When the Bright Moon Shines on Zhaohe - Chapter 3

…

I’d opened the restaurant in secret. Nobody in the palace knew. Yet the two honored guests in the east wing were Noble Consort Wan, that painted butterfly, and Pei Ye, the damn emperor.

Hell. What a nuisance.

The moment Noble Consort Wan saw me, she put on a false smile. “I’d heard that the owner of Drunken Delight Hall was someone of unusual standing. The examination candidates have even been saying that staying here gives them a chance to marry a princess. I never thought the rumor was true. Ninth Princess, surely you haven’t taken all these fine young scholars as yours already? Found enough young, strong favorites to satisfy you?”

…What?!

Seriously, sister, I’d made it quite clear I wasn’t going to compete for your cucumber. Couldn’t you leave me alone?

Pei Ye lounged to one side, slowly turning his jade thumb ring. He regarded me with a half smile, like a wolf pretending to be tame.

“Ninth Princess, are you thinking of marriage? Why didn’t you tell me? You make me look like a terribly irresponsible brother. Come, sit beside me. Tell me if there’s anyone you fancy.”

His eyes curved with his smile as he held out his hand, plainly waiting for me to take it. Noble Consort Wan twisted her handkerchief and glared daggers at me, plainly unwilling to let me do any such thing.

What the hell? Did I look like someone who enjoyed being a part of this couple’s games?

I didn’t dare take his hand. I merely sat beside him. He raised a displeased eyebrow; I pretended not to see. At a clap from me, Chunxi brought in the most expensive tea and pastries in the house. I plastered on my most ingratiating smile.

“Imperial Brother, Your Ladyship, please try our pastries first. They’re made by celebrated chefs I hired from Jiangnan. They’re delicious.”

Noble Consort Wan frowned, preparing another jab at me. Pei Ye gave her a cool sideways glance, and she instantly behaved. Good. Excellent.

I had just lifted a cake to my mouth when Pei Ye suddenly leaned over and bit it away.

Me?! Noble Consort Wan?!

He acted as if he’d done nothing out of the ordinary. Then he leaned in again, as though he wanted more, and licked the sugar from the corner of my mouth.

Me?!?! Noble Consort Wan?!?!

He looked at me with sparkling eyes, hooked a cool finger under my chin, and smiled.

“What? Did I do it wrong? You licked me just like that the other night. Didn’t you, Zhaohe?”

…?!?!?!

Oh, you ¥%#@#+@#!!!!!!

The silence that followed was deafening. My head filled with nothing but a dial tone. I couldn’t speak. Then—

*Thud!*

Noble Consort Wan collapsed onto the little table. Eunuch Hong, who had been waiting outside, came in with a tall guard. They efficiently hoisted her up, carried her away without looking either way, and shut the door behind them. As though nothing had happened.

I stared. “Wh-what was that? Did you kill her?”

Pei Ye leisurely blew the leaves from his tea, looking entirely unconcerned. “No. Though she does deserve to die. She sent me cakes laced with arsenic. She owes me her life for that.”

“Arsenic cakes?” I thought it through. “The cakes she brought that day? The poisoned ones were meant for me! The ones she gave you had that filthy drug in them!”

“Yes,” he said evenly. “Attempting to murder a member of the imperial family is a capital crime too. She won’t escape it.”

One corner of his mouth lifted in mockery. “And why do you think she wanted me to take that drug? Because she won’t be able to hide her belly much longer. She needed to make me believe the child was mine.”

“…?”

There was too much to take in. I could only stare at him, my feelings a hopeless tangle. He smiled, set down his teacup at leisure, and caught a lock of my hair in his pale fingers.

“Well, I’m going back to the palace to set the stage. Don’t come back until later today. I’d rather not get you caught up in it again. Visit Weiyang Palace in a few days.”

He paused. “Male favorites and scholars, hmm? Pei Zhaohe, you’d better have a very good explanation for me.”

His reproachful tone mingled with the deep scent of ambergris. Somehow, it made the tips of my ears burn.