Ning Xueyan turned her head and saw a slim, graceful young woman walking up the stairs. Several maids surrounded her like stars crowding around the moon. Upon closer inspection, Ning Xueyan realized that she recognized that elegant, pure face. It was Commandery Princess Muling.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Princess.” Commandery Princess Muling seemed surprised to her there. A conflicted look crossed her eyes. She was no longer Commandery Princess Muling of yesteryears and Ning Xueyan was also no longer Prince Yi’s consort or the Lord Protector’s daughter that she looked down on.

“You’re too polite, Commandery Princess Muling,” Ning Xueyan said softly with a smile.

Commandery Princess Muling wasn’t just a commandery princess, but Ao Mingyu’s soon-to-be princess as well. Even though Ning Xueyan’s status was higher than hers, it wouldn’t do Ning Xueyan any favors to offend her now.

The court was in a precarious state. Ao Chenyi had the absolute advantage in terms of power but Ao Mingyu was no pushover either.

Commandery Princess Muling returned the smile. She turned her head and looked in the direction of the zithers before asking politely, “What were you talking about, Your Highness? Was it the Mark of the Moon zither that I had my eyes on?”

However, she made it sound as if the zither was supposed to be hers.

Ning Xueyan sneered on the inside. She looked up and stared indifferently at Commandery Princess Muling. “Eldest Young Lady Heng and I were examining an antique zither, but since it’s yours, we wouldn’t rob you of your love.”

She grabbed Heng Yuqing’s hand when she was done speaking, ready to leave.

There wasn’t any trace of her desire for the antique zither. It was as if she had mentioned buying the zither on a whim and wasn’t interested in the famous zither at all.

Her action astonished Commandery Princess Muling. Even Heng Yuqing was caught off guard. She widened her eyes at Ning Xueyan, not understanding why she would give up the zither all of a sudden. However, seeing the determined look in Ning Xueyan’s eyes, she sighed inwardly and prepared to leave with her.

An uncertain emotion flickered in Commandery Princess Muling’s eyes. “Do you like the zither as well, Your Highness?” she asked, sounding confused.

“Not really. I only took a closer look at the zither because I heard it was inauspicious.” Ning Xueyan stopped in her tracks, her smile gentle and calm.

Commandery Princess Muling was stunned to hear that the zither was inauspicious. She couldn’t help but look at the Mark of the Moon zither with a gentle expression. “You must be joking, Your Highness. How could this zither be inauspicious? There’s a beautiful legend behind it. It’s the witness of a moving romance.”

Ning Xueyan’s lips curved into an elegant smile. She stopped walking and said, “I didn’t know this zither is so lovely. I must have remembered it incorrectly. Since you like this zither so much, you should buy it. I’m sure you would love to have it by your side.”

It was evident that she was being perfunctory and had no real interest in the antique zither called the Mark of the Moon.

“How would I dare monopolize such a good zither? It’s only when this zither is in your hands that it can be brought to the limelight again and let more people learn its beautiful story. I’m just a commandery princess and unworthy of this antique zither.” Commandery Princess Muling sighed and put on a worried look.

The original owner of the Mark of the Moon was an emperor’s daughter. With her status, Commandery Princess Muling was indeed not a suitable match.

On the contrary, Ning Xueyan was the Crown Princess. Her status was above that of Commandery Princess Muling.

Ning Xueyan shook her head with a smile and said softly, “If you wouldn’t dare monopolize such a good zither, why would I? Besides, I’m mediocre at the zither. It’s only when this zither is in your hands that it can be truly well-known.”

She didn’t seem at all interested in owning the well-known antique zither.

Commandery Princess Muling took a look at Ning Xueyan’s earnest expression and laughed. She turned to the store assistant and said, “When you put it that way, I’m even less inclined to have this zither. Shopkeeper, please pack up this zither. We’ll consider it my congratulatory gift to the Crown Princess.”

The store assistant had been waiting on the sideline all along. When he heard Commandery Princess Muling’s command, he immediately and carefully put the antique zither into an old-fashioned zither case. He brought the case and handed it to Lanning, who was standing beside Ning Xueyan.

Lanning didn’t take it. She took two steps back and created a considerable distance between her and the zither case in the store assistant’s hands. It went without saying that she wouldn’t accept the zither on her accord before her master said anything.

Unlike her, Heng Yuqing’s eyes were bright. She leaned close to the zither case as if she was going to accept it on Ning Xueyan’s behalf. In her opinion, Commandery Princess Muling was being sincere enough. Ning Xueyan would seem rude not to accept it.

“I’m afraid… it’s not a good idea,” Ning Xueyan said, refusing the gift.

“It’s fine. It’s clear that you like the zither. It would be rude if I were to take it. I have to give in to you,” Commandery Princess Muling said, smiling.

If one didn’t hear what she said upon entering, one would have thought she was being respectful and trying to give up a beloved object to Ning Xueyan.

