Feng Caiwei closed her eyes.
She had never expected that winning someone’s heart could be this difficult.
But why was it like this?
Back in Yunnan, if she so much as curled her finger at someone, they’d practically offer her their heart and soul.
But Xiao Yunting didn’t care one bit about what she thought. When Imperial Physician Hu arrived and prescribed medicine for the Empress, he simply added, “Miss Feng said she has a method for treating the Empress’s chronic headaches. Physician Hu, see if it’s useful.”
Then, without even glancing at Feng Caiwei, he stood and bid the Empress farewell.
The Empress pursed her lips and eventually just pressed her brow with her fingers and said mildly, “Go ahead and take care of your business. I’ll keep Caiwei here a bit longer and then send her back.”
Xiao Yunting acknowledged this and left the palace.
Feng Caiwei’s ears buzzed. She stood there, caught between dazed confusion and painful clarity.
She was confused—how could all her effort have been for nothing?
But clearly, the reason it was wasted was because Xiao Yunting’s feelings for Qi Yuan were different.
With everyone else, he always maintained the aloof posture of the Imperial Grandson.
But in Qi Wang’s letters, no matter what Qi Yuan did, Xiao Yunting was always close behind her.
So—he wasn’t a still, silent sea. He simply didn’t stir for others.
Feng Caiwei clenched her fists tightly. She used the excuse of needing air and stepped out into the corridor, her face dark with frustration.
Just then, a gentle voice rang out: “Miss Feng, why are you standing here?”
She looked up at the sound—and saw a handsome young man nearby, glancing curiously at her while standing by a flowerpot. From the side, all the palace maids dropped to their knees: “Greetings to Nanan County Prince!”
It was Nanan County Prince.
Feng Caiwei’s eyes darkened. She quickly composed herself, stifled all her emotions, and greeted him with grace and poise.
“Please rise,” Nanan County Prince said with a kind smile. Then he asked, “Why are you standing in such a windy spot?”
Feng Caiwei had already masked her feelings. She curved her lips in a flawless smile and replied, “The room felt a little stuffy, so I came out for some air.”
“Really?” the prince chuckled lightly and teased, “I thought perhaps it was because my brother offended you earlier with something unpleasant.”
Feng Caiwei lifted her gaze and looked at Nanan County Prince thoughtfully.
He took a few steps toward her, still smiling warmly, then gestured for her to walk ahead and continued, “My brother is like that—when he likes someone, he’ll place them on a pedestal. When he doesn’t, he won’t even spare them a glance.”
Feng Caiwei paused and looked at him. “It seems Your Highness knows the Imperial Grandson quite well.”
“How could I not?” Nanan County Prince replied easily with a smile. “My brother likes the eldest daughter of the Qi family. Does that even need guessing? She was raised by the Eldest Princess, and he’s close with the Eldest Princess as well. He often goes to see her.”
Since Xiao Yunting began overseeing state affairs, his movements were no longer easily concealed.
Nanan County Prince added meaningfully, “There’s something else you might not know. My brother already told the Emperor that he admires Miss Qi.”
—
This time, Feng Caiwei was truly stunned. She nearly lost her footing.
“So… His Highness asked the Emperor to grant a marriage?” Her voice was hoarse, and she hated herself for being too naive.
Why had she wasted time trying to build her public image first?
She should have tried a different approach from the beginning.
“No, he didn’t,” Nanan County Prince said, watching her closely. “My brother told the Emperor that Miss Qi might not even like him, so he’s still working on it. He’s been leaving the palace more often lately and asked the Emperor not to take it the wrong way.”
Feng Caiwei let out a bitter laugh she couldn’t hold back.
But inside, the pain was almost unbearable.
She understood why Xiao Yunting did what he did.
One is reckless when they like, but one restrains themselves when they love.
He liked Qi Yuan so much that he didn’t hesitate to tell the Emperor that Qi Yuan didn’t even like him yet.
But what about her?
She had tried so hard—and he wouldn’t even give her a single glance.
Suddenly, she felt completely disinterested. “So… why is Your Highness telling me this? What does this have to do with me?”
Nanan County Prince smiled with deeper meaning. “One man’s poison is another’s honey. That’s all. I simply wanted to remind you that choosing the right person matters—and choosing the right path matters even more. Choose wrong, and the farther you go, the more lost you’ll be.”
With that, he didn’t wait for a reply and went ahead to pay respects to the Empress.
Feng Caiwei followed behind, watching his back in deep thought.
—
Even on the way back home from the palace, she was still distracted.
Feng Jun had come personally to pick her up and was full of lively chatter, trying to cheer her up.
But no matter what he said, Feng Caiwei didn’t react. Growing worried, Feng Jun handed the reins to a servant and climbed into the carriage. “Caiwei, what happened in the palace? You look even more out of it than when you went in.”
Feng Caiwei didn’t answer. She just sighed softly. “It’s nothing.”
Nothing?
Feng Jun’s expression darkened.
—
Elsewhere, after visiting the Empress, Xiao Jingzhao went to greet Song Liangdi.
She was dyeing her fingernails with crushed balsam flower juice. The palace maid wrapped her fingertips in white cloth.
Seeing her son arrive, she raised an eyebrow. “Why are you here at this hour? Didn’t you go to the study?”
“Royal Grandmother wasn’t feeling well,” Xiao Jingzhao said, sitting across from her. “Naturally, I had to go ask after her health.”
Song Liangdi’s expression soured slightly. She said with a sarcastic smile, “Oh? Yes, otherwise Her Majesty might forget she has another grandson.”
Nanan County Prince tsked. “Royal Mother, that kind of jealousy ages you.”
His words made her laugh, but she soon frowned again. “You’ve visited the Empress so many times, and it’s all useless. Besides Xiao Yunting, do you think she sees anyone else at all?”
“Even if she doesn’t, I still have to go,” he replied cheerfully. “It’s my duty to be filial.”
He then told her what had happened with Feng Caiwei in the Empress’s palace.
Song Liangdi let out an “oh” right away. “What did you say to her?”
Nanan County Prince answered casually, “Nothing much. Just the truth—that His Highness only has eyes for Miss Qi. Everyone else has to take a back seat.”
“You’re insane!” Song Liangdi jumped up and grabbed his hand in alarm. “How dare you make things up about what’s said in front of the Emperor!”
But Nanan County Prince remained calm. “Royal Mother, you always say that riches come from risk. Even my own grandmother only sees him—if I don’t start standing out, I’ll be invisible forever.”
