Chapter One: The Shadow of the Full Moon Banquet

The Duke of England's mansion was bustling with activity today, filled with guests and a constant stream of carriages and horses. Red silk ribbons hung high, lanterns lined the streets, and even the stone lions at the gate were adorned with festive ribbons. Inside, laughter and cheerful conversation filled the air as servants bustled about, busy preparing for the full-moon celebration of the young heir, Yao An.

Qi Yue stood in the courtyard, watching the crowds come and go, and unconsciously moved to a corner. Today she wore a light pink dress, which made her fair skin look even more translucent. A pearl hairpin specially chosen by her mother adorned her hair, swaying gently with her movements.

"Yue'er, why are you standing here all alone?" A gentle voice came from behind. Qi Yue turned around and saw her sister-in-law, the Third Princess Xiao Chengyu, looking at her with a smile. Xiao Chengyu was dressed in a light purple palace dress, with a graceful demeanor. Although she was a princess, she never put on airs and took special care of her sister-in-law, Qi Yue.

"Sister-in-law," Qi Yue said with a slight bow, her voice soft, "I just felt a bit stuffy, so I came out for some fresh air."

Xiao Chengyu smiled knowingly: "Mingyue is in the inner room with An'er. Go and see your little nephew. He's grown quite a bit today. He's so adorable."

Qi Yue nodded and was about to go inside when she suddenly remembered the gift she had prepared for her nephew. She quickly called her personal maid, Yun'er, and asked, "Did you put on the pair of silver bracelets I prepared?"

Yun'er examined the brocade box in her hand, her expression suddenly changing: "Miss, I... I think I took the wrong one. These are the jade bracelets you chose the other day. The silver bracelet is probably left at the manor."

Qi Yue let out a soft "ah." The pair of silver bracelets were specially made by the best silversmith in the capital. They were engraved with auspicious patterns and inlaid with two small rubies, a token of her affection as her aunt.

"It's alright, I'll go back to the manor to get it now." Qi Yue glanced at the sky. "The full moon banquet has only just begun, I should have enough time."

Yun'er hurriedly said, "Miss, just let the driver go back and get it. Why do you have to make the trip yourself?"

Qi Yue shook her head: "I kept those bracelets at the very bottom of my makeup box, you won't find them. The Duke of Ying's mansion isn't far from ours, I'll be right back."

She explained the situation to Xiao Chengyu. Xiao Chengyu originally wanted to send guards to accompany her, but Qi Yue felt it was too much trouble, so she quietly left the Duke of Ying's mansion with only a coachman and a personal maid.

As the carriage traveled through the streets of the capital, Qi Yue gazed at the bustling crowds outside the window, feeling somewhat dazed. She recalled the joy of the whole family a month ago when her older sister, Qi Mingyue, gave birth to Yao An at the border. Especially her father, whose usually stern face showed a rare smile.

Qi Mingyue was five years older than Qi Yue. She was intelligent and decisive from a young age, unlike Qi Yue who was introverted. She married Yao Xiuyan, the heir of the Duke of Ying, at the age of eighteen. Soon after the marriage, she followed her husband to the border and rarely returned to the capital. This time, she made a special trip back to the capital for a short stay because of childbirth.

Qi Yue admired her older sister's dashing and heroic spirit, and also envied her older brother Qi Mingxuan's outstanding talent. In comparison, she felt as ordinary as a sparrow that had mistakenly wandered into a phoenix's nest. Although no one in the capital dared to say anything to her face, she knew that behind her back, people always gossiped that the youngest daughter of the Qi family was mediocre and not even half as good as her older siblings.

"Miss, we've arrived." Yun'er's voice interrupted her thoughts.

Qi Yue hurriedly returned to her room to retrieve the silver bracelet, carefully placed it in a brocade box, and then rushed out to get into the carriage. To save time, the driver chose a shortcut, passing through the back alley of the Duke of Ying's mansion.

The alley was relatively quiet, with high walls and courtyards on both sides, and few pedestrians. Qi Yue was looking down at the bracelet in the brocade box when the carriage suddenly stopped abruptly.

"What's wrong?" Yun'er asked, lifting the carriage curtain.

The driver looked somewhat troubled: "There seems to be some noise ahead. Should we take a detour?"

Qi Yue looked up and saw several figures moving about in the depths of the alley. She wanted to get back to the Duke of Ying's mansion as soon as possible, so she said softly, "It's alright, we can go slowly."

The carriage continued on its way, and the closer Qi Yue got to the figures, the more uneasy she felt. It wasn't an ordinary argument between pedestrians, but... a fight!

By the time she realized what was happening, it was all over.

A man dressed in black stood with his back to her, his long sword dripping blood. Two motionless bodies lay at his feet, blood spreading beneath them. The man slowly turned, his face expressionless, his eyes as cold as ice.

Qi Yue held her breath in fright. She recognized the face—Xin Suiyun, the Crown Prince's secret guard, the most feared figure by her cousin's side. She had seen him several times from afar at palace banquets, and each time she was too frightened to look him in the eye by his cold, emotionless eyes.

Xin Suiyun clearly recognized her as well, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. Instead of avoiding her, he walked towards the carriage, his blood-stained sword still sheathed.

“Miss Qi.” His voice was deep and emotionless. “What a coincidence.”

Qi Yue trembled all over and couldn't utter a single word. Yun'er was already huddled in the corner of the carriage, and the driver was also deathly pale.

Xin Suiyun's gaze fell on the brocade box in Qi Yue's hand: "Is this Miss Qi going to deliver a gift for the young master of the Duke of Ying's mansion's full moon celebration?"

Qi Yue nodded mechanically, her hands gripping the edge of the brocade box tightly until her knuckles turned white.

Xin Suiyun suddenly laughed, a laugh that sent chills down one's spine: "Qi Shangshu's daughter, Qi Mingyue's sister, you're so afraid of such a little blood? Could it be..." He deliberately drew out his words, his sharp gaze scrutinizing Qi Yue, "...that you're not a member of the Qi family?"

These words pierced Qi Yue's heart like a knife. Her eyes instantly reddened, but she stubbornly held back her tears.

Xin Suiyun seemed quite satisfied with her reaction. He sheathed his longsword and said coldly, "Miss Qi, please go ahead. Don't miss the auspicious time."

The carriage practically fled the alley. Only when the gates of the Duke of England's mansion came into view did Qi Yue calm down slightly, though her face remained pale.

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