Xun An followed Cui Wangshu’s gaze outside, where fireworks had already begun crackling, filling the air with an even stronger sense of the New Year. Xun An lowered her eyes and said, “Yes, once the hour of the rat passes, it will be New Year’s Eve.”
“Will she come back?” Xun An asked, pursing her lips.
Cui Wangshu turned to look at her and raised an eyebrow. “Knowing you’ve come to the Capital City, she probably will.”
A flicker of tension crossed Xun An’s face, but it wasn’t very obvious since her expression was usually blank year-round.
Cui Wangshu raised an eyebrow again, teasing, “What exactly happened back then?”
She had noticed some clues before. Whenever the three of them were together, Xun An’s gaze always lingered on Jiang Ci. At first, when Cui Wangshu caught her, she would awkwardly look away.
Xun An was like her—strict family rules made her live a rigid life. Meeting someone as vibrant as Jiang Ci, who spoke with such animated flair, it was hard not to feel a ripple in one’s heart.
Even Cui Wangshu felt herself relaxing unconsciously around Jiang Ci.
That person was always thinking about her little money, worldly-wise yet not worldly, with her own set of principles. She lived freely and unrestrained.
Knowing that Cui Wangshu and Xun An weren’t the joking type, she always played the role of mood lightener, using a few words to dispel the tension and pressure in their hearts.
Cui Wangshu curved her lips. Later, influenced by Jiang Ci, she occasionally spouted shocking phrases and even learned to joke around.
So, she wasn’t surprised at all that Xun An had fallen for Jiang Ci.
Xun An pursed her lips. “Actually, nothing happened. I was just cowardly. I thought she didn’t like women, so I kept distancing myself from her intentionally or not.”
Cui Wangshu: “…”
She had thought something had happened between them, but Jiang Ci always spoke of Xun An casually, so apparently nothing had.
“Why did you think Jiang Ci doesn’t like women?” Cui Wangshu couldn’t help thinking of the women in Xiaoyun Pavilion, each with their own charms.
Xun An said, “Do you remember her saying she really liked children and wanted to have a daughter in the future?”
Cui Wangshu narrowed her eyes. It seemed like she had said that, but they had been so young then. Besides, ever since falling for Jiang Chenbi, Cui Wangshu had a feeling that Jiang Ci was like her—liking women.
She took a sip of tea and said, “People change. Words spoken casually in youth aren’t necessarily serious. If you like her, why not try to fight for it?”
Xun An frowned. She did like Jiang Ci, but her family was too complicated. She didn’t really want to drag Jiang Ci into that mess. Jiang Ci should keep living freely and unrestrained.
Seeing her silent, Cui Wangshu sighed. “Fine, if you don’t want to force it, then let nature take its course.”
Xun An hummed in agreement, then suddenly remembered the “Huangdao Gongzhu” that Wang Xian had mentioned. She asked, “Who is the Palace Lord of Yellow Path Palace? Why did Wang Xian say he’d tell her if you kept messing around?”
The teacup Cui Wangshu was bringing to her lips paused. She lowered her gaze, her expression unchanged as she said, “She’s the one in my heart, and she will be my wife in the future.”
Xun An: ?
Her eyes blinked rapidly a few times. She turned her head to stare blankly at the floor, seemingly unable to process it.
Had Cui Wangshu just said “the one in my heart” and “wife”?
Those weren’t code words or aliases, were they?
Xun An turned back to look at Cui Wangshu’s expression. The woman showed no emotion, so Xun An frowned—maybe it really was some code.
Cui Wangshu rarely saw such a rich expression on her face. She smiled and repeated seriously, “She’s the one in my heart, the person I love. She will become my wife, the wife I’ll grow old with. Got it?”
Xun An held her breath. Cui Wangshu’s words rang clear and solemn in her ears. Finally accepting this shocking revelation, Xun An said, “I understand.”
Unable to hold back, she asked, “How come I didn’t know you liked women?”
Cui Wangshu looked at her, amusement in her eyes, and explained earnestly, “I don’t like women, nor do I like men. I only like her, that’s all.”
In the past, she had felt nothing for romance. It was only after meeting Jiang Chenbi that she realized a woman’s beauty and body could be so captivating.
It was also after meeting Jiang Chenbi that Cui Wangshu realized the Cui Family was right—she was indeed someone with strong desires.
Every glance and movement from that woman held fatal allure in her eyes. One more look, and she would fall.
Xun An saw Cui Wangshu in a new light. Her lips moved a few times before she managed, “I’m not her. Can you not say sweet words to me? It’s a bit weird.”
Cui Wangshu: “…” When had she said sweet words?
The two stared silently at each other, the atmosphere growing awkward.
Cui Wangshu didn’t bother arguing with her. Why get worked up over someone who wouldn’t even fight for her love? She stood up and said indifferently, “I’m leaving.”
Xun An blinked, stood, and followed behind her. Cui Wangshu walked a few steps, noticed, and frowned. “Why are you following me?”
Xun An: ?
“Didn’t you tell me to be your personal guard? If not you, then who?”
Cui Wangshu: “…” She had let her anger cloud her judgment.
Without a word, Cui Wangshu walked ahead silently. Xun An seemed to realize something and followed quietly, keeping a slight distance.
