Chapter 10: The Peach Blossom Star Flourishes

Night Jinchen felt somewhat intimidated under her gaze and asked, “What’s with that expression?”

Yun Qing clicked her tongue and examined him carefully, lifting his chin with her hand. “That’s not right. Your peach blossom luck used to be dull and lifeless, but how did it become so dazzling after just one day?”

Jinchen didn’t pull away. He looked at her, his bright eyes reflecting her own image, so close that their breaths nearly mingled.

He stared, momentarily dazed, his mind flooded with the image of that mischievous little sun with a chubby face.

“Good grief!” Yun Qing suddenly pushed him away and slammed her hand on the table.

“Yun Qing!” Jinchen was startled awake by her sudden outburst, glaring at her in frustration.

But Yun Qing was lost in her own thoughts. She slapped her forehead and gritted her teeth, “So it was that evil spirit blocking your peach blossom luck. The moment I removed it, all the attention swarmed to you. So all my hard work was just making a beautiful bride’s dress for someone else?!”

Jinchen raised an eyebrow. He had spent many sleepless nights tormented by his heart ailment, paying little mind to women. Only once on a carriage had he hurriedly glanced at Sheng Jintang walking on the street, feeling vaguely familiar, which led to some interaction.

As for peach blossom luck, she didn’t really count. But this girl before him… well, that was another matter.

He let out a soft chuckle. “Then have you figured out who exactly I’m sewing the bridal gown for?”

Yun Qing counted on her fingers. Originally, his betrothal to the Marquis of Zhenbei’s family was broken, yet now it seemed to have been renewed somehow.

Her mind was in turmoil. She shook her head, muttering, “No, no, no.”

Jinchen’s expression stiffened slightly. “No?”

Yun Qing gripped his robe anxiously. “You can’t marry her!”

“Who?” Jinchen’s heart skipped a beat. Was he mistaken? Wasn’t she supposed to be his destined match?

“You, you, you! Let me go!” came a bright, charming voice.

Yun Qing turned and saw a girl dressed in a pale green waist-length skirt and robe standing there. The girl was no more than fourteen, her fair face flushed with anger.

Startled, Yun Qing blinked and looked down at the hand clutching Jinchen’s collar—when had they gotten this close? It felt as if she could sense his very breath.

Her ears flushed red, and she quickly let go, coughing awkwardly as she sat back, glancing up at the sky and nervously stuffing a snack into her mouth.

The girl ran over to Jinchen’s side, grabbed his arm, and glared at Yun Qing. “Who are you?”

***

Yun Qing glanced at her and muttered, “This peach blossom luck really came fast.” She noticed how tightly the girl held Jinchen’s arm, the gesture intimate.

Jinchen’s calm demeanor showed no intention of pushing her away.

Rumor had it he avoided women altogether—what a hypocrite!

She scowled inwardly, inexplicably burning with a nameless anger. “I haven’t done anything wrong, so why are you questioning me? And who are you?”

The girl suddenly burst into tears, burying herself in Jinchen’s arms. “Waaah, Seventh Prince, this woman is fierce and wicked—don’t marry her!”

Seventh Prince?

Yun Qing fell silent. For some reason, her anger diminished significantly.

So she was Jinchen’s younger sister—then everything made sense.

Jinchen frowned. “Ning’er, why are you here? It’s dangerous. Go back to the palace quickly.”

Ye Qianning sniffled. “I’m worried about your illness. Today, Fifth Prince said you’re dying soon and told me to visit you more, or else I won’t see you again. Waaah…”

Jinchen’s face darkened. He sighed. “You believe Fifth Prince’s nonsense? Isn’t your brother sitting here perfectly fine?”

Ye Qianning looked up, sniffed again, and saw his rosy, healthy face—it didn’t look like he was near death.

She nodded and reached up to touch his cheek, noticing faint handprints. She gasped, “How dare anyone lay a hand on my beloved Seventh Prince! So many… so many handprints—he must be fed up with life!”

Her gaze swept the surroundings and stopped on Yun Qing. She had seen this woman roughhousing with Seventh Prince when she arrived—surely it was her!

She suddenly stood, storming toward Yun Qing, raising her small hand to slap her face. “You hit my prince so many times, I’ll return every slap tenfold!”

Yun Qing didn’t take her seriously. Seeing Ye Qianning’s hand swing down, she silently chanted a spell, sending a gust of wind from her fingers toward her.

Ye Qianning involuntarily turned around and sharply slapped the air.

Unconvinced, she turned back and tried again, but her hand missed Yun Qing by a wide margin.

She tried several times, unable to reach her, eyes wide with frustration, teeth clenched in anger.

Yun Qing noticed a guard rushing in from the doorway, holding a booklet. She stood up, looked down at the girl half her height, then slipped a yellow talisman from her sleeve into the girl’s waistband with a smile. “Have fun on your own. I have work to do.”

***

“What is this creepy thing you shoved on me?” Ye Qianning grunted, no longer intent on hitting her, trying to pull the talisman from her waist.

“Ning’er, keep it well,” Jinchen said gravely. “That talisman can protect your life.”

Ye Qianning obediently listened to Jinchen and didn’t take it off. She eyed Yun Qing’s retreating figure suspiciously. “How does a little girl like her have a talisman?”

Jinchen curled his lips. “Weren’t you curious who she is? Let’s find out together.”

“Miss Yun Qing, the list is ready,” the guard Kong Yi presented a booklet.

The palace guards had secretly investigated, handing Yun Qing a list of suspects.

Yun Qing nodded, and under Kong Yi’s guidance, began checking the names one by one. She glanced briefly at the maids, servants, and guards from each hall, shaking her head at Kong Yi each time.

“Boring,” Ye Qianning muttered, following Jinchen and Yun Qing around the entire manor in silence, not knowing what they were up to. She snorted and headed toward the garden.

“Don’t go too far. If you get too far, I won’t be able to save you,” Yun Qing called after her.

Ye Qianning frowned, turned around, and said, “Who asked you to save me?” She stuck out her tongue mischievously and ran off quickly along the cobblestone path.

Jinchen glanced at her retreating figure, waved a maid to watch her, then turned to Yun Qing.

Seeing her sigh softly, he raised an eyebrow. “None of the people on the list, then?”

Yun Qing shook her head and glanced at Kong Yi. “Is the list complete?”

“Of course,” Kong Yi replied respectfully. “The prince entrusted me with this task. I wouldn’t dare be careless. Anyone showing the slightest abnormality is recorded.”

Yun Qing continued scrutinizing the names. “Very well. Let’s keep searching.”

Kong Yi nodded and led her onward. “This way, Miss Yun Qing.”