Chapter 20: The Scent of Ebony

“Liang Mingyu pays respects to His Highness Prince Jin, may you be blessed.”

Xia Qiqi knelt inside the hall, bowing her head in submission.

From the moment she stepped through the palace doors, her mind was consumed by the scene she had secretly witnessed that night on the prime minister’s rooftop.

Alas!

She was about to confront that scoundrel prince face to face; she found it almost unbearable to look directly at him.

As Xia Qiqi entered, Chu Hanxiao, standing with his back to the door and hands clasped behind him, caught a faint scent of ebony wood.

It was exactly the same fragrance he had noticed on the prime minister’s rooftop and in the stables at Anzhou Post Station!

Sure enough, she was right there beside Liang Mingyu.

Before coming to Yuhua Garden, Yu Chi had reported that after the servant Ayi brought the prince’s household back from the camp, she lingered for some time outside the gates of Yuhua Garden.

At the time, he suspected that the secret guard had already entered the prince’s residence.

Now, catching that ebony wood scent again, he was certain of his suspicions.

Since she was already inside the prince’s mansion, finding her was only a matter of time.

Chu Hanxiao felt a surge of silent joy but maintained a composed expression. Turning around, he coldly asked Xia Qiqi, “What is your report?”

Xia Qiqi clasped her hands together and knelt once more, “I humbly seek an audience, wishing to ask His Highness for a favor.”

A faint smile lifted the corner of Chu Hanxiao’s lips as he swept aside his robe and sat down on a round chair. “Stand and speak.”

Slowly, Xia Qiqi rose, biting her lip and lifting her eyes to meet Chu Hanxiao’s gaze.

Golden crown, jade belt, crimson brocade robe, and a white fox fur cloak—he stood in the hall, commanding respect without uttering a word.

It was him.

He was Chu Hanxiao.

Why was it him?

The very same handsome guard she had encountered on the prime minister’s rooftop, whose beauty had moved her to tears.

Suddenly, Xia Qiqi recalled that she had even told him once that His Highness Prince Jin should take his medicine.

For a moment, Xia Qiqi felt such embarrassment she could have scraped out an entire three-bedroom mansion.

“Uh, well... um...” Her tongue betrayed her, and she forgot what she was about to say.

The woman kneeling before him was truly Liang Mingyu?

Meanwhile, Chu Hanxiao was also momentarily stunned. This was not the same woman he had seen indulging herself in the prime minister’s study.

He clearly remembered the female secret guard saying that the woman in the study was the prime minister’s daughter.

Though the eldest legitimate daughter of the prime minister’s house before him bore a four or five-point resemblance to the woman in the study, Chu Hanxiao was utterly certain they were not the same person.

In terms of posture and bearing, Liang Mingyu resembled the female secret guard more closely, but their appearances and temperaments were entirely different.

“Isn’t the prime minister’s house known for strict rules? How is it that Miss Liang doesn’t even know how to speak?” Chu Hanxiao tugged at the corner of his mouth, his tone playfully mocking. “Though, you do look quite well cared for.”

“You!” Xia Qiqi was choked with anger.

How could he openly insult Liang Mingyu, the legitimate wife bestowed upon him by the emperor?

She had once admired this reserved, handsome man in her heart upon first meeting him.

Who would have thought he was as arrogant and wild as the rumors said?

If he weren’t a prince, she might not have tolerated a bit of his insolence.

Xia Qiqi stepped forward two paces, approaching Chu Hanxiao’s face, deliberately scrutinizing him from head to toe, a smile curling her lips. “The emperor’s legitimate son is nothing special.”

How dare she?

Chu Hanxiao was taken aback. The image of Liang Mingyu in his mind had already been overturned several times.

At first, when the emperor arranged the marriage, his mother had praised Liang Mingyu highly, saying the prime minister’s eldest daughter was gentle and virtuous—a perfect match.

