Chapter 49: Seeing Flowers Through the Water

 

Why had the Crown Prince suddenly come to Huailing Prince’s Mansion?

 

After Chu Jinyao “accidentally” dropped something on the Crown Prince, she had no time to think much about it before being hastily taken to the front hall by the panicked servants. Not long ago, the Old Princess Consort had hosted a banquet here, but now all traces of the meal and wine had been wiped clean. The hall was filled with new incense, and the festive atmosphere from earlier was entirely subdued. Old Princess Consort, now wearing a headscarf and having changed into a new set of clothes, respectfully led her two daughters-in-law and the guest ladies in a formal bow, saying, “This old one greets His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

Following the Old Princess Consort’s lead, all the women knelt. Chu Jinyao and the other young ladies had just returned from the garden, and seeing this scene, they hurriedly joined the bowing.

 

The crowd called out long-life blessings in unison, kneeling in waves, creating a sea of black heads. Even those old enough to be Qin Yi’s grandmother were present. Yet Qin Yi, standing calmly before them, displayed no discomfort. He stood like a bamboo stalk, serene and composed, while the Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort wore their formal noble dresses. Behind them, the Prince and the Heir, Lin Xiyuan, wore robes adorned with their official rank. Qin Yi, however, remained in his ordinary clothes, but despite his casual attire, his aura was not diminished. Instead, his unconcerned manner exuded a sense of aloofness and superiority, befitting someone of his rank.

 

It was as if he was born to stand in that position.

 

Qin Yi nodded slightly and said, “Old Princess Consort, no need for such formalities; please rise.”

 

As soon as Qin Yi finished speaking, the young eunuch behind him immediately stepped forward, skillfully helping the Old Princess Consort to her feet. The Princess Consort and the others also stood up with the assistance of their maids. After everyone had risen, the Old Princess Consort spoke, “Your Highness, our humble home is greatly honoured by your visit. Why did you not notify us in advance so we could prepare a proper welcome? We fear we have been remiss in our hospitality.”

 

Qin Yi responded, “You’re too kind, Old Princess Consort. I heard it was your birthday, and I came to offer my wishes. I hope I haven’t disturbed your preparations for the banquet. That would be my fault.”

 

The Old Princess Consort, naturally, responded with modest gratitude. Truthfully, this sudden visit from the Crown Prince had caught everyone off guard. Who could have imagined that the Crown Prince would engage in a low-profile tour? It wasn’t until Qin Yi’s party entered Taiyuan that word was sent ahead. Upon receiving the news, Prince Huailing was so shocked he nearly fainted. He didn’t even have time to return home, hastily sending a servant to inform the mansion while he, still in his official robes, rushed out to meet the Crown Prince. When he finally caught up with the Prince, Qin Yi insisted on keeping things quiet, requesting no fanfare or disturbance of the people. And so, quietly and discreetly, the Crown Prince entered the mansion.

 

Had Qin Yi been wearing his formal regalia, they would have been compelled to greet him with the highest honours at the main gate. However, since he was traveling incognito, there was no such need, and he entered through a side gate, passing through the garden to reach the main residence. Prince Huailing had tried to console himself, thinking that since the garden was scenic and quiet, they wouldn’t risk offending the Crown Prince. But who could have anticipated that they would run into young ladies strolling through the garden—and that one of them would almost drop something on the Crown Prince?

 

Prince Huailing didn’t know whether to be angry or terrified.

 

Luckily, the Crown Prince didn’t seem to mind much. After a few rounds of polite exchanges with Prince Huailing and the Old Princess Consort, they respectfully invited the Crown Prince to take the seat of honour. The Prince, the Old Princess Consort, and the accompanying officials sat in lower positions, while the Heir Lin Xiyuan stood behind his father, and the Princess Consort respectfully stood behind the Old Princess Consort. The rest stood quietly, hands folded, heads slightly lowered.

 

In such a setting, even the Heir and the Princess Consort were not qualified to sit, let alone someone like Chu Jinyao, an unmarried young lady. She stood at the back, blocked by a sea of noblewomen, with only flashes of colourful skirts visible in front of her. But standing in the back had its advantages; Chu Jinyao could lower her head and let the others in front obscure her from view, allowing her to space out a little.

