Chapter 9: Escalating

This unfamiliar flutter made it hard for him to adjust.

“Xiao brother!” Huaining rushed over, blocking his path.

He lowered his eyes, hiding the slight panic in his gaze, his voice calm, “What brings you here, Princess?”

“How could I miss your housewarming banquet? Even my brother came, and he didn’t even tell me!”

“It’s nothing. The Crown Prince came because he had something to discuss with me.” Ling Xiao said, glancing at Huaining and then at Jiang Yao.

Yao saw their exchange and thought it was a misunderstanding. She quickly said, “The Princess came to celebrate your housewarming, so I took her for a walk in the garden.”

Ling Xiao shifted his gaze, not answering.

“The Princess is just having a look around. I have things to attend to.” Ling Xiao’s voice was calm.

Huaining felt a little disappointed, “I finally got permission to leave the palace…”

But before she could finish, she swallowed the words back down and nodded obediently, “Okay.”

She had never changed her plans for anyone or anything.

Ling Xiao nodded, turned and left, not even looking at Yao.

Yao was stunned. Had she offended him again?

Ling Xiao walked away, his face tense. The unfamiliar flutter made him restless.

Huaining stared at Ling Xiao, who didn’t even bother to look back. Her face, which had been full of energy, now looked sullen.

Yao noticed the Princess’s low spirits and tried to comfort her, “Your Highness, he’s really busy. He’s been studying and discussing matters with officials since he returned. He doesn’t have much free time.”

Huaining finally felt a little better. She pouted, “I know, I’m used to it.”

Yao was stunned. Was she used to his bad temper? Had she become accustomed to enduring it?

She must have been through a lot.

Huaining suddenly asked curiously, “Xiao brother’s brother, what’s he like?”

Yao blinked, “My husband, he’s gentle and kind. He never gets angry, and he never puts on airs. He’s always very patient, and he’s kind to everyone.”

Huaining was a little surprised, “Brothers can be so different?”

Yao looked at Ling Xiao’s perpetually grumpy face and scoffed, “Who knows?”

Huaining kicked the ground with her foot and mumbled, “Xiao brother always ignores me.”

“Why do you like him?”

“Xiao brother is so powerful! No girl wouldn’t like him!”

Yao tilted her head, “He’s powerful, what does that have to do with anything?”

“Even if he’s powerful, what good is it to you? If you marry him, can you share his glory? His military achievements will always belong to him, he won’t share them with you.”

Huaining was stunned.

“Do you like someone just because they’re powerful?”

Yao asked in confusion, “Why do you like someone just because they’re good to you?”

Huaining was stuck for a moment, then she stubbornly replied, “I just like Xiao brother!”

Huaining insisted, “I don’t need a reason to like someone!”

Yao was taken aback. She was stunned by this grand view of love, then she realized.

Yao nodded, “Your Highness makes a good point.”

Huaining finally relaxed, raising her chin, “Anyway, I’m going to marry Xiao brother in this life!”

Yao smiled, “Your Highness will definitely get your wish.”

“Of course!”

Just then, a palace eunuch came over and said, “Princess, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived.”

Huaining’s face changed, and she exclaimed, “Oh no!”

Then she saw the Crown Prince approaching from afar.

Yao quickly bowed and said, “This concubine greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”

The Crown Prince smiled, “No need for formalities, Madam.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince turned to Huaining and reprimanded her, “You’re so reckless, sneaking out of the palace like this. How could you come to the housewarming banquet?”

“Xiao brother’s housewarming banquet, how could I miss it?” Huaining pouted excitedly.

“Alright, it’s getting late. Let’s go back to the palace. I’ll give you a good scolding.”

Huaining reluctantly said to Yao, “I’ll come play again next time.”

“This concubine awaits Your Highness’s visit.”

Huaining frowned, “Don’t be so perfunctory.”

“…”

Yao’s eyes were sincere, “Of course not.”

Huaining was about to leave, but she suddenly thought of something, “I’m going hunting! You’re coming too, right?”

“…” Yao hesitated.

“It’s a hunting trip, all the officials will be there. It’ll definitely be more lively than today. I’m actually feeling a little tired.”

Besides, she knew very well that she was just a nominal wife. Although she was called “Madam” because of her connection to Ling Xiao, she wasn’t qualified to mingle with those noble wives with powerful backgrounds.

She would rather stay quietly and do her own thing.

But Huaining insisted, “You have to promise me!”

She rarely met someone she could talk to, and she wouldn’t let her go.

The Crown Prince smiled, “Of course, the Military Marquis will definitely be there. When the time is right, Madam can go with us too. It’ll be good company for the Princess.”

“Yes! That’s right!” Huaining’s eyes lit up.

Since they had said it this way, Yao couldn’t refuse. She could only smile and say, “Okay.”

