Chapter 48: The Companion Reader in the Prince’s Mansion

Old Madam Chu sounded quite surprised: “It’s actually the Fourth Young Lady and the Fifth Young Lady?”

“Yes!”

Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but glance back at Chu Jinxian, and both saw the same shock reflected in each other’s eyes.

Inside, Old Madam Chu was also caught off guard. At this moment, she naturally couldn’t say that Chu Jinmiao would soon be expelled. Old Madam Chu considered her words and said, “Since the County Princess is fond of them, we should certainly comply. In a few days, I’ll have them all packed and ready to accompany the County Princess for studies.”

At this critical juncture, who would bring up Chu Jinmiao’s plan to retreat to a temple for spiritual reflection?

Thus, the impending crisis of Chu Jinmiao being sent away to the temple was unexpectedly resolved.

Chu Jinmiao emerged from her courtyard, freshly dressed and looking radiant—completely different from her listless and downtrodden appearance from a few days ago. Her eyes were still a bit swollen, likely from crying over the past few days, but her expression was proud and arrogant. “There’s a saying that a wise person recognizes talent, and another saying that scheming all day long results in nothing. Some people have tried so hard to bring me down, but in the end, it was all for nothing. Heaven truly has eyes!”

Chu Jinmiao said this boastfully in front of all the sisters, her tone both pleased and arrogant. The Third Young Lady rolled her eyes heavily in secret, the Sixth Young Lady remained indifferent like a meditating monk, while Chu Jinyao continued with her own business, acting as though she hadn’t heard anything.

If the heavens truly had eyes, they wouldn’t allow you to get away with this for long, Chu Jinyao thought irritably to herself.

After the fifteenth day, as the end of the year slowly faded and the snow on the roads melted, Marquis Changxing and Madam Zhao personally went to visit Prince Huailing’s Mansion, bringing along Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao.

This time, Chu Jinyao would stay at the Prince’s Mansion for a little over a month, then return home for a few days before going back to the Prince’s Mansion. Chu Jinyao didn’t know how long this back-and-forth lifestyle would last, but she could foresee that since both places had a residence for her, her clothes, jewellery, and maids couldn’t be brought back and forth in full; some things would need to be left behind in reserve. For various reasons, Chu Jinyao carefully chose who would accompany her—people who were capable and quick-witted. At the same time, she needed reliable individuals to guard the house. After much consideration, she decided to take Momo Gong, Linglong, and Jiegeng with her, leaving the honest and loyal Dingxiang behind to watch the house.

Before leaving, Chu Jinyao checked and rechecked her private quarters in the west wing, and only after confirming everything was in order did she lock the room. She secretly gave Dingxiang a key to the west wing, keeping the rest with her. Although Dingxiang had the key to the wing, the trunks inside were locked separately, so Chu Jinyao wasn’t worried about anyone tampering with them. Leaving the key with Dingxiang was mainly a precaution.

Chu Jinyao, along with Momo Gong and Linglong, packed their usual jewellery and clothes into two large trunks and took them to the carriage. The Prince’s Mansion had everything they would need for daily use, so bringing too much would be impractical. Even though they were guests, given the nature of the Prince’s Mansion, they needed to bring sufficient funds and valuables, just in case. Before she left, Old Madam Chu secretly gave Chu Jinyao 200 taels of silver. Along with the 200 taels openly given, Chu Jinyao had a total of 400 taels in cash. With 400 taels, one could buy a large three-courtyard house in Taiyuan. The Old Madam had her own calculations, fearing that Chu Jinyao might be looked down upon at the Prince’s Mansion, so she wanted her to maintain a dignified front.

In fact, Chu Jinyao wasn’t short of the 400 taels; her monthly dividends alone amounted to over a thousand taels. However, since the Old Madam had already prepared it, Chu Jinyao could hardly refuse. At least, from now on, all her public expenses would be covered by this sum of 400 taels.

“Miss, the trunks are all packed, and the visible areas in the room have been wiped down. You can go inside and rest now.”

“Mm, alright.” Chu Jinyao reluctantly stood up and headed towards the room arranged for her at the Prince’s Mansion. Her room was located in a garden area, not particularly large, with three rooms in the front. Under the eaves, there was a small side room, and on the east and west sides, there were just walls with no additional wings. At the far southern end, there were two small servant rooms for the maids. This courtyard was nowhere near as spacious and bright as her own residence at ChaoYun Courtyard, but it was elegant enough, with a lotus pond nearby and flower trees planted all around, ensuring that flowers would bloom all year round.

