Chapter Fourteen: The Unruly Princess

Night was both quiet and lonely.

With a sudden crack, a sharp gust of wind blew the window open. Rong Jiu’s eyes flew open—she had always been a light sleeper, easily awakened by the faintest sound.

Had Amu forgotten to latch the window properly?

As this thought flickered through her mind, she became vaguely aware of light, nimble footsteps approaching her. An abrupt sense of oppression and fear paralyzed her body; she could only squeeze her eyes shut and try to steady her breath, which threatened to betray her anxiety.

Was it an assassin in the dead of night? But I haven’t offended anyone… Is this it? Am I going to die here?

The footsteps drew ever closer, finally halting at her bedside. Rong Jiu forced her breathing to remain slow and even, feigning deep sleep, all the while calculating how she might strike back before her assailant could touch her.

Yet the figure at her bedside made no further move.

She did not know how long she lay tense and unmoving before the light footsteps retreated, the window closed again, and only then did she open her eyes, allowing her taut body to relax. Her thin sleeping robe was already drenched in cold sweat.

Damn, that was terrifying! Thank goodness it wasn’t fatal… She placed a trembling hand over her pounding heart, breathing heavily.

The next morning, when Rong Jiu was still fast asleep, Amu came to wake her.

“Oh, Amu, just let me sleep a little longer,” Rong Jiu mumbled, burrowing her head into the covers.

“That won’t do, Princess. Did you forget you promised the princes to join them for breakfast? They’re already waiting in the hall. If you don’t get up, the eldest prince will definitely scold you again,” Amu said, anxiously tugging at the blanket. Only yesterday the princess had been lectured for over an hour by the eldest prince for oversleeping.

“Oh, why is my life so hard…” Rong Jiu groaned, ruffling her messy hair in despair.

After the intruder left last night, she hadn’t dared sleep again, afraid he might return. She’d stayed awake until dawn, only dozing off briefly before being roused again. Still, compared to missing breakfast, she feared Rong Le’s nagging even more.

“Didn’t Your Highness go to bed early last night? Why do you look so worn out?” Amu asked, her heart aching as she took in Rong Jiu’s tired face.

“I… I had a nightmare and couldn’t sleep all night.”

Rong Jiu sighed. She decided not to mention the intruder—since he hadn’t tried to kill her, it was better left unsaid for now. If her brothers found out, they’d raise a commotion for sure.

“As I recall, the princess never had nightmares before. Why start now, in Xining?” Amu wondered, troubled, for nightmares were considered unlucky here.

“It’s because there’s a certain pest around!” Rong Jiu’s head throbbed at the thought of Song Mozi, who had been pestering her these past few days.

“Third Prince is indeed a bother. But don’t worry, Princess—I won’t let him get within three steps of you!” Amu declared righteously. Anyone the princess disliked, Amu would despise as well.

“Good Amu, I knew I didn’t dote on you for nothing.”

With that, Rong Jiu felt much more awake, the heaviness of sleepiness receding.

After breakfast, her brothers headed to the palace at Song Mian’s summons, leaving the large residence eerily quiet with only Rong Jiu remaining.

Without her brothers for company, Rong Jiu was bored out of her mind. Though she wanted to go out, the thought of being dogged by that persistent Song Mozi made her prefer the safety of home.

But she hadn’t seen Song Moting in days—at this rate, he’d probably forget about her, and that wouldn’t do!

“Princess, someone just delivered an invitation,” the gatekeeper hurried in, handing her a card adorned with a butterfly.

“An invitation? From whom?” Rong Jiu asked, puzzled. On the card it read: “Private Room No. 3, Yunxiang Pavilion. If you’re afraid, don’t come. Stay away from the Third Prince in the future!”

“What nonsense is this? How dare someone provoke me!” Rong Jiu tossed the card to the floor and, after a moment’s thought, stepped on it twice for good measure.

“I don’t know, Your Highness. A scruffy child delivered it, said it was on behalf of an important person,” the gatekeeper replied, wiping sweat from his brow.

“The jealousy on this card is obvious—it must be from some young lady infatuated with Song Mozi. Anyone who likes that clingy nuisance can’t be up to much. Let’s see who dares challenge me!” She paused. “Is Song Mozi still loitering at the gate?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“All right, go back. Don’t let him in. If he asks after me, just say I won’t be leaving the residence today.” With that, Rong Jiu changed her clothes, took Amu, and slipped out the back door.

Not far from the gates of Rongyuan, in a carriage, Song Mozi, Meng Zigui, and Shen Mingshan were leisurely drinking fine wine.

“Honestly, Mozi, waiting here every day is pointless. She clearly doesn’t want to see you. You could have any beauty you wish—why cling to this girl?” Meng Zigui downed his wine in one gulp. “Excellent vintage!”