They had chatted for a long time at Xiaoyun Pavilion. By the time they returned to the Shangshu Residence, it was very late. Cui Wangshu didn’t want to talk to her and instructed a servant to take her to rest.
Xun An pursed her lips, silently repeating to herself: Be cautious with words, be cautious with words…
The next day, on the way back from court.
The snow that had fallen for several days finally cleared. People rose early to prepare for New Year’s Eve. The streets were decorated with lanterns and banners, brimming with festive cheer. Children gathered in groups, playing and comparing their sugar figurines to see whose was prettier.
Cui Wangshu was supposed to return to the Cui Residence today, but she felt a bit reluctant. Restless, she got off the carriage to walk around. Suddenly, a child bumped into her arms.
Cui Wangshu steadied the child and said indifferently, “Be careful.”
As she turned to leave, the child grabbed her sleeve. Cui Wangshu looked down and saw the child looked nervous.
She hesitated, recalled Li Qingqing’s actions, and stiffly reached out to pat the child’s head. “What is it?”
The child hesitated, then pointed timidly behind her. “That big sister gave me a sugar figurine and told me to make you look back.”
Cui Wangshu turned in the direction the child pointed, her pupils contracting as she froze in place.
Those familiar eyes she had dreamed of countless times gazed at her, flowing with warmth and a beaming smile. Though veiled, Cui Wangshu recognized her at once.
It was the one in her heart.
Heat welled in her eyes, her throat choked and tight with a faint suffocation. Her hands trembled slightly at her sides, but her gaze locked tightly on Jiang Chenbi.
Her emotions surged so obviously that even Xun An sensed it. She quietly stepped aside, glancing once at Jiang Chenbi before vigilantly watching their surroundings.
Seeing Cui Wangshu frozen, Jiang Chenbi’s smile deepened. Hands behind her back, she walked forward, gently placing the mask from behind her onto Cui Wangshu’s face. She took her hand and ran into the crowd.
Xun An, who had been watching, instinctively took two steps before stopping. The next second, she turned toward Xiaoyun Pavilion.
Through the mask, Cui Wangshu saw Jiang Chenbi’s bright eyes and her hair glowing faintly in the sunlight, fluttering in the air with a wave of fragrance.
Jiang Chenbi zigzagged left and right, deftly leading her into an alley, through it, and into a courtyard.
The gate closed. Jiang Chenbi removed her veil and Cui Wangshu’s mask, leaning against the door to catch her breath slightly, her eyes curved in a smile. “I’ve come to spend New Year’s Eve with you, Cui Wangshu.”
Cui Wangshu bit her lip, her fingertips trembling. She cupped Jiang Chenbi’s face and kissed her fiercely, heedless of all else.
Jiang Chenbi chuckled softly, responding to the kiss. Pinned against the door, she wasn’t annoyed and gently patted Cui Wangshu’s back to soothe her.
The urgent kiss gradually slowed. Cui Wangshu bent slightly, resting her forehead on Jiang Chenbi’s shoulder, her voice hoarse. “You’ve finally come…”
Jiang Chenbi’s eyes held a smile. She held her gently, waiting for her emotions to settle before cupping her face and planting a loud kiss on her lips.
A “pop—” sounded.
Jiang Chenbi’s smile was radiant, her eyes narrowed to slits. “How are you so adorable, Little Lord Cui?”
Cui Wangshu’s ears burned, the flush spreading toward her cheeks. She pursed her lips, removed Jiang Chenbi’s hand, and averted her gaze unnaturally. “Mm.”
This non-sequitur “mm” only made her seem cuter in Jiang Chenbi’s eyes. She looked as if she had a pair of animal ears on her head, and if there were a tail, it would be wagging to the heavens.
Under Jiang Chenbi’s teasing gaze, Cui Wangshu let her stare, knowing full well the woman was thinking something odd but unwilling to dampen her mood.
Cui Wangshu lowered her eyes and asked softly, “When did you arrive in the Capital City?”
Jiang Chenbi amusingly savored her shy expression. It was strangely alluring on her usually cool face.
Seeing no response, Cui Wangshu looked up, meeting her playful eyes, and her ears reddened again. She said softly, “I’m asking you…”
Jiang Chenbi’s lips curved in delight. She laughed. “Arrived this morning, probably when you were at court. I guessed you’d pass by here, so I waited.”
Tenderness filled Cui Wangshu’s eyes. She reached out to touch her cheek. “Are you cold?”
Jiang Chenbi nipped her fingertip, staring intently with implication. “When I’m cold, I just think of you, and I’m not anymore.”
Cui Wangshu’s gaze stuck to her lips, her pupils contracting. Her voice hoarse, she asked, “Is that so?”
Feeling the sudden shift in the air, Jiang Chenbi felt a pang of regret. How cute she had been moments ago, now turning beastly with one tease?
Travel-worn and unbathed, Jiang Chenbi didn’t want to put on a live spring palace here. She reined herself in and changed the subject. “Are you going back to the Cui Family tonight?”
Cui Wangshu licked her lips, forcing her gaze from Jiang Chenbi’s mouth, her throat bobbing. “I can skip it.”