Chu Jinyao was especially fond of the two weeping crabapple trees in the courtyard, and behind the house, there was a tall jacaranda tree, which would surely be beautiful when spring arrived.

She was so enamoured with these flower trees that she almost forgot to go inside the house. Linglong and Jiegeng took advantage of this time to wipe down every corner of the room again.

Reluctantly pulled away from the trees by her maids, Chu Jinyao was ushered inside to rest. The small courtyard seemed purpose-built for young ladies, designed with exquisite detail, and the house itself was beautifully crafted and delicate.

Inside, Chu Jinyao first noticed the central hall, where a portrait of a beauty hung on the wall, with two armchairs beneath it and a small high table in between. This was clearly where the host would sit when receiving guests. Further in were rows of wooden chairs, with decorative vases and fruits in between—nothing particularly noteworthy. Chu Jinyao moved towards the west room. A four-panel screen embroidered with a scene of crabapple, peony, and beauties separated the hall from the west chamber, displaying an air of luxury and elegance.

At the far end of the west chamber stood an expensive canopy bed, with all the bedding replaced with those from Marquis Changxing’s mansion. The canopy bed was finely crafted, with rosewood pillars and ornate carvings, complete with footrests, bedside tables, and everything one might need. Once the outermost bed curtains were drawn, the space inside felt like a small private chamber. With the bed taking up most of the room and a dressing table placed beside it, there was little space left, so the guest bed, small table, and sitting platform had been placed in the east chamber instead. It was a more intimate yet not overly informal setup for receiving close friends.

After inspecting the place, Chu Jinyao felt that the Prince’s Mansion had been very considerate in its preparations. Fortunately, they hadn’t misjudged the relationship between her and Chu Jinmiao; otherwise, if they had been placed in the same courtyard, things would have been far more chaotic.

Chu Jinmiao’s residence wasn’t far, just across the lotus pond, in a small wooden pavilion by the water. It was still winter, so there wasn’t much to see, but come summer, with the lotus in full bloom, Chu Jinmiao’s place would certainly be serene and elegant.

While removing her makeup in the evening, Jiegeng returned with some news. She said, “Miss, I secretly took a look inside the Fourth Young Lady’s house. Her furnishings are quite sparse. In the middle of her room, there’s just a hanging scroll of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, with a canopy bed on the west side, and on the east side, just a table and a sitting platform. The whole place looks so empty that when the wind blows, you can almost hear an echo. It’s nothing like your comfortable room.”

Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but laugh. “An echo? You sure know how to embellish things.” She glanced at Jiegeng in the mirror. “Enough teasing; don’t speak ill of others outside.”

“I understand,” Jiegeng replied, pouting. “But the Fourth Young Lady seems to like it very much. She even said that winter is the best time to live by the lotus pond. When you open the window, you can see the withered lotus, and at night, you can hear the wind rustling through the dried stems. She finds it very peaceful.”

Chu Jinyao remarked, “I remember the lotus pond still has ice. Isn’t she cold?”

Jiegeng shook her head, and Chu Jinyao looked around her own room once again, feeling that the Prince’s Mansion truly excelled in understanding people’s preferences. Their attention to detail surpassed that of ordinary noble families.

Chu Jinyao muttered, “I wonder if the ice on the pond is thick enough. Such a large, flat, bright expanse of water—it must be fun to ride a sled on it.”

Linglong was startled and quickly called out, “Miss!”

Chu Jinyao snapped back to her senses and waved her hand. “I was just speaking casually. I know better. You’ve all worked hard today, so rest early. Tomorrow morning, we’ll go pay respects to the Old Princess Consort and then accompany the County Princess for lessons. There’s still much to do.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Linglong and Jiegeng helped Chu Jinyao smooth her hair and settle into bed, pulling the outermost curtain shut. As the outer light dimmed, Chu Jinyao felt as if she were in a small, private space, and soon after, the lights outside the bed were extinguished.

Closing her eyes, she told herself it was time to sleep. She habitually thought of saying goodnight but suddenly remembered that she was alone now—no one would hear her.

