CMWKSD -Chapter 288 The Marquis of Weining

All year round, almost every moment, someone was asking about Jiu Yue.

Not everyone who approached Jiu Yue had been told by Shao Qing. But if Shao Qing took the initiative to inform Jiu Yue about someone, it meant that person had definitely done something to catch his attention.

Jiu Yue glanced at Ji Jingxu, who was blowing bubbles, and couldn’t help but smile. She felt no irritation at Shao Qing’s presumptuous decision.

If anything, Jiu Yue usually liked it when Shao Qing took matters into his own hands—it helped her avoid many unknown dangers.

Shao Qing stood aside, speaking calmly. This was someone Jiu Yue had seen some time ago. By coincidence, Jiu Yue normally disliked attending gatherings. The host family, though, had been away from the capital for several years, staying in their hometown with their eldest son, so their schedules hadn’t overlapped. Now that they had returned, the women of the household held a grand banquet, inviting the wives of notable officials in the capital.

As a favored family of the emperor, the Ji family naturally received an invitation. Jiu Yue didn’t want to go, and Su Cheng’s status wasn’t high enough to justify attendance, but with a personal invitation, she had no choice. Ji Chaomian, ever the lovesick husband, was afraid his dear wife might be mistreated if left alone, so he insisted that Jiu Yue and Su Cheng attend together. Seeing no harm, Jiu Yue agreed.

Because of her status, her attendance made the Marquis of Weining’s banquet the talk of the town. The number of people who sent invitations specifically for Jiu Yue was countless, but she could count on one hand the banquets she had actually attended.

Standing in the center of the pavilion, Jiu Yue received occasional visits from well-wishers. Naturally, some petty-minded people thought she was stealing the spotlight, prompting the Marquis’s niece to whisper complaints behind the scenes—but Jiu Yue never heard them.

That wasn’t what Jiu Yue remembered most about the banquet. What stuck in her mind was seeing the marquise. The marquise had looked stunned, as if struck by lightning. Later, she kept sneaking glances at Jiu Yue for a long time. So when Shao Qing mentioned her, Jiu Yue immediately recalled the woman.

“She’s asking about me?” Jiu Yue said.

Shao Qing looked slightly puzzled, but compared to Jiu Yue, he felt he had a vague sense of the marquise’s intentions. Still, he didn’t say anything—it was better for Jiu Yue to discover it herself.

“Yes. And the marquise isn’t asking about what happened after you came to the capital… it’s about your past, before you arrived here—mainly your origins.”

Jiu Yue raised an eyebrow. “My origins?”

Shao Qing nodded. Her origins—unless she chose to reveal them—no one could possibly know.

Jiu Yue waved her hand. “Keep a close watch. Let’s see what she’s really after.”

Shao Qing responded with a brief nod.

The next day, Jiu Yue took Ji Jingxu out. The weather was fine, and the boy couldn’t stay cooped up at home—he was clamoring to go out. With no other choice, Jiu Yue had Shen Mei and the others prepare some food, and they went for a picnic early in the morning, traveling by carriage to the outskirts of the capital.

Suddenly, Shao Qing rode alongside the carriage and tapped lightly on its side. Jiu Yue lifted the curtain, seeing him glance subtly at a carriage trailing behind like a shadow—the Marquis of Weining’s carriage. His expression was stern.

“Miss, the Marquis of Weining’s carriage is behind us.”

Jiu Yue murmured an acknowledgment. “Stop. Take the child further away—don’t let him witness bloodshed at such a young age.”

Shao Qing immediately had the wet nurse take Ji Jingxu ahead in the carriage, accompanied by guards from the Dark Moon Pavilion and the Ji family.

Jiu Yue could see the carriage not far off while Shao Qing remained with her at the roadside. Even if the Marquis’s people were just passing by, Jiu Yue had no intention of confronting them.

The old Marquis of Weining had been a highly accomplished general—the first first-rank military marquis of Great Qi. His position had been extraordinary. But his successors, up to the current marquis, could only maintain the family’s former glory; they lacked the ability to surpass it. Still, the Weining residence was grand.

Jiu Yue and Shao Qing stood by the roadside. The coachman of the marquis’s carriage slowed as he saw Jiu Yue raise her eyebrows with a faint smile—something about her presence made him uneasy. The carriage eventually stopped right in front of Jiu Yue.

The marquise reached a hand out from the carriage, immediately aided by a servant. Jiu Yue glanced at her and turned away—she had no time to admire the display of a duke’s household.

The marquise, hoping to show the prestige of her house, hurriedly stepped down. “Your Highness, Princess…”

Jiu Yue paused slightly and turned to her. “Yes?”

The marquise’s face brightened, eyes slightly red, stepping closer. Her gaze made Jiu Yue feel an inexplicable chill.

“Your Highness, I—” Before she could finish, she used a silk handkerchief to dab at her tears. Her earnest look unsettled Jiu Yue. The marquise lifted her eyes, staring as if trying to imprint Jiu Yue onto her soul.

That slight lift of her eyes caused Jiu Yue to narrow hers. The familiar-yet-strangely-fitting sensation seemed to finally have a source. Jiu Yue raised an eyebrow, feeling that it was indeed an honor for the marquise.

“You resemble me somewhat.”

Jiu Yue’s lips curved slightly; her words were far from modest. And she truly thought the marquise resembled her. Resembling her meant luck, fortune—good fortune.

“Indeed, good fortune.”

Shao Qing: !!!

The marquise: could no longer cry.

Prepared with many words, she was silenced by Jiu Yue: “I… I…”

Jiu Yue, however, had no intention of small talk. She wasn’t interested in whatever performance the marquise wanted to put on. Her expression turned cold as she stared at the marquise.

“I hope today is a chance encounter.”

The marquise’s heart choked.

“Your Highness, I… I harbor no ill intent. I only—”

Jiu Yue crossed her arms, her voice icy: “Whatever you only concerns me not. But I hope today is the first time, and also the last.”

She gave no further expression and turned away.

The marquise hurried two steps after her. “You… you aren’t even curious about your origins?”

Shao Qing spun around, eyes blazing with anger. “Madam, be careful! Princess Xuyu is unparalleled in rank and was personally bestowed by the Emperor. That is a glory ordinary people can’t even dream of. Her origins are none of your business!”