Yue Yao nodded: "I'll take a walk outside."
She added, "I've already told Mother," to prevent him from making a fuss.
Ling Xiao noticed the caution in her eyes and lowered his gaze, glancing at her left shoulder. "Is your injury healed?"
Yue Yao was taken aback—she hadn’t expected him to show concern.
"It’s much better now. The ointment sent by the Imperial Physician works wonders; even the scars are fading quickly." Yue Yao smiled brightly. "I must thank the Marquis for arranging the Imperial Physician."
Though Ling Xiao had a terrible temper, he had saved her life and even summoned an Imperial Physician to treat her. Yue Yao wasn’t one to forget kindness.
As he watched her sudden smile, her clear, bright eyes seemed to shimmer with light.
His fingers clenched inside his sleeve, and he averted his gaze, his tone icy. "Even if your injury is healed, don’t wander around carelessly. You’ll only invite trouble again."
Yue Yao’s smile stiffened slightly. Why was he angry again?
She gritted her teeth silently, swallowing her irritation. "Understood."
She had only stepped out once—how was that "wandering around"?
"Is the Marquis heading out? Then I won’t keep you."
This path led directly outside the Marquis's Mansion.
It was already dusk—if he was rushing out now, it must be urgent. She was subtly reminding him not to waste time.
She didn’t want to deal with him anymore.
He caught the dismissiveness in her eyes, his expression darkening further, but he said nothing.
Without another glance at her, Ling Xiao strode away.
Chun'er, noticing Yue Yao’s displeasure, whispered, "Perhaps the Marquis was just concerned about you, Madam."
"Do you even believe that yourself?"
She had never met anyone harder to get along with than him!
Chun'er: "..."
Yue Yao turned to watch Ling Xiao’s retreating figure, took a deep breath, and sighed. "Never mind."
At least they rarely crossed paths.
She suddenly recalled Chen Shiyun’s radiant face earlier. Did that woman know about Ling Xiao’s foul temper?
A sense of schadenfreude eased Yue Yao’s mood. "Once Miss Chen enters the mansion, she probably won’t have time to trouble me anymore."
She’d be too busy dealing with her own problems.
With Ling Xiao’s unpredictable moods, who knew how much suffering awaited her?
Ling Xiao marched out of the Marquis's Mansion, followed closely by Jian Shuang. "Marquis, where to now?"
Ling Xiao halted, his expression tense.
The investigation was nearly complete—there was nothing urgent left to handle. He truly had nowhere to go.
Yet the restless irritation simmering in his chest refused to settle.
Things he should have long forgotten were now inexplicably resurfacing.
Ling Xiao despised this loss of control. He had always commanded every situation, never allowing deviations or surprises. How could a woman unsettle him so easily?
His lips pressed into a thin line, his fingers tightening in his sleeves. "To the prison."
"Yes."
---
In the following days, Yue Yao didn’t see Ling Xiao again—he seemed busy once more.
Yue Yao was occupied as well. Her incense shop was about to open. While Chun'er and Qing He handled the store’s affairs, she personally crafted several signature blends.
Five days later, Ningxiang Pavilion officially opened.
Fortunately, the incense she had sent to Xichun Lou earlier had been well-received, with many customers inquiring where they could purchase it. Xichun Lou, appreciative of the free exclusive supply, had gladly directed them to Ningxiang Pavilion.
As a result, business boomed from the very first day.
"Thank goodness Madam arranged for Xichun Lou’s promotion. I was heartbroken over giving them so much incense for free, but now our shop is bustling from the start! Other stores must be green with envy, clueless about how we attracted such a crowd."
Yue Yao surveyed the shop. "With Xichun Lou’s reputation, do we even need promotion?"
Not only was promotion unnecessary, but they could also mark up the prices.
After all, incense used by Xichun Lou couldn’t be cheap—wealthy patrons wouldn’t balk at higher prices. In fact, exclusivity only added to their prestige.
The losses from supplying Xichun Lou would be recouped effortlessly.
"Madam is truly far-sighted!"
Yue Yao smiled. "Qing He, from now on, you’ll manage the shop as the proprietor. I’ve already briefed you on everything. Handle it well, and inform me promptly if any issues arise."
