Volume One, Chapter Two: If It Breaks, Ah Ye Will Be Heartbroken

Xiangzhu quietly moved to the side of the bed and gazed at the incense burner, barely a dozen feet away from her. In the end, she did not step forward.

She had always been cautious. She suspected that whoever had orchestrated this affair would not leave any obvious traces behind. If she were to touch that incense burner, it would most likely turn into evidence against her.

So as not to wake Zhao Ye, Xiangzhu walked barefoot across the floor, picked up her embroidered shoes, and slipped out of the bedchamber, holding them so as not to make a sound.

Once the barely perceptible click of the closing door faded away, Zhao Ye, who had seemed to be sleeping soundly on the bed, opened his eyes.

His gaze was perfectly clear, with none of the drowsiness of someone freshly awakened.

He shifted to lie on his side, hand propped against his forehead, and looked thoughtfully in the direction Xiangzhu had departed.

So, it wasn't her doing after all?

Soon, faint noises came from outside the bedchamber.

A slow smile crept up Zhao Ye's lips.

Returned so soon? Indeed, her temperament was cautious—he had nearly been deceived by this little palace maid.

Just before the newcomer entered, Zhao Ye resumed the posture he had taken after Xiangzhu had awakened, softened his breathing, and feigned deep sleep as if he had never woken.

The scent that had made Zhao Ye uncomfortable wafted closer.

So, it truly wasn't Xiangzhu?

The intruder lingered at his bedside for a moment, as if observing him.

Zhao Ye's self-control was formidable—though the scent sickened him and brought nausea to his throat, his expression and heartbeat remained unchanged as he continued his pretense.

Apparently convinced that Zhao Ye was sound asleep, the person moved to the incense burner.

As his discomfort eased a little, Zhao Ye furtively lifted his eyelids and caught a glimpse of the person clearing out the incense ashes and replacing them with fresh incense.

She hid the ashes in a sachet she carried at her waist.

Zhao Ye was just wondering why this palace maid would do such a thing when he saw her turn and walk toward him once more.

Again, the unpleasant scent drifted over him.

Then, the palace maid shed her outer robe and lay down beside Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye: …

By late morning, Xiangzhu was awakened by a commotion.

She struggled up, supporting her waist, and saw a few palace attendants gathered outside her room, chatting and laughing.

"Congratulations, sister! At last, after all your patience, you have seen the moon through the clouds. Our Fourth Prince has finally come to his senses!"

"It was only because His Highness was drunk that I was so lucky. On a normal day, when would His Highness ever lose his self-control like this?"

That voice… Was it Shuangling’s younger sister, Shuangyun?

Xiangzhu draped on her outer robe, slipped on her embroidered shoes, and came to the window. Indeed, the one being flattered and surrounded by several young palace maids was Shuangyun.

Shuangyun’s hair was done in a married woman’s bun, and two rosy clouds floated on her young and charming cheeks.

Xiangzhu’s breath halted as she stared, dazed, at Shuangyun’s hair.

Could it be that the incense burning in the Fourth Prince’s chamber last night was Shuangyun’s doing? Then why…?

So that was it!

Xiangzhu recalled meeting Shuangling in the corridor between the kitchen and the Fourth Prince’s rooms. Shuangling had run into her by chance while suffering from stomach trouble, and had thrust a sobering decoction into her arms.

But what if Shuangling hadn’t encountered her?

Once she understood the whole affair, Xiangzhu could only think Shuangyun unbearably bold.

Her gaze grew complicated.

She had left early precisely to avoid being kept in Zhao Ye’s rooms. But seeing Zhao Ye mistake Shuangyun for last night’s companion and take her in, Xiangzhu couldn’t find peace.

Did the Fourth Prince truly believe it was Shuangyun last night, or, like her, did he harbor suspicions?

She thought so because last night, as the Fourth Prince held her, he’d called her name more than once.

If he remembered who was with him last night, he would surely act on it.

Xiangzhu decided that as long as Zhao Ye did not bring up the matter, she would take the secret to her grave. Even if the Fourth Prince questioned her, with Shuangyun at the forefront, she need not confess.

