Chapter 27: Exposing the Truth 3

"It doesn't quite look the same as what I saw that day."

He remembered clearly that when he was drifting in and out of consciousness, the golden locket had been engraved with auspicious clouds and the sun. But today, why did it seem to have changed to soaring clouds and a full moon?

Lin Wanyue’s heart skipped a beat. She knew her mother had the lock crafted at the Eight Treasures Pavilion. She and Lin Zhaozhao each had one. But her mother had always been biased; who knew if the one given to Lin Zhaozhao was slightly larger, thus sparking suspicion?

Her palms were slick with sweat, but she explained with a composed expression, "What do you mean it doesn't look the same? I actually have two locks that I rotate wearing. Perhaps the one you saw that day was the other, larger one?"

"The size doesn't seem different, it’s just... never mind, it’s nothing."

Arulang thought to himself that under the Emperor’s domain, no one would dare falsely claim credit. Besides, among all the noble ladies in the capital, he had never seen anyone wear such a heavy lock around their neck—didn't they find it cumbersome? Truly, she was his savior; she was just different from other women.

Just as he was about to say more, a rustling sound suddenly emerged from the rockery.

Something was wrong!

His instinct for danger made Arulang step back quickly.

*Whoosh!* A dark shadow flashed by.

Lin Qingci looked up in haste, only to see a pure black cat leap down from the rockery, heading straight for Lin Wanyue’s feet, emitting a guttural hiss: "Meow!"

"Ah!" Lin Wanyue shrieked.

Since childhood, she had been terrified of the eyes of cats and dogs, always feeling that such creatures were uncanny and unsettling. Startled, she stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

Lin Qingci rushed forward, shooing the black cat away, and hurried to her side. "Sister, are you alright?"

"Quick, take this cat away! Who let this cat into the manor?" Lin Wanyue’s face had turned deathly pale from fright.

"You're afraid of cats?" Arulang asked, puzzled.

"Doesn't Your Highness think this cat is wild and untamed, and truly frightening?" Lin Wanyue’s voice choked with emotion. Especially in front of the young prince of Northern Rong, she figured that such a handsome and dashing young man must surely prefer delicate, fragile girls. She shed tears, turning her head to reveal her left profile. "I am so afraid of cats!"

She had practiced in front of a bronze mirror many times, knowing well that her left profile was more beautiful and pitiable than her right. With her tear-filled, soulful eyes, she exuded a vulnerable charm that easily stirred a man’s protective instincts.

Arulang stared at her. His fingertips curled slightly at his sides. His chest tightened.

It wasn't pity—it was that something felt wrong... something felt very wrong.

He didn't know how to describe this strange sensation. The black cat that had lunged at them was only the size of his palm, an unweaned kitten of about three or four months old. In Northern Rong, many women of status not only kept cats but even raised leopards and wolf packs! It was not unusual for Central Plains women to be delicate and afraid of cats. But for this to be true of a woman who had dared to treat his snakebite was too strange! Would a healer be afraid of such things?

She was not the young woman he had imagined!

Arulang worried that she might not be his savior after all, but to ask outright—what if she truly was the right person? Wouldn't that hurt her feelings? So, he raised his hand to help her up. "Be careful, Wanyue! I suddenly remembered some matters to discuss with my subordinates. Why don't you go to the front hall and wait for me? We shall enjoy the flowers together in a while!"

He sounded sincere, and paired with his handsome appearance, it caused Lin Wanyue’s face to flush. "Mm-hmm!"

Lin Qingci looked on, feeling unsettled. "This man, the moment he arrived, he was fawning over you, Sister. And now he changes his tune—I can't imagine what business is so pressing that he must abandon you, his savior, to attend to it!" He added, "Also, Sister, you know how to treat snakebite? How come I never knew that?"

