A Mirror That Longs To Return - Chapter 3

After receiving the secret message, Yan Changjun withdrew quickly. Unfortunately, she became separated from the others along the way.

After several twists and turns, she could only follow the light and the flow of people.

Palace maids and eunuchs hurried past her. Some recognized her, while others were too busy fleeing for their lives to spare her any attention.

Ahead, phoenix-tail bamboo rose in dense clusters, its shadows swaying restlessly.

A row of bright standing palace lanterns lined the roadside, yet the scene still carried an eerie air. In the places where light and darkness mingled and visibility blurred, some unseen danger seemed to be lying in wait.

Everything was pitch-black and impossible to make out clearly.

Yan Changjun had just descended the stone steps and taken only a few strides when she heard the sharp, resonant ring of metal.

A cold gleam flashed.

Then a vicious face burst out from the darkness.

“Stop! You poisonous woman! You took my young master’s life—where do you think you’re going?”

Light and shadow fell across the man’s deathly pale, sinister face. His eyes were stretched wide with rage, blood vessels spreading through them until they shone scarlet.

Although he held a long sword in his hand, he was trembling like a sieve.

His frame was extremely thin, and he did not look like a martial artist.

That made matters much simpler.

“Who is your young master?” Yan Changjun stopped. Not the slightest trace of fear appeared in her narrow phoenix eyes. There was only amusement. “And what exactly did I do to him?”

Her fingers brushed the dagger hidden beneath her sleeve.

The man flew into a rage and began spewing filthy insults.

“You shameless, wanton whore! You are the Eldest Princess of an entire nation, yet you possess not the slightest sense of decency! All you ever do is find wild men outside and bring them back to humiliate my young master…”

Yan Changjun’s raven-black lashes shifted faintly.

It seemed the man before her had some connection to one of her two deceased prince consorts.

She cut him off.

“And so? Have you come to demand justice for your master’s household?”

Her proud and commanding presence was overwhelming, even on a night like this—

But the thought was quickly interrupted by a voice.

“Your Highness, this subject arrived too late to protect you. Please forgive my offense.”

He Jingling stepped forward and offered a formal salute, neither humble nor overbearing.

She did not dare say anything more, nor did she expect Yan Changjun to feel the slightest bit grateful.

In the original plot, Yan Changjun had personally dealt with this difficulty herself.

In other words, she knew at least some martial arts.

He Jingling had only come over to make sure the princess remembered her face. Besides, Yan Changjun had rejected her just moments ago.

“You protected me successfully. What offense is there to forgive?” Yan Changjun’s eyes were dark and unfathomable, her voice calm.

Only then did He Jingling raise her head and look slightly downward to meet her gaze.

A flowerlike face and snow-bright complexion, noble and aloof.

Beneath the palace lanterns, her long phoenix eyes gleamed like ice and snow. There was no sign whatsoever that she had been frightened.

Bathed in brilliant light, she appeared vivid and richly beautiful.

He Jingling released a long breath inwardly.

Thank goodness.

As expected, Yan Changjun remained completely expressionless. Although she said He Jingling had rendered meritorious service, she did not look grateful in the slightest.

Making an impression was enough.

Next, Yan Changjun would leave along this bamboo-lined path. There would be no further danger on the way.

However, people were waiting at the entrance, and He Jingling would soon run into her fellow officers.

She was considering whether she should abandon Yan Changjun when the latter suddenly spoke.

“I saw everyone else fleeing in all directions. Why is Lord He still here?”

Cold sweat instantly raced down He Jingling’s spine.

As expected of the ruthless female lead who crushed every flower in her path—she was meticulous and sharp-minded.

After all, so many people in the novel had cried, fought, and risked their lives just for the chance to enter the Princess Manor. Naturally, He Jingling’s tiny scheme could not escape Yan Changjun’s notice either.

He Jingling coughed softly twice and obediently lowered her eyes.

“This subject was stationed here on guard and did not dare move without authorization.”

“Did not dare move without authorization?” Yan Changjun repeated playfully, studying the obediently bowed He Jingling.

