Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 9
With a creak, the door was gently pushed open.
A deep, mellow voice followed, its tone unreadable—"Princess, you've returned from your walk?"
Volume One: A Female Merchant Named Qingyun in the Folk
The sky was just beginning to lighten, with a gentle, cool breeze blowing.
The Snow Tower remained shrouded in darkness, and within that darkness, a low pressure flowed with the somber words, like an impending storm at sea.
Feng Xue's long hair fluttered gently.
She paused for a moment, then stepped into the Snow Pavilion and lit a lamp. The soft light immediately illuminated the pavilion, adding a gentle atmosphere.
Feng Xue smiled faintly, her eyes fixed on the soft light.
"Your Highness, you're in quite the mood, actually venturing into Fengxue's Snow Pavilion for the first time ever. Tsk, I don't think Your Highness even came on your wedding night!"
Situ Xingyun sat on a rosewood chair, his eyes deep and his expression unfathomable.
Upon hearing Feng Xue's words, he raised an eyebrow. "So, the princess is blaming me for neglecting you?"
"No, Fengxue was merely surprised that Your Highness would step into Snow Pavilion; she meant nothing of what Your Highness meant." Fengxue's eyes reflected the soft candlelight.
Staring at her firm back, Situ Xingyun noticed that she was dressed unusually thinly.
"If I hadn't stepped into Snow Tower, how would I have known that the princess liked to take walks outside in the middle of the night?" Situ Xingyun's eyes held a hint of mockery.
Taking a walk?! Feng Xue was stunned for a moment, then realized that it was a lie told by Qingyi for her sake.
At that moment, a soft sobbing reached Feng Xue's ears.
Startled, she turned to find Qingyi kneeling beside Situ Xingyun, her face streaked with tears, her forehead swollen and red from kowtowing. Her body trembled slightly, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at her. Seemingly restrained by Situ Xingyun beside her, she opened her mouth but remained silent.
When Situ Xingyun saw Feng Xue without her veil for the first time, he was stunned. Although he had seen all sorts of things in the world, he had never seen such a scarred face.
Feng Xue's gaze softened slightly. After comforting Qingyi, she turned to look at Situ Xingyun, the gentle light in her eyes fading, replaced by indifference and unfamiliarity.
Seeing his stunned expression, Feng Xue's eyes flashed with a hint of mockery.
"Your Highness has seen countless sails and tasted all kinds of flowers, but you must have never seen such withered flowers before! Please wait a moment, Your Highness, so that Fengxue may do her hair and makeup." Before he could speak, Fengxue immediately said, "Qingyi, do my hair and makeup."
"Yes, Princess." Qingyi hurriedly got up and staggered to Fengxue's side.
Feng Xue slightly bent her knees, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness."
A moment later, Feng Xue had changed into a peach-colored silk dress with gold trim, and her hair was styled into a mature woman's hairstyle. Due to the time constraints, she only had a plum blossom hairpin in her hair, and she also wore a dark veil on her face.
After a short while of dressing up, the sky had already turned white, coated with a faint glow. The lights in the Snow Pavilion were also blown out by the wind, and Feng Xue's emotions had been adjusted.
Feng Xue's eyes were clear and her gaze was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Situ Xingyun's eyes were deep, but he still seemed to have a trace of his earlier embarrassment.
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
Neither of them spoke, and a heavy atmosphere filled the air.
After a long silence, Situ Xingyun finally spoke: "As the princess of Fengxi and the princess consort of Pingyan Prince's Mansion, isn't the princess afraid of damaging her image and the dignity of the royal family by lingering outside in the middle of the night?"
His eyes narrowed.
Ah, finally getting to the point.
She blinked gently and said, "Since she was little, Fengxue has had a habit of enjoying taking walks and lingering outside. If it weren't for meeting her at the coming-of-age ceremony..." Fengxue's eyes dimmed slightly, her head lowered, her eyelids half-closed, making her look pitiful. "Fengxue wouldn't need to go for walks outside until midnight."
Situ Xingyun narrowed his eyes slightly.
"I wonder where the princess likes to linger? When I have some free time, I will accompany her for a walk. It would be a beautiful story in Fengxi. His Majesty will surely be pleased."
Feng Xue bit her lip. He's really not easily fooled! She still underestimated him.
At this moment, the woman in green offered Luohua tea, saying, "Princess, tea."
Feng Xue accepted the Luohua tea, slightly lifted her veil, and took a small sip.
The tea was icy cold, refreshing and invigorating. The fatigue from writing all night seemed to gradually disappear as the tea entered my heart.
Feng Xue's eyes flashed with a piercing light, as if the Feng Xue with the dim eyes just now was just an illusion.
"Your Highness, let's make a deal!"
Volume One: A Woman Named Qingyun Trades Among the Common People (Part 2)
After a long silence, Situ Xingyun finally spoke: "As the princess of Fengxi and the princess consort of Pingyan Prince's Mansion, isn't the princess afraid of damaging her image and the dignity of the royal family by lingering outside in the middle of the night?"
His eyes narrowed.
Ah, finally getting to the point.
She blinked gently and said, "Since she was little, Fengxue has had a habit of enjoying taking walks and lingering outside. If it weren't for meeting her at the coming-of-age ceremony..." Fengxue's eyes dimmed slightly, her head lowered, her eyelids half-closed, making her look pitiful. "Fengxue wouldn't need to go for walks outside until midnight."