Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 4
He raised an eyebrow slightly, and a purple figure came into view.
Feng Xue wore a purple silk dress, her hair adorned only with a few purple beads. Her face was covered by a light purple, almost transparent veil. After nodding slightly to him, she moved gracefully to the seat beside him and sat down, while Qingyi stood quietly beside her, her head bowed.
The two beauties beside Situ Xingyun were completely stunned the moment they saw Feng Xue, their faces filled with fear. Through the transparent purple veil, they could see deep, centipede-like scars etched on her face.
"I apologize for keeping Your Highness waiting." Feng Xue nodded slightly, her gaze shifting to the two beautiful women beside Situ Xingyun. "These two must be Your Highness's new favorites!"
Feng Xue's gentle voice brought the two beautiful women back to their senses, and they repeatedly curtsied and bowed their heads, saying, "Sister."
"Oh—" Feng Xue raised an eyebrow in surprise, "Does Fengxi have other princesses?"
The two beauties paled, their pitiful, watery eyes pleading for help as they looked at Situ Xingyun. Situ Xingyun, however, seemed oblivious, silently observing this battle between women.
"Feng Xue was just joking, why are you so alarmed?" Feng Xue said with a smile.
"Yes, Your Highness," the two beautiful women replied, their faces appearing somewhat pale.
At this moment, Situ Xingyun, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up: "You two may step back now!"
"Yes, Your Highness."
Feng Xue gave a look to the woman in green beside her, and she quietly withdrew.
Suddenly, the entire hall fell silent.
After a long while, Feng Xue coughed lightly, looked at Situ Xingyun, and asked, "I wonder what business Your Highness has summoned me here for?"
"What does the princess think?" he asked instead of replying directly, his deep eyes fixed on her.
She raised an eyebrow and blinked gently. "If Your Highness is looking for Feng Xue because of yesterday's events, then Your Highness has come to the wrong person. Since Feng Xue is the mistress of the Pingyan Prince's Mansion, she has the right to handle the mansion's affairs. Or perhaps..." She paused slightly, then shifted her gaze to Situ Xingyun's side, "Your Highness is reluctant to part with those two beauties with exceptionally beautiful singing voices."
Situ Xingyun's lips curled into a smile, and he said with a half-smile, "How could that be? They're just two beauties. It just so happens that I'm also tired of Ruyue and Yueru. The princess's move is exactly what I wanted. I'm grateful to the princess, how could I blame her?"
"Oh—is that so?" She lowered her eyes, concealing the disgust that filled them.
“Of course.” Situ Xingyun turned around, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a small sip. His eyes, which were also full of disgust, were reflected in the tea.
She hated his attitude towards women.
He hated that she was a royal princess, an inviolable decree.
"Then what brings Your Highness here to see Fengxue?" She raised her eyes, her clear pupils like a tranquil stream, as if the disgust she had just felt had never existed.
"The princess should know about tomorrow's banquet!" He put down his teacup, his eyes equally clear.
Feng Xue nodded and said, "Feng Xue is the mistress of the Pingyan Prince's Mansion."
Situ Xingyun nodded. Very well, this woman does have some redeeming qualities.
“Your Highness, it’s getting late. Fengxue should return to Xuelou.” She rose, nodded slightly to him, and walked towards the gate. As she reached the gate, she suddenly turned back and smiled gently. “Your Highness, a few days ago, Father Emperor was worried that Fengxue was bored at the Pingyan Prince’s residence, so he specially sent two beautiful women to keep her company. These two women are skilled in singing and dancing, and are well-versed in poetry and literature. To compensate Your Highness, Fengxue is willing to let them replace Ruyue and Yueru. What does Your Highness think?”
"No, not necessary!" he gritted his teeth, enunciating each word clearly. Situ Xingyun frowned, suppressing the veins bulging on his face. From the day of their marriage, he had neglected her, even staying away from the manor for months, and had taken in a hundred concubines in succession, while she remained indifferent, seemingly unconcerned. She even suggested helping him take concubines—could a princess be so magnanimous?
"Oh... if that's the case, then forget it."
After speaking, Feng Xue left gracefully.
Volume One: A Woman of Famous Name Among the People, Chapter Four: The Banquet
Chapter Four: The Banquet Early in the morning, before the roosters crowed, the people of the Pingyan Prince's Mansion were already bustling about, preparing for today's banquet. Those invited by the Pingyan Prince's Mansion were naturally powerful figures and renowned people in the martial arts world, and these were people who absolutely could not be offended. Therefore, the people in the Prince's Mansion were particularly cautious about this banquet.
The servants in front of the Prince's mansion, who were responsible for receiving guests, were carefully counting the people who were coming today when suddenly, one of them exclaimed in a low voice, "Heavens! The Prince actually sent an invitation to Miss Qingyun!"
"Huh?" Hearing the exclamation, the other person also picked up the post in surprise, and upon seeing it, exclaimed, "Even the Divine Doctor Li Ge has it!"
“And there’s also the Martial Arts Master Jun Wuhen!” Another person picked up another postcard.
At this moment, the head steward sternly rebuked, "Is it any of your business to comment on what the prince does?"
"Steward, can we get these people to come?" A servant swallowed hard, mustering his courage to ask. Another servant followed up, "Don't Miss Qingyun and Physician Lige never show their faces?"
"Yes! Yes! And isn't Lord Jun Wuhen someone who never gets involved in court affairs?"
"Ahem! If you say another word, pack your bags and leave right now. If anything goes wrong at this banquet, you'll all be dead," the steward said sternly.
Everyone immediately fell silent and resumed focusing on their assigned tasks.
Snow Tower.
"The princess's hair is so fine, it's such a waste to style it into a bun," Qingyi complained inwardly as she skillfully styled Fengxue's hair.
Feng Xue chuckled. "Who told me to get married?"
"What a pity. The princess's hair is the best I've ever seen."
"You're always so talkative, and the number of strands of hair you combed in Qingyi is only a handful! Naturally, you think mine is the best." Feng Xue gently stroked a strand of hair that had fallen down.
"Qingyi has also styled the hair of the Emperor, the Empress, and many concubines!" Qingyi smiled proudly, then suddenly stopped what she was doing and said with a hint of doubt, "The princess's hair is soft and black, and it has a lovely fragrance. But the Emperor and the Empress's hair is a bit stiff, and it's difficult to style if they don't take good care of it every day. That's really strange!"
Feng Xue's eyes suddenly dimmed, and her voice became low, "Heaven is fair. If it gives you one good thing, it will surely take away another good thing. Everything is equal."
Looking at her scarred face reflected in the bronze mirror, Qingyi bit her lip in regret and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Princess, which dress should you wear to the banquet today?"
Feng Xue pondered for a moment, then asked, "Has Zhiyun Pavilion sent any clothes recently?"