 

Though propriety dictated that unmarried women should avoid the presence of men other than their fathers and brothers, the Crown Prince, a figure of such high status, was exempt from such conventions. Not coming out to greet him would have been a serious offense.

 

As Qin Yi sat at the head of the hall, listening absentmindedly to the Old Princess Consort’s careful flattery, his thoughts wandered slightly. He had briefly seen Chu Jinyao earlier—where was she now? Why couldn’t he see her anymore?

 

Meanwhile, Chu Jinyao was subtly peeking at Qin Yi through the gaps between the women’s dresses. No one noticed her gaze.

 

Chu Jinyao stole several glances at him, her thoughts racing. Why did he look so much like Qi Ze?

 

A bold idea suddenly popped into her head: could Qi Ze and the Crown Prince be the same person?

 

The thought shocked her so much that her face went pale. She quickly looked around, relieved to find that everyone was focused on the Crown Prince, and no one had noticed her reaction. She let out a small sigh of relief.

 

Once her nerves had settled, Chu Jinyao began to carefully manage and weigh the possibility of her theory.

 

She thought about it for a long time and still found it unlikely. The Crown Prince, as a member of the imperial family, would have been blessed by the heavens. How could someone like him silently appear in Taiyuan and end up in the household of the Marquis of Changxing? When Qi Ze first appeared, it was late January or early February, and at that time, the Crown Prince was fighting enemies at the border. Countless people had seen him there. The Crown Prince couldn’t possibly be in two places at once.

 

Furthermore, from an outsider’s perspective, Chu Jinyao could see that their personalities didn’t match. The Crown Prince was noble, aloof, and carried an air of authority, whereas Qi Ze was much more irritable and annoying.

 

Most importantly, the Crown Prince was a living, breathing person, now sitting right in front of everyone. How could he be a spirit like Qi Ze?

 

The more she thought about it, the more convinced Chu Jinyao became that her theory was correct. It must be that Qi Ze had taken on the Crown Prince’s appearance because the Crown Prince, being of royal blood, was protected by divine favour. That’s why Qi Ze, a spirit, looked like him.

 

This thought immediately reassured Chu Jinyao, and she relaxed, laughing at herself for having such wild and nonsensical ideas. How could she have thought that her jade pendant spirit was the Crown Prince? That was pure fantasy!

 

Feeling much lighter, Chu Jinyao began to pay attention to the people around her. The Princess Consort and the County Princess were standing in the front, while the rest of the young ladies were crowded at the back, enviously watching the County Princess, who had the opportunity to be in front of the Crown Prince. A few of the ladies, including Chu Jinmiao, strained their necks to try to get a better look at him.

 

After a short while, one of the officials suggested that the Crown Prince had travelled a long way and should rest. The Old Princess Consort immediately agreed and invited the Crown Prince to stay in the Prince’s Mansion. The Crown Prince declined politely but eventually accepted.

 

Upon hearing this, the people of the mansion couldn’t hide their delight, especially the Princess Consort, whose face radiated with pride.

 

Prince Huailing and the Heir personally accompanied the Crown Prince to the residence prepared for him, while the Old Princess Consort, who also wanted to accompany them, was persuaded to stay behind.

 

Once the Crown Prince’s party had left, the Old Princess Consort wiped her brow and sat down on the bed, panting. Seeing her like this, the other madams tactfully excused themselves. The Crown Prince’s sudden visit had disrupted many people’s plans, and they needed to return home to make their own preparations.

 

After the room had cleared and only family remained, the Old Princess Consort asked the Princess Consort, “Is the residence truly ready? We can’t afford to lack anything and risk offending the Crown Prince.”

 

“Mother, rest assured,” the Princess Consort replied confidently. “As soon as I received the news, I sent people to prepare the Huazhang Courtyard. We originally built that courtyard specifically for the Crown Prince. Although he later sent word that he wouldn’t be coming, I didn’t slack off in maintaining it. Now, everything is in place, just as planned.”

 

The Old Princess Consort nodded approvingly. “Well done. If you hadn’t prepared in advance, we might have embarrassed ourselves today.”

