"How should I know that?" Ruyi replied.
"I'll investigate this," he said. "Don't put your life on the line like this again. If you die, how would you take revenge for your friend?"
Ruyi remained silent, though she studied him for a moment. Does he actually care about me?
"Aren't you afraid someone might see you without your wheelchair?" she asked.
"Only if I want them to," he replied, smiling as he stood up and leaned over her.
"Get up," he said coolly.
"Why?" She countered.
"Can you just trust me for once?" He said, walking away from the table.
She stood up and followed.
Yuming and Xiao Lan returned.
Sun Jingxuan gestured to Yuming, who in turn threw his sword to him.
Ruyi's eyes widened. "What… what are you doing?"
He stood behind her and held the sword forward.
He was too close this time; she could literally feel his body etched against her back. She swallowed hard. She knew he was tempting and something kept telling her to give in, but she tried to shake the feeling off almost as soon as it came.
He lifted her hands gently and placed them on the sword, before whispering into her ear, "I'm afraid you might get into trouble one day, so I'm going to teach you how to defend yourself."
His breath was everything; it was as though she could turn to kiss him right away. She bit her lips while trying to focus on the moves he taught her.
"You're a fast learner," he whispered into her earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine.
She couldn't hold it any longer. At the final point, she pulled away gently, clearing her throat.
Sun Jingxuan thrusted the sword back to Yuming. "Miss Xu, see you tomorrow at the same time," he said and turned to leave.
What was that? She thought. If he's teaching me everyday, how am I supposed to focus when he's that close?
Xiao Lan noticed how red her face had turned. "Miss Ruyi, your face is turning red."
She quickly touched her cheeks, trying hard to hide how embarrassed she felt. "I think I have a fever," she lied.
"Miss Ruyi, I've never heard of having a fever with a red face," Xia Lan pointed out.
"If you have too much time at hand, why don't you try to beat me for once at the go game instead? she huffed and walked away.
"Miss Ruyi. Wait for me!" Xiao Lam said, running after her.
The following afternoon, the Xu family had just begun their meal when a sharp voice rang from the courtyard.
"Imperial Edict!"
The sound of hurried footsteps followed as Yu Gonggong entered, followed by palace attendants, a scroll resting in his hands.
"All members of the Xu household—receive the edict!"
Chairs scraped against the floor as the entire family, including servants and maids, dropped to their knees at once.
Yu Gonggong unrolled the scroll and began to read in a clear, resonant voice.
"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:
Xu Huai, steadfast in character and devoted to court, has long demonstrated loyalty and merit. In recognition of his service, he is hereby granted the title Marquis of Rong'an (Rong'an Hou.)
Let this be known and honored."
The courtyard fell silent for a brief moment before the entire household responded in unison:
"Long live the Emperor!"
Xu Huai stepped forward on his knees and respectfully received the edict with both hands held high.
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" he said, his forehead touching the ground.
A faint smile tugged at Yu Gonggong's lips before he adjusted the horsetail whisk resting over his arms.
"The matter is concluded," Yu Gonggong announced. "Return to the palace."
With that, he turned and departed, the attendants following closely behind as the Xu family rose, each beaming with smiles.
"Master, this is great news!" Lady Ling said excitedly.
"Yes, yes. I'm honored. I'm truly honored," Xu Huai added.
Xu Huai turned to Ruyi. "My good daughter. I know this is thanks to you, I'm grateful."
"Father, what are you saying? I'm sure His Majesty must have his reasons. After all, you're different from those corrupted officials," Ruyi said.
"Don't say that outside," Xu Huai cautioned.
"I'm happy. People will treat my family with more respect from now on. You and your mother mean everything to me. I'II definitely do my best to protect you."
Ruyi smiled at her father.
"Ruyi, did you hear that? Your father is ready to do everything to protect you. How lucky you are."
---
Sun Jun lounged lazily in his chambers, clearly in no hurry for the night to end. Just then, Linglong entered with a wine pot and a cup in hand.
She proceeded to pour him wine and Sun Jun held her by the waist, pulling her close to himself.
He sniffed her, holding her waist as if it were fragile and could break any moment.
"Your Highness," Linglong called softly. "You must stand up for me. It was all because of Ruyi I lost our baby. If she hadn't set me up, our child would still be here."
"Ling'er," he called. "I know how hard it is for you, but Ruyi cannot be touched. I'll make it up to you, alright?"
"Your Highness!" Linglong protested. "Why? Her and that bitch Jing Yan caused me to lose my child."
As soon as the word came out of her lips, Sun Jun snapped. He stood up abruptly, letting her fall onto the bed aggressively.
