Chapter 20: The Crippled Young Lady (Twenty)

The rest of the words remained unspoken by Jun Mo.

He did not wish to startle her; he would wait until everything was prepared, until no worldly trifles could hinder them, before speaking his heart.

After Jun Mo left, Su Kui blinked in confusion. What was it he had wanted to say at the end?

In truth, Su Kui was remarkably dull when it came to matters of the heart. In her previous life, the reason she had fallen for that scoundrel was not because she was blind or unable to see the truth, but simply because she could not be bothered to understand him—a trait that had ultimately led to the tragedy of her current existence.

Not long after Jun Mo’s departure, Lu Yao entered with hurried footsteps and a respectful demeanor.

"My Lady, it is done. Aunt Tan sends word that you should rest well and that you need not trouble yourself with the matters over there." Lu Yao provided a blunt and deep-reaching interpretation of what Aunt Tan had left unsaid, presenting Su Kui with an entirely different implication.

Su Kui, however, did not mind; she cared only for the outcome.

Leaning against the bedpost, Su Kui tilted her head toward Lu Yao and asked idly, "Did anything interesting happen while you were there?"

"Well... yes," Lu Yao mused, then proceeded to report everything she had witnessed at the Ceremonial Bureau to Su Kui.

Su Kui arched an eyebrow upon hearing this. "You say the one being punished by kneeling was the third daughter of the Left Chancellor?"

Lu Yao nodded firmly.

It was unexpected to find someone so uncompromising within the palace. After all, who among those who climbed to the position of a Ceremonial Aunt was simple? Anyone in such a high position was typically smooth and calculating, never willing to easily offend others.

Logically, as the third daughter of the Left Chancellor, with a father of such standing, it would be difficult for Yu Yingying not to be chosen.

Yet... why was Aunt Tan so fearless? Was she not afraid of retaliation once Yu Yingying climbed higher? Or was there some hidden truth behind it?

Su Kui’s mind raced. To whom did Aunt Tan belong?

Unable to find an answer, her gaze inadvertently swept over the respectful Lu Yao standing to the side. A sudden spark of realization hit her. "Lu Yao, do you happen to know who the Left Chancellor associates with most often?"

To put it more simply: Which political faction did the Left Chancellor belong to?

"This..."

Lu Yao hesitated, her brow furrowing with a flicker of difficulty in her eyes. After a long pause, she replied, "My Lady, I am but a palace maid; I truly do not understand the affairs of the court."

Su Kui, who had been observing her closely, smiled. "Oh, is that so? That is truly a pity~"

Lu Yao, puzzled by the underlying meaning of Su Kui’s words, asked, "My Lady?"

"Hmm?" Su Kui’s smile was brilliant. She waved her hand and gestured with her chin. "You may go out now; I wish to sleep a little longer."

"...Yes."

Lu Yao curtsied and withdrew, pulling the carved wooden door shut behind her. Just before it closed, she cast a fleeting glance through the gap.

She saw the smile on Su Kui’s face vanish instantly without a trace. Her brows were knitted tightly, and she tapped a finger against her lips habitually, as if deep in thought.

Lu Yao’s temples throbbed. She frantically retraced their brief conversation, wondering if she had let slip anything she shouldn't have.

After filtering the information through her mind, Lu Yao finally allowed herself a small sense of relief.

Ever since the Prince had assigned her to Su Kui’s side, she found her increasingly difficult to fathom. Or, more accurately, she had never truly understood her at all.

One cold on the surface but ruthless at heart, the other warm on the surface but hardened within—Lu Yao felt that the young girl in the room and the Prince were becoming more and more alike.