 

The Princess Consort beamed with satisfaction. She had put so much effort into that courtyard, all in the hopes that her daughter might catch the Crown Prince’s eye. Though last year’s news suggested the Crown Prince wouldn’t visit Taiyuan, fate had taken a turn, and now he was staying in their mansion.

 

It felt like a stroke of fortune. The Princess Consort, though standing here, was already mentally planning how to dress up the County Princess to attract the Crown Prince’s attention. Should she go for a subtle elegance or a more striking look? Even the Princess Consort herself was stumped by the decision.

 

While the Old Princess Consort and Princess Consort discussed these matters inside, Chu Jinyao and the other young ladies stood just outside, listening. After a while, the conversation became more urgent, and the Princess Consort stood up to pull the County Princess into the room. Seeing the other ladies, she gave them a perfunctory smile and said, “You’ve all had a long day. Go back and rest.”

 

Chu Jinyao was more than happy to comply and immediately curtsied, signalling her readiness to leave. However, Chu Jinmiao was visibly displeased, hesitating and dragging her feet. She didn’t want to leave.

 

Why did they always make the ladies stay with the County Princess all day, but when it came to important matters, they were sent away? Chu Jinmiao was deeply frustrated. She lingered for a long time, but in the end, she didn’t dare defy the Princess Consort openly. Sulking, she followed the others out.

 

The Princess Consort kept smiling as she watched them leave, her gaze lingering briefly on Chu Jinmiao’s back. She knew very well what was going on in the lady’s mind, but she didn’t bother pointing it out. After all, it was the Princess Consort herself who had insisted on bringing Chu Jinmiao into the mansion, despite the Old Princess Consort’s initial objections. She knew that Chu Jinmiao was clever and scheming, but so what? With the Princess Consort watching over everything, what could a mere lady like Chu Jinmiao possibly achieve? In fact, having such a cunning companion by the County Princess’s side might serve as a useful whetstone to sharpen her daughter’s wits.

 

The Princess Consort’s gaze briefly landed on Chu Jinyao. She couldn’t help but feel a moment of hesitation. Unlike the Old Princess Consort, the Princess Consort wasn’t keen on keeping Chu Jinyao around. Despite joining the mansion at the same time, the County Princess had grown increasingly fond of Chu Jinyao, while the mansion’s servants had also come to admire her. Such a tactful demeanour, combined with her striking beauty, made it impossible for the Princess Consort to ignore her.

 

“Mother, what are you looking at?” the County Princess asked, tugging at her sleeve in confusion.

 

The Princess Consort snapped out of her thoughts, smiling warmly at her daughter. “Nothing, my dear. Just thinking about some matters. Don’t worry, I’ll handle everything for you.”

 

The County Princess, reassured, cheerfully let her thoughts wander, while the Princess Consort thought to herself that there was still time to teach her daughter the ways of the world.

 

When Chu Jinyao returned to her courtyard, she calmly had her tea refreshed. The events of the day had kept her standing for a long time, and her waist was starting to ache.

 

As Jiegeng replaced the water and Linglong brought her a new cup of tea, she couldn’t help but ask, “Miss, do you really have no thoughts about everything that happened today?”

 

Chu Jinyao looked up. “What thoughts should I have?”

 

Linglong hesitated. “I didn’t mean it that way… but today we saw the Crown Prince!”

 

“And so?” Chu Jinyao thought to herself; I even locked eyes with the Crown Prince and almost dropped something on him.

 

Of course, she had no intention of mentioning that incident. The Old Princess Consort had been busy and had probably forgotten about it for now, so there was no need for Chu Jinyao to bring it up and invite trouble upon herself.

 

“But, Miss, the Crown Prince has arrived, and we…”

 

“Linglong,” Chu Jinyao interrupted, her tone slightly sharper, her gaze heavy as she looked at Linglong. “Having ambition is a good thing, but if your ambition outweighs your capabilities and status, it becomes laughable.”

 

She set down her teacup, speaking not only to Linglong but also to Momo Gong and Jiegeng in the room. “We should all be aware of our position. Grandmother sent us here to be companions to the County Princess. You should know this even better than I do. The Old Princess Consort and the Princess Consort treat us well because we are here as the County Princess’s companions. But if we overstep, what do you think the Princess Consort will do?”

