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“Greetings, Mr. Ye.” Cui Gugu stepped forward with her head lowered. “Her Highness is here specifically to see His Highness, having something important to discuss.”
Ye Min’s expression remained impassive as he replied in a flat tone, “Tianhong Pavilion is a place where Wangye1 handles various governmental affairs. Women from the inner yard are not permitted entry without Wangye’s express permission.”
At this point, the protocol called for Qingge to exit, so Ye Min could greet her.
But she couldn’t, obviously!
Qingge’s best option at the moment was to lean into the role of an arrogant Wangfei. Fortunately, Ye Min’s aloof demeanor could easily be interpreted as disrespect—particularly given Wangfei’s current ‘bad mood.’ With a soft chuckle, Qingge turned to Cui Gugu and asked pointedly, “Tell me, Cui Gugu, who is speaking?”
“This is Mr. Ye Min, a trusted aide under His Highness’s command. His Highness holds him in high regard.” Cui Gugu replied.
Qingge responded with a prolonged “Oh…,” drawing out the word in a playful tone.
Cui Gugu raised her gaze subtly toward Ye Min. Although Ye Min served Ning Wang, his position was different from that of a servant. He was born high and thus possessed a sense of pride and arrogance. Facing this newly arrived Wangfei, would Ye Min be willing to lower himself and bow?
The scene fell silent as the servants and guards lowered their heads, holding their breath to avoid getting caught up in the tension.
After a long pause, a soft sound broke the silence—the tap of Ye Min’s silver cane on the ground. Everyone then saw the gaunt man step forward, his eyes slightly lowered as he made a formal greeting, “Subordinate Ye Min greets Her Highness the Wangfei.”
Qingge smiled. “A trusted aide, hmm? I wonder what this trusted aide is in charge of—could it be that he supervises the internal matters of the household for Wangye?”
Her words were clearly intended to insult Ye Min.
Cui Gugu’s gaze once again shifted to Ye Min, observing his expression. Sure enough, a hint of displeasure flickered across his face, his eyes growing cold.
It was well-known that, aside from Ning Wang himself, there were a few individuals in the manor who were absolutely not to be trifled with—and Ye Min was among them.
As if oblivious to the tension in the air, the Wangfei spoke again, her tone calm yet pointed. “As Ning Wang’s Wangfei, and a newlywed no less, must I take orders from outsiders simply for wanting to see my husband? You may be an exceptional aide, Mr. Ye—perhaps unmatched in matters of warfare or governance—but surely, you have no say over a wife wishing to meet her own husband, do you?”
Ye Min remained silent, casting a cool glance at the palanquin. “This subordinate has overstepped,” he bowed his head again.
Qingge noted the gloominess in Ye Min’s tone. As the respected master of Qianying Pavilion and Ning Wang’s most trusted aide, Ye Min’s authority was not something a mere secret guard could afford to challenge; yet now here she was, forcing him to yield.
It was quite a sight.
“Help me down from the palanquin,” Qingge issued a command. She was going to take a big gamble. With Ye Min’s presence in Ning Wang Manor, continuing to avoid him was not a viable option—sooner or later, it would spark his suspicion. Instead, she opted to ‘confront’ him directly, ensuring she didn’t give the impression of trying to evade him.
Given that Ye Min had previously drawn Ning Wang’s displeasure, it was safe to assume that he would tactfully step away when the Wangfei alighted from the palanquin, perhaps leaving immediately. This way, it wouldn’t appear to Ye Min that she was unwilling to be seen.
Of course, the risk was still there—if Ye Min decided to stand his ground and remain, she would be exposed immediately.
Lightly lifting the hem of her skirt, Qingge prepared to step out with the help of her attendants. As she pulled aside the light gauze curtain, a voice rang, “Your Highness, this subordinate has other matters to attend to, so please excuse my leave.”
“You may,” Qingge responded in a nonchalant tone as she lifted the curtain, and at that moment, Ye Min had already turned to leave.
It all happened in the blink of an eye.
If Ye Min had insisted on staying, or if he had looked her way even for a brief second before leaving, she would have been exposed.
The move she had just taken was extremely risky, but fortunately, she had won the bet.
With the support of the maidservants, Qingge gracefully stepped down from the palanquin, their crowding conveniently shielded her face from view.