Chu Jinyao reached under her pillow and felt the jade pendant she had placed there. The pendant was cool to the touch, not at all hinting at the fact that it had once spoken and even taken human form during the day.

Goodnight, Qi Ze, she whispered in her heart, then drifted off into slumber.

Before falling asleep, an image appeared in Chu Jinyao’s mind—a figure surrounded by people, with only a glimpse of a reddish-brown hem and a pair of clear, bright, and slightly smiling eyes.

Chu Jinyao, half asleep, wondered if she was hallucinating. She had been thinking about this too much lately, to the point where everyone started to look like someone she knew. That man probably only bore a slight resemblance to Qi Ze, but she had imagined them as the same person.

With a quiet self-reflection, Chu Jinyao finally succumbed to sleep.

The next morning, Chu Jinyao rose early to pay her respects to the Old Princess Consort.

Like every household, the Old Princess Consort held the highest authority in the mansion. During morning greetings, her room was always filled with people—granddaughters, both legitimate and illegitimate, daughters-in-law, including Chu Zhu, the County Princess, and the maids and servants of all the masters—crowding together.

Now Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao had joined them.

Chu Jinyao arrived earlier than Chu Jinmiao, who rushed in, lifting the curtain, only to find Chu Jinyao already there. Chu Jinmiao’s face immediately soured, while Chu Jinyao remained composed, pretending not to see her.

After what happened last time, it seemed that the Prince’s Mansion was well aware of their strained relationship. Since that was the case, why bother hiding family scandals any longer?

The Old Princess Consort was delighted to see so many of her descendants together, her smile wide. County Princess Lin Baozhu, the most carefree person in the room, was nestled in the Old Princess Consort’s arms, acting spoiled. “Grandmother, do I really have to start lessons today?”

“You’re as mischievous as a monkey and have no desire to improve!” The Old Princess Consort playfully tapped the County Princess’s nose, scolding her affectionately.

The County Princess immediately clung to her grandmother’s arm, pretending to act foolish to avoid responsibility. Chu Jinyao watched in surprise. Her grandmother, Old Madam Chu, was always so stern that even the most favoured ladies—Chu Jinxian and the youngest Seventh Young Lady—wouldn’t dare act like this around her. Yet, here in someone else’s family, the granddaughter could be so affectionate with her grandmother.

Eventually, the Old Princess Consort relented. “Fine, since you haven’t focused your mind yet, you can relax for one more day. But remember, no matter what, you must attend school tomorrow!”

The County Princess sweetly agreed, and Chu Jinyao initially thought this was simply because of the County Princess’s influence. If the County Princess made a request, neither the Old Princess Consort nor the Princess Consort would refuse. But by midday, Chu Jinyao realized she had underestimated the situation.

The Princess Consort smiled as she introduced a young woman: “This is my niece from my maiden family, Yang Qixia. You will be attending lessons together, so don’t be shy with each other.”

Chu Jinyao turned her attention to the woman beside the Princess Consort. Her surname was Yang, which meant she was the Princess Consort’s niece, making her the County Princess’s cousin and Shizi’s cousin as well.

Chu Jinyao immediately felt a strange sense of familiarity.

Yang Qixia was dressed in a white silk jacket and a crimson pleated skirt. Like the Princess Consort, she had a round face and a short, sturdy figure, giving off a friendly impression. Yang Qixia smiled warmly as she approached and took Chu Jinyao’s hand, glancing her over several times before sighing, “I’ve never met such a beautiful younger sister before. After seeing you today, I feel like my life until now has been wasted.”

Chu Jinyao felt awkward and quickly replied, “You’re too kind, Miss Yang.”

“With our close relationship, why are you still calling me Miss Yang?” Yang Qixia laughed. “I’m already fifteen; how about you?”

“Fourteen,” Chu Jinyao answered.

“Perfect! I’ve gained a new sister,” Yang Qixia said enthusiastically, holding Chu Jinyao’s hand affectionately and chatting warmly for some time. Then, noticing Chu Jinmiao standing nearby, Yang Qixia smiled and asked, “And what about this sister?”

Chu Jinmiao, having been ignored for quite a while, was feeling quite embarrassed. She forced a smile and said, “I’m also fourteen.”

“Oh wow, what a coincidence!” Yang Qixia exclaimed, her surprise exaggerated but genuine. However, Chu Jinyao thought her expression and tone were a bit over the top, almost theatrical.

