Chapter 43

The faintly sweet milky aroma wafted, carrying a hint of familiarity, almost identical to the scent of the princess’s residence.

Ran Dong exclaimed, “Miss, I didn’t expect Master Yang to be quite polite.”

Sang Yao picked up a piece, pinched some glutinous rice flour on her fingertips, the small cake was very soft and glutinous. As Sang Yao looked at it, she couldn’t help but remember her childhood.

The south of the Yangtze River was rainy, unlike the dryness of the capital. It was always moist there, the people were prosperous, and because the circle of the powerful was not large, there was basically no obvious class distinction like in the capital. Whether it was recuperating or aging, it was very suitable.

Her impression of that time was indeed fuzzy, but she also remembered that when she was young, Yang Wenchuan often brought her many snacks she had never eaten before. Pastries and preserved fruits were common, and occasionally there were some home-cooked dishes.

He seemed to treat Sang Yao as a poor child without parents.

At that time, she was sick, and life was really colorless. The thing she looked forward to most every day was playing with the neighbor’s brother, Achuan.

Time passed, her illness had long since been cured, and she had returned to the capital several miles away from the south of the Yangtze River. The thing she looked forward to most every day was no longer going out to play.

But unexpectedly, to this day, she still received the snacks that the neighbor brother had given her back then.

The kittens in the cat’s nest had drunk their fill of milk and were now meowing at Sang Yao. Sang Yao came back to her senses, reached out and hugged the white kitten in her arms.

Ran Dong held a handkerchief, helping Sang Yao wipe the goat milk off the kitten’s face, then said, “Miss, this little kitten is so cute, what’s its name?”

Sang Yao’s fingers were gently stroking the back of the kitten’s neck as she replied, “It doesn’t have a name yet.”

The kitten was gentle, resting its head on Sang Yao’s thumb. It seemed to be well cared for by Lu Li, chubby and adorable.

Today, she had waited for this kitten for a long time, but in the end, she only ended up waiting for Xie Yun.

Xie Yun was really annoying. Every time Sang Yao stood beside him, she couldn’t feel any sign that this man liked her.

He was always very aloof, doing everything slowly and methodically. Sang Yao thought, if Xie Yun were a cat, he must be the kind of proud and aloof cat who wouldn’t let people touch him, and would scratch people if they tried.

She gave this white kitten a very simple name: “Let’s call you Bai Bai then.”

The next afternoon, Sang Yao learned that the pair of hairpins she had ordered a month ago at the Broken Jade Pavilion was finished.

Sang Yao wasn’t someone who loved wearing jewelry. This pair of hairpins was customized for her sister, and even the design was drawn by Sang Yao herself.

The Broken Jade Pavilion was an old brand in the capital, located only two or three miles away from the palace on Yuqiao Street. Most of the wealthy ladies in the capital would choose jewelry there.

When Sang Shu had not entered the palace, she had wanted jewelry from the Broken Jade Pavilion. But at that time, neither she nor their father had much money. When they could afford it later, Sang Shu had already entered the palace.

She no longer lacked these trinkets, and the ones she used were even more precious than those from the Broken Jade Pavilion. But Sang Yao still wanted to fulfill her sister’s childhood expectations.

So as soon as Sang Yao received the news, she couldn’t wait to get on the carriage and go there herself.

Yuqiao Street was not as bustling as the neighboring city roads. It was relatively quiet here, because it was close to the palace. Both the restaurants and tea houses here had higher thresholds, frequented mostly by officials and dignitaries.

Upon entering the Broken Jade Pavilion, Sang Yao headed straight for her target and picked up her hairpins. After inspecting them, she instructed the servant to

As they were packing them into the wooden box, a soft and carefree voice came from behind.

“Aren’t you making two new kinds of hairpins? Bring them out for me to see.”

Sang Yao couldn’t help feeling somewhat familiar with this voice.

She glanced back quietly and saw a graceful woman in a long floral skirt strolling leisurely behind her. On both sides of her were glass display cabinets showcasing various hairpins and jade ornaments.

It was Ming Rong.

Previously, Sang Yao had the impression of Ming Rong as cold and refined, but now her impression of Ming Rong gradually transformed into that of a coquettish woman in a storm.

It wasn’t intentional on Sang Yao’s part. That day, she had innocently listened for quite a while. They made quite a commotion when they were together and often said amusing things. Each sentence left Sang Yao dumbfounded, leaving a very deep impression on her.

Her voice was getting closer, and now with a big secret weighing on her mind, her heart was pounding.

