A Precious Pearl in the Imperial City

Chapter 38

"Zhuzhu." Uncle Ming lifted his wide sleeve to pour Prince Chen a cup of tea: "His Highness Prince Chen has come today to discuss matters with your uncle. You see..."

"Uncle, official business comes first. You and His Highness take your time." Jiuzhu stood up. "I'll fetch more fruits and pastries."

"Little sister." Ming Cunfu chased her out to the courtyard gate, only to see Jiuzhu nimbly hop over the wall with practiced ease. He silently raised his sleeve to cover his face and sighed.

"Young Master." A servant approached him from behind. "The master asks you to retrieve the military strategy books he personally wrote from his study."

"Military strategy books?" Ming Cunfu felt a foreboding sense of dread. Surely his father didn’t mean those self-written manuscripts of his?

"Did Father specify which books?"

"The master said the ones on the fifth shelf from the left, third row."

So it really was those.

Ming Cunfu entered his father’s study, located the designated shelf, and pulled out all the books, dust flying as he patted them off. The thick cloud of dust sent him into a coughing fit.

"Are we lending these to His Highness or throwing out trash?" Ming Cunfu worried that one day his father would offend Prince Chen and get exiled to the borderlands again.

He took an ornate wooden book box from a nearby shelf and stuffed the books inside, cramming them tightly until they looked somewhat like treasured volumes.

When he returned to the courtyard with the books, the stone table was already laden with fruits and pastries. His little cousin was holding a teapot, pouring tea for Prince Chen, who was peeling an orange. Before finishing, he plucked a segment and held it to Jiuzhu’s lips.

"Father, I’ve brought the books." Ming Cunfu set them down and took the teapot from Jiuzhu’s hands. "Your Highness, please enjoy your tea."

Prince Chen glanced at Ming Cunfu, then placed the orange segment into Jiuzhu’s palm instead before turning to Ming Jinghai. "Minister Ming, is your son pursuing the imperial examinations?"

Ming Jinghai nodded.

"A scholar’s time is as precious as gold. Young Master Ming need not linger here." Prince Chen finished peeling the orange and handed all the fruit to Jiuzhu. "Young Master Ming, you should return to your studies."

In the end, Ming Cunfu was dismissed to his study. He patted the silver notes in his pocket, glanced at the wall through the window, then rolled up his sleeves and climbed out.

Though undignified for a scholar to climb walls, for the sake of the girl he admired, propriety mattered little.

"Master!" A servant rushed into the courtyard. "The young master has injured his leg!"

"What happened?" Though Ming Jinghai often complained about his son, he immediately stood and hurried over.

"The young master was climbing the wall, slipped, and fell."

"The bone was dislocated, but I’ve set it back." The imperial physician finished bandaging Ming Cunfu’s leg and washed his hands. "Minister Ming, rest assured. Your son is fine—just needs to stay off his feet and recuperate at home for some time."

"Thank you, Lord He." Ming Jinghai personally escorted the physician out before sighing. Young people these days were far too frail.

Prince Chen hadn’t expected his first visit to Ming Jinghai’s home to coincide with the man’s son breaking his leg. He glanced discreetly at Ming Jinghai, wondering if Jiuzhu’s uncle harbored superstitious beliefs—what if he blamed him for bringing bad luck?

"What an achievement—injuring yourself just by climbing a wall." Ming Jinghai reentered the room, scolding without mercy as he tucked his son in. "Even the dog Jiuzhu keeps could leap out of our courtyard without trouble."

Ming Cunfu: "..."

That wasn’t a dog—it was Jiuzhu’s beloved short-legged white pony, and it definitely couldn’t jump over walls.

Prince Chen silently lifted the heavy book box and stood. "Minister Ming, tend to your son. I shall take my leave."

Best to depart early, lest Ming Jinghai suspect this misfortune was his doing.

Scholars overthink things—caution was necessary.

"Your Highness, let me see you off." Jiuzhu stood up.

"Jiuzhu, wait." Ming Cunfu stretched out from under the blanket, stubbornly clutching her sleeve. "Do your sixth brother a small favor."

Jiuzhu turned to look at him, and Prince Chen paused as well.

"Sixth Brother, just tell me what you need." Jiuzhu was fond of Ming Cunfu. On their journey back to the capital from Lingzhou, he had taken great care of her, easing her worries about returning home by describing every family member, every plant in the household, and how much they had missed her.

"It’s nothing much." With his father and Prince Chen present, Ming Cunfu hesitated before pulling a poetry collection from under his pillow. "Miss Zhou from the Zhou family wanted this book. I happened to have it and planned to deliver it today, but then this happened. Could you take it to her for me?"

"Of course!" Jiuzhu tucked the book into her robes. "I’ll go right away."

"Also... Miss Zhou isn’t at her residence. She’s at Qingyun Teahouse." Ming Cunfu dug out forty taels of freshly acquired silver notes, then added twenty taels from his monthly allowance. "Accompany her to pick out some jewelry. Buy whatever she likes—or anything you fancy. This money... your sixth brother will cover it."

"Thank you, Sixth Brother!" Jiuzhu took the pouch of silver, but when she reached for the notes, Ming Cunfu’s grip didn’t loosen.

"Spend freely, especially on what Miss Zhou likes. Don’t hold back on my account." With that, he released the money and shut his eyes. "Go on."

"Alright." Jiuzhu secured the silver notes and pouch. "Sixth Brother is so generous."

The only reply was Ming Cunfu silently pulling the blanket over his face.

"I already had forty taels, and Sixth Brother gave me sixty—that makes a hundred!" Clutching the heavy pouch, Jiuzhu’s steps were light as she crossed the threshold.

