Chapter 15: Misunderstanding Part 1

The sun dipped below the western horizon, and dusk gathered around.

The light in the room was dim, and Wei Lingci’s movements as she wiped the tips of her hair clearly paused. She couldn’t help but lower her gaze to her nightclothes, finding nothing amiss. Perhaps that teasing joke from earlier in the day had affected her. She looked at the child covering her eyes with both hands—an act of self-deception.

She still sat there, carefully drying her hair. After a long moment, Xun Changqing remained motionless, her small hands tightly clamped over her eyes, unusually obedient. Over time, her arms inevitably grew sore. Wei Lingci approached, gently removed the hands, and teased her, “What did you see? What have you learned at the Imperial Academy?” She reached out and poked her forehead, chiding, “Tell me, what exactly did you see just now?”

Her hands were held by Wei Lingci—wet and sticky—and the touch of skin burned even more. Xun Changqing shrank back, her face flushing red again from embarrassment. She buried her head into her collar and murmured lowly, “I didn’t see anything. I won’t barge in recklessly next time. I’m sorry.”

Having had her fun with the joke, Wei Lingci knew it was time to stop. She released Xun Changqing’s hands, walked to the table, and lit the candle. The flame leaped up, climbing the wick. Turning back to look at Xun Changqing, she saw her face still glowing bright red under the clear light. She laughed, “Why is a boy so thin-skinned? How will you face the world later?”

In her panic earlier, Xun Changqing hadn’t looked closely; she had only seen Wei Lingci’s damp, lustrous hair. She thought her master had just bathed and hadn’t dressed yet, but it turned out she had overreacted. Ever since leaving the Imperial Capital, Wei Lingci loved to tease her. Xun Changqing gave a shy smile and changed the subject, “Did you call me here for something?”

She quietly stepped back a few paces. In these recent days, she had gradually realized that no matter how hard she tried to change things, events still followed the path of her previous life. Since she couldn’t alter them, she had no choice but to plan ahead and figure out how to cope in the future.

Sounds of servants coming and going echoed from the main hall. Wei Lingci went out to check, gave a few instructions, and returned. “I called you to eat dinner. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” She looked at the spirited child and couldn’t help but remark, “I was curious during the day—why were you so calm when the assassin came? Now you look full of energy; weren’t you scared?”

An eight-year-old child facing such an assassination should have been crying to go home to her mother, or at least shedding a few tears. Yet Xun Changqing’s expression and demeanor were as normal as ever, as if nothing had happened.

Rebirth was an absurd notion to anyone, but it had truly happened to Xun Changqing. She blinked her previously narrowed peach-blossom eyes in feigned confusion, gazing back at Wei Lingci. A solemn expression appeared on her small face as she lifted her head and declared, “Mother Consort said people of the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion shouldn’t fear such things. Even if the road ahead is thorny, we must press on. Countless die on the battlefield; if you’re afraid, you can never step onto it.”

People of the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion did indeed roll in the dirt and blood of battlefields. Compared to that, the daytime assassination was hardly worth mentioning. So, such words from the Pingnan Prince’s Consort were commonplace. Wei Lingci didn’t question it. Waves rose in her eyes, vast as the sea, only to turn into gentle springs moments later. She reached out to pat Xun Changqing’s head, praising, “Then you did very well. Your mother consort would surely be proud.”

Unexpectedly, Xun Changqing dodged away. Her peach-blossom eyes curved slightly, but she sighed, “Master, men and women should keep their distance. You can’t pat my head.”

It sounded just like Wei Lingci’s usual tone!

Wei Lingci’s fingertips met empty air. She smiled it off, took an outer robe from the wardrobe, and slipped it on. Her smile was like warm jade. “Let’s go eat.”

This life’s Wei Lingci was completely different from her previous life’s self. Xun Changqing stood in place, watching her back. Both were walking the roads they had trod in their past lives, but she was no longer the ignorant child from before, and Wei Lingci was different too. Her treatment of Xun Changqing seemed to lack something from before but held more care.

Care was rare in the previous life. Xun Changqing had always thought it was just Wei Lingci’s nature, but now that assumption was shattered. Back then, the Lingyun Sect Leader had brought her up the mountain. She entered Wei Lingci’s tutelage directly without even a formal apprenticeship ceremony. At first, Wei Lingci disliked her—simply because she was the child of a royal prince, of high status and carefree attitude. Only after spending time and figuring out her master’s temperament did Xun Changqing gradually earn her favor.

But now, it was different. It was clear that Wei Lingci didn’t dislike her—in fact, she liked her. Why was that?

Compared to the previous life, something was missing, though Xun Changqing was too lazy to dwell on it. No matter what, she had to walk this road. Some things were inevitable; she could only face them head-on, no retreating—only advancing.

No talking in bed, no talking while eating—that was a rule Wei Lingci had taught her in the previous life, etched deeply in her mind. At the dinner table, she kept her head down eating, not daring to speak.

Perhaps Xun Changqing ate too quickly without speaking, Wei Lingci stared at her for a while before standing to pour her a cup of water, placing it conveniently by her right hand to prevent choking. Her brows furrowed slightly as she said softly, “Tomorrow, have some snacks prepared. If you’re hungry, eat a bit to tide you over.”