Consort Su knew that among these princes and princesses, none except her own child genuinely wished her a happy birthday. After they finished paying their respects, she waved them away, sparing them any further awkwardness.
"Take Jiuzhu around and let her familiarize herself with the palace," Consort Su stood up. "The other consorts are waiting for me to return. I must head back to Bright Moon Palace now."
According to palace etiquette, the other consorts were still required to pay their respects to her at Bright Moon Palace.
"Farewell, Your Highness," the princes and princesses promptly bowed, displaying utmost respect.
Consort Su, supported by Xiangjuan, stood up. As she passed by Prince Chen, she glanced at him: "Take good care of Jiuzhu."
Prince Chen bowed: "Your son will handle it. Please rest assured, Mother."
Consort Su: "..."
Hearing this, she felt even less assured. She patted Jiuzhu's hand before leaving the Fei Feng Hall.
The other princes and princesses watched this scene, each with their own thoughts, but their gazes toward Jiuzhu softened slightly.
"The autumn scenery is lovely today. Why don't we take a stroll in the imperial garden?" one princess suggested. "Miss Jiuzhu, have you been to the imperial garden before?"
Jiuzhu didn't respond. Instead, she turned to Prince Chen, seemingly waiting for his opinion.
Prince Chen smiled. It seemed she wasn't foolish—she knew whom to trust in a crowded setting.
"Would you like to go see it?" Prince Chen asked.
Jiuzhu nodded, her curiosity piqued.
"The golden camellias in the imperial garden are in full bloom. I'll take you to see them," Prince Chen said, then turned to his siblings. "The young lady is shy and doesn't like crowds. I'll accompany her alone. You all may do as you please."
Shy?
Prince Qi glanced at Jiuzhu, who stood silently beside Prince Chen, and nodded slightly. "Fifth Brother and Miss Ming, feel free to go ahead."
Upon hearing his words, Jiuzhu didn't even glance at him. Her bright eyes remained fixed on Prince Chen, as if he were the only light in the darkness.
"Let's go," Prince Chen said, taking a few steps before falling back beside Jiuzhu and silently offering his arm.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Jiuzhu said, holding her skirt with one hand and resting the other on Prince Chen's arm as she carefully stepped over the threshold of Fei Feng Hall.
Prince Qi watched the doorway, where sunlight bathed the two figures, making them glow brightly. He slowly closed his eyes.
The sunlight was dazzling, and it hurt his eyes.
"Fourth Brother," Prince Huai said with a smirk, looking at Prince Qi. "It seems Fifth Brother and Miss Ming are getting along quite well."
"They are betrothed. It's fortunate that they are harmonious. It will be a blessing once they marry," Prince Qi replied calmly. "If Fifth Brother knew how much you care for him, he would surely be delighted."
"I wonder who was behind the incident at the royal hunting grounds. It's fortunate it was discovered in time, or it could have caused a great disaster. What if His Majesty or the royal bloodline had been harmed..." Prince Huai's gaze swept over his siblings, and he let out a mocking laugh before striding out of Fei Feng Hall.
The other princes and princesses looked around, pretending not to notice the tension between the two.
The eldest and the fourth brother were arguing—what did it have to do with them?
Imperial Garden.
Jiuzhu shivered as the cold autumn wind blew, gazing at the golden camellias hanging from the branches.
"Still want to look?" Prince Chen asked, taking a cloak from his attendant and draping it over Jiuzhu.
Jiuzhu shook her head repeatedly.
Though the imperial garden was beautiful, the wind was too cold.
Seeing Jiuzhu huddle under the cloak, Prince Chen adjusted it for her, unable to suppress his smile. "When I was a child, I didn’t want to study and insisted on coming to the imperial garden to play..."
"What happened then?"
"Then, just like you, I was blown back by the wind."
"Why didn’t you tell me earlier?" Jiuzhu secretly kicked a small pebble, pretending not to be upset.
"If I had told you earlier, you might have thought I didn’t want to accompany you," Prince Chen said, watching the pebble bounce off a rock and land in a chrysanthemum bush, where it stubbornly twitched.
"Hearing is not as good as seeing," Prince Chen said seriously, his smile fading. "The imperial garden is most beautiful in spring. We can take our time exploring it then."
"If you told me, I would believe you," Jiuzhu said, no longer feeling as cold. She bent down, intending to pick a few golden camellias.
Prince Chen plucked them and placed them in her palm.
Her hand was delicate, and the golden flowers looked especially charming resting in her palm.
"Believe what?" Prince Chen tapped her forehead lightly and chuckled. "Don’t trust anyone’s words too easily."
"But I don’t trust just anyone," Jiuzhu said, covering her forehead and glaring at him.
"Hmph," Prince Chen looked up at the sky. "You’re still young. There’s much you don’t understand."
"But I understand that you and Her Highness are good people, and that’s enough for me," Jiuzhu said, placing the golden camellias into the pouch at her waist. "I don’t care about others."
Prince Chen looked at Jiuzhu and suddenly laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Jiuzhu asked, puzzled.
"Laughing at the crisp autumn air and the bountiful harvest," Prince Chen said, brushing a fallen leaf from Jiuzhu’s hair.
Crisp autumn air?
Jiuzhu tightened the cloak around her. It was clearly a cold, leaf-strewn day.
As soon as they returned to Bright Moon Palace, an attendant from Emperor Longfeng came to summon Prince Chen, saying His Majesty wished to see him.
"Feel free to enjoy yourself here. No one will dare trouble you," Prince Chen said, removing Jiuzhu’s cloak. He glanced at the group of girls in the garden and felt a headache coming on. "I might return with His Majesty before noon."
