After entering the chamber, Qingge closed the door behind her and calmly changed out of the blue hemp uniform of the secret guard. By now, the most challenging part of her plan was over, and everything was more or less falling into place. Secret guards from Qianying Pavilion were known for their elusiveness, unbound by the rules of the manor and unburdened by formalities. Their loyalty lay solely with Ning Wang.
Now, her primary objective was to avoid any direct interaction between ‘Ning Wangfei Xiahou Jianxue’ and ‘secret guard Qingge.’ Fortunately, Ning Wang had already brought her to meet the Wangfei publicly, and the secret guard and the Wangfei had been ‘introduced.’ Moving forward, she could use her Wangfei identity to cover for the secret guard, making everything much simpler.
Qingge calmly changed into Wangfei’s attire, hiding the hemp robe and other things she used for the disguise securely. Having been a secret guard for many years, she knew very well which parts of a room could be used as a hiding place. Fortunately, this place being the Wangfei’s private chamber, no secret guard would dare to intrude upon it, ensuring the safety of her concealment.
After waiting a moment, the sound of footsteps approached from outside, which Qingge recognized as Luo Momo’s.
The momo stopped outside the window and called, “Your Highness, would you like some tea?”
Qingge responded in the voice of Xiahou Jianxue: “I am speaking with the secret guard from Qianying Pavilion. How dare you interrupt? Have you no manners? Leave now.”
Luo Momo, taken aback, glanced toward the window. Through the thin curtain, she could vaguely see two figures inside, seemingly engaged in conversation. Frustrated but with no choice, she withdrew.
No one dared disturb them further. Luo Momo had been curious to learn more about the secret guard’s actions, but she couldn’t even eavesdrop.
After some time, Luo Momo suddenly noticed a faint movement, as if something had flashed before her eyes, accompanied by a barely perceptible sound.
Puzzled, she turned to a young maidservant beside her and asked, “Did you hear anything just now?”
The maidservant shook her head. “No, I didn’t hear anything.”
Luo Momo looked back suspiciously, only to hear Wangfei’s voice from inside the room, sounding somewhat surprised: “Did the secret guard leave just now?”
Luo Momo hurried to the door and replied, “No, we didn’t see anyone leave.”
The Wangfei also seemed puzzled. “She just told me she was stepping out. Before I could exchange a few polite words, she disappeared in the blink of an eye.”
Luo Momo was stunned. “Does Qianying Pavilion’s secret guards truly have such amazing skills?”
The Wangfei’s voice carried a hint of awe. “I heard that Qianying Pavilion’s secret guards could come and go undetected, just like ghosts. Now I see the rumors aren’t exaggerated.”
The maidservants and Luo Momo were all left in shock and amazement, while Qingge simply went along with their reaction.
In truth, if a secret guard from Qianying Pavilion wanted to leave undetected, it would be as if they had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace or sound. But Qingge had deliberately created this illusion to set the groundwork for the future. This way, any strange occurrences—such as a secret guard suddenly appearing or disappearing in the Wangfei’s chambers—would no longer surprise them.
Everything could simply be attributed to the secret guard’s unparalleled stealth.
…
In the evening, when Ning Wang returned to Ninghe Courtyard, Qingge greeted him with a warm smile. As she personally assisted him in washing his hands, she said cheerfully, “Today this consort brewed some tea myself. Would Your Highness like to try it?”
Ning Wang glanced to the side and noticed a small red clay stove in the room, with steam rising from the teapot on top. He replied, “Alright.”
It was now spring, but the rain from a few days ago had brought a slight chill to the evening air. Inside the room, however, the stove provided a cozy warmth. Qingge busied herself brewing and preparing tea for Ning Wang. Although she had been unfamiliar with this task before, she had practiced diligently in recent days.
As she prepared the tea, she engaged him in a light chat, “This consort was born in winter, on the day of the first snow of that year. Since then, on each of my birthdays, my family would collect snow from the plum blossoms, place it in porcelain jars, and bury it. By the end of this year, this consort will turn seventeen, and we will have seventeen jars of snow stored.”
Ning Wang looked at her delicate hands and casually asked, “You’ve never taken any of it out to use?”
Qingge lowered her eyes with a soft smile and replied, “That’s right. They have been saved for seventeen years. These seventeen jars of aged plum blossom snow have also been brought along as part of my dowry. From now on, this consort will use them to personally brew tea for Your Highness.”
Ning Wang hadn’t expected such a story behind the tea. He gazed at his Wangfei. Outside, the spring air was still chilly, but inside, the glow of the fire illuminated her gentle features.
This woman was nurtured with utmost care by one of the most illustrious clans in the land. Like the faint halo around a new moon or snow-covered plum blossoms, she exuded the finest grace and refinement. Her elegant beauty, both serene and delicate, was an exquisite treasure in itself.
He, accustomed to blood and brutality, had a heart as hard as iron. Yet at this moment, as he looked at his Wangfei, a deep sense of tenderness and affection stirred within him. His expression softened, and his voice carried a trace of warmth as he said, “Very well. From now on, Wangfei will brew tea for me, and we will savor the plum blossom snow that you have so carefully preserved.”
Seventeen years of collected plum blossom snow, now brewed into tea by her own hands to serve him.
Qingge smiled even more gently. “Your Highness, please try it.”
Ning Wang accepted the tea, took a sip, and, after fully savoring the taste, looked up at her with a smile. “Pure and sweet—excellent tea.”
Qingge could sense Ning Wang’s delight and knew she had made the right move. He was born a favored prince. In terms of wealth and status, no one could compare to the imperial household, but when it came to elegance and refined taste, the Four Great Clans had their unique pride and sophistication.
With Ning Wang’s aloof and arrogant nature, it was clear that only a woman from the Four Great Clans could capture his attention. Displaying just the right amount of the Xiahou clan’s refined demeanor was something he would undoubtedly appreciate.
He desired a wife who was skilled in the arts and literature, as well as kind and considerate. In other words, someone who could command respect in formal settings, manage the household with grace, exude beauty, and provide him with an heir for the sake of political stability.
Qingge suddenly realized how greedy he was. Perhaps the greedier a person, the more likely they were to end up with nothing.
As the two sipped tea and chatted, the atmosphere grew increasingly warm and harmonious. Thoughts swirled in Qingge’s mind. She needed to take advantage of his good mood to find a way to convince him not to assign ‘Qingge’ the task of protecting the Wangfei. But how could she broach the subject without leaving any room for suspicion?
Amid the lingering aroma of tea, Qingge finally took the initiative to bring it up. “Your Highness, the secret guard you mentioned earlier came to see me today. We spoke for a while.”
Ning Wang, casually sipping his tea, responded, “And? What do you think?”
Qingge smiled and said, “This secret guard seems disciplined and obedient. If she were to be assigned to me, I think I’d quite like her.”
Ning Wang nodded. “As long as you can accept her, that’s good. On the journey to the capital, we’ll be passing through several prefectures. I worry that others might not be able to look after you properly, so having her as your personal guard will put my mind at ease.”
Qingge hesitated before adding, “But having someone following me so closely at all times feels a bit awkward. And to outsiders, it might not look very proper.”
Ning Wang asked back, “So, what are you suggesting?”
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