Chapter 62: Jealousy

Chapter 62: Pangs of Jealousy

When Qiao Wan awoke, the tent had been thoroughly tidied, showing no trace of the previous day's disarray.

Last night, she seemed to have dreamt of her mother, gently patting and coaxing her to sleep.

Qiao Wan pursed her lips, dressed, and stepped out of the inner chamber.

A strange woman, appearing to be a maid, waited in the outer tent with warm water. Upon seeing Qiao Wan, she quickly curtsied, "This servant greets the Princess. General Si has instructed me to attend to your washing."

Most women in the camp were likely captured family members or maids. Qiao Wan had no desire to trouble her and simply performed a quick wash.

Unexpectedly, the maid returned with a sandalwood tray bearing an open, exquisite jewelry box. The opulent jewelry within stood in stark contrast to the grim, somber atmosphere of the camp. Beside it lay a bottle of high-quality hand balm, the very style she commonly used back in Lingjing.

The thought of Lingjing brought yesterday's letter to mind, stirring an inexplicable irritation in Qiao Wan. Ignoring the tray, she walked directly out of the tent.

The winter wind swept fiercely across the pasturelands. Though Qiao Wan wore no fur cloak and felt the chill, inhaling the cold air strangely soothed her lungs.

Qiao Wan wandered aimlessly through the inner camp and soon found herself at the exit. The guards stopped her, just as they had the day before.

Frowning deeply, Qiao Wan turned to retreat. At that moment, a gentle, slightly hoarse voice called out from behind her, filled with disbelief: "Wan Niang?"

Qiao Wan stiffened and turned around.

In front of a simple tent in the outer camp, Wen Xubai, clad in white, emerged. His eyes were weary, the hem of his robe stained with dirt. Already slender, he now appeared even more gaunt, yet he still exuded a gentle demeanor.

Qiao Wan hadn't expected Wen Xubai to come to the military camp for her. She had thought she wouldn't see him again until she returned to the Jinyin Zhai.

As Qiao Wan moved to approach him, a guard raised a hand to stop her: "Princess, please return to your tent."

Qiao Wan frowned, her tone effortlessly imperious: "You dare to stop me?"

The guard was taken aback.

Wen Xubai also paused. He observed Qiao Wan's innate haughtiness, yet noted the absence of any overbearingness—a stark contrast to the woman he had known.

Qiao Wan lifted her chin and took two steps forward; the guard instinctively retreated two steps. Perhaps due to her forceful demeanor, the guard finally relented. Without letting her leave, he searched Wen Xubai and permitted him to enter.

A moment later.

Qiao Wan impatiently waved off the accompanying guard, instructing him to keep his distance, and walked alongside Wen Xubai through the inner camp.

Neither spoke, leaving only the howl of the wind between them.

Finally, Qiao Wan broke the silence: "When did Master Wen arrive at the camp?"

Wen Xubai hesitated before replying, "Just recently."

In truth, after delivering the letter to the courier station, he had gone to the Jinyin Zhai, only to learn she had gone to the Western Hills. Unable to find her anywhere, he had just discovered her presence here.

He couldn't quite articulate why, but he felt he owed her an explanation.

Qiao Wan asked again: "Was the letter delivered to the courier station?"

Wen Xubai hadn't expected her to inquire about this. After a moment of surprise, he nodded: "The courier station dispatched it by fast horse."

"This should allow the people of Li Kingdom to resume their studies and official posts in Molan, right?" Qiao Wan said with a smile.

Wen Xubai's throat moved, and he softly murmured, "Yes."

Qiao Wan nodded seriously: "Good. I never thought this former princess could still be of some use."

Wen Xubai's eyelashes trembled slightly. He looked up at her, his usual gentle smile gone: "You... have nothing else you want to say?"

Qiao Wan thought carefully, then asked with a laugh: "Didn't you expect that I am actually the notorious, extravagant, and licentious Princess Changle?"

Wen Xubai frowned slightly and shook his head: "Those are merely rumors."

"If you had lived in Lingjing, you'd know whether they are rumors or not," Qiao Wan raised her eyebrows. "Even in Jiuyuan, I've heard people mention my name, saying that Li Kingdom's Princess Changle frequented pleasure houses, was vain and spoiled, and disregarded propriety..."

"Wan Niang," Wen Xubai interrupted her, his eyes filled with disapproval. Yet, hearing her speak to him in her usual light tone, the tension he had carried eased considerably. "You don't blame me?" he asked.

"I deceived you too," Qiao Wan lowered her gaze and shrugged. "So in a way, we're even."

Wen Xubai paused mid-step and turned to look at her, a faint sense of hope rising in his heart for some reason.

The smile on Qiao Wan's lips faded slightly: "Master Wen, someday when you go to the Jinyin Zhai, let's exchange our birth documents, shall we?"

Wen Xubai's expression froze, gradually turning dim. After a long while, he averted his gaze, staring fixedly at a distant tent: "...Okay."

