Chapter 146
Chapter 146: Prelude to a Scandal
It was no wonder Yun Wan Ye had been so obsessed with Little Sister’s spiritual power, never once letting it go from his mind. Her spiritual power was simply too, too, too incredible—Yun Wan Yao wished she could learn it herself.
She let out a sigh, only to want to slap herself awake the next instant. How could a lazy good-for-nothing like her—who still slept after the sun had risen and couldn’t even be bothered to train her inner power—possibly persevere long enough to master such a marvelous skill? Better not to dream. She was a hopeless case in this lifetime; clinging tightly to Little Sister’s thigh was far more realistic.
[Ah, my sister’s expression is so interesting—now she’s envious, now she’s sad, now she looks as if she’s come to terms with something. What could she be thinking about?]
When her spiritual power returned, Yun Wan Ning had been watching her elder sister, naturally noticing every change in expression and feeling a little puzzled. Hearing that heart voice, Yun Wan Yao’s pupils shrank slightly, her composure almost breaking. What was going on? Why was Little Sister staring at her like that?
At Princess Manor, the carriage slowed to a stop. Yun Wan Yao and Little Tao carried Yun Wan Ning one after the other toward the main gates. The guard captain immediately stepped forward, cupping his fists respectfully.
“Miss Yun.”
“I’ve come to see the princess. Could you please inform her?”
“Miss Yun jests. You don’t need to be announced to see the princess. Please, come inside—I’ll take you to her myself.”
She inclined her head in thanks and mounted the steps. Mo Zhao Zhao had long instructed that she and Jiang Zi Tang needn’t be announced, so Yun Wan Yao’s earlier words had only been courtesy.
Past the gates, a tall flying pavilion loomed ahead, its veils swaying lightly. All around, red walls and ornate towers gleamed like an earthly paradise.
Yun Wan Ning’s eyes went wide.
[Wow… this Princess Manor is stunning! And to think I once thought Duke Ning Manor was grand—compared to this, it’s nothing at all. Ahhh, that highest pavilion looks like it came straight from a painting. I wish I could see inside.]
She nearly sent her spiritual power wandering again, but held back.
[No, I can’t enter someone else’s home uninvited—not even with spiritual power. I’ll wait until I can speak, then tug the princess’s sleeve and ask her to show me around. She likes me so much, she’ll definitely agree.]
Yun Wan Yao, catching her sister’s bright-eyed gaze toward the pavilion, couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, the princess—beloved of both the late emperor and empress—had been given a manor far more exquisite than the imperial palace, even if smaller. Those thousands of craftsmen had built it with their very lives at stake.
Eventually they reached Mo Zhao Zhao’s courtyard. Yun Wan Yao and Little Tao had to trade carrying Little Sister often—she now weighed thirteen jin, and her winter layers only added to it. When the guard offered to help, Yun Wan Yao refused with a smile, citing Little Sister’s shyness. The truth was, she wouldn’t let strangers near her sister again after that last abduction.
“Miss Yun, I can take you no further,” the guard said. “We cannot enter the princess’s private quarters.”
She thanked him and watched him leave—when Yun Wan Ning’s lazy little voice spoke again:
[Tsk, so many hidden eyes… Four on the roof, two in the trees, four in the rockery, three in the building opposite, two in the side room, five in the courtyard. Fifteen hidden guards, plus a matron and four maids out in the open. No wonder that guard was so relaxed leaving my sister here.]
Yun Wan Yao was startled—she hadn’t spotted even one of them. And what did she mean, “sneaking around”?
They entered the courtyard, and the matron at the steps stepped forward. “Miss Yun, you’ve come to see the princess?”
“Yes, Nanny Zhou. Where is she?”
The matron’s usually composed face showed a trace of worry. “The princess may still be sleeping.”
“What?” Yun Wan Yao glanced at the high sun. Nearly the hour of Wei, and still asleep? Something must have happened. “Has something befallen her?”
The nanny hesitated, then nodded. Yun Wan Yao’s heart tightened, but before she could press further, Little Sister’s heart voice sounded again:
[Oh-ho, could it be that Second Brother has already sprung his trap and exposed Lu Huai Jin’s mistress to the princess? No, he’s not that foolish—he’d never do it in his own name. Still… I bet that’s what it is. The princess is the empire’s darling, with the emperor’s protection—only someone targeting her on purpose could cause this. Aside from Su Qian Xue, the only one would be Second Brother. And Su Qian Xue is too busy with her system tasks to bother, so… Second Brother it is.]
Yun Wan Yao found the logic disturbingly sound. If the princess had just learned her fiancé kept a mistress, sulking in her room fit her proud nature perfectly.
Nanny Zhou finally said, “The princess is in low spirits. When she rises, perhaps you could accompany her in the garden.”
Yun Wan Yao nodded. “It’s almost midday. She hasn’t eaten, has she?”
The nanny sighed. “Not yet.” No one dared wake her; her temper upon rising was infamous.
[Hahaha, so the princess has ‘bed temper’—won’t get up until she’s done being mad? Well, she’s a real princess, so why not?]
Yun Wan Yao: Bed… temper? She couldn’t leave her hungry, though. “Let me try waking her.”
The nanny brightened immediately and agreed. Yun Wan Yao handed Yun Wan Ning to Little Tao, lifted her skirts, and knocked on the door.
“Princess, it’s A’Yao. Are you awake?”
Inside, Mo Zhao Zhao frowned in irritation at the pounding—then froze. It was A’Yao outside. She was about to answer when she realized something heavy was draped around her waist… and a body pressed against her back. Her eyes flew open in alarm. Had she drunkenly pulled some guard into her bed last night?
She tried to pry the arm away, but the man only held her tighter.
“Let go, or I’ll have your head,” she hissed, keeping her voice low so A’Yao wouldn’t hear.
A familiar, mocking voice drawled behind her: “Oh? Last night the princess wouldn’t let me go, and now you’re casting me off?”
Her pupils contracted sharply. She twisted around—sure enough, Yun Wan Ye lay there, hair spilling loose, one arm about her, looking at her with that half-smile and oddly cold eyes.
“Yun Wan Ye? How… why are you here?”
“Who else would it be?”
Her mind reeled. How had he come into her manor again—and into her bed? Before she could piece it together, A’Yao’s knocking and calling resumed.
Panic surged. If A’Yao forced the door and found a man inside, it would look like…
“You have to go. Now,” she whispered urgently.
He gave a dark, sarcastic laugh, sitting up in only his white underclothes. The sight made her start to cry out—but she clapped a hand over her mouth in time.
“Looking like this, how am I to leave?” he asked lazily.
“Put your clothes on! Or did you come like this?”
At that, his expression darkened. “The princess dares ask? You vomited all over them.”
She blinked. “I… what?” She’d done that? She had no memory of it—but his face suggested it was true. Heat flushed her cheeks, followed by vexation. “Serves you right for sneaking into my rooms.”
He said nothing.
“A’Yao, can you hear me?” came Yun Wan Yao’s worried voice from outside.
Mo Zhao Zhao’s nerves stretched taut. If she stayed silent, A’Yao might really call the guards to break in—and there was a man here. That could not happen.
“I can hear you,” she called quickly. “Just wait—I’ll be out once I’m dressed…”