The gauze curtain hung swaying, with the cold snow light from the courtyard filtering through the cracks of the jade panels.
A narrow streak of floating light fell into Ning Yin’s deep and serene eyes, dancing with forbidden madness.
Yu Lingxi felt as if she had been thrown up high, then suddenly plummeted, her heart about to burst.
“Minister Xue Song of the Board of Revenue (commoner Xue Cen), paying respects to His Highness the Seventh Prince.”
The Xue brothers—one solemn, one bright—entered the hall and bowed with sleeves gathered to the person behind the curtain.
Just thinking that Xue Cen was only a curtain away, Yu Lingxi couldn’t help but feel her heart tighten, a faint crimson appearing on her snow-white cheeks.
Her breathing became irregular and restrained, the ivory hairpin somehow falling to the ground, her long hair cascading down to her waist. The corners of her mouth were still stained with remnants of hawthorn jam, making her look truly pitiful.
The exquisite purple robe of the finest quality was wrinkled from being clutched, but Ning Yin paid no mind.
He pressed one hand against his temple, while the other traced up Yu Lingxi’s slender waist, slowly and gently caressing her back as if soothing a frightened cat.
Xue Song and Xue Cen were also somewhat surprised.
Through the hazy, swaying cloud-patterned gauze curtain, they could see a woman sitting in Ning Yin’s embrace. Though her face was indistinct, her shadowy figure was exceptionally graceful and slender. Beneath the curtain’s tassels, a section of luxurious skirt hem and loosely hanging black hair were exposed. Under the skirt, the tip of a brand-new shoe occasionally appeared—truly a sight of unparalleled allure.
The brothers exchanged knowing glances and pretended not to see.
Xue Song waited for a moment, and seeing no response from behind the curtain, he raised his voice slightly to announce their presence again.
“If you have a business, speak.”
Ning Yin spoke indifferently, though his eyes remained fixed on Yu Lingxi, taking in all her nervousness and restraint.
Xue Song presented a list of rewards, saying, “Please review this, Your Highness.”
Hearing that the Emperor had bestowed beautiful maids and dancers, Yu Lingxi looked up and pressed her reddened lips together.
With her lips tightly pressed, the smudge of hawthorn red at the corner of her mouth became particularly noticeable.
Ning Yin’s expression remained relaxed as he leaned in to taste the remnants at the corner of her mouth.
Again?
Yu Lingxi, fuming, tried to turn away, but Ning Yin effortlessly caught her chin, leaving her no escape.
As the warm, teasing breath spread over her again, she simply sharpened her teeth and bit down on his overly audacious tongue tip.
Ning Yin, as expected, let out a soft groan.
This commotion was naturally heard by those outside the curtain.
Outrageous.
Xue Cen frowned and looked away.
Ning Yin opened his mouth, revealing a hint of his crimson tongue tip that had been bitten.
The slight pain only deepened the interest in his eyes. Rather than retreating, he advanced, steadily saying during a pause for breath: “I can understand Minister Xue being busy. But why has Second Master Xue, who holds no official position, also come to see me?”
Xue Cen was momentarily speechless.
The person behind the curtain had transformed from Wei Qi to the Seventh Prince in just a few short months, changing from a lowly family servant to the biggest winner in the palace turmoil. The only setback Ning Yin had suffered was probably regarding his second sister.
With the wedding date approaching, Xue Cen feared he might target Yu Lingxi, which was why he had come under the pretext of offering congratulations.
Xue Cen spoke in a clear voice: “Your Highness is a heroic figure who risked his life to save the country in times of danger. As a subject, it is only right that I pay my respects.”
What a dignified excuse.
Ning Yin caught Yu Lingxi’s restless wrist and asked in a low, hoarse voice: “Then why are you standing there? Hurry up, pay your respects, and leave.”
Xue Cen was stunned.
But Ning Yin turned Yu Lingxi’s face toward the gauze curtain, making her directly face Xue Cen through the yellowish, misty screen, and said carelessly: “Bow.”
Xue Cen had no choice but to gather his sleeves and bow deeply, bending down, paying his highest respects to the person behind the curtain.
Xue Song glanced at his brother from the corner of his eye, and also cupped his hands, saying: “Your servant has seen the corpses of rebel remnants like Wang Lingqing…”
“Minister Xue, not only do you manage the Treasury’s finances and oversee the conduct of all officials, but now you even want to question how rebels are dealt with. You truly are busy with public affairs.”
