Chapter 23 (Parts 3 and 4)

Chapter 23 (Parts 3 and 4)

"Is this what the prince wants?"

When Aunt Deng returned, Xu Duanyi had already asked Bixi and Shiyu to pack her things.

Truthfully, there wasn’t much to pack.

She had just married into the prince's household yesterday, and many things hadn't even been unpacked yet. It was mostly just a few personal items, so packing was quick.

She had been waiting for Aunt Deng to return and show her to the new courtyard, but instead, she got this news from Aunt Deng.

Xu Duanyi was both shocked and confused.

She hadn't expected this outcome.

Aunt Deng, of course, had to put in a good word for Xie Qingya.

No matter how much she might grumble about the prince in her heart, as part of the prince's household, she couldn’t very well badmouth him.

Besides, she still hoped to help the two get along better.

In her eyes, since the prince and princess had already gone through the wedding ceremony, they were officially a couple.

What’s more, the princess seemed so nice.

She naturally hoped they could have a lasting marriage and live happily together, and that the prince, with the princess by his side, could go back to his old self.

Even if he couldn’t go back to his old self, at least he shouldn’t be the way he was before.

Hanging out every day with a bunch of no-good friends.

Hearing this, Aunt Deng smiled and said, "Yes, the prince said you’re not in good health, so you shouldn’t push yourself."

"He’s been swamped with work lately, so he’ll stay in the study for now, so he doesn’t disturb you."

"Oh, and the prince made sure to tell me to get a doctor to check on you."

Xu Duanyi wasn’t sure if Aunt Deng was being truthful or just exaggerating.

But staying at Linfeng Pavilion was clearly Xie Qingya’s call.

Aunt Deng didn’t have the power to make that kind of decision.

Though confused, and not sure why Xie Qingya was doing this, Xu Duanyi paused, then nodded, "Alright, we’ll do as the prince says."

Since Xie Qingya had spoken, there was no need for her to go against his wishes.

After all, she could live anywhere.

She had only thought it would be more convenient for him.

"Ah!"

Aunt Deng was thrilled to see her agree.

"If there's anything you need, just let me know!" she said, then added, "Should I call a doctor for you?"

She was worried that Xu Duanyi might really be unwell.

If it gets delayed, it won't be good.

"No, that's not necessary."

Xu Duanyi gently declined.

Fearing that Aunt Deng might worry too much, Xu Duanyi added, "Bixi has been studying medicine with the imperial physicians since she was a child. She can take care of common illnesses, and I usually have her take care of me."

Aunt Deng was surprised, "Oh, I see!"

She glanced at Bixi, who smiled quietly at her, and was truly amazed.

Their mistress's entourage was indeed full of hidden talents; these two girls each had their own talents.

Since that was the case, she decided not to bother finding someone else: "Then you rest for now, and if you need anything, just let me know. I'll leave you to rest."

Xu Duanyi nodded with a smile.

After Aunt Deng left, she glanced down at the chests on the floor.

Bixi asked her, "Mistress, what should we do now?"

Xu Duanyi said, "We'll stay here for now."

Still unsure of Xie Qingya's intentions, Xu Duanyi added, "No need to unpack everything; just take out what we need for daily use."

Bixi understood and nodded, then got to work.

Shiyu couldn't help but complain, "I wonder what Prince Nan'an is thinking."

Bixi slapped her arm and gave her a look, and Shiyu immediately shut up.

The two of them moved the things inside and began tidying up, while Xu Duanyi sat on the outer bed.

Shiyu wasn't the only one puzzled.

She was also baffled, unsure of what Xie Qingya was thinking.

Her initial suggestion had been the best and most convenient.

Was he worried that her people would tell her aunt?

After thinking it over, Xu Duanyi could only come up with this possibility.

She let out a silent sigh.

She wanted to tell him not to worry.

With her watching, no one would dare to tell her aunt about these things.

However, he probably wouldn't believe it.

Xu Duanyi felt somewhat helpless.

Putting these thoughts aside, she gazed out the window at the peach tree in full bloom.

The spring sun is shining brightly.

The peach blossoms look even brighter in the daylight than at night.

Over the years, the tree's trunk has thickened, and its branches are now laden with even more peach blossoms.

Pink buds cluster tenderly along the branches.

A gentle breeze makes them sway, showing off their soft yellow centers.

All of a sudden, she was hit with the urge to paint.

She'd painted countless peach trees and blossoms over the years.

