It must be said that playing two roles—both as Ning Wangfei and as the secret guard assigned to serve her—was no easy task. Fortunately, after all her efforts, Qingge had managed to untangle the web of complications and establish some semblance of order.
Her biggest threats were Ye Min, Ning Wang, and Mo Jingxi. Fortunately, Mo Jingxi, being an outsider, could be avoided. She only needed to report to Ye Min once a month, which gave her the chance to subtly gather information and help maintain the cover of her Wangfei identity. As for Ning Wang, she could use her role as his Wangfei to deflect his suspicions or even plead leniency for ‘secret guard Qingge’ if necessary.
The others—Luo Momo, Baizhi, and Cui Gugu—posed no real threat.
Once she completed a trip to the capital, she could finally retire from her role.
Of course, that was contingent on everything going smoothly from beginning to end.
While Qingge was plotting her next steps, Cui Gugu arrived unexpectedly. As ‘Ning Wangfei’ was now in charge of the manor’s household affairs, Cui Gugu and Steward Sun had to regularly report important matters to her for review, even though she didn’t involve herself in every detail.
It was late in the evening, and the sky outside was heavy with dark clouds, threatening rain. Cui Gugu entered the room and greeted her respectfully.
Qingge lazily raised her eyes, remarking, “The sky looks ominous—it’s likely to rain.”
Cui Gugu responded respectfully, “Indeed, Your Highness. The wind outside is quite chilly.”
Qingge smiled. “Thank you for your hard work, Cui Gugu, especially during dinner time. It must be inconvenient to make this trip.”
Cui Gugu replied, “It’s this servant’s duty; nothing is inconvenient. However, with the many carriages and items being prepared for the trip to the capital, the inventory list requires Your Highness’ approval.”
Qingge nodded. “Very well, bring it to me.”
Cui Gugu handed over a detailed list written on fine rice paper, the dense lines written in small regular script meticulously itemizing the contents.
Qingge scanned it briefly. The list was divided into two categories: ceremonial gifts and substantial gifts. The ceremonial gifts included decorative but less valuable items, such as silk, teas, fruits, candles, and local specialties. The substantial gifts were the costly treasures, such as gold, silver, glassware, and rare artifacts.
Given that Yuning bordered Xiyuan to the west, the gifts from Ning Wang Manor included an array of exotic treasures: coral carvings of the God of Longevity, teacups crafted from colored glass, rare ivory sculptures, and even a pair of white parrots along with trained elephants skilled in performing tricks.
Qingge recalled the tribute lists submitted during previous Longevity Festivals and realized this year’s gifts were particularly lavish. As her eyes lingered on the array of luxurious items, she couldn’t help but think of the crown prince and the political dynamics at court. It was clear that Ning Wang had made these arrangements with a specific purpose in mind.
As she continued down the list, her gaze fell upon a particular item, her brows furrowed slightly as she stared at the listing: Zhanhe incense. She was familiar with Zhanhe incense, of course, which was derived from the bark of the Zhanhe tree. The process of boiling and refining the incense was exceedingly labor-intensive, and even after working through hundreds of branches, only a small amount could be produced. Tribes of Xiyuan regarded Zhanhe incense as a sacred product and rarely exported it.
A while back, Ye Min had sent several secret guards to Xiyuan to procure the incense, and even then, they had only managed to obtain a small quantity.
‘So the incense was meant for the Emperor’s longevity tribute?’ She muttered silently. ‘No wonder. ‘
Further down the list, she noticed another peculiar line: thirty live fish. She couldn’t help but frown—it took over ten days to reach the capital from Yuning; wouldn’t they all die along the way?
“How do you intend to transport this?” She pointed. “By the time we arrive in the capital, they’ll likely have all spoiled.”
Cui Gugu explained, “In the past, Her Highness the Noble Consort once tasted fish from Lize Lake in Yuning and found it exceptionally fresh and delicious. She has been longing for it ever since. This year, His Highness decided to bring some, despite the trouble, as a gesture of filial piety.”
Qingge cast a subtle glance at Cui Gugu, fully aware that this so-called filial piety was not Ning Wang’s idea but entirely this court lady’s own initiative. Ning Wang hardly cared for such trivialities, yet she had clearly been working diligently to curry favor.
Certainly, Cui Gugu had gone to great lengths to maintain a good relationship between Noble Consort Tan and Ning Wang.
“Cui Gugu, you are certainly thorough.” Qingge smiled faintly. “I’m still unfamiliar with many of the affairs of the manor, so I’ll be relying on your expertise going forward.”
Hearing this, Cui Gugu smiled. “Your Highness, such words humble this servant. Still, having served in the manor for three years, this servant does have some knowledge of the people and affairs here. If Your Highness has any questions, I’ll certainly do my best to answer truthfully and thoroughly.”
Qingge found herself slightly surprised. Cui Gugu had never shown much respect toward the Wangfei in the past. Had she changed her attitude because of Ning Wang’s recent regard and indulgence toward her?
‘Something about this sudden shift seemed calculated…’ Qingge silently thought. She held up a roster in her hand and said with a smile, “There’s a record of the personnel, but names alone don’t reveal much. After all, it’s impossible to understand a person just from reading a list.”
Cui Gugu chuckled, her demeanor even softer. “If there’s anything Your Highness needs, please don’t hesitate to ask—this servant will support you to the best of my ability. Still, with Your Highness’s intelligence and insight, you’ll soon grasp everything clearly.”
Qingge nodded. “You’re right. Speaking of which, I’ve been meaning to ask about the secret guard who’s been assigned to me recently. I’d like to know more about her character.”
At this, Cui Gugu’s smiling eyes flickered briefly with a guarded glint before she glanced warily toward the window.
Qingge reassured her, “Don’t worry. I’ve already sent her on an errand; she’s not around.”
Only then did Cui Gugu relax slightly, though she still lowered her voice. “There are some things even this servant wouldn’t dare speak of lightly.”
Qingge arched a brow. “Why such hesitation? Is there something you’re afraid of?”
Cui Gugu relented. “It’s not much, really, but since Your Highness has asked, this servant won’t hide anything. The secret guard assigned to you is called Qingge. While her martial arts skills are barely up to Qianying Pavilion’s standards, she does have some proficiency in lightness arts.”
Qingge nodded. “Her agility is indeed exceptional.”
Cui Gugu smiled thinly. “Most secret guards share similar skills and temperaments, but this one is different.”
Sensing hidden meaning, Qingge asked, “How is she different?”
Cui Gugu sighed. “This particular secret guard is under special protection.”
“Protection? By whom?”
Cui Gugu sighed again. “By none other than the one in charge of the Qianying Pavilion, Mr. Ye.”
Qingge was taken aback. “Is that so?”
‘Ye Min, protects me?’ She felt incredulous. ‘He’s sent me on one grueling mission after another, nearly costing me my life multiple times! Even the Duzhong Royal male flower he has especially sought was only to ensure I could take on this troublesome assignment!’
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