Ning Yin even spoke with a smile, “Do you know why Wang Lingqing died?”
Xue Song remained silent.
Ning Yin answered for him: “For meddling in affairs that didn’t concern him.”
A double entendre, exquisitely sarcastic.
Despite being separated by a curtain, Xue Song felt as if his soul had been seen through.
He instinctively cupped his hands and said: “By Imperial order, I share military affairs with the Superintendent and the Grand General. I occupy my position without merit, which is truly shameful.”
Having understood Ning Yin’s attitude, Xue Song’s thoughts turned, and after a few self-deprecating words, he prepared to withdraw.
“Wait,” Ning Yin called to them.
He held Yu Lingxi tightly and whispered hoarsely in her ear, word by word, “Give my regards to your fiancée, Second Master Xue.”
These words were undoubtedly a threatening provocation. Xue Cen’s whole body trembled, and a thin flush of anger appeared on his fair face.
He didn’t know that his fiancée had already become a bird caged in Ning Yin’s embrace.
Xue Song, however, remained composed and replied: “On behalf of my brother’s wife, I thank Your Highness for your concern.”
The brothers said nothing more and left the side hall, each harboring their thoughts.
Behind the curtain, Yu Lingxi finally released the breath she had been holding.
The scene just now had been more thrilling and nerve-wracking than any other time. That excitement didn’t come from the indulgence of the act itself but from the collapse of spiritual and moral principles.
He did that in front of Xue Cen…
Yu Lingxi’s earlobes burned red, half from annoyance, and she pushed away Ning Yin’s grip, suddenly standing up.
Due to weak legs and panic, she stumbled when her feet touched the ground, and only managed to stand steady by supporting herself on Ning Yin’s shoulder.
Her palm was soft and boneless, her push as gentle as a cat’s scratch. Ning Yin didn’t move at all and laughed: “Lingxi is truly consistent in her ingratitude, turning her face away without recognition. Just now you were clinging to me so tightly; look, you’ve even wrinkled my clothes.”
“You bully me and then blame me instead.”
Yu Lingxi wiped her red, swollen lips. “You went too far.”
Thinking about it, she still felt afraid, so she emphasized in an annoyed tone: “Much too far!”
Her vivid expressions pleased Ning Yin.
“This is going too far?”
Ning Yin’s mouth twitched slightly as he picked up the gold-inlaid ivory hairpin from the ground, gathered her long hair into a loose bun, and said calmly: “I was born cold-hearted and indifferent. It’s just that before, I couldn’t bear to go too far.”
“Your excess isn’t about being cold-hearted or indifferent.”
Yu Lingxi really couldn’t hold back anymore and frowned, saying, “It was meant to be an elegant affair between two people. Why did you have to spoil it in front of the Xue family?”
Ning Yin looked up and after a while said: “Oh, spoil it?”
“Wasn’t it?”
Yu Lingxi blew at her disheveled hair, annoyed with him. “Little madman.”
Ning Yin liked hearing her call him “little madman,” and he indeed was quite mad.
“Don’t rush, I have many more ways to play with you.”
He smiled unrestrained, “After I’m ‘done playing’ I’ll drive you out of the mansion. If Lingxi is obedient and cooperative, perhaps you might even make it in time to exchange vows with Xue Cen.”
Mentioning “exchanging vows with Xue Cen” hadn’t stung Yu Lingxi yet, but he was already gnashing his teeth.
Yu Lingxi simply took a piece of chestnut cake and stuffed it into his hateful mouth.
Snow covered the ground, the world was quiet, and the imperial city was majestically silent.
On the street, the Xue brothers rode their horses at a leisurely pace.
“Elder Brother, won’t you stop?” Xue Cen controlled his pacing horse, his eyes showing signs of struggle.
Xue Song said: “Your nature is pure and untested by hardship. You don’t know that once you enter the web of court politics, you may not be able to get out.”
“Throughout history, treacherous officials have been cunning. Elder Brother, your association with Cui in secret is nothing short of self-destruction.”
Xue Cen concentrated, his moon-white cloak and horse fluttering, “I will confess everything to Grandfather. The old man will surely have a solution.”
Xue Song gripped the reins and stopped his horse, saying darkly: “It’s already too late. Wang Lingqing had evidence of exchanges between the Eastern Palace and Grandfather. He fell into the Seventh Prince’s hands, and the danger should be clear without my explanation. A single pull affects everything. If you disrupt our formation now, it would be no different from pushing over a hundred members of the Xue family into irreversible disaster.”
