Queen O's Timid Fugitive A - Chapter 26

26

Due to His Majesty’s indisposition, the news that he would attend later today was announced by the Eldest Prince. The expressions of those around varied, but given the setting, no one dared to discuss it openly. They could only suppress their thoughts and bow in acknowledgment.

Jiang Ciqing stood quietly in a dimly lit corner, gazing across the room through a pyramid-shaped glass.

The blue-gray gauze dress shimmered strikingly under the bright lights, accentuating the elegant lines of the exposed shoulders and neck. The straight collarbone formed a shallow dip, and silver hair was loosely pinned up, with a stray lock falling unintentionally.

Perhaps sensing the intensity of the gaze from this side, Xu Fusheng slightly turned her head. Her glance, seemingly casual, passed through the tall wine glass and landed on the woman beside Jiang Ciqing. It was just a fleeting look, unnoticed even by the person herself.

Jiang Ciqing suddenly shifted, taking half a step forward as if unintentionally, then stopped, unwilling to move further.

“Ciqing…” The person beside her spoke, puzzled.

Jiang Ciqing turned to look at her, her expression as calm and aloof as ever, her eyes carrying a trace of confusion.

Chu Nongxi blinked, thinking she must have misread. The head of the Jiang family had probably just moved slightly, without any deeper meaning.

On the other side, where most of the attention was drawn, Xu Fusheng casually linked arms with the Third Princess beside her. The princess quickly responded, leaning in cooperatively.

Across from them were the Eldest Prince and the Fifth Prince, engaged in some conversation that made the beauty cover her mouth and laugh softly.

“Ciqing?”

Slender fingers gripped the stem of a tall wine glass, the orange-yellow liquid swirling inside, blending the scents of vanilla and pepper into a lingering, gentle fragrance. Jiang Ciqing looked up across the room, her face showing confusion as she asked, “Would Miss Chu like a glass as well?”

The Alpha had strikingly clear black eyes, like those of a naive deer just stepping out of the forest, making it hard for anyone to bear blaming her.

Chu Nongxi bit her lip, letting slide the other’s momentary distraction during their conversation.

“Hm?” Seeing her silence, Jiang Ciqing let out a questioning, upward lilt.

Those eyes were too captivating. Though what was offered was a glass of strong brandy, the Omega felt as if she’d been handed a cup of warm, sweet milk. Only when she took it and held it in her palm did she belatedly realize she never drank alcohol.

Clink!

The young, impulsive Alpha tapped her glass against Chu Nongxi’s, the glass producing a crisp sound as the liquid inside rippled. Jiang Ciqing smiled, a hint of mischief in her expression.

Caught in the moment, Chu Nongxi raised her glass along with her. But when the sharp, burning sensation hit her mouth, her senses snapped back. She hurriedly stopped, struggling to swallow the liquid, only to choke in her haste.

The Alpha beside her was considerate, immediately setting down her own glass and offering a tissue.

“Sorry…” This made Chu Nongxi feel guilty, and she apologized while wiping her lips.

The other didn’t mind, only smiling reassuringly. “The liquor’s too strong.”

Perhaps it was the sudden closeness that threw Chu Nongxi off, making her forget her ingrained etiquette. She muttered a complaint: “I prefer juice over alcohol. Liquor’s just too hard to drink.”

“My oversight. There’s lemon juice over there…” Jiang Ciqing’s eyes gestured to the other side.

The S-class Omega wasn’t as neglected as rumors suggested. Surrounded by Alphas, even the already-married Eldest Prince stayed by her side.

Jiang Ciqing’s eyes narrowed slightly. The next moment, she pretended to drink, concealing all her emotions. The royal brandy was, of course, impeccable—after the initial burn, only a faint fruitiness lingered.

“Over there?” Chu Nongxi followed her gaze.

“Shall we go get a glass?” The Alpha timely extended an invitation.

Having faced coldness from Jiang Ciqing before, Chu Nongxi was flattered by this sudden thoughtfulness and nodded eagerly.

On the other side, the Fifth Prince, perhaps recalling something, leaned close to Xu Fusheng’s ear to whisper. Xu Fusheng shook her head lightly in refusal, while the Third Princess beside her, for the first time, acted assertively in front of her younger brother. Not only did she pull Xu Fusheng back a step, but she also spoke sternly.

Liang Anmu’s expression turned dejected, and he walked off toward others.

“Try a sip. Is it too sour? You can ask them to add more sugar.” Jiang Ciqing, unusually attentive, personally fetched a glass of lemonade for the Omega beside her, bending slightly to ask.

Her gaze was too gentle.

Chu Nongxi averted her eyes, responding shyly, “It’s… just right.”

“Is it?”

“It might be a bit sour for others, but I’ve always loved sour things. This tastes just right,” she explained playfully, her lowered, fluttering lashes resembling butterfly wings.

“Loves sour things?” Jiang Ciqing looked puzzled, glancing at the glass in her hand. She lowered her head, taking a sip directly from the Omega’s glass, her lips brushing the cool rim.

The gazes that occasionally fell on them froze, revealing shock that bordered on alarm.

Jiang Ciqing was known for her strict adherence to propriety. Since her differentiation, she’d never been linked to any Omega in gossip, maintaining an almost unapproachable level of restraint.

This action, even for others, would be considered bold—let alone for Jiang Ciqing, who always kept Omegas at arm’s length.

