A Figure on Jade Steps in the Wind and Snow 20

Chapter 20: Invitation

Shen Zhishu, gripping the sword at her waist, took the steps two at a time. The great cloak was lifted by the oncoming wind, revealing the soft white fox fur lining.

She ran so fast that she was a little out of breath when she reached the ground. She untied the sash, took off the great cloak, and draped it over her arm, leaning on her knees to catch her breath.

But when she looked up, she wished she hadn’t run—

The Eldest Princess, at some unknown time, was already standing in front of her, only a few steps away. With a slight reach of her hand, she could touch the clothes on her arm.

And the Eldest Princess did just that.

She gracefully took the great cloak and handed it to the attendant behind her, “Hold this properly for the General.”

The scent of northwest cedar slowly enveloped her again.

Shen Zhishu was exceptionally dazed.

Perhaps it was because her heartbeat from running hadn’t completely calmed down, or perhaps this scene was too unexpected. So she stood there stunned for a moment before she found her tongue and cupped her hands at the Eldest Princess:

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Eldest Princess shook her head, “The General need not thank me. It is I who should thank the General. Counting, the General has already helped me three times.”

“It was just a small effort,” Shen Zhishu replied matter-of-factly. “It is this subordinate’s honor to be of help to Your Highness.”

The Eldest Princess blinked.

Her eyelashes were very long, and they were tinged orange-yellow by the distant and near lights.

Shen Zhishu was in no mood for small talk and was about to say, “If there is nothing else, this subordinate will take my leave first,” when she suddenly heard the Eldest Princess speak calmly:

“Is the General strolling the streets alone? Without anyone accompanying you?”

Shen Zhishu: ?

Didn’t the Eldest Princess see Xie Jin beside me on the overpass just now?

Shen Zhishu then thought, perhaps Xie Jin was bowing her head at that moment to tie the silk ribbon to the railing, so the Eldest Princess didn’t see her face clearly. And the overpass was crowded with pedestrians, and she and Xie Jin were a short distance apart, so they didn’t look like they were together.

Shen Zhishu’s “I came with Xie Jin” was already on the tip of her tongue, but she suddenly remembered the Eldest Princess’s previous “friend” and “family.”

…If she mentioned Xie Jin, the Eldest Princess would probably say “your friend” this and that, and might even suggest meeting Xie Jin.

And if they met, Xie Jin would surely tease her about it afterwards.

So Shen Zhishu rolled her tongue and swallowed those words, saying instead, “I came alone. I always feel constrained with someone following me, and I can’t completely relax.”

The Eldest Princess nodded slightly, the edge of her snow-white cloak outlined in a golden phantom by the lanterns. The next second, Shen Zhishu heard her say:

“Does the General feel lonely strolling the streets alone? If you don’t mind, I can accompany the General for a while.”

Shen Zhishu: ???

The invitation came too suddenly, and Shen Zhishu subconsciously wanted to refuse. She smiled embarrassedly and said, “It is this subordinate’s honor to stroll with Your Highness, but my mother is waiting for me at home. I promised her I would make some dumplings with her. If I go back late, it might not be good.”

The Eldest Princess nodded and said, “Alright.”

Her expression was as faint as ever, showing no other emotion.

The snow started to fall again, and a crystalline snowflake had landed on the Eldest Princess’s eyelashes at some unknown time, creating an atmosphere of indifference that was somewhat lonely.

In this little bit of loneliness, she spoke, “The General can always speak the truth in front of me. If you don’t want to walk with me, just say so.”

When she said this, she wasn’t looking at the person in front of her, but had her eyes lowered, her gaze on her embroidered shoes.

Shen Zhishu felt a trace of guilt for no reason and quickly replied, “What is Your Highness saying? This subordinate is honored to be able to walk with Your Highness, I couldn’t be happier. It’s just that at home today… forget it, this subordinate will accompany Your Highness for a walk. I don’t think it will take much time.”

A string of words came out without thinking, and after she realized what she had said, Shen Zhishu almost bit her tongue.

