As the moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a soft, lonely glow on her face, Yi Xiao stood quietly by a stone flower bed in the back garden. She had excused herself from the gathering, claiming to add more clothes. Comforting Xue Ying, who was crying in her arms, gave her an otherworldly feeling. It was as if she had awakened from a long, absurd dream, only to find herself in an unfamiliar place.
In that dream, everyone – Feng Qi Mountain, Feng Suige, Feng Xiyang, Xia Jingshi, and even herself – had judged others from their perspectives and standards. The main difference was that some considered matters more selfishly, while others thought more about others.
Hearing hurried footsteps from the corridor, which suddenly paused upon noticing her, Yi Xiao sighed and turned to face the displeased Xiao Weiran. “I admit I deliberately left the gathering. I just wanted to be alone for a while,” she confessed.
Xiao Weiran’s expression softened slightly, but he remained serious. “The situation is uncertain. You can’t act recklessly like this anymore.”
Yi Xiao laughed, “You’re starting to sound more and more like His Highness. I didn’t know it was contagious.”
Xiao Weiran gazed at her thoughtfully, then said softly, “Rather than yearning for fish by the abyss, it’s better to retreat and weave a net.”
“There’s no need,” Yi Xiao smiled, shaking her head. “Some people in this world naturally shine like stars and moons, inspiring admiration yet remaining unapproachable. Loving such people is too painful – it’s better to forget than to be entangled.”
Hearing this, Xiao Weiran nodded with a smile. “You’ve truly grown up – it’s good that you can let go.”
Yi Xiao returned his smile briefly, then pretended to sob, “In this world, only Weiran understands me…”
As they joked and walked towards the inner residence, Xiao Weiran turned his head at the corridor corner, glancing back at where they had been standing. Xia Jingshi slowly emerged from the shadows of the flowers nearby, his face a mask of calm serenity.
Despite the rushed preparations, a royal wedding was no ordinary affair. On the day of the grand wedding, everything was in place. Colorful flags adorned the outer city walls, and red decorations symbolizing joy filled the city. All major streets had been refurbished days ago, with the road from the palace to the guest house being the most elaborately decorated. A bright red carpet stretched from the palace gates to the guest house, with Susha Imperial Guards standing at attention every few steps.
As the appointed time approached, there was still no movement from the guest house, causing some restlessness among the waiting procession. Xia Jingshi, already changed into a golden brocade velvet ceremonial robe, lounged casually in a chair in the front hall with his eyes closed. Xiao Weiran finally couldn’t help but remind him, “Your Highness, we’re almost out of time.”
“No rush,” Xia Jingshi replied calmly.
After a while, amid a flurry of footsteps, Ning Fei’s voice could be heard from afar, “We’re coming, we’re coming!” Xiao Weiran finally breathed a sigh of relief, moving to the door where he nearly collided with Xue Ying rushing in.
Xue Ying pushed him aside, sneering, “As expected of a true hero – ruthless and decisive. Ling Xueying is thoroughly impressed.” Xia Jingshi, unfazed, simply asked, “Where’s Yi Xiao?”
Xue Ying scoffed dismissively and turned to leave. Ning Fei quickly pointed outside, “She’s already on horseback waiting.” Only then did Xia Jingshi stand up, smoothing his robe, and said to Xiao Weiran, “Let’s depart!”
Taking advantage of the procession’s preparation, Xue Ying slipped to Yi Xiao’s horse and whispered, “If you don’t want to go, then don’t. He can’t force us to attend the ceremony in the palace.” Yi Xiao smiled, “It’s alright. Hurry back to the carriage, we’re about to leave.” Xue Ying pouted, “Why don’t you ride in the carriage too? We can talk on the way.” Yi Xiao leaned down to pinch her cheek, “Go on, I’ll be right beside your carriage anyway.” Xue Ying reluctantly rubbed her cheek and left.