Could it be… the Chu and Jiang families…?

Didn’t they say Jiang Ciqing was cold to the Chu family’s miss last time?

After Jiang Ciqing’s injury, didn’t the Chu family avoid even sending condolences to distance themselves?

In the shadows, thoughts swirled. Meanwhile, the Chu family’s miss, one of the protagonists, blushed deeply, unable to utter a word.

The other party remained calm, tasting the drink carefully before nodding earnestly. “It is a bit sour.”

The sound of a violin cut through the noise. At some point, the hall had been cleared to create an open space. The Third Princess, dressed in a deep blue gown adorned with diamonds at the collar and cuffs, stepped out from the crowd.

As per tradition, the winner of the autumn hunt would lead the opening dance at the ball.

Liang Anchen took this seriously. Since the hunt’s end, she had urged craftsmen to create a new gown. Her shoulder-length golden hair was combed back, enhancing her sharp elegance. Her refined features glowed under the lights, and with a confident smile, she bowed and extended a hand to the woman across from her.

Only then did Jiang Ciqing notice how well their dresses matched.

As a female Alpha, Liang Anchen didn’t have the broad shoulders of her father or brothers, but her slender, upright frame was striking. She gently placed a hand on her partner’s waist, leading her into the dance.

“It is a bit sour.” Jiang Ciqing said abruptly.

“Huh?” The person beside her was momentarily confused.

“I mean, this lemonade is really sour. It’s still sour now.” Jiang Ciqing explained, tugging at the corner of her mouth.

Chu Nongxi panicked, thinking she’d done something wrong. “Do you want some water? Rinsing your mouth might help.”

Jiang Ciqing shook her head, lifting the brandy she hadn’t set down and taking a small sip to indicate she’d use it to counter the sourness.

Chu Nongxi sighed in relief, a spark of anticipation in her eyes. Before the ball, she hadn’t dared hope for much, thinking it would be lucky just to exchange a few words with Jiang Ciqing. Now…

Her grip on the glass tightened, and she mustered the courage to step closer to the other.

The gray-blue dress studded with rhinestones flared as its wearer spun, silver hair floating in the air. High heels tapped the colorful stained-glass floor, syncing with the violin as a new rhythm.

The brandy was downed in one gulp. Chu Nongxi quietly clenched her fist, summoning courage to speak. “Ciqing…”

Her gaze swept the center, where others were already leading their partners onto the floor. The violin grew more spirited, joined by piano and saxophone.

“It’s still a bit sour.” Jiang Ciqing frowned, the sharp tang of the liquor lingering on her tongue. “The lemonade’s flavor is too strong.”

“Huh?” Chu Nongxi’s eyes widened.

“I’ll go rinse my mouth.” Jiang Ciqing said, not waiting for a reply before heading straight for the door.

Left behind, the Omega’s expression shifted several times. The same thing had happened before. Looking at the lemonade in her hand, a drink she usually loved, it now felt like an eyesore. She set the glass down angrily, clenching her teeth.

“There’s a nice pastry shop at the corner of Ping’an Street. If Miss Xu is interested…”

As the music softened, the steps in the dance slowed. The Third Princess, surrounded by the crowd, held her partner close, bending slightly to whisper what sounded like flirtatious small talk.

Xu Fusheng snapped back to attention, subtly withdrawing her gaze from the door and smiling. “I don’t usually eat sweets.”

“Is that so? I was going to invite Miss Xu to stroll Ping’an Street tomorrow,” said Liang Anchen, who had dance ingrained in her since childhood. Her movements were instinctive, her hand on her partner’s waist tightening slightly to guide her steps.

“The other day, His Majesty had the Fifth Prince show me around the capital. Nanliang is prosperous and thriving, its people joyful,” Xu Fusheng praised with a smile, deftly sidestepping the invitation.

“My brother?” Liang Anchen thought for a moment before saying warmly, “He’s obsessed with martial arts and rarely leaves the palace. He probably only took you to the busier main streets. Nanliang’s best snacks are in the alleys. If there’s a chance, I’ll take you to try them.”

As they chatted, Jiang Ciqing had already left the hall, following a servant’s directions to the washroom, somewhat unfamiliar with the route.

Halfway there, she caught sight of someone in armor hurrying toward another direction. Jiang Ciqing frowned slightly. Wasn’t that toward the council chamber?

She hadn’t yet inherited the title and only entered the palace when summoned by the emperor, always in a rush, so her fragmented memories were hazy. She recalled today’s anomaly.

Indisposition?

She paused, then turned and headed outside.

Ah Fu and the others were still waiting by the carriage. Seeing Jiang Ciqing emerge so quickly, they assumed she was leaving early out of boredom, as usual, and moved to prepare the carriage.

Jiang Ciqing quickly waved them off, lowering her voice. “Go find out if something’s happened with Chen Ya.”

Ah Fu’s expression turned serious. He nodded immediately, instructing the others to stay with the carriage while he left the palace alone.

With the emperor yet to appear, Jiang Ciqing couldn’t linger outside too long. After giving her instructions, she turned back to the hall.

Passing through the open-air corridor, she glanced up at the sky. The weather was clear, with no clouds obscuring the deep, mysterious blue of the night. A bl00d-red crescent moon hung in the sky, but the usually bright North Star was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Ciqing withdrew her gaze and walked straight back to the hall.