Chapter 25 Jealousy
Zang Fan also learned many details from Duan Yi.
Firstly, they enjoy watching the drama unfold, and secondly, they want to vent their anger.
So he deliberately brought up in detail in front of Ning Jue how the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace had publicly expressed his love for the renowned earl's daughter in front of all the people of the capital.
He really wanted to find out for himself whether it was sour or not.
After all, for Ning Jue, it would be truly abnormal for him to exhibit normal jealousy.
The two had been friends for many years, sharing a deep bond, but they weren't intimate. Ning Jue's aloofness was ingrained in his very being; in all these years, Zang Fan had only seen fear of loss in his eyes twice: once when his master succumbed to poisoning in the capital and the news of his death arrived, and the second time when his master's wife tragically committed suicide by throwing herself against her coffin…
From that moment on, no third person in the world could truly get close to Ning Jue's heart.
Zang Fan considered taking a step back: if that third person really appeared, could affect him, touch him, and make him live like a normal person instead of an emotionless killer weapon, then no matter who it was, even if it was a spy, he would turn a blind eye.
Thinking of this, Zang Fan decided to give him a good thrashing.
"It was all Duan Yi who said it; I didn't just make it up," Zang Fan said, first proving his innocence before continuing, "Back then, Empress Zhangsun invited eligible young ladies from Jingqi to a banquet under the guise of a palace lantern festival, so that the Crown Prince could choose a Crown Princess. Although the Earl's family was a noble family, it was still far below the status of the Eastern Palace. Therefore, on the day of the banquet, most of the young ladies from the Duke and Marquis families were given special consideration by the Empress. However, during the climax of the lantern festival, the lighting of the lanterns, the Crown Prince unexpectedly did not even glance at the other noble ladies. Instead, he walked straight to the Bai family's young lady and gestured for her to enter."
"And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Crown Prince, hand in hand with Miss Bai, ascended the steps to the highest point of the palace wall to begin the lantern-lighting ceremony. Inside the wall were numerous, boisterous guests, while outside stood thousands of onlookers. Jade towers and star-like structures rose into the sky, illuminating the heavens as if it were daytime. From then on, the tale of the Crown Prince and the Earl's daughter, a match made in heaven, spread far and wide..."
He had already prepared his speech in his mind, and he blurted it all out, his lips getting tired from opening and closing them so much.
After speaking, Zang Fan looked at Ning Jue expectantly, waiting for his reaction.
Ning Jue lifted his eyelids, looked over indifferently, and said in a flat tone, "You tell a more exciting story than a storyteller."
His relationship with Duan Yi was not deep. When they met and chatted, if they were to tell a story, he would have just mentioned it briefly. Why go into such detail about how many lamps there were, how many people were in the scene, who looked at whom, and who was holding hands with whom?
Ning Jue didn't know how Duan Yi described it, but according to Zang Fan, those words just now were definitely embellished.
Seeing his lukewarm reaction, Zang Fan said unwillingly, "You don't believe it? This is something that everyone can see. Even if Duan Yi is just making things up, all the ordinary people in Jingqi who went to the palace walls to see the palace lantern festival back then will vaguely remember this. Who told your A Peng to be so popular in the capital back then?"
"You vaguely remember?" Ning Jue scoffed slightly. "Just a vague recollection, and he can tell you in detail that you are 'Hand in Hand Lantern Tower'? Duan Yi really has a good memory."
Why do you care if they're holding hands or not?
Zang Fan crossed his arms, his eyes mocking: "What, you don't want to believe me? Are you upset?"
Ning Jue: "What does this have to do with me?"
"How can it be unrelated? Isn't she one of your people now?" Zang Fan asked curiously. "How about it, Young Master Ning? She was once a famous beauty in the capital who had the chance to become the Crown Princess. Now her beauty has been hidden for many years, and she has reappeared as your personal maid. Don't you feel quite proud? After all, back in the capital, how many men wanted her?"
Ning Jue, who had been responding calmly and without any change in expression, suddenly turned gloomy upon hearing these words.
“If all you’ve ever heard about are these trivial things, I’m not so free to listen to you finish your story.”
Is that something to get angry about?
Zang Fan shrugged, and had no choice but to restrain himself.
"Okay, I'll keep my mouth shut. Do you have any other questions? If not, I'm leaving. I rushed back up the mountain and haven't had a proper rest."
Ning Jue: "And then what happened?"
Zang Fan didn't react: "What?"
Ning Jue succinctly replied: "The Bai family."