Two neat rows of black lashes hung low, casting curved shadows beneath her eyes.

The scrutiny made He Jingling’s entire body prickle with unease.

Were Yan Changjun to question her further, she still had no idea how she ought to respond.

Yet Yan Changjun suddenly stopped pursuing the matter.

“Lord He truly is conscientious in carrying out your duties. There is still some distance ahead. Accompany me for the rest of the way.”

Her voice suddenly rang out clearly. Lifting her skirts, she walked straight past He Jingling.

She did not pause for even an instant, just as her words left no room whatsoever for refusal.

Yet as the hem of her robes swept past, it carried a rich fragrance of phoenix-marrow incense across He Jingling’s nose.

After walking several steps, Yan Changjun appeared to notice that the person behind her had not followed.

She suddenly stopped, turned sideways, and looked back.

Her vermilion lips parted slightly.

“What is it? Is Lord He unwilling?”

She raised an eyebrow. Her gaze was cool and profound, carrying amusement and appraisal.

“No. I would not dare.”

He Jingling answered quickly, then strode forward to catch up with Yan Changjun.

Yan Changjun did not linger either, walking at a remarkably brisk pace.

He Jingling could only marvel inwardly at the boldness of her stride.

She was wearing such elaborate palace attire, yet she could still walk this quickly?

And when she said she wanted He Jingling to accompany her, she truly meant nothing more than that.

He Jingling could not exactly refuse. She could hardly tell Yan Changjun directly that there would be no more danger ahead.

Blue-green moonlight spilled across the ground, enveloping the palace, which now seemed to belch fire and steam with clouds of glowing smoke.

Behind them came the unceasing crackle of flames, the screams of palace servants and eunuchs, and the clash of weapons.

A perfectly good palace banquet had been destroyed just like that.

He Jingling merely followed beside Yan Changjun, gradually growing accustomed to the tacit silence between them.

Naturally, the Eldest Princess had her own considerations and plans.

Strange though this situation was, she had no need to speak with He Jingling.

He Jingling understood that perfectly well.

She had only come today to make herself memorable. Now she had even been allowed to accompany Yan Changjun for part of the journey.

No matter how she looked at it, she had profited.

It would not be good to develop any sort of relationship with Yan Changjun too quickly either.

In everyone’s eyes, she was the sort of woman who lost interest after a single taste.

Just thinking through the number of people involved made cold sweat bead across He Jingling’s back again.

Did this mean Her Highness the Princess was not interested in any of those character types at all?

And now He Jingling was expected to compete against those men on the same stage. Her chances of dying seemed even higher…

What kind of person would a woman like Yan Changjun actually like?

He Jingling had carefully studied the original novel afterward, yet still failed to find an answer.

The author dug holes and never filled them. By the end of all that male rivalry, not a single person had won. They all died, while the male protagonist ended up in prison.

In any case, He Jingling did not even have anyone’s strategy to copy.

Still, compared to those cannon-fodder characters, she possessed one advantage.

She knew there was a white moonlight in the princess’s heart.

As long as she avoided overstepping boundaries and touching that sore spot, she might live more comfortably.

The road was not long.

Lanternlight flickered in the distance, and voices soon rang out.

“Your Highness! Your Highness!”

An anxious voice approached. Although filled with worry, it could not conceal its clear, crisp quality.

“Lord Pei, Her Highness has come out!”

Hearing this, Pei Jin immediately straightened his clothing once more.

“Where is she?”

Yet the smile on his face froze the instant he saw He Jingling.

As expected, this fellow had appeared here tonight with ulterior motives!

All that talk about her heart belonging to someone and rejecting Prince Heng had been false!

The moment he let his guard down, she had shamelessly slipped straight to Her Highness’s side!

He suppressed the urge to seize He Jingling by the collar and interrogate her.

“Your Highness, forgive this subject for arriving too late to protect you.”

Pei Jin stepped forward and asked with concern, “Did anything happen to you? Lord He?”

He even shot He Jingling a deliberately malicious glance, as though the frost and chill covering Yan Changjun’s face had been caused by her.