The intention was completely different from how she had entered with vigor and expressed that she had her eye on the zither first.

With her words, she turned Ning Xueyan from someone who coveted someone else’s object to a noble person giving up her beloved object. Ning Xueyan was left speechless at the drastic change. She could sense the icy mockery in Commandery Princess Muling’s expression. It was as she had expected. If she dared to express her desire for the zither, a person on even ground with her would express the same.

Most importantly, this person would be the first to express the interest. That would make her, the late-comer, seem unreasonable if she were to fight Commandery Princess Muling over it. She wasn’t technically wrong but if a store assistant were to prove that she was being a bully, she would be labeled a tyrant.

And if something were to happen to the object that she fought for, she couldn’t blame it on anyone.

Commandery Princess Muling must have come here for the same reason as Ya Moqin…

Now that Ning Xueyan seemed uninterested, Commandery Princess Muling insisted on her accepting the zither. It was as if she was rejecting Commandery Princess Muling’s good intentions if she rejected the gift. Commandery Princess Muling even stated that it was a congratulatory gift. Thinking about it, it was such a joke.

Everyone knew Ao Chenyi and Ao Mingyu were fighting over the Crown Prince title. Not only was Commandery Princess Muling, Ao Mingyu’s soon-to-be princess, not sad, but she even congratulated Ning Xueyan. Ning Xueyan was speechless. She couldn’t help but suspect her intentions.

If she remembered it correctly, the man whom Commandery Princess Muling loved wasn’t Ao Mingyu but Wen Xueran…

“Since you’re being so generous, I’d be rude not to accept it. Lanning, take the zither. When we return to the manor, ask Mother Han to send a generous gift to Commandery Princess Muling as thanks for her gift of friendship,” Ning Xueyan told Lanning softly, wearing a gentle smile.

After receiving her order, Lanning stepped forward and took the zither case from the store assistant. She made a deep bow at Commandery Princess Muling and returned to her previous position.

The two of them chatted a little longer before Ning Xueyan left with Heng Yuqing.

Commandery Princess Muling stood at the top of the stairs and smiled as she watched Ning Xueyan leave. It wasn’t until Ning Xueyan disappeared that her smile disappeared.

The maid beside her said softly, “Commandery Princess…”

Commandery Princess Muling shook her hand and turned her head. She frowned as she asked the store assistant, “Did she not take an interest in the Mark of the Moon when she came?”

This was what confused her. The zither was the real thing. It took them a lot of effort to obtain the world-famous zither, and it was only by chance that they came across it. She thought no one would be able to resist the temptation of owning such a good zither. How could Ning Xueyan react that way?

Was Ning Xueyan just prejudiced against the zither because she didn’t like the legend?

If that was the case, why did she so readily accept the zither in the end? Commandery Princess Muling couldn’t understand Ning Xueyan’s thoughts. Was she playing hard-to-get? Or was she truly uninterested and accepted the zither because she had no choice?

Ning Xueyan should have been hanging onto the zither after seeing it.

“She seemed interested when she came. When she first came in, she went out of her way to look at the zither. She even said she wanted to buy it,” the store assistant replied respectfully. His show of respect toward Commandery Princess Muling was more genuine than toward Ning Xueyan.

In his opinion, he belonged to Mu Manor. It was natural that he wouldn’t respect a Crown Princess who used to be a consort.

The zither store was Mu Manor’s secret business in the capital. Few people knew this, and not everyone working in the store was aware either. On the surface, the store belonged to an average well-off family and their friendship with influential officers was what allowed them to run the store in such a good location.

Only a handful of trusted aides knew that the zither store belonged to Mu Manor. How could an average well-off family be so capable as to operate the biggest zither store in the capital otherwise?

The store assistant serving Ning Xueyan was one of the few who knew the true owners of the store.

Commandery Princess Muling shook her hand with a heavy frown, prompting her maids to leave. Only her private maid, who tried to speak earlier, stayed behind. It was only then that she lowered her voice and asked, “Did the Princely Heir come?”

The store assistant peeked at the princess’ expression before replying cautiously, “No. He sent word that he’s preoccupied and might not make it.” It went without saying that he knew a thing or two about the princess’ feelings as her trusted aide. He also knew that she was working with Eldest Young Lady Ya for the Princely Heir’s sake.

But, was the Princely Heir right for the princess? He didn’t dare to voice his opinion. He could only make his report carefully.

A valuable antique zither fell to the floor with a loud crash. Commandery Princess Muling gritted her teeth with a pale face. She picked up the hem of her skirt and walked down the stairs. Since he didn’t come, she would look for him. How could he be so heartless when she was willing to give up the world for him?

What was so good about Ning Xueyan? Ning Xueyan was already married and yet he couldn’t forget her. She hated Ning Xueyan! She would never let that vixen off!