Consort Yao scoffed inwardly. So that's your intention, she thought.
"Yes," Consort Yao played along, "Ruyi is such a likeable child; I like her." She searched Jing Yan's face and could see how uncomfortable she had become.
Jing Yan forced a smile, trying to contain the anger in her eyes.
"Her talent is out of this world," Consort Yao continued, pausing at intervals to sip her tea. "I'm sure you'll like her if you meet her personally."
As if, Jing Yan thought. That was exactly how you fawned over Li Mei—right until she stopped being useful. I'm sure you intend to do the same with Ruyi.
"She seems like such a lovely person. Perhaps Your Grace could tell me a little about her. It would help me choose a suitable gift when I visit her," Jing Yan suggested.
Consort Yao let out an exaggerated yawn. "I'm feeling rather tired; I'd like to get some rest."
Jing Yan rose from her seat. "Your Grace, I only just got here… Did I say something wrong?" Her voice grew as soft as a feather. "I merely wished to know a little about Ruyi mèimei ( younger sister Ruyi). I meant well; I didn't realize I had crossed the line. May your Grace forgive me."
Consort Yao let out a soft, disbelieving scoff. "Mèimei? Jing Yan, don't think that I don't know what you're trying to do." She leaned back, her expression turning icy. "Ruyi is under my protection. Should you provoke her, you provoke me."
With a wave of her hand, she dismissed her.
"Zhun Momo, send the guest out."
"I shall take my leave now, Your Grace.
Please rest well," Jing Yan offered a graceful bow, her knees bent slightly before withdrawing from the chamber.
As soon as she stepped out, Consort Yao turned to Zhun Momo.
"Monitor her movements from now on."
"Yes, Niángniang (Your Highness)," Zhun Momo bowed respectfully.
"That old hag!" Jing Yan exploded the moment she returned to her chambers, knocking over her fine porcelain tea cup. "Ruyi, Ruyi—What good qualities does she possess that I don't? I will not accept this!"
Linglong instantly dropped to her knees. "Wangfei Niángniang, please calm down."
Jing Yan settled into her seat, still fuming. "First it was Li Mei, and now Ruyi… what kind of luck is even on my side?"
"Wangfei Niángniang, you mustn't speak recklessly," Linglong cautioned. "Words have power."
"I truly don't understand," Jing Yan went on bitterly. "Aside from her face, she has nothing!
How can she compare to me in terms of status? My father is the Minister of Revenue. I am a Princess Consort. Why—Why would Her Grace choose to favor her? What does she have that I don't?"
"Why else would Her Grace dote on her, if not because she finds her useful?" LingLong replied. "And if one day Her Grace decides she no longer needs her… what do you think will happen, Wangfei Niángniang?"
Jing Yan's eyes darkened. "I need to teach her a lesson. Put her back in her place. I refuse to believe she's without flaws."
"I have a plan," LingLong leaned closer, lowering her voice. She moved beside Jing Yan and whispered softly into her ears.
---
Now that the examinations were finally over, the heavy tension that gripped the Academy began to lift. Laughter and cheer filled the courtyard as students gathered in groups, freed at last from the endless lectures and rigid discipline.
Inside one of the almost-empty classrooms, Ruyi remained at her desk with a book in hand, seemingly untouched by the excitement going on outside—until she heard the soft thud of books landing on her table.
She looked up to find Shen Chun standing before her, panting lightly.
Shen Chun broke the silence. "This is everything I could find. I did my best to gather the whole collection, but I wasn't able to."
"What are you doing?" Ruyi looked at her in confusion.
"I didn't know how to thank you," Shen Chun continued. "So I asked Xiao Lan what you liked most, and she told me you enjoy reading. I remembered the last time I saw you with a volume of Dream of the Red Chamber. I managed to find several parts of it, but not all. I'll try my best to get the rest."
Ruyi's eyes shifted to the stack of books. "Wow, she murmured softly as she examined them one by one. Her lips broke into a bright smile, and she squirmed with delight. Laughing, she pulled Shen Chun into a tight embrace.
Shen Chun's eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't expected the very person she was often at odds with to be embracing her. She had never seen this side of Ruyi before— so openly happy, all because of a few novels.
"I… I can't breathe," Shen Chun muttered, and Ruyi quickly released her.
