Chapter 17: Unfinished Business

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Rong Yan glanced at the few letters before him, his interest waning. “Put them down.”

“Yes.” Jin Song placed the letters on the small table and spoke in a low voice, “In recent days, His Majesty has often summoned the Fifth Prince to the Qianxun Hall, where he stays for two full hours each time. Even Zhang Fulai is not allowed to attend.”

“I have also heard... that the Fifth Prince is very close to General Zhou.”

“It seems that in my absence these five years, Rong Lin has been far from idle,” Rong Yan narrowed his eyes, a shadow of gloom flickering within. He spoke softly, “Consort Jing is a fool. Rong Lin is merely raised by her, not her own child. Yet she dares to invoke her natal family's power to support him.”

“A wet nurse can never compare to a birth mother. Once Rong Lin has grown strong wings, the Zhou family will be the first to be eliminated!”

Rong Yan brushed aside the teacup on the desk, its sharp clink echoing through the hall, adding to the tension.

“You may go now. Tell Zhang Fulai to keep a low profile and avoid exposure.”

“Yes.”

After Jin Song left, the vast bedchamber was left with only Rong Yan. He tore open one of the letters on the table, and the first words that met his eyes were two characters:

— Ah Yan.

Such a familiar and intimate address.

Rong Yan curled his lips, a sneer hidden in his eyes.

In the past, his relationship with Yun Shengsheng had been close and intimate. Despite their affection, even when they had kissed and embraced, she had always addressed him formally as “Your Highness,” never by name.

And now, after he had left her for two days, she was suddenly eager to approach him.

Rong Yan read further. The letter contained only two brief sentences, inviting him to meet at the Yipin Teahouse that night.

“So late...” Rong Yan frowned, puzzled. “Why insist on meeting in the dead of night?”

After a moment’s thought, he held the letter close to the candle flame. The paper instantly ignited and was consumed by fire.

—

Deep into the night, the Yipin Teahouse still glowed with candlelight. The second floor’s private room was fully furnished, suitable for guests to stay overnight.

Yun Shengsheng sat by the bedside, her fingers nervously twisting the sleeve of her gown, glancing repeatedly toward the silent door.

“Miss, do you think he will still come?” Yu Mo hesitated before speaking softly, “It’s quite late. Perhaps we should leave? What if your disguise as Yu Heng is discovered...”

“Silence!” Yun Shengsheng snapped under her breath, her face pale and strained. “If it weren’t for your poor watchfulness, how would the Crown Prince have discovered my secret meeting with the prince? If there is a rift between me and the Crown Prince, I will not forgive you!”

Her breath was rapid, clearly furious.

She had sent the Crown Prince three letters, all unanswered, vanished without a trace.

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It wasn’t until that morning, after her repeated inquiries about the Crown Prince’s condition, that Jin Song, annoyed by her persistence, revealed that the Crown Prince had secretly come to see him that day.

Yun Shengsheng’s anxiety deepened; her longing to see Rong Yan grew desperate.

The young prince had been cold to her. Now, she could only cling tightly to the Crown Prince to keep some hope.

As the night deepened, Yun Shengsheng’s heart sank bit by bit. With a long sigh, she said, “Forget it, let’s go.”

Yu Mo dared not disobey, quickly grabbing a cloak and following her mistress out.

As the door to the private room opened, Yun Shengsheng looked up and met the cold, indifferent eyes of a man.

“Your High... Ah Yan!”

Yun Shengsheng could hardly believe her eyes. The one she had waited for so long had finally appeared. Tears welled quickly in her eyes as she clasped his large hand and whispered, “You finally came...”

Taking advantage of Rong Yan’s entrance, Yu Mo slipped away in time, leaving the two alone.

Rong Yan lowered his gaze to the woman before him and said in a low voice, “Why have you summoned me?”

Yun Shengsheng’s heart skipped a beat. Tentatively, she nestled into his embrace and murmured, “Ah Yan... I miss you.”

Rong Yan’s brow immediately furrowed. He pulled her from his arms and said sternly, “If you miss me, why have you secretly met with the imperial uncle?”

He had been following her!

Yun Shengsheng blinked, biting her rosy lips, and said softly, “My father threatened to take his life, forcing me to seize a chance to meet the prince. But Ah Yan, you are still the one I want to marry!”

Rong Yan remained unmoved, simply watching her quietly. “How can I ever trust your words again?”

“Ah Sheng, you know how much I hate betrayal.”

Yun Shengsheng’s body trembled, a flash of grievance crossing her face. After hesitating for a long moment, she summoned her courage and asked, “Ah Yan, do you remember what we left unfinished last year on Mount Fo?”

At those words, Rong Yan visibly froze.

A year ago on a rainy night, he and Yun Shengsheng had secretly met at the back mountain. The rain soaked their clothes, forcing them to take shelter in an empty small cabin.

Beneath the moonlight, the girl in a soaked brocade gown had curled up in his arms, captivatingly delicate.

That day, Rong Yan had already removed her outer clothes. Just as he was lost in passion, she had suddenly stopped him, saying it was improper, then quickly dressed herself...

“Ah Yan...”

Rong Yan came back to himself, his eyes falling on her hesitant and blushing face.

Yun Shengsheng steeled herself, lightly pulling at her own waistband and drawing it aside, cheeks flushed with shame. “Tonight... let us finish what we began then.”

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No sooner had she spoken than her body was swept up and thrown onto the bed behind.

Moonlight spilled in, the bedframe creaking violently. Lost in passion, Yun Shengsheng clung to his back, tears streaming down her cheeks. She stared fixedly at the bedframe, refusing to close her eyes, her heart filled with a single thought.

She must, absolutely must become the most honored woman in the world.

Rong Yan closed his eyes, his handsome face buried in her neck. Though engaged in such intimate acts, his mind was calculating whether Yun Zhongkui might become his ally.

Night deepened as the two embraced and fell asleep—sharing the same bed, yet dreaming different dreams, each with their own schemes.

—

Jing’an Prince’s Mansion

Sheng Mingyue tossed and turned, unable to find rest no matter which way she turned. Her mind kept replaying the face she had glimpsed today.

That face had appeared repeatedly in her memory, but it should never have appeared in the capital...

The next day, still under an overcast sky, Sheng Mingyue rose early.

Hearing the movement, Song Guo, who had been sleeping outside, thought the mansion was under attack. She immediately leapt from her bed, clutching a pillow as a weapon. Upon seeing Sheng Mingyue, she was shocked. “Miss, why are you up earlier than the rooster?”

Sheng Mingyue, dark circles under her eyes, sat ghostlike at the table and whispered, “I couldn’t sleep well last night. My mind is full of worries, so I woke early.”

Song Guo sat beside her, rubbing her tired eyes. “Miss, what troubles you so?”

Steeling herself, Sheng Mingyue spoke softly, “I want to leave the mansion to see my father.”

“Leave the mansion again?” Song Guo was alarmed, suddenly wide awake. “Miss, please spare me! The prince has left instructions: if you wish to leave, you must seek his permission yourself.”

Sheng Mingyue sighed deeply and murmured, “At dawn, I will go to find the prince.”

After what felt like an eternity, dawn finally broke.

Sheng Mingyue slipped quietly into the neighboring courtyard but found the gate slightly ajar and no sign of Yun Lai.

Tentatively, she pushed the door open and called out to the prince twice. Hearing no response, she was about to knock when the door was suddenly pulled open from within.

In a flash, Rong Zhao appeared before her, dressed only in his undergarments.