After night fell, Tong Aning was still thinking about it.
Twirling her hair, she asked, [System, why exactly do they want to kill the Heir of Prince Yong?]
The system replied, [For this reason and that, probably.]
Tong Aning: ...
She sat up. [System, you're slacking off a little.]
The system defended itself. [I'm a Gossip System, not an assassination system.]
Tong Aning nodded. Fair enough.
She lay back down.
But in the dead of night, a blood-drenched face startled her awake.
Tong Aning wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, her heart still pounding. Could the person in her dream have been the Heir of Prince Yong?
She had heard that Prince Yong and his consort had both died a few years ago, without even their remains left behind. Now, this heir was the only one left of Prince Yong's line.
It would be rather pitiful if he died just like that.
Perhaps she could think of a way to warn the Heir of Prince Yong?
After a poor night's sleep, Tong Aning looked just like a giant panda as she sat before the mirror that morning.
The giant panda yawned until tears came out, tilting her head drowsily to one side, only for Yingtao to straighten it again.
"Miss, I can't comb your hair when you're like this," Yingtao said.
Tong Aning nodded. "I'll be good. I'll be good."
Her words were muffled. Yingtao smiled, finding her young mistress so adorable that her hands grew even brisker.
Tong Aning headed out, yawning.
Tong Fengye said, "Whoa, I thought we'd started keeping some rare exotic beast in the residence."
Tong Aning: "..."
Clenching her fists, she marched out fiercely while chanting to herself, He's my brother. He's my brother. He's my brother.
"Fourth Sister?"
Tong Fengye hurried after her and even leaned down before her eyes, blinking in a way that begged for a beating.
[I really want to punch him.]
Tong Fengye jolted in fright.
He immediately straightened up, but felt a little wronged. Why did Fourth Sister want to hit him?
The two got into the carriage, and Tong Aning fell asleep against Tong Fengye's shoulder. Looking at his little sister's sleeping face, Tong Fengye felt he could take on the world again.
Tong Aning woke before they reached the Imperial Academy.
She rubbed her eyes and became the marquis's adorable, innocent fourth daughter again.
Tong Aning asked furtively, "Third Brother, do you know how old the Heir of Prince Yong is this year?"
Tong Fengye thought for a moment. "A year older than you, I think. Why do you ask?"
"I'm curious."
Tong Fengye wasn't quite convinced.
Yesterday she had called him the unlucky heir, and today she was curious about him?
Tong Aning asked again, "Doesn't the Heir of Prince Yong study at the Imperial Academy?"
If only the heir attended the Imperial Academy too. She could shove a note into his hand and run.
"His Majesty was very close to Prince Yong. After Prince Yong and his consort passed away, His Majesty took pity on the heir and specially allowed him to study with the crown prince."
Tong Aning was a little disappointed. "Oh."
[Now who can even tell whether he's a prince's heir or an imperial prince?]
Tong Fengye: "!!!"
His sister really had no filter.
Fortunately, Tong Aning remained quiet for the rest of the journey to the Imperial Academy, and Tong Fengye secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
If this kept up, he would go gray before his time.
They got out of the carriage, and Feng Chu hurried over as soon as he saw them.
He slung an arm familiarly around Tong Fengye's shoulders and asked with a smile, "Going riding again today?"
Tong Fengye disdainfully brushed Feng Chu's hand aside. Tong Aning said, "No."
Feng Chu looked disappointed. "Why not?"
"Because I have something more important to do."
Tong Aning walked ahead with her chest out and her head held high.
Feng Chu and Tong Fengye, who had fallen behind, exchanged a look. What important business?
Tong Fengye was distracted, but Tong Aning behaved herself all the way until classes ended.
So Tong Fengye put the matter out of his mind.
"A Shu, let's go," he said.
"Right-"
A Shu's voice faltered.
Tong Fengye asked, "What's..."
Before he could finish, he saw a familiar figure duck into the carriage.
Feng Chu plopped down without the slightest ceremony. Tong Fengye raised his foot to kick him. "This is our residence's carriage."
Feng Chu covered his backside. "I know. Why else would I get in?"
"You..."
"That awful stepmother of mine has come to pick me up again." Feng Chu's voice was a little muffled. "I don't want to go with her."
Tong Fengye couldn't very well say anything else. "Remember to pay."
"Sure," Feng Chu said with a grin.
His expression changed so quickly that Tong Fengye suspected he had been putting on an act before.
Tong Aning suddenly moved. Feng Chu thought she was going to drive him out and had already prepared his excuses, but she merely held out her hand before him and asked hopefully, "Can you give the money to me?"