Lin Wanyue inexplicably did not want her brother to know she was claiming credit for something she hadn't done; after all, at Lin Qingci’s age, he was most intolerant of wrongdoing. Besides, falsely claiming credit wasn't a big deal to her. If not for Lin Zhaozhao returning to the manor, she would still be the only young lady of the Qingyuan Marquis Manor. Lin Zhaozhao had taken so much of her affection—perhaps even the heavens couldn't bear it and intended for her to be compensated! She was simply setting things back to their rightful place.

She replied vaguely, "...It was something I learned by chance! Come, let us go to the front hall!"

Meanwhile, Arulang returned and nodded slightly at his father and Lin Qingwu.

"What is it?" Lin Qingwu asked with concern, though his face remained impassive. "Does the young prince have some matter to attend to? My sister..."

"No, it is just that my stomach is feeling a bit uneasy and I need to use the privy. The manor is too large. Father, could I ask Kaman to accompany me?"

Altai had no objections. Once they reached a secluded spot, Kaman asked, "Young Prince, why did you ask me to come out?"

"Kaman, my heart is truly uneasy. Do this: climb over the wall now and go buy a..." Arulang’s voice dropped to a whisper.

*

As for the front hall, the moment Lin Wanyue arrived, she heard the steward say that someone had been sent from the palace.

"Who was sent? Is it to confer the title of County Lady upon me?" Lin Wanyue asked excitedly, "Why does it feel like such a grand display?"

"Oh, Miss, 'grand' is an understatement! It's not just Eunuch Jinbao who has come, but the Ninth Prince as well!"

What?

Just as Lin Wanyue was stunned, Eunuch Jinbao and the Ninth Prince, Jun Wuchen, followed the chief steward of the Qingyuan Marquis Manor into the floral hall.

The ladies who had been admiring the chrysanthemums all looked up. The man walking in front was tall and lithe, with broad shoulders and long legs. A dragon-shaped buckle hung at his waist. His high bridge of the nose and deep-set eyes made him stand out like a crane among chickens, casting a shadow over the young noblemen present.

A woman nearby gasped in exclamation, "My heavens, the young lady of the Qingyuan Marquis Manor has such incredible fortune!"

"It would be one thing if Eunuch Jinbao, the Emperor’s favorite, had come to read the decree, but the Ninth Prince is here too!"

"The Ninth Prince was born to the Empress! He is the Emperor's most favored; who knows, he might inherit the throne one day!"

"I heard that the young lady of the Qingyuan Marquis Manor once helped the Ninth Prince’s wet nurse. You don't think the Prince is here for..."

"What are you all babbling about?" a girl who admired the Ninth Prince said discontentedly. "Perhaps the Ninth Prince just received an invitation and came to view the chrysanthemums! Lin Wanyue only saved a nurse; is she really worthy of the Ninth Prince coming in person to read a decree?"

When the crowd realized the speaker was the young lady of the Duke of Zhen’s manor, they stopped their rebuttals.

Soon, Lady Han pulled Lin Wanyue and the rest of the crowd who had come to watch the spectacle forward to receive the decree.

Although Eunuch Jinbao held the scroll, the Ninth Prince had been visiting the Emperor when the decree was drafted and, hearing of the matter, had asked to come along to the Qingyuan Marquis Manor. Eunuch Jinbao had also heard of how Lin Wanyue helped the Prince’s wet nurse on the street. One was a top talent of the capital, the other a prince born of the Empress. He surmised the Ninth Prince had taken a liking to her, so after everyone knelt, he coughed and whispered, "Your Highness, the decree..."

"Go ahead and read it."

Eunuch Jinbao hurried to recite, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The daughter of the Qingyuan Marquis, Lin Wanyue, is gentle, virtuous, and wise. She remained calm in the face of danger and saved the young prince of Northern Rong from peril. I hereby confer upon her the title of Lady Yongning. Thus it is decreed!"

Once Eunuch Jinbao finished, as everyone shouted "Long live the Emperor," he quickly bent down to help Lady Han up. "Old Madam, take your time!"