Among the group, Xiao Shu held the highest status, and her relationship with Yao Xi had originally been quite good. Having asked her for quite a while and seeing her only cry without answering, her brows furrowed even tighter.

She simply stopped asking and directly retrieved that page of letter paper from beneath Yao Xi’s arm.

After reading it, she understood.

Very clearly, this letter hadn’t originally been written to Yao Xi, but rather to Yao Xi’s father, Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Yao Qingyu.

After reading it, Grand Tutor Yao had forwarded this letter to Yao Xi.

But beyond that, not another word—nor any explanation of why this letter had been sent.

“This Zhang Zhe is quite a character…”

Xiao Shu murmured quietly after reading the letter.

She actually had a strong-willed disposition and wasn’t very patient with listening to people cry, so she said to Yao Xi: “Stop crying. Isn’t this embarrassing enough?”

Yao Xi’s crying subsided somewhat.

Only then did Xiao Shu ask: “Just a few days ago you said you didn’t want this marriage. Now Zhang Zhe has proactively written to break the engagement—you don’t even need to expend effort using schemes to struggle over it. Isn’t that good?”

Yao Xi kept her head buried, and no one could see her expression clearly.

But the crying that had just quieted down, vaguely suppressed, gradually became uncontrollable again.

Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi exchanged glances, both knowing this matter was no longer appropriate to discuss publicly. Moreover, guessing at Yao Xi’s thoughts, they said: “Let’s go inside to talk.”

Having said this, the two helped Yao Xi to her feet and went to her room.

Leaving everyone else looking at each other in confusion.

Fang Miao’s expression was peculiar. The compass needle in her hand swayed gently as she looked toward the three women’s retreating figures. She couldn’t help muttering: “Getting her wish fulfilled yet still unhappy—how strange…”

Jiang Xuening’s lips curved in a mocking smile.

What Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi could guess, she could naturally guess as well. Only she wasn’t particularly pleased about it.

With the main characters gone, she didn’t wish to linger in the hall. Using the excuse of tidying her room, she left the hall and walked toward her own quarters.

Fang Miao pondered for a moment, then actually followed her.

Jiang Xuening glanced back at her.

But Fang Miao just smiled sheepishly, seeming somewhat embarrassed. Yet her footsteps didn’t stop following Jiang Xuening, only saying: “Back then when Miss Yao Xi nearly believed You Yue’s words and wanted to ruin Zhang Zhe’s reputation, Second Miss Jiang even made a scene about it. Now that the matter of breaking the engagement has come out, Second Miss Jiang seems completely unconcerned. That… well, I’m rather slow-witted—why is Yao Xi crying, and what are they going to discuss?”

From the first day of entering the palace, Fang Miao had decided that Jiang Xuening was someone with “good fortune.” Whether true or false, Jiang Xuening couldn’t verify.

Only, having entered the palace and needing to stay for half a year, naturally she couldn’t be like before without a single friend.

Fang Miao was mystical and mysterious with her own set of survival methods, but in the previous life she had been one of the few who emerged unscathed. Though somewhat opportunistic, her heart wasn’t bad.

After considering, Jiang Xuening smiled and said: “Why do you think Grand Tutor Yao sent the letter?”

Fang Miao said: “Wasn’t it just for Yao Xi to see?”

Jiang Xuening said: “That was originally a letter written to Grand Tutor Yao, and it came from a man. To then forward it to an unmarried young lady—it’s inappropriate no matter what, isn’t it? Moreover, if he only wanted her to know that Zhang Zhe came to break the engagement, he could have simply written a new letter to inform her. Why include the man’s letter as well?”

Fang Miao blinked, stunned.

She couldn’t help reaching up to scratch her head: “What does Second Miss Jiang mean?”

Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes, the smile at her lips gradually fading as she said flatly: “This letter should have only just reached Grand Tutor Yao’s hands—he hasn’t had time to reply yet. Zhang Zhe comes from a humble background, yet was able to receive Grand Tutor Yao’s permission for this marriage. One can imagine that Grand Tutor Yao must think very highly of Zhang Zhe’s character. Yao Xi wanted to break the engagement, but Grand Tutor Yao clearly might not agree. We outside observers can all see from this letter that Zhang Zhe’s character is noble and precious. Yao Xi isn’t stupid either—how could she not see it? Grand Tutor Yao hasn’t replied yet but forwarded the letter for his daughter to see, presumably wanting her to reconsider.”

Fang Miao listened with eyes and mouth wide open. After quite a while she recovered: “Second Miss, you can’t be saying that Yao Xi is crying because she… she changed her mind after seeing this letter, and now wants to marry Zhang Zhe after all?!”

Jiang Xuening had already reached her own room’s doorway.

She paused her steps, lowering her eyes to look at the shadow between the crack of the two doors, only saying: “Who knows?”

Having said this, she pushed open the door and walked in. Without concerning herself with Fang Miao’s expression outside, she casually closed the door behind her.

Fang Miao stood outside her door, not minding it. Recalling Jiang Xuening’s words just now, she developed tremendous curiosity about what Yao Xi, Xiao Shu, and Chen Shuyi might be discussing at this moment.

Then she turned to head back to her own room.

But she’d only taken two steps when she suddenly said “Eh?” and looked back at Jiang Xuening’s now-closed doors, couldn’t help muttering: “Did they say the letter was written by Zhang Zhe just now?”

She couldn’t remember it at all.

She’d only seen the handwriting on it.

Could it be her memory was poor, and while calculating feng shui just now, she’d been distracted and missed the key point?

Fang Miao scratched her head again, unable to figure it out. She simply tossed this doubt to the back of her mind and strolled back to her own room.

That day, the last to arrive at Yangzhi Studio was You Yue.

It was said there were matters delaying her at the manor, and she barely made it into the palace before the palace gates were locked.

By this time, Yao Xi had already finished speaking with Xiao Shu and Chen Shuyi and emerged. Her emotions had settled, and aside from slightly red-rimmed eyes, nothing unusual could be seen.

You Yue had previously offered Yao Xi advice about breaking the engagement with Zhang Zhe. Though she’d been pressed into the fish tank by Jiang Xuening because of it, her relationship with Yao Xi had naturally drawn closer.

When she arrived that evening, she wanted to sit beside Yao Xi and chat as before.

But unexpectedly, Yao Xi seemed like a completely different person. Though she still spoke to her, her attitude compared to the last time entering the palace was indescribably colder. It made You Yue feel like she’d crashed headlong into an iron wall without any warning. For a moment she neither knew whether to stand or sit, smile or put on a stern face. She could only tuck in her tail and sit awkwardly to the side.

That evening, Grand Princess Leyang Shen Zhiyi had people bestow many gifts, and Lady Su from the Bureau of Palace Attendance personally came to explain about the study companion duties beginning tomorrow.

Palace rules dictated that imperial princes studying must rise before dawn.

But His Majesty, considering that the Grand Princess was a young lady and that even the study companions were delicately raised misses from various households, relaxed the requirements considerably. They were only required to arrive at Fengchen Hall at the proper hour of Mao to attend classes with the teachers.

Five teachers had been invited in total.

Two classes per day, mostly in the mornings.

Afternoons were left for the Grand Princess and study companions to study or play on their own.

Only Xie Wei was an exception. While other teachers only taught one subject, he had to teach two simultaneously. Moreover, because he had to occasionally go to the Wenyuan Pavilion to give palace lectures, one of his classes had to be placed in the afternoon.

If scheduling conflicts arose in the future, he would adjust himself.

