Today she had come to study the qin. She hadn’t come to quarrel, nor had she come to sell her grievances. Moreover, Xie Wei hadn’t provoked or bothered her—it was just that for a moment, the address “Ning the Second” had made her think of more, touching her emotions such that she suddenly couldn’t control herself.

Shedding tears before others was ultimately disgraceful.

Jiang Xuening hurriedly raised her sleeve and wildly wiped at her face, smearing her rouge and powder until she looked like a calico cat. She only said, “Sand got in my eye. It’s nothing.”

“…”

Xie Wei suddenly fell silent.

But Jiang Xuening rallied her spirits, assuming an unbothered appearance. She casually set that medical text aside and asked him, “Is Teacher going to test the fingering techniques today? Still playing ‘Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon’?”

Xie Wei looked at her and hummed an acknowledgment, saying, “You know it?”

Jiang Xuening said nothing, only straightened the qin on the qin table.

These past days she hadn’t been lazy.

Previously she hadn’t played the qin because Xie Wei had said her mind wasn’t calm and wouldn’t let her touch it. But actually, she had always known that when studying under Xie Wei’s hand, one couldn’t muddle through, much less harbor any lucky thoughts, simply because this person was very serious about everything.

At this moment, she thought of nothing else and directly stroked the strings, playing the opening finger exercise.

It was another such winter afternoon.

Because no one had been notified in advance of Xie Wei coming today, the charcoal braziers in this side hall had just been lit and weren’t yet very warm. The window shutters were half open, revealing a somewhat desolate coldness. Wind blew in, carrying the cold-tinged skylight wrapped in the breeze that fell on the hem of his pale blue Daoist robe. Xie Wei stood before that desk with some distance between them, watching Jiang Xuening play the qin.

It was true her mind was hard to calm.

But when calmed, she was truly moldable material.

The tear stains at the corners of the young woman’s eyes hadn’t yet dried, her face was messily stained with rouge, but those rippling eyes naturally lowered. Her thick, long eyelashes lightly covered them—a kind of seriousness not previously seen by others.

Her five fingers were slender and long, most suitable for plucking strings.

Gong, shang, jue, zhi, yu—every note was accurate, every sound harmonious. Though the fingering techniques and transitions still showed some roughness and shallowness when observed and listened to, the general appearance was there, and she had shed the clumsiness of her qin studies in Fengchen Palace in the past.

The flowing qin music rippled out from the trembling strings.

For a time, the hall was utterly silent of human voices.

When that qin music finally faded away gracefully, only then did Xie Wei’s figure move. He slowly nodded, “These days you indeed haven’t wasted time. You roughly have some semblance now. Coming to this side hall wasn’t ultimately for sleeping—this can be considered gratifying.”

This was teasing her about falling asleep last time when he played the qin.

Jiang Xuening opened her mouth and said, “That was an exception.”

But just as she finished defending herself, her words barely having fallen, the feeling of hunger in her belly naturally surged up, transforming into a light “gurgling” sound. If there had been many people and much noise it would have been fine, but at this moment in the hall there were only her and Xie Wei. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, making this originally faint sound as obvious as thunder on a clear day.

Jiang Xuening: “…”

Xie Wei: “…”

Four eyes met. One was embarrassed and red-faced, wishing she could dig a hole and crawl into the ground. The other observed silently, clearly also not having expected this, even carrying a bit of amusement.

Xie Wei raised one finger and lightly pressed it against his thin lips. He still couldn’t suppress his smile, saying, “Indeed an exception. Last time you hadn’t slept enough, this time you haven’t eaten your fill. Those who know say you’re quite favored and trusted by the Grand Princess in the palace. Those who don’t know, seeing you sleep-deprived and underfed like this, might think you came to the palace to be imprisoned and punished.”

Someone surnamed Xie could be quite cutting when he spoke sometimes.

Jiang Xuening secretly gritted her teeth, looking at him without speaking.

Xie Wei then asked, “You haven’t eaten?”

Jiang Xuening sullenly hummed an acknowledgment: “This morning I was reading and forgot the time. Without paying attention I fell asleep and forgot to eat.”

The palace wasn’t like home—the Imperial Kitchen didn’t wait for people.

Xie Wei rarely wanted to smile again.

Following his usual temperament, he would be too lazy to bother with such a small matter. There was a common saying that went: eating one’s fill easily leads to drowsiness; those who study are best served by maintaining a three-part feeling of hunger to stay alert and concentrate on their work.

