Chapter 4: Rejection Part 2

The empress’s face darkened slightly. Though it didn’t draw attention, the Pingnan Prince’s Consort at the lower seat noticed. She lowered her eyes and glanced at Changqing below, signaling her to return to her seat.

In Zhaoyang Hall, red candles burned brightly, and the atmosphere brimmed with joy.

After the banquet ended, Xun Changqing and the Princess Consort bid farewell to the emperor and empress before boarding the carriage back to the mansion. At the palace gates, they encountered the Lingyun Sect Leader again. The carriage didn’t stop, but Xun Changqing lifted the curtain inside and saw Xun Yiran hurrying after the sect leader. She was surprised—were the two so close?

Seeing her furrow her brows in thought again, the Pingnan Prince’s Consort pulled the curtain back for her, drew her to sit aside, and smiled. “Why didn’t you agree just now?”

A ordinary child might not understand what she meant, but the Pingnan Prince’s Consort knew Xun Changqing was exceptionally perceptive, wiser than most children, and would surely comprehend.

It was time to act spoiled. To avoid arousing suspicion, Xun Changqing leaned into her embrace, wrapped her arms around her neck, and smiled. “Mother, in the mansion, it’s just you and me. If I left, you’d be all alone. You came from another land; you’d feel even more isolated. Changqing will stay with you. We’ll plan again when Father returns. Besides, Lingyun Mountain might not be as wonderful as the legends say.”

The Pingnan Prince’s Consort gazed at her quietly. Her slender fingers reflected in Changqing’s eyes. Though not a stunning beauty, she was still a refined lady. Unlike typical Borderlands women, she resembled the gentle and elegant women of Jiangnan. She had been married into Great Qi for years, alone in the quiet mansion. Xun Changqing had kept her company through most of those dull days. Hearing these words now, the chill in her eyes faded, her expression softening as she smiled. “Mm, with those words from you, Mother is very happy. You don’t need to worry like that. Since you don’t want to go, Mother won’t mention it again.”

Childish words, a thread of care and comfort, yet they made her feel a different kind of ‘family’ in this foreign land.

In the Imperial Capital, summers were especially stifling, autumns refreshingly cool, and winters blanketed in flying snow—a spectacular sight from the railings.

Thus, two years passed peacefully, with no sign of Wei Lingci.

Xun Changqing had grown a bit taller, at least enough to avoid mockery. That day, returning from the Imperial Academy, she encountered Yuan Man, the daughter of the Yuan family’s main branch, at the gate. Before she could speak, Yuan Man scooped her up and placed her on the handsome horse tied at the entrance.

The sudden turn of events caught Xun Changqing off guard. In these years, she had learned martial arts from the Princess Consort, but at only eight years old, how could her strength compare to Yuan Man, who hailed from a martial family and had trained since childhood? The servants chased a few steps, realized it was Yuan Man taking the young master, and went inside to report to the Princess Consort.

Yuan Man’s father was the Forbidden Army Commander Yuan Qingming. Though she had long passed the age of marriage, she remained unbetrothed. Her mother, the Zhaohe County Princess, grew increasingly anxious, fretting over it daily. But Yuan Man stubbornly refused to agree to a match.

That day, her mother the Zhaohe County Princess brought it up again. Yuan Man tried to brush it off, but her mother saw through the ploy and insisted on dragging her to meet a prospective groom and settle the marriage for an early wedding.

The Zhaohe County Princess had a hasty temper and had been put off too many times; her patience was gone. A few sharp words led to near blows, so Yuan Man bolted out the door.

She had planned to seek refuge with the Pingnan Prince’s Consort for a few days, but spotting Xun Changqing returning from school at the gate, in her frustration, she whisked away the girl to vent her mood somewhere.

Yuan Man had a free-spirited nature, unlike typical sheltered young ladies. She longed to leave the Imperial Capital and wander the martial world, but her parents wouldn’t allow it. Her father had assigned her to guard the north gate, overseeing thousands of soldiers.

At the tavern, Yuan Man set Xun Changqing down, patted her head affectionately, and led her by the hand into a private room. After ordering a few dishes, Yuan Man looked at Xun Changqing and laughed. “If I’d known, I would’ve dressed as a boy like you and married my beloved home. How free that would be.”

Her words carried deeper meaning. Xun Changqing pursed her lips tightly, propped up her chin, and with a mischievous glint in her eyes, smiled slyly. “Sister Yuan, do you fancy some young lady?”

She hit the mark. Yuan Man had just swallowed a mouthful of wine—good thing it wasn’t the second—and quickly covered Xun Changqing’s reckless mouth, whispering, “Little auntie, keep your voice down. If my mother hears, she’ll throw me out of the house for sure.”