Chapter 45

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“Meow!” Qing Guang’s attention was instantly captured by the glittering contents of the box. Its green eyes widened to saucers as it leaped into action, its paw landing squarely on the box. In one swift, lightning-quick motion, it snatched a perfectly round gold bead.

But its antics didn’t stop there—Qing Guang’s paw sent the wooden box toppling, spilling out more than half of its glittering contents in a cascade of gold and jewels.

Gu Yan Fei stared at the scene, momentarily speechless.

Chu Yi, ever composed, brought his fist to his lips, stifling a low laugh.

Oblivious to the mess it had created, Qing Guang single-mindedly chased after the gold bead, batting it back and forth with its nimble paws, sending it rolling around the carriage.

Gu Yan Fei directed a silent glare at the foolish cat, who seemed thoroughly pleased with its new toy.

With an air of casual grace, Chu Yi calmly reached out and replaced the lid on the overturned box, securing what remained. He took the liberty of “accepting” the portion Qing Guang had decided to “share” with him.

Carrying the box, Chu Yi stepped out of the carriage and handed it off to Xiao Shi without ceremony.

“Time to meet the Prince of Jing,” he remarked, his voice calm and steady, as if the entire spectacle inside the carriage had never occurred.

Chu Yi casually dropped the remark before striding off towards the southeast, where the autumn wind greeted him with its cool, biting chill. His white-clad figure appeared slender yet resolute, like bamboo standing proudly in the snow—graceful and poised.

Xiao Shi, clutching the jewelry box in his hands, followed at a brisk pace, his steps light and agile. Wrinkling his nose slightly, he couldn’t help but reflect on their situation.

The Prince of Jing, a cousin to both the Emperor and Kang Wang, had long maintained a close relationship with Kang Wang since the time of the late Emperor. Chu Yi, having been absent from the capital for eight years, was largely unfamiliar to the court, including the Prince of Jing, who, like many, preferred to adopt a wait-and-see approach.

Chu Yi hadn’t been formally invited to today’s gathering; instead, he had chosen to come to the manor on his own initiative. His aim was to gauge the Prince of Jing’s stance. Yet, upon arrival, they were met with indifference. After having Chu Yi and his entourage escorted to Moonlight Tower, the Prince had conveniently excused himself and never reappeared.

Earlier, when Chu Yi had left Moonlight Tower, Xiao Shi had assumed they were heading back to the palace. To his surprise, his master had intentionally sought out Gu Yan Fei instead.

Of course, Xiao Shi mused, adjusting his hold on the box. The master always has his reasons. Chu Yi was not the type to let others dictate his actions or go along with the current without thought. The Prince of Jing had severely underestimated him.

A faint smirk tugged at Xiao Shi’s lips. It seems someone will be learning that lesson soon enough.

Xiao Shi grinned broadly, quickening his pace to catch up with Chu Yi. The master and servant passed one after the other through a moon gate.

On the other side, the scene was lush and verdant, the air filled with the faint fragrance of greenery. It was as if the season had forgotten to bring autumn’s somber tones here. The sound of hearty laughter and playful voices carried on the breeze, breaking the serene atmosphere.

“Hey, hey, hey, let me make this clear first: no one’s allowed to compete with me, got it?” came the boisterous voice of Li Zhulang, brimming with confidence and gusto.

Ahead, six or seven young men strolled towards them, their jovial banter filling the space.

“That’s not happening!” retorted another young man, his voice rough but good-natured. “A fair maiden deserves to choose among worthy suitors. Why should we step aside for you?”

“Exactly!”

“Fair competition is the way to go!”

“Absolutely right!”

The group chimed in one after another, their words overlapping in a lively cacophony. The air buzzed with camaraderie as they jested and teased, the energy between them vibrant and contagious.

Suddenly, three or four sparrows flitted by, their wings brushing against one another as they chirped noisily. As if to punctuate their presence, one of them dropped a dollop of bird droppings.

The offending mess landed squarely on Li Zhulang’s hair ornament. Instinctively, he reached up to wipe at it. The moment he saw the offending stain on his fingers, a pungent odor wafting up, his expression darkened considerably.

The group of young men around him all witnessed the mishap. For a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. They stood in stunned silence, their chatter abruptly cut off.

“Pfft!” The youngest among them broke first, bursting into laughter so intense that he doubled over, pointing at Li Zhulang. “So, this is what the Second Miss Gu meant when she told you to beware of ‘birds’!”

“Accurate! The Second Miss Gu’s predictions are truly on point,” another young man chimed in, tapping his fan against his palm, grinning broadly.

“Li, my friend,” another teased, his tone dripping with mock concern, “bird droppings on your head? That’s a sure sign of bad luck. Perhaps you should visit a temple and pray away the misfortune?”