Qing He beamed. "Yes! Thank you, Madam!"
Of course, Yue Yao couldn’t personally oversee the shop. The Marquis's estate had numerous properties—farmlands, stores—all under her management since there was no official mistress yet.
Only after Chen Shiyun’s arrival could she relinquish these duties.
As Yue Yao stepped out of the shop, she spotted a carriage parked outside.
A folding fan lifted the curtain, and a tall figure emerged.
"Master Mo." Yue Yao greeted him with a smile.
"Congratulations on your thriving business, Madam." Mo Ziqian stepped down, offering his felicitations.
"I owe much to Xichun Lou’s promotion. Without it, today’s grand opening wouldn’t have been possible."
"Your incense is truly remarkable. Our guests at the restaurant have praised it highly. With such shrewd management, Ningxiang Pavilion is bound for success."
His words weren’t mere flattery—Yue Yao’s strategy was undeniably effective.
Mo Ziqian wasn’t one to act out of charity. He had agreed to their deal because it was a win-win. Testing her incense at Xichun Lou for a few days posed no risk—if reception was poor, they could simply switch back.
"Then I’ll take your kind words as a blessing." Yue Yao replied cheerfully.
Chun'er hurried over, whispering, "Madam, the Old Madam has sent someone to summon you back."
Yue Yao turned to Mo Ziqian. "There’s a matter at home. I must return. Would you like to come in for tea? I’ll have someone attend to you."
"I merely dropped by out of curiosity. No need for formalities. Please attend to your affairs." Mo Ziqian was courteous as ever.
Yue Yao hadn’t encountered someone so amiable in a long time—it felt refreshing.
"Very well."
She lifted her skirts and boarded her carriage, departing.
Mo Ziqian stood still, watching the carriage disappear, his lazy phoenix eyes glinting with intrigue.
What an extraordinary woman.
---
Upon returning to the Marquis's Mansion, Yue Yao headed straight to Fushou Garden.
"Mother." She entered briskly.
Madam Lin reclined on a daybed, smiling at her approach. "How was business at Ningxiang Pavilion today?"
Yue Yao sat beside her. "Quite good. No need to worry."
"That’s a relief. Otherwise, all your reward silver would’ve gone to waste."
A thousand taels was no small sum.
"You could’ve used the estate’s funds. The household is under your care—Erlang wouldn’t have minded. Yet you insisted on keeping everything separate."
Yue Yao linked arms with her. "This is my personal venture. I don’t want to blur the lines. Besides, once the new bride arrives, I’ll have to hand over management anyway."
But the shop would remain hers alone.
Moreover, Ling Xiao had never liked her—how could she dare to spend his money recklessly?
Now that she was temporarily managing the household, it was only because there was no one else available. She naturally handled it with utmost diligence, keeping in mind his warning to behave properly. She dared not forget it for even a moment.
"That's true. Since you invested in this shop, it’s yours to manage."
Yue Yao had always been sensible, which was why Madam Lin favored this daughter-in-law so much.
"Just now, the palace sent an invitation. It’s for the Little Imperial Grandson’s birthday banquet hosted by the Crown Prince. Take a look."
Madam Lin handed the invitation to Yue Yao.
Yue Yao glanced at it, surprised. "This invitation is for me?"
Usually, such invitations were addressed to Ling Xiao, and whether Yue Yao attended or not was optional. She had never sought attention or flaunted her connection to Ling Xiao.
"Yes. The eunuch who delivered it said the Crown Prince wishes to thank you for saving Princess Huaining, so he specifically invited you. The Crown Prince and Princess Huaining are siblings by the same mother, so it’s only natural you’d be invited as well."
Yue Yao nodded. "Understood, Mother."
"This is your first time entering the palace. Find an etiquette instructor to learn the rules beforehand. Be cautious when you attend, and don’t make any mistakes. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask Second Young Master."
Yue Yao pressed her lips together, recalling how coldly Ling Xiao had treated her the last time they met. Would she dare ask him anything now?
Ling Xiao’s attitude toward her had grown increasingly distant, and she couldn’t fathom why.
