Xun Yiran rode a white horse with elegant poise. Spotting the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion carriage, his eyes lit up at Xun Changqing peeking from behind the consort. He dismounted, tossed the reins to an attendant, and approached smiling. After greeting the consort, he seized Xun Changqing despite her struggles, spinning her in place twice. “Changqing, is the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion food that good? You’ve plumped up—watch it, or no one will marry you. Dressed as a boy today? Seducing some girl to bring home as a child bride?”
Child bride—she’d nearly been Wei Lingci’s, but she hadn’t wanted it.
Once down, she burrowed into the consort’s embrace, glancing back warily. She couldn’t offend him outright, so she said tactfully, “Second Brother, as the legitimate eldest, you marry first. I’m still little.”
Xun Yiran chuckled, bid the Pingnan Prince’s Consort farewell in gentle, humble tones.
In the carriage, Xun Changqing fell silent. The consort eyed her childish form carrying an elderly gravitas and teased, “What’s with you today? Insisted on boy’s clothes, acting all coy even seeing your second brother. Did he upset you before?”
Was her behavior that obvious? Xun Changqing looked up at her mother, eyes widening innocently, feigning confusion. “Mother Consort, with just us two in the mansion, I want to wear boy’s clothes from now on. Easier… um… when I’m grown, to protect you.”
Childish words rang untrue, but with puffed cheeks, she looked adorably naive. Ana Yanran’s fine eyes flickered, deep chill hidden within as she smiled lowly, “As you wish. As long as you’re happy. Your father isn’t in the capital—just stay safe.”
The Pingnan Prince had more than Xun Changqing under his knee. His first consort bore two sons, not yet of age, who followed him to the southwest for military training, rolling in camp mud.
Xun Yi wasn’t a devoted man; he had side consorts, no illegitimate sons, but a few daughters who had all married out.
Ana Yanran, from the free-spirited borderlands, raised children loosely—hence in the previous life allowing her to follow Wei Lingci up Lingyun Mountain for a decade.
After half a day out, Xun Changqing tired, her body still aching days after waking. Her mind hadn’t fully adjusted; weary, she sought a lean. She nestled toward her mother consort, tiny hand clutching her collar. The consort understood.
Smiling, the consort drew her into her arms. “Sleepy? Rest against me, eyes closed—but don’t fully sleep; you’ll catch cold.”
The carriage rolled steadily into the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion, a grand and imposing estate. The Pingnan Prince’s title dated twenty years to the current emperor’s decree, Xun Yi’s mother being Eldest Princess Xun Qihuan.
Back then, she seized the throne, pioneering the Female Emperor era. As legitimate eldest princess with only twin sister Xun Qian—who preferred the jianghu—she bypassed succession, yielding to her sibling.
After the Female Emperor abdicated, Xun Qian ascended but passed soon after, leaving one son, Xun Ziqian. Naturally, the young lord took the throne, aided by the Grand Empress Dowager for years until court stabilized, wars ceased.
Xun Qihuan commanded half of Great Qi’s troops, her great princess status aiding the young ruler. After the Grand Empress Dowager’s death, she surrendered her forces, only for the emperor to grant them to Xun Yi, building the Pingnan Prince’s Mansion. Brotherly harmony, loyal vassals—a tale for the ages!
Xun Changqing learned this from Wei Lingci, thirteen years her senior, daughter of Ning’an County Princess Wei Xiao. Though powerless, Wei Xiao held her fief in Jiangnan, rarely returning. Outsiders saw clearly.
Wei Lingci had said: “Young ruler, suspicious realm—Pingnan Prince’s merits shake the throne. Fail to rein in, and the emperor will doubt him first.”
Just past coming-of-age, she’d laughed it off. How could merits breed imperial envy?
But captured later, she grasped Emperor Xun Yiran’s mind—the Pingnan Prince’s troops threatened his seat. Paranoid rulers always did!
Once home, Xun Changqing clung to the consort, bone-deep pain sapping her will to walk.
The consort found comfort in this; these days, her speech and actions strayed oddly from a five-year-old’s, startlingly precocious. Now back to normal, sticky and refusing to walk, the consort scooped her up inward, laughing, “So big, yet still so clingy. Mother Consort might tire of you.”
“No way! You birthed me—blood ties bind us. Mother Consort won’t abandon her daughter.”
A child must act childish when needed, lest intimates think her possessed. At five plus fifteen prior years, she was twenty… older than Wei Lingci even…
Xun Changqing rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, exhaling deeply. This life, no more of that cold master.
At “blood ties,” the consort’s brows subtly furrowed before she smiled faintly, “True. Mother Consort might scorn your father, but never our little Young Master Xun Changqing.”
The mansion held few masters: truly just Ana Yanran and Xun Changqing. The two side consorts kept to their yards, rarely seen.
Hot tea and snacks awaited indoors. The consort set her on the soft couch, patted her head, and asked smilingly, “Some snacks? Dinner’s early yet.”
Xun Changqing shook her head. Since waking, she shunned cold food—prison days of cold gruel and rice, no hot water. She feared it now. Snacks arrived warm, stayed so in mouth, but not as hearty as porridge.
Her changed temperament these days was known; the consort ordered meat porridge to pair with snacks—she’d eat that.
Seated, legs too short to touch ground, Xun Changqing swung them twice, reached for the spoon, stirred the steaming porridge, and ate contentedly, ears tuned to her mother’s servant instructions.
Her mind pondered: Trick Mother Consort to the southwest? Learn if Father’s rebellion was framed, and crucially, avoid Wei Lingci.
Anyway, no more apprenticing to Wei Lingci!
Author’s Note:
Melon-eater A: Miss Wei, your little wife ran off!
Wei Lingci calmly: No matter, she won’t get far.
Melon-eater B: Why?
Wei Lingci laughed: Legs too short!
Good evening, muah muah, remember to bookmark!