Prince Chen, following behind, snorted. A mere hundred taels, and she’d already forgotten about him. Was he worth less than silver?

"So happy?" He quickened his pace to walk beside her, crossing his arms. "I’ll be leaving now."

"Mhm." Jiuzhu nodded cheerfully. "Safe travels, Your Highness."

"Nothing else to say?" Prince Chen took two slow steps before glancing back.

"Ah?" Jiuzhu blinked in confusion. "About what?"

"Never mind." He mounted his horse. "Have fun with your friend. I’m returning to the Ministry of Rites."

Women were all little deceivers. Once, she’d claimed Prince Chen was the best—now, with a hundred taels and a friend, she couldn’t even spare him a few more words.

Hmph. As a grown man, he couldn’t be bothered with a girl’s whims. Fewer words meant fewer troubles.

Jiuzhu hugged the pouch, watching the dust kicked up by galloping hooves as she waved at Prince Chen’s retreating figure.

He turned to see her waving, flicked his riding whip halfheartedly in response, and vanished around the street corner.

"His Highness seemed a bit upset." Jiuzhu frowned. "Could the Ministry of Rites be too demanding?"

She touched the poetry collection tucked in her sleeve and decided to first deliver the message for Sixth Brother. She couldn’t let Miss Zhou doubt his feelings just because she was slow.

Arriving at the teahouse, Jiuzhu immediately spotted Zhou Xiao, who was eagerly glancing toward the entrance.

"Miss Zhou!" Jiuzhu hurried over, slightly out of breath. "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Zhou Xiao peered behind her, a faint trace of disappointment in her smile. "Sit down and have some tea. Why are you in such a rush? And where’s your maid?"

"I came out today to run an errand for Sixth Brother." Jiuzhu pulled out the poetry collection and handed it to Zhou Xiao. "After hearing you were looking for this book, he

"Protect His Highness!"

The crowd, stunned by the sudden attack, scattered in panic, fearing they too might be arrested as accomplices. Better to flee now—there would always be other spectacles to witness. Being jailed for treason wasn’t worth it.

"Ah!" Jiuzhu gasped at the sight of Prince Qi’s bloodied chest. She whispered to Zhou Xiao, "That woman… she doesn’t seem like an ordinary prisoner."

Who else but a trained assassin could kowtow so fiercely with bound limbs?

Was Prince Qi a fool not to notice such an obvious flaw?

"Don’t say anything—let’s go!" Zhou Xiao tugged at Jiuzhu’s sleeve, ready to bolt.

"Young ladies, wait!" A guard blocked their path. "Who are you?"

"These two are the daughters of Vice Minister Zhou and Vice Minister Ming. Show respect." Prince Qi, pale and clutching his wound, spoke weakly. "Miss Zhou, Miss Ming, this is no place for you. Please leave at once."

Jiuzhu glanced at the assassin, now motionless on the ground—whether dead or unconscious, she couldn’t tell.

Suddenly, a thought struck her. She lifted her skirts and ran.

"Jiuzhu! Where are you going?" Zhou Xiao called after her.

"I need to check on Prince Chen—what if he’s in danger too?" Jiuzhu shouted over her shoulder, already far ahead. Despite her haste, she never let go of the parcel of snacks in her hand.

Prince Qi frowned, watching Jiuzhu’s unladylike sprint through the streets.

"Your Highness, please rest inside—the imperial physician will arrive shortly." The guard captain’s face was ashen, his voice trembling.

"It’s nothing. A flesh wound, nothing vital." Supported by the guard captain, Prince Qi reclined on a hastily prepared couch in the inner courtyard.

Amid the chaos, his eyes narrowed. Which of his dear brothers had orchestrated this?

Or was it one of the imperial consorts, eager to clear obstacles for their sons?

"Your Highness!" The moment Prince Chen stepped out of the Ministry of Rites’ gates, Jiuzhu barreled toward him like a gust of wind.

She yanked him behind the gates, scanning their surroundings nervously. "Your Highness, the guards here—they’re highly skilled, right?"

"Of course. They’re handpicked elites from the Dragon Garrison." Prince Chen pulled out a handkerchief, dabbing at her sweat-drenched forehead with mock disapproval. "What’s gotten into you, running around like this?"

Hadn’t she barely spared him a word this morning, too busy spending silver with her friends?

Now she came looking for him?

"I ran too fast on the way here, that’s all." Jiuzhu shook her head urgently. "Listen, from now on, never go out without guards. Don’t approach strangers either—the capital is too dangerous!"

Prince Chen’s expression darkened. He tucked the soiled handkerchief into his sleeve and motioned for a fresh one. "What happened?"

"After shopping for jewelry with Miss Zhou, we stopped to watch the Wang Family’s confiscation. Then Prince Qi got slashed across the chest—there was so much blood!" Her words tumbled out in a rush. "He’s a prince, and so are you. What if the same people come after you next?"

"You ran here—all the way from the Wang Family?" Prince Chen’s voice rose. "Straight to the Ministry of Rites?"

Jiuzhu blinked. "Wh-what’s wrong?"

What’s wrong?!

Even by carriage, the journey from the Wang Family to the Ministry of Rites took nearly an hour.

And she had sprinted the entire distance on foot—just to warn him?

"Now that I’ve seen you’re safe, I can relax." She shoved a greased paper package into his hands. "Here, share these snacks with your colleagues. I tasted them first—they’re delicious."

"Jiuzhu." Prince Chen reached out, gently brushing away the dust from her cheek with his thumb, his voice tender and achingly soft: "Are you really such a silly little thing?"