 

Linglong understood immediately, kneeling to apologize, “I understand now. It was foolish of me, Miss. I nearly strayed onto the wrong path. Thank you for the reminder.”

 

“As long as you understand.” Chu Jinyao didn’t intend to punish Linglong. Seeing that she had grasped the point, Chu Jinyao allowed her to stand. After all, unity among her own people was crucial, especially when she had to rely on them in times of need. Now was not the time to cause division among her trusted servants.

 

After offering a gentle rebuke, Chu Jinyao let the matter rest. Over the next few days, the hustle and bustle surrounding the Prince’s Mansion’s preparations kept her too occupied to dwell on the incident. The Old Princess Consort’s sixtieth birthday was already a major event, and the arrival of the Crown Prince only added to the excitement. From the second day after the Crown Prince’s arrival, the number of guests bearing birthday gifts surged, with an increasing number of high-ranking officials visiting the mansion to present their respects. Even familiar faces, such as Manager Wei, the head of Yunzhi embroidery, made an appearance, personally bringing his son along to offer congratulations.

 

Given that Chu Jinyao was staying at the mansion, Manager Wei also took the opportunity to deliver her monthly dividends. Accompanying him was someone entirely unexpected.

 

When the servant relayed the message, Chu Jinyao couldn’t believe what she heard and asked again, “What did you say?”

 

“Fifth Young Lady, Manager Wei said he brought something for you, but due to time constraints, he couldn’t deliver it in person, so he entrusted it to a woman from the store, a Mrs. Su.”

 

Chu Jinyao stood up abruptly, her voice trembling with excitement. “Where is she?”

 

“She entered through the west gate and should be on her way now.”

 

Overjoyed, Chu Jinyao quickly instructed, “Linglong, prepare some coins and snacks for the messenger.” Then, without even waiting for pleasantries, she lifted her skirt and hurried out.

 

Sure enough, she met Su Hui halfway. Upon seeing her familiar figure, Chu Jinyao’s eyes instantly welled up with tears.

 

“Sister!”

 

Su Hui also spotted Chu Jinyao, quickening her pace to meet her. After a brief look, she playfully scolded, “Why did you run out here? There are people everywhere, and you’re not familiar with the way. Aren’t you afraid of getting lost?”

 

“How could I?” Chu Jinyao knew Su Hui’s sharp tongue concealed a soft heart, so she wasn’t upset. Grinning, she grabbed Su Hui’s hand. “When I heard you came with Manager Wei, I couldn’t wait and ran out to find you. And I found you just in time.”

 

Su Hui chuckled, “Since I came all this way, of course, I’d meet you before leaving. Now, let’s go back. We shouldn’t stand here blocking the path for others.”

 

Arm in arm, they returned to the small courtyard, chatting quietly and exchanging updates along the way. Last winter, Chu Jinyao had asked Manager Wei to find Su Hui. After confirming the truth of the news, Su Hui’s family had moved from the countryside to Taiyuan. Although Chu Jinyao knew about Su Hui’s move, she couldn’t visit her while living in the Marquis’s mansion, and inviting Su Hui inside wasn’t easy either. Now, being stationed at Huailing Prince’s Mansion as a companion made their meeting seem even more distant.

 

Chu Jinyao never imagined that Manager Wei would be so thoughtful as to bring Su Hui along this time. Since the Marquis had taken her in, it had been over a year since the two sisters had seen each other.

 

Chu Jinyao often reflected that while she had been unlucky in her family relations, she had been fortunate to have two sisters who treated her well. Her biological sister, Chu Jinxian, was gentle and poised and had helped her establish herself in the Marquis’s mansion. Su Hui, her adopted sister, was quick-tempered and sharp-tongued but had a soft heart. Chu Jinyao cherished and trusted both sisters deeply.

 

The two chatted happily, reliving old times, as they walked back to the courtyard. But just as they approached the gate, they saw someone walking towards them.

 

Seeing the newcomer, Chu Jinyao’s smile instantly faded, but Su Hui, still unaware, asked, “What’s wrong? Who is this young lady? Aren’t you going to greet her?”

