Chu Mingyi’s actions today were truly baffling.
Wu Ciyun decided to keep what happened in the study a secret for now, and only told Su Wuke that Chu Mingyi had come this time to discuss the grain supplies for Wuzhou.
Wu Mingzhu and Wu Liangyu, brother and sister, had at first felt distant toward this suddenly-appearing uncle.
However, although Su Wuke looked rough, he was very considerate in his conduct, and soon the two children were clinging to him like little tails, refusing to let go.
When Rong Tan heard about this from the attendants, he felt a bit wistful.
That evening, when Wu Ciyun came to see him, he took the opportunity to ask about the siblings.
“A Yun, are Mingzhu and Liangyu not coming back tonight?”
“General Su took them to the Pingnan Prince’s Residence to see the tiger. The night is cold, and it wouldn’t be convenient to make another trip.”
Wu Ciyun leaned against the couch, turning a page of her book as she spoke casually, “The business in Ning Prefecture is mostly settled. I’ve already ordered the servants to pack our things. In a couple of days, we’ll set out for the Capital.”
The system had been urging her to hurry back to the Capital for the next stage of the plot, and Wu Ciyun was also worried that if she delayed, Prince Rui might seize the initiative, so she moved up their departure by a few days.
Rong Tan had no objection to this.
He gave a gentle response and asked with a smile, “I’ve never been to the Capital. Is it fun there?”
Wu Ciyun didn’t react much, replying perfunctorily, “I suppose it counts as fun. As long as you have enough power, anywhere can be fun.”
Take the Prince of Pingnan, for example. He didn’t like going to the Capital.
Under the Emperor’s nose, he was just an ordinary vassal prince, nothing like being the Local Emperor in Ning Prefecture, calling the wind and summoning the rain as he pleased.
Rong Tan felt that Wu Ciyun’s attitude was softer than usual.
He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder, his fingers playing with a lock of her hair, the scent of soap lingering between them.
He hinted softly, “A Yun, the wound on my collarbone has healed.”
Last time, just as Wu Ciyun was getting interested, she saw the scar left by Xiao Boming’s whip on his collarbone and instantly lost the mood.
The wound hadn’t been serious to begin with, and Rong Tan had spared no expense using precious ointments for several days; now, there was no trace left at all.
Although Wu Ciyun was reading, her mind was still occupied with Chu Mingyi’s strange behavior earlier. She didn’t respond to Rong Tan’s words.
Seeing that Wu Ciyun ignored him, Rong Tan edged closer, determined that tonight he would see this through.
His fingertips slid up from the back of Wu Ciyun’s hand, trailing upward, but when he touched her empty wrist, he seemed to remember something and asked expectantly, “By the way, the prayer beads I had Mingzhu deliver to you today—did you like them?”
“Prayer beads…”
Wu Ciyun paused at the mention. She turned her head slightly to look at Rong Tan and said gently, “They’re indeed a fine thing. Today, when Chu Mingyi came to the residence to discuss matters, he took a great liking to them at first sight. I couldn’t very well refuse a guest, so I gave them to him.”
“Chu Mingyi… You gave my things to Chu Mingyi?”
Rong Tan suddenly sat up, staring at Wu Ciyun in disbelief, his eyes reddening.
“That was my mother’s keepsake…”
He’d only been away from Wu Ciyun for a day, and the children he’d cared for for years had followed someone else home, and even the gift he’d given Wu Ciyun had been snatched away by Chu Mingyi.
“What?”
Wu Ciyun was momentarily stunned, cursing inwardly that Rong Tan should have made things clear before giving gifts. Outwardly, she looked worried and apologetic.
“Sorry, I didn’t know.”
She closed her book and made as if to get up and put on her robe, anxiously saying, “I’ll go find Chu Mingyi and get it back right now…”
“Let it be. It’s late and damp outside, forget it.”
Rong Tan was both aggrieved and dejected, but he still tugged at Wu Ciyun’s sleeve, pulling her back.
Wu Ciyun, following his lead, lay back down, though her expression still carried a hint of difficulty.
“That won’t do. It’s your mother’s keepsake—how can we just let Chu Mingyi take it? We still need to get it back.”
Though Wu Ciyun still hadn’t figured out Rong Tan’s identity, she thought it best to retrieve the item for peace of mind.
After all, the system had said Rong Tan was a member of the Liang Imperial Clan, so his mother was likely a Palace Consort or Princess. She hadn’t discerned anything special about those Frost Jade Prayer Beads, but who knew if they might be some kind of imperial token.
Chu Mingyi’s strange behavior already made Wu Ciyun wary.
Now, she was even less willing to let him get his hands on more leverage.
“A Ming.”
A Ming, who was on night duty under the corridor, hurriedly answered, respectfully saying, “What are your orders, my lady?”
Wu Ciyun thought for a moment and said gently, “Go to the Governor’s Residence and tell them that the Frost Jade Prayer Beads I gave to General Chu today are a keepsake from an old friend. Please ask him to return them for now. If I come across something good in the future, I’ll gift it to General Chu.”
