be more careful with your words. You are now a Secondary Consort of Prince Xuan’s residence. Your speech and behavior must be restrained, lest His Highness form a poor impression.”
Shen Jingyi nodded helplessly, acknowledging the advice, though inwardly she didn’t take it too seriously.
Just as she was about to step out, she turned back to those accompanying her and added, “Once we’re home, don’t say anything you shouldn’t.”
“Yes, we understand.”
“We absolutely won’t say anything—especially at the young master’s place.”
Only then did Shen Jingyi feel reassured and lead them out.
Outside, a soft sedan chair waited at the courtyard gate, carried by two sturdy older women.
Shen Jingyi didn’t put on airs and sat inside.
The sedan chair stopped at the side gate of the prince’s residence, where several luxurious carriages were already waiting, followed by a few more carrying the return gifts.
Upon seeing people emerge, the coachman quickly placed the footstool down and stood respectfully to the side, head lowered and eyes properly averted.
Spring Peach hurried forward to help Shen Jingyi into the first carriage.
Nanny Qin followed her in. Only after both were settled did Spring Peach rush to the carriage behind, boarding with Xia Zhu and the others.
And thus, the procession set off grandly toward the Shen residence.