“Alright, I understand.” Wanqing’s instructions were met with Bai Yu’s steady nod. Though puzzled by the behavior of those from the Great Ming palace, he still nodded cautiously in agreement to her suggestion.
“That’s good. You should head back now. If someone arrives later and finds out you came here, who knows what trouble might arise. Wait—Bai Yu, take this bottle of All-Purpose Antidote. While I can’t guarantee it will work against everything, it can easily neutralize most common poisons. Be careful. If anything happens, make sure to protect your master first, then come find me.”
Bai Yu’s cautious demeanor made Wanqing realize the situation was unclear. She could have acted impulsively, but her concern for Leng Mingye’s condition and her reluctance to complicate matters further—especially to avoid causing trouble for her uncle and grandfather—restrained her. She suppressed the urge to confront the young master of the Xie family directly and instead gave Bai Yu her instructions.
Seeing him nod and turn to leave, she suddenly remembered the unique skills of those in the Great Ming palace and called out to him just as he reached the door. Rising, she retrieved a bottle of All-Purpose Antidote from her room and handed it to him with a final reminder.
“Understood. I will definitely protect my master.”
Though Bai Yu didn’t fully grasp Wanqing’s thoughts in this situation, her evident concern for his master moved him. He accepted the medicine she offered, nodded, and left.
“Princess, do you think the King and Queen truly fear the Xie family to this extent? On the surface, they claim to be protecting you and Prince Ye’s safety, but I can’t shake the feeling there’s something strange about it. What do you think?”
After seeing Bai Yu off, Honglian—who had grown noticeably more perceptive after spending days with Wanqing and the Prince of Ning—turned to her with a puzzled expression. The actions of the Great Ming royal family baffled her.
“I’m not sure either, but I trust my uncle wouldn’t harm me. I just hope we can get through these days peacefully, that Leng Mingye recovers his inner strength soon, and that I can see my mother and heal her. After that, I’ll deal with the Xie family.”
Wanqing was equally confused by the current situation, but she had faith in her uncle’s goodwill. Though she didn’t fully understand her grandparents’ intentions, she believed their affection for her was genuine.
There must be some hidden complication forcing them to act this way.
Being confined under the guise of protection didn’t bother Wanqing much. Thinking of Leng Mingye’s temperament, she sighed softly in anticipation.
“How about I sneak into the Xie family’s quarters tonight to see what kind of person this young master really is? What do you think, Princess?”
Despite her own frustration, Wanqing remained composed. Honglian, though trusting that the Prince of Fengye wouldn’t harm Wanqing or Leng Mingye, was uneasy about others. Thinking of the key figure in this situation, she made her suggestion.
“No. If my uncle has warned us, it means he wants us to avoid reckless actions. What if the Xie family’s young master is someone difficult to handle? If you’re caught, it would only make things worse for us.”
Though touched by Honglian’s concern, Wanqing knew the Great Ming palace was an unpredictable place. She firmly rejected the idea.
“Fine, we’ll wait and see. But it’s been days—the Prince of Fengye said he’d arrange for Prince Ye’s inner strength to be restored as soon as you settled in. Yet, he hasn’t shown up at all. Could something have happened?”
Honglian sighed in frustration. Never had they been in such a stifling situation. But knowing Wanqing valued her familial ties, she suppressed her impatience and voiced her worries about Leng Mingye.
“I don’t know. Maybe my uncle is tied up with something. Just wait a little longer. Let me think.”
Recalling her uncle’s promise to restore Leng Mingye’s strength by dawn, Wanqing grew uneasy. Two days had passed with no progress, and her uncle hadn’t appeared. Whenever she tried to leave or asked to see him, she was told to wait patiently.
Uncertain about her uncle’s situation and now confined with Leng Mingye, Wanqing felt a rare irritation. She stood and walked to the window, gazing outside.
Just then, Wan Chun’s sharp reprimand echoed from outside.
“What’s wrong with you? I told you, the Princess is resting! How dare you, a man, barge into her chambers like this? Have you no manners?”
“Let’s go see. Chun’er, what’s going on?”
The commotion outside suggested the intruder was no ordinary person—someone bold enough to force their way into a guarded palace in broad daylight.
As Wan Chun’s protests grew louder, the intruder reached the main hall’s entrance. Wanqing composed herself and motioned for Honglian to follow. Stepping outside, she saw Wan Chun at the door, looking exasperated.
“Ugh, this man just barged in, insisting on seeing you, Princess. No matter what I said, he wouldn’t listen…”
Wanqing glanced at the intruder—a young man in exotic attire, no older than twenty, with an air of arrogance and wildness about him. His eyes brimmed with defiance and insolence.
She didn’t recognize him, and neither her uncle nor grandfather had mentioned such a person. Though his demeanor was brash and untamed, he simply stood there, studying her.
Since he was a guest, Wanqing calmly silenced Wan Chun’s complaints and addressed him.
“You are Mu Wanqing? The daughter of Princess Liuyue, raised in another household?”
Instead of answering her question, he scrutinized her and posed his own.
“I am. And you are?”
His bold appraisal of her didn’t faze her. Though she disliked his manner, she remained composed and dignified.
“Indeed, a princess. Even raised in a modest household, your noble bearing remains. Impressive. Worthy of being Xie Shaojun’s chosen woman. I am Xie Shaojun, residing in the Fenglin Pavilion outside your palace. I had assumed someone of humble upbringing, no matter how noble their blood, might not meet my standards. But I see now I was wrong. Since we are betrothed, what are your thoughts on me?”
Wanqing’s question went unanswered as he continued to assess her with an air of superiority, as if he were the one bestowing favor. Finally, he asked outright for her opinion of him.
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