Zang Fan's tone returned to seriousness: "Just as I just said, less than a month after Prince Ying ascended the throne, the Bai family members were all demoted from Jingqi, with only her brother remaining as a marginal official in the capital. In less than half a year, both her father and mother passed away, and her brother, far away in Jingqi, was not even allowed to leave the city to wear mourning clothes. His life in the officialdom was like walking on thin ice."
"After that, Bai Hua went to the capital but was not protected. She then went to Jiling. Duan Yi did not know what happened after that. He resigned and returned to his hometown in the Zhenyuan era, no longer caring about official affairs. However, it is not hard to guess that her brother must have lived a very cautious life in the capital, with no bright future to speak of. It was difficult for him to advance or retreat."
So, is her concern for Rong Linyan's participation in the arena truly solely for romantic love, or is she hoping that one day Rong Linyan will enter officialdom and gain power in the court, thus helping her brother in some way?
Ning Jue remained silent, lost in thought.
Zang Fan said sarcastically, "It's really unfair. You know everything about her background, but she knows nothing about yours."
Ning Jue lowered his eyes, a hint of melancholy in them: "What's there to say about my affairs? They're nothing special, and none of them are good news."
Zang Fan asked, "Only good things can be shared?"
Ning Jue remained silent.
Zang Fan stretched and yawned, feeling the fatigue from the long journey.
Before leaving, he asked Ning Jue one more question: "Are you coming to the celebration banquet tomorrow night? If you are, you are allowed to bring your family."
Ning Jue did not refute the inappropriate remarks.
He brushed the Buddha's Hand aside and casually replied, "We'll see."
...
Bai Hua was alone in the bedroom, with the door open.
She sat on the edge of the bed, holding a teacup in her hand, her fingers gripping the cup tightly, her expression revealing an undisguised anxiety.
So much time has passed, and it's unclear what the two are talking about, but they still haven't come out of the study.
She couldn't hear anything from the study from the inner room. Even if she held her breath and strained her ears, she could only occasionally hear Zang Fan raising his voice to scold her. The sound was muffled through the walls, and she could barely make out his voice and tone, but she couldn't make out the specific content.
Feeling uneasy, she thought this was an opportunity. If the young master accepted the invitation to come down the mountain and have a drink at the Zang residence, she might be able to seize the chance to try and get in touch with her cousin.
Just as I was thinking this, the study door was pushed open from the inside with a creak, attracting a lot of attention.
Bai Hua's heart skipped a beat. She hesitated for a moment, then got up and walked to the door. Seeing that the young master was not there, only Zang Fan came out, and a sense of fear arose in her heart.
He never gave me a kind look.
Bai Hua was prepared. When their eyes met, Zang Fan remained indifferent, brushing past her as if she were invisible, ignoring her completely.
Bai Hua got used to it and didn't mind.
But she couldn't be impolite, so she took the initiative to step forward and said, "Young Master Zang must have broadened his horizons by traveling to Ye City. I wonder if there are any interesting or memorable things you've seen or heard?"
Zang Fan paused, squinting at her: "What, trying to trick me into talking again?"
Bai Hua smiled, her tone as usual: "Young master is joking. Ye City is located by the sea. I had heard that the port here is well-developed, with ships sailing on the sea lanes in an orderly manner, almost no different from a carriage traveling on a flat road. I have never seen such a sight before, so I am curious."
Thinking of Ning Jue's appointment with Duan Yiye City, Zang Fan smiled and said to her, "Hold on to your young master's coattails, and maybe you'll get what you want."
Bai Hua didn't understand what he meant.
Blinking, Bai Hua hesitated before asking again, "Has the young master agreed to attend the banquet?"
Zang Fan looked at Bai Hua probingly, smiled wickedly, and shook his head: "No, why don't you go and persuade him? He won't listen to your pleas."
Bai Hua was self-aware: "Young Master acts entirely according to his own will. I am but a lowly person with little influence, how could I possibly offer any advice?"
Zang Fan's words were full of hidden meaning: "Then I don't know."
Having said that, he had no intention of continuing the conversation and swaggered away.
Bai Hua was getting a little anxious. Watching the figure in black walk further and further away, she pondered for a moment, then lowered the door latch, walked to the outside of the study, and gently knocked on the door.
After a short wait, a voice from inside replied, "Come in."
Bai Hua hesitated before stepping in.
Standing in front of the desk, face to face with Ning Jue, Bai Hua lowered her eyes, trying her best to hide her guilty conscience.
