Chapter 30: He Cannot Best Me

As soon as Zhao Shenxing departed, the Changning Academy, with the assistance of these scholars, opened its doors in an orderly fashion. Seeing Xu Mingyi busy leading everyone about, Ning Junruo felt an indescribable sense of gratitude. She finally understood why Xu Mingyi had urged her to appoint Master Li Tailai as the dean. She had previously dismissed him as a frail, weak-willed scholar, but it seemed she had underestimated him. Upon reflection, she realized that someone from such humble origins would need to be remarkably intelligent and shrewd to secure a foothold in the treacherous and unpredictable imperial court at such a young age. She dared not imagine if the academy could have opened so smoothly without Master Li’s righteous intervention and the stalwart support of those scholars.

As if by telepathy, Xu Mingyi suddenly turned around. At the moment their eyes met, Ning Junruo felt as if her heart had stopped beating. Since her marriage to Zhao Shenxing was decreed, she had never felt a stir of emotion for anyone, and she had assumed she would never feel such a thing in this lifetime. At that moment, she felt her cheeks growing warm, and her heart began to race like a frightened deer; she hurriedly looked away. To her surprise, Xu Mingyi walked straight up to her and bowed deeply. "Princess, may I have a word with you in private?"

Inhaling the faint, clean scent of cypress seeds that clung to him, Ning Junruo steadied herself. "Follow me, sir."

Once they reached a secluded pavilion outside the academy, Ning Junruo stopped and offered a formal curtsy. "Thank you for your immense help, sir. If not for your planning and advice, I do not know when the academy would have been able to open."

"It was merely a small effort; please, Princess, you flatter me too much." Seeing the noble Princess offering him such a grand gesture, Xu Mingyi reached out to steady her but then hesitated, feeling it would be improper; his hands lingered in the air for a moment before he awkwardly pulled them back.

Perhaps the air outside was too crisp, for Ning Junruo’s composure finally returned. "So, you had long anticipated that he would try to stop us?"

Xu Mingyi smiled faintly. "I have heard a fair amount about the affairs of the Prince’s estate. Men understand men best, so I could foresee that he would act this way."

Perhaps because his face was so strikingly handsome, every time she saw his smile, she felt it carried a hint of cynical playfulness. Ning Junruo felt a sudden flash of displeasure. "It seems my ability to manage my household is quite poor, if matters within the estate have become common knowledge."

Xu Mingyi laughed awkwardly. "Princess, do not doubt your own abilities. I only learned of this by getting my father drunk and using coercion and temptation to pry it out of him."

Seeing that Ning Junruo remained tight-lipped and seemingly still annoyed, he explained further with a gentle smile. "I heard that the Prince’s estate has run out of funds. For the Princess to open a public welfare academy at such a time is undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire; it would be strange if the Prince were not angry."

Ning Junruo had already considered this, though she had not expected Zhao Shenxing to make such a scene by summoning the Liangzhou Governor and the officials from the Judicial Bureau.

"Is this all you wanted to tell me by asking me to step aside?" Ning Junruo was not truly angry, but it felt like Xu Mingyi always had a bellyful of words whenever he saw her, and that feeling was unsettling. Moreover, after every meeting with him, she required a long time to calm her emotions, so she subconsciously wished to avoid further contact. She had decided time and again to stop entangling herself with him, yet if not for him today, could things have been resolved so smoothly? Not to mention today’s events, the work he had spent two sleepless nights completing had proven invaluable.

Ning Junruo was not a cold-hearted person, and she feared nothing more than owing favors. Thinking of everything Xu Mingyi had done for her recently, she felt she had to express her thanks one way or another.

Hearing this, the smile on Xu Mingyi’s face froze. "Is the Princess trying to drive me away again?"

Such a pointed use of the word "again." Seeing his aggrieved look, Ning Junruo couldn't help but want to laugh. "It is getting late; I only hope that you speak of what needs to be said, sir."

That was essentially the same as telling him to leave. Xu Mingyi felt quite depressed. "Aren't you curious about the rumors I heard?"

In the past, she might have cared, but now, she only wanted to leave that place of discord as soon as possible. "I have no interest in such things. You are a scholar, sir, and surely would not act like a gossip. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

"The Princess is mistaken. I came here specifically to assist you, so how could I just walk away?" Xu Mingyi’s gaze shifted, his demeanor becoming so earnest that it was impossible to doubt him.

She hesitated for a moment, ultimately deciding to voice her concerns. "Sir, I appreciate your kindness, but you are a friend of Junyuan’s. I cannot let you be dragged into this conflict on my account."

Xu Mingyi smiled and shook his head gently. "The Princess worries too much. Since I have decided to stand by your side, I will not easily retreat. Furthermore, this matter is not just for your sake, but for the sake of all the people of Liangzhou."

Ning Junruo was moved; she understood that Xu Mingyi was not merely a weak scholar, but a man with the world at heart. She bowed slightly to show her respect. Xu Mingyi smiled modestly. "You overpraise me, Princess. I am merely doing my part."

They exchanged a smile, and a sense of tacit understanding blossomed between them. In the pavilion, the wisteria flowers were in bloom, and sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting a glow upon them to form a beautiful scene. A warmth surged in Ning Junruo’s heart. She had expected to fight this battle alone, never imagining that Xu Mingyi would understand her so well.

"By the way, you asked earlier if I was curious? In truth, there was more to your words." Xu Mingyi continued, "The accounts are empty. Are you not worried that upon returning to the estate, they will demand you produce the funds?"

Ning Junruo smiled faintly, the shallow dimples on her cheeks making her look exceptionally gentle. "Thank you for your concern, sir. Since I intended to return, I have already prepared a countermeasure. By the way, has that Mr. Guan Muren discovered anything these past few days?"

Xu Mingyi’s expression turned cold. He plucked a wisteria flower to toy with. "I was just about to tell you. Brother Guan has news: the Prince indeed went to the Shu region, and Chang Yuniang was previously a 'clean' performer who once sold her talents at Shuiyun Pavilion."

No wonder they had been unable to find any information before! Ning Junruo was stunned. "Is this true?"

Xu Mingyi scanned the surroundings vigilantly. Finding no one nearby, he dropped the flower and pulled out a thin sheet of paper, handing it to her. "This was left by the Prince at Shuiyun Pavilion. If you do not believe it, you may verify the handwriting."

Ning Junruo took it and unfolded it; she realized that there was no need to verify the handwriting—it was clearly the Prince’s. She immediately tucked the paper away and bowed again in gratitude. "My deepest thanks. With this, he can no longer hold me in check!"

"I must ask you to make one more trip, sir. It would be best if you could find a witness who saw Chang Yuniang at Shuiyun Pavilion, even if it takes some time," Ning Junruo said.