Xiao Mingyu leaned against the chaise lounge by the window, holding an exquisite round fan and fanning herself idly. She was dressed exceptionally brightly today, in a crimson palace gown that accentuated her snow-white skin. Her hair was styled in a high bun, adorned with a shimmering gold and kingfisher feather hairpin. Yet, deep within her bright, sparkling eyes lay a barely perceptible weariness and… a deliberate aloofness.
Princess Xiao Minghua sat opposite her, looking at her like this, and sighed helplessly: "Mingyu, are you really going to the flower-viewing banquet at the Marquis of Zhongqin's mansion? You even spread the word that you're going to meet someone?" She lowered her voice, "Isn't your 'retreating to advance' tactic a bit too ruthless? What if..."
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty,” Xiao Mingyu interrupted her, a perfectly timed, slightly arrogant smile playing on her lips, though her eyes remained cold. “The second young master of the Marquis of Zhongqin’s mansion is upright, from a noble family, and about my age. He’s a ‘good match’ that Mother Empress has mentioned. What’s wrong with me going to see him?” She put down her fan, picked up a finely carved mutton-fat jade pendant from a small table beside her, and played with it casually. “As for certain people… since they see me as a monstrous threat and avoid me like the plague, then I’ll do as they wish, stay far away, and find another good match. That way, I won’t… get in their way.”
She spoke lightly, but Xiao Minghua keenly noticed the slightly white knuckles as she held the jade pendant in her fingers. This jade pendant was something she had secretly picked up and hidden after it was torn off in the chaos when Shen Wensong saved her last time.
“You silly girl…” Xiao Minghua wanted to persuade her again, but a palace maid outside the door reported: “Your Highness, the carriage of the Marquis of Zhongqin’s mansion has arrived at the gate.”
Xiao Mingyu immediately stood up, her face instantly plastered with an impeccable, radiant smile, as if the person with icy eyes just moments before wasn't her: "Royal sister, I'm going now. I'll tell you the details when I get back." With graceful poise, she took the hand of a palace maid and walked out, her figure in crimson disappearing through the doorway, carrying a deliberately crafted resolute air of heading towards a "good match."
Xiao Minghua watched her departing figure, her delicate brows furrowed, her eyes filled with worry. This act, if overdone, might hurt both herself and others.
---
The flower-viewing banquet at the Marquis of Zhongqin's residence was held in the mansion's exquisite garden. Flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, the air was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and the lively chatter of voices. Xiao Mingyu was undoubtedly the most dazzling focus of the entire event. She was all smiles and poised manners, engaging in pleasant conversation with the Marquis of Zhongqin's wife, and responding with perfectly appropriate smiles and gestures to the gentle and refined second son of the Marquis of Zhongqin, who clearly harbored feelings for her.
The news spread like wildfire into the Shen residence and reached the ears of Shen Wensong, who had just returned from the military camp on the outskirts of the capital.
"Have you heard? Her Highness the Second Princess went to the flower-viewing banquet at the Marquis of Zhongqin's residence today and had a very pleasant conversation with that Second Young Master!"
"Indeed! I heard that Lady Zhongqin is very pleased with the princess! This marriage is likely to be arranged!"
"After all, he's a nobleman, how can he really be tied down to one person? General Shen is good, but he's too..."
The servants' whispers, like tiny poisonous thorns, pierced Shen Wensong's ears. He walked expressionlessly through the corridor, his steps growing heavier. The image of that smiling face in the Zhongqin Earl's garden, smiling at another man, flashed uncontrollably through his mind… A strange, unfamiliar unease and resentment suddenly choked him, making it hard to breathe. He gripped the sword at his waist tightly, his knuckles turning white.
In the following days, similar "tales" continued to emerge: the Second Princess toured the Western Hills with the Second Son of the Earl of Zhongqin; the Second Princess accepted calligraphy and paintings by famous artists sent by the Earl of Zhongqin's household; at the palace banquet, the Second Princess showed special favor to the Second Son of the Earl of Zhongqin...
Each message was like pouring boiling oil on the nameless fire burning in Shen Wensong's heart. He became even more silent, his aura becoming frighteningly low. He became increasingly strict in training the soldiers in the barracks, and even his elder brother, Shen Wenqing, noticed something was wrong with him, asking indirectly, "Wensong, have you been having trouble with things in the camp lately? Why do you look so pale?"
Shen Wensong simply shook his head, his voice stiff: "It's nothing, brother."
However, when he saw Xiao Mingyu emerge from the palace and board the carriage of the Marquis of Zhongqin's residence, and the second young master reached out to help her, and Xiao Mingyu smiled and placed her hand in his—
Shen Wensong felt a buzzing sound in his head, as if something had snapped completely! An unprecedented surge of anger, resentment, the stinging pain of betrayal, and a possessiveness he himself had never explored, like an out-of-control wildfire, instantly burned away all his reason and the self-control he was so proud of!
That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.
A lithe, leopard-like figure in black silently evaded the guards surrounding the princess's residence, leaping over the high wall like a ghost and landing in the courtyard outside the Second Princess Xiao Mingyu's bedchamber. The movements were clean and efficient, carrying the chilling aura unique to military personnel.
The candles inside the bedchamber were still lit. Xiao Mingyu had just finished bathing and was wearing a plain white nightgown. Her long hair was loose as she sat in front of the dressing table, absentmindedly combing her hair in front of the bronze mirror. The figure in the mirror had an inescapable weariness and a hint of imperceptible loneliness in her eyes.
"Squeak—" The window was suddenly pushed open with great force!
A cold wind blew in, causing the candlelight to flicker violently.
Xiao Mingyu trembled with fright, and the comb fell to the ground with a thud. She turned sharply, staring in horror at the window—
The moonlight outlined a tall, imposing figure standing against the light. Dressed in dark, close-fitting clothes, his features were as cold and sharp as a knife – it was Shen Wensong! He stood outside the window, his gaze like a blade tempered with ice, locked onto her, emanating a chilling aura and a strong smell of alcohol!
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