Her aunt, noticing her love for them, even moved a few peach trees from the imperial garden to her yard.

But the tree she'd most wanted to paint since she was a kid still hadn't been done.

Now, she finally got her chance.

With time to spare, Xu Duanyi waited for Bixi and the others to finish up, then had them set up the four treasures of the study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—on the tea table.

As Changfeng came by to grab something, Xu Duanyi was busy painting by the window.

"What brings you here?"

Shiyu, just heading out, frowned the moment she spotted Changfeng coming in, her tone sharp and her arms crossed tightly.

Although she heeded her master's instructions to avoid conflicts with the prince's household members, and definitely not to address Aunt Deng in the manner she did last night, Shiyu still couldn't bring herself to be nice to this attendant from Prince Nan'an.

If it weren't for her master being inside and the fear of his scolding, she might have already drawn her sword and chased him out on the spot.

"Um... Miss Shiyu, the prince asked me to pick up some everyday items," Changfeng knew he wouldn't get a warm welcome, but seeing the icy expression on the girl in red, he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.

He'd heard that Miss Shiyu was quite skilled in martial arts.

He wasn't scared of losing to her, but he was really worried about ending up in a fight with her.

That's what had been worrying him earlier.

That's why he left Lingji behind and came over himself.

Otherwise, he'd rather not have come here at all.

Changfeng felt pretty helpless deep down.

Shiyu glared coldly at Changfeng, not saying a word, but her hand on her sword seemed almost ready to act, her fingers tightening.

Changfeng noticed out of the corner of his eye and was already bracing himself, waiting for Shiyu to strike.

Unexpectedly, the intense pressure suddenly faded away like a receding tide.

Shiyu just coldly uttered two words.

"Wait here."

Then she went in.

He didn't understand her change in attitude, but since she didn't act, Changfeng felt a quiet relief.

"My lady, the attendant from Prince Nan'an is here, saying he's come to fetch something," Shiyu went inside to deliver the message.

Though she looked unhappy, she didn't embellish the situation.

Xu Duanyi, sitting by the window, glanced outside when she heard this.

Sure enough, Changfeng was waiting outside.

Xu Duanyi wasn't close to Xie Qingya's two attendants, but she knew their names.

One was Changfeng, the other Lingji—both raised in the prince's household.

They'd been by Xie Qingya's side since they were kids.

The one outside was Changfeng.

"Let him in," Xu Duanyi said.

Shiyu nodded and went out.

Soon, Changfeng followed Shiyu in.

"My lady."

Changfeng quickly greeted Xu Duanyi as he entered.

He kept his head bowed, his demeanor respectful.

Xu Duanyi had set down her brush when Changfeng entered and now smiled as she spoke to him.

"I don't know where the prince keeps his things, so you'll have to find them yourself, Attendant Chang."

"Bixi, go with Attendant Chang."

Bixi nodded.

"Attendant Chang, this way," she said, turning to him.

Bixi was far more pleasant than Shiyu.

Changfeng felt relieved, grateful for the lady's kindness.

He bowed to Xu Duanyi before following Bixi in.

Changfeng only needed to pack a few personal items.

So it wasn't long before he followed Bixi out.

By the time they returned, Xu Duanyi was painting again.

Xu Duanyi glanced at them and paused her brush, smiling.

"Done?"

Changfeng hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look any longer, and acknowledged with a "Yes."

Xu Duanyi gave a nod.

She thought about what to say, but considering her relationship with Xie Qingya, it seemed inappropriate to say anything. Thus, she could only offer a courteous instruction to Changfeng: "The nights are still chilly recently, so remember to take good care of the prince."

Changfeng readily agreed.

Then, he took his leave from Xu Duanyi and departed.

Xu Duanyi barely glanced up, continuing to lower her gaze, immersed in her painting.

...

Back at the study,

Lingji was still guarding outside, sitting astride the railing with a sword, casually swinging his sword around.

It had been too long since he last practiced.

He felt his sword skills had grown rusty.

He secretly wished for a good spar with the maid, Shiyu, by the princess's side. He had heard that she was trained by the former imperial guard commander, Gao Chuan, and was quite skilled in martial arts.

Sadly, the prince would never allow it.

Lingji sighed with regret.

Seeing Changfeng return, he casually called out: "You're back."

Changfeng nodded, glanced at the still-shut study, and whispered to Lingji: "Is the prince still asleep?"

He wondered what the prince had been doing last night to end up so tired.