The rest of the group joined in, laughing and joking at Li Zhulang’s expense. Their teasing remarks only added to his visible exasperation.

Chu Yi overheard the exchange, naturally understanding who the “Second Miss Gu” they spoke of was. He cast a casual glance toward the group of young men, his phoenix-shaped eyes glinting with a faint, almost indiscernible amusement.

Dressed in his pristine white robes, his aura was strikingly different from that of the jovial, flamboyant young nobles in their richly adorned attire. His elegant demeanor and cool detachment made him seem almost otherworldly by comparison.

As their paths crossed, Li Zhulang couldn’t resist stealing a glance at Chu Yi. Their eyes met—his own, restless and uncertain, clashed with the calm, ink-dark depths of Chu Yi’s.

Chu Yi did nothing overt, yet Li Zhulang felt a subtle, intangible pressure emanating from him. It wasn’t hostile, but it carried the weight of authority and composure, enough to leave an impression.

Who is this…? Li Zhulang’s thoughts ground to a halt, his body freezing as though paralyzed.

Chu Yi offered him a slight nod, not breaking his stride as he continued forward, his movements fluid and unhurried. Xiao Shi followed closely behind, his steps perfectly aligned with his master’s.

The other young men noticed Li Zhulang had fallen behind and called out to him.

Snapping out of his stupor, Li Zhulang turned back to them, his expression a mix of disbelief and dawning realization. “It’s…it’s the Crown Prince!” he stammered, his voice rising with incredulity.

The Crown Prince?! What is he doing here?! His question hung unanswered as the realization swept through the group, leaving them collectively stunned.

When the eldest prince, Chu Yi, left the capital, he was only ten years old. Eight years had passed since then, and though he had just returned, he had yet to attend court. As a result, most people didn’t know what he looked like.

“Was that the eldest prince just now?”

“I thought the eldest prince was still recovering from an illness and resting quietly.”

Curiosity spread quickly, and people craned their necks, trying to catch another glimpse. However, Chu Yi’s figure had already vanished around the corner.

A few yards away, two sparrows darted across the sky, chirping noisily as they flew out of the royal manor. Their wings briefly grazed the top of a flat-roofed carriage waiting outside. Inside, the carriage was silent, making the creaking of the wheels and the rhythmic clopping of horse hooves especially clear.

Gu Yun Zhen, having waited in vain for Gu Yun Rong, decided to leave another carriage behind at the royal manor. She and Gu Yan Fei opted to return to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence first. Twisting and wringing a handkerchief in her hands, Gu Yun Zhen seemed lost in thought, her worries written plainly across her face.

Meanwhile, Qing Guang, having tired itself out after playing, curled up beside Gu Yan Fei like a soft, round ball of fur. One incense stick’s time later, their carriage arrived at the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence.

Gu Yun Zhen stepped out first and hurriedly approached the gatekeeper.

“Has the Third Miss returned?” she asked, her tone laced with urgency.

“She hasn’t,” the gatekeeper replied, shaking her head.

Gu Yun Zhen’s brows knitted tightly together, her worry deepening.

At the gates, the sisters parted ways. Gu Yun Zhen headed to Cihe Hall, while Gu Yan Fei returned to Yuheng Courtyard, carrying her cat.

However, Gu Yan Fei had barely changed into a lotus-pink gauze blouse and hadn’t even had a sip of water when Bai Lu, the head maid from Cihe Hall, arrived. She informed her that the Old Madam was summoning her.

And so, she went. The first thing that greeted her was a porcelain cup flying straight at her, hurled directly toward her head.

“Wretched child!” Old Madam Gu roared angrily, her usual dignified composure completely gone.

The cup flew with astonishing speed, but Gu Yan Fei only tilted her head slightly, effortlessly dodging it. The cup whizzed past her shoulder and smashed against the wall behind her with a resounding crash, shattering into countless pieces. The force of the throw was evident.

Seeing that Gu Yan Fei dared to dodge, Old Madam Gu’s anger surged even further. Her clouded eyes burned with fury as she reached for the lid of a teacup, preparing to throw it.

Gu Yun Zhen quickly stepped in front of Gu Yan Fei, blocking her and urging, “Grandmother, please calm your anger.”

Gu Yan Fei’s expression shifted slightly. Her sharp eyes caught a thin, faint trace of blood on Gu Yun Zhen’s temple, barely concealed beneath her neatly trimmed bangs. It was subtle but unmistakable. Glancing down at the floor in front of Old Madam Gu’s luohan bed, scattered with spilled tea and broken porcelain shards, Gu Yan Fei instantly understood what had happened.

Before she arrived, Old Madam Gu must have already smashed a cup, and the flying shards had nicked Gu Yun Zhen’s temple.

Her grandmother… even after two lifetimes, she still had a penchant for throwing things!