“You don’t get it. The harder she is to win, the more I want her,” Shen Mingshan laughed.

“You two talk too much. This is what they call love at first sight!” Song Mozi scoffed at their remarks.

Meng Zigui burst out laughing. “Love at first sight? As if this is the first time you’ve said that!”

“This time is different. Never mind—you two wouldn’t understand.” Song Mozi turned away in annoyance, lifting the window curtain to peer outside. “Still, waiting here won’t solve anything…”

“So what, storm in? You can’t even get through the front door. I’m starving—let’s go to Yunxiang Pavilion for lunch.” Meng Zigui moved to leave, but Song Mozi and Shen Mingshan both stopped him. “Wait, take us with you!”

“Fine. Mingshan can come, but aren’t you supposed to be waiting for your little princess?” Meng Zigui eyed Song Mozi with mock disdain.

“Food first, then talk.”

Yunxiang Pavilion was one of Jing’an’s most renowned restaurants—the equivalent of a modern five-star hotel, frequented by the rich and powerful.

When Rong Jiu arrived, the private room was empty. She waited about fifteen minutes before her mysterious challenger finally appeared.

“So you are Rong Jiu?”

Rong Jiu turned toward the voice, seeing a young girl in yellow at the door—her skin fair as snow, eyes as clear as a spring, surveying the pair before fixing her gaze on Rong Jiu. The girl was strikingly beautiful, like a luminous pearl or polished jade, but her expression bore an unmistakable air of arrogance and disdain.

“That’s right. You sent me this invitation?” Rong Jiu picked up the card from the table and slammed it back down, refusing to be intimidated.

“I did!” The girl strode toward Rong Jiu, but upon seeing the muddy footprints on the card, pointed at her in outrage. “You wretch! How dare you stomp on my letter! I’ll teach you a lesson!”

The girl lunged at Rong Jiu, but Amu blocked her. “How dare you try to hit my princess!”

The young lady, furious at being restrained, wrenched her hand free and rounded on Amu. “Insolence! Do you know who I am? I am Princess Mingyu, the emperor’s dearest daughter!”

With a self-satisfied look, she watched for signs of panic on their faces.

“Oh? So you’re the famously spoiled princess? Tsk, tsk. Now that I see you, the rumors are true,” Rong Jiu replied with a mocking shake of her head.

“You wretch! How dare you not bow before me, and call me spoiled! Do you have a death wish?” Pingle’s cheeks turned crimson with rage as she raised her hand to slap Rong Jiu, only to have it caught.

“Wretch? Princess, have you forgotten? I am also a princess. If I’m a wretch, you are too. As for bowing, perhaps you should bow to me first!” Rong Jiu flung Pingle’s hand aside with amusement—this girl was still a child, barely grown, while she herself possessed the soul of a woman in her twenties.

Only now did Pingle realize her mistake—so angry she’d forgotten Rong Jiu was a princess as well. Now that she’d been so thoroughly rebuffed, she felt her pride slipping.

“I don’t care! Just stay away from my Third Brother! He’s not someone just anyone can have, you hear? Otherwise, I’ll annoy you every single day from now on!” Pingle declared, hands on her hips, trying to sound fierce though her voice betrayed her uncertainty.

Rong Jiu laughed outright at her bluster. Pester her every day? Some threat that was! This little princess was hardly as formidable as she’d expected.

“What are you laughing at? I’m not joking!” Mingyu was even more incensed—no one had ever treated her so lightly, and she couldn’t even use her rank to suppress Rong Jiu.

“I just think you look rather cute when you’re angry,” Rong Jiu said with a smile.

No one had ever called her cute before, and Mingyu’s face flushed to the roots of her hair. She quickly recovered, glaring at Rong Jiu. “Don’t think a compliment will get you off the hook! I’m warning you, stay away from my Third Brother!”

“All right, all right, I promise. Now, you’ve ranted enough—have some tea and rest.” Rong Jiu poured her a cup and held it out.

After a moment’s hesitation, Mingyu accepted—it was true, all that shouting had made her thirsty.

“You agreed that easily?” Mingyu looked at Rong Jiu, incredulous.

“Of course. But as a princess, you should know I’ve already called off the engagement to the Third Prince.”

“What? Is that true?” Mingyu was stunned—she hadn’t heard anything of the sort, and only came storming over after being told otherwise.

“Why would I lie? And besides, not everyone is interested in your Third Brother.”

“But Third Brother’s so wonderful—why don’t you like him?” Mingyu pressed, as if it were unthinkable anyone wouldn’t adore her idol.

“Are you hoping I do?” Rong Jiu propped her chin on her hand, teasing.

“No, definitely not—the less you like him, the better!” Mingyu shook her head so vigorously she looked like a rattled drum.