She stiffened her neck, silently praying for the servant to be faster.

Finally, when everything was done, and Sang Yao was about to leave with Ran Dong, Ming Rong raised her voice, “Hey, that young lady.”

Sang Yao didn’t turn back, thinking it couldn’t be her, right?

There was a pause in the voice behind her. Then, the voice of the maid speaking softly came, and after a while, Ming Rong said again, “Sang… Yao?”

Sang Yao’s face fell, but she quickly adjusted her expression to a friendly smile and turned around, saying, “Miss Ming.”

Ming Rong waved to her, saying, “Come over and help me see which one of these two is prettier.”

Another person she couldn’t afford to offend. Sang Yao resignedly walked over.

Ming Rong pointed to the tray in front of her, saying, “It’s these two.”

The two hairpins looked very similar, but after Sang Yao’s careful examination, she finally found the differences.

However, she wasn’t very confident in her judgment, so she randomly pointed to one and said, “Miss Ming, I think this one looks good.”

Ming Rong glanced at it and nodded, saying, “You’re right.”

Sang Yao couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Ming Rong added, “I’ll take both of them.”

Sang Yao: “…”

Ming Rong looked at Sang Yao, scrutinizing her, and said, “So, you’re Sang Yao. I thought I remembered wrong.”

She glanced at the display cabinet casually and asked, “I think I saw you at the princess’s flower-viewing banquet last time.”

Sang Yao was already feeling uncomfortable, and being asked this made her even more nervous.

Why did Ming Rong suddenly mention the princess’s residence? Did she notice something?

Sang Yao just made a vague sound and said, “I don’t know why they invited me either.”

Ming Rong stopped in front of a jade bracelet and said, “Really? But I heard that His Highness had a private conversation with you after the banquet.”

No way, she knew about that too!

Did she even know that she hid in the small wooden house?

Sang Yao couldn’t help but think of Xie Yun’s words.

It seemed that his choice not to tell her who that man was back then was right. Just by knowing half of it, she became so nervous. If she knew everything, she wouldn’t be able to say anything at all.

She stammered, “Y-yes, he…he did talk to me and asked me a few questions.”

Ming Rong glanced at her strangely, probably getting annoyed. She said, “Forget it, I was just asking casually. Why are you so nervous?”

Sang Yao silently said, “I’m not nervous.”

Ming Rong gave her a strange look and said, “Whatever.”

“I’ll look at them myself.”

Sang Yao felt relieved. She let Ran Dong hold their small wooden box and quickly walked out of the Broken Jade Pavilion.

If she had known earlier, she might as well have waited for someone from the Broken Jade Pavilion to deliver them. She wasn’t a reliable person and wasn’t sure if she had been exposed just now.

But upon careful thought, only Xie Yun and Jinglian knew that she had hidden in the small wooden house. They shouldn’t have revealed it, right?

While pondering this, she heard a call from the opposite side, “Miss Sang.”

Sang Yao looked up and saw the Crown Prince, Lu Li.

Although Sang Yao was unhappy with Lu Li for deceiving her, he was still the Crown Prince. She bowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

Standing beside Lu Li was a young man, tall and handsome, with deep, exotic-looking eyes that seemed somewhat familiar.

Lu Li quickly said, “No need for such formality.”

He then smiled and introduced, “This is Rong Yan. You must have met him before.”

The surname Rong was unique to only one family, and this person must be the Young Duke Rong. Sang Yao had indeed seen him a few times, but she never remembered him. It was said that he grew up almost alongside Lu Li, and they had a very close relationship.

She bowed again and said, “Greetings, Young Duke Rong.”

Rong Yan said, “No need for such formality, Miss.”

His voice was deep, with a hint of frivolity.

Sang Yao felt that the voice was somewhat familiar.

Lu Li said, “Miss Sang, it’s unexpected to meet you here. If there’s anything you like in the Broken Jade Pavilion, just tell Rong Yan. This place is his territory. I’ll have him send it to you.”

Rong Yan looked at Sang Yao’s delicate face and said softly, “Your Highness, there’s no need for you to speak. If the lady likes something here, it’s its good fortune.”

Lu Li laughed heartily and said, “Miss Sang, don’t believe his sweet words.”

Sang Yao didn’t respond, just smiled awkwardly.

She was still trying to recall where she had heard that voice before.

Lu Li looked at Rong Yan and said, “Right, weren’t you going to check the accounts? It just so happens that I have something to discuss with Miss Sang.”

After Rong Yan left, Sang Yao glanced back.