With that, she left first. Ana Xuan, still standing in the woods, raised a hand to smooth her temple hair and frowned, her eyes darkening. A woman with a weakness was always easy to exploit. It had been like this before; she had thought ten years would have cooled her aloof nature, but now she cared for someone again. How interesting.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and the sunset’s afterglow fell on the eyelashes of the person dozing with eyes closed inside. Her long lashes trembled faintly. Soon, her eyes felt sore and prickly from the light, and she opened them.
She turned her head to avoid the glare. Her dark, distinct eyes shifted as she looked at Wei Lingci, saying nothing, a faint mist veiling her gaze. Her sleepy demeanor was endearing, tinged with pity. The latter smiled faintly and silently, then turned to gaze at the scenery outside.
Xun Changqing leaned in the corner, covered with a thin blanket. She was astonished—she did not remember being covered before falling asleep. She glanced up at Wei Lingci and guessed it was her doing. Warmth flooded her heart instantly. She also moved to the window and could not help asking, “This isn’t the road to Lingyun. Where are we going?”
Wei Lingci lowered the curtain and turned to look at her, scrutinizing her expression. Perhaps because of the blanket during her nap, which blocked the air, fine beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Wei Lingci did not reply immediately but took a waterskin from the side seat, unscrewed it, and handed it to Xun Changqing. “Drink some water first.”
Xun Changqing pouted and took the waterskin, tilting her head back for a sip. Her small lips let water overflow from the corner of her mouth. Wei Lingci noticed and handed her a handkerchief carefully before saying, “You’re worried about Yuan Man. If I took you back to Lingyun, you wouldn’t be able to focus on your studies. For now, I’m taking you along with the wedding procession for a stretch—to ease your mind.”
She said this only after Xun Changqing swallowed the water in her mouth; otherwise, it might have gone down the wrong way. Xun Changqing was puzzled: since when had Wei Lingci been so considerate of others? Two years apart—had even her personality changed?
She said nothing awkwardly. Wei Lingci thought she was unwilling and sat up straighter, gazing at her intently. Her fine brows furrowed slightly, her cool gaze softening like a clear spring for once. She asked strangely, “You don’t want to? We can turn back now if you wish.”
Xun Changqing shook her head hurriedly. Along the way, Wei Lingci’s attitude had been cold, and she had gone along with it indifferently. If she had not noticed today, Wei Lingci probably would not have told her about the detour. Now that Wei Lingci had spoken, her heart was touched, yet for some reason, she also felt a bit aggrieved.
Why aggrieved? She could not quite say. She only lowered her eyes and pursed her lips tightly.
This stunned Wei Lingci. Her eyes flowed with thought as she pondered, wanting to reach out to comfort her but stopping midway, out of Xun Changqing’s sight. She resumed her earlier smile. Her little disciple was being stubborn again, probably upset that she had not told her in advance. Wei Lingci said calmly, “Changqing, as I said, if you don’t want to, we can turn back. The choice is yours—your master won’t force you. But if we go back, you must stay focused on Lingyun Mountain, without distractions.”
Wei Lingci was accustomed to such things. Yuan Man and she had a good friendship; it was normal to worry. Better to accompany quietly than fret: it could help Yuan Man on the road, and it was also a chance to let the eight-year-old play, as children that age loved it.
Xun Changqing did not know Wei Lingci’s thoughts. She was willing to go too—she had vaguely heard of the emperor’s intent to reduce the feudatories. Going to the border city would let her warn Gu Liang Gan. He was the brother of her late consort mother and close to her two half-brothers. If reducing the feudatories succeeded against him, the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion would be next.
That was the logic of lips gone, teeth cold.
After a moment’s thought, Xun Changqing raised her head, her eyes filled with Wei Lingci’s faint smile. She squinted and grinned, “Everything as Master wishes.”
So obedient, a shallow, pleased smile curved Wei Lingci’s lips. Gazing at her full forehead like a full moon and her watery eyes beneath, she teased, “Does this still make you feel aggrieved?”
“I… this disciple isn’t aggrieved. But if we follow the wedding procession like this, will Ancestor be displeased?” Xun Changqing blushed at the teasing and, when Wei Lingci looked over, showed rare timidity.
Wei Lingci did not miss her gaze. Disciples of Lingyun Mountain indeed could not wander freely—Xun Changqing knew that and had prepared well. She looked at her candidly and said, “No matter. I’ve graduated from apprenticeship; Master won’t restrict my freedom. No need to worry.”
Xun Changqing knew the Lingyun Sect Leader doted on this youngest disciple, so no one would make an issue of it. She asked no more and sat properly beside her, lifting the curtain to look outside.
After several days in the carriage, they finally caught up to Yuan Man’s group. But with the princess staying at the State Guesthouse, the two of them had no right to lodge there. Wei Lingci had planned to find an inn nearby, but Xun Changqing had already sent someone with the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion Token to secure rooms at the guesthouse, right next to Yuan Man’s, separated only by a wall.
Since that day, Wei Lingci’s demeanor had been warm. Though not overly gentle with Xun Changqing, she attended to all her daily needs meticulously.
That evening at the guesthouse, with nothing to do, Xun Changqing practiced calligraphy. Though she retained memories of her past life, her current wrists were too immature, her strength too slight, and her writing lacked vigor. Over these years, she practiced whenever she had time.
Author’s Note:
Xun Changqing: Tsk tsk tsk… Master is still so beautiful when she’s gentle.
Wei Lingci: Am I ugly otherwise?
Xun Changqing: Uh… uh, the sun is so nice tonight…
Onlookers: Little County Princess is totally cowed—where’s the sun at night… tsk tsk tsk… forgets her backbone the moment she sees her wife.
Xun Changqing righteously: Backbone? Can’t eat it. Annoy the wife, and it’s back to kneeling on the washboard.
Good night, muah~
