Chapter 13: This Young Princess Seems to Trust Too Much…

Chapter 13 – Her Highness Seems Overly Trusting...

A chill breeze swept through, the night crisp as water. Above, the moon shone brightly against a sparse scattering of stars, draping the rooftops and eaves in silvery light like a veil of frost.

Xiao Yanxing stood in the courtyard, gazing quietly at the sky.

This was Chang’an.

Since entering the city, Xiao Yanxing hadn’t uttered a word. Sitting in the carriage, he listened to the bustling sounds outside—merchants peddling their goods, children playing—the vibrant, bustling scene unmistakably telling him that he had arrived in Chang’an.

Yet he never imagined that upon entering Chang’an, he would immediately find himself at Yongning Palace.

Following Xie Lingyu’s instructions before her departure, He Lanfang didn’t dare neglect him.

After securing the carriage, He Lanfang led Xiao Yanxing to the front courtyard for rest, though he did not dare place him in the main residence, instead lodging him temporarily in a side courtyard.

Fortunately, although Xie Lingyu had long been absent, the front courtyard stood empty of its master, yet the maidservants hadn’t slackened—they kept it clean and tidy.

Neither had eaten supper yet, so He Lanfang went to arrange for a meal.

Thus, Xiao Yanxing stood alone in the courtyard. Dressed in a dark, round-collared robe, his tall, slender frame was accentuated by the belt cinching his narrow waist. A cold wind swept through, lifting the edges of his robe, giving him an almost otherworldly, solitary grace.

Until a flickering palace lantern drew near from afar.

The candle flame swayed in the wind, threatening to go out at any moment, yet stubbornly guided its bearer all the way to him.

He looked at the young girl who appeared before him. Under the moonlight, her black eyes seemed veiled in a faint mist, unusually bright, letting him catch the faint amusement in her gaze.

Xie Lingyu was indeed smiling as she held the lantern and looked at Xiao Yanxing.

Her teasing voice chimed in: “Were you waiting for me, sir?”

For a moment, Xiao Yanxing’s face flashed with disbelief, as if he hadn’t expected her to say such a thing.

Yet his rare, vivid reaction delighted Xie Lingyu.

Her grin widened, as though she had stumbled upon something amusing and could finally indulge in laughter.

Just then, He Lanfang returned with a meal box.

Xie Lingyu had instructed that Xiao Yanxing enter the estate quietly, so He Lanfang personally brought the food.

Upon spotting Xie Lingyu, he said simply, “Your Highness.”

Xie Lingyu glanced at the box in his hand.

He Lanfang explained, “Mr. Xiao hasn’t eaten dinner yet, so I fetched some food from the kitchen for him.”

So he hadn’t been waiting for her after all.

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu showed no trace of embarrassment.

Instead, she tilted her head slightly. “You haven’t eaten yet? What a coincidence—I haven’t either. Shall we dine together?”

At this, a flicker of surprise passed through Xiao Yanxing’s eyes.

Earlier, Her Highness had clearly entered the estate to visit her mother. How could a mother-daughter reunion not include a meal?

"Your Highness, with your noble status, how could you lower yourself?" Xiao Yanxing said lightly.

Xie Lingyu blinked and looked at him. "Are you criticizing the food here at Yongning Palace?"

That stunned Xiao Yanxing.

He had meant to say that Xie Lingyu, given her noble status, shouldn’t lower herself to eat with him, but she deliberately twisted his words into implying he found the food unworthy.

"That wasn't my meaning," Xiao Yanxing replied calmly.

"Then let's eat together," Xie Lingyu said, as if it didn't matter.

He Lanfang, standing nearby with the food box, remained stunned for quite a while.

Suddenly, Xie Lingyu turned and asked, "Did you bring any wine?"

"No," He Lanfang answered.

"Go get some wine then. The moonlight tonight is lovely—we should have a few cups." Xie Lingyu seemed in high spirits.

