Even Chen Wenjin felt a sense of melancholy.
Subtly sensing something, Chen Wenjin’s steps felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.
"Many thanks to Heir Zhu for today. We shall take our leave now."
Chen Wenjin wanted to catch up with Gu Qiurong, but then, remembering something, she walked over to the shopkeeper. "Send this jewelry set, along with the hairpin she wanted, to the Marquis Estate."
The shopkeeper cautiously glanced at Princess Mingli, Zhu Mingyu. Zhu Mingyu glared at him viciously, but was deterred by a look from Zhu Yanyu. "Come back with me!"
Zhu Mingyu was forced to follow Zhu Yanyu back, even stomping her feet in anger.
The events that transpired in the Begonia Pavilion were reported to Sheng Fengxiao by Chu Ci, Commander of the Brocade-Clad Guard.
Upon learning that the incident had been sparked by the fifth young lady of the Marquis Estate who had been locked in the imperial prison, a faint ripple stirred in Sheng Fengxiao’s eyes.
Sheng Mochen was eyeing him covetously, and the relationship between the Jingnan Principality and Sheng Fengxiao was as incompatible as fire and water. Sheng Fengxiao had to have everyone associated with Sheng Mochen kept under constant surveillance.
Chu Ci pushed Sheng Fengxiao’s wheelchair toward the Brocade-Clad Guard headquarters.
They saw two guards at the gate, who bowed their heads upon seeing them. "Greetings, Prince; greetings, Commander."
Sheng Fengxiao’s cold, exquisite eyes swept over the two men with indifference. Just as he was about to turn his gaze away, his eyes suddenly locked onto a black jade pendant hanging from one of the men’s waist.
"A black jade pendant?"
As his deep, chilling voice rang out, Chu Ci was startled and followed Sheng Fengxiao’s gaze to the object hanging from the guard’s waist.
Chu Ci was instantly shocked. He lunged forward and snatched the jade pendant from his subordinate’s waist. "Where did you get this?"
The subordinate was bewildered, but seeing the severity of Chu Ci’s expression, he panicked and knelt down. "This… this is…"
"Speak!"
Chu Ci’s eyes were as cold as blades. "This belongs to the Prince. If you don't explain yourself clearly, you can wait to be thrown into Zhaoyu Prison!"
Zhaoyu Prison was different from the capital’s imperial prison; it was under the direct jurisdiction of the Brocade-Clad Guard. The torture methods used within Zhaoyu were simply beyond what an ordinary person could endure.
"I’ll speak! I’ll speak!" The subordinate’s face turned pale. Stuttering, he explained how a maid had come seeking someone while holding this black jade pendant.
Chu Ci placed the black jade pendant back into Sheng Fengxiao’s palm, his expression growing deeply somber. "So that means the woman has already been released from prison and came to seek the Prince’s help..."
"And this blind fool pocketed the black jade pendant."
Hearing this, the subordinate trembled with terror.
His breathing shook with fear. "Prince, spare my life! This subordinate truly did not know this black jade pendant belonged to you. If I had known, even if I were given a hundred times the courage, I would never have dared to..."
"Enough. Save your breath."
Chu Ci could see the fury in Sheng Fengxiao’s eyes, which were as sharp as lethal swords. "Go and investigate. Find the woman who came to deliver the jade pendant that day."
The subordinate let out a sigh of relief, thinking he had escaped death. But before he could even stand, he heard Sheng Fengxiao say eerily, "If you cannot find her, go to Zhaoyu Prison and end your own life."
The subordinate’s legs went weak, and he collapsed back to the ground before he could even straighten up.
If he had known this black jade pendant belonged to the Prince, he would have delivered it without a second's delay. How could he have dared to keep it for himself?
Back at the Pingding Marquis Estate, upon learning that Gu Qiurong had offended Princess Mingli at the Begonia Pavilion, the Marquis was beside himself with rage. "That is a person from the Jingnan Principality! Her time in the imperial prison must have emboldened her; she actually dares to provoke someone from the Jingnan Principality."
Chen Wenjin knew the Marquis well; she knew he would be furious.
"Does the Marquis truly believe today’s events had nothing to do with Weiwei?"
The Marquis glared at her. "What? You think this was orchestrated by Weiwei?"
Chen Wenjin’s breathing was heavy. She couldn't help but think so.
"Even if it were, Gu Qiurong once almost cost her her life. What is wrong with a little revenge? Madam, don’t tell me you’ve actually developed some maternal affection for her?"
The Marquis sneered. "Have you seen enough of her crude and unbearable behavior? Must we wait until she implicates the entire estate and leads us all to destruction?"
Chen Wenjin’s face paled. "Marquis, that is not what I meant. It’s just that Rongrong is, after all, a child of the estate."
"What the Marquis Estate needs is a young lady of a noble house, someone who knows her place and can bring honor to this family! Not some crude, savage, foot-washing maid who only causes trouble and invites mockery!"
"If… if I could raise her properly and change her crude temperament?" Gu Qiurong, who had just been released, was very distant toward her. The more distant she was, the more bitter Chen Wenjin felt. She wanted to make amends.
"What ability do you have to change her?" The Marquis grew even angrier. He grabbed Chen Wenjin by the throat. "Follow the plan: completely destroy her reputation, then find an opportunity to finish her off. From then on, there will be no such daughter in the Marquis Estate."
Chen Wenjin’s face flushed red from his grip. She nodded violently.
The Marquis released her, and she began to cough. Lingering in terror, she slumped to the floor, her fingertips trembling slightly.
Inside Rongan Courtyard, Gu Qiurong was applying medicine to Qingzhi, whose eyes reddened with pain.
"Qingzhi, it was my fault for not protecting you."
"It won't happen again."
Qingzhi didn't care about that. She choked out, "This servant only feels heartache for you, Miss."
"Miss, the suffering you’ve endured these years—others may not know, but this servant knows."
Her breathing trembled. "Today, when Heir Zhu showed you kindness, why did you evade him? If you could... if you could..."
Gu Qiurong knew exactly what Qingzhi was thinking before she even spoke.
"Qingzhi," Gu Qiurong said, "do you think that the handkerchief he handed me today was a genuine attempt to help me?"
Qingzhi was bewildered. "I... isn't it?"
Gu Qiurong lowered her long lashes, her dark eyes veiled as if covered in fog. "He was helping Princess Mingli. Princess Mingli was meddling in the internal affairs of the Marquis Estate today; if word got out, it would be of no benefit to her. He would not let his own sister fall into such a predicament. Heir Zhu knows full well that he is a man admired by all the noble ladies of the capital, yet he still handed me that handkerchief in front of them all. He wanted others to think that his feelings for me were extraordinary, to turn me into a target of their jealousy. He was teaching me a lesson on behalf of Princess Mingli."
"What?!" Qingzhi had never imagined that such a simple gesture from Heir Zhu could hide such deep malice. She had actually believed he was a kind person who pitied her mistress.
"Children raised in such noble clans are far from as simple as they appear on the surface. To survive and stand firm, they must be the victors of the battles fought in the inner courts."
Gu Qiurong spoke softly. After she finished, she clutched her sleeves tightly. "Still no word from the Brocade-Clad Guard about the black jade pendant?"
Qingzhi shook her head. "No."
"I will go to the Brocade-Clad Guard and ask again."
"No need."
Gu Qiurong lowered her eyes. She shouldn't have pinned her hopes on that black jade pendant to begin with. The person who had been thrown into prison covered in blood was clearly framed by his enemies. In this capital, someone with such lethal enemies must hold a status far above the ordinary. Why would such a man remember a casual promise made while in prison?