"Yes," Yue Yao replied obediently, reassuring Madam Lin.
Over the next few days, the etiquette instructor taught Yue Yao the basic palace protocols. She learned the essential manners well enough to manage, though opportunities to enter the palace would be rare.
Three days later, Yue Yao rose early to prepare meticulously for the palace visit. Dressed formally in a plain white satin gown with snow-patterned silk, she pinned her hair up entirely, revealing her slender neck.
Still in mourning for her late husband, she avoided colorful hair ornaments, usually wearing silver hairpins. For the palace, she opted for a pearl hairpin—elegant yet understated.
Once ready, she stepped outside, where the carriage from the Marquis's Mansion awaited.
Steward Wang approached eagerly. "Madam."
Yue Yao glanced around but saw no sign of Ling Xiao.
"The Marquis is occupied with official business at the Court of Judicial Review. He may not even attend the banquet today, so Madam will proceed to the palace first."
Yue Yao nodded. She didn’t dwell on whether he was truly busy or simply unwilling to accompany her.
She had noticed Ling Xiao’s growing aloofness and knew better than to impose. Keeping her distance was the wiser choice.
Chun'er helped Yue Yao into the carriage, which then set off toward the palace.
At the palace gates, Yue Yao alighted and walked toward the Eastern Palace.
The Eastern Palace was bustling with activity. The banquet was held in the garden, where flowers bloomed in vibrant splendor, their fragrance filling the air amid laughter and chatter.
A palace attendant guided Yue Yao to a pavilion by the lake, where the Princess Consort of the Crown Prince and the Little Imperial Grandson received guests.
"Your Highness, Madam Ling has arrived," a eunuch announced with a bow.
The Princess Consort smiled. "Please, bring her in."
"Your servant obeys."
"Your humble subject greets Your Highness." Yue Yao stepped forward and curtsied gracefully.
"Rise, please. Take a seat." The Princess Consort smiled warmly. "I’ve heard much about you from Princess Huaining but never had the chance to meet. This banquet was also an opportunity to see you."
"You honor me, Your Highness."
"You saved Princess Huaining. I’ve yet to properly thank you." The Princess Consort glanced outside. "Has the Marquis not come?"
Yue Yao replied, "The Marquis seems occupied with official matters. He hasn’t returned to the mansion these past few days. He may come directly after finishing his duties."
The Princess Consort’s eyes flickered with surprise. She had just heard from the Crown Prince that Ling Xiao had already uncovered and arrested court officials colluding with heretics days ago. What else could be keeping him so busy that he wouldn’t even return home?
She didn’t press further, only saying kindly, "You’ve arrived early. Princess Huaining will be here soon—she’s been eager to see you."
Yue Yao nodded softly and gestured for Chun'er to present the gifts. "For the Little Imperial Grandson’s birthday, I’ve prepared a pair of golden locks as a humble offering."
She then produced a delicate incense box. "And this pear-scented incense—I made it myself."
The golden locks were a conventional gift, but the handmade incense carried sincerity.
The Princess Consort, accustomed to lavish gifts, was unmoved by the gold but intrigued by the incense.
"You know how to make incense?" she asked curiously, opening the box.
"It’s just a minor skill I picked up. I hope Your Highness won’t find it lacking." Yue Yao smiled modestly.
"This scent is lovely—sweet yet not cloying. I usually dislike heavy fragrances, but this is perfect."
The Princess Consort was delighted. "You’ve put great thought into this."
Yue Yao’s heart fluttered with joy. "I’m glad it pleases Your Highness."
Just then, an announcement echoed from outside.
"The Marquis has arrived."
Yue Yao turned to look. On the distant arched bridge stood a tall, imposing figure in a black brocade robe with wide sleeves, his hair secured by an onyx crown. His stride was casual, yet an air of authority surrounded him, sharp and commanding.
Beside him walked Chen Shiyun, his betrothed.
Dressed in an emerald silk gown, her figure graceful, Chen Shiyun stood by his side with dignified elegance. Occasionally, she glanced up at him, her cheeks faintly flushed—her youthful affection unmistakable.
Together, they looked like a pair of flawless jade.