However, the two maids behind her looked slightly worried. They couldn’t voice any objections, though.

In the end, He Lanfang handed the food box to Chunxi and went back to the kitchen to fetch wine for Xie Lingyu.

Xie Lingyu entered the room and saw Qing Feng tidying up inside. She glanced around and remarked, "This place seems a little small. Should I have another place arranged for you?"

"This place is quite suitable. No need to trouble yourself, Your Highness," Xiao Yanxing politely declined.

Xie Lingyu thought for a moment and nodded. "This is the courtyard closest to the main residence. Since you're staying here, you'll be near me."

Chunxi and Tinghe were just opening the food box and placing the dishes on the table. When they heard their mistress’s words, they instinctively exchanged a glance.

They both knew Her Highness thought highly of this man, but they hadn’t expected it to reach such a degree.

Xiao Yanxing felt strangely trapped.

It was as if he wasn’t supposed to refuse Her Highness, because she always found a way to leave him speechless.

Before long, Chunxi and the others had set the meal out on the table by the window. The room was warmed by a charcoal fire, making it feel warm as spring, so even with the window half-open, it wasn’t cold.

When He Lanfang returned with the wine, Xie Lingyu waved her hand. "You can all go eat now."

"I'm not hungry," Tinghe whispered hesitantly. After all, Her Highness shouldn’t be left unattended.

But Chunxi caught Xie Lingyu’s gaze and gave Tinghe’s sleeve a light pull, eventually dragging her outside.

Once outside, Tinghe said in a hushed, scolding tone, "Why did you pull me out? How can we leave Her Highness without anyone to attend her?"

Chunxi, as the older one, tapped her on the forehead. "You fool, can’t you tell Her Highness wanted us gone?"

"Deliberately?" Tinghe was confused.

Chunxi glanced back inside and lowered her voice. "I think Her Highness wants to be alone with Mr. Xiao."

"Hmm?"

Ting He began to turn toward the window, but Chun Xi quickly pulled her away before she could get a clear look.

*

Once they were alone, the two of them settled by the window as a cool breeze drifted in. Xie Lingyu reached for the wine jug and poured some into her cup.

The pale wine shimmered in the celadon cup, candlelight flickering across its surface.

She lifted the jug and passed it across the table to Xiao Yanxing.

After a moment's hesitation, he accepted it.

As Xiao Yanxing filled his own cup, the young woman seated opposite him had already emptied hers in one gulp.

Cough, cough, cough.

A series of uncontrollable coughs escaped Xie Lingyu’s lips. Her delicate cheeks flushed a soft pink, like tender peach blossoms blooming in spring—charmingly rosy and fresh.

Seeing this, Xiao Yanxing hesitated before speaking. "If Your Highness isn't accustomed to wine, perhaps you should drink more slowly."

Xie Lingyu's fingers lightly traced the rim of the cup, gently turning it beneath the lamplight. Her slender fingertips glimmered softly as she lowered her gaze to the wine. The last time she had drunk wine, it had been poisoned.

That day too, she had downed it without hesitation, giving herself no chance to regret.

She seemed lost in thought, and Xiao Yanxing did not interrupt her, simply sitting quietly with his eyes cast downward.

Only when Xie Lingyu finally lifted her head to look at him, resting her chin in her hand, did she speak. "I never asked—do you have a courtesy name?"

Xiao Yanxing hadn’t expected that question. He raised his lashes slightly and caught sight of her loose sleeve slipping down her arm, revealing skin as smooth and white as jade, glowing softly under the lamplight.

He pressed his lips together briefly before replying evenly, "My family gave me the courtesy name Ci An."

"Ci An," she repeated slowly, savoring the sound of it, then added with a gentle smile, "Then I shall call you Ci An."

It wasn't as if no one had ever used his courtesy name before, but spoken by her sweet voice, the name sounded like honey.

Xiao Yanxing lowered his lashes slightly. "If that is Your Highness’s wish, then so be it."

