Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Three days later, the birthday banquet.

This birthday banquet was a grand affair.

Prince Zhenbei and the reigning Emperor were full brothers born of the same mother. After the Emperor ascended the throne, Prince Zhenbei voluntarily requested assignment to the bitter cold of the Northern Border, garrisoning Liangzhou for many years. He earned great renown in the Northern Border and gradually built up a massive power base.

Aside from military officers, the banquet also hosted many civil officials from various prefectures of the Northern Border.

The estate’s Shadow Guard were all mobilized, covertly keeping a close eye on every movement to prevent any incidents.

Sheng Zhaoning was ordered to stand guard outside Wujin Hall. Her black clothes blended into the night, a sword in hand, her expression cold and detached. Occasionally, fine snowflakes fell on her brows, bringing a slight, chill dampness.

Those around her tacitly avoided her, as if shunning an evil spirit.

Sheng Zhaoning was, aside from Han Xu, the only Shadow Guard who operated openly. Her fierce reputation preceded her, and everyone steered clear.

Expressionless, she watched the comings and goings at the banquet, her gaze sweeping over every face, then quickly moving on without lingering, as if searching for something.

Under the bright lanterns, she subconsciously rubbed her fingertips against the hilt of her sword.

He… didn’t come?

Sheng Zhaoning lowered her gaze, her eyelashes drooping slightly.

Ever since killing Chen Shao, she hadn’t seen Wei Yi again. According to people from the Northern Garden, he had been in very low spirits lately, and the servants attending him were treading on eggshells, fearful of provoking him.

She wanted to see him, desperately.

Yet she was also afraid to see him.

She feared seeing disgust and irritation in his eyes, and even more, she feared that seeing her would worsen his mood.

Thus, this extreme longing had reached its peak.

Even just a glimpse, like a rat or ant that shuns the light, would be enough.

Sheng Zhaoning hung her head and turned away, the shadows cast by the eaves covering her. She hadn’t yet taken a step when a haughty voice suddenly rang out behind her: “Halt!”

Her brow furrowed. That voice was all too familiar.

Not wanting to get entangled, she turned to leave, but a fierce whip cracked through the air, lashing toward her. Her eyes flickered, and she sidestepped, the tip of the whip barely grazing her cheek.

“Who gave you permission to leave!”

Chi Wan was determined to make things difficult for her; how could she let her go so easily?

The long whip came again with a vicious, coiling momentum. Sheng Zhaoning’s fingers tightened around the hilt. She forcibly suppressed the urge to draw her sword and dodged once more.

Those two casual dodges, in Chi Wan’s eyes, were nothing short of an insult.

Fuming with rage, she ordered the guards behind her, “Seize her!”

Those guards naturally knew the Shadow Guard’s strength; they understood that a hundred of them combined wouldn’t be a match for Sheng Zhaoning, yet they had no choice but to brace themselves and advance.

Seeing a dozen guards draw their blades and close in, Sheng Zhaoning’s eyes went cold, and her longsword was already halfway out of its sheath.

Just then, a strong, forceful hand pressed down on her wrist, pushing the sword back.

“Don’t fight,” Han Xu said with a frown.

Sheng Zhaoning glanced at him. Han Xu stepped in front of her and said coldly, “This is His Highness’s birthday banquet. Second Miss Chi, please show mercy and do not disturb His Highness’s pleasure.”

“Are you covering for her?” Chi Wan demanded angrily.

Han Xu’s voice involuntarily hardened. “There is no fault, so what’s there to cover up?”

Chi Wan gritted her teeth. “You Shadow Guard sure know how to shield each other. She was disrespectful to me and even tried to use force. How is that ‘no fault’?”

“Second Miss Chi, the Shadow Guard’s duty is solely to protect His Highness and the heir; we are not obligated to obey anyone else’s orders. If any offense was given, I hope you will forgive it.”

