The Crown Prince's Mansion was adjacent to the Nanzheng State Royal Palace and occupied the most extensive location in the southeast corner. Crown Prince Fu Xun, having established his mansion at the age of twelve, gradually began to take over the affairs from a few key ministers. Furthermore, due to the illness of the Left Grand Tutor, the Crown Prince smoothly took over all matters of the civil, households, and rituals departments. Although his actions were not entirely perfect, he did not make any significant mistakes either.
In a blink of three years, half of the court affairs seemed to already depend on the Crown Prince's decision. This transition was almost imperceptible, like a gentle breeze, and even those who noticed could only remark with a sigh: "The Crown Prince is noble and pure, the epitome of all civil aspirations."
Crown Prince Fu Xun had slowly begun to make his mark in Nanzheng State, earning the praise of many ministers and citizens. The time Crown Prince Fu Xun spent handling court affairs grew longer, extending into the late night until a carriage, slowly bearing the mansion's emblem, emerged from the palace and entered the grand gate of the Crown Prince's Mansion.
Lights from the palace lanterns stretched out along the corridor, casting a glow in the night, and as a figure in silver-blue descended from the carriage, the entire Crown Prince's Mansion seemed to come to life. Qi Yu immediately greeted him; Qi Yu was in a particularly good mood today, not feeling oppressed or bullied, and followed the Crown Prince with a lighter step.
"Your Highness, today the Empress sent over a Morning Lantern, personally sought from the Cloud Temple for Your Highness; it is said to ward off evil spirits and protect against demons," Qi Yu reported.
Qi Ling glanced at Qi Yu. What's with you today? What's brought on this happiness?
Qi Yu rolled her eyes at him and followed the Crown Prince into the study.
Qi Yu narrowly avoided colliding with her master when he suddenly stopped, taking a step back immediately.
What was the master looking at? Qi Yu followed the Crown Prince's gaze to a string of Red Jade String hanging on the pen holder, its vivid red color stealing the vitality of the entire ebony desk, ostentatious and striking.
Wasn't this hung up by the Crown Prince this morning?
Naturally, Qi Yu understood her master's intentions; Princess Chao Ren was rather troublesome, and such a Red Jade String could save many items in the study.
Quietly, Qi Ling brought in the lantern and placed it properly on the bookshelf, then turned around to see the Crown Prince turning to look at Qi Yu.
"Your Highness, the Princess did not come in today," Qi Yu reported truthfully. "I observed that the Princess seemed quite downhearted."
Qi Ling did not speak; the Princess was out with Prince Duan today and naturally had to restrain herself a bit.
Zheng Congyuan diverted his gaze and waved his hand, and at his signal, Qi Ling and Qi Yu withdrew. Qi Yu looked at Qi Ling. What's with the master today? Why does he seem somewhat absent-minded?
Qi Ling shook his head silently; he didn't know why, but ever since he met with Mage Huo Yi today, he had felt unsettled...
Zheng Congyuan's fingers trembled; the visions conjured by Mage Huo Yi were like a nightmare that wouldn't disperse. In that nightmare, he died, confined for many years before his death with Nian Ru imprisoning him...
Nian Ru...
Zheng Congyuan gave a bitter smile. Such irrational things, yet Mage Huo Yi expected him to believe them. Nian Ru was barely able to protect herself, not to mention her current situation...
Zheng Congyuan gave another bitter smile and shook his head. How could that be possible? Mage Huo Yi's intentions were obvious.
Qi Zhu lit the Calming Incense and had Qi Yu hurry the tea. The evening chimed slowly in the deep night, and Qi Yu glanced at the still busy Crown Prince in the study. It was so late; His Highness should have been asleep by now.
Qi Yu suddenly felt an eerie longing for the Princess who often came uninvited in the late night.
It really was eerie.
"Aunt Yun, be gentle—" Zheng Nianru gasped in pain, but Nanny Yun did not lessen her grip at all.
"Bear with it," Nanny Yun said as she applied force. "Back in Lingyun Workshop, which of the girls didn't endure pain? Without pain, how can their waists melt at a touch?"
"Aunt Yun, Aunt Yun, it's already tight—tight—" Fu Dong rubbed her hands anxiously on the side, her eyes reddening.
Nanny Yun, seizing a moment of stillness, glanced at Fu Dong and Nian Xia.
