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The servant boy who accompanied the fat guy fell silent upon hearing the exchange. What else could be expected? It wasn’t like this was a friendly conversation.
“I’m telling you, Yun Fuyi, you have no one to protect you now. I advise you to be more respectful to me,” the fat guy threatened, but his body betrayed his words as he shrank back into the carriage, daring not to come out.
“Who says I have no one to protect me?” Fuyi lifted her chin proudly. “His Majesty himself is my greatest support.”
“Ha,” the fat guy leaned out the carriage window, smug. “Don’t forget, I’m His Majesty’s nephew! Even your father has to show me respect and call me ‘Shizi.’”1 As he spoke, he secretly stole a glance at Yun Fuyi, and seeing that she made no move toward him, his confidence returned. Right, his grandmother was the emperor’s aunt, making him a legitimate imperial relative. Why should he fear Yun Fuyi?
“So what? His Majesty treats his subjects like his own children,” Fuyi said, raising an eyebrow. “To him, I am like a daughter. And you, Fatty Liu, are merely a distant nephew. How can a nephew compare to a daughter or son? There is no such thing in the world.”
“You…” Fatty Liu’s hand trembled as he pointed at Fuyi. He didn’t dare to claim that the emperor didn’t care for his subjects like his own children, nor did he want Yun Fuyi to gain the upper hand. Even after a long time, he couldn’t think of a retort.
“Twisting words to suit yourself!”
Fatty Liu’s personal servant boy gave his master a sympathetic look. Ever since the Shizi had been reduced to tears and snot under Miss Yun’s fists when they were both six, he had held a grudge against her. As such, the Shizi had developed a routine: he would always try to provoke Miss Yun, and she would always leave him speechless with her sharp tongue. Time and again, he picked fights, only to be humiliated each time. Not even a moth drawn into a fire could match the Shizi’s foo—… er, unyielding tenacity!
“Be a good little brother and call me ‘cousin sister’ now, will you?”
“You, you…” Fatty Liu sputtered, enraged. “Shameless!”
“A little brother not following proper manners—how could I, as the older sister, ignore that?” Fuyi calmly adjusted her sleeves.
“What do you think you’re doing?!” Fatty Liu panicked, leaning back and shielding his face with his hands.
“Tch.” Seeing the guy’s cowardly reaction, Fuyi stepped onto her carriage and flashed a bright smile through the window. “Don’t worry, little brother. How could your dear sister bear to ever lay a hand on you?”
“Liu Shizi, you misunderstand. Our young miss is always gentle; there’s no need to be afraid,” Xiayu was no less experienced than Fuyi. She first bowed respectfully to Fatty Liu, who was still cowering in fear, then turned to the prince’s attendant, who was tasked with escorting them home, “Excuse me, eunuch, I have to trouble you to send my young miss home.”
After Yun Fuyi’s carriage finally departed, Fatty Liu straightened up, trying his best to salvage his dignity. “I knew she wouldn’t dare lay a hand on me. It’s all just empty words.” Yet he couldn’t help but think that Yun Fuyi’s servant girl was as shameless as she was. How could someone like Yun Fuyi claim to be gentle?
Fatty Liu’s personal servant boy pretended not to notice his master’s trembling legs. “Of course, Shizi is right. Yun Fuyi could never match your nobility.”
Fatty Liu hesitated before speaking again, “She didn’t act against me today. Could she be planning to get back at me later?”
“Probably not.” The servant boy thought for a moment. “You just taunted her a little, and with Miss Yun’s temperament, she’d likely just let it go after a few insults.”
“Good, that’s… good.” Fatty Liu dusted off his sleeves and tried to keep a stern face. “This Shizi, I, wasn’t going to bother with her over such a small matter, anyway.”
“Our Shizi is truly magnanimous!”
The servant skillfully chimed in, while Fatty Liu turned away, both master and servant avoiding each other’s gaze.
Another day, another loss of face!
…
After respectfully sending off the prince’s attendant, Xiayu jogged to catch up with Fuyi. “Miss, the attendant has left. I didn’t expect His Imperial Highness to be so courteous.”
“All thanks to my father’s reputation.” Although she herself had a reputation as a troublemaking idler, her father was known as a distinguished and upright official.
“My father could read at three, write essays at five, and topped the imperial examinations as a young Zhuangyuan at twenty.2 Even after being demoted to a remote region for upholding his integrity amidst the corrupting court, still managed to bring prosperity to the locals. He’s the model scholar-official,” Fuyi said, resting her chin on her hand. “His only flaw in life might be…”
Xiayu looked at Fuyi, and Fuyi looked back at Xiayu, then both the lady and the servant girl simultaneously tilted their heads to gaze up at the sky, leaving unsaid what’s better left unsaid.
…
“Such a pity that Grand Tutor Yun, who has a great reputation throughout his life, has such a troublesome daughter.”
At Ning Wang’s wedding banquet, some people got a little too tipsy and spoke less cautiously.
“That’s not entirely fair. The Yun family’s daughter may have a lot of flaws, but she is extremely filial,” another official countered. “Back then, when Grand Tutor Yun’s family was pursued by villains, she used herself as bait and nearly lost her life to protect her parents and brother. That alone makes up for countless shortcomings.”
At this, no one could argue. If their own child had risked their life to protect them in a time of crisis, ending up falling off a cliff with survival uncertain, they would cherish that child like the greatest treasure, no matter their faults.
“His Imperial Highness the Prince has arrived.”
The room fell silent as everyone rose to their feet, showing utmost respect. Alongside the prince came one of the emperor’s personal attendants and an official from the Ministry of Rites, who was in charge of presiding over today’s ceremony. After the eunuch read out a long list of the Emperor’s bestowals, the guests marveled at His Majesty’s generous treatment of Ning Wang.
“The auspicious hour must not be missed.” Sui Tingheng helped the kneeling Ning Wang to his feet, glancing at the red decorations and lanterns that adorned the manor. He nodded to the official in charge. “Today is Imperial Uncle’s grand wedding; there’s no need for such formalities. Let the ceremony continue.”
Though the prince spoke casually, the official dared not be lax, politely inviting him to the seat of honor. Afterward, the guests also came forward to pay their respects to His Imperial Highness.
Ning Wang observed the scene quietly, lowering his eyes to hide the sharp glint in them. He had grown all too familiar with the fickleness of people—these same officials who now eagerly flattered his nephew had once fawned over him in the exact same way just a few years ago.
“Wangye, the auspicious time has arrived. It’s time for the ceremony.”
With Sui Tingheng present, everyone respectfully addressed him as ‘Wangye’ rather than ‘His Imperial Highness.’ Such hypocrisy was another ugly thing he had grown accustomed to.
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- Shizi (世子): Heir apparent to a title. In some dynasties, Shizi is considered a title itself—similar to how a crown prince is different from regular princes—and their appointment must be reported to a relevant office.
- Those who pass the final stage of imperial examinations are given distinct titles: Zhuangyuan (狀元) for the top scorer, Bangyan (榜眼) for the second scorer, and Tanhua (探花) for the third scorer. The rest are simply called Jinshi.