Which is to say, being hungry was just right.

However, Ning the Second had come to study the qin, and she had just played quite well, clearly having applied herself. Moreover, a young girl of this age was still growing. So he showed mercy and opened the food box sitting at the corner of the desk.

At the top layer was placed a small dish of peach pastries.

Xie Wei took it out and set it beside the tea table, then while placing the water kettle on the stove to heat, called to Jiang Xuening, “Come drink tea.”

From the moment he opened that food box, Jiang Xuening’s gaze followed his movements, nearly glued to that small dish of peach pastries, unable to tear away.

Empty belly, itching heart.

Hearing him call her to drink tea, the first thought that popped into her head was: I can’t go. Xie Wei was the teacher, she was the student—there should be hierarchy between superior and inferior. She had heard Xie Wei’s treasonous words from back then, knew secrets about Xie Wei unknown to others. Xie Wei had contemplated killing her to silence her. What if there was poison in the tea?

But that small dish of peach pastries was sitting right there.

Jiang Xuening ultimately couldn’t quite resist that subtle temptation. She stood up and shuffled over.

This definitely wasn’t for the food.

Xie Wei had called her to drink tea—how could she not comply?

Jiang Xuening said, “Thank you, Teacher,” and sat before the tea table. She glanced at Xie Wei, then silently extended a paw, took a thin slice of peach pastry from that small dish, and nibbled a bite.

“…”

The moment the pastry entered her mouth, her movements suddenly paused.

The faint secret delight originally on her face also stiffened slightly.

At first, Xie Wei didn’t pay attention. He was using a tea spoon to scoop tea from the tea jar. He looked up and glanced at her, saying, “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Xuening came back to her senses and immediately shook her head: “Nothing.”

It was just different from what she had thought.

But stopping to think about it with her brain, she knew—given Xie Wei’s current status and where they currently were, how could she hope to taste that certain flavor? It was best not to reveal any telltale signs. Otherwise, if he noticed and recalled those events from years past, heaven knows if a thought might arise and he’d want to kill her again.

She quickly lowered her head and chewed slowly.

The soft ingredients of the peach pastry slowly dissolved in her mouth. If she ignored that overly sweet and cloying taste, it could be considered refined. Eating two slices to pad her stomach and satisfy her hunger was sufficient.

Before Xie Wei, Jiang Xuening didn’t dare be picky about food.

She ate one slice, then took another.

Xie Wei observed her expression and features, but finally detected something. He asked, “The pastries made by the Imperial Kitchen—they’re not delicious?”

Jiang Xuening hurriedly shook her head.

Xie Wei’s gaze fell from her onto that dish of peach pastries. The pastries specially prepared for him in this side hall—he had rarely touched them. At this moment, he picked up a slice and took a small bite. When the pastry reached his tongue tip, his brow raised slightly.

For some reason, Jiang Xuening’s heart panicked extremely.

She didn’t even dare raise her head.

Xie Wei slowly set down that unfinished slice of peach pastry and quietly watched her for a long time. Only when he heard the water beside them boil did he shift his gaze, lifted the kettle to pour over the tea implements, and methodically began brewing tea.

This time, Jiang Xuening understood what it meant to “be unable to swallow food.”

Xie Wei said nothing else, only during the intervals of brewing tea asked her about the texts she had studied in recent days, casually testing her learning.

After one pot of tea had been steeped four times, he called her to go practice the qin again.

He himself did nothing more, returning to sit before the desk, staring at the red markings on that memorial for a long time.

After most of an hour, he said to Jiang Xuening, “Though your attitude is present, your foundation is still too thin. People often say diligence can make up for clumsiness—this isn’t entirely correct, but can’t be called wrong either. That’s all for today. After you return, don’t slacken. Starting tomorrow, I’ll also test you on literary methods. Come to the side hall at this same time.”

Jiang Xuening finally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and agreed.

Then she took leave of Xie Wei, carrying a trace of caution as she quickly withdrew from the side hall, fleeing far away.

But Xie Wei sat in this side hall a while longer before taking that memorial and leaving the palace.

The Xie residence was separated from the Yongyi Marquis residence by only a single wall.

The difference was that the Yongyi Marquis residence faced the front of the street while the Xie residence faced the back. The two residences faced one east and one west, back to back. So when his carriage returned to the residence, it had to pass the Yongyi Marquis residence. He could easily see the heavy troops surrounding the outside, each one using cold eyes to scrutinize passersby.

