“What’s this?” Prince Chen watched as Jiuzhu lifted the hem of her cloak, revealing a delicately carved wooden box hidden beneath.
“Hehe.” Jiuzhu smiled mysteriously, tugging the cloak wider to shield both herself and the prince from prying eyes. “Your Highness, open it and see.”
“Shall I?” Prince Chen recalled his childhood mischief of gifting his teacher a box containing crickets. “There’s nothing…unusual inside, is there?”
“Oh, there’s plenty.” Jiuzhu caressed the box with reluctant fondness. “I’ve been saving these for a long time. Open it quickly before someone notices.”
Under Jiuzhu’s eager gaze, Prince Chen lifted the lid—and froze.
Scattered inside were broken silver pieces, banknotes, gold hairpins, even the golden peanuts elders traditionally gave to younger generations, along with a few strings of copper coins.
Copper coins…were these considered treasures?
“What is all this?”
“For you.” Jiuzhu pressed the box into Prince Chen’s hands. “These hairpins are pure gold, quite valuable. The silver pieces and notes add up to two or three hundred taels. Take them for now. I’ll bring more money next time I visit the palace.”
“Why are you giving me silver?”
The box was heavy, likely containing all of “Little Piggy Ming’s” savings.
“I’ve heard what happened in the palace,” Jiuzhu whispered. “His Majesty suspended your stipend for six months and forbade Her Highness from giving you anything.”
The emperor’s word was law. If he decreed Prince Chen’s stipend halted, not a single coin would reach him. Accustomed to luxury, how would the prince manage without funds?
Prince Chen’s fingers twitched slightly, making the silver pieces clink softly inside the box.
“If you give this to me, what will you use?”
“Brother Fuli’s been sending me on errands lately, so I’ll earn a bit. Besides, I don’t need to worry about daily expenses.” Jiuzhu calculated her monthly budget carefully. “The New Year’s coming too—my elders will give me red envelopes. So don’t worry, I won’t be short on money.”
“So for the next six months…you’ll support me?” Prince Chen hugged the box, chuckling.
“Mhm, I’ll take care of you.” Jiuzhu nodded solemnly. “But Your Highness will have to spend frugally.”
As he looked at the girl crouched before him, Prince Chen’s heart pounded like the tumbling silver in the box—loud, rapid, almost deafening.
He rubbed his ears. “I have my own funds. How can I spend a young lady’s money?”
Jiuzhu cupped her cheeks, gazing at him with pitiful eyes. “Your Highness…do you really not want it?”
“No.” Prince Chen returned the box to her lap. “Keep it for yourself.”
Other girls splurged on rouge and powder—should his little one watch longingly from the sidelines?
“Fine.” Jiuzhu drooped, tracing the box’s carvings dejectedly. “Then I’ll go see Her Highness the Noble Consort.”
“Wait.” Prince Chen caught her hand and sighed.
Jiuzhu blinked up at him with watery eyes.
“How about…we split it?” He reopened the box. “You keep the hairpins. I’ll take the banknotes. The silver pieces…we’ll divide equally. Sound fair?”
Who knew rejecting a girl’s money could feel so guilty?
“Okay!” Jiuzhu brightened instantly. “You take two hairpins too. The banknotes are small denominations—they won’t be enough.”
“Alright, two hairpins then.” Relieved by her sudden cheer, Prince Chen mused how a girl’s moods shifted faster than June weather.
Emperor Longfeng observed silently as his son and the girl meticulously divided coins—one for you, one for me—even splitting the copper strings down to the last piece.
“Take the box too. Sister Chunfen said the wood alone is valuable.” Jiuzhu tucked a hairpin into her bun. “After New Year’s, when your stipend and my red envelopes come, I’ll bring you more.”
Prince Chen adjusted the hairpin for her before murmuring, “Alright.”
As long as she was happy.
“What are you two doing here?” Emperor Longfeng finally stepped forward once the division concluded.
“Your Majesty!” Jiuzhu snatched the box from Prince Chen and curtsied hastily. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”
“Father.” Prince Chen bowed. “Why are you here?”
“Came to check on you.” Emperor Longfeng glanced at his son’s money pouch before smiling kindly at Jiuzhu. “Jiuzhu, what game were you playing with Duqing?”
“Reporting to Your Majesty, this subject acquired new hairpins and wanted His Highness’s opinion.” Jiuzhu lowered her eyes, ashamed to meet the emperor’s gaze. A minister’s daughter lying to the sovereign—she was guilty!
“Hmm.” Emperor Longfeng turned to Liu Zhongbao. “Fetch several jewelry sets from my private treasury. Have Noble Consort Ming and Jiuzhu select what they like.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Jiuzhu’s guilt deepened. The emperor rewarded her deceit with gifts—she was a criminal!
Noticing her mortified expression, Prince Chen interceded, “Father, don’t tease Ming-guniang. She’s still young.”
Emperor Longfeng arched a brow. Protective already?
Clearing his throat, Prince Chen shielded Jiuzhu without another word.
“Since you’ve been apart, take a stroll together. I’ll return to Taiyang Palace.” The emperor glanced at Zhangliu Palace before departing.
Once he left, Jiuzhu exhaled in relief. “Thank goodness His Majesty didn’t notice me smuggling money to you.”