Xiao Weiran observed this from afar, feeling slightly relieved. His gaze then turned to Xia Jingshi in the ceremonial carriage, his expression turning disapproving. When Yi Xiao wasn’t seen just before departure, Xia Jingshi had ordered him to hurry her along. He had to report that Yi Xiao and Xue Ying didn’t plan to attend the ceremony and that he had left enough men at the guest house to protect them. He hadn’t expected… While this might have been for Yi Xiao’s safety, it seemed rather inconsiderate.
Xiao Weiran coughed lightly, catching Ning Fei’s attention. Seeing his signal, Ning Fei nodded slightly and turned his horse to ride back.
Yi Xiao was chatting casually with Xue Ying, who had half-lifted the carriage curtain when Ning Fei approached. Xue Ying silently dropped the curtain. Ning Fei glanced awkwardly at the carriage window and said to Yi Xiao, “It’s alright – His Highness is just worried about leaving you at the guest house. He didn’t mean to make things difficult for you.”
Yi Xiao forced a smile, “I understand. I just don’t like overly formal occasions. Don’t be too sensitive about it.” Ning Fei nodded but still seemed concerned, advising, “If you feel uncomfortable after we arrive, find Weiran and let him bring you back first. I can stay with His Highness alone.”
Xue Ying’s cold laugh came from behind the curtain, “Stay with him for what? The precious princess will be fawning over him, surely she won’t harm him?” Ning Fei was in no mood to argue with her. He simply patted Yi Xiao’s shoulder encouragingly before riding back to his position.
Yi Xiao watched his retreating figure with a smile. “Once, His Highness ordered me to lead the troops into battle in his place. He was still severely injured but insisted he could go. Weiran suddenly punched him in the chest, and he fell from his horse like a sack. As I went to help him up, he patted my shoulder just like Ning Fei did and growled, ‘If you dare come back horizontally, I’ll punch you three times a day until you wake up…'”
Xue Ying had raised the curtain again at some point and, hearing this curled her lip. “That’s typical Ning Fei – were you fighting Susha then?” “Mm,” Yi Xiao nodded, fishing something out of her bag and tossing it into the carriage. “I don’t think I’ve shown you this before.”
Xue Ying picked it up and exclaimed, “The embroidery is so exquisite, and the fragrance is quite precious!”
Yi Xiao nearly fell off her horse. “I meant for you to open it and look inside.” As soon as the words left her mouth, a memory overlapped.
“Yi Xiao doesn’t know needlework…”
“I told you to open it and look!”
Feng Suige…
That day, when Feng Suige pushed her out the door, her first instinct was to say thank you. Fortunately, the door closed before she could speak, or she would have scared herself to death…
“…It’s a protective charm…” She vaguely heard Xue Ying speaking. Yi Xiao snapped back to reality and turned to look at her. “What protective charm?”
Xue Ying leaned lazily against the window, tossing the arrowhead up and catching it. “I’m saying, that thinking of carving words on an arrowhead to make a protective charm for you shows good intentions. Where did you get it?”
“It’s not a protective charm,” Yi Xiao suddenly felt playful. “Since it’s an arrowhead, naturally it came from someone’s body.”
Xue Ying stopped tossing it, and after a moment, gave her a look. “Stop trying to gross me out.”
Yi Xiao blinked, then said seriously, “It’s true. Look carefully, you can still see the bloodstains. There might even be bits of flesh…”
“Fu Yi Xiao! I’m ending our friendship!!” Xue Ying angrily threw the arrowhead back at her. Yi Xiao caught it deftly, laughing out loud. Xue Ying furiously wiped her hands on the curtain repeatedly. “If you want the sachet back, come get it yourself – Fu Yi Xiao, you’re truly disgusting!”
Hearing the commotion, Ning Fei turned back, puzzled, exchanging a questioning look with the equally bewildered Xiao Weiran. They both then turned to look at Xia Jingshi.
Xia Jingshi maintained his composed demeanor, but a barely noticeable smile played at the corners of his mouth – whatever the reason, this was the first time in four years he had heard her laugh so heartily.