“Thank you for the medicine, Princess.” Xiao Huayong extended his uninjured hand. Shen Xihe paid special attention to his fingers.
Since returning from Tianshan, every time she saw Xiao Huayong, three of his fingers were wrapped in bandages, apparently injured – though Shen Xihe didn’t know how. As she stared at his upturned palm, she saw no signs of injury.
Shen Xihe placed the medicine in Xiao Huayong’s hand without further comment.
Xiao Huayong took the medicine and withdrew his hand, beginning to sprinkle the powder on his supposed cut. Shen Xihe glanced over casually but couldn’t spot any wound.
“Princess, we’re all ready – please come give us some guidance!” Bu Shulin called out from beside the meat-roasting fire.
Shen Xihe glanced at them, thinking that if she didn’t supervise, they would surely make a mess of things. She walked over.
Though she wouldn’t handle the food herself, she gave instructions for them to follow. Despite the crude conditions, fragrant aromas soon wafted through the air.
This excited everyone present – they craned their necks eagerly, some even dramatically gulping.
Shen Xihe couldn’t help but smile. These people had tasted all sorts of delicacies – but doing it themselves made it more meaningful.
Just as the wild game was nearly done, hoofbeats approached. It was Bu Shulin’s subordinate, who handed several bamboo tubes to Bu Shulin.
“You’re in for a treat today – thanks to the Princess’s presence, I’ve brought my specially-stored Pitong wine for you all to try.” Bu Shulin took the tubes, tossing one to each person while keeping one for himself. He then eagerly approached Shen Xihe.
Taking a cup from the brocade box his subordinate carried, he poured one for Shen Xihe: “It’s sweet – try it.”
Sichuan’s famous wine, spring-brewed in tubes, wrapped in lotus fiber, and covered with banana leaves, its fragrance reaching beyond the forest, sweet as honey without the usual harshness.
Though Shen Xihe had heard of it, she had never tasted it. She had never drunk alcohol since childhood – her constitution was weak and she could hardly handle alcohol’s potency.
Smelling the fragrant small cup, Shen Xihe felt tempted. She accepted it and took a tiny sip. The sweet taste spread in her mouth, followed by a burning sensation sliding down her throat, spreading through her body and driving away a touch of cold.
“How is it?” Bu Shulin asked expectantly.
“The taste is excellent,” Shen Xihe acknowledged.
Bu Shulin smiled with satisfaction, tilting his head back to take big gulps straight from the bamboo tube, wiping his mouth roughly with his sleeve: “You’re weak now, just taste it today. When you’re better, I’ll get you as much as you want.”
His words made Xiao Huayong and Cui Jinbai’s expressions turn cold, but some of the more familiar young men squeaked in falsetto: “Young Master Bu, I want some too.”
A companion beside him added: “Too bad your looks aren’t up to par.”
“How mean~~~”
Knowing these people were purely teasing Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe wasn’t angry and remained expressionless.
Bu Shulin gave the two a cool glance, looking toward the distant stream: “No Pitong wine, but plenty of water – want some?”
“No need, no need, Young Master Bu needn’t be so courteous,” the two waved their hands. “We were talking about the roasted meat, the roasted meat!”
Previously, Shen Xihe had held some prejudices against these people, thinking them idle wastrels squandering their time in mediocrity.
After getting to know Bu Shulin, Shen Xihe gradually realized some might use this lifestyle to preserve their lives, while others simply found joy in it. They didn’t bully others or abuse power – they just sought their own happiness.
They were romantic but not vulgar, upright in character. How one lives their life is their right.
As Shen Xihe came to understand these people, they too, while eating the fragrant roasted meat, developed some goodwill toward the typically frost-cold Shen Xihe. She didn’t seem as coldly indifferent and disdainful as rumored.
After finishing the meat, daylight was fading. With less than half an hour until the city gates would close, everyone set off together.
The higher-ranking officials lived closer to the imperial city. As they walked, soon only Cui Jinbai, Xiao Huayong, Shen Xihe, and Bu Shulin remained.
The Princess Royal’s mansion and Shen Xihe’s princess residence were on the same street, while Bu Shulin’s mansion and Cui Jinbai’s were on another.
At the intersection, Bu Shulin said: “Stone-head Cui, I’m escorting the Princess home – you go on ahead.”
“I left some items at the Princess Royal’s mansion, I’ll go along to retrieve them,” Cui Jinbai said.
Xiao Guoxing had just come of age and now had his courtesy name, Xingzhi.
Xiao Huayong glanced at Cui Jinbai but said nothing.
They continued toward the Princess Royal’s mansion. Shen Xihe’s residence was behind the Princess Royal’s – it was formerly a princess’s residence before Emperor Youning specially granted it to Shen Xihe.
Arriving first at the Princess Royal’s mansion, Xiao Huayong and Cui Jinbai bid farewell. Shen Xihe watched as the mansion’s servants came out to skillfully, eagerly, and respectfully welcome them inside.
The servants’ attitude showed that Cui Jinbai and Xiao Guoxing were indeed close.
Shen Xihe withdrew her thoughtful gaze. Bu Shulin escorted her to her residence before turning his horse to leave.
As soon as Xiao Huayong entered the Princess Royal’s mansion, Princess Ruyang took him to Xiao Guoxing’s room. The real Xiao Guoxing sat in plain clothes reading military texts, quickly rising to bow when Xiao Huayong entered.
“Sorry to keep Aunt waiting. Aunt should rest early,” Xiao Huayong said gently.
“It’s still early – I usually don’t rest until the Hai hour (9 PM),” Princess Ruyang smiled. “Your Highness… do you have feelings for Princess Zhaoning?”
Princess Ruyang was Xiao Huayong’s aunt. Because of the Wei Tao incident, it was Xiao Huayong who had protected her three children. Now they were his to employ.
“Yes,” Xiao Huayong admitted frankly.
“Your Highness doesn’t seek an imperial marriage decree?” Princess Ruyang asked.
Surely His Majesty would be pleased to have Shen Yueshan’s daughter marry the Crown Prince – she’d be widowed in a few years and confined to the capital for life.
A prince’s widow, if Shen Yueshan was powerful enough, could still be taken home. But a former Crown Princess could not.
“My marriage with her should flow naturally, with mutual affection,” Xiao Huayong’s tone was gentle and protective.
Princess Ruyang understood – the Crown Prince was deeply in love and didn’t want an imperial decree to bind Shen Xihe to him.
Xiao Huayong changed back to his appearance at the princess’s mansion and returned to the Eastern Palace through a secret passage.
In the Princess Royal’s mansion, another slender figure gazed deeply after his departure, eyes desolate.
“Xieer, you’re now surnamed Xiao,” the Princess sighed softly.
The reason she had questioned Xiao Huayong was to have him openly admit having someone he loved, to end her daughter’s hopes.
The former Wei Wenxi, now Xiao Wenxi, had loved Xiao Huayong for three years, falling for him at first sight in Luoyang at age fourteen, waiting and hoping for his return ever since.
But what she waited for was her father committing an enormous crime, waiting to take her mother’s surname – and now, those of the same surname cannot marry.