Just after descending from the carriage and entering the residence, climbing to the covered walkway, Jianshu hurriedly walked toward him and said in a low voice, “Besides what Instructor Gongyi said, our people also reported that early this morning they saw Young Master Dingfei come out of the Hengyuan gambling house. But that place is a mixed bag of fish and dragons. At the time, they weren’t paying close attention and lost track of him.”

Xie Wei stood under the corridor without speaking.

From the side door not far away came the sound of someone laughing and talking. Someone had greeted the gatekeeper and was walking into the residence.

Hearing this, Jianshu turned to look and smiled, “Old Tao is back.”

It was the residence’s cook, skilled at making good dishes.

Old Tao was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, plump and white, but his face was full of joy. One hand carried a vegetable basket, the other still held a fish. Seeing Xie Wei standing under the corridor, he hurriedly came over to pay respects, saying, “My lord has returned! Today I bought a fresh large carp—it’s quite lively! The pastries I made some days ago were secretly eaten completely by Young Master Daoqin. I also bought several jin of glutinous rice and one jin of peach kernels. I can try making some peach pastries!”

Xie Wei looked at his basket packed full to the brim. His gaze lowered and he nodded.

Jiang Xuening fled from Fengchen Palace’s side hall in one breath. Only after walking far away, reaching the entrance of Yangzhi Study, did she lean against the door and look back to see no one had followed. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.

Eating a peach pastry had nearly scared her sick!

She truly had grown bold—not only daring to eat things Xie Wei gave her, but also daring to fantasize that Xie Wei had made it himself. She simply didn’t want to live anymore!

Fortunately, the other party hadn’t noticed, and she had escaped safely.

She lightly patted her own chest.

When Yao Xi and You Yue walked out from inside Yangzhi Study, they happened to see her like this. What came to their minds was her posture when she had turned to find Zhang Zhe that day. For a moment, hatred surged up, so she smiled coolly, “Didn’t Miss Jiang the Second go to study the qin? Coming back looking like a thief—were you scolded by Teacher Xie again?”

Jiang Xuening turned her head and saw her.

These days, Yao Xi’s hostility toward her had gradually shown signs. But there were many who hated her—who did Yao Xi think she was?

She hadn’t yet reached the point of needing too much attention.

Hearing the sarcasm, Jiang Xuening wasn’t angry. After all, today she had played the qin well and barely earned Xie Wei’s praise, hadn’t she?

Not floating to the heavens would be letting herself off lightly.

She raised her eyebrows and smiled, assuming a leisurely appearance, saying, “That will have to disappoint Miss Yao. Today I was finally able to touch the qin and just received a word of affirmation from Teacher Xie. In the future, I’ll certainly redouble my efforts and not disappoint Teacher’s painstaking instruction of me.”

People in the world might not necessarily want to see their friends doing well, but definitely enjoyed seeing their enemies doing poorly.

If someone you hated was doing poorly, even if you couldn’t see it with your own eyes, just hearing the news from afar would secretly please your heart.

Jiang Xuening was undoubtedly Yao Xi’s enemy.

But not only was she doing well, she was telling others to their face that she was doing well. That relaxed, smiling look in her eyes and brows was directly like needles, one after another, piercing until one’s heart bled!

Yao Xi choked and stopped speaking.

You Yue had long been frightened and now kept her mouth shut like a sealed gourd, not saying a word.

Jiang Xuening then clapped her hands and walked away from them with light steps.

You Yue observed Yao Xi’s expression and said softly, “Perhaps she’s putting on a brave face. Who doesn’t know she’s famously unlearned and unskilled? Studying the qin also depends on natural talent. Being so clumsy she doesn’t even know the fingering techniques—how could Teacher Xie possibly praise her? It’s just deliberately said to make you feel blocked, that’s all.”

Yao Xi took a deep breath and turned with a flick of her sleeve.

But just as she reached the entrance of Yangzhi Study, her gaze inadvertently swept across something and her steps paused: Where Jiang Xuening had just stood, a sachet had actually fallen.

You Yue followed her gaze and quite naturally bent down to pick up this pouch. Turning it over to look, on a moon-white base, deep blue silk thread embroidered an exquisite peony with fine, dense stitches—very beautiful.

“Isn’t this Jiang Xuening’s?”

Feeling somewhat disgusted in her heart, she curled her lip and raised her hand, wanting to toss it into the corner of a nearby flower pot.

Unexpectedly, when Yao Xi saw this, she directly snatched it from her hand and held it, looking at it.

