Jun Huailang hated himself from the bottom of his heart.
He hated himself for being softhearted. He hated it until the roots of his teeth turned cold, yet he still could not stand by and watch Xue Yan become the target of everyone’s condemnation.
Ultimately, it was because he did not believe that Xue Yan still had any reason to hate and humiliate his younger sister as he had in his previous life. This thought had actually made him stubbornly fight against himself.
He clenched his teeth tightly and told himself in his heart that he would give Xue Yan one last chance.
First, find Linghuan and ask clearly what had happened. If it truly was Xue Yan who had gone too far in bullying her, then he would definitely make Xue Yan repay it a hundredfold. From then on, he would never again be this weak or hold any hope that things might turn out differently for him.
Jun Huailang told himself with a trembling heart: the last time.
Seeing that he insisted, the Qingping Emperor simply assumed that he was overly worried about his younger sister. Without much hesitation, he granted permission.
“Then be sure to stay safe. Lingfu, send several Imperial Guards and make sure they stay with the Heir throughout the entire search.”
Lingfu hurriedly acknowledged the order.
Having received the Emperor’s permission, Jun Huailang immediately turned around and left with the group of Imperial Guards.
Apart from the western corner gate of the Imperial Garden, which was brightly illuminated at this moment, palace lanterns were hung every five paces throughout the palace. The moment they stepped outside the area of the western corner gate, darkness immediately descended around Jun Huailang.
Jun Huailang looked around and forced himself to calm down, trying to think where Jun Linghuan might have gone.
Just then, footsteps sounded behind him.
He turned around and saw Jun Xiaowu and Xue Yunhuan running over one after another.
“I asked Empress Mother for permission. She’s worried about you too, so she allowed the two of us to come with you,” Xue Yunhuan said.
Beside him, Jun Xiaowu patted Jun Huailang on the shoulder, then called over the captain of the Imperial Guards and had him report which places they had searched just now.
Jun Huailang steadied himself and gave the two of them a grateful look.
The captain said that because the situation had been urgent, he had ordered his men to search along all the roads outside the western corner gate. They had found no sign of Jun Linghuan on any of the roads or in the surrounding areas. He had also sent people to search the nearby palaces, but there was no indication that Jun Linghuan had gone there either.
In other words, every place Jun Linghuan might have gone to on her own had already been searched.
“The areas I had my men search earlier were indeed too general. It’s just that the palace grounds are rather large, and I assumed that the young lady is still so young that she probably wouldn’t go somewhere too dark, so…” After apologizing, the Imperial Guard captain continued, “I’ll immediately send people to search every area again. Eunuch Lingfu has also sent some eunuchs over who can assist me…”
“Too slow,” Jun Huailang suddenly said.
The Imperial Guard captain froze. “Your Highness means…?”
Jun Huailang pondered for a moment.
“Are there any unoccupied palace buildings nearby, or places that people normally don’t go?” he asked.
The Imperial Guard captain thought for a moment. “There aren’t any near the Imperial Garden. But if you go one li west, you’ll reach the Cold Palace… Surely Miss wouldn’t go there?”
Jun Huailang thought about it and said, “Continue sending people to search according to your plan. Then give me a few men. I’ll go take a look at the Cold Palace.”
Although the Imperial Guard captain was puzzled, he still followed his instructions and dispatched a small squad of Imperial Guards to lead Jun Huailang there.
“Brother, why are you going to the Cold Palace?” Jun Xiaowu asked in confusion. “Linghuan is most afraid of places where no one goes. Don’t you know that?”
After all, they were in the palace, and today was the Emperor’s birthday banquet. No matter how bold the people in the palace were, they would not take a noble young lady and wander around with her. So the only possibility was that Jun Linghuan had gotten lost on her own.
Jun Huailang paused.
“Precisely because of that, I have to make sure.”
In his previous life, he had not even known that Jun Linghuan had gotten lost in the palace. Clearly, she had not been in danger and had ultimately been found.
What concerned Jun Huailang more was how she had gone missing, and whether it had anything to do with Xue Yan.
If Xue Yan really intended to hide her away, then he would inevitably hide her somewhere no one would go, somewhere everyone would assume Jun Linghuan herself would never go.
Whether Jun Linghuan had truly been hidden away by Xue Yan was what concerned him most.
What had happened in his previous life… could not happen again.
——
An hour earlier.
At the Thousand Autumn Banquet, the area beside Consort Shu was the liveliest.
Among the imperial consorts, she alone had remained continuously favored. Her temperament was also arrogant and spoiled. Those women in the palace who had no favor but had children, even if they did not curry favor with the Empress, would always make sure to curry favor with her.
A group of consorts chattered like orioles, surrounded by fluttering figures like bees and butterflies. Their lingering fragrances made Jun Linghuan sneeze repeatedly.
Halfway through the banquet, she already wanted to go outside for some fresh air. But through the flower-patterned window of the rear hall, she saw that her brother was happily chatting with Second Brother, so she restrained herself again.
Brother hadn’t seen Second Brother for such a long time. If she went to find him, he would have to divide his attention to take care of her again.
Jun Linghuan endured for a little while longer.
Then she saw Xue Yan stand up from the table diagonally in front of Jun Huailang.
It was Fifth Prince Brother!
Brother had told her before that Fifth Prince Brother was also her biological older brother, just like Brother.
And Fifth Prince Brother was a good person too! Last time, when she wanted to light some calming incense for Brother, it was he who had helped her light it. Afterward, he had even come looking for her and told her to find more incense, because he would light it for Brother every day.
Sure enough, from that day onward, Brother had been able to sleep well.