Xie Lingyu picked up the wine jug again, refilled her cup, and drank it all once more.

This time, even Xiao Yanxing noticed that although she smiled, there was clearly something troubling her.

But why should he pry into the burdens of someone so far above him?

It would only invite unnecessary suspicion.

He had firmly decided to use the Yongning manor as a way to stay inconspicuous in Chang’an until the imperial examinations were over. Of course, he would not jeopardize this by behaving inappropriately.

What had started as a shared drink turned into Xie Lingyu drinking alone.

While Xiao Yanxing had only taken two cups, she had already finished four or five, her flush deepening.

"Why are people so unfair?" Xie Lingyu tilted her head slightly as she looked at him.

In the flickering light, her almond-shaped eyes were wide with innocent confusion.

Xiao Yanxing paused briefly before answering calmly, "Even among fingers, lengths differ—the heart leans in different directions."

Upon hearing this, Xie Lingyu suddenly laughed. "True enough. There are many things in this world that make no sense. Like why some people always favor outsiders."

Her words were loaded with implication.

Xiao Yanxing still refrained from probing further—some things just weren’t his place to ask.

Yet the girl before him, whose eyes had been clear and innocent just moments ago, now seemed to hold an unspeakable grievance. Tears welled in her eyes, shimmering as if about to spill.

Xie Lingyu took a deep breath, as though trying to steady her emotions.

But the events that had unfolded earlier in her mother’s courtyard resurfaced in her mind.

When she had tried to expel Zhang Hanning’s maidservant from the manor, before Zhang Hanning could even feign distress, Dowager Consort Han was the first to snap. She glared at Xie Lingyu in fury, demanding, “What in the world are you doing? On your very first day back, you’re already causing chaos in this house? If the maid messed up, punish her—why kick her out?”

That alone would have been bearable, but what really made Xie Lingyu scoff was her final remark:

“If you cast out Hanning’s maidservant, how’s she supposed to keep her dignity here after this?”

Truth was, Dowager Consort Han couldn’t care less about the maid. What concerned her was that Xie Lingyu’s expulsion of Zhang Hanning’s servant would humiliate Zhang Hanning.

She was terrified Zhang Hanning would be disgraced in front of the staff.

As the saying goes, parents who truly love their children plan for their future.

Now, seeing how deeply Dowager Consort Han cared for Zhang Hanning, Xie Lingyu felt like a complete outsider.

In the past, Xie Lingyu might have yielded, hoping to win her favor.

But now, she’d stopped expecting such flimsy affection.

Since she had returned to the manor, she’d show them all who really called the shots.

And so, until the very end, she remained resolute, refusing to back down.

Dowager Consort Han, confronted with her unyielding stance, found herself at a loss. In the end, she was so enraged that she straight-up kicked Xie Lingyu out, blaming a sudden migraine and refusing to let her stay for dinner, ordering her to retire early.

Her own daughter, gone for years, still ranked below some outsider.

What Xie Lingyu had failed to understand in her past life, she still could not fathom now.

At least this time, she’d figured it out early, sparing herself unnecessary hopes.

“I’ve long resided in the Shangyang Palace. People claim my mom took in an outsider to keep her company out of excessive longing for me. But now that I’ve returned, why does she still favor another so much?”

Her normally crisp voice now had a drunken edge.

She was clearly a little drunk, unwittingly pouring out the grievances in her heart.

Then, as if talking to herself, she added, “Am I overreacting?”

Yet her raw vulnerability caught Xiao Yanxing off guard.

For all his razor-sharp wits and foresight, he never would have guessed that the reason for her late-night visit was something like this.

“You’re royalty—it’s only right that you receive endless devotion.”

Xiao Yanxing lifted his gaze to the girl before him, his eyes softening with reassurance.

Hearing this, Xie Lingyu’s big doe eyes lit up, and her soft lips curved into a smile. “Ci An, you’re too sweet.”

