Xin Jiuwei felt as if she had been doused with a bucket of ice water, frozen in place. The faint hope that had risen upon hearing his voice was instantly shattered by the cold reality. Only a deeper sense of powerlessness and a heavy despair remained.
“Miss Xin… His Highness has fallen into a deep sleep again… You… you should go back first.” Liu Ya, her eyes red-rimmed, stepped out from behind the screen, her voice choked with sobs and filled with deep exhaustion.
Xin Jiuwei was distraught and "invited" out of the main house. The heavy door closed behind her, once again isolating her from the faint world inside. She stood in the cold corridor, the wind whipping fine snowflakes against her face, but it was nothing compared to the bone-chilling cold in her heart.
"Is this Miss Xin, the 'benefactor' whom His Highness the Sixth Prince invited all the way from Yuncheng?" A clear and gentle female voice, carrying just the right amount of curiosity and goodwill, suddenly rang out at the corner of the corridor.
Xin Jiuwei snapped back to reality and looked in the direction of the sound.
A young woman, dressed in a pale yellow brocade jacket and skirt, and a snow-white fox fur coat, stood gracefully there. She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, with delicate features, curved eyebrows, and a gentle, scholarly air about her, a polite smile playing on her lips. She was Zhao Mingwei, the daughter of Zhao Mingcheng, a Hanlin Academy Reader.
Xin Jiuwei instantly suppressed all her outward emotions, her eyes regaining their coldness. She looked at the suddenly appearing, elegant stranger before her, a warning bell ringing in her heart. A noblewoman from the capital? How did she know her? And how did she know Yuncheng?
"And who is this young lady?" Xin Jiuwei asked in a flat, distant tone.
"My name is Zhao Mingwei. My father works at the Hanlin Academy." Zhao Mingwei curtsied gracefully, her smile gentle and harmless. "I just heard that His Highness's 'condition' has improved slightly. My father was worried about His Highness and specially sent me to visit him. I didn't expect to run into Miss Xin here." Her gaze subtly sized up Xin Jiuwei, with a hint of curiosity and inquiry. "Miss Xin has come from afar, working hard for His Highness. I wonder if you are settling in well in the capital? This royal residence is not as comfortable as outside. If you need anything, please just let Mingwei know."
Her tone was warm and natural, as if the two were longtime friends. However, Xin Jiuwei keenly caught several subtle points in her words: "I heard that His Highness's 'condition' has eased a bit"—how well-informed was she? "My father is worried about His Highness"—was Zhao Hanlin a member of the upright official faction or someone who was attached to the Second Prince? "The Prince's mansion is deep inside, not as free as outside"—was this concern, or a test to see if her freedom was being restricted?
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Zhao." Xin Jiuwei remained expressionless, her voice still cool. "Your Highness is still recovering from your illness, so I dare not say that you are suffering. The Prince's residence has made excellent arrangements, and there has been no inconvenience." She skillfully deflected the question, expressing her gratitude while implying that her movements were not restricted, and at the same time, she changed the subject.
Zhao Mingwei's smile remained unchanged, but her eyes flickered slightly, seemingly surprised by Xin Jiuwei's impeccable answer, yet also as if it were expected. She stepped forward, her smile becoming even more gentle and approachable: "Miss Xin, you are too kind. His Highness is truly blessed to receive such devoted care from you. Speaking of which, in a couple of days, Princess Jiahe will be hosting a plum blossom appreciation and poetry gathering at the Plum Garden, inviting young ladies from all over the capital. Her Highness is most fond of talent, and if she knew Miss Xin would be here, she would surely be delighted to extend an invitation. I wonder if Miss Xin would be interested? It would be a good opportunity to relax and relieve some boredom."
Princess Jiahe? The Second Prince's younger sister?
Xin Jiuwei sneered inwardly. This wasn't an invitation to relax; it was clearly the Second Prince's faction trying to use this opportunity to investigate her background and even put her under the public eye!
Just as she was about to refuse outright, a thought flashed through her mind. That venomous snake, Qi Huaiyu, must be deeply entangled with the Second Prince's forces. This plum blossom poetry gathering, a diverse mix of celebrities and socialites, wouldn't it be an excellent place to gather information and observe developments? Perhaps… she could glean a clue about Qi Huaiyu or Chengxin Villa?
With a change of heart, Xin Jiuwei's face remained calm and composed, even carrying a perfectly appropriate air of aloofness and weariness: "Your Highness's kindness is something Jiuwei should not refuse. However..." She looked up at the closed door of the main house, her eyes revealing a natural worry, "Your Highness is still unwell, and I... really have no heart to attend the banquet."
“Miss Xin’s sincerity is truly touching.” Zhao Mingwei immediately followed her words, her tone full of understanding and sympathy. “However, His Highness is blessed with good fortune, and with the imperial physician and Miss Liu Ya’s meticulous care, he will surely recover. Miss, you must also take care of yourself. The poetry gathering will only last half a day; consider it a way to relax. If you are still worried, how about this: I will send a clever maid from my household to wait for you in the outer courtyard of the Prince’s residence. If there is any news from His Highness, she will immediately send a messenger to inform you. What do you think?” Her words were earnest and her arrangements thoughtful, as if she genuinely cared for Xin Jiuwei.
Looking into Zhao Mingwei's gentle, clear, yet unfathomable eyes, Xin Jiuwei felt a growing sense of unease. The other party was pressing her relentlessly, their arrangements meticulously planned, clearly determined to achieve their goal. Further refusal would only appear deliberate and arouse suspicion.
She hesitated for a moment, a slight look of hesitation appearing on her face, then nodded gently as if persuaded: "Miss Zhao has thought things through very well, so... I'll have to trouble you."
A hint of triumph flashed across Zhao Mingwei's eyes, quickly replaced by a deeper, gentle smile: "Miss Xin, you're too kind! It's settled then! The invitation will be delivered to your residence shortly. I need to go in and pay my respects to His Highness, so I won't disturb you any longer." She curtsied to Xin Jiuwei again, then turned gracefully and walked towards the main house.
Xin Jiuwei stood there, watching Zhao Mingwei's figure disappear into the main house, her eyes turning completely cold. This seemingly gentle and harmless Miss Zhao was the second prince's first tentative hand reaching out to the palace and to her. The plum blossom poetry gathering was by no means a refined gathering, but rather a den of dragons and tigers.
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