Chapter Twenty-Four: The Dowager Consort Returns to the Capital

Fleeing in panic, Rong Jiu crouched by the pond, clearly seeing her flushed face reflected on the water’s surface. At that moment, a few brightly colored carp swam over and frolicked before her, sending ripples across the water, as if mocking her loss of composure.

“It’s over, it’s over! Not only did I fail to sneak a peek, but I embarrassed myself in front of Little Pavilion. What should I do? What should I do? A Mu, my image is ruined! Who knows what he thinks of me now?” Rong Jiu wore a miserable expression, on the verge of tears.

“Ah, Princess, don’t overthink it.” A Mu spoke with barely contained laughter; Rong Jiu’s current state was simply too amusing.

“But it’s so humiliating!” Rong Jiu kept her head lowered, staring at the koi still playing in the water, then, in a fit of anger, grabbed a pebble and tossed it at them. “Are you all laughing at me too?”

With a splash, the fish scattered in fright, and only then did Rong Jiu feel a bit better.

“Have the fish in this pond offended Your Highness?”

Rong Jiu had just stood up when a deep, magnetic voice sounded behind her, freezing her on the spot.

“My respects, Your Highness,” A Mu bowed respectfully at the newcomer, then left with a knowing smile.

“You… When did you arrive?” Rong Jiu turned around stiffly, so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her whole.

“What do you think?” Song Moting raised an eyebrow, subtly reminding her that he had heard everything she’d just said.

“I—I…” Rong Jiu stammered for a long moment, unable to form a sentence, her cheeks burning even brighter. This time, she had truly embarrassed herself beyond repair!

Song Moting had never seen Rong Jiu look like this before. He found it incredibly amusing, and was secretly glad he’d followed after her. Unconsciously, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

“Ahem, Princess, about last night—” Song Moting cleared his throat, wanting to ask whether she’d been injured, but before he could finish, Rong Jiu cut him off.

“I’m fine, really, not hurt. What about you? Did you get hurt after we were separated?” His question dispelled her embarrassment entirely, and seizing the opportunity, she voiced her own concerns without hesitation.

Though she knew the black-clad men’s target was her, she couldn’t help but worry for those by her side.

But after asking, she felt she was being redundant. Who was Song Moting, after all? The cold-faced prince, the War God of Youzhou—who could possibly harm him?

Song Moting was momentarily taken aback. He hadn’t expected Rong Jiu to worry about his safety. Realizing he had failed to protect her, guilt surged within him, and his gaze softened.

“Their target was you. I am unharmed. It was my fault for not protecting you.”

“It’s not your fault. I ran too fast— that’s why we were separated in the crowd. I was too foolish and got tricked.” Remembering the events of the previous night, Rong Jiu’s tears welled up and began to fall.

She wiped them away and continued, “It was all my fault. That man said he knew where you were and I followed him without thinking, hoping to find you… I never thought he’d try to kill me… wuwu…”

Seeing her tear-streaked face, Song Moting’s heart clenched with pain. Unable to help himself, he pulled her into his embrace.

So this little one had put herself in harm’s way for his sake.

“Silly girl, next time we’re separated, don’t be afraid. Stay where you are—I will always find you.”

Time seemed to stand still. Rong Jiu was caught off guard, yet overjoyed.

This time, he hadn’t referred to himself as “this prince.”

In that instant, she could feel his warmth and the faint, clean scent that clung to him. Her heart thudded wildly in her chest, and her face grew even hotter.

“Next time, you must stay close to me and never lose me again.” Rong Jiu buried her head, her soft, sweet voice enough to melt even the iciest heart.

“Alright.” Song Moting gently patted her head, as though making a solemn promise.

After the attempt on Rong Jiu’s life, another major event shook Jing’an City—Dowager Princess Ying’an had returned!

Dowager Princess Ying’an was the legitimate wife of Prince Ying, and aunt to the current emperor. Prince Ying had been the late emperor’s youngest brother.

After Prince Ying passed away from illness, the dowager princess had retreated into seclusion, living a life of prayer and solitude, never stepping beyond her fief.

When the late emperor died and Song Mian ascended the throne, Prince Ying’s wife became Dowager Princess Ying’an.

She was, in fact, Rong Jiu’s paternal aunt.

With the dowager princess’s return to the capital, Jing’an City was alive with excitement once more. A grand procession entered through the city gates, and crowds lined the streets, cheering enthusiastically.

When Prince Ying was still in Jing’an, he was known for his charity and justice, earning the love and respect of the city’s people. When he was first sent to his fief as a prince, the people saw him off in tears.

Sadly, good people do not live long. After only a few years, Prince Ying died of illness. Now, with the dowager princess’s return, how could the people not come to welcome her themselves?

Rong Jiu, along with Rong Le and Rong Xian, waited anxiously in front of Prince Ying’s residence.

