Chapter 7: Pointing Her Awake Part 2

She approached and asked, learning the reason. Curious if Yuan Man’s beloved was indeed Xun Yisu, Xun Changqing’s thoughts turned. She tiptoed, patted Yuan Man, and gestured for her to bend down. Leaning to her ear, she whispered, “I’ll beg Mother Consort. I’ll go to the palace and invite the Fifth Princess myself. How about that?”

This suited Yuan Man’s wishes perfectly—as long as she could enter the palace.

Xun Changqing was eight now; it was time she learned to deal with people. With Yuan Man egging her on, the Consort had no choice but to agree. She instructed Yuan Man to look after her well and warned Xun Changqing not to speak much in the palace, to act steadily, and return early.

Xun Changqing hadn’t agreed yet when Yuan Man answered for her. Helpless, after leaving the Consort’s courtyard, she sent a page boy to request leave from the Imperial Academy. She returned to her room to change clothes, while Yuan Man waited in the outer chamber. Bitterness welled in her heart—was doing this right or wrong?

The Yuan Family and Pingnan Prince’s Mansion were on good terms. In her previous life, after Yuan Man left home, Yuan Qingming resigned. The new Imperial Guards commander naturally came from the Shao Family. It was a pity—Yuan Qingming’s iron will had been broken over his children’s affairs.

After changing, she stepped into the outer chamber and grinned at Yuan Man, revealing neat white teeth with a touch of silliness and childlike innocence. Tugging her sleeve, she whispered lowly, “Sister Yuan is so eager to enter the palace—is it to see the girl in your heart?”

Yuan Man’s face flushed red again. The child was innocent, unaware that women together was an outrage against propriety. She sighed inwardly and whispered back, “Yes, but you mustn’t tell anyone.”

Xun Changqing nodded with a smile, but her heart grew heavy. How could she make Yuan Man understand that loving another woman was no easy matter—especially when one was a princess? One misstep, and it would drag down the entire Yuan Family.

She had heard Wei Lingci speak of the Yuan Family’s old affairs. Back then, the Yuan Family had been at its zenith, revered by all. Later, a son fled to the borderlands. It was shortly after the Condensing Origin Empress ascended; in her rage, she exterminated the entire family. Heaven took pity, and a mother-daughter pair escaped. Fifteen years later, Yuan Zichen uncovered the truth, clearing her father’s name. Yuan Zichen then pacified the borderlands with merit; both the Female Emperor and Previous Emperor trusted her immensely, leading to the Yuan Family’s current towering power.

The ancestors’ matters were vivid in memory. If the Yuan Family suffered such a blow again, they might never recover. All their efforts would be in vain.

“Sister Yuan likes girls—have you thought if Father and Mother would agree?” Xun Changqing sat on a stool nearby, looking up at her. Her eyes were pure, her porcelain-pale face enchanting, and her smile made her peach-blossom eyes all the more captivating.

Yuan Man’s heart trembled; her body shivered involuntarily. Staring at the smiling eight-year-old before her, she was speechless. Her eyes held a strange glint—this child was so precocious, thinking so deeply.

She had considered these words long ago and couldn’t help retorting sarcastically, “If it’s mutual consent, what business is it of others?”

Xun Changqing hopped down from the stool, went to the door, and closed it. Turning back, her clear voice rang out: “Leaving aside who the girl you like is—Uncle Yuan is upright and honorable, handling matters with integrity. If he knew of such thoughts, he’d beat you to death. If she’s from a noble house, it could doom the entire Yuan Family. Mutual consent or not, the world won’t accept it.”

“Sister Yuan, if Imperial Uncle learns of this, neither you nor she would survive. Corrupting the palace—your life would be forfeit, and hers likely too. What of Uncle Yuan and Aunt? White-haired sending off the black-haired—heart-wrenching pain. Could you bear it?”

Hearing such words from an eight-year-old made their gravity even more profound. Loving another woman was a massive shock. Yuan Man sat silently, her mind on her parents’ words: The Yuan Family’s power has peaked; utmost prosperity leads to decline. In your hands now, we seek no more power—just the family’s safety and peace.

She couldn’t bring honor to the family and felt guilty. Worse, she loved a princess—even if her parents agreed, the Emperor wouldn’t marry his daughter to a woman. This would become a scandal; the imperial family excelled at silencing mouths through death. It would implicate her parents, corrupting the palace…

Yuan Man sat motionless. Xun Changqing sighed deeply. If it were a common girl, fine—but Xun Yisu was the Emperor’s fifth daughter, a princess in her own right. How could they dare?

Gazing at Yuan Man, her eyes flickered. She wondered if her words were appropriate. Reborn, she feared such unattainable loves. Better to let go early.

As someone who had died once, she knew the bitterness. She wondered if Yuan Man and Xun Yisu could sever such ties.

The trip to the deep palace was canceled. Yuan Man left the room in a daze. Xun Changqing stood by the door, watching her receding figure. No matter the hardship before, Yuan Man had always been spirited and unyielding. Yet a few words from her had left her so despondent, her back even tinged with defeat.

Leaning against the door, she turned and caught sight of a figure in white. Her eyes trembled; she straightened and stepped back a few paces, unsure if her earlier words had been overheard.

Wei Lingci wore plain white robes, with only a few fresh green bamboo stalks embroidered at the cuffs. Her long hair draped like willow silk, her slender waist graceful, her eyes like autumn waters. Her fair neck gleamed in the sunlight, and her unadorned cheeks bore lips naturally red. Xun Changqing’s startled eyes met hers; Wei Lingci’s lips curved slightly upward. “Closing the door in broad daylight—what for?”

It was clearly no compliment. Xun Changqing ignored the faint amusement in her eyes, straightened, and stepped aside slightly. “Miss Wei, please come in. I’ll have tea served.”

Their master-disciple bond was set, yet Xun Changqing refused to change her address until the very last moment.

After she stepped aside, Wei Lingci had no intention of entering, but an unexpected guest changed her mind. Glancing at the person at the corner gate, she quickened her pace into the room—two steps into three. Her speed reminded Xun Changqing of the “Lingbo Weibu” from storybooks.

While she stood astonished, the person from the corner gate approached. Xun Yiran strode up in a fresh set of dark robes, not flaunting noble extravagance but exuding refined elegance. His handsome face featured thin lips and starry eyes. As he entered, a shallow smile played on his lips, strands of hair by his temples swaying with his steps—poised, a wealthy talent incarnate.

He passed Xun Changqing at the door without a glance and entered directly, greeting Wei Lingci. The courtyard’s master was thus overlooked at the threshold.

Author’s Note:

Xun Changqing: Author, I feel like I’ve become a third wheel—and a 1,000-watt one at that.

Author: Wrong feeling—it should be 2,000 watts.

Xun Changqing: Master, the author’s bullying me sob sob…

Wei Lingci: Let her bully. The author’s tsundere—if she writes you out, you won’t even have a place to cry.