She tried to persuade him, saying, "I just heard from Young Master Zang that you didn't agree to the banquet. I saw that Young Master Zang came over with great enthusiasm to invite you. If we don't accept, it would be like pouring cold water on your friendship. Anyway, it's not far. Why don't we go down the mountain to buy ingredients and visit the Zang residence on the way? What do you think, Young Master?"
Ning Jue looked at her, his gaze sweeping down to her ankle, and said, "Your injury hasn't healed yet."
Bai Hua quickly assured him, "I'm completely healed. There's no pain at all, and I can move around as easily as before."
Ning Jue: "Isn't this just showing off?"
Bai Hua: "I wasn't being stubborn."
Ning Jue looked at her, his eyes devoid of tenderness, yet not cold either.
He naturally said, "Come here, let me take a look."
Bai Hua was slightly taken aback, not understanding what he meant.
Should we tell her to walk a few steps in place to see if the injury has healed, or should we do it like before, taking off her shoes and socks to examine the injury directly?
Seeing that she didn't move, Ning Jue raised his hand and beckoned to her.
Bai Hua pursed her lips and nervously walked over to him.
Ning Jue got up from his seat, and as soon as she stood in front of him, he stepped forward, grabbed her around the waist, and lifted her onto the edge of the desk.
“…Young Master?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.
Ning Jue reassured her, "Don't be afraid, it's easier to see this way."
It turns out that we still need to look directly at the wound.
He had checked her shoes and socks before; he had always taken care of her injuries. So, if he were to refuse now, wouldn't it seem overly coy?
Thinking this, Bai Hua endured the burning sensation in her ears and had no choice but to reach back to brace herself and steady herself.
He moved gently, his fingertips carefully touching the muscles of her calves. Feeling the coolness, he withdrew his hand without a word and went to the main room to fetch a basin and a copper kettle, preparing to warm Bai Hua's feet.
If it weren't for checking her injury, touching her foot would be extremely inappropriate.
Bai Hua reacted a beat too slow; by the time her toes had already touched the water's surface, she was already wary and had to pull herself up.
Ning Jue knew her concerns and said, "The swelling has gone down, but if your body temperature is too low, blood circulation will be slow, and some minor pains may not be noticeable. After I warm it up for you, I will rub it with medicine. If you are sure there are no problems, then you will be completely cured."
She was being overly sensitive; the young master was ultimately concerned for her injury.
Bai Hua felt a little guilty, but after hearing this, she felt relieved, and the tension in her body gradually eased.
Ning Jue squatted down in front of her, took her hands and spread her knees apart, then knelt between them, leaning his upper body slightly forward.
Bai Hua was incredibly embarrassed by this position, but she couldn't say anything. The young master was kind-hearted and was willing to squat down and bend his knees to make it easier for him to apply the medicine for her. So what did it matter if she endured the embarrassment for a while?
But, it will be possible in a little while.
She couldn't take it any longer.
The foot bath water was scalding hot, and the steam rose like mist. The young master's handsome face appeared and disappeared amidst the rising steam. Bai Hua stared blankly, feeling as if she were witnessing a dream.
How could a celestial being wielding a sword bow down to her?
She felt she was committing a desecration.
After soaking, apply the ointment.
Ning Jue decisively pulled the wooden basin away, his squatting posture unchanged. He simply raised his eyes to signal her to lift her leg and place her heel on his knee.
It's already happened; there's no going back.
Bai Hua suppressed her racing heart and did as instructed, hoping the torment would end soon.
With calluses on his palms, he rubbed the ointment in circles, carefully spreading it evenly. Each time he applied pressure, it was a test of her recovery progress.
"Speak up if it hurts," Ning Jue reminded him.
Bai Hua nodded, feeling no pain, only an itch.
With her hands supporting her behind her back, a piece of Xuan paper slipped into her palms unintentionally, first becoming soaked with the sweat from her palms, and then being unintentionally crumpled by her.
She thought that if she could no longer use it, she would ask the young master to deduct the corresponding amount from her allowance.
Ning Jue: "The other one."
Bai Hua cooperates.
Her clothes were thin and not made of fleece, and now part of the hem was gathered up to her calves. Combined with her outstretched posture, she felt very insecure. In addition, there was a very strong breath between her knees. Every time he leaned forward, her eyelashes would flutter and she would tremble.
We can't tolerate this any longer.
Bai Hua tried to struggle slightly, but at the same time, Ning Jue seemed to lose his balance and suddenly moved forward a few inches.
Although he didn't actually touch her, the visual stimulation was immense, because once he did touch her, his lips would press against the unspeakable forbidden spot of the young girl.