Qiao Wan nodded and also looked over, saying nothing more.

After some time, Qiao Wan heard the person beside her softly call: "Wan Niang."

Qiao Wan turned to look, meeting Wen Xubai's eyes directly: "Hmm?"

Wen Xubai moved his lips. He actually wanted her to question him—to ask if he had ever truly cared for her. But upon seeing the calm in her eyes, he couldn't bring himself to utter those words. He only said quietly, "I'm sorry."

Qiao Wan was taken aback, her eyes warming slightly, but she let out a light laugh: "Have you forgotten what I said during our first meeting? Actually, I really did take a good look at your face then. Master Wen is quite good-looking."

"Besides, Wu Jiu being able to go to school is also thanks to Master Wen."

Wen Xubai looked at the smile on her lips and suddenly spoke: "Not notorious, extravagant, and licentious."

"Huh?" Qiao Wan was puzzled.

Wen Xubai looked at her seriously: "The Wan Niang I know is cheerful, lively, kind to others, nothing like the rumors."

Qiao Wan's smile paused briefly, then she said with exaggerated emphasis: "Should I believe that?"

Wen Xubai chuckled softly. After a moment's pause, he reached into his sleeve but hesitated upon touching the perfumed pouch. For some reason, he suddenly didn't want to take it out and instead pulled out a clay ocarina: "This is what you left behind last time."

Qiao Wan looked at the exquisite clay ocarina: "So it was with you." She reached out to take it, gently stroking the intricate patterns carved on it, and joked, "Did Master Wen ever learn how to play it?"

Wen Xubai's long eyelashes trembled slightly, but he didn't speak.

Qiao Wan suddenly remembered something: "By the way..." She began searching through her sleeve, then lightly frowned.

She had clearly placed the jade hairpin there, intending to return it to Wen Xubai when she saw him next.

How could it be missing?

"Wan Niang?" Wen Xubai called out to her, confused.

Qiao Wan came back to her senses. Perhaps it had fallen out in the tent when she took off her outer robe yesterday.

Thinking this, Qiao Wan smiled apologetically: "It's nothing..."

Before she could finish her sentence, another winter breeze swept through, tousling Qiao Wan's dark hair. The hastily tied bun from the morning loosened slightly, the hairpin slipped, and a few strands of hair came loose.

Qiao Wan instinctively lifted her hand to smooth her stray hairs, only to realize she was still holding the ocarina. Just as she was about to put it away, a hand had already gently brushed the wind-blown strands away from her cheek.

Qiao Wan blinked, looking at Wen Xubai in surprise.

Wen Xubai pressed his lips together, looked down at her, and paused. He knew he should withdraw his hand properly, but his fingers seemed frozen. He murmured, "Since you can't, let me help." With that, he gently tucked the slightly loose hairpin back into her bun. "There."

Qiao Wan was still dazed.

Just then, a chill even sharper than the winter wind swept over them, carrying a faint hint of icy fragrance in the air.

"So intimate?" A soft voice murmured from behind.

Qiao Wan’s heart skipped a beat. She then turned around, frowning, to see who it was.

Mu Chi, also dressed in white, stood in the bleak wind, draped in a snow-white fox fur cloak. His fair skin seemed to blend with the whiteness all around. Meeting her gaze, he even tilted his head and gave her a gentle smile.

Qiao Wan pursed her lips, wondering what his problem was now. But then she remembered the incident at the hot spring, when he had impulsively thrown a dagger and nearly injured Wen Xubai. Without thinking, she stepped in front of Wen Xubai.

Noticing her protective gesture, Mu Chi’s smile stiffened. He then walked over, took her hand, and held it.

Qiao Wan frowned and struggled vigorously, but couldn’t break free. Mu Chi smiled calmly at Wen Xubai. "After nine years of diligent study, don’t you know that men and women shouldn't touch?"

Wen Xubai’s expression changed slightly. He lowered his gaze and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Mu Chi looked at him, his other hand clenched unconsciously. His eyes narrowed slightly, a surge of murderous intent welled up inside him.

But on the surface, he let out a light laugh. "No need, Master Wen." He turned to Qiao Wan. "The physician has arrived. It’s time for us to return."

"Why is the physician here?" Qiao Wan asked impatiently, still trying to free her hand.

"To check your pulse, and also..." At this, Mu Chi shot a glance at Wen Xubai. "The bite on my lower lip needs to be treated by the physician."

Qiao Wan froze, then realized how the injury on his lip had come about. She glared at Mu Chi angrily.

Mu Chi turned and smiled at her.

Wen Xubai’s face paled. He stared fixedly at the suggestive red mark under Mu Chi’s lip, then finally lowered his eyes, his gaze darkening.

Mu Chi nodded. "Excuse us." He made to lead Qiao Wan away but hesitated when he saw her thin figure. He took off his fox fur cloak and laid it over her shoulders.

Qiao Wan, still furious, without a second thought, shrugged off the cloak. "No need for Your Highness’s concern."

