After spending several days in the stone cave, Nan Shiying could no longer distinguish day from night. When Xuan Shisan escorted her out, a bright moon hung high in the sky, and the forest was misty. Returning to the prince's manor under the cover of night, Lu Wan recounted all that had happened in the past few days to Nan Shiying.
After being so well-behaved for so long, had Wei Rulan finally lost her patience? However, she didn't pay it much mind. Her thoughts were more focused on the palace banquet tomorrow.
"There's a palace banquet tomorrow. Have Bai Zhi and the others keep an eye on the courtyard," Nan Shiying instructed briefly. Then, slowly closing her eyes, she glanced at Lu Wan and stated directly, without any preamble, "Lu Wan, are you the Prince's Xuan Wei or Ying Wei?"
"I..."
Lu Wan's heart skipped a beat. She opened her mouth to deny it, but seeing Nan Shiying's dark, placid eyes, as calm as a deep, ancient well, she found herself unable to utter a falsehood.
She remained silent for several seconds, then replied with a slightly hoarse voice, "Ying Wei Lu Wan, pays respects to the Consort."
She did not ask when, where, or how Nan Shiying had discovered her identity. She simply remembered the words the Prince had spoken to her when he summoned her to his study a few days prior.
"Lu Wan, from today onwards, Nan Shiying will be your only master."
Perhaps on that day, or perhaps long before, the Prince had already foreseen this moment.
...
The Imperial Palace.
Jingren Palace.
"You may all withdraw. This Empress is tired."
The Empress Dowager dismissed the maids attending her. In the vast sleeping chamber, only the flickering candlelight made the faint sound of burning.
"You've come?"
The Empress Dowager, who had been feigning sleep, slowly opened her eyes and looked towards the pillar on the left side of the chamber. A figure entirely shrouded in a black cloak emerged from behind it.
"Consort!"
The man's hoarse voice echoed in the air.
The face beneath his hood was covered by a black mask.
The man took a wooden box from beneath his cloak and presented it to the Empress Dowager. "Consort, the item you requested!"
The Empress Dowager took the wooden box and, with a "click," opened the clasp. Within the box lay a dark red medicinal pill, no larger than a red bean.
Only after the Empress Dowager had taken the box did the man speak again. "The Elder asked me to convey a message to you."
"What message?"
The Empress Dowager closed the wooden box, her brows slightly furrowed as she asked slowly.
The man felt an invisible pressure suddenly descend upon his back, making it difficult for him to breathe.
He took a deep breath and quickly said, "The Elder says to be cautious in all matters. If the endeavor cannot succeed, do not proceed."
"Heh~"
A scornful laugh escaped the Empress Dowager, her tone filled with malicious mockery. "No wonder he has lived the longest."
The man simply lowered his head, not daring to say another word.
After a moment of mockery, the Empress Dowager waved her hand and said listlessly, "This Empress understands. You may withdraw!"
"Yes!"
The man did not dare to linger and disappeared from the sleeping chamber.
The Empress Dowager toyed with the wooden box in her hand, a sharp, cold glint flashing in her eyes.
Tomorrow...
The corners of her lips curled upwards, revealing a sinister, malicious smile.
...
Xunyang Marquis's Manor.
The night was cool and heavy with dew. Mother Zhang cautiously pushed open the door and headed towards the back courtyard.
She reached the rockery in the back courtyard, looked left and right, and only when she was certain no one was around did she duck into the rockery and dig out a small porcelain bottle from the very back.
After wiping the dirt off the bottle, she tucked it into her embrace.
...
In the winter imperial palace, apart from the still-blooming Muyao flowers, few brightly colored flowers adorned the courtyards. It had snowed again last night, snowing all night until the sun hung in the sky, when it finally stopped.
A thick layer of snow now covered the ground. The carriages rumbled, making "crunching" sounds, leaving behind two long tracks.
The carriage drove into the imperial palace and stopped. Nan Shiying alighted, supported by Lu Wan.
The Gong Prince's manor's carriage also happened to stop at the same time. Mu Xiaoxiao, supporting her mother, stepped down from the carriage.
"Princess Consort!"
Madam Mu, with Mu Xiaoxiao, bowed to Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying did not expect to encounter Mu Xiaoxiao here. After not seeing her for a while, she seemed much more well-behaved than before.
"Sister-in-law!"
By seniority, Ji Jinmo had to call Prince Gong his uncle, which meant Prince Gong's son was of the same generation as Ji Jinmo. Therefore, her addressing Nan Shiying as sister-in-law was appropriate.
However, hearing this address, Madam Mu was truly taken aback. She clearly hadn't expected Nan Shiying, whom she had only met a few times and never spoken to, to address her this way. But regardless of the other party's intentions, she couldn't refuse her politeness and thus smiled and nodded.
Her peripheral vision, however, swept over the carriage.
Sensing Madam Mu's gaze, Nan Shiying smiled and said, "The Prince has recently caught a cold, so I am alone today."
Ji Jinmo wasn't coming?
Madam Mu was slightly taken aback.
In fact, Ji Jinmo rarely attended such public banquets before, but considering how devoted they had appeared at the last banquet, it was still somewhat unexpected that Nan Shiying would come alone today.
"So that's how it is."
Despite her thoughts racing, Madam Mu revealed nothing. She smiled and invited Nan Shiying to proceed to the main hall together.
Mu Xiaoxiao had been secretly watching Nan Shiying. She couldn't see clearly from a distance, but now, up close, she found Nan Shiying somewhat familiar.
In fact, it wasn't just familiarity; Mu Xiaoxiao felt a sense of warmth and closeness towards Nan Shiying.
Where on earth had she seen her before?
Mu Xiaoxiao pondered deeply, her mind feeling as if it would explode from the effort, yet she still couldn't recall where she had met her.
With a face like this, this sense of familiarity couldn't possibly be attributed to a common appearance!
Seeing her daughter staring intently at Nan Shiying, Madam Mu subtly glared at her. What are you looking at? Even if you stare, your appearance doesn't even come close to hers.
Glowered at fiercely by her mother, Mu Xiaoxiao pouted and dared not look again.
The gaze from the side followed her like a shadow, making it difficult for Nan Shiying not to notice. However, for certain reasons, she felt a little guilty and dared not meet Mu Xiaoxiao's eyes, fearing that Mu Xiaoxiao might recognize her.
She could only pretend not to see and engage in desultory conversation with Madam Mu.
The layered announcements of the eunuchs rang out again. Inside the banquet hall, everyone present was stunned by the eunuchs' pronouncements.
Madam Mu, Miss Mu, and... the Regent's Consort?
Why were people from the Gong Prince's manor mixed up with people from the Regent's manor?
Could it be...
Everyone's expressions varied, and various thoughts flashed through their minds.
It wasn't until Nan Shiying and the other two walked in together that the others belatedly realized that the Regent's manor had only sent their Consort.
Where was Ji Jinmo?