Prince Chen patted her head fondly. “Come, I’ll walk you to Bright Moon Palace.”
Jiuzhu touched where his hand had been. “Your Highness, are you comfortable in Zhangliu Palace?”
“Passable. A bit cramped compared to my estate.”
“Oh.” Jiuzhu nodded knowingly—he was suffering! She pointed at the box. “Have a servant take this to your quarters first.”
“Right.” Prince Chen summoned a eunuch. As he reached for the box, Jiuzhu placed it directly into the eunuch’s hands. “Thank you, young sir.”
“This slave dares not.” The eunuch retreated with the box, glancing back once. Whatever Ming-guniang had said, His Highness gazed at her with unmistakable tenderness.
Hidden in the shadows, an imperial guard clutched his mouth, shoulders shaking with silent laughter that rustled the branches.
Hah! The mighty Prince Chen, secretly funded by his fiancée!
But as he watched the couple walk away, his amusement faded.
A noblewoman risking imperial displeasure to funnel her savings into the palace—such devotion…
Suddenly, he wasn’t laughing anymore. He just felt sour.
“Little Piggy Ming.” Prince Chen watched Jiuzhu’s skipping steps. “Only eight days till New Year’s Eve.”
Forty days later would be their wedding.
“Mhm!” Jiuzhu beamed. “Mother says my brother will return after the celebrations.”
Prince Chen stiffened. Right—Jiuzhu had an elder brother. If he recalled correctly, Yun Yanze held that brother in high esteem.
What was the name of his future brother-in-law again?
Ming… Ming Jiyuan?
Reading a single poem by Ming Jiyuan is worth more than reading ten thousand books.
Many said that with his talent, Ming Jiyuan could have easily taken first place in the imperial examinations. However, the Ming family had already produced two top scholars and one third-place finisher. If he had ranked first again, it would have stirred resentment. Thus, the court deliberately suppressed his ranking, granting him fourth place instead—still an unattainable achievement for countless scholars across the land.
He had never associated with such scholarly types before. Would his future brother-in-law disapprove of him?
Those who admired Yun Yanze usually didn’t care much for him.
"Does your elder brother know about our betrothal?" Prince Chen’s cheeks burned slightly. "What does he like? When he returns, I… I should host a welcoming banquet for him."
"He probably knows." Jiuzhu paused, biting her lip in thought.
"Don’t bite." Prince Chen reached out, his thumb brushing lightly over her lips.
"Huh?" Jiuzhu looked at him blankly.
"N-Nothing." He clenched his hand into a fist behind his back, his face growing even hotter. "Just… don’t bite your lip. If it breaks, you’ll be the one in pain."
"Oh." She licked her lips with the tip of her tongue. "It’s not broken."
Prince Chen stared at her lips before abruptly turning his head away, his face now fully flushed like a blazing sunset.
"Your Highness, what’s wrong?" Jiuzhu skipped to his side. "Your face is red!"
He averted his gaze further. "No, you’re mistaken. It’s just… my cloak is too red."
She circled around to face him again, insisting earnestly, "No, it’s definitely your face. The cloak has nothing to do with it."
"Stop talking." Prince Chen covered her mouth with his hand. "Or else I’ll… I’ll…"
What could he even do to her?
He couldn’t hit her, couldn’t scold her.
With those big eyes, long lashes, and delicate willow-leaf brows, when she smiled at him, she looked like a little puppy. Even if he were a brute, he couldn’t bring himself to say a single harsh word to a girl like her.
Never before had he been so acutely aware of it—he was utterly powerless against Ming Jiuzhu.
He, Yun Duqing, was well and truly done for.
With a sigh, Prince Chen released her.
Jiuzhu blinked at him several times.
"Go on, say what you want." He looked up at the sky in resignation. "I surrender."
She stood on tiptoe and touched his forehead.
Prince Chen lowered his gaze to meet hers.
"No fever." She withdrew her hand. "It’s good that Your Highness isn’t sick."
"Mmm." His long lashes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly about to take flight.
"This servant greets Prince Chen and the County Lady Ming."
Jiuzhu studied the curtsying palace maid. "You’re that court lady from before! Are you feeling better now?"
"Thank you for your concern, County Lady. This servant has fully recovered." Bai Shao bowed deeply. "This servant will never forget your kindness."
"As long as you’re well." Jiuzhu waved her hand. "I only asked someone to check your pulse and fetch medicine for you."
Bai Shao bowed again in silence. The County Lady had no idea how difficult it was for eunuchs and maids to obtain medicine from the imperial hospital, nor how many died each year from untreated illnesses in the palace.
"Are you really alright? Should I have someone examine you again?" Jiuzhu still felt a pang of unease remembering how the court lady had looked that day.
Bai Shao shook her head, hastily bowed once more, and retreated with quick steps.
"Why did she leave in such a hurry?" Jiuzhu noticed how much thinner her back seemed now.
"She’s a first-rank maid of Lanxu Palace. You’re my future princess consort—of course she can’t speak to you for long." Prince Chen scoffed. "The palace is full of people who pretend deference but secretly resent my mother."
"How could anyone dislike such a kind and beautiful consort?" Jiuzhu sighed. "The people in the palace must be terribly hard to please."
Prince Chen chuckled wryly.
In a place where power and ambition reigned, beauty and kindness counted for little.