Yan Changjun merely cast a cold glance at Pei Jin and the Jinyiwei officers behind him.

“I am unharmed. I encountered a reckless traitor on the road.”

“What happened to him?” Pei Jin immediately asked.

Yan Changjun fell silent for a moment before replying, “Lord He intervened to save me.”

That was not untrue, but it seemed to make Pei Jin’s expression even uglier.

“Lord He is a member of the Jinyiwei. Protecting Your Highness is naturally her duty.”

Yan Changjun ignored Pei Jin and merely spoke to her maid, Lüqi.

“Let us return to the residence.”

Lüqi nodded rapidly.

“All right.”

A magnificent six-eaved canopy carriage stood nearby in perfect condition, with a driver ready.

The princess was completely unharmed, so it seemed there was no further need for Pei Jin.

Yet he still refused to give up.

He hurriedly said, “There has been a palace coup tonight. Would it not be unwise for Your Highness to leave like this? Should anything dangerous happen on the road…”

With Lüqi’s support, Yan Changjun stepped onto a short rosewood stool and climbed into the carriage.

Hearing him, she paused and asked, “What does Lord Pei mean?”

“The Jinyiwei have many men available. We can escort Your Highness.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Soft laughter spilled from Yan Changjun’s throat.

She looked back, but her gaze passed over Pei Jin and the shoulders of the men behind him, landing directly on He Jingling.

“So Lord Pei intends to lend me one of your subordinates as an escort?”

Pei Jin’s throat tightened.

“Precisely.”

Yan Changjun said, “Come here.”

Her eyes were fixed on He Jingling, so naturally the words were directed at her.

He Jingling: “?”

Wasn’t her superior, Pei Jin, the one who was supposed to go mad with obsession in the original novel?

He Jingling froze for a moment, completely at a loss.

Damn it. She truly had not intended to offend her superior today!

Yan Changjun’s brows drew together slightly.

She spoke again.

“Lord He, since Commander Pei has offered, accompany me for the rest of the journey.”

The moment those words fell, they were no less shocking than thunder exploding from clear skies.

“As for Commander Pei…”

Yan Changjun glanced at Pei Jin.

“Compared to protecting me, His Majesty is the person you ought to protect most right now.”

Pei Jin’s face turned pale. He could only agree meekly.

He Jingling was still hesitating, but after Yan Changjun had spoken so plainly, she had no way to refuse.

She stepped forward with difficulty.

As she passed Pei Jin, she could practically feel the ominous chill radiating from him.

Only then did the crease between Yan Changjun’s brows ease.

She lifted the curtain and entered the carriage. As she sat down, she let one remark drift quietly from her lips, apparently meant only for herself.

“Coward.”

By the time He Jingling took her seat, the carriage interior felt cramped and narrow despite being extremely spacious.

The rich scent of phoenix-marrow incense filled her nose.

It was Yan Changjun’s fragrance.

A raised-end nanmu table stretched across the carriage, decorated with arranged fruit and carved jade ornaments.

He Jingling truly was ill at ease.

Yan Changjun showed nothing on her face, yet she took in every detail.

She had gone to all the trouble of arranging an “accidental encounter” in the bamboo grove, yet now she did not even dare climb into Yan Changjun’s carriage?

At that thought, Yan Changjun suddenly spoke.

“Lord He seems to have much on your mind.”

Smoke curled from a burner of subtle incense, drifting around Yan Changjun’s eyes and brows.

Dim golden light fell across her face, rippling like liquid gold.

Her pupils were clear and luminous, wavering with shimmering reflections.

It was the light from the candlestand.

He Jingling’s thoughts were in chaos, but she had finally found her proper position.

Now that she had entered the princess’s carriage, there was no longer any possibility of retreating.

She could not defeat those men through direct competition, so she might as well cling tightly to Yan Changjun’s powerful protection.

Since Her Highness the Princess was carefree and amorous, He Jingling could cater to her preferences—but she would also need to distinguish herself from everyone else…

At this thought, He Jingling forced a faint smile onto her lips.

“No. This subject was only wondering… since Your Highness asked only me to accompany you, might my colleagues have some objections?”