Chapter 23: The Concubine

A middle-aged man dressed in blue had been waiting for a long time.

Fang Qingyan's fragile, exhausted look vanished completely the moment she turned to face him.

A smile, different from the earlier compassionate expression, curled at the corner of her mouth, with a hint of coquettishness and boldness: "You've come early."

The man looked at her, a scorching light flickering in his eyes: "A lady has an appointment; how could I dare be late?"

He stepped forward, unabashedly grasping her hand, his fingertips gently stroking the delicate back of her hand: "Didn't we agree? If there's no urgent matter, we shouldn't meet; then why today…?"

"Why?" Fang Qingyan chuckled softly, leaning into his embrace: "I've endured the Prince's Mansion for so many years, while you've been out living a carefree life. If we don't meet again, I fear you've already forgotten me."

He held her, a trace of impatience flashing in his eyes: "How could that be? You're overthinking."

He lifted his hand, resting on the side of her neck, gently slipping off her outer garment, his lips brushing her ear: "Don't I know how I feel about you? No matter how many women I have, they're merely fleeting amusements; only you are the love of my heart."

Fang Qingyan breathed lightly, her fingertips tracing his collar: "I came to tell you that yesterday, he woke up."

The man's hand froze, his complexion changing: "Oh?"

Fang Qingyan's hand didn't stop, stripping off his clothing: "It gave me a fright, but though the person has awakened, he's as clueless as a baby, understanding nothing."

The man smiled faintly, a look of having known all along: "Don't be afraid, sweetheart; the methods I used on him are unrivaled under heaven, but they've only caused you suffering."

Fang Qingyan threw him onto the table: "It's not really suffering, just guarding a living corpse. But when will this end? All I want is to be open with you, to soar together."

"Almost there, almost there…" the man whispered, his voice seductive: "When his oil runs out and the lamp goes out, the Prince's Mansion's vast estate will still fear no carefree days without you?" His lips landed on her chest.

Fang Qingyan let out a "Ying-ning", half pushing, half yielding, her eyes flickering with coquettish charm.

On the roof, Xiao Er's pupils contracted sharply, hearing every word and sentence, committing them to memory.

Unable to watch any longer, he replaced the tiles, his figure slipping silently down the eaves like a fallen leaf, vanishing swiftly into the bamboo grove's shadows.

Inside, the two tangled for a long while before Fang Qingyan finally pushed the door open, appearing exactly as she had when she arrived.

Xiao Er followed all the way back to the Prince's Mansion.

At night, Xiao Er arrived at Jinglan Garden, where Old Madam and Cheng Ru'an were; he paid his respects and reported everything he had seen and heard today.

Old Madam's chest rose and fell rapidly, a hand slapping the table: "That wretched woman!"

Cheng Ru'an strained to stay calm: "Well done. This matter must not be mentioned to anyone; go claim your reward."

"Yes." Knowing the stakes were huge, Xiao Er said not a word more and turned to leave.

"Mother, calm your anger; dealing with her is easy, but the Prince has not yet recovered, and we still don't know who's behind it. I see the enemy in the light, the foe in the dark; it's better to remain composed."

Old Madam sighed deeply: "Xiao Yuanhang's condition is critical; now that we both know this, we must be extra cautious and never let them near his medicines and meals again!"

"Yes, Mother, rest assured."

These past days, Guo Taiyi has come daily to needle Xiao Yuanhang, while Cheng Ru'an has guarded Yangzheng Pavilion like an iron bucket, never leaving its side, yet Xiao Yuanhang's illness shows no improvement.

Tuan Tuan sees her mother shedding secret tears every day, so she becomes gloomy, no longer skipping as she walks, merely trailing silently behind her two brothers, wandering the garden.

"Tuan Tuan, shall we feed the fish?"

"Mm."

"Tuan Tuan, brother will take you kite‑flying."

"Mm."

Tuan Tuan loses all interest, causing the two brothers to frown.

