Chapter 13 Anyone You Like Qi Rong seated himself beside the Eldest Princess, his eyes sharp as he studied Weng Li and the maidservant. He did not answer at once. Instead, he let the silence stretch before turning toward Li Han. "Master Han," he said coldly, "explain why your own servant tried to poison this maidservant-the very same who brought word to you and to the Eldest Princess." The accusation thundered through the chamber. Gasps erupted, and the onlookers fixed their eyes on Li Han with disbelief. None had imagined he would be entangled in such a plot. Li Han's brow beaded with sweat from the moment Qi Rong dragged those two inside. Now, with every gaze upon him, his tongue failed him. On the ground, Weng Li trembled, biting his lip until it bled. "It was me," he cried, his voice cracking. "I acted alone. I could not bear to see Ms. Ma insult my master. "So, I thought if her body were defiled, then no man but my master would take her in. Please, Your Highnesses, forgive my master. He knew nothing of it!" Weng Li's confession jolted Li Han back to himself. Fury erupted in him, and he rushed forward to kick the boy savagely. "You fool! How dare you scheme without my order!" Then, Li Han dropped to his knees, terror etched into every line of his face. "Your Highnesses, it was my servant's reckless crime, all of it. If punishment is demanded, then I beg you to decree it upon me." The Eldest Princess' face darkened. She had grown up in the shadowed halls of the palace. She had witnessed these sorts of schemes countless times before. She knew precisely who lay behind this, who carried such spite, and who longed to destroy a young woman's good name. Yet with so many watching, and with the marquis' household tied into the matter... The Eldest Princess drew a long breath and closed her eyes for a moment. She turned to Ma Ting. "Though this matter is not of Ms. Ma's making, her name has been stained, and calamity nearly followed. "Ms. Ma, how do you think it should be resolved?" Ma Ting had not expected the Eldest Princess to pass the burden to her. She glanced at Qi Rong by instinct. He rested his chin in his hand, a faint curve of amusement playing on his lips. "I am only a woman. The Ma family has always been known for kindness and grace. I have never faced such a thing. I must defer to His Highness in deciding how this should be addressed." At her pretense, Qi Rong raised his brows. inlener Un "Cast this one into the river. As for the other... death by beating." With a single unhurried command, he sealed their fates. The hall plunged into silence. No one dared draw too loud a breath, as if even the sound might offend him. "Ms. Ma, does this meet with your approval?" Qi Rong flung the words at her. Ma Ting's chest burned with fury, yet she could not show it. She bowed her head and agreed. At once, the gazes turned upon her shifted. Several young noblemen who had once sought her favor stepped back without hesitation. "In that case, it shall be so. Let none speak of this further. You are all dismissed." She turned to Li Han. "As for you, Master Han, I recall there will soon be a poetry gathering. You are well read, Master Han, yet you lack refinement in places. You would do well to devote yourself to the classics if you hope to win the prize." The gathering was still half a month away. Her words carried the weight of a warning. But Li Han could offer no protest. His face drained pale as he bowed and accepted the rebuke. When the guests began to withdraw, Ma Ting cast one last look at the Cai family's second daughter. The young woman still knelt with eyes bloodshot. Ma Ting let out a faint sigh before turning to depart. As she left, desperate cries for mercy rose behind her, only to be crushed beneath Qi Rong's cold reply. Ma Ting sighed once more and quickened her pace, tugging Ding Jie with her. After what had transpired, no one cared for scenery any longer. Clusters of guests whispered in uneasy tones. Ma Ting, disliking the oppressive mood, excused herself and slipped from the crowd. As she passed through the entrance of the hall, her eyes caught Li Han. Where once admirers had flocked, now every soul avoided him as though he carried plague. By the time their vessel reached the shore, word would surely spread. It would be the marquis' household that bore the disgrace, perhaps even dragged into court by those eager to wound them. Back within their private cabin, Ding Jie finally exhaled heavily. "Ms. Ting, Lord Zhu is terrifying!" Ma Ting lifted her teacup, remembering only then that Ding Jie had returned at the same time as Meng Ding. "You crossed paths with Meng Ding on your way back?" Ma Ting froze where she sat. If Meng Ding had acted with such certainty, then it must have been at Qi Rong's order. The maidservant's scheme had been meant to harm her. Qi Rong's hand in the matter had been a shield, but for what reason? What aim could he have? Did he still covet the secret formula? Her thoughts knotted as her fingers drifted to her hair, reaching for the golden hairpin set with a pearl, a piece she always held when lost in thought. Her hand found nothing. Only then did she recall that she had given the hairpin to Qi Rong earlier in the upper cabin. With so many eyes about, she could not request it back. If anyone saw, scandal would follow. She resolved to wait for another chance. "Ding Jie, step outside and see how soon the vessel will dock." The day's events left her restless. Once Ding Jie had gone, Ma Ting drew a small porcelain vial from her sleeve and shook out a piece of incense. She set it upon the burner and touched it with flame. A thin ribbon of smoke curled upward, filling the cabin with the soft fragrance of rain bamboo. The gentle scent eased her mind, though only faintly. Just as she closed her eyes to rest for a moment, the image of Qi Rong suddenly rose in her mind without warning. The thought startled her awake, and she opened her eyes in alarm. "Why would I think of him?" Ma Ting pressed a slender hand against her chest, trying to calm the frantic pounding of her heart. She pushed his memory away, then frowned as she leaned over and extinguished the incense burner. Ding Jie entered the chamber and caught sight of the gesture. "My lady, why put out the bamboo incense? Have you not been fond of it these past days?" "Forget it. From this moment on, bring me the orchid blend instead." She would not allow herself to be reminded of Qi Rong whenever the fragrance reached her senses. "Yes, my lady." Though Ding Jie found the change strange, she remained silent. She carefully packed away the porcelain bottles scattered across the table and reminded Ma Ting that there were still two hours before the ship reached shore, enough time for her to rest. 3/4 Meanwhile, on the third floor within the Eldest Princess' private chamber, Qi Rong lit the incense. As the fragrance spread through the air, the sharp lines of his face softened. "This scent..." A flicker of surprise passed through the Eldest Princess' eyes, yet when she noticed the shift in his expression, her suspicion deepened. "Rong, now that you have returned from the battlefield, His Majesty is considering arranging a marriage for you. Do you already hold someone in your heart?" At the mention of marriage, a shadow crossed Qi Rong's gaze. It vanished so swiftly that the Eldest Princess failed to notice it. He idly stirred the orchid blend within the burner. "Perhaps I do, perhaps I do not. I see no need for haste." Watching his hand move with studied leisure, the Eldest Princess could more or less discern who weighed upon his thoughts, and her brow furrowed as unease settled in her mind. "The Ma family once flourished in Ming City, but fate proved cruel. Only one orphaned girl remains. If someone shields her, perhap she will endure. Yet if not, with all the rumors in Ming City, her path ahead will be merciless." Qi Rong lowered his gaze to the curling smoke and allowed his lips to curve faintly. "The Li family may lack the fortune to marry her, yet mine has always been favorable."