"Changning, have you been drinking?"
From a distance, Yun Wan caught the strong scent of alcohol on her and couldn't help but ask in surprise.
The moment Lu Changning entered the room, she grabbed the teacup from the table and gulped it down, then plopped onto the seat, her posture sloppy and unsteady.
After finishing the tea, she rubbed her throbbing temples and said weakly, "Auntie, I swear I’ll never touch alcohol again. It makes me feel awful."
Yun Wan paused. "Weren’t you just soaking in the hot springs yesterday? How did you end up drinking?"
Lu Changning: "That was the plan at first, but we couldn’t just soak all day, could we? So Princess Jiayi had someone bring out a jar of wine—she called it 'Peach Blossom Brew,' a rare gift from one of her elders. She invited us all to taste it and even had the servants serve grilled meat from the northern borders..."
They were all young ladies usually confined to the inner chambers, rarely allowed to step beyond the gates. Given such a rare chance to let loose and enjoy themselves freely, they quickly grew lively and had a grand time.
After explaining in a few words, Lu Changning propped her chin on her hand and asked, "By the way, Auntie, did you come looking for me yesterday? I don’t think I saw you." She patted her forehead, unsure.
"I did."
Lu Changning was stunned.
Yun Wan explained, "But the servants at the villa led me the wrong way. I waited for you for a long time but never saw you, so I left after soaking in the springs."
It was only later that she learned she had been directed incorrectly from the moment she entered the villa. The hot spring retreat covered half the mountainside, divided into eastern and western sections.
The eastern pools were reserved for private use, while the western side was open to guests with enough silver—exactly where Changning and her friends had gone the day before.
The blue-clad maid, upon learning Yun Wan’s identity, had taken her to the eastern side instead.
Lu Changning listened in wide-eyed astonishment before exclaiming, "I thought you were just delayed by other matters! So it was the servants’ mistake!"
Yun Wan pointed to a plate of freshly sliced fruit. "This was sent by the villa as an apology."
Lu Changning picked up a piece of peach with a silver skewer and hummed, "Not bad. At least they have some manners."
Seeing that her niece hadn’t grown suspicious and the matter was now smoothed over, Yun Wan relaxed and shifted the conversation to other topics.
After chatting for a while, Lu Changning stood up. "That’s enough for now, Auntie. I need to change my clothes before Grandmother finds out I came to the temple reeking of alcohol. She’d scold me for sure."
Yun Wan nodded. "Go ahead. I’ll have Yue Ya prepare hot water for you."
"Thank you, Auntie! You’re the best!"
......
Despite her efforts, Old Madam soon discovered Lu Changning’s drunken state and forbade her from leaving her quarters until their return to the estate the next day.
Thus, during the afternoon vegetarian banquet, all the Lu family members attended—except Lu Changning.
The banquet was held in the Zen Garden of Putuo Temple, hosted by Princess Consort Xuan, who had invited noblewomen from the capital attending the Bathing Buddha Festival, including those from the Lu Duke’s household.
At the banquet, Princess Consort Xuan raised her teacup with a smile. "I’ve been busy these past few days, but today I finally have the chance to gather with you all."
She then turned to Old Madam Lu and asked, "Old Madam Lu, why isn’t Changning with you today?"
Old Madam Lu maintained a flawless expression and sighed helplessly. "She exhausted herself yesterday and refused to come out today."
Princess Consort Xuan remarked, "Changning is such a gentle soul, unlike my Jiayi—that girl is a wild monkey, always chasing after excitement wherever it’s found."
No sooner had she spoken than Princess Jiayi arrived, pretending to pout. "Mother, are you badmouthing me again?"
Princess Consort Xuan shot her a sidelong glance and sighed to the others, "See what I mean? She pops up everywhere!"
"......"
The group exchanged pleasantries, discussing everything from the grand spectacle of the Bathing Buddha Festival to the marital status of young men and women in the capital, and even which families had recently welcomed newborns...
Yun Wan listened quietly for a while, but the conversation soon grew tedious.
Had Lu Changning been there, they could have talked, but without her, Yun Wan found it hard to stay.
After informing Old Madam Lu, she rose and stepped outside.
Putuo Mountain was lush with trees, especially peach trees, though by May the blossoms had already fallen, leaving no trace of their former glory.
But in place of peach blossoms were clusters of pagoda flowers and vibrant roses, creating a picturesque scene.
Yue Ya suddenly gasped. "Madam, look over there!"
Following her gaze, Yun Wan spotted a figure standing beneath a grove of pagoda trees—none other than Emperor Jingxuan.
He stood with his hands behind his back, dressed in a blue-green robe that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Stripped of his usual imperial severity, he cut a strikingly handsome figure.
Yue Ya couldn’t help muttering, "That gentleman has been standing there for ages... Is he even human?"
Pagoda trees were often called "ghost trees," believed to attract spirits due to their heavy yin energy. Most households avoided planting them near their homes.
Having grown up hearing such tales, Yue Ya shivered nervously.
Yun Wan chuckled. "Nonsense. This is sacred Buddhist ground—no evil would dare linger here."
Remembering the missing item she’d discovered that morning, she clenched her teeth and instructed Yue Ya, "Wait here. I’ll be back shortly."
Yun Wan ventured into the grove but circled it without finding any trace of the blue-green figure.
Just as she thought he’d left and turned to go, a figure suddenly blocked her path.
A deep voice sounded above her. "What is Madam searching for?"
Yun Wan looked up into Emperor Jingxuan’s eyes and addressed him, "Your Majesty."
The emperor smirked. "Ah, so it was me you sought."
Pressed for time, Yun Wan ignored his remark and cut to the chase. "Your Majesty, I left something behind at the hot springs. Could you have it returned to me—or burned?"
Emperor Jingxuan’s gaze darkened. "I’ve told you before—I dislike those words."
Pursing her lips, Yun Wan rephrased. "Yun Wan has lost an item..."
The emperor studied her face and arched a brow. "What item?"
She hesitated, lips parting and closing before finally forcing out the words, "...My undergarment."
Only that morning had she realized she’d left her intimate garment behind at the springs.
At first, she considered letting it go, but the fear of it falling into the wrong hands—and the scandal that would follow—drove her to seek it out.
As she fretted, Emperor Jingxuan suddenly reached into his robe and pulled something out, clutching it in his palm. "Is this what you mean?"
Catching a glimpse of pink silk, Yun Wan’s ears burned crimson.
How could an emperor carry a woman’s undergarment on his person?!
"Please return it to me, Your Majesty!"
The emperor remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on her.
"Forgive my impertinence, Your Majesty."
Without warning, Yun Wan rose onto her toes and lunged for it.
But Emperor Jingxuan dodged effortlessly, leaving her grasping at air.
Frantic now, Yun Wan threw propriety to the wind, gripping his lapel with one hand while stretching the other toward her prize.
After several failed attempts, she heard Yue Ya’s voice calling from afar.
"Madam—!"
She pointed in a direction where someone seemed to be approaching.
At the sight of the figure drawing near, Yun Wan immediately pushed Emperor Jingxuan away, gathered her skirts, and fled in the direction she had come from, her steps swift and hurried.
"........."
Emperor Jingxuan watched as Yun Wan, who had been clinging to his collar mere moments ago, now coldly turned away without a backward glance. He let out an exasperated laugh.
Yun Wan hurried off, only to be intercepted by someone at the corner of the rose-covered wall:
"Yun Wan, who was that man you were speaking to just now?"