Yet, after that night on the prime minister’s rooftop, he had come to believe Liang Mingyu was a well-mannered lady on the surface but secretly a shameless wanton.

But now, this Liang Mingyu before him was completely different from what he had known before.

Beneath the outward beauty lay an indescribable uniqueness.

Yes.

Moreover, her eyes occasionally flickered with a mischievous gleam that stirred a strange familiarity in Chu Hanxiao.

Before he could ponder further, gentle whispers reached his ear again: “I humbly request, Your Highness, to return the maid Chuntao to me.”

Xia Qiqi struggled to suppress her temper, trying her best to act more like Liang Mingyu.

Her earlier retort to Chu Hanxiao nearly made her forget she was merely a stand-in.

Even if insulted, it was Liang Mingyu who was humiliated—a scion of the Liang family.

She, Xia Qiqi, had nothing to do with it.

Chu Hanxiao said nothing and rose to leave the hall. As he passed by Xia Qiqi, the familiar ebony wood fragrance struck his nostrils once more.

His steps faltered, and he leaned close to her ear, lowering his voice: “The wedding will be in three days.”

Having spoken, he turned without looking back and strode out of Yuhua Garden.

Wait!

Wasn’t the wedding date supposed to be renegotiated?

Why was it suddenly set for three days later again?

Hey!

And what about Chuntao?

When Xia Qiqi came to her senses and hurried to the gate of Yuhua Garden, Chu Hanxiao’s figure was already gone.

The next morning, the usually silent Yuhua Garden suddenly buzzed with activity.

Chuntao and Aunt Wu were led into the hall by Hua’er. The moment Chuntao saw Xia Qiqi, her eyes instantly reddened.

“Miss, I’ve finally found you.”

Xia Qiqi gently patted Chuntao’s shoulder, offering comfort, “It’s alright now.”

Only Aunt Wu, after Hua’er left, stepped forward anxiously and asked, “Has His Highness Prince Jin grown suspicious?”

Xia Qiqi gave Aunt Wu a cold glance. “Did the one hundred and twenty chests of dowry arrive with you?”

Aunt Wu hesitated, thinking Xia Qiqi feared eavesdropping, and quickly bowed her head in compliance. “This old servant was worried for Miss’s safety and acted rashly.”

Xia Qiqi turned away, her expression indifferent. “This is the Jin Prince’s mansion. Aunt Wu, you must constantly remind yourself of your position and avoid causing any scandal.”

Aunt Wu suddenly felt she hardly recognized this stand-in before her.

Where was the trace of a mere substitute in that cold, lofty demeanor?

She was clearly the prime minister’s eldest daughter, the future Princess Consort of Jin!

“The one hundred and twenty chests of dowry have all been delivered and stored in the Jin Prince’s mansion. Here is the inventory list handed over to the housekeeper,” Aunt Wu hurriedly presented a list she had kept close, as if fearing Xia Qiqi would reproach her for shirking responsibility.

“Chuntao, keep the list safe,” Xia Qiqi took the list, glanced over it briefly, then handed it to Chuntao to store properly.

Aunt Wu’s complexion changed again and again.

As the housekeeper from the prime minister’s mansion accompanying this stand-in bride to the Jin Prince’s residence, she was originally there to supervise Xia Qiqi.

Yet, not only had she suffered many setbacks along the way, now she was treated as less than a mere maid.

Her heart filled with resentment, but she could do nothing against Xia Qiqi.

If Xia Qiqi’s true identity were discovered, they would all die.

Xia Qiqi turned and instructed her, “Aunt Wu, have Hua’er take you to get some good charcoal, so you can familiarize yourself with the mansion’s layout.”

Aunt Wu bowed her head and replied, “Yes, Miss.”

She understood Xia Qiqi’s meaning: this was a mission to gather information.

After Aunt Wu left, Chuntao approached Xia Qiqi. Before speaking, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

“Miss, are you really going to become the Princess Consort of Jin?”