You Yue was somewhat puzzled: “Are you going to return it to her?”

Yao Xi’s thoughts stirred. Though her eyes held a shadow, she only said, “It’s just a small sachet. What’s the hurry?”

You Yue stopped talking.

Yao Xi stared at this sachet for a long time, then casually tucked it into her sleeve, saying, “It won’t be too late to return it to her when we come back. Seeing her wear it every day, who knows, it might be an important item. It would be good if she gets anxious when she loses it and can’t find it.”

You Yue then smiled, “That’s good.”

Jiang Xuening had just left, and they had picked up the sachet. Too lazy to turn back and call her, they headed straight toward the Imperial Garden.

Some days ago, the tiger-hoof plum blossoms planted in the palace had already bloomed.

The Empress Dowager’s cold had also improved somewhat. To seek good fortune, the Empress invited the consorts from each palace to come out to the Imperial Garden to admire the plum blossoms. Because of Xiao Shu’s face, the companion readers from Yangzhi Study could also benefit and go have a look, joining the excitement.

Naturally, Yao Xi and You Yue didn’t want to miss such an event.

In the plum garden, the tiger-hoof plum blossoms bloomed early, and the wintersweet had also grown small buds.

Walking through the garden, there was quite some interest.

You Yue came from the Qingyuan Earl household, of quite humble origins. She loved making friends, not to mention encountering this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. She single-mindedly went to curry favor and flatter before the various palace consorts. Yao Xi, however, didn’t look favorably upon this.

She came from a great family and disdained such behavior.

So halfway through the banquet, she simply said nothing, abandoned everyone, and went to the outer garden to admire the plum blossoms.

The plum garden was quite large.

Yao Xi said she was admiring plum blossoms, but looking and looking in this already somewhat cold weather, she couldn’t help but recall seeing Zhang Zhe that day in Cining Palace. Then she thought of that letter declining the marriage engagement she had seen in her father’s study. With desolation in her heart and rising hatred besides, unknowingly she walked quite deep.

At the furthest point, it was actually somewhat desolate.

A pavilion rarely visited by people on ordinary days stood in the plum forest, surrounded by densely planted clusters of plum trees, making it appear quite thick.

It just looked gloomy, making people somewhat afraid.

Yao Xi’s courage wasn’t very great. Upon arriving here, she came back to her senses and wanted to turn back. But unexpectedly, having walked back only a few steps, a series of footsteps accompanied by low conversation came from the other end of the plum garden.

“If I, the Empress Dowager, hadn’t noticed something wrong that day at Yangzhi Study and you had allowed that little palace maid to be interrogated in court with your thoughtless planning, if she hadn’t been tight-lipped and had revealed the truth through a careless slip, how would you have dealt with yourself?!”

“It was this niece who was muddled and lost her usual composure.”

“All matters are easier to act upon than to think through, especially so in the palace. No one is a fool! Without even ascertaining your opponent’s reality, you rashly acted—you’ve truly disappointed this Empress Dowager.”

“…”

“Now Jiang Xuening is unharmed, and you’ve gained this formidable enemy for yourself for nothing. Outside, another Jiang Xuehui has entered, who though not outstanding in appearance, can compete with you in studies and is extremely likely to be the true owner of Jie’er’s embroidered handkerchief. You’re not just muddled!”

“Aunt’s reprimand is justified.”

Empress Dowager Xiao walked in front, Xiao Shu followed behind her.

One couldn’t quite suppress the anger all over her face, somewhat sternly rebuking. The other had lost her usual aloof calm from high above, lowering her head to quietly listen.

Neither had palace servants following behind them.

Very obviously, such words weren’t suitable for palace servants to overhear.

The footsteps gradually drew near.

Yao Xi ordinarily had a good relationship with Xiao Shu and was close to her. Even if she couldn’t recognize Empress Dowager Xiao’s voice, she could distinguish Xiao Shu’s voice. Suddenly hearing what the two discussed, she only felt cold sweat pour from her head, her heart pounding madly in her chest.

She absolutely didn’t dare show herself at this moment.

Seeing a cluster of plum tree branches nearby overlapping and interlocking that could hide a person, she held her breath and quickly hid behind them, not daring to breathe heavily.

Empress Dowager Xiao continued walking forward, passing by that plum tree cluster, saying, “Though you are a rarely seen clever person of the Xiao clan, you’re still young in years after all. You’ve experienced too few matters, your thinking isn’t thorough enough, and you haven’t thought through sufficient contingency methods. That day you nearly fell into a passive position in the hall. Moreover, you acted privately without even telling this Empress Dowager! Does the Empress Dowager appear unable to see through your intentions?”