Yang Qixia continued, “You two are sisters from the same family and the same age? What a rare coincidence!”

Of course, they were sisters from the same family, so being the same age wasn’t that unusual. Chu Jinyao smiled politely, saying, “Yes, it’s quite a coincidence.”

The County Princess then chimed in: “Not only are they the same age, but their birthdays are very close as well. When they were born, there was chaos due to the rebellion, and they were accidentally switched. Chu Jinmiao was taken to Marquis Changxing’s mansion, while Chu Jinyao was left outside, and it wasn’t until last year that they found her.”

This was the most bizarre thing the County Princess had ever encountered, and she couldn’t help but bring it up at every opportunity. Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao, the two involved parties, both had slightly awkward expressions. Yang Qixia gasped in astonishment, covering her mouth as she looked between the two sisters several times, then held both their hands warmly. “It doesn’t matter. Fate has brought you together, and with such a bond, you’re clearly meant to be sisters.”

Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao both smiled slightly without saying much.

Chu Jinyao sighed inwardly, beginning to understand the Princess Consort’s intentions.

When the Old Princess Consort said there would be no lessons today, it wasn’t really because of the County Princess. Yang Qixia hadn’t arrived yet, so even if the County Princess hadn’t made an excuse, there wouldn’t have been any lessons.

After introducing Yang Qixia to the group, the Princess Consort excused herself, leaving the ladies alone. Now, in the warm room, sat Chu Jinyao, Chu Jinmiao, the County Princess Lin Baozhu, Lin Baozhu’s half-sister Lin Baoying, her legitimate sister Lin Baohuan, and Yang Qixia.

These would likely be the group that would go to lessons together in the future.

The County Princess, growing bored, insisted on taking everyone outside to play. Since Chu Jinyao was new and didn’t want to speak out of turn, Yang Qixia stepped in to dissuade the County Princess. “Baozhu, the weather hasn’t warmed up yet, and the ground is still frozen. What fun could we have outside? Why don’t we stay here and chat with the elders instead? We could learn more about how to conduct ourselves.”

The County Princess, still reluctant, was visibly unhappy, but Yang Qixia patiently continued to persuade her. Chu Jinyao quietly asked Lin Baohuan, “Does Sister Yang seem quite close to the County Princess?”

“Yes, she’s the Princess Consort’s niece and often stays at the mansion. Even our grandmother’s attendants are very familiar with her.”

Chu Jinyao understood now. Since the Prince’s Mansion had picked companions for the County Princess from Chu Zhu’s family, it was only natural they wouldn’t overlook the Princess Consort’s maiden family, the Yangs. Although she didn’t know why there were three companions instead of two, it didn’t really matter—how many companions stayed was entirely up to the Old Princess Consort.

Despite Yang Qixia’s efforts, the County Princess remained dissatisfied. “Alright, we won’t go outside, but it’s so stuffy in here; sitting around is uncomfortable. How about we go to my room and play backgammon?”

Yang Qixia still wanted to decline, but the others found the suggestion appealing. She had no choice but to swallow her words and agree. Once everyone had made up their minds, they began getting ready to leave, calling for their maids to fetch cloaks and hand warmers.

The County Princess, impatient, tied her belt quickly and darted off, leaving her maids scrambling to catch up. Chu Jinyao, smoothing the wrinkles on her cloak, followed behind. Yang Qixia was the last to leave the room.

Lanze, one of the Old Princess Consort’s trusted attendants, smiled when she saw Yang Qixia. “Miss Xia, you’re going out too?”

The Old Princess Consort had two capable attendants—Lanze and Xiabo. Lanze, in particular, was known for her cleverness and was highly favoured by the Old Princess Consort Consort. Though technically a maid, Lanze’s duties were all delicate tasks, like serving tea and making the Old Princess Consort laugh, and she rarely touched rough work like cleaning. In fact, her lifestyle and appearance were so refined that she was often more elegant than many daughters of small families.

Because of her close relationship with the Old Princess Consort, everyone in the mansion treated Lanze with respect. Yang Qixia, hearing her question, stopped to answer with a smile. “The County Princess wants to go back and play backgammon. I can’t leave her alone; I have to watch over her.”

Lanze playfully winked, “Miss Xia, you treat the County Princess with such care, no less than a real sister! Even many real sisters don’t show half as much concern as you do.”

