Princess Xiangsi - Chapter 19
Situ Xingyun's room and study were in the north, while Feng Xue's Snow Pavilion was in the south, the furthest point in the entire Pingyan Prince's Mansion. Before marrying into the manor, Feng Xue had specifically chosen the secluded Snow Pavilion. It seems she's now rather asking for trouble.
Walking beside her, Situ Xingyun seemed to have heard her thoughts and said, "It is a bit far, but doesn't the princess love to take walks? Just think of it as taking a walk with me. Besides, this was the princess's choice in the first place."
His deep voice blew by like a cool night breeze.
"Feng Xue prefers quiet and dislikes crowds." Her voice was calm, blocking out the chilly wind.
“A princess can only associate with excitement…” His voice grew lower and lower, then suddenly Situ Xingyun’s tone changed, becoming lighter, “However, my place can be considered a quiet place.”
Feng Xue was taken aback; his words seemed to have a deeper meaning.
“Whether it’s quiet or not, in Feng Xue’s eyes, this palace, apart from Xue Lou, is always bustling with activity.” Ignoring the deeper meaning, Feng Xue said calmly.
Under the moonlight, Feng Xue, dressed in pure white, resembled a wisp of smoke, unreachable from afar. It seemed as if she would vanish at the slightest touch.
Situ Xingyun's heart inexplicably tightened. He took off his pale blue coat and draped it over Feng Xue's body with such gentleness that even he found it unbelievable.
Feng Xue trembled and turned her head. Situ Xingyun's eyelashes gently brushed against her eyelids, and his warm breath rushed towards her. By the time she realized what was happening, she was already wearing a light blue and white outer garment, which still retained Situ Xingyun's body heat.
And her heart inexplicably warmed up, this warmth seemed to be slowly washing away the bitterness left by Jun Wuhen.
For the first time, she felt that Situ Xingyun wasn't so annoying after all.
Feng Xue turned her head away and shifted her feet slightly, maintaining a distance from Situ Xingyun.
"Thank you, Your Highness." The voice remained calm, but upon closer listening, it contained a myriad of complex emotions...
Situ Xingyun's eyes held a slight smile in the darkness.
"It's chilly at night, Princess, please wear more clothes next time you go for a walk," he continued.
Feng Xue's body trembled slightly again.
A moment later, she turned to look at Situ Xingyun, her eyes sparkling with starlight, "Fengxue thanks Your Highness for your kindness, Fengxue will remember it next time."
"Let's go." Situ Xingyun started walking and continued down the winding corridor.
Feng Xue followed him and walked alongside him.
Volume One: Folk Tales of a Female Actor Named Qingyun 4
As they passed through a courtyard, the sound of a xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute) drifted over, followed by a beautiful and moving song. In the center of the courtyard, a graceful red figure danced to the xiao music.
However, the sound of the flute, the singing, and the captivating dance all carried a subtle hint of loneliness.
Although she rarely leaves the Snow Pavilion, anyone with eyes can tell who the flute music in the courtyard is for, who the songs are sung for, and who the dances are performed for.
Feng Xue raised her eyes, her gaze containing a faint hint of mockery and a touch of pity.
"How pitiful." Looking at those women, Feng Xue thought of the concubines in the palace. Her father only had two or three favorite concubines. Who knew how lonely the remaining thousands of women were?
Upon hearing her words, Situ Xingyun's body trembled violently.
"You..." Just as he was about to say something, the three women in the courtyard, as if by telepathy, moved gracefully to Situ Xingyun's front, bowed gently, smiled sweetly, and their delicate eyebrows were full of joy.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Their eyes were only on Situ Xingyun at that moment, and it wasn't until Feng Xue coughed softly that they turned their attention to her.
She wore a long white silk dress with silver trim, of the finest quality, clearly made from palace fabric. Her long, jet-black hair, as smooth as black silk, cascaded down her back, yet it did not diminish her noble bearing. The fact that she was wearing the prince's robes further indicated that she was favored by the emperor.
Could a woman who can dress so casually at night and stroll with the prince in the palace be the prince's new favorite?
Seeing them scrutinizing her closely, Feng Xue remained silent, letting them examine her.
"Your Highness, who is this young lady...?" One of the women bit her lip slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then asked.
Situ Xingyun remained silent, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes, as if he were watching a play. It was as if all the women in his eyes were actors on a stage.
This kind of person is suited to be an emperor, suited to navigating the throngs of women in the harem. But she—Feng Xue—is definitely not an actress on any stage!
"Your Highness, didn't we say we wanted to appreciate calligraphy and paintings?" She reached out her slender hand and gently moved the strands of hair that had been blown across her forehead by the wind behind her. Her loose, flowing sleeves slid down slightly with the movement of her hand, revealing a glass bead bracelet.
It shimmered under the moonlight.
The three women's faces paled slightly. They knelt down in alarm and hurriedly said, "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Get up, no need for formalities." After saying that, she turned to Situ Xingyun, "Your Highness, it's getting late, let's go to the study."
Situ Xingyun's eyes flickered, but only for a moment.
He smiled and said, "Okay."
He then helped the three women who were still kneeling on the ground to their feet and said softly, "The sound of the flute is melodious, the singing is moving, and the dance is graceful. I will come to enjoy it again later."
The gentle voice made the three women smile with delight.
Before leaving, her gaze swept over the three smiling women. Her eyes flickered slightly, while Situ Xingyun was staring intently into her eyes.
She lowered her eyes, and when she looked up again, she was completely calm.
She met his gaze.
After a long silence, Situ Xingyun said in a low voice, "Princess..."