Sun Caiyao and the other noble ladies had already noticed Prince Chen escorting Miss Ming back.
One young lady whispered to her companion, "I never thought Prince Chen, with his temperament, would be so kind to Miss Ming."
"Look over there," her companion discreetly pointed to the west. "Madam Ming is here too."
Whether Prince Chen’s actions were genuine or merely for Madam Ming’s benefit, only he knew.
Members of the royal family were all skilled at putting on an act.
After Prince Chen left, Sun Caiyao noticed a palace maid from Bright Moon Palace approaching Jiuzhu and couldn’t help but wonder: Were Consort Su and her son truly pleased with Jiuzhu, or were they merely trying to win over the Ming family’s three brothers?
Had Jiuzhu come to Bright Moon Palace early today of her own accord, or was it with the Ming family’s approval?
No, impossible. Given the Ming family’s principles, they would never align themselves with a prince known for his arrogance and lack of discipline.
Jiuzhu alone couldn’t represent anything. The most revered throne in the kingdom would undoubtedly belong to Prince Qi in the future.
"Miss Ming," the palace maid from Bright Moon Palace approached Jiuzhu and led her to a stone table behind a rockery. She served her fresh tea and pastries, then bowed deeply. "Thank you for coming early today to celebrate Her Highness’s birthday. She was very pleased."
"It is my duty to come early to celebrate Her Highness’s birthday," Jiuzhu said, recognizing the maid from Bright Moon Palace and inviting her to join her for tea.
"This servant dares not," the maid quickly declined. "I have a favor to ask of you, Miss."
"Auntie, you’re too kind. I’m of little influence and may not be able to help," Jiuzhu said, surprised. What could she possibly do?
"You misunderstand, Miss," the maid explained. "My sisters and I, grateful for Her Highness’s kindness over the years, have embroidered a birthday tribute for her. However, palace rules are strict, and we, being of low status, dare not present it to Her Highness directly. We humbly ask you to deliver it on our behalf."
The maid pulled out a carefully wrapped embroidery from her sleeve and unfolded it in front of Jiuzhu.
"Such exquisite craftsmanship," Jiuzhu exclaimed, captivated by the embroidery. "You’re all so talented."
"You flatter us, Miss," the maid said, wrapping the embroidery back up and handing it to Jiuzhu. "Please help us convey our heartfelt wishes to Her Highness."
Jiuzhu accepted the package. "Of course."
"Thank you, Miss," the maid said gratefully, about to bow deeply again, but Jiuzhu stopped her.
"There’s no need for that, Auntie," Jiuzhu said with an innocent smile. "Your devotion to Her Highness is truly touching. I’ll deliver this right away."
"Then I’ll trouble you, Miss."
The maid watched as Jiuzhu left with the embroidery, her head lowered to conceal her emotions.
"Be careful not to drop anything," Xiangjuan said, checking the guest list. She noticed Miss Ming hiding in a corner, mysteriously beckoning her.
She put down the list and approached Jiuzhu. "Miss Ming, do you need something from me?"
“Something doesn’t feel right,” Jiuzhu whispered as she pulled Xiangjuan closer to the wall, making sure no one else noticed what they were doing. She crouched down by the wall and pulled something out from her sleeve.
Seeing Miss Jiuzhu crouched on the ground like a small bundle, Xiangjuan hesitated for a moment before copying her posture and squatting down as well. “What is this?”
“Aunt Xiangjuan, I might be overthinking this, but if something’s wrong, could you put in a good word for me in front of Her Highness later? I don’t want her to be angry with me.” Jiuzhu unfolded the embroidered piece. “Someone just handed this to me and asked me to deliver it to Her Highness.”
Xiangjuan’s expression changed the moment she saw what was embroidered on the fabric. “Who gave this to you?”
“An aunt from Bright Moon Palace,” Jiuzhu replied. Seeing Xiangjuan’s reaction, she knew her suspicions were correct.
“I thought it was strange. Even though palace rules are strict, Her Highness is so gentle and kind-hearted. If she found out someone had embroidered a celebratory piece for her, she wouldn’t get angry.” Jiuzhu crumpled the embroidery into a ball. “When I was little and did something good, I always waited for praise. I wouldn’t give such an opportunity to someone else.”
Someone as clever as her—how could she fall for such a foolish trick?
Trying to trick her into harming Her Highness? No way!
Not even a crack in the window would be allowed!
“Yes, Her Highness is gentle and kind. She would never punish her servants harshly,” Xiangjuan said, taking a deep breath. Two months ago, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had predicted a great calamity around the time of Her Highness’s birthday. The palace absolutely could not have any images of celestial beings riding horses during that period.
But this embroidery depicted exactly that—a celestial maiden riding a heavenly horse to offer blessings for Her Highness’s birthday.
If Miss Jiuzhu had presented this celebratory embroidery to Her Highness in front of everyone, the consequences would have been unimaginable…
*Rip!*
Xiangjuan snapped out of her thoughts to see Miss Jiuzhu tearing the embroidery in half with her bare hands. Seemingly unsatisfied, Jiuzhu shook the fabric and tore it again, reducing it to tattered scraps. She then stomped on the pieces, grinding them into the mud with her feet.
Xiangjuan fell silent as she watched the deep mud pit beneath Miss Jiuzhu’s feet.
“Aunt Xiangjuan, now it’s fine,” Jiuzhu said with a bright smile.
“Ah…” Xiangjuan realized her voice sounded a little hoarse. She shifted her legs, moving slightly further away from the pit.