 

Behind Chu Jinyao, Jiegeng curtsied, “Greetings, Fourth Young Lady.”

 

“Fourth Young Lady?” Su Hui felt a twinge of confusion. Why had Chu Jinyao’s expression turned so cold? They were sisters from the same household, so why was she giving her such a cold shoulder? After all, Chu Jinyao had returned to her birth family—shouldn’t she maintain good relations with them? Why would she casually offend her own kin?

 

Su Hui was about to discreetly pinch Chu Jinyao’s arm when it suddenly dawned on her. Su Hui suddenly remembered that Chu Jinyao was the Fifth Young Lady.

 

Fourth Young Lady and Fifth Young Lady.

 

It clicked for Su Hui. The person walking toward them must be the lady who had been secretly swapped by the Su family—Chu Jinmiao, her biological sister.

 

Su Hui felt a pang of awkwardness. She didn’t know what to say next. Chu Jinmiao, on the other hand, wore an expression of disdain and cold indifference as she passed them without offering a single greeting. After walking a little farther, Chu Jinmiao asked her maid, “Who was that woman in servant’s clothes? How could they let someone like her into the back courtyard?”

 

Chu Jinmiao didn’t bother lowering her voice, clearly intending for them to hear. Her maid whispered something to her, and both Chu Jinyao and Su Hui overheard Chu Jinmiao’s cold laugh before she walked away without looking back.

 

Su Hui felt a chill in her heart. Chu Jinyao, fearing that Su Hui might feel humiliated, quickly reassured her, “Sister, don’t take it to heart. Just ignore her.”

 

Su Hui pressed Chu Jinyao’s hand gently and said, “Let’s go inside. This isn’t the place to talk.”

 

Once they were seated indoors, Chu Jinyao carefully chose her words. “Sister, Chu Jinmiao has always been like this—sharp-tongued and spiteful. She loves to make cutting remarks. You shouldn’t take it personally.”

 

“I understand,” Su Hui replied, looking thoughtfully at Chu Jinyao. “To be honest, her family only gave birth to her but did not contribute anything to her upbringing. She was raised and clothed by someone else. It’s only natural that she doesn’t recognize me. I expected this.”

 

But Su Hui hadn’t anticipated that Chu Jinmiao would be so utterly dismissive of her biological family.

 

Chu Jinyao didn’t know how to respond. In situations like these, her position was complicated. Saying anything might make things worse, so she remained silent, holding Su Hui’s hand for support. After a moment of quiet reflection, Su Hui shook off her melancholy and said, “Never mind; let’s not talk about her anymore. If she doesn’t want to acknowledge us commoners, that’s her choice. I’ll pretend I don’t have this sister either. We’ve never spent a single day together anyway—there’s no point in forcing any kind of relationship.”

 

Su Hui’s pragmatic attitude surprised Chu Jinyao, but after thinking it over, she realized it made sense. This was technically the first time Su Hui and Chu Jinmiao had ever met. And with Chu Jinmiao’s rude remarks, how could Su Hui feel any sense of sisterly affection? It wasn’t as if Su Hui would be willing to treat Chu Jinmiao as a sister after being spoken to so disrespectfully. Meanwhile, Chu Jinmiao probably felt the same and was glad to cut ties with her birth family.

 

It seemed that Chu Jinmiao had voluntarily severed her connection with her biological sister, a decision that likely suited her just fine.

 

Chu Jinyao saw no need to waste time or energy on someone like Chu Jinmiao, especially since it would only ruin her mood. She focused her attention back on Su Hui, shifting their conversation toward more pleasant topics like Yunzhi embroidery and whether selling ready-made garments could be profitable. The two sisters had so much to talk about, and Chu Jinmiao wasn’t going to spoil it.

 

Excited by their discussion, Chu Jinyao showed Su Hui the clothes she had sewn in her free time, one outfit after another.

 

Su Hui examined the stitching and design carefully before commenting, “The way you’ve sewn the pleats and attached tassels is quite innovative. It’s more labour-intensive, but if we’re willing to put in the extra work, it should sell well. I’ll try making a few samples with scraps of fabric to see how they turn out.”