Yang Qixia smiled and replied modestly, “Lanze, you’re the real trusted aide of the Old Princess Consort. One day, some lucky man will have the honour of marrying you and receiving your wise assistance.”

Lanze giggled, “Miss Xia, you flatter me. I’m just a servant, born to serve. How could I dare call myself anyone’s wise assistant? Only someone as dignified as you deserves such a title!”

Yang Qixia laughed, “There you go again, teasing me. Alright, I’ll leave you to it—I need to catch up with the County Princess.”

Lanze held the door for her and bid her farewell, with both of them exchanging pleasantries for quite a while.

Meanwhile, Chu Jinyao noticed that Yang Qixia hadn’t caught up yet and said, “Let’s wait a moment; Sister Yang hasn’t arrived.”

The County Princess and the others had to stop and wait. Feeling bored, the County Princess turned to Chu Jinyao and asked, “I heard you lost something in the mansion last time. Did you find it?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to Chu Jinyao upon hearing this. Seizing the moment, Chu Jinyao said, “Yes, I found it. It was quite careless of me—I left it at home and only realized it when I arrived at the mansion. I thought I had lost it here, but it turned out to be a false alarm. I apologize for troubling everyone.”

Chu Jinyao’s lost pouch involved her reputation, and she couldn’t take any chances. She had the pouch locked away safely, never to be used again. To prevent any future problems, she created a new story, claiming she had left it at home, and openly explained it to the others to stop anyone from making an issue out of it.

The County Princess nodded, not paying much attention, while Chu Jinmiao sneered slightly.

However, Chu Jinmiao was also wary of bringing up what had happened that day. Even though she knew Chu Jinyao was lying, she couldn’t risk exposing her, likely because Chu Jinyao had calculated this as well.

After quickly resolving the matter of the pouch, Chu Jinyao shifted the conversation to a different topic, drawing the County Princess into a new discussion. As she spoke, a sudden chill ran through her heart.

Something wasn’t right. Both Chu Jinmiao and the Third Young Lady had mentioned seeing a young male servant near the gate of the changing courtyard that day and found him suspicious, which is why they engaged him. Since Chu Jinmiao had said so, that meant the young man wasn’t her accomplice. The Sixth Young Lady had simply taken advantage of the situation without interfering in Chu Jinmiao’s plan, so the servant wasn’t hers either.

The fact that a servant appeared near the women’s changing courtyard, especially in such a suspicious spot, couldn’t have been a coincidence. If he didn’t belong to Chu Jinmiao or the Sixth Young Lady, then this situation was far more serious. Who did that servant belong to?

“Chu Jinyao, what are you thinking about?”

Chu Jinyao was pulled from her thoughts by the County Princess’s voice and forced a smile. “Nothing; I was just lost in thought.”

“Lost in thought while standing here?” The County Princess pouted. “Anyway, Sister Yang is catching up now. Let’s go.”

They reached the County Princess’s quarters, where the group began playing a lively game of backgammon. Yet Chu Jinyao’s mind remained distracted.

She had overlooked someone, a person hiding deep behind the scenes. The Sixth Young Lady thought she had successfully retreated from the situation, but in reality, there was another figure who had truly gotten away unnoticed.

Like a mantis stalking a cicada, but with more than one bird waiting behind.

The person behind the scenes had placed that servant in the courtyard. What had they been planning to do?

Just thinking about it sent chills down Chu Jinyao’s spine.

As the County Princess lost another round of backgammon, she threw the pieces in frustration and grumbled, “This is boring; I don’t want to play anymore.”

The others quickly gathered around to soothe her. This time, however, the County Princess was not so easily appeased. She saw Chu Jinyao sitting alone by the window and, deciding to change targets, plopped down opposite her on the sitting platform. “What are you doing over here by yourself?”

“I don’t know how to play backgammon, so I stayed here to watch instead,” Chu Jinyao replied with a smile, trying her best to appear carefree.

“Watching is boring! If you don’t know how to play, I’ll teach you!”

Chu Jinyao quickly declined, knowing that despite the County Princess’s enthusiasm, she wasn’t a good player, and Chu Jinyao certainly didn’t want to learn from her.

The County Princess swung her legs idly, then suddenly exclaimed, “Isn’t it February now? Soon it will be my grandmother’s sixtieth birthday. That’s when things will really get lively!”

