Chapter 4: A Dispute Breaks Out

Inside the imperial tent, Emperor Yin Mingyu noticed Zhou Lu enter with tea and refreshments. Not long after, the palace maid he’d dispatched to deliver an item returned.

Zhuyue stepped inside the tent, bowed, and reported, “Your Majesty, the item you instructed this servant to deliver has already been handed to Miss Ning. I stood at a distance for a while and saw the maid from her tent go out—it seemed she was looking for someone.”

Yin Mingyu’s expression didn’t change at all, as if he hadn’t even heard the report.

Zhou Lu led the attendants out of the tent.

Meanwhile, Shuangwu exited the women’s quarters to search for someone. The banquet being hosted by Consort Liang up ahead showed no signs of ending anytime soon. But since Young General Chu had official duties, he likely wouldn’t remain at the banquet for long. As expected, Shuangwu hadn’t gone far when she saw the young general walking in her direction.

Her heart lifted with relief. Seeing that there weren’t many people around, she quickly led him to a more secluded spot.

Chu Changfeng had seen Miss Ning often in the past few days, her figure flitting into his line of sight. He had also come to recognize her maid. He knew it had been his fault for not showing up to their meeting last night, and he had intended to apologize. But now, seeing Shuangwu so anxious, he suspected something had happened.

Before she could say anything, he stopped and asked, “Has something happened to your young miss?”

Shuangwu couldn’t very well explain the whole tangled situation—this was something Miss Ning would have to speak to him about herself.

“Thank you for your concern, General. My lady caught a chill last night and has fallen ill. However, she did ask me to pass on a message. If the young general is willing, please meet her by the lake at the rear mountain in three days’ time. She will explain everything to you then.”

Another secret meeting?

Chu Changfeng rubbed his nose awkwardly and looked troubled.

The young lady of the Ning family was indeed beautiful and had a pleasant temperament, but she was a little too bold. If word of this got out, what would become of her reputation?

“Please… please pass on a message to your young lady,” he said. “Tell her to rest well. I will be there on time.”

Shuangwu nodded and returned.

Ning Zhaorou had already gotten off the couch and waited anxiously. When Shuangwu came back, their eyes met—and when she saw her maid nod, Ning Zhaorou finally let out a breath of relief.

So long as Chu Changfeng agreed to meet, that was a good sign. All she had to do was wait for those three days to pass…

The illness she claimed to have was, of course, fake. Though it was true she hadn’t slept well, she couldn’t just keep hiding in the tent and avoiding people. It was fine for one day, but by the next, she had someone help her dress and style her hair and then left the tent.

She asked Shuangwu to accompany her for a walk by the lakeside behind the mountain.

As they walked, they barely saw anyone. By the lake, it was even more deserted.

Ning Zhaorou crept about like a thief, cautiously looking around. When she was sure no one else was nearby, she finally felt at ease.

She’d stumbled upon this place days ago by accident—it was a quiet, peaceful spot. She didn’t know why the water here looked so green, so deep that even a single glance gave her chills.

On the way back, however, her luck ran out.

She happened to run into the Sixth Princess, who was pulling people into a game of touhu (pitch-pot).

The Sixth Princess and the Third Princess were both around seven or eight years old. The day before, the Sixth Princess had lost a zither competition and, unable to vent her frustration on the Emperor, had been sulking and looking to take it out on someone else.

She was still young, but Consort Liang spoiled her endlessly. As a princess, she naturally looked down on the daughters of officials. If someone managed to entertain her, all was well. But if they didn’t, she never held back—if she felt like kicking someone, she would kick them.

A group of young girls, the eldest no more than fourteen or fifteen. Ning Zhaorou hadn’t planned on getting involved, but courtesy dictated she offer a bow when she saw them. Unfortunately, she was spotted by the Sixth Princess and promptly dragged over to join the pitch-pot game.

One by one, her feathered arrows fell short, clattering to the ground. It was a pitiful sight.

The Sixth Princess, surprised at first, soon began to mock her. “Even a five-year-old could land at least one or two arrows. You’re so stupid.”

Ning Zhaorou looked embarrassed. She was never good at this sort of game and had only joined because she was pulled in.

“The Princess is right,” she said softly.

“We always wager something when we play,” the Sixth Princess added. “If you lose, you have to leave something behind.” As she spoke, her eyes scanned Ning Zhaorou up and down. The more she looked, the wider her eyes grew. Most noble girls were adorned with hairpins and bangles, but Ning Zhaorou wore only a few simple peach blossom hairpins, and her wrists were bare. She looked rather shabby.

Is she really a noble lady?

Ning Zhaorou understood that look and felt mortified.

She hadn’t dressed up not because she didn’t have anything, but simply because she hadn’t been in the mood.

But she did have money.

She reached into her pouch and placed a small amount of silver on the tray, gently saying, “Your Highness, this is all the silver I have. I’m afraid I can’t join the next round.”

Her soft tone made the Sixth Princess frown. She stared at Ning Zhaorou for a few seconds, and then, as if reminded of someone, her expression turned sour. With a sneer, she muttered under her breath, “Sly little vixen.”

Though softly spoken, the insult was loud enough for those nearby to hear. Ning Zhaorou froze, her face going pale. Her fingers clenched around her pouch as she stared blankly at the princess.

The surrounding noble ladies—some of whom had met Ning Zhaorou before—sensed the Sixth Princess’s disapproval and immediately knew where to place their loyalties.

After all, one was a princess, the other just a neglected daughter of the Anning Marquis. Even if she had been someone else, she could never match the nobility of imperial blood.

“Why would Your Highness say that?” someone spoke up—it was Miss Li, the legitimate daughter of the Li family. She was only fifteen, and her family was closely related to Consort Liang’s. Naturally, Li Wenzhu stood with the princess.

The Sixth Princess gave a dismissive snort. Without even looking at Ning Zhaorou, she fiddled with the feathered arrows and said, “You wouldn’t understand. Her voice sounds just like Lady Fang’s. It’s awful.”

Lady Fang—recently caned to death in the palace.

She had been one of the emperor’s concubines, presented by Consort Liang. Often seen in and out of the consort’s quarters, she was familiar to the Sixth Princess. Perhaps she’d overheard some gossip from the palace maids, which had influenced her dislike of Lady Fang—and now, she directed the same dislike toward Ning Zhaorou, who spoke in the same soft tone.

But Lady Fang had been a royal concubine. It was not a name young, unmarried noble ladies should carelessly mention. The girls fell silent.

Ning Zhaorou bit her lip. After a long pause, she finally found her strength and replied, “Your Highness, please be cautious with your words. I’ve always spoken this way, and it has nothing to do with His Majesty’s concubine.”

Her response dragged even the emperor’s name into the matter. The palace maids attending the Sixth Princess could no longer pretend they hadn’t heard and began gently urging the princess to stop talking about Lady Fang.

The princess, clutching an arrow, had always been spoiled and proud. Now, seeing that Ning Zhaorou dared talk back, she flared with anger and hurled the arrow at her.

Though not heavy, the arrows still stung as they struck her. Several hit her at once—it hurt, even if the Sixth Princess wasn’t very strong.

And that little scene caused quite a stir.

The Sixth Princess wasn’t done yet. When Consort Liang arrived with her attendants, she heard the princess yelling and tugging Ning Zhaorou’s hair, calling her “a sly vixen just like Lady Fang.”

Consort Liang nearly tripped at those words and quickly ordered her daughter to be pulled away.