 

Both women had grown up accustomed to hardship, so when they talked about making money, they were particularly enthusiastic.

 

Casually, Chu Jinyao asked, “How have things been with you lately, Sister? Are you managing with money?”

 

Su Hui’s expression faltered for a brief moment, her lips trembling slightly as she hesitated to speak. She sneaked a glance at Chu Jinyao’s face, noticing how well-groomed and content she appeared—clearly, life was treating her well in the Marquis household. Su Hui didn’t want to burden her with any problems.

 

After a pause, Su Hui shook her head and smiled. “Everything’s fine. No need to worry. Now, about that design—you were saying it needed a specific type of stitch?”

 

Chu Jinyao had been about to press for more details, but when Su Hui steered the conversation back to sewing, she didn’t push. Instead, she patiently demonstrated the stitch work again. The discussion naturally veered off course.

 

They chatted late into the day, thoroughly enjoying each other’s company. Eventually, when dusk began to fall, Su Hui realized she needed to leave soon or she wouldn’t make it back to the city before dark. With reluctance, the two sisters said goodbye.

 

Chu Jinyao accompanied Su Hui to the gate, waiting for the carriage from Manager Wei’s shop to arrive. While they waited, Chu Jinyao couldn’t help but ask, “Sister, why did Manager Wei come this time? Normally, Manager Wei Liang—the junior shopkeeper—handles deliveries. I’ve never even met Manager Wei before.”

 

“It’s a special occasion,” Su Hui explained. “After all, he’s here to present a birthday gift to the Old Princess Consort. It wouldn’t do to send the junior staff for something so important.” Su Hui shrugged, “To be honest, I’ve barely met Manager Wei myself. He’s always managing several businesses at once and hardly ever appears at the shop. If it weren’t for this trip to see you, I probably wouldn’t have seen him either.”

 

Chu Jinyao nodded. “That does make sense. Still, there’s something mysterious about him. But I suppose anyone capable of running such a large business is bound to be a little unusual.”

 

Su Hui agreed. Though she only worked in one of the embroidery shops, she had seen enough to sense the wealth and power behind the Manager Wei family. Chu Jinyao’s monthly dividends alone were proof of that.

 

What Su Hui didn’t know was the extent of Chu Jinyao’s connection to Manager Wei. She assumed it was simply a matter of the Marquis’s household investing in Yunzhi embroidery and that Chu Jinyao’s portion of the profits was her share. To Su Hui, this was normal, so she didn’t think too much of it.

 

As they stood talking, waiting for the carriage, they began to wonder why it was taking so long. Several servants had already run out to check, but all reported back the same thing—Manager Wei was busy and couldn’t be found.

 

“What could he be so occupied with that he can’t even send someone?” Chu Jinyao muttered.

 

“Just wait a little longer,” Su Hui replied. “If you’re tired of standing, you should go back. I can wait here alone.”

 

“No, that won’t do,” Chu Jinyao insisted. She stayed with Su Hui, feeling uneasy. “Manager Wei and the Prince’s Mansion don’t seem to have much of a relationship. What is he doing here, and why for so long?”

 

Fortunately, not long after, Manager Wei finally appeared, rushing over to fetch Su Hui and the others. After bidding Su Hui a reluctant farewell, Chu Jinyao watched as they left the mansion before heading back herself.

 

The next day was the official celebration of the Old Princess Consort’s birthday. The Prince’s Mansion was lively and bustling with guests, and for three days they hosted continuous feasts, with servants scattering candy and silver coins at both gates, attracting large crowds. Performances ran from morning until night. Because the Crown Prince was attending, the scale of the celebration was even more grand. Visitors constantly arrived with gifts, and a servant at the gate loudly read out the names and presents, working tirelessly all day long as a stream of distinguished guests came to offer their congratulations.

 

With so many people attending, it was impossible for anyone—whether guest or host—to keep track of everyone present. Naturally, the Crown Prince took the opportunity to meet many individuals under the guise of attending the birthday festivities.

 

On the final afternoon of the celebration, the Prince’s Mansion hosted an opera performance in the rear garden. The Old Princess Consort and her guests gathered to watch, with the men seated on one side and the women on the other. The stage was positioned in the centre of the garden, surrounded by pavilions.

