“Thank you for your concern, Nephew.” Although Ning Wang was speaking to Sui Tingheng, his gaze lingered on Fuyi. “I wonder who those three criminals were and why they were digging a tunnel in my manor?”
“Wangye is the lord of this manor. If even you don’t know, then no one else could,” Fuyi chuckled, her tone laced with sarcasm. “Perhaps some people have guilty consciences and fled in panic the moment they saw the Jinwu Guards approaching. Like rats in the gutter, they hide in the shadows, afraid of being exposed. Very disgusting.”
“Miss Yun, Wangye is speaking with His Imperial Highness, and it’s quite rude for you to interrupt,” the chief steward interjected. “If you continue, this old servant will have no choice but to ask you to leave.”
“Wangfei is here and hasn’t spoken, yet you presume to take charge? I think you’re the one being arrogant and disrespectful to your superior.” Fuyi leisurely dusted off her sleeve. “As the daughter of a court official, I dutifully helped capture criminals in Ning Wangye’s manor, yet his steward wants to throw me out. What’s the meaning of this? Are the people I caught not criminals, but treasured subordinates of Ning Wang?”
“Of course not. Fuyi, you are a great benefactor to m—”
“Please don’t address me by name, Wangye,” Fuyi interrupted. “I am but a humble subject daughter and cannot afford this honor.”
“Imperial Uncle, Miss Yun is right,” Sui Tingheng said with a hint of helplessness, like a younger generation baffled by his elder’s improper behavior. “You are a married man, how could you continue calling Miss Yun by her given name? You could harm her reputation.”
Ning Wang turned his gaze away from Fuyi. “Thank you for the reminder, Nephew. This Wang was holding on to old sentiments and forgot that times have changed, like the spring water that flows away, never to return.”
“Why are you blaming the spring water? Perhaps it’s the incompetence of the stream that failed to hold on to it,” Sui Tingheng remarked casually, picking up the cup from the table and swirling it in his hand. “Nephew doesn’t quite understand your profound words, Imperial Uncle, but be sure not to forget the great help Miss Yun has provided.”
“Ning Wangye needn’t be so grateful to this subject daughter,” Fuyi said with a cheerful smile as she stood and offered a quick curtsy to Ning Wang and Sui Tingheng. “Now that the Jinwu Guards are handling the matter, I shall take my leave to avoid causing any further disruption.”
Sui Tingheng lowered his cup and was about to speak again when Ning Wangfei rose from her seat. “Miss Yun, please wait a moment. I was just about to step into the garden to pick some flowers. Would you care to join me?”
“Gladly,” Fuyi replied, accepting the invitation without hesitation.
Ning Wangfei discreetly observed the legendary Miss Yun. Though her crimson skirt was slightly dusty, she appeared entirely unconcerned. Her movements were relaxed and unrestrained, radiating a sense of freedom. Her fair face was adorned with a cheerful expression, looking in particularly good spirits.
“Wangfei, is there something on my face?” Fuyi asked. Although Ning Wangfei tried to be discreet, Fuyi was perceptive enough to notice her attentive gaze.
“Excuse me, Miss Yun, your beauty is so striking that I momentarily lost myself.” Ning Wangfei hadn’t realized how long she had been staring at Fuyi and felt somewhat embarrassed. “I was being impolite.”
“To cause Wangfei to be distracted, even just a moment, is the greatest compliment to this appearance of mine.” Fuyi curtsied. “Many thanks for the compliment, Wangfei.”
A soft chuckle escaped Ning Wangfei’s lips. The awkwardness brought by her slight impropriety just now seemed to be dispelled by this laughter. “I’ve only been in the capital a short time and have noticed that it’s quite different from Lingbei.”
“Each region has its own customs. You’ve only been here for two months, so it’s natural to feel some discomfort,” Fuyi said with a smile. “Don’t worry, Wangfei. Given time, you’ll grow accustomed.”
Given Ning Wang’s current awkward situation, hardly any social event dared to invite his Wangfei. Members of the imperial clan would still extend invitations out of obligation, but attending such gatherings often put her in a more uncomfortable position than not going at all.
After all, when it came to reading people’s emotions and interpreting their expressions, who could rival the abilities of those in the imperial family?
…
Though Ning Wangfei said she was going to pick flowers, in truth, she escorted Fuyi all the way to the main gate.
A light drizzle began to fall. From the main gate of the Ning Wang Manor, a group of young men and women could be seen peeking around from a distance. “Thank you for the hospitality, Wangfei. This subject daughter’s friends are waiting over there. Please excuse me as I take my leave.” Fuyi curtsied to Ning Wangfei before lifting the hem of her skirt and dashing into the rain.
Ning Wangfei watched as Fuyi’s figure was quickly surrounded by her friends. Their servants held up umbrellas as the group gathered in the corner of the wall, laughing and joking, their happiness apparent in every movement.
“Wangfei, the rain is getting heavier,” a maidservant said, holding an umbrella over Ning Wangfei’s head. “Shall we head back?”
Ning Wangfei glanced back at the manor, but couldn’t resist turning once more to look in Fuyi’s direction. Slowly, she began walking back inside. “Who among you here is native of the capital? Tell me more about this Miss Yun.”
“W-well…” The maidservant, a former palace maid assigned to Ning Wang Manor upon its establishment, lowered her head, stammering. “W-when this servant started working in the palace, Yun Junjun had already for Chongzhou with her family, so… so this servant only knew a few vague rumors.”
“That’s fine,” Ning Wangfei said kindly, her gaze soft. “It’s just a casual chat. No need to be nervous.”
Reassured by Ning Wangfei’s gentle tone, the maidservant recounted a few stories about Fuyi—how much the late emperor had adored her, her notorious reputation as an idler, and even the brawls she had gotten into with the boys in her circle. However, the maidservant tactfully avoided any mention of Ning Wang’s past connection with Fuyi.
Ning Wangfei then asked, “I heard that Miss Yun’s family was almost assassinated on their way to Chongzhou?”
At this, the maid’s face turned pale, and she lowered her gaze, afraid to meet Ning Wangfei’s eyes. “This servant… this servant doesn’t know the details. I only heard rumors from the palace at the time—Miss Yun was shot by an arrow and fell off a cliff. Everyone thought she was already dead, but later, His Majesty ascended the throne, and around half a year after Ning Wang Manor was established, rumors spread that Miss Yun had miraculously survived…”
When Miss Yun first had her accident, many speculated that the attack on the Yun family was connected to Noble Consort Zeng. But how could she, a mere maidservant, dare mention such things in front of Wangfei?
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