“This…”
A Ming looked troubled and said cautiously, “My lady, it’s already late. General Chu is probably asleep…”
“Just go and check at the Governor’s Residence. If General Chu is already resting, go again tomorrow. If he’s still awake, do as I said.”
“Yes, I understand.”
After giving A Ming his orders, Wu Ciyun meant to say something to comfort Rong Tan, but he turned his head away, a faint look of dejection on his face.
He resented how easily Chu Mingyi had snatched his gift, resented Wu Ciyun’s indifference toward him, and resented his own current lowly state.
Before, Wu Ciyun had casually given the Dagger he’d gifted her to Xiao Boming, and now she’d passed his Prayer Beads on to Chu Mingyi.
The attendants were right—Wu Ciyun didn’t care about him at all, so she could so easily give his things to others.
Rong Tan felt he should harden his heart, but when Wu Ciyun sent someone to get the item back from Chu Mingyi, he instinctively wanted to forgive her, even comforting himself that Wu Ciyun still cared about him.
He hated himself for being like this—anxious and insecure, ruthless, yet so easily shaken by the slightest breeze.
Wu Ciyun, for her part, felt no guilt at all.
Rong Tan had given her the item, so it was hers to do with as she pleased.
Was she supposed to ask the previous owner’s permission every time she gave a gift?
Still, considering Rong Tan’s identity, she put on a show of guilt and said softly, “Don’t worry, I promise I’ll get it back for you…”
Halfway through her sentence, Wu Ciyun suddenly realized something.
She remembered the Prayer Beads were missing a section, and she swallowed the rest of her words.
All Rong Tan’s fault, running around giving away his mother’s keepsake for no reason.
And Chu Mingyi, coming over and stirring up so much trouble for her.
Wu Ciyun felt extremely annoyed.
Seeing Rong Tan silent, she asked, “Are you angry?”
“…No.”
“Don’t say you’re not—you’re obviously angry.”
Wu Ciyun leaned over and bit his cheek in exasperation, but her tone was uncharacteristically gentle.
“If we can’t get it back, when we return to the Capital, I’ll post an Imperial Proclamation to find one for you. I guarantee it’ll be just as good as your original.”
Rong Tan didn’t reply.
He caught Wu Ciyun’s lips, intending to bite her as she had bitten him, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Even the grievance and irritation he’d felt faded away.
He pretended to deepen the kiss fiercely, and when Wu Ciyun didn’t stop him, he took it as permission to go further.
Wu Ciyun’s nightgown was made of the finest silk, chosen by Rong Tan himself, flowing like water.
She sank into the soft brocade quilt, waves of spring surging over her.
Her breath was unsteady, and after a while, she couldn’t help but let out a muffled moan.
“Are you a dog? Why do you keep biting people?”
Wu Ciyun opened her eyes slightly, wanting to kick Rong Tan, but she had no strength left, and instead he caught her ankle.
Rong Tan looked up at her, his striking features tinged with allure.
He licked the moisture from his lips and said innocently, “Can’t I bite? I thought you’d like it.”
***
A Ming had always been quick and efficient. Carrying a wooden box, he hurried back from the Governor’s Residence, returning even faster than expected.
Hearing the commotion, Rong Tan opened the door and saw A Ming standing outside.
His expression softened a little as he gently asked, “Did you get it back?”
A Ming looked troubled and said awkwardly, “General Chu said the beads my lady gave him have already been passed on to someone else, so it’s probably impossible to retrieve them. He also sent these things over, saying my lady can pick whichever she likes.”
Rong Tan opened the box for a glance. Inside, it was filled with all kinds of Gold and Silver Jewelry, but not the Frost Jade Prayer Beads he was looking for.
His face immediately turned cold as he said icily, “Who would want Chu Mingyi’s worthless trinkets?”
“I want them. Put them in the storeroom for me.”
Wu Ciyun, who had been resting with her eyes closed, called out gently toward the door.
Rong Tan’s face showed a hint of displeasure. He snapped the box shut and handed it back to A Ming with a cold voice, “Be sure to register them in the ledger.”
A Ming agreed and hurried off with the box.
Rong Tan slowly returned to the inner chamber.
He saw Wu Ciyun lying on her side with her eyes closed. He lay down beside her and hugged her tightly.
“A Yun, bring Mingzhu and Liangyu back tomorrow.”
Rong Tan buried his face in her neck, his tone faintly aggrieved, “They’re our children. How can they go with someone else…”
“They’re not someone else, that’s their real uncle.”
Wu Ciyun replied casually, “With them not at home, you can rest a few more days and recover your health.”
Rong Tan felt somewhat comforted at her words.
After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Is General Su going to the Capital with us?”
“For now, no. The servants who look after Mingzhu and Liangyu, and the attendants who serve me, will go. As for the rest, you decide.”
Wu Ciyun paused, suddenly opening her eyes to add, “There’ll be a new person arriving at the residence tomorrow. He’ll be coming to the Capital with us, too—make sure to look after him.”