She had worried about how she could face herself if rumors spread that she had been favored by Zhao Ye. Now, things had worked out as she wished.

Sensing Xiangzhu’s gaze, Shuangyun looked over, deliberately arranging her hair and flashing a distant smile toward Xiangzhu’s room.

"Shuangyun is certainly deserving," said a palace maid. "She’s so beautiful—were it not for His Highness’s engagement, he’d surely have claimed her long ago…"

"Crack!"

Before the palace maid could finish, a whip sent her crashing to the ground.

She fainted before even managing a scream.

The change happened too quickly. The other palace maids looked up in terror.

Only then did they see, several yards away, a group of young women.

The nearest to them, about Shuangyun’s age, wore a dress of lake-green silk, her hair in twin buns, chin slightly raised, her gaze sharp as she played with a whip in her hands.

From a distance, Xiangzhu recognized the whip-wielding girl as Cui Zhu, Ouyang Yanwan’s close maid.

After striking, Cui Zhu turned back, resuming her imperious air, but looked respectfully at the young lady in a red dress by her side.

The girl’s red gown swept the ground, her exquisitely sculpted features dazzling even without elaborate adornment.

It was none other than the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Changyong’s household, the future consort of the Fourth Prince, Ouyang Yanwan.

Xiangzhu knew Ouyang Yanwan was not here with friendly intentions; she must have come to the palace upon hearing that the Fourth Prince had favored a palace maid last night.

Quickly, Xiangzhu retreated into her room to tidy herself before the mirror.

The sight of Ouyang Yanwan left Shuangyun pale with fright, and the little palace maid beside her trembled as she fell to her knees.

Shuangyun took a deep breath and forced herself to stand tall. Now that she was the Fourth Prince’s bedchamber maid, even though Ouyang Yanwan was his future consort, until the wedding she had no authority over those within his household.

With this in mind, Shuangyun took a few steps forward, curtsied, and said, "Miss Ouyang, are you here to see His Highness? He has gone to the study, and—"

"Slap!"

Shuangyun clutched her face, staring incredulously at Ouyang Yanwan.

"Miss Ouyang, I know you are jealous that His Highness favored me last night, but you are not yet his wife, and I am already part of his household. How can you strike me at will? Are you not afraid His Highness will resent you when he hears of this?!"

Having come from the Empress’s palace, Shuangyun had not been slapped in years. Furious, she couldn’t help but stare directly at Ouyang Yanwan.

"Wretched servant! Not only do you dare call yourself 'I,' you even dare meet my lady’s eyes. Do you have a death wish?" Cui Zhu glared at Shuangyun, raising her whip.

Shuangyun froze in terror, her body trembling uncontrollably.

"Cui Zhu, stand down."

Ouyang Yanwan stepped forward with a radiant, leisurely smile, studying Shuangyun with interest.

"Has A-Ye been starved for so long that he’s forgotten his tastes?"

At those words, Shuangyun’s face flushed crimson.

But recalling the Fourth Prince’s gaze and words when he awoke, courage surged within her once more.

Her recent fluster had already embarrassed His Highness; now, with his favor, she must hold herself upright and never again shrink away!

With this resolve, Shuangyun lifted her head to meet Ouyang Yanwan’s eyes. "Miss Ouyang, His Highness has favored me and taken me into his house. I am now half a mistress here. That you would insult me and allow your maid to threaten me—have you thought what His Highness might think of such behavior?"

Cui Zhu could bear it no longer and lashed her whip at Shuangyun.

Shuangyun squeezed her eyes shut, trembling and bracing herself. Yet no pain came.

She opened her eyes, trembling, to see that Ouyang Yanwan had caught the whip in her hand.

Remembering how that same whip had just knocked a palace maid unconscious, Shuangyun stared at Ouyang Yanwan in terror, her composure unshaken.

Cui Zhu stomped her foot in anger. "Miss!"

Ouyang Yanwan released the whip and said with a lazy, dazzling smile, "She is A-Ye’s new favorite, after all—if you damage her, A-Ye would be distressed."

"Look at this delicate, pitiable thing; even I feel sorry for her, though she’s not too clever."

"In that case, throw her in the water and let her clear her head."