Xiao Shu said, “Ashu has failed Aunt’s instruction.”

But Empress Dowager Xiao sighed and said, “The Emperor personally experienced Prince Pingnan’s rebellion back then. From then on, he became suspicious. Even toward this Empress Dowager, his birth mother, he isn’t affectionate. Even selecting an Empress, he selected one from a small household background. He wouldn’t select even a single person of Xiao clan birth for a consort position—he’s being wary. But Jie’er has a gentle temperament and is more intimate with me. I know you also have great ambitions. Looking across the capital at daughters of noble families, no one is more suited than you for the position of Empress.”

Hiding behind the tree, Yao Xi temporarily didn’t dare move. Though her heart warned herself that if she wanted to live she shouldn’t listen, she couldn’t seal her two ears. Those words continuously entered, making her increasingly frightened and terrified the more she heard.

That incident at Yangzhi Study—it was actually Xiao Shu who framed Jiang Xuening!

It was for Prince Linzi Shen Jie, to become the future Empress!

Then she heard Xiao Shu say, “Aunt’s meaning is…”

Empress Dowager Xiao said coldly, “As long as the Emperor is still alive, if he wants to establish Jie’er as Imperial Prince, he won’t tolerate a woman of the Xiao clan becoming Princess Linzi. You must be patient.”

Xiao Shu said, “Must I just watch someone else take that position?”

At this time, the two people’s footsteps had become somewhat distant, their voices also somewhat far.

Yao Xi swallowed and didn’t dare stay any longer. She quietly circled around that plum tree cluster and was about to leave.

But who would have thought that in panic and disorder, errors easily occur.

As she hurriedly bent down, she accidentally bumped a plum branch. Immediately the plum blossoms shook and trembled, and the sound of branches colliding transmitted out.

“Who’s there!”

Empress Dowager Xiao turned her head. From that distant place, she could only see that plum branch move. Instinctively, she let out a stern shout!

Yao Xi immediately knew she had revealed her whereabouts. In her panic, she chose no path and took to her heels running.

Only at the extreme of fear did evil thoughts also surge up.

A vicious color overflowed from her eyes. Her mind stirred, and she directly reached into her sleeve, felt that sachet she had picked up earlier, and directly threw it on the ground. Then she quickly exited this plum garden, circled around to another place, and only then returned to the plum blossom viewing banquet.

With a pile of palace consorts admiring plum blossoms in the palace and an Empress Dowager Xiao present, Jiang Xuening didn’t want to join that excitement.

In Flowing Water Pavilion, Fang Miao had been pulled by Zhou Baoying to sit there playing chess.

So she walked over and sat beside them, peeling peanuts brought up by palace servants while watching the two compete on the chessboard.

Only when the sky darkened did those who went to admire plum blossoms return.

Seeing people playing chess in Flowing Water Pavilion, everyone gathered over, wanting to see by how much Zhou Baoying would win against Fang Miao in this round.

Xiao Shu was also among them.

Seeing that Jiang Xuening had already peeled a pile of peanut shells beside her hand, Xiao Shu smiled faintly. As her eyes flashed slightly, she raised her hand and held a sachet before her, saying, “I just picked up an item outside. It looks somewhat familiar—is it Miss Jiang the Second’s?”

Jiang Xuening froze and raised her eyes.

The sachet hanging from Xiao Shu’s fingers was precisely the one You Fangying had specially embroidered for her using silk sent by the silk farmers when she completed her first business transaction. The deep blue peony was quite unique and very beautiful.

Lowering her eyes to look at her own waist, she didn’t know when it had become empty.

She raised her eyebrow slightly, took the sachet from Xiao Shu’s hand, but didn’t express profuse gratitude. Still somewhat cool, she said flatly, “It’s mine. I don’t know when it fell. Thank you for the trouble.”

The edge of the sachet had somehow been snagged by something, making it somewhat frayed.

Seeing this, Jiang Xuening felt somewhat distressed. She gently stroked it once before frowning and hanging it back at her waist.

Xiao Shu quietly observed her expression, watching her actions. She easily detected that coolness of not wanting to speak more with her, but apart from this, she was remarkably composed.

You Yue behind them watched with some confusion.

But Yao Xi, seeing this scene, felt her heart pound like a drum, nearly unable to stand as her feet went soft.