As Lady Su left, she only said: “The six arts of the gentleman—rites, music, archery, chariot-driving, calligraphy, and mathematics—only ‘archery’ and ‘chariot-driving’ need not be learned by you young ladies. The other teachers will instruct everything else, and you’ll also learn literature and painting. Lord Xie teaches ‘zither’ and ‘literature,’ which require special attention. The brushes, ink, and books needed have all been prepared by the palace and placed on the writing desks at Fengchen Hall, but each study companion must bring their own zither. Tomorrow the teachers will come to the hall one by one to first explain what you’ll study and how. The Grand Princess will also attend. I hope all study companions will, in the coming days, together with the Grand Princess, devote yourselves wholeheartedly to learning, respect your teachers and their teachings, and not disappoint His Majesty’s grace.”

Everyone took this to heart.

After Lady Su left, they inevitably became somewhat excited guessing what they would learn tomorrow, what the teachers would be like, appearing quite expectant.

However, Jiang Xuening couldn’t feel happy.

Just thinking about studying, about Xie Wei, about learning the zither, she felt all ten of her fingers aching faintly, wishing she could leave the palace right now.

But the next morning, she still had to get up on time.

After washing up, she came out of her room carrying her zither, joined the others, and together they went to Fengchen Hall.

Everyone knew Xie Wei would teach zither. During the time they left the palace to return home, everyone had expended considerable effort selecting zithers. The instruments they brought were either crafted by somewhat renowned luthiers or were antique zithers with some history, all carefully encased in zither bags.

Jiang Xuening’s was the same.

But unexpectedly, when leaving Yangzhi Studio, Xiao Shu’s gaze fell on her zither and actually said: “Second Miss Jiang, this zither bag looks somewhat familiar.”

Jiang Xuening froze, lowering her eyes to glance at the dark blue zither bag: this was the “Jiao’an” that Yan Lin had taken her to buy at Youhuang Hall back then. The zither bag hadn’t been changed either—it was still the one Lu Xian had wrapped around the instrument when he handed it to them.

She didn’t know why Xiao Shu would find it familiar.

She only said: “Just an ordinary zither bag. You can see them everywhere.”

“This really can’t be seen just anywhere. I heard that Youhuang Hall recently acquired an antique zither called ‘Jiao’an,’ so I sent someone to buy it. But the hall master actually said the zither was found for Young Master Yan and wouldn’t be sold to anyone else. I regretted it for quite a while. I never imagined that today I would see it with Second Miss Jiang.” Xiao Shu wore a deep purple palace dress today, appearing dignified and noble, completely overshadowing everyone else. She looked at Jiang Xuening with a smile, “It seems that zither truly wasn’t for Young Master Yan’s own use, but specially sought for Second Miss Jiang.”

Everyone’s gazes immediately followed to the zither Jiang Xuening was holding.

Chen Shuyi, Fang Miao, Zhou Baoying and the others were just somewhat curious.

But You Yue easily recalled the scene at the Double Ninth banquet that could truly be called a slap in the face. Her expression wasn’t good, and the look she gave Jiang Xuening hid traces of contempt.

Yao Rongrong stood a bit behind everyone, observing without speaking.

After the Double Ninth banquet at Earl Qingyuan’s manor, news that Young Master Yan Lin of the Marquis of Yongyi and Second Miss Jiang had a close relationship spread throughout the capital. Anyone with slightly better information channels knew. Moreover, Yan Lin would undergo his coming-of-age ceremony next month with only days remaining. Everyone thus guessed that the Yan and Jiang families had secretly settled on a marriage, so they didn’t criticize the young couple’s relationship.

Few people outside gossiped about it.

Firstly, neither family had said anything, so it wasn’t outsiders’ place. Secondly, the Marquis of Yongyi’s manor held great power—others didn’t quite dare speak much.

But now Xiao Shu actually brought it up so openly without avoidance.

Jiang Xuening reflected that in her previous life, her conflict with Xiao Shu arose from the position of empress—neither would yield, so they fought to mutual destruction with neither achieving a good end. But in this life, she didn’t want to become empress and wouldn’t marry Shen Jie. There was no conflict of interest between them. With Xiao Shu’s aristocratic family pride and intelligence no less than a man’s, she shouldn’t proactively provoke disputes.

Which meant, logically, Xiao Shu wouldn’t target her.

