Chapter 8: Heart-to-Heart Part 2

Xun Yisu had been restless all morning. Others didn’t know her troubles, but Xun Changqing did. Before she could talk to her, the Pingnan Prince’s Consort pulled her away, and neither had a chance to speak.

In the evening, under a starry sky and enchanting night, Wei Lingci accompanied her mother, the Ning’an County Princess, back to her room. Only mother and daughter remained inside.

Xun Changqing sat on the bed, watching her mother copy a calligraphy manual as if it were nothing. It was flowing small seal script, each character elegant and refined. Great Qi’s script differed from the Borderlands’, yet the Consort had copied it so accurately, as if she were a lady raised in Great Qi from childhood.

Since the Borderlands had submitted to Great Qi several years ago, trade had opened between them. Great Qi’s calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain, along with the Borderlands’ swift horses, were all treasures to merchants.

Though Xun Changqing carried half Borderlands blood, she had no interest in its knowledge, and the Consort had no intention of teaching her. They tacitly agreed and never mentioned it. In truth, imperial children could study Borderlands culture, with teachers in the palace for that. Borderlands people could also come to the Imperial Capital with documents from their ruler to study at Great Qi academies.

The Consort’s handwriting didn’t look newly learned; she must have started long ago. After arriving in the Imperial Capital, she adapted seamlessly to Great Qi’s culture, language, and customs without any awkwardness—she clearly wasn’t a beginner.

Xun Changqing was puzzled, but why had the Consort only introduced these things to her after she entered the mansion? She closed the manual, her brow twitching. She shouldn’t suspect her mother. The Borderlands was now a vassal of Great Qi, and the Consort never meddled in court affairs. It must be her overthinking.

She flopped onto the bed, swinging her legs carelessly. The Consort, who had just entered, laughed and said, “Changqing, what are you doing? You have no proper sitting posture or standing posture.”

Xun Changqing ignored her mother’s teasing and rolled around on the bed a few times, saying carelessly, “Mother is scolding me just like Master. I still have a few days before I leave—let me be wild for a bit.”

Whenever she acted like this, the Pingnan Prince’s Consort couldn’t bear to scold her and could only let her be. The child had bathed and changed into snow-white nightclothes. Her pink, pouty lips made her look especially adorable—pink and tender as jade. She was cuter like this than in boys’ clothes, which added heroism but lacked a girl’s innocence.

For some reason, Xun Changqing clung to her today and insisted on staying here to sleep. When things were unusual, there was usually a reason!

Sure enough, after a while, Xun Changqing’s two restless little hands wrapped around her arm, shaking it as she giggled, “Mother Consort, when I went to find Sister Asu today, why wouldn’t you let me go?”

The Consort paused slightly at her words, walked straight to the table to pour a cup of hot water, handed it to her, and smiled faintly, “What did you want to see her for? A few days ago, you upset Yuan Man so much that she caught a cold after going back and couldn’t even leave the house today.”

Her feelings ran so deep that it was hard to extricate herself. She had to consider her family yet didn’t want to betray her beloved— the internal struggle must have overwhelmed her, leading to illness.

The Consort sat on the bed, unwilling to reprimand her harshly. Yuan Man had told her everything that day, and only then did she realize her daughter viewed things so maturely, though she still lacked some polish. Children needed encouragement in their actions, so she said, “I know what you said that day, Changqing. Your advice was reasonable, but you forgot that love doesn’t follow reason. You’re still young and don’t understand these things—it’s forgivable.”

Xun Changqing stared at the Consort’s brows and eyes, shaking her head stubbornly. She understood—precisely because she knew the pain of unattainable love, she advised Yuan Man to turn back early. Deep affection without fulfillment only hurt both parties.

She remained silent, and the Consort thought she was blaming herself. She pulled her into her arms and said gently, “Changqing, don’t overthink it. Their matter goes against heavenly principles. I haven’t advised against it, nor do I approve, but love is hard to judge as right or wrong. Your advice was right too—it’s just that they’re the ones suffering now. Better to suffer now than have everyone suffer later.”

Better to suffer now than suffer every day later. Xun Changqing inhaled the unique, refreshing fragrance from behind the Consort, looked up at her slightly curved eyes—heroic yet softened—and felt a momentary daze. She blurted out involuntarily, “Mother Consort, why is it taboo for women to love each other? As long as they love one another, why care about others’ opinions?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted it—she shouldn’t have brought it up. Fortunately, the Consort didn’t scold her but smiled faintly, “If they were ordinary people, it might be fine. But for the pampered daughters of the imperial family, how can they act like that? If Yuan Man were a man and sought the Emperor’s permission, he probably still wouldn’t agree.”

This only confused Xun Changqing more. “If she were a man, why wouldn’t he agree? Their family backgrounds are a perfect match.”

The Consort unwrapped her arms from her waist and tucked her protruding legs back under the quilt—it would keep her warm and prevent chills. She lay down casually herself and said offhandedly, “The Borderlands has come seeking marriage, and right now, only the Fifth Princess is of suitable age. His Majesty will surely have her marry into the Borderlands for the alliance.”

Her mind went blank. Xun Changqing finally understood why she had no knowledge of Xun Yisu’s fate in her mind. While at Lingyun, she had overheard that the Borderlands prince sought marriage. The Great Qi Emperor, considering the ties between the two nations, married off his fifth daughter, Xun Yisu, to the prince as a gesture of appeasement.

Thus, the two would be separated by vast distances— no wonder Yuan Man left home and fled the capital, distancing herself from the heartbreak.

Her advice had been futile after all.

Author’s Note: The plot is developing a bit slowly… uh… emotions take time, no rush, no rush. Let the side CP steal the spotlight first. Anyway, those two are grown up, while our little County Princess is still a bit… young. I’m anxious too.

Good night, muah!