Lace Glory Universe King GL - Chapter 32

It was another late night of overtime at the Court of Judicature. Yun Ying stayed at her desk until the very end, just barely making it home to the Yun residence before the curfew in Chang’an City.

She had just set foot on the stone steps at the entrance when someone lightly tapped her on the back.

It was Jing!

“You—hurry inside, don’t let anyone see you.” Yun Ying glanced around nervously and quickly pulled Jing into the house.

Jing’s expression was dark. Yun Ying found it strange—Jing never came uninvited, let alone to her home.

“I know a reliable medical clinic. The physician there is honest and discreet. Sending Ying there to recuperate would be the best option. I’ve already made arrangements—we can go first thing tomorrow morning.” Jing’s tone was almost forceful.

“She’s lost too much blood, and she still has old injuries. It’s better not to move her. Besides, I still have questions for her.” Yun Ying was exhausted and sounded a little impatient.

“How long do you plan to let her stay? You don’t even know who was after her! If they track her here, can you really handle it?” Jing’s urgency sharpened.

Yun Ying frowned. “What’s gotten into you… If they come here, all the better—we can catch a live one and interrogate them.”

“You’re inviting wolves into your house!” Jing’s face darkened further. She paused, then said firmly, “Do as you like. But I’m keeping watch here. If she makes any suspicious move—”

“If she makes a move, I’ll immediately signal the Court of Judicature for reinforcements. Do I really need my own informant to protect me?” Yun Ying tried to soothe her.

“You against many? You can’t.” Jing turned toward the inner courtyard, suppressing the fire in her chest. “I don’t care—if Ying is here, I won’t rest easy.”

Yun Ying shook her head, weary, and had no choice but to agree.

The next morning, before heading to the Court of Judicature, Yun Ying went to Ying’s room.

Pushing open the door, she found Ying propped against the bedframe, a bowl of medicine beside her. Seeing Yun Ying, she smiled faintly. “Don’t worry, I’ll drink it.”

Yun Ying nodded. Physician Chen had said her recovery was astonishingly fast—even the wings once declared unsalvageable were slowly healing, though she still couldn’t fly.

“…Isn’t that the peddler who sold black feathers the other day?” Ying had noticed Jing standing at the doorway.

Yun Ying turned. Sure enough, Jing was there, arms crossed, glaring coldly, refusing to enter.

“And you’re the one who lost to that peddler’s trick.” Jing said flatly.

“Taking advantage of my injuries, that’s all. When I’ve recovered, would you dare flaunt those little tricks in front of the Shadow God of the East?” Ying’s eyes turned sharp.

“Tough words. Once you’re healed, you’d better roll out of the Yun residence at once.” Jing shot back without mercy.

Yun Ying quickly gestured at Jing to stop talking.

Ying studied their expressions, then, with interest, remarked in a low voice, “And who are you to Yun Da-ren, to issue orders here? In that case, I’ve changed my mind—I’ll be staying here for quite some time. What do you think? Hahahahaha…”

Her laughter carried a bone-chilling edge.

Seeing Jing on the verge of losing her temper, Yun Ying forcibly pulled her away. If this went on, the two would draw weapons.

In the corner of the veranda outside the guest room, Yun Ying warned her: “Listen. You’re both my guests. I won’t allow you to fight.”

“That girl’s words are poisonous—you didn’t see she was deliberately provoking me?” Jing herself was unsettled; she was not usually one to lose her temper so easily.

“Don’t forget why you’re here. She’s a patient.”

“I know. She’s sick,” Jing muttered bitterly.

“I have to get to the Court. Don’t stir up trouble.” Yun Ying pressed her hand firmly on Jing’s shoulder.

Jing calmed somewhat—because Yun Ying had, in that moment, treated her as one of her own.

Using fragments of her mirror, Jing secretly watched the guest room. Ying had poured the medicine into a flower vase, then wandered over to flip through a few books on the shelf, before lying down again to rest.

Apart from the maid bringing meals and tidying up, the whole day passed without incident.

But what was Ying doing clinging to Yun Ying like this?

She herself had partnered with Yun Ying in light and shadow for so long, and yet this was the first time she’d stepped inside the Yun residence. That winged “bird-girl” should just return to wherever she came from.

That evening, when Yun Ying returned again close to curfew, Jing was waiting at the inner courtyard gate. The moment that ponytailed silhouette appeared, Jing slipped out from under the eaves.

“You always appear out of nowhere—” Yun Ying complained.

“What, does seeing me at your home scare you?” Jing retorted, more displeased.

“The Court’s workload has piled up. No time for idle chatter. I haven’t even had a chance to properly investigate her case. If I can’t get anything out of her, I’ll just fine her and be done with it.” Yun Ying rubbed her temples.

“What fine?”

“She broke curfew in the western market several nights in a row, even smashed a civilian’s water spout. Naturally, she’ll have to pay.”

Ordinarily, the case would have been straightforward—a fine and finished. But since it involved the sole surviving member of the feathered clan, gravely injured no less, there was surely more beneath the surface. As Deputy Minister of the Court, Yun Ying had intended to keep the Eastern Lord pacified and slowly dig deeper. Yet in the past few days, an order had come down from above: this year’s Honglu Grand Military Exercises were to be expanded, effective immediately, with half the Court’s constables reassigned to serve there.

With routine patrols crippled, countless minor cases piled up—noise complaints, missing pets, petty theft—flooding in like snowflakes. At this rate, Yun Ying feared she might as well sleep at the Court.

At this, Jing’s lips curved in satisfaction. “So, you’re finally going to kick her out?”

“Why are you two at such odds?” Yun Ying sighed.

“It’s not odds—it’s oil and water,” Jing said with emphasis.

That night, Jing slept soundly.

Later, when Yun Ying brought the official fine to inform Ying, Jing stood at the doorway again, arms crossed, this time with a trace of schadenfreude.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have the money for a fine.” Ying’s tone carried not a shred of apology.

“Tsk tsk. The great Shadow Lord of the East, penniless.” Jing sneered from outside.

“You can borrow from a friend. Otherwise, you’ll be spending some time locked up at the Court,” Yun Ying reminded her.

“Then I’ll borrow from you, Yun Ying. Not for nothing—I’ll tell you what you want to know once I’m healed.” Ying looked at her with a sly smile.

“Speak first. Then I’ll see if it’s worth five taels of silver,” Jing cut in.

Yun Ying nodded.

A shadow fell across Ying’s golden eyes. Slowly, she said, “Such a kindhearted Yun Da-ren—why on earth would she be tangled up with such a vicious woman?”

She rose, stepped close to Yun Ying, then turned, her gaze sweeping across Jing at the door. That probing, scrutinizing look seemed to strip away every mask.

“Before I answer, I have a question of my own. What exactly is the relationship between you two?”

…

Yun Ying was momentarily speechless.

Jing casually dropped one short line:

“We are engaged.”

???

Both Yun Ying and Ying were stunned.

“I’ve answered. Now hurry up and tell us what you know.”

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