Chapter 25: Is the Prince Reluctant to Let Me Go?

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye, and the night deepened.

The arrival of the Crown Prince had truly disrupted Yin Jiaojiao’s plans. The script she had originally confined to the Prince of Qin’s estate now involved people who had no business being there; the stakes had grown significantly.

Qiu Ming said nervously, "Your Highness, Lady Sun is clearly determined to finish you off tonight. Otherwise, she would never have risked inviting the Crown Princess; she likely intends to use them as witnesses."

Yin Jiaojiao did not need the reminder. Gu Xuezhi’s calculations were obvious: by escalating the situation, she intended to ensure Yin Jiaojiao could never recover.

However... for the past year or two, the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Qin’s estate had maintained only a facade of harmony, while engaging in multiple power struggles in the shadows. Though the two factions had not yet reached the point of mortal conflict, they rarely associated with one another, let alone the Crown Prince making a personal appearance at the Prince of Qin’s estate—an event that would surely cause a massive stir in the capital.

To invite the Crown Prince without authorization went against the intelligent image Gu Xuezhi usually maintained. That she would go to such extreme lengths to ensure her rival's downfall was truly strange.

Yin Jiaojiao began to feel anxious. Had something occurred that she was unaware of? Why else would Gu Xuezhi be so desperate?

"Qiu Ming, go and check how Luo Xiang and the others are getting on. If there are no issues, go and wait for my signal with Lin Wen and Lin Wu," Yin Jiaojiao paused. "Call Xia Lan to take your place."

Qiu Ming shook her head. "Your Highness, Xia Lan has betrayed you. It is too dangerous to have her by your side!"

"Perhaps it would be dangerous at other times, but what could happen at this birthday banquet? With a high-ranking Consort and two princes present, there are experts everywhere, inside and out. Xia Lan only wants to harm me, she isn't looking to commit suicide; she won't strike at me here."

"Very well, I shall go then."

Not long after Qiu Ming left, Xia Lan hurried over.

"Your Highness, you have finally regained your composure. That girl Qiu Ming is young and impulsive; she is not suited for such an occasion."

Yin Jiaojiao noticed the probing look in Xia Lan’s eyes but chose to ignore it.

"Indeed, it is better to have you here."

Hearing this, Xia Lan patted her chest as if relieved, then glanced at the seating arrangements. She couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Your Highness, isn't this arrangement a bit strange?"

Yin Jiaojiao had no time to explain. Consort Ji, the senior guest, had arrived, and as expected, she and Consort Gu were seated in the places of honor. The first seat on the lower left was occupied by the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, which was standard enough, but the arrangement further down was peculiar.

The first seat on the right was set for only one person, and several individual seats followed. As Xia Lan helped arrange things according to Yin Jiaojiao’s instructions, she asked again, "Your Highness, are you not sitting with the Prince?"

"Yes."

Xia Lan’s eyes widened. "Why?"

Yin Jiaojiao turned her gaze, speaking with a mix of truth and pretense. "To please him, of course. It is only right that he sits next to our birthday girl, Lady Sun. Are you not happy for them, Xia Lan?"

Xia Lan understood the first half, and she understood the second half, but put together, it made no sense. Before she could probe further, she lowered her head and whispered, "Your Highness."

Xiao Yuanchi stood gloomily behind Yin Jiaojiao, startling her.

"You—you’re here, why didn't you say anything?"

"Having learned of your 'kind intentions,' Jiaojiao, I find I have nothing to say." Xiao Yuanchi glanced at the first seat on the right. "Is that my place?"

"Yes."

"And Xuezhi?"

Yin Jiaojiao pointed to the second seat adjacent to it. "There."

"Then where are you?"

Yin Jiaojiao hesitated for a moment before pointing to the second seat on the left.

"I am there."

Xiao Yuanchi gazed across the entire stage to the opposite seat, a cold sneer slowly forming on his lips.

"Is this proper?"

Of course, it wasn't proper, but it was for survival. Later, Luo Xiang was set to attempt an assassination under the guise of a sword dance. In her past life, she had sat with Xiao Yuanchi and had been far too efficient at blocking blades for him. In this life, she would absolutely not allow herself to court death again. By sitting so far away from Xiao Yuanchi, even if the assassin were blind, they shouldn't turn around and accidentally wound her. It was a perfect way to evade danger.

The original arrangement should have had Xiao Yuanchi in the first seat on the lower left and her in the first seat on the right. Though strange, it would have barely passed for protocol, but the Crown Prince had swooped in and snatched her seat.

