However, Yun Ruoyan didn’t fear Rong Tianling. Despite knowing that his gaze was on her, she continued staring blankly at the floor, as if she didn’t notice anything.

“I’ll naturally take good care of your son, Official Yun,” Rong Tianling replied. As if suddenly recalling something, he continued, “Oh, I’ve almost forgotten. These are my son and daughter, Rong Jinghao and Rong Yueshan.”

The two youths behind Rong Tianling stepped forward and bowed; they were about the same age as Yun Moxiao and Yun Ruoyan. Although Rong Yuehong was Rong Tianling’s only wife-born heir, he had a full suite of concubine-born children. Rong Jinghao and Rong Yueshan were two of his more favored.

After the introductions, Yun Lan was ready to leave when Rong Tianling pulled him back. “Official Yun, I have a request for you.”

Yun Lan frowned. “I’m afraid my humble self can’t help as esteemed a personage as you, Official Rong.”

“No, no, you’re too modest!” Rong Tianling hurriedly broke Yun Lan off. “My son has been part of the capital’s militia for quite some time. Now that the position of the general of the garrisoned troops is vacant, he’s very interested in filling it. May I count on your help, Official Yun?”

Rong Tianling was intentionally at odds with Yun Lan. The recommendation letter from General Huang had arrived at court not a few days prior, and he was already getting ready to make a stand about it.

“As for my daughter, Rong Yueshan…” Rong Tianling turned to Yun Ruoyan. “She’ll also be an incoming student at Kongming Academy in the fall, so please go easy on her during the next trial, Miss Yun!”

Rong Yueshan looked a little like Rong Yuehong, especially in the way that she tipped her lower jaw up to look down on people.

“Official Rong, my policy is not to meddle in others’ business. If they meddle in mine, however, I will retaliate. Miss Rong, please stay away from me,” Yun Ruoyan suddenly spoke up.

She clearly understood the hidden meaning of Rong Tianling’s words, and her blunt, impolite rebuke caused Rong Tianling and Rong Yueshan to frown in response.

“Ruoyan, where are your manners? Behave more appropriately to Official Rong.”

Although Yun Lan criticized his daughter, he inwardly agreed with her approach. All the other incoming students at Kongming Academy would be her opponent, and Yun Ruoyan’s imposing manner completely overshadowed Rong Yueshan’s.

The guests had a simple lunch in preparation for the evening’s rich, lavish banquet, where the newlyweds would carry out the next step in the wedding ceremony. Only then would the emperor and empress show up themselves.

Yun Ruoyan hadn’t seen Li Mo or Li Qianhan, and expected that they would also only show up then.

After lunch, Yun Lan continued showing his son off to all manner of court officials. His cheerful, modest, and decorous personality made him favored by one and all. On the other hand, having gotten bored with the proceedings, Yun Ruoyan went to sit by a garden alone, wanting some peace and quiet. She leaned against some rocks, feeling the breeze in the air, listening to birdsong, and smelling the fragrant flowers.

Just then, a man’s voice emerged from the distance. “I’ve long heard of your name, Fourth Prince, and it’s my honor to meet you today.”

“You’re too courteous, Young Master Bai,” a deep, youthful voice replied, likely the fourth prince Li Qianyue. “I’ve been away from the capital for quite some time, and am unfamiliar with the surroundings. Please take care of me, young masters and misses.” 

“That would be our honor, Fourth Prince!” Yun Ruoyao replied, followed by murmurs of assent from the gathered crowd.

Yun Ruoyan turned around and peered at the group through a crevice in the rocks. A group of seven or eight people were slowly strolling around the garden and were just about to rest at a nearby pavilion, separated from Yun Ruoyan only by the rock behind her.

To avoid suspicion, Yun Ruoyan was just about to walk away when a pair of hands suddenly grabbed her by the shoulder, and she heard a familiar voice. “Don’t go,” Li Qianhan whispered. “Let’s hear what they have to say.”

Yun Ruoyan frowned when she saw the third prince, not at all surprised that he was the type who liked to eavesdrop. After all, even in their first encounter, he had displayed the characteristics of a gentleman thief.

Naturally, any conversation between the scions of nobility and the royal princes were punctuated with all sorts of flattery. Yun Ruoyan was just about to ignore Li Qianhan and head off when someone finally asked a somewhat interesting question.

“Fourth Prince, are you back at the palace for some other reason than for the crown prince’s wedding?”

If it were solely for the wedding, then the fourth prince would likely leave immediately after; otherwise, he would stay.

“To be quite honest, I’m here for another important task besides,” Li Qianyue replied.

“Oh? Please tell us more, Fourth Prince!”

“Have any of you heard the Demonic Duo?” Li Qianyue asked.