"Have I been too lenient with you lately?" He muttered, touching her hair gently before grabbing it forcefully and pulling her towards him.
"Don't forget, Yan Yan is still my legal wife. I can accept anything, but don't you ever disregard her. And as for Ruyi, she's useful to me. Do not touch her, at least for now."
Linglong, devastated and scared, replied. "Yes."
He pulled her up and drew her close to his chest. "Ling'er, don't worry. l'll definitely marry you."
She smiled, leaning into his bosom.
"Your Highness, don't forget me when your plan succeed," she whispered
"How could I? Put your mind at ease."
---
The fragrance of freshly brewed tea lingered quietly in Consort Yao's pavilion. Servants stood at a distance, their heads lowered, not daring to look towards the pavilion. Jing Yan sat across from Consort Yao, watching as she calmly sipped her tea.
Zhun Momo, standing behind Consort Yao, broke the silence first.
"Wangfei Niángniang (Your Highness the Princess Consort), If you have something to say, you may speak. Niángniang has other matters to attend to."
"Niángniang," Jing Yan whispered, softening her tone. "Is the tea to your liking? I personally asked His Highness to have it prepared for you."
Consort Yao gently placed the cup down.
"Jing Yan," she said calmly. "Speak plainly. What do you want?"
Jing Yan hesitated, her fingers tightening against her sleeve.
"Niángniang… I came to speak about someone."
Consort Yao did not look surprised. After all, it wasn't the first time.
"Oh?"
"It's about… Ruyi," Jing Yan continued.
Consort Yao's expression did not waver.
"What about her?"
"Niángniang, haven't you noticed she's so similar to Li Mei?" Jing Yan stated. The sword dance she performed— the steps looked exactly like the one Li Mei created. How could Ruyi possibly know it that well? I also heard about the guqin she played the other day. I was told it sounded exactly like Li Mei."
Consort Yao looked at her for a moment before speaking.
"You're right."
Jing Yan smiled, feeling more relaxed.
"How can Ruyi know about Li Mei's sword dance and guqin style? Unless she's Li Mei, or she's related to her, or maybe she's her twin? But I never heard that Lady Ling had twins back then," Consort Yao said mockingly.
The attending maids around them let out a quiet chuckle.
Jing Yan's smile quickly faded as it came, her composure cracking.
"Or maybe she's not even a person," Consort Yao pressed on.
"No, Niángniang, I did not mean that. I merely find it strange how she could know these things so well. It makes one wonder if she's hiding something, or maybe she's connected to Li Mei."
"Jing Yan," Consort Yao called, leaning back slightly, "you're overthinking. Ruyi likes dancing and playing instruments. It's no surprise that she delivered a good performance. If Li Mei can, then why can't Ruyi do it too? Besides, Ruyi has never left her residence since birth. She entered the palace only at seventeen. Tell me, when would she have formed those connections? Moreover, I heard from Lady Ling that their maid, Xiao Lan taught Ruyi everything she knows."
Jing Yan faltered.
"I… I just think that she's close to the Crown Prince. And now, she draws near to His Highness as well."
"So," Consort Yao said softly," since you cannot secure the Second Prince's favour, you instead blame another?"
Jing Yan's breath caught.
"I…"
"That's enough!"
The sharpness in Consort Yao's voice could bring down a whole building, crushing it under her feet.
"Have you forgotten your place?"
Jing Yan lowered her head, her confidence falling apart.
"Don't you have any sense of shame at all? You concern yourself not with supporting your husband, nor growing the harem. Instead, you exhaust yourself with who your husband wants and what he does. He is of royal blood and is expected to have multiple wives, did you forget he had a legal wife before you entered?"
Consort Yao's eyes hardened.
"Do you truly believe others cannot see through what you and Jun'er did to Li Mei?"
Jing Yan's hands trembled slightly.
"A Mei was intelligent. Upright. But she lacked caution. She would be a good leader, but Intelligence without restraint amounts to nothing. If she relied only on her brain, her reign definitely won't last."
She paused.
"Ruyi is different. She's both intelligent and smart. You can't handle the fact that she's doing better than you and everyone seems to like her, that's why you're trying to smear her name and make her look bad before me."
Jing Yan's chest tightened.
"When you sought to trap her," consort Yao continued coolly, "she turned your scheme against you without lifting a finger. And you expect me to take your side?" She scoffed.
Every word felt like nails were being hammered into Jing Yan's body.
"Ruyi does not flaunt her abilities. She does not compete for attention. She waits. She observes."
Jing Yan felt her throat tighten.
Consort Yao's gaze settled fully on her now.
"And you," she said quietly, "are not even half of what she is."