Chapter Six: Is She Faking Another Fall?

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With the major matters settled, Yin Jiaojiao found herself in the mood to enjoy the blossoms. She lifted her face with a light step.

“Your Highness, you’re being foolish! Even the Princess of Lu and the Prince of Lu, who are so harmonious, would still quarrel over adding a concubine. And you and the Prince… why are you forcing women on him?” Xia Lan stomped anxiously. “Do you still want to see the Prince in the future?”

Yin Jiaojiao’s good mood instantly plummeted. She waved her hand to signal no more, but Xia Lan was oblivious.

“Your Highness, if a noble lady enters the residence, acting with decorum, we can still handle it. But if it’s a dancer or performer, those shameless women, especially under the Empress’s decree—your straightforward nature, how could you possibly contend with that?”

“Xia Lan!”

“Xia Lan’s words are truly ridiculous. The Noble Consort is determined to place someone in the household today; if not this one, then that one. If Your Highness refuses, wouldn’t that add to your faults? Don’t you think the Empress’s misunderstanding of you is already deep enough?”

The speaker was Qiu Ming, who had been silent all along. Yin Jiaojiao looked at her in surprise; the young girl was puffing her cheeks, clearly dissatisfied.

Qiu Ming was two years younger than Xia Lan, just turned nineteen. After Yin Jiaojiao entered the residence, Mr. Zhang had sent her to serve as a personal maid. She usually spoke little and was an outsider, so Yin Jiaojiao rarely paid attention to her. Now hearing her words, she asked, “You really think so?”

Qiu Ming nodded. “Your Highness, in my opinion, you are right. Noble ladies only cause trouble, each with powerful backing. One wrong step could lead to serious consequences, making them untouchable.” She whispered, “Now with the imperial heart unsettled and the court’s situation treacherous, our Prince’s residence is a hotspot. Better to be cautious and sail safely for a thousand years.”

“What’s so important about these trivial household matters?”

“Xia Lan!!” Yin Jiaojiao snapped sharply. “The Prince’s residence can no longer afford a deity like you. When I tell you to be quiet, don’t just ignore me. Perhaps I should send you back to your hometown today to talk as much as you like!”

Xia Lan, who had never been scolded by Yin Jiaojiao since following her, was stunned.

Yin Jiaojiao pressed her forehead, probably from anger, feeling a sharp twitch and ache at her temple. Yet her heart was glad—after all, not everyone around her was a traitorous snake like Xia Lan. There was also clever, loyal Qiu Ming, who knew how to look out for her.

In fact, in her previous life, Qiu Ming had warned her to watch out for Xia Lan, but she hadn’t heeded the advice, thinking the girl was scheming to sow distrust between mistress and servant. Eventually, she found a chance to send her away.

Yin Jiaojiao took Qiu Ming’s hand and patted it gently. “What you said is very wise. Some people and matters blind me, but you might see clearly. Remember to remind me often. If you have something to say, just say it—don’t be afraid.”

Having served Yin Jiaojiao for nearly a year, Qiu Ming was moved to receive her first praise. “Qiu Ming will remember, Your Highness!”

Yin Jiaojiao then turned her gaze toward a nearby peach grove.

“I consider this for the Prince and the household’s sake, not for vying for favor or petty quarrels. Understand, Xia Lan?”

Xia Lan nodded faintly, no longer speaking.

……

“Prince, the Princess was just speaking with the Empress at Qingning Hall. She should be strolling in the garden now.”

Xiao Yuanchi received this report from an attendant as soon as he entered the palace gate. He tossed his sword to Su Zhengqing and gave a grunt.

The attendant beamed. “The Princess and the Empress got along well. She even helped the Empress consider what kind of beauties to add to the household.”

Su Zhengqing was momentarily stunned.

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“You didn’t hear wrong, right?”

“Not at all. The Princess said that instead of grandly selecting noble ladies, it’s better to find some pure and unblemished beauties to put the Prince at ease. The Empress agreed and was very pleased.”

Su Zhengqing swallowed nervously and glanced at Xiao Yuanchi.

Xiao Yuanchi curled the corner of his mouth into a cold smile.

“She’s really fired up.”

……

A chilly breeze swept by, making Yin Jiaojiao sneeze.

Perhaps the morning’s wind-cold medicine was taking effect. After only a short walk, she felt drowsy and had to rest in a pavilion with hot tea. But the pavilion was drafty on all sides, and sitting too long wasn’t good either. If the cold worsened, it would be troublesome. So she got up and left the pavilion to continue wandering deeper into the garden.

The time she met Xiao Yuanchi was also early spring, but the scenery was more splendid than this year, and the weather warmed earlier as well.