 

Chu Jinyao wasn’t particularly interested in the performance. She sat quietly in her seat, idly passing the time, when she suddenly felt someone nudge her.

 

“Why are you still daydreaming?” the County Princess said, sounding irritated.

 

Chu Jinyao snapped out of her thoughts, confused. “What’s wrong?”

 

The County Princess pursed her lips but ultimately said nothing. She simply grabbed Chu Jinyao’s arm and tugged her up. “I want to go for a walk. You’re coming with me.”

 

“If you want to take a walk, ask Sister Yang to go with you. I’m not in the mood to move.”

 

“No, you have to come!”

 

Chu Jinyao frowned, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the County Princess’s tone. Among the three companions, Chu Jinyao had no idea why the County Princess favoured her company. Yang Qixia and Chu Jinmiao were both jealous, but Chu Jinyao felt no joy from the attention. She suspected that the County Princess’s fascination with her had less to do with friendship and more to do with her unique background. After all, it wasn’t every day that a young noblewoman was discovered to have been raised in a farmer’s household. To the County Princess, Chu Jinyao seemed more like a curious toy than a real companion.

 

But the County Princess was the apple of the Princess Consort’s eye, so no one dared to criticize her behavior. Left with no choice, Chu Jinyao sighed and stood up. “Fine, just stop pulling me. I’ll go with you.”

 

Chu Jinmiao, who had been discreetly watching Chu Jinyao, noticed her stand up and leave. She tried to maintain a calm demeanour, but as soon as Chu Jinyao disappeared from view, Chu Jinmiao whispered to Yang Qixia, “Where do you think the County Princess and Chu Jinyao are going?”

 

Yang Qixia glanced at them briefly and answered nonchalantly, “I don’t know. Maybe they’re bored and want to get some fresh air, just like you.”

 

“Oh,” Chu Jinmiao responded, but inwardly she thought, so they’re following the Crown Prince.

 

Chu Jinmiao waited a while longer, then quietly slipped out herself.

 

After she left, Yang Qixia watched her go with a neutral expression.

 

As Chu Jinyao followed the County Princess, she became more and more suspicious. Finally, she stopped in her tracks and asked warily, “Where exactly are we going, County Princess?”

 

“I told you, we’re just getting some air.”

 

“The garden is huge. We can get fresh air anywhere. Why are we heading in this specific direction?”

 

Chu Jinyao’s sharp tone caught the County Princess off guard, and she stammered, “I just saw the Crown Prince go this way. Don’t you want to get a look at him up close? We can just take a quick peek!”

 

“You’ve lost your mind!” Chu Jinyao exclaimed, horrified. “Do you know what kind of trouble you’d be in if anyone found out?”

 

The County Princess, unfazed, pouted. “It’s not like anyone will find out. We’ll just look from a distance. What’s the harm?”

 

Chu Jinyao was furious. She grabbed the County Princess by the wrist and started dragging her back. “You’re clearly not listening to reason, so I’ll have the Princess Consort come and deal with this.”

 

The County Princess grew furious and shouted, “How dare you!”

 

“Just watch me.”

 

The County Princess, livid, dug in her heels, refusing to move. She turned to her maids and yelled, “Are you all blind? Do you not see her disrespecting me? I’ll tell my mother, and she’ll sell you all to the brothel!”

 

Chu Jinyao’s anger flared. The brothel? Is this really how a proper young lady should talk? One of the maids, who seemed to be the head maid, stepped forward and tried to reason with her mistress. “County Princess, the Fifth Young Lady is right. It’s against the rules to sneak a look at a man. Let’s go back.”

 

“You dare lecture me?” The County Princess was trembling with rage. “Who do you think you are, trying to tell me what to do?” She suddenly bent down and bit Chu Jinyao’s hand.

 

The unexpected pain made Chu Jinyao release her grip, and the County Princess took the opportunity to break free. She spat at Chu Jinyao in disgust before running off in the direction of the Crown Prince.

 

Her maids were shocked, but they immediately abandoned Chu Jinyao to chase after their mistress.