“Fourth Prince, are you talking about the pair of cultivators that terrorized Yuelu Villa not a while ago?” the white-robed youth asked.

Although Yun Ruoyan was bad with directions, she could remember faces remarkably well. The young master who had posed this question was one who had seemed rather smitten with Yun Ruoyao during the flower-viewing party, and he had even interjected on Pei Ziao’s behalf when he was accused of adultery.

“Indeed,” Li Qianyue replied. “Under my grandfather’s orders, I’ve been tasked with capturing that duo.”

Yun Ruoyan’s eyes narrowed: that duo they were talking about was none other than she and Li Mo! Li Qianyue’s return to the palace was partly because he was targeting them.

As the crowd grew more and more curious, Li Qianyue revealed that he already had a few suspects in mind. That night, the demonic duo had flown off on green sword aura. There were only five known cultivators in the Li kingdom who could accomplish such a feat, and he would carefully investigate all five. As for whom they were, Li Qianyue was unwilling to say.

Yun Ruoyan turned to Li Qianhan and noticed that he was paying careful attention to the conversation. Because both of them had retracted their aura, none of the guests in the pavilion had noticed them.

Knowing that Li Qianhan was in cahoots with Li Mo, he would surely reveal the contents of the discussion to him, so she didn’t have to worry about the problem at all. In fact, she didn’t have to concern herself with anything involving Li Mo at all, a particularly soothing thought for her overtaxed mind.

Li Qianyue and the group of scions sat in the pavilion for about a quarter-hour before leaving once more.

“Third Prince, what do you know about your younger brother?” Yun Ruoyan asked, but she didn’t receive a reply. She turned around to find that the third prince had vanished silently during the lull in their conversation.

Night fell quickly, and when it came time for the ceremony, the emperor, empress, and Li Mo all arrived.

Li Qianhan wasn’t by Li Mo’s side; in fact, Yun Ruoyan never saw him again that night. The next day, Yun Ruoyan heard that the Yuelu Villa had once again been pillaged by the Demonic Duo—though this time, in gold rather than in slaves. She guessed that this was a ploy by Li Qianhan to muddy the waters and confuse the ongoing investigation.

The gathered guests stood in silence as the newlyweds finally concluded the wedding ceremony. Although the reception hall was crowded, the guests were orderly; and because of the presence of the emperor, empress, and Li Mo, everyone was quiet and subdued.

When the ceremony was finally over and the crown prince and Yi Qianying had been sent to their wedding suite, the emperor and empress left after giving a brief speech. Finally, the banquet began in full swing.

As the crowd turned rambunctious under the influence of alcohol, Yun Ruoyan left the hall to get some fresh air. She was watching the moon’s reflection in a pond when unfamiliar footsteps came from behind her.

Yun Ruoyan turned to see a beautiful face with a slight smile—the second prince, Li Qianyuan. The smile he’d shown her in front of the Yi manor had left an indelible impression on Yun Ruoyan, but it wasn’t anything good.

Yun Ruoyan was interested in the opposite sex, and she was somewhat unable to accept a man being even more womanly than she was. While she looked at him in consternation, Li Qianyuan had sidled up to her.

“Miss Yun, your dress is lovely. May I ask who designed it?” Yun Ruoyan was about to bow, exchange some superfluous greetings, and leave when Li Qianyuan interrupted her with a question about her dress.

“I’m not sure where it came from either, Your Highness. The Slaughtering King gave it to me as a present.” Yun Ruoyan wanted to end the conversation as soon as possible.

Li Qianyuan frowned almost imperceptibly before he joked, “I didn’t expect that Uncle would have such good taste, considering he never changes his clothes.

Li Mo was always dressed in a black robe, and he wouldn’t look any different even if he changed his robes from day to day. Yun Ruoyan smiled at the little joke, until Li Qianyun continued, “It’s just that this gauze patch isn’t a good match for this dress.”

Yun Ruoyan was wearing a phoenix-orchid gauze patch, and she thought that it fit the dress both in color and style.

“This dress highlights the numerous flowers embroidered on the sleeves and skirt, so a more elegantly designed gauze patch would be in the shape of a butterfly,” Li Qianyuan explained.

“Thank you for your criticism, Second Prince.”

Yun Ruoyan had to admit that Li Qianyuan was correct.

Back in the reception hall, all sorts of officials were crowding around Li Mo, judging that he wouldn’t dare refuse them given the happy occasion. Li Mo accepted a few drinks perfunctorily, but then raised his head to see Yun Ruoyan silently creeping outside.

When someone else tried to toast him, Li Mo’s face darkened, and the officials immediately stopped engaging him. Rid of the crowd, Li Mo followed Yun Ruoyan’s trail to find her conversing happily with Li Qianyuan.

His face darkened once again. Had this woman already forgotten his warning from last time?