Feng Chu: "..."
Feng Chu untied his purse and put the whole thing into Tong Aning's hand.
Tong Aning was overjoyed to have so much money all at once.
Partway through the journey, Tong Aning got out of the carriage and went shopping with Feng Chu's money.
Feng Chu: "..."
Watching Tong Aning walk away, Tong Fengye sighed. "Fourth Sister really can't hold on to money."
After getting out of the carriage, Tong Aning walked straight past the Eight Treasures Pavilion.
The shopkeeper froze. The fourth young miss looked so focused, solemn, and serious. Was she off to do something important?
Tong Aning bought a slingshot, a sheet of xuan paper, and a charcoal pencil.
Once everything was ready, Tong Aning headed to Prince Yong's Residence.
Prince Yong's Residence stood at the end of East-West Avenue.
Tong Aning glanced at the two large lions by the entrance. Prince Yong's Residence really was deserted. There was hardly anyone around.
It wasn't until Tong Aning circled around to the foot of the wall that she discovered only one street separated this place from her own residence.
Tong Aning: "..."
She made use of what was at hand and picked up a few pebbles. After wrapping them in notes, Tong Aning pulled the slingshot all the way back, her chin raised high and her fingers whitening with effort. The first paper ball successfully sailed into Prince Yong's Residence.
Next came the second, the third, and the fourth.
Tong Aning fired four shots in a row and exhausted her strength.
The notes actually all said the same thing, but wasn't she worried a servant might accidentally sweep one away?
Puffing out her cheeks, Tong Aning shook out her hand, then skipped away, waving her slingshot.
She didn't notice the young man's gaze behind her.
Sichen picked up all five paper balls and handed them to Xue Lin.
Xue Lin opened and read them one by one. When he reached the last, he couldn't help curving his lips.
"My lord?"
Xue Lin let Sichen look at the paper ball.
Sichen was startled. How did the fourth young miss know someone wanted to kill the heir? He asked hesitantly, "My lord, should we believe this?"
The skipping figure appeared before Xue Lin's eyes. "Yes," he said.
"Yes, my lord. Let me dispose of these paper balls."
Xue Lin tightened his grip and didn't give them to him.
Sichen: "..."
Having done a good deed, Tong Aning lifted her skirts and happily returned home, only to see quite a crowd gathered in front of the marquis's residence.
Tong Aning rose onto her tiptoes for a look and discovered that Feng Chu was being held by two servants, one on either side.
Feng Chu sneered. "What, can't keep pretending to be a loving mother?"
Feng Chu's stepmother, Yang Rong, stood not far from him, dabbing at her tears with a handkerchief. "Chu'er, although I'm your stepmother, how can you speak like that? You were perfectly fine just a few days ago. Has someone been saying something bad to you..."
Yang Rong sobbed, unable to go on.
The onlookers buzzed with discussion. Seeing that the marquis's residence was about to be dragged into it, Feng Chu stiffened his neck and said, "Stop making those barbed insinuations. A few days ago, I hadn't seen your wolfish ambitions for what they were. There's no need to stand here criticizing other people in roundabout ways."
"Chu'er, you really have been led astray!"
The scene outside the gates grew even more chaotic. Su Zhouyue came out and glanced at Yang Rong. She actually knew little about this woman, who was also a marquis's wife.
But that didn't stop her from seeing that the other woman was using their doorstep as a stage for her performance.
"Everyone has a human heart," Su Zhouyue said. "If you treat the child well, madam, he will know it."
Yang Rong choked, then said aggrievedly, "But he doesn't know. The marquis entrusted him to me, yet I've spoiled him until he respects neither law nor heaven. How am I to answer to the marquis?"
With that, Yang Rong's tears fell again.
Tong Aning watched in utter astonishment.
[System, what's wrong with her?]
[Marquis Zhongyong is coming back today. She's already sent her own son to meet him.]
[Ah, I get it. She's deliberately provoking Feng Chu. The more rebellious Feng Chu acts now, the more outstanding the other son will look.]
[Host, you're amazing. I hadn't thought that far. I just wanted to eat melons.]
[There's more gossip???]
[Yep, host. Marquis Zhongyong is almost at the city gates, but that son is still lingering in a tender embrace, reluctant to part.]
[...He's a bit like mud that can't be plastered onto a wall.]
Yang Rong suddenly cried out. Tong Aning looked over and discovered that Feng Chu had borrowed a horse from the marquis's residence and headed toward the city gates.
Author's note:
Feng Chu: Hehehe, it's my turn to perform. [calico cat head][calico cat head][calico cat head]