“No no no, you didn’t hear anything!” Bu Shu Lin turned back and covered Shen Xi He’s ears.
At this, not only did Cui Jin Bai’s face darken, but even Xiao Hua Yong’s expression turned black.
Shen Xi He shook her hands off, frowning at her.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I forgot to clean my hands. I’ll wash them right away.” Bu Shu Lin, knowing Shen Xi He’s cleanliness obsession and that she’d been holding horse reins, quickly ran to her horse to fetch her water pouch to clean her hands.
Cui Jin Bai followed after her, leaving only Shen Xi He and Xiao Hua Yong – he without attendants, she with Mo Yu and Mo Yuan.
Xiao Hua Yong nodded to Shen Xi He: “Princess.”
Shen Xi He returned a faint courtesy and walked past him wordlessly. Though the strong wind easily carried his distinctive duoluo fragrance to her, she pretended not to recognize him.
Xiao Hua Yong turned to watch Shen Xi He’s graceful departing figure, somewhat surprised. Previously, Shen Xi He had always seen through him instantly – he’d never successfully deceived her before. Even Qin Zi Jie, whom she hadn’t definitively identified, had aroused her suspicion.
Yet this time, her reaction suggested she truly hadn’t recognized him at all. This led Xiao Hua Yong to examine his disguise and carefully recall what steps he’d taken differently this time to achieve such deception.
After pondering for a while without finding an answer, he gave up trying to figure it out.
Meanwhile, Bu Shu Lin was awkwardly washing one hand while holding the water pouch with the other. Seeing her clumsiness, Cui Jin Bai reached for the pouch: “Let me help.”
Bu Shu Lin was still angry with him – if he hadn’t provoked her, how could she have upset her dear Youyou?
“No need,” Bu Shu Lin wouldn’t let go.
The usually composed and mature Cui Jin Bai was now somewhat displeased and even felt mischievous, wanting to spoil her carefully maintained good-young-master image before Princess Zhao Ning. He pulled hard: “Let me help.”
“I said no need!”
“Let me help!”
“No!”
As they struggled, the water pouch suddenly tilted. Bu Shu Lin let go first, and Cui Jin Bai’s force caused all the water to splash onto Bu Shu Lin’s clothes, soaking a large patch of her chest and hem.
Cui Jin Bai stood helplessly.
Bu Shu Lin snatched the pouch and threw the remaining water in Cui Jin Bai’s face, then angrily led her horse after Shen Xi He.
Shen Xi He had already mounted to leave, but seeing the soaked Bu Shu Lin and considering the heavy autumn chill, she worried Bu Shu Lin might catch cold rushing back like this.
“Can you… warm yourself by the fire?” Shen Xi He noticed some young lords had already built a fire nearby.
They’d come out for horseback riding and hadn’t brought spare clothes.
“I can. But there’s no need – I’m hardy. Even swimming in winter pools doesn’t bother me, don’t worry.” Bu Shu Lin mounted her horse with a flip.
“Still, stay and dry your clothes. I’d like to try some game meat too,” Shen Xi He changed her mind.
Having a legitimate reason to stay and probe Xiao Fu Xing’s depth was exactly what Shen Xi He wanted. To avoid arousing his suspicion that she’d seen through him, she maintained her aloof manner.
This way, whether he was the real Xiao Fu Xing or another impersonation, he would continue appearing before her in this identity, giving her the chance to catch his fox tail.
“Then let’s stay,” Bu Shu Lin was deeply moved, believing Shen Xi He was enduring those stinking men for her sake.
Given Shen Xi He’s personality, that she would do this much for her nearly brought Bu Shu Lin to tears.
Faced with Bu Shu Lin’s fawning gaze, Shen Xi He couldn’t take it and was about to say it wasn’t for her when Cui Jin Bai and Xiao Hua Yong approached, making her swallow her words.
“Hmph!” Bu Shu Lin snorted coldly.
She’d just realized that Youyou had been about to comfort her with gentle words, but these two tactless men had made her too embarrassed to speak them, causing her to miss winning her beauty’s care!
Bu Shu Lin extended her hand: “I just washed them clean!”
But Shen Xi He still gave her hand to Mo Yu, letting Mo Yu help her dismount.
Bu Shu Lin, again forgetting she was supposed to be a man, thought her hands must smell and sniffed them.
Her fawning, accommodating manner toward Shen Xi He nearly made Cui Jin Bai grind his teeth to powder.
After Bu Shu Lin informed them they were invited, Xiao Hua Yong led them to the fire. As evening approached, the young lords returned laden with prey – rabbits, pheasants, and even a small wild boar.
Bu Shu Lin immediately stripped down boldly to her snow-white undergarments. Shen Xi He glanced at her flat chest, then looked away, helping her hang her clothes to dry.
Cui Jin Bai also removed his outer robe to dry, hanging it with Bu Shu Lin’s. Bu Shu Lin didn’t mind and moved closer to Shen Xi He, but Cui Jin Bai pulled her back first: “You’re improperly dressed – what propriety is there in a man hovering around the Princess like this?”
Bu Shu Lin realized she’d been careless again – around Shen Xi He, she kept forgetting to act like a man.
She yanked free from Cui Jin Bai: “What propriety is there in two improperly dressed men huddling together?”
Cui Jin Bai: …
As the men enthusiastically discussed cooking methods, Shen Xi He listened with furrowed brows – these crude people only knew simple roasting.
Noticing Shen Xi He’s slight change in expression, Xiao Hua Yong asked, “Does the Princess have any suggestions?”
Shen Xi He glanced at him and coldly replied with one word: “No.”
“Yo… Princess.” Bu Shu Lin almost called Shen Xi He by her pet name but caught herself quickly, “Why don’t you give them some pointers?”
She wanted better food too, knowing Shen Xi He was skilled in cooking – she often mooched meals at the Princess’s mansion.
Everyone stared expectantly at Shen Xi He, who felt somewhat awkward about eating without contributing, so she said: “This season, there should be some spices in the woods. Gather some to rub on or stuff inside the game – it will taste better.”
“Which spices, Princess, tell us quickly!” Bu Shu Lin urged.
Shen Xi He listed some spices good for roasting meat. Xiao Hua Yong looked at Bu Shu Lin and Cui Jin Bai, then led the others to search, letting them stay to dry their clothes. By the time they returned, Bu Shu Lin and Cui Jin Bai would be properly dressed again.
“Do you have any medicine?” someone asked upon return. “The young master cut his palm, and none of us brought medicine.”
The outdoor feast was impromptu – they hadn’t planned on hunting and thus hadn’t prepared medicine.
“I have some,” Shen Xi He had brought some in case of accidents during her first time riding.
“Then please help treat the young master – we’ll prepare the game.” The speaker left this message as everyone busied themselves.
Though Shen Xi He had brought maids and attendants, she took the medicine from Mo Yu, intending to treat Xiao Hua Yong herself.
Xiao Hua Yong was pleased at first but then realized – since she hadn’t recognized him, this treatment was just how she’d treat anyone else. His expression immediately darkened.