She was, after all, an imposter. Though she had the excuse of memory loss—so it didn’t matter whether she’d met the dowager princess before—she knew nothing of the princess’s character. Was she stern like some drama villainesses, or gentle? Would she be difficult to get along with?

Lost in these thoughts, the commotion outside grew louder. The grand procession soon arrived.

As the welcoming entourage parted, a modest yet dignified carriage drew up to the gate and stopped.

Rong Jiu was so nervous she barely dared to breathe, yet curiosity had her peeking out to glimpse the princess’s true face.

A maid lifted the carriage curtain, and a plainly dressed, kind-faced woman alighted gracefully. Every gesture exuded nobility and elegance.

Rong Le and Rong Xian were the first to approach, smiling. “We greet you, Dowager Princess. You must be weary from your journey.”

At the sight of them, Dowager Princess Ying’an broke into a rare smile. Tears shimmered at the corners of her eyes as she gazed at them fondly. “In the blink of an eye, you’ve both grown so much!”

When she married, Rong Le had still been a child, and Rong Xian was not yet born. Now, so much had changed.

Even Rong Le’s eyes glistened with tears; as a boy, he’d always loved to pester this aunt to play with him.

“Aunt, it’s been so long.”

That one word, “Aunt,” warmed the dowager princess’s heart. After so many years, she never thought she’d see her kin from her homeland again.

She could no longer hold back her tears.

“Yes, it’s been far too long. Back then—ah, never mind, no use dwelling on the past. How is your father’s health?”

“Father is well. Before we left, he specifically asked us to see you on his behalf, to ease the longing of all these years,” Rong Le replied.

“He’s become a fine sovereign now, no longer that little brother who clung to me and relied on me for everything. After all these years, I’m truly proud of him.”

At that time, Dowager Princess Ying’an had been the only princess of Xining, and due to war with Mingyue Kingdom, she hadn’t married until she was seventeen, sent to Youzhou as a diplomatic bride to wed Prince Ying, who was a year younger.

“All these years, your father’s only wish has been to see you once more.”

“To see me…” Dowager Princess Ying’an shook her head with a bitter smile, longing clear in her voice. “Let’s not dwell on such sorrow.”

She moved past Rong Le and Rong Xian to stand before Rong Jiu, who was so nervous she didn’t know how to address her, her mouth opening and closing in silence.

The dowager princess seemed to read her thoughts. She took Rong Jiu’s hand kindly and smiled. “There’s no need to be afraid. I’m hardly a monster. Just call me Aunt, like your brothers do.”

“Hello, Aunt.”

Perhaps it was the innate warmth of the woman, but Rong Jiu’s nerves vanished at once.

“Yes, girls do tend to resemble their fathers. Help me inside, will you? It’s not proper to stand talking at the door, and I’m tired and need to rest.”

While they spoke, the servants had already set up the dowager princess’s belongings within the residence, and the long-quiet palace was lively once more.

“Looking around, it’s much the same as it was back then. Only now, one person is missing,” the dowager princess sighed. Rong Jiu knew she was thinking of her late husband.

“Aunt, you must have loved Uncle very much.” Rong Jiu asked softly.

“He was a year younger, but so much more mature and dependable. When I was with him, I felt like a child. He spoiled me in everything and never once lost his temper with me.”

At the mention of Prince Ying, a girlish shyness colored the dowager princess’s face.

“See that pavilion?” She pointed to a waterside pavilion by the corridor, smiling. “Once, when I was feeding the fish, I fell in by accident. He couldn’t swim but jumped in after me anyway, and I ended up saving him instead! To this day, it makes me laugh.”

Rong Jiu listened quietly, thinking: this must be love—the willingness to risk everything for another, even one’s own life.

When, she wondered, would she know such love?

Rong Jiu’s thoughts drifted to Song Moting. If she were the one to fall into the water, would he risk everything to save her?

In a refined private room on the third floor of Mingxiang Pavilion, a man in blue stood by the window, his back to the door.

The door creaked open, and Fuyu entered, frowning slightly as he looked at the figure by the window.

“Why did you call me here?”

“Heh! Isn’t it bold of you to ask? That night, you had the chance—why didn’t you take it?”

The man spun around abruptly. With the light behind him, his expression was hidden, but his anger was palpable.

Fuyu seemed not to hear, taking a seat for himself and pouring a cup of tea.

“I don’t need you to teach me my business.”

His superior tone only deepened the other man’s displeasure.

Striding over, the man snatched the teacup from Fuyu’s hand, his voice both triumphant and cruel. “Don’t you use that tone with me. Who do you think you are? I called you here to inform you: I’ve already sent a pigeon post to Father. He said, from now on, this operation is under my command. As for you—heh—just do as I say from now on!”

With that, he reached out his hand. Fuyu, unconcerned, simply removed the token from his belt and handed it over.

Receiving the token, the man laughed loudly, and just before leaving, sneered, “Watch closely this time. See how I accomplish what you could not. I’ll show Father that I am the most capable one!”