Xiao Ziyi climbed up the dais with some awkwardness to show them the letter. "I haven't read it yet," she told Xiao Zai, handing him the folded paper.
Xiao Zai read the first few sentences with a deep frown. "It's from the Third Princess."
Unable to hold back his curiosity, Chu Yun peered over his shoulder, and read aloud, "'I've hurried to send this letter before our departure, for fear that I won't be able to say this when we meet in person: don't trust my mother."
The calligraphy was sloppy and rushed, matching someone trying to send out a letter undetected. It was stamped in ink with what looked like a peony pattern, similar to that of the Su crest. Chu Yun thought it looked like something that might have been carved in a piece of jewellery.
Something the Third Princess would be wearing when they met, if she was determined to attest to the legitimacy of the letter.
"What do you make of this?" Xiao Ziyi asked, looking from between Xiao Zai and Chu Yun.
Chu Yun rubbed his temples. "It complicates things."
He had hoped this would be simple. That the Queen Consort and the Third Princess would come, either looking forward for an alliance or wary of it -- and either way Chu Yun would be able to gleam useful information from them.
But now they had this warning.
Did that mean they couldn't trust what the Queen Consort said, or in turn shouldn't trust the Third Princess?
What exactly was going on between the two of them? And was it related in anyway to Ru Long?
He felt a comforting touch on the small of his back, and turned to find Xiao Zai smiling at him. "Do you want to go on a medically unadvised horse ride to put your mind out of it?"
Or...if she was trying to do something behind their back.
The Third Princess' warning muddied the waters.
The carriage the Queen Consort and the princess had travelled on was decorated with the same chrysanthemum patterns as the guard's robes. It came to a halt in front of Xiao Zai, as the guards riding along on horses filed to the side in neat lines.
One of the guards dismounted from his horse and opened the carriage's door, stepping out of the way immediately.
The Queen Consort was the first out of the carriage. She was an imposing woman, albeit not tall or stout, there was a tightness to her features and the way she carried herself that belied an inner steel core. Her face was faintly lined, and although it didn't detract from her good looks, the wrinkles gave the impression that she wasn't a woman much used to smiling.
Which was why Chu Yun was immediately alarmed when she opened up a delighted smile at seeing them, and bowed deeply. "We are most honoured to have received his Majesty the King of Zui's invitation. Haolin truly is as splendid as its many lovers claim."
Xiao Zai greeted her equally cordially but everyone's attention was focused on the dark interior of the carriage.
The Third Princess wasn't as effusive as her mother. Like her, she was dressed in rich, flowing silks, although her dress was a pale shade of teal, while the Queen Consort wore rich blue robes. The Third Princess moved methodically, almost daintily, hands folded demurely in front of her waist as she climbed down the carriage stairs sideways.
Her eyes were demurely downcast, and the lower half of her face was hidden behind a thin veil that matched the fabric of her robes. Despite that, what they could see of her face was exceedingly lovely.
She bowed deeply, still not looking any of them in the eye. "This simple girl is humbled with his Majesty's invitation," her dark eyes flickered briefly towards Xiao Ziyi, "and looks forward to spending some time in her Highness's company during the length of her stay."
Xiao Ziyi cleared her throat awkwardly before returning the greeting.
Chu Yun was suddenly glad Hua Nanyi wasn't there to witness their meeting.