Yin Jiaojiao stammered, "It isn't... entirely... but it is reasonable!"

"What kind of reason?" Xiao Yuanchi said coldly. "The reason between you and the Crown Prince?"

"How could that be!" Yin Jiaojiao took a breath. "It is the reason between me and the Crown Princess! My Lord, I haven't seen my cousin in nearly fourteen years. Now that she is finally here, I must personally host her to catch up on old times."

"I was unaware you had become so close with this cousin of yours."

"That is exactly why I am preparing to!" Yin Jiaojiao urged. "My Lord, could it be that you cannot bear to part with me?"

Xiao Yuanchi’s expression darkened, and just then, the Crown Princess called out from across the room, "Seventh Brother, I have missed Jiaojiao dearly. Might you spare her for a moment tonight?"

As expected of a woman fit to be Crown Princess, she had helped her out of a tight spot at the perfect moment, without a single word of prior communication. Yin Jiaojiao immediately cast a look of gratitude toward her.

Gu Xuezhi also arrived, smiling as she persuaded, "My Lord, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. It is rare for sisters to meet; they only wish to share some private words. Why not grant them this favor?"

With one side begging and the other persuading, Xiao Yuanchi would not have persisted under normal circumstances; he was not a man who cared much for rules.

Unexpectedly, he said, "Xuezhi, though you are the birthday girl today, this is still the Prince of Qin’s estate, is it not?"

His words were not overly harsh, merely a reminder not to overstep, but for Gu Xuezhi, it was devastatingly cold. In all of Yin Jiaojiao’s memories, Xiao Yuanchi had never rebuked Gu Xuezhi in such a manner.

Gu Xuezhi was stunned. "Seventh Brother..."

"This is not the Qingning Palace, and this is not a small gathering of friends. Mind your words."

Xiao Yuanchi did not even offer her a look of reassurance; he kept his eyes fixed on Yin Jiaojiao.

It was rare to see Gu Xuezhi suffer such a setback. Yin Jiaojiao instinctively wanted to gloat, but because Xiao Yuanchi was staring so intently, she had to suppress her smile and look away.

"My Lord, Lady Sun is right. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. As the old saying goes, the host should accommodate the guest. If I don't go over there now, I shall be neglecting the esteemed guests Lady Sun has invited."

Before she could finish, she turned to run, her eagerness palpable from ten paces away. A strange, inexplicable fire flared up in Xiao Yuanchi, and he reached out, grabbing her.

"Yin Jiaojiao!"

The shout held an unprecedented urgency, clear enough for even Consort Ji on the dais to hear.

"Yuanchi, what are you and Jiaojiao doing?"

Xiao Yuanchi gripped her wrist so hard he could have shattered it. Yin Jiaojiao winced in pain, pleading timidly, "My Lord..."

Unfortunately, the Prince was in no mood for gentleness. Ignoring her plea, he said coldly, "Mother, Jiaojiao has forgotten her seating."

Consort Ji noticed the three empty seats below and asked in surprise, "This... why are three seats empty? Is there someone else yet to arrive?"

"Everyone is here. It is just that my brother and sister-in-law arrived unexpectedly, and Jiaojiao lost her way," Xiao Yuanchi said, pulling Yin Jiaojiao back firmly. "Someone, bring another set of tableware."

The man did not lower his voice. While it seemed he was answering Consort Ji, he was really speaking to the others, especially Yin Ruyu.

"My Lord!" Yin Jiaojiao said in a panic. "What does it matter where I sit? It is rare to celebrate Lady Sun's birthday at the Prince of Qin’s estate. You and she must have much to discuss—sitting closer would make it easier to talk."

She no longer had the time for sarcasm; she was genuinely trying to use his beloved to distract Xiao Yuanchi. She even looked to Gu Xuezhi for help, hoping she would chime in, but the resourceful Lady Sun was still reeling from the shock and could only glare at her with venomous intent.

Xiao Yuanchi gave a sharp tug, forcing Yin Jiaojiao to crash into his chest. He took the opportunity to wrap his arm around her waist, whispering, "I can talk to her anytime. I cannot do the same with you."

"Why not? I can talk to you anywhere, too!"

"Well said."

"Huh?"

Xiao Yuanchi suddenly chuckled. "Since the Princess says so, tonight, I shall sit here and chat with you until dawn."

With that, he pressed her firmly into the seat that had just been added.

"You, you!"

Yin Jiaojiao was speechless. Xiao Yuanchi had never acted like a rogue before—at least not with her. This was the first time, and he was truly a genius in the art of shamelessness.