Chapter 94: Verbena

After Cui Jinbai’s figure disappeared, Bu Shulin revealed a satisfied smile. She hummed a tune and walked with light steps around the artificial mountain until she found Shen Xihe. Last time at the Lotus Garden, they had met in this same spot.

“What are you doing here?” Shen Xihe asked upon seeing her.

Bu Shulin lifted her long robe and sat down casually before Shen Xihe, her eyes curving into a smile. “Of course, I was desperately missing my dear sister.”

“Such glib talk. Shall I wash out your mouth?” Shen Xihe’s eyes flickered toward the small pond in front of them.

Bu Shulin waved her hands repeatedly, putting away her smug demeanor. She sat up straight and even smoothed the hem of her robe. “I have important matters to discuss. Lately, to dispel His Majesty’s notion of having me marry the princess, I’ve been persistently pursuing Cui Jinbai. I didn’t dare seek you out rashly to avoid causing you trouble.”

It would seem strange to be pursuing both Cui Jinbai with rumors of male romance while also seeking out Shen Xihe, so Bu Shulin was cautious.

Shen Xihe’s gaze swept briefly over Bu Shulin. “Speak.”

After glancing around, Bu Shulin leaned in closer, making a gesture of covering her mouth, and spoke in a lowered voice: “Didn’t you ask me to keep an eye on Cui Jinbai? I’ve been hanging around him for some time now. He has no dealings with any of the princes, but he is quite close to the Pei family.”

Back then, Shen Xihe had promised to help resolve the princess marriage issue in exchange for three thousand elite soldiers and having Bu Shulin monitor Cui Jinbai.

How naive she had been then! Only now did she realize – what help with the princess’s marriage? She had delivered herself right into Shen Xihe’s hands as a pawn, and an unsuspicious one at that!

“The Pei family…” Shen Xihe was somewhat surprised.

The Pei family was a military household and the maternal clan of Prince Jing, Emperor Youning’s eighth son Xiao Changyan, who was different from his other brothers.

Four years ago, when three cities were lost in Annan, Prince Jing’s maternal grandfather, General Pei, died in battle. The entire Pei family faced harsh criticism. Xiao Changyan, only fifteen at the time, voluntarily requested to clear the Pei family’s name.

At that time, the court officials tried to stop him, with the entire court opposing. Emperor Youning overruled them all and let him serve as the vanguard, donning armor for battle.

Xiao Changyan not only recaptured the lost cities in Annan but pressed on to the Wendan Kingdom. His military prowess made Emperor Youning proud. He had remained in Annan these four years, investigating the cause of the Pei family’s military defeat while also deterring the Wendan Kingdom.

In recent years, there were rumors that Xiao Changyan refused to return to the capital because he wanted to maintain his grip on military power.

However, the Pei family had earned the deep trust of His Majesty. One of the Left Generals of the Imperial Guard was Xiao Changyan’s maternal uncle, and recently his capable subordinate had been reassigned as Deputy Protector of the Northern Borders.

Calculating this way, it wasn’t just the brothers Xiao Changqing who had gained the most benefits. While those two had openly received obvious advantages, Xiao Changyan had quietly obtained practical benefits.

With Cui Jinbai’s connection to the Pei family, Shen Xihe, who had only been fifty percent suspicious of Xiao Huawen before, now grew more suspicious of Xiao Changyan. However, she wouldn’t jump to conclusions yet – better to wait and see.

“Thank you,” Shen Xihe gave Bu Shulin a warm smile.

Bu Shulin wore a bitter expression: “So I can only earn a beauty’s smile by being useful.”

Shen Xihe’s smile deepened: “Being useful keeps you alive too.”

Bu Shulin: …

Before Bu Shulin could speak again, Shen Xihe said, “You may leave now.”

Bu Shulin: …

“We’ve both been away from our seats too long. It will raise suspicions.”

With a heavy heart, Bu Shulin could only leave with an expressionless face.