So in the current situation, not knowing whether she was intentional or inadvertent, Jiang Xuening could only treat it as unintentional. Thus she didn’t react, only smiled as if it were ordinary: “Though ‘Jiao’an’ is good, among the famous zithers under heaven it likely only barely ranks at the lower end. Though Elder Miss Xiao missed this one, surely you could easily find an even better one?”

Xiao Shu then smiled but didn’t respond, nor did she explain anything. She only called for the palace maid carrying the zither beside her to follow and continued toward Fengchen Hall.

Everyone’s gazes inevitably fell on her zither.

But no one could identify that instrument’s origins—they could only guess from the Hetian jade pendant hanging on the zither bag that the instrument was certainly extraordinary.

The group of eight proceeded along the palace wall onto the palace passage.

The sky hadn’t yet fully brightened.

Palace lanterns lit on both sides scattered light where the heavy dark blue sky met the dark red palace walls. Jiang Xuening had walked this road countless times in her previous life, so familiar she could navigate it with eyes closed. Thus she was absent-minded, falling to the rear.

Yao Xi had originally been walking at the front, but somehow, as she walked, she kept looking back.

Seeing Jiang Xuening falling behind, her footsteps slowed accordingly.

Before long, she naturally arrived beside Jiang Xuening.

Only then did Jiang Xuening notice her. In the dim light she quietly frowned, only thinking that no one visited a temple without reason, so she asked: “Does Miss Yao need something?”

Yao Xi gazed at her, very seriously gazed at her.

After a moment, she smiled with a lowered voice: “Just suddenly became very curious about Second Miss Jiang. If not for Second Miss Jiang’s kind advice a few days ago, I’m afraid I would have committed a grave error—not only ruining someone’s clear reputation but also missing out on a good marriage. Thinking about it now, I truly should express thanks. However, I also have some doubts I can’t resolve. Second Miss Jiang said to tell me to do nothing and just wait. At the time I didn’t understand, but yesterday when I saw the letter breaking the engagement that Father forwarded, I finally understood what Second Miss Jiang meant. If I didn’t know that Second Miss and Young Master Yan were a pair, I would truly think you and Zhang Zhe had a close relationship. However, Second Miss does seem to understand Lord Zhang quite well?”

Jiang Xuening lowered her eyes to watch the road, not responding.

Yao Xi’s heart thus developed several traces of unease.

Only, recalling yesterday’s letter and what Xiao Shu and the others had said to her, she rarely felt traces of sweet shyness.

A faint blush quietly rose on her cheeks, and her voice also carried rare hesitation and uncertainty as she said to Jiang Xuening: “Only now do I know why Father appreciates him. Though he wrote to Father to break the engagement, it was actually because he feared his future official career would be difficult and worried that if I married him I would suffer hardship along with him. But for a daughter, isn’t the most important thing finding a good man? After seeing that letter, I thought, if I could truly form a marriage with him, I certainly wouldn’t be mistreated in the future. Moreover, Father will still support him, so it might not turn out so badly. I want to write to Father telling him I’ve changed my mind. What does Second Miss Jiang think?”

“…”

The east already showed fish-belly white. Heavy mist drifted through the Forbidden City. Ahead, Fengchen Hall only extended a corner of its high, sharp eaves through the fog, yet made Jiang Xuening see a strange bewilderment.

For a moment, malice surged like a tide.

A voice in her mind crazily shouted: Be a bad person, Ningning, be a bad person. Don’t care what others think—go snatch him! Go snatch Zhang Zhe over! He was originally bestowed upon you by heaven!

But she couldn’t.

In the obscurity, it was as if a pair of eyes watched her through the mist, reminding her that she had promised to be a good person from now on.

In the end, all these voices disappeared.

Jiang Xuening blinked, only feeling she had already fallen into this mist. Looking at Yao Xi, she then heard her own flawlessly calm voice: “Miss Yao originally made no grave error. Recognizing the wrong path and returning is remarkably rare. If you can form a marriage with Lord Zhang, your esteemed father will surely be very gratified.”