 

Chu Jinyao was left fuming, her hand throbbing in pain. Linglong, her maid, was stunned that a county princess could behave so badly. Gently cradling Chu Jinyao’s wrist, she exclaimed, “How could she do this? She’s already grown up—how can she still bite people like a child?”

 

“Don’t say anything, Linglong,” Chu Jinyao warned, gritting her teeth. “If someone hears you, it’ll only cause us more trouble. Just let it go.”

 

Linglong understood the consequences of speaking out, but she was still seething with anger. “Miss, let me fetch some medicine for your hand, and then we can report this to the Old Princess Consort. Surely she’ll take our side.”

 

Chu Jinyao shook her head with a bitter smile. Even if the Old Princess Consort was reasonable, she would still take her family’s side first. A proper young lady biting someone in a fit of rage—what a scandal! The Old Princess Consort would probably be the first to cover it up.

 

“You go back to the opera stage,” Chu Jinyao instructed. “Report this to the Princess Consort or the Old Princess Consort. If the County Princess angers the Crown Prince, things will really get out of hand. We can’t afford to follow her down this path.”

 

“But, Miss, your hand—” Linglong protested.

 

“It’s just a scratch,” Chu Jinyao said. “Your first priority is to find the Old Princess Consort and stop the County Princess before she causes any real damage.”

 

Linglong hesitated but finally agreed. “Miss, stay here and don’t move. I’ll run back to fetch Jiegeng to tend to your hand, and then I’ll go find the Old Princess Consort.”

 

With no other option, Chu Jinyao nodded. “Alright, be careful on the way.”

 

After settling Chu Jinyao in a nearby pavilion, Linglong hurried off. Meanwhile, Chu Jinmiao, who had been quietly tailing them, sent one of her maids ahead to spy on Chu Jinyao’s movements.

 

The maid crouched behind some bushes, watching the scene unfold. She hadn’t figured out much before Linglong suddenly rushed by, scaring her off.

 

When the maid returned, Chu Jinmiao eagerly asked, “What’s going on up ahead?”

 

The maid, out of breath, replied, “I didn’t see the County Princess, but the Fifth Young Lady is sitting in a pavilion. It looks like her hand is injured, and her maid has left to fetch something.”

 

Chu Jinmiao’s eyes lit up. So Linglong has left her alone. Smirking, she said, “Let’s go see what’s going on.”

 

Linglong, meanwhile, was racing against time, hoping to reach the courtyard and send for help. But just as she was about to reach the garden, Chu Jinmiao stepped in front of her.

 

“Well, well, if it isn’t Linglong,” Chu Jinmiao said with a mocking smile. “What’s the rush? Where’s my dear Fifth Sister?”

 

Linglong, already irritated, kept her head down as she replied, “The Fifth Young Lady is resting ahead. I’m just returning to fetch something for her.”

 

“Is that so?” Chu Jinmiao’s smile didn’t falter. “Then why don’t you take me to see the County Princess first? I have a message from the Princess Consort.”

 

Linglong’s heart sank. She knew Chu Jinmiao was lying, but she had no way to refuse. Bitterly, she lowered her head. “I’m afraid I cannot comply. The Fifth Young Lady is waiting for me to return, and I cannot delay.”

 

“What? You don’t even listen to me anymore?” Chu Jinmiao’s expression darkened. “This is a message from the Princess Consort herself. Are you disobeying an order from above?”

 

Linglong gritted her teeth in frustration. She glanced toward the courtyard, so close yet so far. There was nothing she could do. In the end, she had no choice but to submit. “I dare not.”

 

Back at the pavilion, Chu Jinyao remained unaware that Linglong had been detained. She sat waiting, growing more anxious by the minute. The sky had darkened, and a streak of lightning cut through the clouds, followed by the rumble of thunder.

 

Watching the gathering storm, Chu Jinyao murmured, “It looks like it’s going to rain.”

 

She sighed, “I hope Linglong didn’t get caught in the downpour. It’s been a while; she should’ve reached the courtyard by now. I hope nothing’s gone wrong.”

 

As the rain began to pour, Chu Jinyao pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders, feeling a growing sense of unease. Just then, she heard a voice approaching through the rain.

 

“Master, there’s a pavilion up ahead. Let’s take shelter there.”