Huaining finally left happily with the Crown Prince.

When they were far away, the Crown Prince reprimanded her, “You’re getting more and more reckless. You dare to sneak out of the palace without telling Father. He’ll punish you.”

Huaining pouted, “Why are you hiding it from me?”

“What’s wrong with the housewarming banquet? Why do you have to go there yourself?”

“Don’t try to fool me! You’re using the housewarming banquet as an excuse to arrange a blind date for Xiao brother.”

“What do you mean by arranging a blind date? He’ll decide for himself.”

The Crown Prince knew Ling Xiao well, of course. But even so, Ling Xiao had always treated Huaining like a sister, and he had never thought of her in any other way.

Huaining stomped her foot in anger, “I’m not on his side!”

The Crown Prince shook his head helplessly and continued walking, “Anyway, don’t sneak out of the palace again, do you hear me?”

“Hmph!”

After the banquet ended, Yao finally finished her work. She had sent off all the guests, and she was exhausted.

It wasn’t just the busy work, but also the noble girls who were responsible for choosing a wife for Ling Xiao. They all surrounded her, trying to get information, and she didn’t dare to offend them. Her face was stiff from smiling.

She was exhausted. When she returned to her room, she washed up and went straight to bed.

But in the main courtyard, Qingxuan, the lights were still on.

In the courtyard, a tall figure in black armor was holding a red-tasseled spear, spinning and leaping. The spear moved like lightning, and the wind howled as it swept past, sending leaves fluttering down.

Ling Xiao was very restless. This restlessness didn’t start today, but it was getting worse.

He didn’t know where this agitation came from, because he had never been so idle that he had time to be troubled.

Until tonight, as he closed his eyes, Jiang Yao’s face suddenly appeared in his mind. She was standing on the bridge, smiling and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

He was startled and opened his eyes, but she was gone.

Jian, the guard, stood silently beside him, his expression solemn, but his back was covered in sweat.

Based on their experience following the Military Marquis, he knew that the Military Marquis was in a good mood today, a very good mood.

An hour later, Ling Xiao put away the spear with a flourish, and Jian quickly took it.

“Your Highness has summoned a meeting.”

Jian guessed that the Military Marquis was in a good mood because of something related to the court, so he naturally had to summon a meeting.

Ling Xiao threw the spear to Jian and said, “No need, everyone retreat.”

Jian was stunned, but he didn’t dare to ask, “Yes.”

Ling Xiao walked back to his bedroom, and his restless mood had calmed down.

Perhaps it was because his brother had just passed away, and he was a little distracted, and he was still grieving, so he was thinking about Jiang Yao.

–

The next morning, Yao went to Fushou Garden to see Mrs. Lin.

“Mother.” She entered.

Mrs. Lin saw her and quickly said, “Daughter, you’re here.”

Yao sat beside Mrs. Lin, and Mrs. Lin pulled her close and asked, “Did you see anyone suitable yesterday?”

Yao nodded, “I think Princess Huaining is very straightforward, and Miss Chen, the daughter of the Chancellor, is gentle and dignified. They’re both excellent choices.”

Mrs. Lin nodded repeatedly, “I think Miss Chen is good too. She’s well-educated and well-mannered, she’s a good girl. As for the Princess… she’s a little childish, but if Brother Ling likes her, she’s not bad either! We still need to ask Brother Ling.”

Just then, they heard a voice announcing, “The Military Marquis has arrived.”

Mrs. Lin’s eyes lit up, “Please come in.”

Yao was stunned. Why did he have time to come here? He had been so busy lately.

Ling Xiao strode in, “Mother.”

Mrs. Lin smiled, “Brother Ling, why do you have time to come here? You’re so busy with court affairs.”

“Today is my day off.” He glanced at Jiang Yao, who was quietly looking down, as if she had always been like this.

Mrs. Lin chided him, “It’s rare for you to have a day off. You should rest. Why did you come here to ask about things? You’ll tire yourself out. You’re so busy.”

Ling Xiao lifted his robe and sat down.

Mrs. Lin continued excitedly, “Speaking of which, there’s something I need to tell you. Yesterday, we held a banquet at the mansion, and many good girls came. I’ve already helped you look over them!”

Ling Xiao looked at Jiang Yao, pursed his lips, as if he had finally mustered up the courage. He finally raised his head, and his seemingly gentle eyes were filled with caution and apprehension.

She was always like this.

Yao said cautiously, “I think Princess Huaining and Miss Chen are both good choices, but the final decision is still up to the Military Marquis.”

Yao’s scalp tingled under his scrutinizing gaze. His dark eyes seemed to pierce through her, making her feel like she was being seen through, as if she had nothing to hide.

Ling Xiao looked at her clear and bright eyes. The restlessness that had finally calmed down last night suddenly reignited, even more intense than before.