It was a false alarm, but Bai Hua was still stunned.
She suddenly opened her eyes wide, paused for a moment, and then, incredulously, confirmed that warmth was indeed gushing out.
She was completely stunned, her body stiffened, and she dared not move.
Ning Jue seemed oblivious to the situation, unaware of anything amiss. He released his hand from applying the medicine and massaging, squatted down, and looked up at her.
Those bright eyes, with their burning gaze, could they see through her distressed thoughts?
Bai Hua hurriedly looked away, and couldn't help but feel a little like crying.
To avoid being noticed by him, Bai Hua tried to cover it up by putting one hand on his shoulder and reaching out with the other to cover his eyes.
Ning Jue asked, "What's wrong?"
Without a reasonable explanation, she simply mimicked his domineering manner: "It's okay, can't I touch you?"
Ning Jue was silent for a moment, then replied, "Bang."
A narrow crack opened in the study window, letting in a cool breeze that was refreshing to the touch.
Bai Hua's body was trembling, but not because of the cold.
Ning Jue waited a moment before making a move, slowly taking her hand and pulling it away.
Then, with gentle eyes, he looked at her and asked in a low voice, "Are you cold?"
Bai Hua shook her head: "I'm not cold."
Ning Jue didn't investigate why her eyes were red, but only said with concern, "Your clothes are too thin. Judging from the recent wind direction, it will snow heavily soon. Tomorrow I will take you down the mountain to the clothing store to buy some new winter clothes."
Bai Hua's eyes were lifeless, yet she exuded a charm unlike anything she usually possessed.
She spoke, her voice low and weak: "Has the young master agreed to come down the mountain to the banquet?"
Ning Jue replied, "I'll accompany you to choose winter clothes when we go down the mountain. As for attending the banquet at the Zang family's house, we can go there on the way."
In any case, she achieved her goal.
The tension in her heart eased slightly, and Bai Hua tried to bring her knees together, but the more she did so, the more noticeably wet she felt.
She was so annoyed because of her wanton and shameful reaction that she couldn't face Ning Jue at all.
However, what she didn't know was that from her unseen perspective, Ning Jue's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile.
...
The following afternoon, Ning Jue took Bai Hua down the mountain and headed straight for a clothing shop in the market.
The two went to the same shop they had visited before, called "Xiuxian Pavilion". They had been in a hurry last time and hadn't paid attention to the name of the shop, but this time, Bai Hua took a special look at it.
The proprietress of Xiuxian Pavilion is very good at business. She always greets people with a smile, but she is not overly attentive. She has a good sense of propriety and makes people feel extremely comfortable.
So when Ning Jue asked her which street she planned to stroll down, Bai Hua replied directly that it was North Street.
As soon as they entered the store, the proprietress recognized them.
Bai Hua was wearing clothes from her own shop today, her eyebrows and eyes curving even more, as if she was full of a sense of accomplishment.
After guiding the previous customer to finish selecting their items and paying, the proprietress walked up to Bai Hua and Ning Jue with a beaming smile.
She greeted them, saying, "Young lady and gentleman, you've found time to go shopping again today. What a coincidence! My shop just received a new batch of winter clothes yesterday, and they haven't been picked out yet. Young lady, come and take a look first, and choose the style you like in advance."
Bai Hua replied, "Okay, I'll see for myself."
The proprietress understood and didn't follow her closely, allowing her to make a mistake.
During this time, he poured tea for Ning Jue, who was sitting down and waiting, showing great thoughtfulness in every way.
Bai Hua caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye and thought to herself, "The proprietress is good at business; no wonder she was able to make this clothing store the largest on the whole street."
After walking around, I was overwhelmed by the variety.
In the end, I chose a set that I liked quite a bit: a moon-white silk top with snow fox fur trim, and a light blue brocade pleated skirt, paired with a light pink ribbon at the waist. The colors were gentle and the overall look was exceptionally elegant.
She greeted Ning Jue and got up to go to the next room to change and try on clothes.
The cubicles block the view, but don't really block the sound.
Therefore, she could clearly hear every word of the conversation between the proprietress and Ning Jue outside.
"When I first met you, I felt that you two were a perfect match, like a pair of beautiful lovers. However, during your conversation, I noticed a hint of distance and respect in your tone towards the young master, so I abandoned my idea of playing matchmaker. But seeing you again today..."
The proprietress paused deliberately, observing the customer's expression. She knew she couldn't be too casual when striking up a conversation; if the customer didn't want to talk about the topic, she would be perceptive enough to stop talking in time.