They both cleared their throats, suddenly becoming aware of the awkwardness of the moment.
"Thank you," Ruyi broke the silence, still squirming happily over the books on her table.
"What are you both doing?" A familiar voice rang out from behind.
Sun Jingxuan was wheeled in slowly by Liu Yi. Though confined to the chair, his presence remained steady, his gaze clear and unyielding.
He sure likes to make an entrance, Ruyi murmured to herself.
"Brother Jingxuan," Shen Chun called out— but this time, the words no longer carried the playful affection they once did.
Ruyi turned to look at her, searching her eyes as confusion clouded her thoughts. Am I hearing things? What's wrong with her?
He turned to Shen Chun with genuine concern. "Chun'er, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. I'm just glad you're safe," Shen Chun replied, offering him a small smile.
After kneeling in the rain and under the sun for days, cold and damp had seeped deep into her knees. What the physician had described as wind-damp invasion left her joint weak and aching, the pain often flaring whenever the weather turned cold or rainy.
Ever since the incident, she had become a changed person—careful, restrained and no longer arrogant. Though the situation had made her a better person, it also caused her to tremble at the mere thought of being made to kneel again.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave first." Shen Chun curtsied before leaving the room, leaving Ruyi and Sun Jingxuan.
Ruyi placed her hands on each other and curtsied. "Greetings, Crown Prince Jingxuan."
His eyes darted to the books on the table. She followed his gaze and quickly blocked them with her body.
"Is there something you want, Your Highness?" she asked, raising her sleeves as if practicing a dance, just to keep him away from the books.
Liu Yi chuckled, and both Sun Jingxuan and Ruyi turned to him with serious looks.
His smile quickly faded, and he bowed in apology.
"You," Sun Jingxuan called, turning toward Ruyi. "I have a gift waiting for you at home."
"A gift?" Ruyi blinked. "What gift?"
"Why not see for yourself?" he replied with a grin, then gestured to Liu Yi, who wheeled him away.
"Gift?" Ruyi repeated, her curiosity thoroughly piqued.
After classes were over, she headed home in her carriage alongside Xiao Lan.
Upon arriving home, she found a young man standing by the main gate, his arms folded, a sword resting at his hips.
The moment he spotted her, he placed his hands together and bowed. "Greetings, Miss Xu."
"Who are you?" Xiao Lan asked.
"I am Yuming. His Highness sent me here," he answered, his face partially covered by a mask. "Feel free to ask me anything. I'm always at your service."
So this is what he meant by a gift? He's such a joke, Ruyi thought.
"Miss Ruyi, what are you going to do?" Xiao Lan whispered.
"Oh?" Ruyi raised an eyebrow. "Thank you, but I don't need a bodyguard." She held Xiao Lan by the hand and headed for the door, only to be followed by Yuming.
"What are you doing?" Ruyi inquired.
"I can't leave you by yourself. That was the instruction from His Highness," Yuming answered.
"I don't need you to protect me. Please leave," Ruyi said respectfully.
But Yuming insisted, following Ruyi as she moved.
"Fine!" Ruyi gave in. "You can come in for now, but it's not me who needs protection—it's my parents. If you want to remain here, you have to protect them."
Yuming didn't say a word; instead, he bowed.
---
Consort Yao had invited Ruyi to have tea with her, along with other consorts and noble Ladies.
On her way to the pavilion, a ball suddenly struck her. When she turned, she saw a small boy staring at her, looking guilty as hell.
Ruyi picked up the ball. "Little one, is this yours?" she asked.
"Y… Yes," the boy answered.
Wait a minute, Ruyi paused. Isn't he Jing Yan and Sun Jun's son?
"Little one, what is your name?" Ruyi asked.
"Sun Hao," he answered. "Jiějie, nǐ zhēn piàoliang." (You're really beautiful, sister.)
Ruyi stared at the boy for a moment. She almost felt disgusted by his presence, but no matter how much resentment she carried, she could never pass it onto him. He was only a child.
Ruyi returned the ball to him. "Here you go. Be careful not to hit someone else."
"Alright!" Sun Hoa replied happily. "Thank you, sister."
"Hao'er, come over here."
A voice cut through the air.
Ruyi recognized the voice at once.
A faint smile touched her lips as she turned.