"You two need to wrap tightly, look at your waistline, you've gained three rings of fat over the year, and you're still not as slim as my waistline," Nanny Yun said as she pinched Fu Dong's waist. Fu Dong quickly begged for mercy while Nian Xia, helping their own Commandery Princess with the already secured wrap, adjusted her clothes.
"You two are the Commandery Princess's trusted aides, and as trusted aides, you must be useful. Not to mention anything else, those young men at the Crown Prince's Mansion, which one of them isn't suitable for you? You should listen more to what I, Aunt Yun, say, and involve yourselves more with Qi Yu and Qi Jin; this would give me less to worry about."
Xing Yu, carrying a dish of Eight Treasures Cheese, cheerfully and carelessly placed it on the table.
"Eat, keep eating, look at your mistress's clothes, they are all a bit tight—"
"Aunt Yun, isn't it what you ordered your servants to prepare—"
Zheng Nianru watched the liveliness of the room, it had been a long time since it had been this lively. Nian Xia and Xing Yu were still there, cheerful and innocent young girls, though their futures might not be very bright.
"Commandery Princess, don't lose heart. With men, you always need some strategy. Too much honey isn't sweet, they only taste right if you keep them hanging," Nanny Yun said as she picked up the Jade Bowl handed to her by Nian Xia and carefully ground the dried Phoenix Fairy Flowers into juice.
"Aunt, the Crown Prince is after all, a relative of the Commandery Princess," Zheng Nianru said absentmindedly, her attentiveness now would someday transform into a wish for his demise.
"Commandery Princess—" Nanny Yun paused for a moment, suddenly quieting down while the soft grinding noise under the candlelight pricked at the heart.
"Ah—" After a while, Nanny Yun let out a soft sigh, as if she had found the reason for the Commandery Princess's unusual behavior today. It was still uncertain whether they could rely on the Crown Prince's side. Empress Dowager Yan Ping had long harbored intentions to kill the Commandery Princess, and with Prince Duan's health failing, who could the Commandery Princess rely on if he were gone?
Yet back then, had not the Crown Prince suddenly appeared, the Commandery Princess might have already been dead, after all, he was the one who saved her.
"Commandery Princess—" Xue Liu quietly walked in, "Qi Ling has sent something."
Zheng Nianru looked up. The wooden box in Xue Liu's hands was not particularly valuable. As the Empress, Zheng Nianru had seen far more precious wood crafted by skilled artisans, but the pear wood of the box in front of her was the most visually enduring, its grain was as natural and inevitable as mountains and rivers.
Nanny Yun took the box and slowly opened it. The chicken blood-red color instantly dazzled the night, making the bright crimson on her nails look quite faded.
Zheng Nianru gazed at the familiar Red Jade String, somewhat lost in thought. Even if she never entered the Crown Prince's Mansion, the item would still have been sent to her. Or was it that, from the beginning, the sole purpose of this strand of Red Jade beads lying there was a convergence of fates?
Zheng Nianru suddenly felt like laughing. She always felt that those things were stolen from Zheng Congyuan, not truly hers, stolen from fate's very hands.
The entanglement between her and Zheng Congyuan was unavoidable, filled with her own selfish shamelessness and her hatred for the Empress. Yet in the end, the one in pain was indeed herself, pained like a kite swept up into the air by the wind.
In the next moment, Zheng Nianru suddenly got up, her calmness from a second ago clearly transforming into emotion in front of Qi Ling, completely disregarding the nails that hadn't yet been dyed. As she walked out the door into the night, the exceedingly familiar paths seemed to wave at her, her performance so convincing that even she believed it was real.
"Commandery Princess—" Nanny Yun drop the item she was holding and chased after her.
Fu Dong hurriedly looked for a cloak, a hand stove, and a lantern.
"Hurry up—" Nian Xia couldn't wait any longer, as if everything was already second nature, her steps light and quick, intent on reaching the Commandery Princess before Qi Yu could stop her.
Huh? Where is the Commandery Princess's cloak?
Fu Dong hastily opened the cabinet and took one out.
Xue Liu began tidying up the room, with the candlelight flickering, quiet and serene, while a figure quietly approached the window.
He had followed her here, first unsure when he saw her entering such a decrepit courtyard, but once inside, he realized the dilapidation was just a facade; everything inside was something he'd never seen before, the only word he could think of was opulent, fitting to match the clothes she wore.