"How about we go out for a walk?" Xiao Ningxun crouched, hugging her: "Let's go to the Crispy Pastry Pavilion to buy some fresh snacks, bring them back for Grandmother and Mother to taste. The Crispy Pastry Pavilion releases fresh pastries every few days, with many varieties."

Tuan Tuan looks at Third Brother: "Alright. Second Brother's leg still hurts after walking a lot. Third Brother, the two of us will go and bring the tasty snacks back for Mother, Grandmother, and Second Brother!"

Xiao Ningchen said softly: "Alright! Second Brother will wait at home. Third Brother, bring a few more people, be careful on the road, watch over Tuan Tuan."

"Don't worry."

Without delay, the Crispy Pastry Pavilion was not far from the Prince's Mansion. Xiao Ningxun, eager to take his sister around, walked instead of riding, exiting through a side gate, cutting across two alleys, and arrived at Jingcheng's busiest main street.

The bluestone pavement, worn smooth as a mirror by countless footsteps over the years, was lined with myriad shops; vendors' shouts and clerks' enthusiastic calls to customers tangled together, noisy and chaotic.

In the eateries, the stoves blazed, exuding a rich, enticing aroma that forcefully invaded everyone's nostrils.

A heavy mule‑drawn cart rumbled over the stone road, emitting a dull "gulu gulu" sound, while the driver on board kept scolding pedestrians blocking the way.

The street brimmed with vibrant, palpable life.

Tuan Tuan's eyes were exhausted; she paused at one stall, then another, tugging Third Brother's hand and constantly asking in her small mouth, "What's this? What's that?"

Xiao Ningxun answered each question, shielding her in front of him, guarding her tightly.

Arriving at the Crispy Pastry Pavilion, the two selected many snacks, packed them and handed them to a servant to carry: "Let's go home, Tuan Tuan."

"Alright!" Xiao Ningxun, seeing she was tired, lifted her into his arms: "You're tired, let brother carry you back."

Tuan Tuan perched on her brother's shoulder, looking around, "Wow, brother is so tall!"

In the narrow lane they had just entered, "Third Brother! Wait a moment!" Tuan Tuan called out: "There! There's something there! Pick it up for me."

Xiao Ningxun followed the direction of her tiny finger and saw, in the corner of the lane, a modest little bronze bell lying quietly, likely a child's toy that had slipped from someone's hand.

He crouched, picked up the bronze bell, and handed it to her: "This?"

"Mm‑mm!" Tuan Tuan clutched the bell, gently dusting it off, giving it a light shake; the tinkling was soft yet unusually clear, and she laughed happily: "Brother! Listen! It's singing to me!"

Xiao Ningxun, aware of his sister's habit of picking up odds and ends, didn't object: "If you like it, brother will get you a better toy."

"No!" Tuan Tuan shook her head: "I want this one."

Xiao Ningxun smiled, unfazed; whatever his sister liked, he would give it to her, wishing he could hand her every best thing in the world.

The siblings returned to the Prince's Mansion; after asking the servants, they learned Guo Taiyi had already arrived, and Old Madam, Princess Consort, and Xiao Ningchen were in Yangzheng Pavilion.

"Third Brother, let's go see Father too; will Father pay us attention today?" Tuan Tuan's little face drooped.

Xiao Ningxun gently brushed his sister's cheek: "Father's illness isn't cured yet; once he recovers and sees you, he'll love you even more than Third Brother and Second Brother, Third Brother promises."

Tuan Tuan blinked her big eyes at him: "Mm."

The brother and sister stepped into Yangzheng Pavilion.

Guo Taiyi was performing needle work, Old Madam and Princess Consort sat on chairs by the bedside with heads bowed, while Xiao Ningchen stood nearby, staring intently at the Silver Needle in Guo Taiyi's hand.

Guo Taiyi took out the Silver Needle, put it back into the medicine box, focused his spirit and felt the pulse for a moment, raised his head, looked at everyone, sighed, and slightly shook his head.