Watching Bu Shulin leave with her tense expression, Shen Xihe finally laughed out loud and instructed Biyu: “Tomorrow, send the fragrance I prepared to Master Bu.”

The reason Bu Shulin hadn’t stopped using the Late Jade fragrance even after Shen Xihe’s reminder was that it had been her mother’s favorite. To commemorate her mother, she used it very lightly – only someone with an exceptional smell like Shen Xihe could detect it.

Perhaps the Late Jade fragrance served not only as a remembrance of her late mother but also as a constant reminder of her identity.

Using Late Jade as a base, Shen Xihe created a more masculine fragrance. From now on, Bu Shulin could use it openly.

“Master Bu will probably be too excited to sleep,” Biyu couldn’t help but tease.

Shen Xihe smiled slightly. She stayed to enjoy the breeze a while longer before heading back. To avoid drawing attention, she deliberately took the same route back, which meant passing by the courtyard with the restrooms.

Unexpectedly, she encountered the two sisters from the Marquis of Pingyao’s household – Yu Sangzi and Yu Sangning.

Yu Sangzi pushed Yu Sangning to the ground: “You never have good intentions! Someone gives me a sachet, and you tell me to be wary. The person I should be most wary of is you!”

After saying this, Yu Sangzi stormed off angrily. Yu Sangning slowly got up with her maid’s help.

They happened to see Shen Xihe approaching. After the incident at Prince Ding’s mansion where Shen Xihe had disciplined Liang Danpo, Yu Sangning was still frightened. Upon seeing Shen Xihe this time, she immediately stood aside meekly with lowered eyes.

Shen Xihe had no desire to speak with her, but the path was rather narrow. When Shen Xihe passed by Yu Sangning, they were less than half a step apart. The breeze carried the incense from the restroom and the osmanthus fragrance from Yu Sangning’s body, but within the osmanthus scent was another familiar herbal fragrance.

Shen Xihe didn’t think much of it and returned to her seat just as the noble ladies were beginning their dance performances.

The current dynasty had a strong tradition of dance. Whether officials, nobles, or common people, men and women alike enjoyed dancing. Dance skills were an essential accomplishment for noble ladies.

Bian Xianyi led the court dancers in opening with a drum dance. The drumbeats were deep and resonant, the dance movements both graceful and powerful, captivating the audience completely. Even after it ended, people still yearned for more.

Everyone thought that after Bian Xianyi’s opening, the following performers might be intimidated. Who would have thought that right after Bian Xianyi would be Princess Changling? Princess Changling wore red clothing, and her Hu Xuan dance was swift and agile, full of variations.

Her sleeves turned and flourished, ethereal and spirited; she spun left and right like a whirlwind of snow.

It was truly a feast for the eyes. Next came Princess Pingling’s Hu Teng’er dance, with precise and rhythmic steps, alternating and overlapping.

Like stepping on flowers about to take flight, precious belts jingling; as if drunk and swaying softly, silk and brocade in splendid display.

One performance followed another, dazzling the viewers. Fortunately, this wasn’t a competition requiring rankings of first, second, and third, or else no one could have judged their relative merits.

Just then, there was some commotion not far from Shen Xihe. Everyone was absorbed in the spectacular dances, so only those nearby noticed – it was Yu Sangzi from the Marquis of Pingyao’s household, who had changed into her dance costume and come running.

Shen Xihe saw that her face was covered in red bumps, and she looked very anxious. Her turn to perform must be coming up soon.

This state would be improper before the emperor and would also disturb the celebratory atmosphere of the birthday banquet. She would have to explain the reason, but once she did, everyone would wonder why she suddenly couldn’t perform, and she didn’t want to be the subject of gossip.

At this moment, Yu Sangning came over and whispered something to her, and they both left together.

Shen Xihe smiled: “Verbena – prolonged sun exposure causes rashes.”

Few people knew this; she had learned it during her in-depth study of perfume making.

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