Xue Cen looked at his brother, feeling estranged.
First Grandfather and Father, and now even Elder Brother…
Xue Cen smiled bitterly and questioned: “Why must officials attach themselves to factions? Can’t there be people in this world who mind their own business?”
“The Yu family didn’t attach themselves to factions before, and look what has become of them now? If not for luck, their entire family would have been wiped out last autumn. And you, the reason you could grow up wearing brocade clothes and staying clean, and then self-righteously question me, is only because… someone else has borne all the wind and mud for you.”
Xue Song looked at his red-eyed brother and finally showed scorn on his face which had been mild and silent all year, “If you want to expose us, I won’t stop you. At most, three generations of the Xue family will accompany you in death for your integrity.”
With that, he turned his horse and left.
Xue Cen stood alone with his horse in the middle of the street, his eyes reddened by the wind.
He flicked his whip and spurred his horse into a gallop down the street as if only this could release the confusion and pain pressing on his heart.
Conscience cut like a sharp blade, disturbing Xue Cen day and night.
He had no face to see the Yu family. The world was so vast, yet he was like a lonely boat on a bitter crossing, unable to find his direction.
…
After the Xue brothers left, Ning Yin also led his people out.
Yu Lingxi wandered alone in the prince’s mansion. Probably because Ning Yin had given instructions, she moved freely within, only being stopped when approaching the main gate.
Following her memories from her previous life, she made her way to the study, found two books to read, and before she knew it, the sky had darkened. She rubbed her neck and stood up, only to find that a gauze lamp had already been lit on the side table, with hot food prepared.
The servants and maids in the mansion were, as in her previous life, silent in their comings and goings, as quiet as puppets on strings.
After dinner, Yu Lingxi suddenly had an idea.
She called for the palace maid standing guard in the corridor to bring silk fabric, needles, and thread to the bedchamber, and then by the light of countless candles like stars, she drew a pattern for a fragrance sachet.
It had been a long time since she had done needlework, and she was somewhat out of practice. She spent half the night unstitching and restitching, finally managing to embroider her specialty—a pot-shaped rabbit fragrance sachet.
Since she was born in the Year of the Rabbit, this was the only design she excelled at.
After adding dark green tassels, the candle in the gauze lamp was almost burned to the end.
It was late at night, and Ning Yin had still not returned.
Could he have gone to the newly bestowed residence to find those dozen or so newly granted “gifts”?
Unlikely, Ning Yin was not a man who indulged in women.
Yu Lingxi quickly dismissed this thought.
She yawned, stopped waiting, and after washing up, kicked off her shoes and stockings, rolled onto the spacious couch, covered herself with a quilt, and fell into deep sleep.
When she woke up, it was already bright daylight.
Yu Lingxi stretched, turned her head, and saw someone sitting in a cross-legged position on a chair beside the couch.
Water droplets from melted snow clung to his dark cloak, accentuating Ning Yin’s handsome, cold white face. When he lowered his eyes in quiet thought, there were faint shadows in them, making him appear particularly gloomy and frosty.
Yu Lingxi blinked once, then again, her dull thoughts becoming clear, and she asked with a sleepy nasal tone: “You didn’t return all night?”
Ning Yin looked up and said lazily: “The Emperor newly bestowed a residence and beauties. I had to go take a look.”
Yu Lingxi paused.
Ning Yin’s mouth moved slightly, and he added: “Worried that someone might be too lonely keeping an empty house, I hurried back, only to find you sleeping sweetly.”
From his tone, Yu Lingxi knew he must be deceiving her.
She snorted, lifted the quilt, and got up, only to see something dark green fall from her bosom.
It was the fragrance sachet she had hastily embroidered last night.
Ning Yin’s gaze also fell on the sachet, with a hint of inquiry.
Yu Lingxi cleared her throat, grabbed the sachet in her hand, put on her clothes, and stepped down from the couch onto the soft, warm carpet, saying: “I noticed Your Highness has never worn a fragrance sachet. I had nothing to do yesterday, so I tried to make one.”
She walked over and then smelled the lingering scent of blood.
Yu Lingxi sighed lightly in her heart, pretending not to notice, and squatted down with a smile: “Let me put it on for you.”
Ning Yin stared at the thoughtful fragrance sachet in her hand.
After a long while, he lifted his sleeve, revealing an empty jade belt.