By then, Ye Min was already making his way along the adjacent flower-lined corridor. Just as he reached the corner near the second gate, he subtly turned his head, catching a glimpse of the Wangfei. Her figure was slender and graceful, her head slightly lifted as she gathered her skirt, preparing to ascend the steps with the help of her attendants.
Ye Min coolly retracted his gaze.
Qingge knew Ye Min would likely steal a glance, so she maintained her vigilance, ensuring she didn’t reveal any trace of the real her. She straightened her back, exuding an air of grace and poise as she slowly climbed the steps to Tianhong Pavilion.
Once inside the pavilion, the procession encountered the armed guards stationed there. After explaining their purpose, one of the guards went to inform Ning Wang, and soon a message returned, requesting the Wangfei to wait briefly. Shortly afterward, Wen Zhengqing and several other key figures under Ning Wang’s command emerged from the study, evidently having their meeting cut short by the Wangfei’s arrival.
Qingge realized that she had chosen a bad time to visit. Still… it didn’t matter; whatever reputation was at stake now wasn’t hers to begin with.
She stepped in unhurriedly and found Ning Wang seated at a table, leisurely flipping through a book. Draped in a loose robe with his black hair flowing freely, he exuded a languid air that softened his usual coldness. Without raising his eyes, he turned a page and asked nonchalantly, “What brings you here, Wangfei?”
Qingge replied, “Your Highness, you made a promise to me, yet you turned back on it in the blink of an eye. Isn’t that inappropriate?”
Only then did Ning Wang lift his gaze to her. “Oh?”
Qingge looked directly at him and went straight to the point. “You clearly stated that I could choose freely from the items bestowed by the Emperor, that whatever I fancied would be given to me.”
Ning Wang nodded, “Yes, this prince indeed said so.”
“Well, I chose a few items, but Steward Sun informed me that one of them was already claimed by someone else.”
“What item?”
“Duzhong Royal male flower,”
Ning Wang seemed to have an impression, “Mr. Ye asked for that one. You shall choose something else.”
Qingge gave a slight chuckle. “You promised it to me, but because Mr. Ye wanted it, you gave it to him instead?”
Ning Wang lightly rubbed his thumb—the one with the jade ring—over the edge of the book, a habit that showed he was growing impatience. However, when he looked at her again, he restrained himself and explained, “Mr. Ye specifically came just now to request that herb, and I agreed.”
‘Just now?’ Qingge immediately understood she had arrived just a moment too late. The precious herb she was eyeing was gone, just like that!
A wave of frustration rose within her. If she’d never expected it, it wouldn’t have been so bad. But having something almost within her reach, only to have it taken away, was incredibly frustrating. Taking a deep breath, she suppressed her irritation and asked with unusual calm, “Your Highness, what does this mean? You promised it to me, yet gave it away when someone asked for it. Isn’t that going back on your word?”
Ning Wang didn’t seem to think it was a big deal. “Mr. Ye requested that herb for an important purpose. Given his need, this prince gave it to him. If there’s something else you want—gold, treasures, paintings, porcelain—you’re welcome to it.”
Qingge observed Ning Wang carefully. He was doing his best to appear affable, but one’s true nature could not be concealed that easily, and his current indulgence toward her was clearly just a means to an end. Beneath that facade, his natural demeanor, dominant and imposing, seeped through, making him an intimidating figure.
And here she was, facing this man, forced to deceive, to manipulate, and to gain benefit from him.
To achieve that, she must suppress her nature perfectly, to overcome the natural deference and subservience branded deep in her very being.
So, armoring herself with the arrogance befitting of a Xiahou young lady, Qingge slightly lifted her chin and countered, “But you already promised it to me! Would a dignified prince go back on his word? If this were to spread, wouldn’t you become a laughingstock?”
Ning Wang was slightly surprised; it was clear he hadn’t expected her to be this willful. He raised an eyebrow, studying her for a moment, then curled his lips into a faint, slightly cold smile. “Are you going to argue with a subordinate over a mere herb? A dignified Wangfei, making such a fuss—if word got out, who would become a laughingstock?”
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- Wangye (王爷) is a respectful term used by individuals of lower status to address a qinwang (a prince of the first rank). While somewhat similar to His Highness (殿下), the two are not interchangeable. All sons of an emperor are referred to as imperial sons (皇子) and addressed as His Highness, but they are only called Wangye after being granted the title of qinwang.
Oh, did Ye Min ask for the herb for her, I mean the real her?