Chapter 16

In the Listening-to-Rain Pavilion, the locust tree shadows swayed gently; in the Serene Orchid Courtyard, orchid fragrance drifted; these past few days at Prince Ning's Mansion have been tranquil and pleasant.

Tuan Tuan clung to Xiao Ningxun like an ornament, and their laughter occasionally drifted through the tranquil Prince's Mansion.

This afternoon, a servant came to report: "Princess Consort, the Second Young Master returned to the mansion this morning, saying he is fatigued and will come to pay his respects tomorrow. The Fourth Miss has just entered the mansion and is currently waiting outside the courtyard to see you."

Cheng Ru'an slightly nodded: "Please let her in."

"Yes."

Liu Mamamu softly said: "By my reckoning, Concubine Fang's Women's Precepts have been nearly copied; the confinement should be lifted. The Fourth Miss returning to the mansion at this time must be because she has learned of the household affairs and come to support her mother."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "She was originally a good child, but unfortunately, raised beside Fang Qingyan, she learned her mother's arrogance and nitpicking."

The Prince gave her the name Ningshu then, hoping she would be gentle and kind-hearted. Because the Prince's illness required rest, the young masters were moved to the academy, and she was sent back to the Fang household; now I don't know if her temperament has improved.

She sighed softly: "Since the young masters have returned to the mansion, it is only natural for her to move back as well; I only hope she will behave herself and not cause trouble following her mother."

Not long after, light footsteps sounded outside the door; a young lady walked in gracefully, followed by two unfamiliar maidservants.

Xiao Ningshu is younger than Xiao Ningxun; she is not yet thirteen, taking after Fang Qingyan's appearance, with fair skin and delicate features.

She bowed with bent knees, her demeanor dignified, her voice respectful: "I pay my respects to Mother."

"Please rise." Cheng Ru'an's gaze moved from her face to the two maidservants behind her.

"This is Haitang and Chun Tao; they served me while I was at my maternal grandparents' home. Today, upon returning to the mansion, I have brought them back and ask Mother's permission to let them remain in the mansion."

Cheng Ru'an nodded: "Very well. Although the Prince's illness has improved, he still needs rest; remember, there must be no noise or disturbance in the mansion."

Xiao Ningshu lowered her eyes: "I understand, Mother."

"Go take a look at Defying Frost Pavilion."

"Yes." Xiao Ningshu performed a proper salute again, bade farewell, and left.

The next day, afternoon.

A frail youth dressed entirely in white, supported by a nearby servant, stood in a secluded corner of the Prince's Mansion garden.

The boy's voice still sounded somewhat youthful, yet very steady: "Qixing, hand me my sword."

Qixing showed some concern: "Young Master, you just returned to the mansion yesterday; your leg may still be weak—perhaps we should wait until tomorrow to practice."

"It's fine." The boy shook his head and took his precious sword.

He drew it forcefully; the characters engraved on the blade flashed white in the sunlight: Carrying Shadow.

He looked nostalgic, his fingers lightly stroking the blade.

The words his father spoke when giving him this precious sword still rang in his ears: "Chen'er, the name of this sword comes from a famous line in the Records of Lost Tales: unseen when looked at, unfelt when wielded."

"It is a treasure your father obtained by chance during a campaign long ago. Today I bestow this sword upon you to pass on the illustrious loyalty and valor that guards our family and country, which fills the Prince's Mansion."

The youth drew a deep breath, sword tip pointing obliquely at the ground, posture straight as a pine, and began his form.

Qixing looked at him worriedly, loosened his grip, and stepped aside.

In the initial few moves, the youth drove the sword with his upper body; the motions were extremely smooth, as if he had practiced them thousands of times, full of power, and Carrying Shadow seemed to come alive, emitting a clear, resonant hum as it cut through the air.

But his legs were like two stakes driven deep into the ground, not moving an inch.

The stiffness and stillness below his waist contrasted with the agility of his upper body, creating a strange sense of disjunction.

This stark contrast clearly made him gradually become impatient.

He bit his tongue hard, using the sharp pain as stimulation, sinking his left shoulder slightly, exerting all his strength to try to drive his left leg forward a step; at the same time he flicked his right wrist, the move Meteor Chasing the Moon should have surged forward accordingly.

But although the intention arrived, that force dissipated midway.

With his center of gravity suddenly gone, his whole body felt as if split by an invisible axe; his perfectly coordinated upper body became a heavy burden, and, losing control, he lurched forward and collapsed to the ground.

"Clang!" A piercing screech of metal scraping stone rang out; Carrying Shadow flew from his hand, bounced a few times on the ground, and its cold light dimmed.

"Young Master!" Qixing rushed over and helped him up.

Dust flew up, and his snowy white robes were coated with a layer of grime; all his previous vigor and dignity shattered completely in that fall.

"Ah..." Xiao Ningxun, behind the tree, covered Tuan Tuan's mouth just as she was about to cry out, and whispered in her ear: "Shh, don't make a sound, Tuan Tuan—this is our second brother, Xiao Ningchen."

Tuan Tuan nodded, realizing: "Oh, it's the second brother! What happened to his leg?"

Xiao Ningxun explained to her: "The second brother was originally the best at martial arts in our family, extraordinarily talented, famous throughout Jingcheng from a young age. Unfortunately, a few years ago his leg suddenly contracted a strange illness, losing strength; he now needs support just to walk."

Xiao Ningxun felt heartbroken: "From then on, the second brother grew silent and withdrawn, never touching the precious sword Father gave him again."

"Let's go; he surely wouldn't want us to see him like this."

The two played in the garden and, by chance, saw Xiao Ningchen practicing his sword. Understanding her second brother, Xiao Ningxun pulled Tuan Tuan behind a tree to watch silently, not wanting to disturb him.

Tuan Tuan glanced at him, half-understanding, nodded obediently, then looked wistfully at Xiao Ningchen: "Second brother fell down; he must be in pain, how pitiful!"

"Tsk tsk, you know you're practically a cripple now, yet you secretly practice swordsmanship? If outsiders saw the second brother in this sorry state, the Prince's Mansion would lose all face."

A clear, bright female voice rang out.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ningchen's face turned even paler, but he did not retort, clenching his teeth and saying nothing.

"Fourth Miss! How can you speak to the Young Master like that!" Qixing exclaimed indignantly.

"Silence! How dare a lowly servant like you be so rude as to question the Miss!" a maidservant behind Xiao Ningshu shouted at Qixing.

"Why waste words, Haitang? Slap his mouth! I won't call a halt, and you must not stop!"

The round-faced maidservant who had just spoken stepped up to Qixing, raised her hand high, and was about to bring it down.

Xiao Ningshu supported the sharp-faced maid Chun Tao as she walked over slowly, standing behind Haitang.

Xiao Ningchen's face darkened: "I'd like to see who dares!"

Haitang lowered her hand and turned her head to look at Xiao Ningshu.

Xiao Ningshu snorted: "I am the Fourth Miss of the Prince's Mansion; he is merely a lowly servant. If he dares to talk back to me, what's wrong? Can't I even punish a servant?"

"Kneel!" she shouted at Qixing sharply; helpless, Qixing dropped to his knees.

Xiao Ningshu glanced at him and drawled slowly: "Second brother, we are both born of concubines, our status equal. Since you cannot discipline and indulge your subordinates, I will help you teach him what proper hierarchy means."

"Haitang! What are you waiting for? Hit him!"

Qixing knew this Fourth Miss, having been spoiled by Side Consort Fang since childhood, always treated servants this way; she knew she could not avoid this beating; he gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and waited for the slap that was about to fall on his face.