La pluie printanière est comme du vin, les saules comme de la fumée

Chapitre 28

The book market was bustling with people and vehicles, a scene of prosperity and liveliness.

Feng Xue strolled leisurely inside, followed by Qingyi and several highly skilled guards. Today, Feng Xue wore only simple attire: a light blue silk dress, her hair held up with a single sapphire blue hairpin, and a light blue veil over her face.

"Master..." Seeing Feng Xue's disapproving look, Qingyi quickly changed her words, "Miss, do you want to buy a book?"

"Let's see."

Suddenly, Qingyi leaned close to Fengxue and muttered, "Miss, those guards are so annoying, they're always following us. We've had our fun out here."

Feng Xue smiled and tapped her head. "Qingyi, Situ Xingyun is our friend. If we encounter anything on the road, we'll have someone to look after us."

Qingyi pouted, "What's there to be afraid of? Miss's martial arts are..." She was about to say that her martial arts were superb, but then she suddenly remembered that it was a secret that couldn't be told, so she changed her words to, "No one dares to take it from me."

"It's always good to have a few guards." Originally, she planned to come out alone with Qingyi, but Situ Xingyun insisted on sending several guards to accompany her and instructed them to protect the princess's safety.

"Master has been so good to Miss lately! He sends her silks, rare treasures, and delicacies every day. Knowing she likes Luohua tea, he specially sent people to pick Luohua flowers. You know, those flowers are incredibly difficult to pick. Knowing she's sensitive to heat, he dispatched the best craftsmen from the Prince's Mansion to the top of Dragon Mountain to chisel ice; the ice cellars are now overflowing with ice." The woman in green suddenly lowered her voice, "Miss, Master seems to really like you!"

"Ahem, Qingyi, don't be nosy." Feng Xue glared at Qingyi, but a gentle smile played at the corners of her eyes, a smile that seemed to grow stronger with each passing day. "Go take a look over there."

After saying that, Feng Xue started walking in that direction, and Qingyi and several guards quickly followed.

Volume One: A Folk Heroine's Showdown with Qingyun 2

A red notice was hung high.

"Miss, this is the monthly storytelling ranking! Wow! Miss Qingyun is number one again!"

Beside the red banner was a bookseller's stall, and from afar, I spotted this elegant lady. Judging from the guards and maids surrounding her, she must be from a wealthy family. When a maid called her "Miss," the shopkeeper was taken aback; this lady was clearly wearing a married woman's hairstyle!

On second thought, business is still the most important thing.

The shopkeeper quickly chimed in, "Yes! Miss Qingyun's books sell incredibly well. Ever since Miss Qingyun came into the picture, her books have consistently been at the top of the bestseller list! Would you like to buy Miss Qingyun's books, Madam? We happen to have only one copy left, 'The Complete Works of Miss Qingyun,' at half price!"

"Boss, I want it." Before Feng Xue could speak, Qingyi had already snatched it first.

Feng Xue frowned. "Qingyi, didn't you already buy them all?"

"But they're all individual books, not all put together!"

Feng Xue said helplessly, "Qingyi, you've spent all your monthly allowance on books."

"But Qingyi really likes Miss Qingyun! If I could meet her, I would die happy." Qingyi scratched her head and said with a grin.

"Madam, would you like to see the second-place book? This one, 'When the Prince Meets Qingyun,' is full of imagination! Reading it when you're lonely can dispel the gloom in your heart." Seemingly dissatisfied with only selling one copy, the shopkeeper continued to enthusiastically introduce the book.

The woman in green picked up a book, casually flipped through a page, and read aloud: "The prince kissed Qingyun's lips, at which point the princess roared, 'You vixen Qingyun, how dare you seduce my husband! Guards, drag this vixen away and give her fifty lashes. Then cut off her hands, let's see how she writes a book then!'..."

Qingyi put down her book and looked at Fengxue cautiously. "Miss, the princess inside is very evil!"

"It's just a book. Besides, the laws of Fengxi also stipulate that it's their freedom." Feng Xue remained expressionless, bent down, and began to flip through the books on the shelf.

"Qingyun hasn't published a book in a long time." Suddenly, Fengxue murmured. Lige hadn't come to urge her for a long time either.

A hint of loneliness flashed in his eyes, then vanished like a shooting star falling to earth.

"Yes! Miss Qingyun hasn't published a book in a long time. We've been waiting with bated breath!" the shopkeeper chimed in.

Feng Xue straightened up, turned around, and asked the guard, "When will Master be back?" Before leaving, Situ Xingyun had told her that he had important business to attend to and needed to go out for a while.

"Reporting to Madam, I am unaware of the master's affairs."

The expected answer. Feng Xue looked up at a tall mountain outside the city.

There is a pavilion on the high mountain.

I wonder if Li Ge is at Qingyun Pavilion?

"Qingyi, let's go somewhere else!" Feng Xue brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly. Let's go to Qingyun Pavilion again tonight!

Two more chapters will be updated today, so stay tuned!

Volume 1: A Folk Heroine's Showdown - Part 3

On the other side of the book market was a shop specializing in women's household goods, with all kinds of rouge and powder, jewelry and hairpins of various sizes, brightly colored silks... everything imaginable was available.

Seeing her arrive, Qingyi asked curiously, "Miss, the master gave you these things, as well as the jewelry, silks, and other items from the palace... You've never used many of them! Would you find anything you like in a place like this?"

"Qingyi, liking something doesn't require knowing its value. You just like it."

"Oh." Qingyi nodded as if she understood, but it wasn't until many years later that she truly understood the meaning behind the princess's words and began to understand the princess's unwavering commitment to "if you like someone, you like them."

After browsing for a while, Qingyi asked, "Miss, what are you looking for?"

“Looking for…” Feng Xue was suddenly stunned. What… was she looking for? Her mind was a complete blur, without a single clear answer. Yet, deep within her heart, something seemed to be breaking free. Slowly, slowly, the blur in her mind faded, and a pair of pear blossom earrings rose from her heart until they clearly appeared in her mind.

A bitter smile bloomed on her lips.

"Madam, would you like to buy a bracelet? We have just received many beautiful new bracelets, including glass bracelets, crystal bracelets, feather bracelets, coral bracelets, peach blossom bracelets... If you don't like any of them, we also have some more precious ones. If you'd like to see them, I'll bring them out right away." The shopkeeper greeted the wealthy lady with a smile.

For some inexplicable reason, Feng Xue stopped and turned around, gently asking, "Do you have any pear blossom ones?"

The shopkeeper was visibly taken aback, then chuckled, "Pear blossoms are too pure, making them easily defiled. Ladies and gentlemen rarely favor pear blossoms. Besides, lately, anything related to pear blossoms has basically been bought up by the palace. I've heard that the Lord's wife is extremely fond of pear blossoms..."