If he weren't so sure, he might have suspected the prince had been with the princess...

"He's probably awake. I just heard some movement," Lingji said.

With that, he stood and announced to the person inside the study: "Your Highness, Changfeng is back with the items."

From inside came Xie Qingya's voice, calling for Changfeng to enter.

Changfeng entered, carrying the items.

Xie Qingya was sitting at his desk.

He'd been the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture for over two months now.

He knew there were Cao Da's spies in Shuntian Prefecture, so he usually played the role of a hands-off manager, delegating official duties to his subordinates without much thought, such as the vice prefect and the judges.

But he hadn't been completely idle.

In the past two to three months, he had conducted a brief investigation into the situation in Shuntian Prefecture and had also looked into the backgrounds and circumstances of the people there.

He had a rough idea of who was behind these people.

Not everyone was Cao Da's person, but it was human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm. Compared to him, a prefect with little authority and influence who didn't do much, they naturally listened more to Cao Da.

However, everyone had their own weaknesses.

Moreover, not everyone has to seek patronage from someone, and Cao Da couldn't possibly accept everyone. Many among them have their own ambitions and disdain Cao Da.

The Shuntian Prefecture operates independently from the six ministries, yet it oversees all political decrees in the capital. Though it may not be as prestigious as the six ministries, it is an indispensable institution.

Moreover, the Shuntian Prefecture directly interacts with the common people, being the closest governmental body to them.

Higher officials often look down on this institution.

They often regard its duties as merely handling miscellaneous and trivial tasks.

Daily, they must mediate disputes among powerful families, a thankless task indeed.

But if one could bring these people under control, ensuring their loyalty to the Emperor would greatly facilitate future endeavors.

Xie Qingya was deep in thought about how to proceed, barely noticing Changfeng's activities.

Only when Changfeng had finished arranging the items and approached did Xie Qingya casually inquire, without looking up, "Were you troubled when you went there?"

"No."

Changfeng chose not to mention Shiyu's attitude to Xie Qingya, deeming it unnecessary, and merely conveyed Xu Duanyi's instructions: "The Princess was very polite and asked me and Lingji to take good care of you."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qingya paused in his actions.

He stayed silent.

As Changfeng assumed the conversation was over and prepared to depart, he suddenly heard, "What is she doing?"

Changfeng paused.

Instinctively, he glanced at the man behind the desk.

However, the man was looking down, and from Changfeng's vantage point, his expression was obscured.

Moreover, he dared not look too closely.

"The Princess is painting," Changfeng reported truthfully to Xie Qingya, "the peach tree in the courtyard."

"Peach tree..."

Xie Qingya murmured.

Seemingly lost in thought, he pursed his lips.

After a moment of silence, he simply waved his hand, dismissing Changfeng.

Changfeng then clasped his hands and retreated, closing the door behind him.

Lingji remained seated, his treasured sword in hand, meticulously cleaning it. As Changfeng emerged, Lingji stood silently aside, his gaze distant, lost in thought.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked Changfeng.

Changfeng looked down at him.

He opened his mouth slightly, as if wanting to say something, but seeing his carefree demeanor, just holding the sword, he gave up.

"...Nothing."

He turned his head away, deciding not to think about it either.

After all, the prince has always had his own calculations, and what happens in the future is not something they can decide.

We'll see how the prince himself decides.

Changfeng recalled the prince's early days in the military camp and couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

If it weren't for those events, the prince and the princess should have been a match made in heaven.

Lingji was unaware.

But he knew who had given the prince the amulet he always carried and why he had been accumulating military merits.

...

By the time Xu Duanyi finished her painting, lunchtime had arrived.

Aunt Deng was very capable; she had departed early in the morning and had the kitchen send over the day's menu for her review and any necessary adjustments beforehand.

Xu Duanyi marked off several dishes.

It wasn't that she didn't like them, but she simply couldn't eat so much by herself.

Then she instructed the kitchen manager that there was no need for such lavishness for three meals a day; two dishes and one soup each for lunch and dinner would suffice.

Later that afternoon.

She arranged for materials to be prepared so she could mount the painting herself, so she could hang it up later.

However, mounting a painting is quite an undertaking and requires a lot of preparation.

As it happened, Aunt Deng invited her to meet with the mansion's managers.

Xu Duanyi left Bixi and others behind to continue preparing the materials, while she took Shiyu along to tour the mansion and meet the managers.