Chu Jinyao had indeed heard about the Old Princess Consort’s sixtieth birthday. It was a significant event, not just for Taiyuan but likely for the whole of Shanxi. She could already imagine the grand occasion, filled with guests and notable figures.

But… school had barely begun, and the County Princess was already focused on the Old Princess Consort’s birthday celebrations. Were they really here to accompany her for lessons?

Chu Jinyao’s concerns were well-founded. After only a few days of lessons, the entire Prince’s Mansion became consumed with preparations for the birthday. Servants and maids bustled around in a flurry, and the mansion was filled with constant activity. In such a chaotic atmosphere, how could anyone expect the County Princess to concentrate on her studies?

The Old Princess Consort’s birthday was an enormous affair, and the mansion spent the entire month preparing for it. Construction, renovations, and the erection of pavilions filled the gardens. It wasn’t until late March that things began to quiet down.

By that time, the jacaranda tree behind Chu Jinyao’s house had blossomed with dreamy blue and purple flowers, and the ice on the lotus pond had melted, revealing gentle spring ripples. And with that, the Old Princess Consort’s birthday was only days away.

On the fifth of April, the guest rooms at the Prince’s Mansion were completely filled. Every day, people came and went, and the house was bustling with activity. The Old Princess Consort, radiant with joy, received many visitors during the morning greetings, her face glowing with happiness. With only three days left until the official birthday celebration, most guests had already arrived. Those who lived too far away or couldn’t attend in person had sent gifts, while others from nearby made personal visits.

Seeing the overwhelming number of guests, both the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort were overjoyed. The Old Princess Consort Consort decided to host ten banquet tables that night to properly welcome the guests who had traveled so far, allowing everyone to enjoy an early celebration. The other ladies were more than happy with the idea, and the kitchen, having prepared for such an event, began working through the night to arrange the tables.

While the older ladies gathered in the Old Princess Consort’s quarters to drink and chat, the younger ladies sat in the pavilion, filling three tables themselves.

With so many people present, the County Princess quickly grew restless. She suggested, “Sitting here is so boring. Let’s go to the lake and row boats! They’ll be busy here for a while anyway.”

Chu Jinyao was secretly shocked by her audacity, but Yang Qixia, ever the responsible elder sister, immediately tried to dissuade her. “That’s not a good idea. It’s dangerous to go out on the lake. Why don’t we stay here and listen to the elders talk? We could learn a lot about how to conduct ourselves, which is what proper young ladies should do.”

The County Princess wasn’t pleased and pouted. “You always love to lecture. If you want to sit and listen to their drunken chatter, go ahead.” Standing up without a second thought, she declared, “Move aside, I’m going to row a boat. Come if you want; I don’t care.”

Her actions soon reached the Princess Consort, who sighed in frustration. “Make sure she’s well looked after! Don’t let her get sunburned! And place several servants on the boat who are skilled with the water. Each boat must have a capable swimmer—we can’t let anything go wrong.”

The servants all responded dutifully, and the County Princess happily made her way to the lake. The boats had been brought out from storage, but they were covered in water plants and needed cleaning before they could be used. Annoyed by the delay, the County Princess pouted and complained, “Why is it so difficult to row a boat? This can’t be done, that can’t be done, and now there isn’t even a boat ready for me!”

Chu Jinyao thought the County Princess was being unreasonable. Boats that hadn’t been used all winter needed to be cleaned before going in the water. Yang Qixia tried to reason with her, lecturing again about how young ladies should behave, but the County Princess was tired of hearing it.

Seeing an opportunity, Chu Jinyao gently tugged on the County Princess’s sleeve and pointed to a small pavilion near the lake. “County Princess, while we wait, why not sit in that pavilion over there? You can enjoy the breeze and admire the garden’s scenery.”

The County Princess brightened and agreed immediately, pulling Chu Jinyao along as they ran towards the pavilion. Yang Qixia followed behind, calling out, silently regretting that she hadn’t thought of this idea herself. Now that Chu Jinyao had made the suggestion, she would have to find another way to win back favour.

Once inside the pavilion, the County Princess let out a gleeful cheer and ran to the window. Her maid hurried after her, calling, “County Princess, slow down! Be careful not to slip!”

Linglong quietly reminded Chu Jinyao, “Miss, please be careful on the stairs. This is a second-floor pavilion, after all. Better to be cautious.”