As though granted amnesty, Jun Linghuan hurriedly tugged on Consort Shu’s sleeve and whispered, “Auntie, I want to go play with Fifth Prince Brother.”
At that moment, Consort Shu was surrounded by a group of consorts and was eating fruit with a complete lack of interest.
Hearing Jun Linghuan say this, she froze for a moment before remembering who the Fifth Prince was.
Beside them, Noble Lady Zhang, the biological mother of the Second Prince, laughed meaningfully twice.
“Miss Jun, you can’t say things like that. You’re young and don’t know any better. That one is an evil star descended to earth. He eats children…”
Upon hearing this, Consort Shu frowned and interrupted her.
“Why are you telling such superstitious nonsense in front of a child and frightening her?”
Consort Shu had never believed in ghosts or gods. She disliked Xue Yan purely because the Emperor hated him. In the palace, whoever the Emperor disliked made wherever they lived an unlucky place. It had nothing to do with ghosts or gods.
Noble Lady Zhang did not dare provoke her and awkwardly shut her mouth.
Jun Linghuan, however, innocently asked, “Auntie, what is an evil star?”
Consort Shu was annoyed. She did not want these sarcastic women corrupting her niece. She ordered Dian Cui, “Go, call Xue Yan here.”
Then she said to Jun Linghuan, “Nothing. That auntie was just talking nonsense.”
Noble Lady Zhang’s face turned somewhat green upon hearing how she was addressed.
The title “auntie” was indeed a little too much.
But among the imperial consorts, she was indeed the oldest. When she gave birth to the Second Prince, she had already been in her twenties. Now that she was in her forties, with a low rank, she was extremely awkwardly placed among these imperial consorts who were all as beautiful as flowers and jade.
Consort Shu had clearly delivered a mild, lukewarm jab at her, but she did not dare retort. She could only force a smile and pretend she had not understood.
Several young consorts nearby, however, gathered together and quietly giggled.
Before long, Dian Cui brought Xue Yan to the rear hall.
When Consort Shu saw Xue Yan arrive, she casually lifted her chin. She did not make him remain beneath the scrutinizing gazes of all the imperial consorts for long before saying, “Take Linghuan outside for some fresh air.”
Xue Yan glanced at Jun Linghuan and saw the little girl blinking her large eyes at him.
“Yes,” he replied.
Jun Linghuan happily hurried after him.
Xue Yan saluted Consort Shu and the Empress, then turned and walked out.
After the two of them left the main hall, Jun Linghuan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up at Xue Yan and smiled.
“Thank you, Fifth Prince Brother!”
Xue Yan lowered his head and gave her a faint glance.
Although the little girl was still young, one could already see traces of her brother in her appearance. Whenever she smiled at him, he could not help but soften inside, always remembering Jun Huailang’s deep, gentle eyes.
“Where do you want to go?” he asked.
Jun Linghuan thought about it, then remembered that the Imperial Garden was always fun.
She grabbed Xue Yan’s sleeve and led him toward the Imperial Garden.
The Imperial Garden was only a few dozen yards from Yongle Hall. Before long, the two of them arrived.
However, the Imperial Garden in winter had withered vegetation, and even the small pond where lotus flowers bloomed had frozen over.
It was Jun Linghuan’s first time visiting the Imperial Garden in winter. Seeing the scene before her, she let out a disappointed “Huh?”
“It’s not usually like this…” she said.
She genuinely regarded Xue Yan as a new friend and simply wanted to show him the beautiful scenery she had seen.
However, Xue Yan clearly was not a suitable companion. He had little interest in appreciating scenery and rarely responded when people spoke to him.
Xue Yan said nothing and stood off to the side with little interest.
Just then, Jun Linghuan suddenly let out a delighted cheer.
“There are flowers over there!”
Xue Yan glanced in the direction she pointed.
Outside the red walls of the Imperial Garden bloomed a dazzling stretch of red plum blossoms. Palace lanterns hung here and there among the plum trees, sparkling with warm yellow light.
“Fifth Prince Brother, I want to go look over there!” Jun Linghuan said.
Xue Yan gave a faint hum and followed her.
He had no particular awareness of being her friend. He was merely carrying out Consort Shu’s order to take care of the child for a while.
Jun Linghuan, however, excitedly tugged her new friend along, leading him through the western corner gate of the Imperial Garden and to the edge of the plum grove.
The moment they arrived, Jun Linghuan’s eyes were captured by the exquisite palace lanterns. She was so stunned that she could not even make a sound of amazement.
The plum grove covered an area several dozen yards across. In the middle was a small lake, and standing at its center was a ten-foot-tall Taihu rock. A small white-jade pavilion had been carved atop it, with an especially magnificent lantern hanging from the pavilion.
The moment Jun Linghuan saw that lantern, all of her attention was drawn to it.
“…Wow.”
Only after a moment did she finally let out a delayed gasp of admiration.
Xue Yan had originally been standing to the side, waiting for the little girl to finish looking so that he could take her back.
He had not expected her to stand there for so long.
Her mouth, which had originally been chattering nonstop, had also fallen silent for quite some time.
Xue Yan lowered his head and glanced at her.
He saw those eyes, which resembled Jun Huailang’s, reflecting the brilliant colors of the palace lantern. The original four or five parts of resemblance had somehow become seven.
Xue Yan suddenly became somewhat dazed.
For no reason, a thought suddenly arose in his heart.
This was Jun Huailang’s younger sister.
He raised his head and looked in the direction Jun Linghuan was watching.
The palace lanterns, which had originally all seemed identical, suddenly appeared different to him.
The one she was looking at really was quite beautiful.
“Do you want it?” Xue Yan suddenly asked.