“Anyone else?” Chi Wan’s face flushed red and pale with fury. She looked as if she’d grind her teeth to dust, squeezing out the words through clenched teeth, “Who are you calling ‘anyone else’!”

Han Xu bowed his head and said calmly, “Those who have not entered the gates of the Wei Clan are all outsiders.”

Sheng Zhaoning’s eyes flickered slightly.

Her gaze bypassed Han Xu’s broad shoulders and landed on Chi Wan, who was completely enraged.

Chi Wan’s eyes were bloodshot, her fists clenched, her whole body trembling with anger. “Fine, fine…”

She said “fine” twice, but took no further action for a while.

Han Xu, as the Shadow Guard Leader, was highly valued by Prince Zhenbei. Even the great aristocratic families had to give him some face, including her own father and elder brothers, who would yield to him when meeting.

To be honest, Chi Wan didn’t dare to directly cross him.

But now there were many guests coming and going, the area was crowded with onlookers, and many ladies who usually didn’t get along with her were wearing expressions of enjoying the show, waiting to see her humiliated.

If Chi Wan really lost face at this moment, she would likely be mocked by others in the future.

Chi Wan had been spoiled since childhood and cared most about her face. Now she was clearly on the verge of throwing caution to the wind, and she was about to raise her long whip.

At that moment, a hoarse, low voice suddenly sounded from behind.

“What’s all the commotion about?”

Everyone looked back together.

They saw, amid the crowd, a group led by Prince Zhenbei, with the Heir and General Chi accompanying him, walking over gracefully.

“It’s the prince, and Your Highness the Heir!”

Sheng Zhaoning’s hand on the sword hilt paused. The frost that had crept into her cold eyes suddenly dissipated. She almost urgently turned her head back and happened to meet a casually sweeping gaze.

It was him…

Wei Yi.

The crowd automatically parted to make way and said in unison to Prince Zhenbei and the others, “We pay our respects to Your Highness the Prince, Your Highness the Heir, and General Chi.”

Sheng Zhaoning’s heart raced. She stared at him blankly for a long moment, then finally withdrew her gaze as if to conceal it, lowered her head, and bowed with everyone.

Prince Zhenbei waved his hand. “Today is my birthday banquet. The only aim is for hosts and guests to enjoy themselves. No need for excessive courtesy.”

Wei Chengjun glanced expressionlessly at the whip in Chi Wan’s hand, then at Han Xu. His face showed no emotion, and his voice carried authority without anger. “What is going on here?”

Han Xu was about to speak, but Chi Wan preempted him: “Uncle Wei, it’s Wan’er’s fault. I offended Commander Han and Shadow Ten Guard.”

Chi Wan deliberately added a tearful tone, as if she had suffered a great grievance.

“Oh?” Wei Chengjun raised an eyebrow, his gaze carrying a chill, and looked at Han Xu. “Han Xu, you explain.”

Han Xu stepped forward and said, “Reporting to Your Highness, Shadow Ten Guard was patrolling the palace front as ordered. Somehow she displeased Second Miss Chi. The young lady then whipped her and sent people to capture her. To avoid disturbing the order of the birthday banquet, I spoke up to stop it, offending Second Miss Chi. It was my mistake.”

Hearing this, Wei Chengjun understood everything.

Chi Wan had always been hostile toward Sheng Zhaoning and treated her as an enemy. This was nothing unusual; even he had heard about it.

However, these petty schemes of young ladies were not something he could easily interfere with.

“Wei Yi.” Wei Chengjun turned his head. “In your opinion, how should this be handled?”

Wei Chengjun immediately tossed this tangled mess to Wei Yi.

Hearing this, Chi Wan looked at Wei Yi with tearful eyes, but her gaze revealed unconcealed triumph.

If Wei Yi handled this matter, the winner could only be Chi Wan.

Because whenever she clashed with Sheng Zhaoning, Wei Yi had always sided only with her.