Chu Jinyao nodded, indicating that she understood. Although the pavilion wasn’t high, a sudden push from behind could still be dangerous.

Keeping this in mind, Chu Jinyao maintained a safe distance from the window. The County Princess, however, leaned against the railing, pointing excitedly at the view outside.

Several other young ladies gathered around the County Princess, trying to win her favour. Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from below, and a breathless servant woman hurried up, calling out loudly, “Is the County Princess here?”

Chu Jinyao, standing outside, quickly replied, “Yes, she’s here. What’s the matter?”

The County Princess frowned at the interruption, already guessing what it was about. “What else could it be? They must be calling me back.”

“Oh, my little ancestor!” the woman exclaimed, slapping her thigh dramatically. “You must come back at once! The Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort just received word from the heir—His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, is on his way here right now!”

“The Crown Prince?”

Everyone was stunned. Several young ladies even stood up in shock, and even the County Princess was taken aback. She rushed over to the servant woman, tugging nervously at her skirt. “Are you serious? That Crown Prince?”

“Who else could it be, County Princess? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself! No one knows why, but he suddenly decided to visit and present a birthday gift to the Old Princess Consort. The Prince and Shizi only just received the news. You must return quickly to wash your face, comb your hair, and change your clothes in time to greet His Royal Highness!”

The County Princess was genuinely flustered, standing frozen in place for a moment before nodding rapidly in agreement.

The rest of the ladies were also unsettled. The Crown Prince was coming, and at such a crucial moment, who could think of enjoying a boat ride? Everyone was anxious, their minds elsewhere, eager to return and prepare.

Linglong gently tugged at Chu Jinyao’s sleeve. “Miss, let’s go back and change too. You should wear that embroidered gown, and I’ll redo your hair.”

Chu Jinyao wanted to remind Linglong that they were far removed from the Crown Prince’s circle. This was not an occasion where they would have a chance to stand out, and fussing over clothes and hair would be in vain. Yet, when she glanced around, she saw that many ladies seemed just as eager as Linglong, already preparing to leave.

Chu Jinmiao, in particular, was noticeably tense. She kept glancing at the staircase, nervously twisting her handkerchief.

Upstairs, the group of ladies had been noisy, not paying attention. Outside, a retinue of attendants was approaching. Since the County Princess was hurrying back to change, the other ladies had no interest in staying to admire the lotus flowers. Maids from the mansion were already tidying the pavilion. A maid in a yellow jacket reached out to close the window, but as Chu Jinyao watched, the maid wobbled precariously, her grip on the window pole unsteady. “Be careful; you’ll fall if you lean out too far,” Chu Jinyao warned.

The maid responded with some irritation, “I’m holding onto the railing.”

“Even if you’re holding onto the railing, you could still drop something. If it falls and hits someone passing below, what then?”

Before Chu Jinyao could finish speaking, the maid’s hand slipped, and Chu Jinyao, startled, rushed forward to grab the pole. Holding it firmly, she turned back to scold the maid, “See? You nearly dropped it just now. What if someone had been hit?”

But the maid suddenly gasped, eyes wide, covering her mouth with one hand and pointing ahead in disbelief with the other. Curious, Chu Jinyao followed her gaze, completely unprepared for what she saw.

“His Highness, the Heir?”

At first, Chu Jinyao was puzzled. Why was Lin Xiyuan here? But then she realized something was amiss. Lin Xiyuan was the heir to the Prince’s Mansion, and standing beside him was a middle-aged man in his forties, radiating an air of authority—that must be Prince Huailing himself. The Prince held a high rank in Shanxi; even the Governor would defer to him. For Lin Xiyuan and Prince Huailing to be standing alongside someone, who could that person be?

The group below had heard the commotion upstairs. Prince Huailing glanced up, his gaze sharp and oppressive. The person behind him waved emphatically but discreetly. Before Chu Jinyao could make sense of the situation, the man walking in the middle glanced up, his eyes meeting hers.

Bathed in the golden sunlight of early April, the man was dressed in a dark blue narrow-sleeved robe, tall and imposing, his eyes bright and piercing.

Caught completely off guard, Chu Jinyao found herself locking eyes with him. Startled, her grip on the pole slipped.

The man raised an eyebrow, stepping back just in time as the wooden pole came crashing down in front of him, raising a cloud of dust.

