Chapter 126: Second Prince

Honored guests, please take your time.

After saying that, they retreated from the private room.

Mom, this lotus cake isn't as good as yours; it's too greasy. Yue Yue pursed their lips. The best pastries are definitely made by Mom.

Exactly, Mom's pastries are soft, sweet, and fragrant—not this cloyingly sweet. Ning Hanmo tasted it, barely swallowed the pastry, and then didn't touch it again.

After a sip of tea, its bitterness dispelled the cloying sensation.

This tea is actually not bad.

"What is that?" Kang Zhi Xia pointed in a direction.

"Wow, what a beautiful boat!" Yue Yue gasped, eyes wide, watching the slowly gliding painted boat, its lights bright, a graceful woman dancing at the prow, her red robe especially radiant in the lantern light, silver bells on her arms and ankles chiming with each step.

Every frown and smile seemed to carry endless charm.

Jiang Yunchu looked outward; for some reason, the woman's eyes met hers, if only for a moment.

"Mom?" Ning Hanmo spoke.

"Huh?"

She lowered her gaze to her son, seeing the little one watching a fire‑breather nearby, and asked, "Mom, what martial art is that person practicing?"

The difference between girls and boys: girls gazed at the brightly lit corridor, at the swaying woman with chimes, at the flower‑lined riverbank, at the endless river lanterns.

But the boys watched the whip‑wielding performers, the stilt‑walking acrobats, and the fire‑breasting strongmen, each shouting "Amazing!" from the sidelines.

"Those are some reactions; if you want to learn, I'll teach you!" She smiled warmly. Though she couldn't explain the chemical reactions, she could still teach them as part of play after class.

"Ding ding dong." A knocking sounded outside.

Jiang Yunchu initially thought it was the teahouse staff and said, "Come in."

At that moment, a person in black robes holding a whisk entered, saying, "His Majesty's decree: on this Qixi Festival, the Princess Consort, of gentle virtue and admirable grace, is specially summoned to the palace."

Jiang Yunchu stood and looked at the eunuch, asking, "Which office are you in charge of? You look unfamiliar."

She had seen few eunuchs, but had seen many of those who serve His Majesty.

This eunuch was indeed unfamiliar; she truly hadn't seen them before.

"Replying to the Princess Consort, I serve in Qianqing Palace." The eunuch showed no panic, answering fluently.

Jiang Yunchu's heart eased a little, then she turned to her second aunt and said, "Second Aunt, I'm entrusting the two children to you."

"Don't worry." The Kang Clan's Second Madame rose and gave a slight nod.

"Zi Su and Bai Zhi, follow me; everyone else, guard the Young Master and the miss." Jiang Yunchu glanced at the Wang Fu guards, then gave the order.

Here the crowd is thick; on this Qixi Festival, all four city gates remain unlocked, the capital Jingdu ablaze with lights, no night watches, no locked gates, no patrols.

This is the usual routine for every Qixi Festival.

"Princess Consort, His Majesty is waiting!" the eunuch replied with a smile, then stood aside, hands clasped.

Jiang Yunchu glanced at the eunuch and said, "Let's go."

The entourage escorted Jiang Yunchu onto the carriage.

On this bustling street, the carriage lurched forward and stopped; Jiang Yunchu narrowed their eyes, feeling that something was off.

The ladies who enter the palace to see His Majesty are all selected by the Empress or specially appointed by the Emperor; each year's responsible concubines, who deliver the palace edicts and notices, must arrive early to await.

How could they come fetch someone only after the banquet is already halfway through?

"What's your surname, Eunuch?" Jiang Yunchu asked.

"Princess Consort, my surname is Feng," the eunuch replied softly.

Jiang Yunchu furrowed their brow, lifted the carriage curtain, and saw that they were moving farther from the lively district.

After a full two quarters of an hour…

"Eunuch Feng, where are you taking me?"

Jiang Yunchu blurted out, having noticed earlier that the route was different, though they'd thought it was just to avoid the crowds; they hadn't expected the path to grow increasingly remote.

"Princess Consort, just wait a moment; we'll arrive soon." Eunuch Feng remained obsequious.

Zi Su looked anxiously at the Princess Consort, wringing their handkerchief.

Bai Zhi touched the sword at their side, their eyes growing sharper.

This……

This is clearly not the way to the palace—where are these ruffians taking the Princess Consort? As her hand moved to draw the sword, the Princess Consort's voice came: "Bai Zhi."

Having just drawn the sword a finger's breadth, she pushed it back herself.

Having come this far, she also wanted to see what riddle these people were playing.

"Princess Consort, we've arrived." Eunuch Feng flicked his whisk and stepped to the side.

Zi Su leapt down from the carriage first, surveyed the surroundings, then lifted the carriage curtain: "Princess Consort, you may alight."

She extended her hand; Jiang Yunchu placed their hand in hers and stepped down from the carriage gracefully.

"Today's events, I, the Princess Consort, have noted." Jiang Yunchu smiled—a smile that didn't reach their eyes, appearing flower‑like while radiating a gentle aura, yet their depths were icy.

"Princess Consort, why trouble a lowly servant like me?" Eunuch Feng gave a bitter laugh, then pointed to the courtyard nearby.

"The Second Prince is waiting for the Princess Consort."

Second Prince……

Jiang Yunchu snorted coldly, then stepped onto the stairs.

The villa possessed a touch of tranquility, with pavilions, terraces, carved beams, and painted rafters.

Few servants attended; only a maid led the three of them into the main hall.

"What does the Second Prince want?"

The man opposite, dressed in fine robes, a jade pendant at his waist, his hair tied high, bore an air of frivolity.

Seeing his appearance, Jiang Yunchu's eyes narrowed slightly.

Jiang Yunchu? Eldest Miss Jiang, hurry and sit.

The Second Prince is becoming increasingly unruly; he doesn't even call me "aunt", he insists on calling me Princess Consort! Jiang Yunchu's tone carried a chill, her mind constantly pondering.

She had hardly any dealings with the Second Prince.

The few times they had clashed before, it was Consort Cao's son, the Third Prince.

Today's move by the Second Prince left her baffled.

"You all step back." The Second Prince pointed to the attendants nearby; they were all maidservants, some slender, some plump, all kinds of beauties.

Hope...

This Second Prince is clear-headed; don't cause trouble, otherwise she won't be able to stop herself from killing.

A cold smile appeared on Jiang Yunchu's lips.

"Yun chu, hurry and sit; this golden flaky pastry is your favorite from childhood. I, the prince, visited several shops before finding it." The Second Prince sized up Jiang Yunchu from head to toe; the smile on his face grew a bit more genuine.

Jiang Yunchu gave a cold chuckle. "Motive."

Upon hearing her words, the Second Prince's eyes flickered. "Yun chu, have you forgotten me? When you were little, you said you wanted to marry me."