Mu Chi paused briefly, then stepped forward again and wrapped the cloak tightly around her.

Qiao Wan looked up, glaring at him. The next moment, she threw the cloak heavily to the ground, stepped on it, and marched straight ahead.

Mu Chi glanced at the footprints on the snow-white fur, then at Qiao Wan’s receding figure. He turned and gestured casually to Si Li, who was following behind, before striding after her.

Si Li understood. He felt for the jade hairpin in his sleeve, then walked up to Wen Xubai. "Master Wen, this way, please."

Wen Xubai watched Qiao Wan’s figure. The Qiao Wan before him was so different from the one he knew—spoiled, wild, reckless, yet full of vitality.

"Master Wen." Si Li’s voice was slightly louder.

Wen Xubai jolted from his thoughts, his face still pale. He managed a weak smile. "Thank you."

*

By the time Mu Chi returned to the tent, Qiao Wan was already inside.

A maid stood guard at the entrance. Upon seeing Mu Chi, she fearfully bowed her head and prepared to kneel.

Mu Chi waved his hand, dismissing her. He didn’t enter immediately but waited at the entrance.

Soon, Si Li hurried over and handed over a sachet. "Young Master, the jade hairpin has been returned."

"Mm." Mu Chi took the sachet, ignoring the bamboo pattern, and looked directly at the character "Wan" embroidered in the lower right corner.

This was something Qiao Wan had personally embroidered for Wen Xubai.

Her embroidery was still clumsy; even the simple character "Wan" was crooked, but one could see how earnestly she had stitched it.

Mu Chi pressed his lips tightly together, tracing the character "Wan" on the back of his right hand. After a long moment, he clenched the sachet tightly, letting it crumple in his palm.

After some time, Mu Chi turned and entered the tent.

Qiao Wan was sitting at the brand-new dressing table in the inner section, her back to him. Even from behind, it was clear she was still fuming; her red robes seemed like a cluster of burning flames.

Hearing the sound behind her, Qiao Wan spoke without turning. "Where is the jade hairpin I had in my sleeve?" She had already looked for it earlier but couldn’t find it anywhere.

Mu Chi walked up behind her. "What jade hairpin?"

"A green jade hairpin," Qiao Wan said, looking up. "The one I wore at the Prefect’s banquet."

Mu Chi’s gaze fell on her slightly disheveled bun, and he realized. "The one Wen Xubai gave you?"

Qiao Wan pressed her lips together but didn’t deny it.

Mu Chi watched her reaction. "Were you planning to return it to Wen Xubai?"

"I—" Qiao Wan was about to answer but then reconsidered. "Can’t I just want to wear it?"

Mu Chi’s long eyelashes quivered slightly, a twisted jealousy suddenly surging in his heart. Remembering how Wen Xubai had fixed her hairpin earlier, he abruptly reached out and yanked the gold hairpin from her hair.

Her hair cascaded down, falling loosely behind her.

Qiao Wan grabbed at her hair and glared at him. "What are you doing?"

"Your bun is messy." Mu Chi took a wooden comb from nearby and began to comb her hair. Qiao Wan struggled slightly, and Mu Chi frowned, easing his grip. "Keep moving, and you’ll scalp yourself."

Qiao Wan stiffened, then reluctantly sat back down.

Mu Chi gently combed through her long hair, strand by strand, his movements slow and careful.

Qiao Wan looked at her reflection in the bronze mirror, at the snow-white figure behind her, her expression faraway.

"What is the Princess thinking?" A soft, low voice came from behind, as if from four years ago, to linger by her ear.

Qiao Wan’s gaze trembled. The next moment, she jerked back to the present and looked at Mu Chi through the mirror. "Don’t talk to me that way."

"Why not?"

Qiao Wan answered without thinking. "You're not worthy."

The tent went dead silent.

Mu Chi’s hand froze in her hair. For a moment, he felt equal parts amused and confused.

The one who treated her like this in the past was clearly him as well.

Yet she only remembered that male attendant.

Qiao Wan was somewhat annoyed by losing her cool and lowered her head, refusing to look into the bronze mirror any longer. She asked in a muffled tone, "When will you let me leave?"

Mu Chi fell silent for a long moment, his voice deep. "So eager to leave?"

"I never belonged here in the first place," Qiao Wan said calmly after a pause. "Besides, staying here is just idleness—it’s utterly tedious."

Mu Chi gazed at her long hair.

Her hair was entirely different from her personality—soft and smooth, while she burned with passion.

"If you don’t want to be idle," Mu Chi said, looking at the web between his thumb and index finger, "then embroider another sachet."

Qiao Wan stiffened, then snorted coldly as a thought crossed her mind. "I don’t want to."

"I’m afraid that one day Your Highness might secretly gift it to someone again, meddling with matchmaking and pairing me up with someone else."

Author's Note:

Today's Wan Wan is specializing in piercing hearts~