In the glow of the lanterns, Yao Yingying turned back to face the crowd as if she had only just noticed their presence. Her face was mesmerizingly beautiful, a dazzling, exquisite sight that outshone all others. Her soul-stirring eyes seemed to bring her entire, stunning countenance to life, making it all the more vibrant and enchanting. A single glance was enough to make anyone fall under her spell.
For a moment, it seemed as if everyone had forgotten to breathe.
"The Princess Consort is here. Who might you all be?" Jinyi asked, putting on an authoritative air when no one spoke for a long time.
Her voice broke the silence, startling everyone back to their senses. Someone couldn't help but exclaim, "A beauty of heavenly grace..."
Zhou Qiming, the Crown Prince of Dashang, glared fiercely at the official who had spoken before bowing to Yao Yingying. "Imperial Aunt, are you here looking for Imperial Uncle?"
Yao Yingying let her captivating gaze sweep over the crowd before she tilted her head, a soft, puzzled smile on her face. "Crown Prince, and you gentlemen, what are you..."
Before the Crown Prince could answer, an official stepped forward. "Reporting to the Princess Consort, we are here with His Highness the Crown Prince in search of the Crown Princess."
Yao Yingying looked even more astonished. "My younger sister is missing, too?"
At these words, many in the crowd began to sense that something was amiss. Yao Yingying hesitated for a moment before saying, "I shall take my leave now. Please, do as you please."
Zhou Qiming watched her retreating figure, his eyes filled with a hatred that felt lifetimes old.
...
Dozens of lanterns flooded the dark courtyard, illuminating the path. Yao Yingying stepped into the light, her eyes lingering on the flickering candlewicks. She had just seen someone...
Her gaze shifted, her mind already spinning a new scheme. "Wake him up and bring him out."
"Yes!"
Duijin did not question the sudden change in plans. He stepped neatly and decisively into the silent house. Only a few moments later, a muffled grunt echoed from within, followed by Zhou Wei’s angry roar: "Are you tired of living?! How dare you lay a hand on me!"
"Are you people with Yao Yingying? What is she planning?! If you dare harm a single hair on Tao’er’s head, I will never forgive you!"
Yao Yingying let out a scoff.
When Zhou Wei was dragged out, his clothes were disheveled, though barely presentable enough to be seen. The moment he spotted Yao Yingying, his eyes blazed with fury. "Yao Yingying, do you not want to live anymore?!"
The mere thought of having been taken down like that made his blood boil. She was nothing but a woman! A woman who, in this Dashang and this Prince Jing's Estate, could only survive by clinging to him—how dared she hurt him?
Yao Mengtao emerged at that moment. Her clothes were just as disheveled, but as soon as she saw Yao Yingying, she leaned limply into Zhou Wei’s arms. "Brother Jing, my legs are weak... Oh, Imperial Sister, did you realize you went too far and come to apologize?"
Zhou Wei’s expression softened instantly at her words. He looked at Yao Yingying and sneered, "Are you finally realizing that without me, you are nothing in this estate?"
"Yao Yingying, I have told you many times," Zhou Wei said coldly, "If you would only be more obedient, I might still grant you a title so you could spend your final years in peace!"
Yao Mengtao’s expression soured at this, but she quickly masked her jealousy with a look of genuine, clinging dependence. "Brother Jing..."
She would never let him give another woman a title!
Zhou Wei pinched her cheek affectionately. "Don't worry, you are the only one I love."
Reassured, Yao Mengtao smiled. "Then, Brother Jing, kiss me again."
The two of them carried on intimately, ignoring the crowd as if no one else existed. For a time, the only sounds in the courtyard were the ones they made.
But when the footsteps of the officials and the voice of Zhou Qiming reached them, they both fell silent. It seemed neither of them had any desire to die.
Yao Mengtao looked flustered and hurriedly began to straighten her clothes. Zhou Wei pulled away from her even faster, his calculated attempt to act as if he knew exactly what he was doing making Yao Yingying’s lips twitch in derision.
The courtyard gate was pushed open, and the scene within was instantly revealed under the glare of countless lanterns. Yao Mengtao’s hair ornaments had been removed, leaving her hair cascading down, and her clothes were noticeably more wrinkled and messy than when she had left.
The moment Zhou Qiming saw Yao Mengtao, his eyes locked onto Zhou Wei, who stood at the furthest possible distance. The sharpness and scrutiny in his gaze were entirely unlike the Zhou Qiming of his previous life.
Yao Yingying remembered how she had spent five years deploying her plans within Dashang in her past life. In those years, she would marvel at Zhou Qiming's childlike innocence whenever they met. But from the fifth year, when the Dashang Emperor fell gravely ill and his "brotherly" relatives began to show their fangs, that innocence had started to fade. It was too late, however; by then, her foundations were set, and not even the gods could have helped Zhou Qiming secure the throne.
"Imperial Uncle." Zhou Qiming’s gaze shifted from Zhou Wei to the servants in the yard, noting their Anguo attire before turning back to Yao Yingying. "Is this where you found the Imperial Uncle and my Crown Princess?"
Zhou Wei gave Yao Yingying a warning look at the question. He did not suspect that she had brought them there; after all, if his reputation were ruined and he lost the throne, she, as Princess Jing, would lose her leverage to force him to sign the non-aggression pact as she had in their past life. He assumed that because he and Yao Mengtao had been gone too long, Yao Yingying had thrown them out, regretted it, and come looking for them—right as Zhou Qiming happened to arrive.
Still, his political cunning far exceeded Zhou Qiming’s. Within seconds, he calmed himself and replied calmly: "I heard the maids say the Crown Princess had too much to drink. Fearing that my Princess Consort would be worried, I came to check on her and sent servants to fetch the Crown Prince."
Zhou Qiming, who had come searching for Yao Mengtao with the full majesty of his position, looked confused.
The look in Zhou Wei’s eyes deepened. "Has the Crown Prince forgotten that the Crown Princess is the younger sister of my wife? Or did you perhaps miss the servants I sent to fetch you? Why have you brought so many people, and why that look on your face?"
Zhou Qiming was stunned for a heartbeat. He had never imagined Zhou Wei could conjure such an excuse so quickly! Vicious and sharp—no wonder he had ascended the throne in their past life.
The memory of those events made Zhou Qiming’s heart ache, especially when he looked at Yao Mengtao. Her eyes were filled with sorrow, but he saw through it. She and his Imperial Uncle... they were in league together! One had stolen his throne, the other had betrayed him!
Yao Mengtao sensed the change in Zhou Qiming and felt a jolt of panic. This was not a look Zhou Qiming should have had at this moment in their past life! But under the scrutiny of the crowd, she revealed nothing. Instead, she looked at Zhou Qiming and flashed him a sweet, beaming smile.