Just empty reassurance, but it somehow made her glow.

Even Xiao Yanxing was pierced right through his heart by that radiant smile.

*

When Chun Xi and the others returned from their meal, they checked the time and prepared to return to the courtyard in case Her Highness required their assistance.

Yet as soon as they arrived in the courtyard, they unexpectedly saw Xiao Yanxing standing at the door. He let out a sigh of relief upon seeing them and said, "Her Highness is drunk. Please help her back to rest."

Hearing this, Chun Xi quickly led Ting He into the room.

They saw Xie Lingyu lying quietly on the table, appearing to be sound asleep.

Though relieved, they were also at a loss.

"Ting He, come help me support Her Highness," Chun Xi instructed.

But as soon as they stepped forward, intending to lift Xie Lingyu from either side, the slumbering girl, as if disturbed from a sweet dream, became visibly annoyed and waved her arms to push them away.

Helpless, Chun Xi whispered, "Your Highness, let this servant help you back to rest."

But Xie Lingyu did not respond.

Xiao Yanxing, who had been standing nearby, noticed the struggle and asked, "There should be a sedan chair in the residence. Why not have someone bring it to carry Her Highness back?"

Chun Xi hesitated. "That might work, but summoning people at this hour might alert the Dowager Consort by tomorrow."

Normally, it wouldn’t be an issue, but with a young man present—such a handsome one—if word got out that Her Highness had been drinking late at night with him, gossip would surely follow.

Moreover, Her Highness had already had words with the Dowager Consort earlier that day.

Chun Xi feared the Dowager Consort might use it as an excuse to cause trouble tomorrow.

"Your Highness," Chun Xi called again, lowering her voice. "We should return. Should I have the sedan chair brought?"

This time, Xie Lingyu seemed to hear. She blearily opened her eyes, though her eyelids weighed a ton, and finally mumbled, "Ci An can just take me back."

Ci An?

Chun Xi and Ting He immediately locked eyes with the only man in the room.

Even Xiao Yanxing himself was taken aback.

This young princess seemed overly trusting of him.

"Mr. Xiao," Chun Xi said after some thought, deciding it was the best solution given Her Highness’s request. She lowered her voice. "Would you mind carrying Her Highness back?"

Xiao Yanxing looked down at the girl slouched over the table, sleeping soundly and peacefully, utterly vulnerable.

After a moment, he kneeled down, allowing the two maids to help her onto his back.

Xie Lingyu seemed to sense the warmth and security of his broad shoulders and automatically looped her arms around his neck.

And so, step after step, Xiao Yanxing carried Xie Lingyu all the way back to her courtyard.

Fortunately, Ting He had returned ahead of time to order all the servants in the courtyard to keep out of view.

Thus, they reached Xie Lingyu’s bedchamber without being seen by anyone.

Once Chun Xi and Ting He quickly took down Xie Lingyu’s hair ornaments and washed her face, they slipped out quietly.

Chun Xi's voice came from outside: "Young Master Xiao, Her Highness is already asleep. You should retire early as well."

He had waited outside until Xie Lingyu was sound asleep before finally taking his leave.

"Young Master Xiao seems especially attentive to Her Highness," Ting He remarked after a while.

Chun Xi chuckled lightly: "Of course. Her Highness treats him with sincerity, so naturally he repays her kindness."

"Alright, I’ll stand guard tonight. You should go back and rest early too," Chun Xi added softly.

Soon, the outside fell completely silent.

But now, the girl lying still on the bed, eyes closed, suddenly opened them, staring fixedly at the canopy above. In the endless dark, her eyes were sharp and clear, without a hint of drunkenness.

When it came to winning over Xiao Yanxing, Xie Lingyu had a natural disadvantage compared to the new emperor of her past life.

She lacked grand ambitions like ruling the realm—something that could truly sway him.

If the new emperor of her past life had won him over with reason, then she would do so with emotion.