Prince Huailing’s face darkened, and the eunuch accompanying the man was so shocked that he rushed forward, his voice shrill with panic: “How dare you!”

The officials present were equally alarmed and outraged. “How could you throw something at His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince?”

Chu Jinyao stood frozen, her words stuck in her throat. “I… he… this…”

The people from Prince Huailing’s Mansion glared at her, but they quickly turned to flatter the Crown Prince: “Your Highness, this is just one of the County Princess’s study companions. She didn’t recognize you and accidentally offended you.”

“Yes, please don’t blame her, Your Highness…”

The Crown Prince glanced up at Chu Jinyao with a faint smile. After all these months, she had certainly grown bolder. Despite clearly seeing him, she still dared to throw something at him.

In fact, the Crown Prince had spotted Chu Jinyao from afar. She had been standing on the pavilion, talking to a maid, her back turned to the rickety railing. Then, as she turned around and looked at him, she absentmindedly dropped the pole she had been holding.

That moment had been both unexpected and, in a way, inevitable.

As everyone around him anxiously pleaded, fearing he would take offense, the Crown Prince calmly said, “It’s nothing, just an accident.”

The eunuch, who had been furious moments before, suddenly found himself speechless, his anger stifled by the Crown Prince’s response. Even Prince Huailing seemed surprised, tentatively asking, “Your Highness, are you sure you’re not upset?”

The Crown Prince gave him a cold look before walking away, leaving the eunuch scrambling to follow. As he hurried after the Crown Prince, the eunuch couldn’t help but wonder—since when had His Highness become so patient?

Prince Huailing quickly followed behind, but as they passed the pavilion, he glanced back, his eyes warning the young ladies sternly.

The ladies had all stayed hidden behind the walls during the earlier commotion, afraid to come out. Once the group had left, they quickly rushed over to Chu Jinyao, one of them asking, “Was that really the Crown Prince?”

But Chu Jinyao was still dazed, not responding to their questions. From such a close distance, she was certain that the man she had just seen was Qi Ze. Or at least, he looked exactly like Qi Ze.

And that man… they called him the Crown Prince?

The Crown Prince?

It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Chu Jinyao, leaving her completely stunned. The other Ladies, seeing her lack of response, asked again, “What are you thinking? Did you really almost hit the Crown Prince?”

Chu Jinyao finally regained her composure, managing a strained smile. “I suppose… yes.”

“Ah!” The ladies gasped, covering their mouths in shock. “How could you be so careless? How could you possibly throw something at the Crown Prince?”

Though they scolded her, they were all secretly thinking the same thing: Why wasn’t it me outside just now?

The County Princess, equally displeased, muttered at Chu Jinyao, still fidgeting with her dress: “What should I do? The Crown Prince is leaving, and I haven’t even had time to change!”

Chu Jinmiao, too, was nervously clutching her sleeves, wrinkling her dress in the process. She hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to be so young or… so handsome. Among the group of high-ranking officials accompanying him, the Crown Prince stood out so sharply that the others seemed to fade into the background, mere shadows beside him.

While the County Princess rushed off to change into something more colourful, the other young ladies also hurried away, each trying to tidy themselves up. Only Chu Jinyao remained behind, lost in thought. She clung to the wall, slowly descending the pavilion stairs, still grappling with the realization. The mysterious figure she had glimpsed at the Prince’s Mansion in the twelfth lunar month… it really had been him. And that man was the Crown Prince.

It all made sense now—how the Crown Prince could have secretly appeared at the mansion and why he would now be attending the Old Princess Consort’s sixtieth birthday celebration. But Chu Jinyao wasn’t interested in what the Crown Prince wanted. Her only question was why Qi Ze and the Crown Prince looked exactly alike.

Author’s Note:

Mini-Theater:

Hints and Clues

When the group of people arrived.

People downstairs: frantically signalling with their eyes

Chu Jinyao upstairs: Huh???

About intentional harm

Chu Jinyao: “You should be careful with that pole—you might drop it on someone below. Forget it, I’ll do it myself!”

[Author’s Additional Note]: Let me patch this up a bit. Jacaranda trees are native to the Americas and were only recently introduced to China as ornamental plants. The time, location, and growing conditions in this story don’t match up… But they’re just too beautiful for me to resist, so I had to force them into the narrative! 🙂