Ning Jue took the initiative to ask, "How about we meet again?"
Upon hearing this, the proprietress felt relieved, knowing that her words had been well-chosen.
She continued with a smile, "Seeing you two again today, you are no longer strangers or distant like before, and you are naturally much closer. I dare to guess that perhaps I was right at the beginning, and that you two are lovers?"
Ning Jue's expression remained unchanged as he asked her, "How do you know?"
The proprietress's eyes lit up, and she suddenly realized that this was what the customer liked to hear. So she quickly picked up a nice phrase and said, "It's all about eye contact. When the young lady was strolling around, the young gentleman's eyes never left her. Conversely, when you were drinking tea just now, the young lady was also glancing at our seats from time to time."
That's nice to say, but it's also the truth.
On the other side, Bai Hua's face flushed; she simply couldn't bear to listen anymore.
She moved quickly, hurriedly put on her new clothes, coughed lightly, and came out of the cubicle, her face slightly flushed and looking somewhat unnatural.
Ning Jue followed her gaze and saw her come out to look at herself in the mirror. He got up and walked closer, reminding her, "Your hair is messy."
Bai Hua looked in the mirror and couldn't see anything: "...The back?"
"Hmm." Ning Jue responded, reaching out to help her remove the crooked jade hairpin from her hair, then turned to ask the proprietress, "Do you have any combs in the shop?"
The proprietress: "Yes, we do."
After saying that, he rummaged through the drawer, found it, and handed it to Ning Jue.
Ning Jue took it and helped Bai Hua fix her hair. He didn't know how to do complicated hairstyles, so he made it very simple.
In his eyes, Bai Hua was most beautiful without makeup; the simpler and more unadorned she was, the more pure and ethereal she was, beyond compare.
The bronze mirror reflected Ning Jue's focused gaze and distinct knuckles.
Bai Hua's cheeks flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes and lashes to hide her shyness.
The proprietress stepped forward and praised her figure and demeanor again, without repeating herself.
Bai Hua blushed and asked Ning Jue, "I think this set is quite good. Does Young Master like it?"
After all, he was the one who paid the money, so he naturally had to ask first.
Ning Jue smiled and said, "I'm glad you're satisfied."
Bai Hua: "I'm satisfied."
Ning Jue looked at the proprietress and said, "I'll take this one, and get the other similar items in her size as well."
The proprietress's eyes lit up, feeling that her words had not been in vain.
She asked, "How many sets would you like, sir?"
Ning Jue pondered for a moment and then said, "Five sets."
Bai Hua tried to stop her, but the proprietress was too quick and had already started working.
She sighed, not wanting to spoil the mood, so she tugged at Ning Jue's sleeve and whispered, "Since you insist on spending money, I'll try on a few more."
"Aren't they all pretty much the same? I said I'd choose a similar model."
"...much different."
Ning Jue seemed to understand but not quite, and replied, "I'll listen to you, go try it on, I'll wait for you here."
Bai Hua was carrying a new set of clothes and was about to go in to change when she suddenly turned around and snorted at Ning Jue as she was about to enter the cubicle.
"Young master, I will not repay this expense!"
After saying that, he slipped inside.
Ning Jue chuckled. When did he ever really intend to make her pay him back? He was just teasing her, finding it quite amusing.
And he did enjoy dressing her up.
Bai Hua took a long time to change clothes this time, and the proprietress and Ning Jue were outside, so they started chatting again.
Seeing Ning Jue's lavish spending, she hoped to seize the opportunity to close another business deal. So she tentatively said, "Young master and young lady are so close; you must be preparing for your wedding soon. When the date is set and you're choosing your wedding attire, please remember to visit our 'Sleeve Fairy Pavilion.' Many young ladies in Jiling City have chosen our wedding gowns; they are definitely not ordinary, guaranteed to be unique."
Ning Jue actually asked, "How can you guarantee it's unique?"
The proprietress smiled and replied, "Personalized customization. Just tell the embroiderer your ideas, and every stitch of the wedding dress can be made according to your wishes."
Ning Jue pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I see. We'll wait for an opportunity."
The proprietress, eager to close the deal, replied in a cheerful voice, "There will definitely be an opportunity!"
Inside, Bai Hua, who had stripped down to only her inner garment, paused in her dressing motion as she listened to the two's conversation.
At this moment, her face was probably even redder than the halter top she was wearing.
How did things suddenly come up with the topic of marriage?
It's one thing for the proprietress to talk to herself, but why is the young master actually going along with it?
marry.
How could the two of them have had the chance to get to this point?
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