If only she could be reborn before meeting Xiao Yuanchi again. She would never watch him return in triumph, would keep far away, avoid seeing or hearing about him. When the time came, she would marry an ordinary person from outside the capital, and never again have anything to do with Xiao Yuanchi.

Alas, heaven was not so kind.

Yin Jiaojiao couldn’t help touching her chest, where hung a jade pendant—the simplest Dongshan white jade, cracked and stained. It wouldn’t even sell at the West Market’s stalls, but it was a gift from Xiao Yuanchi—the only thing she had.

Through layers of clothing, she felt as if the pendant was burning.

“Is the Empress tired? The Noble Consort has not summoned yet. Perhaps you should rest a while?”

Yin Jiaojiao nodded and, with Xia Lan’s help, sat on a stone bench by the pond. Sitting down, she felt the heat in her chest grow along with a sense of oppression, her head growing dizzy. This was bad—could it be the wind chill worsening?

“Your Highness was so formidable today, no wonder you handled the bandit camp situation without being bullied.”

That soft little voice, the lingering tone with three sighs in one sentence, Yin Jiaojiao knew without turning around who it was.

The two maids bowed first. “County Lady.”

“What County Lady? Call me Lady Sun,” Yin Jiaojiao said, holding her hand warmer without looking at her. “It’s freezing cold, and Lady Sun should go back and rest. You still have the heart to stroll the garden? I really admire you.”

Lady Sun smiled faintly and sat on another stone bench, gently stroking the bracelet on her wrist.

“I originally came to visit the concubine. After finishing, I should go back to the Prince’s residence, but suddenly remembered the Princess was here, so I thought to return together. After all, the carriage I took was originally Your Highness’s. Returning things to their rightful owner is only proper.”

Yin Jiaojiao’s long lashes fluttered slightly. Then Gu Xuezhi said apologetically, “Please don’t blame me, Your Highness. Today when leaving, the Prince worried about my health and insisted I take that carriage, making you take the smaller one. It’s all my fault.”

“So, Lady Sun came to apologize to me?”

Yin Jiaojiao finally turned her eyes. Her gaze involuntarily fell on the bracelet, which was truly beautiful—dense, moist, richly colored jade. The red was dazzling, arrogant, and it hurt Yin Jiaojiao’s eyes.

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“It is to apologize,” Gu Xuezhi nodded. “Will the Princess forgive me?”

Gu Xuezhi was beautiful. At fourteen, her portrait circulated widely, praised by literati as the contemporary Goddess of Luo. Yet Yin Jiaojiao always felt this was exaggerated—such looks were common in the palace. But she had to admit Gu Xuezhi was adept at using her beauty: just the right amount of makeup, a gentle and pleasing voice, and eyes full of emotion. When she frowned and looked at someone, she seemed utterly innocent.

Clearly, she came to flaunt herself, but her words were apologies, invoking the Prince’s name and shutting others up.

Such skill, Yin Jiaojiao realized, she would never learn even if reborn ten times.

She said lightly, “If the Prince cares for you, Lady Sun, then just accept it. Whether I forgive or not doesn’t matter—the Prince is the foremost.”

Qiu Ming understood and quickly said, “Your Highness, the summons from Qingning Hall should be coming soon. Perhaps we should return and wait?”

“Mm.”

Yin Jiaojiao stood with her support, but Gu Xuezhi suddenly grabbed her sleeve.

“Do you dislike me that much?” Tears welled up. “You’d rather let some shameless women enter the residence than accept me.”

Yin Jiaojiao tugged at her sleeve but couldn’t pull free. Hearing the sobbing tone, her head throbbed painfully.

“Lady Sun, if you’re unhappy, go cry to the Prince yourself. Why put on a show for me?”

Gu Xuezhi seemed not to hear this blunt hostility. She slowly rose.

“You are already the Prince’s rightful wife. That is fate. I’ve never thought to change that. I didn’t come to compete with you, but because… because of my love for the Prince. I want to see him every day, to long for him. I thought, since you love him so much, you would understand.”

“Lady Sun!”

Qiu Ming sensed something wrong and tried to pull her away, but Xia Lan stopped her first.

“Qiu Ming, the County Lady and the Princess are speaking with restraint. Let’s not make too much of a scene, lest we bring trouble to the Princess again.”

Qiu Ming hesitated, then saw Gu Xuezhi clutching Yin Jiaojiao’s arm.

Yin Jiaojiao feebly struggled but couldn’t break free, utterly puzzled. What was Gu Xuezhi up to now?

Wait!

Her gaze swept past Gu Xuezhi to the pond behind. No way, no way—was she about to fake a fall?