Xu Duanyi first met with the managers from various departments to get acquainted with them.

Then, with Aunt Deng by her side, she began to tour the mansion.

Though she had visited often as a child.

But she had been too young, and some memories had since faded. Besides, she hadn't been to many places at that time, mostly staying in Your Highness's quarters or Xie Qingya's Linfeng Pavilion, and hadn't truly explored the mansion.

It must be said that Prince Nan'an's mansion boasts excellent scenery.

Rumor has it that Your Highness has a passion for gardening.

Whenever the old prince had a moment to spare, he would personally tend to the flowers for Your Highness.

Strolling through the gardens.

As Xu Duanyi walked on, she suddenly noticed a tall persimmon tree behind a courtyard wall.

It was not yet the season.

All she could see was the robust persimmon tree standing behind the courtyard wall, like a majestic general.

"What place is that?" she stopped and asked Aunt Deng.

Aunt Deng followed her gaze and immediately smiled: "That is the prince's study."

Xu Duanyi was taken aback.

She hadn't expected that the place she casually asked about was actually Xie Qingya's study.

Aunt Deng, unaware of her surprise, continued to talk with her: "That persimmon tree was planted by Your Highness and the late Prince the year Xie Qingya was born. It was originally planted in Linfeng Pavilion, but for some reason, when planted alongside a peach tree, neither bore fruit."

"Later, Your Highness decided to transplant the persimmon tree to this courtyard."

"Strangely enough, after the two trees were separated, they both started to bear fruit."

"Xie Qingya was quite the mischievous child. As soon as he could run, he loved climbing trees. When the persimmon tree bore fruit, he would always strip the tree bare."

"Whenever Your Highness noticed, she would get angry, saying Xie Qingya didn't like persimmons, so why not let them stay on the tree? It would be a beautiful sight in winter when it snowed."

"But Xie Qingya had no patience for such poetic notions; he couldn't bear to see them hanging there."

Aunt Deng couldn't help but chuckle as she recounted these past events.

However, thinking of the late Prince, she couldn't help but feel a bit sad, though she quickly masked her sadness from Xu Duanyi and asked, "Would you like to visit the study, Your Highness?"

She was doing her best to bring Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya together.

But Xu Duanyi hesitated for a moment and then gently declined: "No."

Whether Xie Qingya was present or not, it wasn't appropriate for her to enter.

If Xie Qingya was there, she wouldn't know what to say, and it would only lead to awkwardness.

If Xie Qingya wasn't there, then it was even more inappropriate for her to go.

Noticing the disappointment on Aunt Deng's face, Xu Duanyi knew her thoughts but chose to ignore them.

"Do you know where Zhang Ning and Lingji's rooms are? I might drop by later," she changed the subject and continued walking.

Aunt Deng, seeing this, couldn't very well force her to the study.

As Xu Duanyi started walking, Aunt Deng quickly followed, saying, "I'll take you there, but Third Young Master and the young lady have gone out to study and won't return until evening."

As they talked, they walked further away.

Meanwhile, Lingji, who had been eavesdropping from behind the courtyard wall, noticed Xu Duanyi leaving and rushed to inform Xie Qingya.

"Master, master!"

The study door was wide open.

Xie Qingya was writing.

At the noise, he frowned.

"What is it?"

He still didn't look up.

Until Lingji said, "Your Highness is here!"

Xie Qingya's expression froze.

In disbelief, he instinctively glanced outside.

But outside was deserted, with no one in sight.

Xie Qingya frowned slightly.

Before Xie Qingya could ask, Lingji cheerfully interjected, "Don't worry, the princess has already left; she didn't come in!"

Unaware of Xie Qingya's current expression, Lingji still felt relieved.

He had been anxious that the princess might enter!

Fortunately, she didn't!

Otherwise, the prince would have to keep up the pretense, which would be exhausting!

But then—

He glanced at the prince behind the desk, sensing something odd in his expression.

Puzzled, he asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"

"What's wrong?" Xie Qingya replied impatiently.

"You seem a bit..."

Before Lingji could finish, the prince suddenly looked up at him, his face cold, sending a chill down Lingji's spine.

Lingji was suddenly speechless.

He silently closed his mouth, gestured for silence, and then backed away.

Xie Qingya watched him leave before lowering his head again, but his once calm heart was inevitably disturbed, leaving him troubled and unable to find peace. Finally, he rose to walk to the window, gazing at the persimmon tree in the yard.