The Eldest Princess suddenly raised her eyes, “Really?”

Shen Zhishu braced herself and replied, “Absolutely true.”

They were currently right under the overpass, in Xie Jin’s blind spot. Shen Zhishu estimated that Xie Jin was about to come down from the overpass, and not caring about much else, she said quickly:

“It’s just that this subordinate has not had dinner and is a little hungry now. Why don’t we go into a restaurant first, allow this subordinate to have a quick bite, and then make other plans?”

As her voice fell, Xie Jin’s bright red cloak was already faintly visible by the railing. Shen Zhishu thought to herself that this was bad. Before the Eldest Princess could reply, she quickly pulled her to the side and rushed into the restaurant on the east.

The curtain of the restaurant closed with a rustle, and the noisy wind and the “danger of being discovered” were all isolated outside.

Shen Zhishu let out a long sigh of relief and released the Eldest Princess’s sleeve. The creases on the sleeve gradually faded, and the suddenly strong scent of cedar on the tip of her nose dissipated a little.

Then she found that the Eldest Princess was staring at her with great interest.

Shen Zhishu gave a sheepish smile and cupped her fists to the side, “This subordinate was a little anxious just now, I hope Your Highness will forgive me.”

“It’s alright,” the Eldest Princess said in a faint voice. “The General is probably very hungry. To express my gratitude, this meal is on me. The General can order whatever you like.”

Shen Zhishu was actually not hungry. On the contrary, she was a little full—the roasted chicken was too delicious, and she had eaten two or three without realizing it, and she still hadn’t digested it.

She secretly made another note against Xie Jin in her heart and then braced herself to order food.

But after the food was served, she felt even fuller after two bites. So she started to make small talk, trying to use conversation to delay time and hide the fact that she couldn’t eat:

“Your Highness is in a good mood today, are you also out for a stroll?”

This was originally a meaningless pleasantry, just like “Have you eaten?” But the Eldest Princess did not politely answer “I’ve eaten,” but instead shook her head, “I didn’t originally come out for a stroll. I heard that there were a lot of people here, so I came out to seek peace and quiet.”

“Seeking peace and quiet in a bustling city?”

“Whether it’s quiet or not is in one’s heart,” the Eldest Princess said. “The manor is quiet, which makes the noise in my heart seem louder. When I come to a crowded place, the thousands of thoughts are drowned out by the surrounding noise.”

Shen Zhishu smiled, “Your Highness is truly extraordinary. This is the first time this subordinate has heard such a statement, but I find it very reasonable.”

The Eldest Princess took a sip of her teacup and asked, “What about you?”

“Hmm?”

“Is the General here to join in the fun, or to seek peace and quiet?”

Shen Zhishu suddenly pondered, now was actually a good time to make her position clear.

So she said frankly, “To be honest with you, I’m just here to eat some roasted chicken.”

“Eat roasted chicken?”

“That’s right,” Shen Zhishu smiled. “Minister Shen probably thinks that I was too reckless this morning, even though Your Highness was there to keep things under control, so she punished me by not allowing me to eat meat in the Shen Residence today. But I couldn’t bear it. I heard that there’s a particularly famous roasted chicken here, so I came here to sneak a bite.”

The Eldest Princess’s attention, however, was not on “Minister Shen punishing her,” but on, “Then did the General get to eat the roasted chicken?”

“I did…” Shen Zhishu suddenly remembered the lie she had told a quarter of an hour ago, “I haven’t had dinner,” and her words changed, “I didn’t get to eat it.”

The Eldest Princess nodded and said, “Which place is famous for its roasted chicken that the General mentioned?”

“Mountain and Sea House.”

“In that case…” the Eldest Princess turned to her attendant, “Go to Mountain and Sea House and buy a roasted chicken for the General.”

Shen Zhishu: ?

Why is the Eldest Princess so unpredictable?

…Thank you, but I really can’t eat anymore.

If I eat any more, I’ll throw up.