The so-called surprise of the pot-throwing game was originally designed for Wei Qing and the Second Prince. Now that the participants were Wang Qingyao and the Second Prince, it became rather awkward.
The surprise was: the male partner of the winning pair had to carry the female partner around the building once.
Surprising? Unexpected? Awkward?
What kind of brain could come up with such a surprise?
Wang Qingyao looked at Wei Qing, who was also looking at her. Wang Qingyao's gaze was one of utter bewilderment, while Wei Qing's gaze was rather terrifying.
It was as if, should Wang Qingyao dare to touch the Second Prince, Wei Qing's eyes would shoot out arrows and turn Wang Qingyao into a porcupine.
This surprise was not only awkward for Wang Qingyao but also for the Second Prince.
Wang Qingyao was Xiao Yun's future princess consort, a woman already promised. How could she be casually carried around by someone else?
Even if Wei Qing agreed, would Xiao Yun?
The building was eerily silent. The Fourth Prince then let out a laugh, breaking the stillness. "Second Brother, why are you hesitating? Hurry up and carry Miss Wang the Second around! Don't be shy, it's just a game." He then glanced at Xiao Yun. "Brother Yun won't mind, will he?"
Xiao Yun: "He minds."
The Fourth Prince's smile froze before it could fully recede. He looked displeased. "Honestly, you can't even play along. How boring."
There was a hint of gunpowder in the air.
Wang Qingyao quickly exclaimed, "Oh dear," and held her forehead. "I'm feeling dizzy. I think I've had heatstroke."
As she spoke, she leaned into Xiao Yun's embrace, and he quickly caught her.
She winked at Xiao Yun, who understood. He looked at Wei Qing. "Where is a place to rest? Miss Wang the Second needs a room to recuperate."
Wei Qing's expression finally improved, and she immediately called a maid to lead the way.
Wang Qingyao leaned weakly against Xiao Yun, her eyes half-closed, and whispered, "Carry me."
The moment she finished speaking, Xiao Yun swept her into his arms in a princess carry. She was about to exclaim in surprise but swallowed it back. How could she let her boss carry her? She had gained quite a bit of weight recently.
She looked up at Xiao Yun. He deliberately avoided her gaze, feigning a look of grave concern for her health, while the corners of his mouth were practically flying upwards.
Was he that happy just to carry her?
Wang Qingyao resigned herself to it. She wrapped her arms around Xiao Yun's neck, rested her head on his chest, and let him carry her with a clear conscience.
She could hear his heart pounding, "dong dong dong," a rapid and powerful rhythm, like a sudden downpour in summer.
The building designated for guests to rest was called Moon Pavilion Tower, with two floors. The first floor was for male guests, and the second for female guests, much like an inn.
Upon entering the building, Wang Qingyao quietly said to Xiao Yun, "Put me down. It must be tiring to carry me upstairs."
Xiao Yun looked down at her. "It's nothing."
Her hair brushed against her face, tickling her. She reached up to brush it away and glanced at the maid leading the way.
The maid was diligent, leading them all the way to a private room and leaving after opening the door.
Xiao Yun placed Wang Qingyao on the bed. Looking at her rosy face up close, he paused for a few seconds.
"What's wrong? Did you sprain your back?"
Xiao Yun: "..."
He set Wang Qingyao down.
Only after hearing no footsteps outside did Wang Qingyao sit up.
"That was terrifying. Wei Qing looked like she wanted to eat me alive."
Xiao Yun said, "This year's Lotus Festival is probably ruined." He smiled. "Now the Second Prince is happy."
The Second Prince had ruined the Lotus Festival, and Wei Qing couldn't blame him, leaving her full of frustration.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, others found excuses to leave.
The Second Prince also tried to leave, but Wei Qing invited him to stay for the meal. The other princes were also staying, so the Second Prince couldn't leave alone and had to remain.
Xiao Yun sent someone to call Yin Zhu to the private room to look after Wang Qingyao.
The banquet hall had dedicated rooms for servants to rest, with one for maids and another for pages and guards.
Yin Zhu hadn't been sitting for long when Yuan Bao came to talk to her, giving her a honey-colored crystal hairpin. He said it was a welfare benefit from the Prince's manor, and since his household had no female dependents, it was a waste to keep it, so he gave it to Yin Zhu.
Yin Zhu had never received jewelry from any man other than her father in her life.
She was both stunned and delighted, accepting it in a daze.
Now, thinking back, she felt a bit of regret.
She was the most capable maid by her young lady's side. How could she accept gifts from a guard serving the future son-in-law?
If Prince Ding'an found out, would he look down on her young lady?
The more Yin Zhu thought about it, the more regretful she felt, becoming restless.
Wang Qingyao asked, and Yin Zhu told her about it, showing her the hairpin.
Wang Qingyao took it and examined it, her brow furrowing.
Yin Zhu was on the verge of tears. She knew she had embarrassed her young lady.
"Young lady..."
"Why would he give a crystal hairpin?" Wang Qingyao said. "Crystal hairpins break easily. He should have given a gold or silver one. I'll have to give him some advice when I see him later."
Yin Zhu: "..."
"Does he like you? What did he say to you?"
Wang Qingyao asked directly, and Yin Zhu's face turned red, a mixture of embarrassment and shyness. "Oh, young lady..."
Actually, she also thought Yuan Bao liked her. Not only did he give her a crystal hairpin, but he also indirectly inquired about many things.
For example, what she usually did, if serving the young lady was tiring, what the young lady's temper was like, and if she treated her well...
She and Yuan Bao had only met a few times, and he already liked her so much. It was enough to show her irresistible charm!
Yin Zhu smiled, a little shy and a little proud.
Meanwhile, Yuan Bao was reporting the intelligence he had gathered to Xiao Yun.
"...The wet nurse taught her to read and write."
"...She wasn't like this before. She was weak and submissive. She was always bullied. Even the servants with a little status in the manor dared to boss her around. She didn't dare to resist, only cried about her bitter fate."
"...Let alone going out, she rarely even left the courtyard she lived in."
"After her engagement was broken, she became a different person. Miss Yin Zhu said the Second Miss had a great awakening. However, this subordinate feels Miss Yin Zhu wasn't entirely truthful. She said the Second Miss hesitated about the broken engagement, and something must have happened in between that we don't know about."
Xiao Yun remained silent, stroking his chin in thought.
A wet nurse had limited horizons. Even if she was literate, she couldn't possibly teach a girl with Wang Qingyao's demeanor.
So her past weakness and submissiveness made sense.
But now?
He recalled Wang Qingyao talking about her parents and grandparents when she was drunk last time. That was entirely the life of a different Miss Wang the Second.
His heart tightened, and a guess began to form.
"Go and pry more information from Yin Zhu to find out exactly what happened when the Second Miss's engagement was broken."
Yuan Bao looked troubled.
"What is it?"
"This time, I gave Miss Yin Zhu a crystal hairpin. I don't know what to give her next time? This subordinate has no experience."
Xiao Yun made the decision for him. "It can't be too expensive, nor too cheap, and it must be appropriate for your identity..."
It was truly difficult. When he gave Wang Qingyao things, he gave whatever he wanted, without considering so much.
"Invite her to dinner and drinks. Have you heard that people speak their minds after drinking? Perhaps she'll tell you everything if she gets drunk."
When Xiao Yun mentioned drinking, Yuan Bao remembered the incident where Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun were kissing on the ground last time. He glanced at Xiao Yun, then looked away.
Xiao Yun: "...I said that was an accident!"