After returning, Jiu Yue first took Wu Ya to pay respects to Emperor Yan, then brought her to the palace where she resided, which wasn’t too far from the Eastern Palace.
Both Yue Ling and Wu Ya were esteemed guests of the hunting festival this time. Though the palace was safer, Jiu Yue still arranged for Wu Liang and others to discreetly protect the two.
Upon returning to the Eastern Palace, Lianqiao was munching on pastries. The moment she saw Jiu Yue return, she sprang up, overjoyed.
"Your Highness! The bathwater is ready—please go freshen up!" Then, pointing at the half-eaten pastry, she grinned and added, "Your Highness, this one’s the tastiest. Would you like to try it?"
Jiu Yue poked her cheek and chuckled, "I’ve already eaten. You enjoy it. Tomorrow, I’ll take you out of the palace with me."
Wu Ya was also a foodie, so with Lianqiao accompanying her, the two would surely have much in common.
Lianqiao immediately brightened. "Then this servant will go arrange for someone to take care of La Ba and the bells tomorrow!"
Humming a nameless tune, Jiu Yue leisurely made her way to the bathhouse.
But just as she crossed the corridor, she saw Sima Qing emerge from his room across the way.
He must have already bathed, wearing only a thin black robe that clung to his frame, faintly revealing the contours of his chest…
Her mind involuntarily flashed back to the scene she’d glimpsed that night at Mingzhi Mountain.
Ahem.
Jiu Yue shook her head, trying to dispel the distracting thoughts, only for Sima Qing to already be standing before her.
"...Have you been drinking?"
"Not at all." Jiu Yue frowned. "Do I smell like alcohol?"
Sima Qing took her hand. "No. But seeing you suddenly shaking your head like that was… concerning."
Jiu Yue’s lips twitched. "Who’s acting strange?! You’re the one not dressed properly!"
Sima Qing glanced down at his perfectly modest attire, then back at her, letting out a low, ambiguous chuckle.
"Right, right."
Jiu Yue tried to pull her hand away impatiently, but he spoke again, "Going back to the horse grounds tomorrow?"
"Of course. Abao isn’t fully tamed yet."
"Then stay still." He carefully unwound the cloth bandages from her hands. "Wash these later, and remember to rewrap them tomorrow."
Jiu Yue obediently held still.
"Are you meeting with Cousin again tomorrow?"
"Mn. The hunting grounds will keep me busy for a few days."
"Oh."
"If you’re accompanying Princess Wu Ya tomorrow… best not bring the Eldest Prince along."
Jiu Yue looked up, curious. "Do you know something?"
"It’s not just me. It’s common knowledge." Sima Qing met her gaze, speaking slowly. "Dong Yue and Meng Wu nearly arranged a marriage alliance once."
Jiu Yue’s eyes widened. "Between Yue Ling and Wu Ya?"
"Mn. But it fell through."
Jiu Yue suddenly understood.
No wonder the two acted like adversaries… though the reason for the failed arrangement remained unclear.
Well.
Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been pleasant for Wu Ya.
Jiu Yue nodded. "For Wu Ya’s sake, I won’t bring the Eldest Prince."
Sima Qing arched a brow, as if amused. "Couldn’t it be for my sake instead?"
Jiu Yue paused, staring at him—but just then, the last of the bandages slipped free, and he turned away.
"Your Highness, don’t linger. Go bathe." His voice echoed down the corridor.
By the time Jiu Yue finished bathing and returned to her chambers, she spotted two freshly washed cloth strips fluttering gently in the courtyard breeze.
She stood silently for a moment, her gaze drifting unconsciously toward Sima Qing’s door. How long she stared, she didn’t know—but eventually, she retrieved the damp strips and returned to her room.
As she dried them with her inner energy, Jiu Yue summoned the progress bar in her mind.
Her romance meter remained stubbornly at 3%.
Jiu Yue: "..."
Indignant, she immediately confronted the system. "Is this thing broken?"
The system was baffled. "What makes you say that?"
Jiu Yue huffed. "Last time, you gave me 1% just because I got startled and called it ‘heart palpitations.’ But earlier, I actually felt my heart flutter—why no increase?!"
The system: "..."
"Host," it said patiently, "as I’ve explained before, the criteria for progression aren’t static."
"That initial 1% and the 1% now… aren’t the same."
Jiu Yue: "..."
Grudgingly accepting this, she propped her chin on her hand, eyes lingering on the half-dried cloth strips. Her fingers traced the seams along the edges, and she fell into thought once more.
---
The next morning, Jiu Yue received word from Yue Ling early on.
The Eldest Prince claimed he was unwell and couldn’t accompany her for the day’s activities.
Jiu Yue expressed deep regret—then cheerfully took Wu Ya and Lianqiao out of the palace.
With just the three of them today, Jiu Yue wasn’t in a hurry to head to the horse grounds. Instead, she showed them around the capital, snacking, sightseeing, and playing until noon, when they stopped at Thousand Flavors Pavilion.
Lianqiao was practically glowing with happiness.
After eating their fill, the trio strolled leisurely toward the horse grounds.
Along the way, Wu Ya rubbed her round belly and suddenly asked, "Sister Zhaoning… am I really that chubby?"
Jiu Yue studied her seriously for a moment before shaking her head. "Not that chubby. Just a little plump—soft, fragrant, and pleasantly round. The cutest kind! Even Father praised you yesterday, saying you radiate good fortune!"
Wu Ya blinked, visibly moved.
"Sister Zhaoning… you’re the first person to actually call me plump." She sniffled. "Everyone else just insists I’m not fat at all."
Lianqiao, whose first instinct had also been to deny it: "..."
Honest-to-a-fault Yan Zhaoning: "..."
