Chapter 661 Xie Zheng, Am I being reserved?

"Huh? They're talking about me?"

Song Chunxue pointed to herself.

Mrs. Song? What a novel title.

“That’s right, the princess would like to speak with you alone for a few minutes. It won’t take up any time.” The maid bowed slightly.

Song Chunxue wiped her lips and pointed to the seat opposite her to Xie Zheng, "It's a good place to watch the dance."

Xie Zheng looked helpless. "Of course it's a good place. It's the favorite place of the playboys in the capital. You are a rare sight. A woman giving money to the 'young master' in public. Even the princess only gives money to him in her room."

Song Chunxue turned her head and waved her hand indifferently, "Ignorance is no excuse."

Not long after Xie Zheng sat down, an uninvited man appeared in front of him.

...

Pushing open the door, Song Chunxue walked straight over and sat down in front of the princess.

"How dare you, a commoner, sit on equal footing with the princess! You have no manners!"

A maid standing nearby reprimanded him.

Song Chunxue pretended not to hear and looked at the princess indifferently.

She was just a farmer, and all she knew were the rules for growing crops; she had never seen the rules for bowing to the powerful and wealthy.

Since she's already seated, go ahead and kill her if you dare.

As she thought this, she looked directly at the princess.

"It's alright, you may all leave." The princess raised her hand, her tone indifferent and casual.

“But Master…” The maid who had visited the Xie residence that day looked at Song Chunxue with an angry expression.

"Get down."

Looking at the princess in front of her, Song Chunxue wondered what unpleasant things she had said to Xie Zheng, and whether she had been summoned here to give her a warning.

The maid left and closed the door.

"I heard that Lord Xie studied Taoism under you and even recognized you as his senior brother?"

"That's right."

Is the princess not quite believing Xie Zheng's words and wanting to confirm with her?

"You have been a widow for many years, and he is interested in you. Why are you, a peasant woman, unwilling to give yourself to him?"

"Huh?" Song Chunxue asked, puzzled. "What does 'submit' mean?"

She had never heard of this word before.

The princess laughed, "I forgot you're uneducated. Let me put it another way: why don't you want to marry him?"

“I’ve been to school, not much, but enough,” Song Chunxue corrected casually. “If you want to marry him, then marry him. You don’t need to ask my opinion.”

These words greatly displeased the princess, who looked at her with a smirk that held a hint of menace, "Do you know my identity? You can't just make you disappear from the world at will?"

“I know, but if you really wanted to do that, you wouldn’t have told me. I know my status can’t compare to that of a princess, but I don’t rely on you for food, so there’s no reason for me to be subservient. You have feelings for Lord Xie and don’t want to see women around him, but if he had feelings for you, I would definitely keep my distance.”

Song Chunxue tapped the table. "Princess, please speak freely."

The princess smiled bitterly, "What orders could I possibly have? I just want to know why someone like him would treat you differently."

Song Chunxue also wanted to know.

"If you knew what he was like when he was young, you would definitely feel ashamed and dare not stay by his side. Even an ordinary maid would be more attractive than you."

Is the princess trying to belittle her, hoping to make her back down and obediently stay away from Xie Zheng?

This is her own business; she doesn't need anyone else's advice.

Moreover, Song Chunxue may belittle herself, but she will not allow others to belittle her.

She might have been overly obsequious and flattering in the past because the person in front of her was a princess, but she wouldn't be now.

Her identity was given to her by her father and ancestors. Putting aside the fact that she was born into the right family, how is the princess better than her?

What's so great about a useless person who can't carry anything, can't lift anything, and can't take care of themselves without someone to look after them?

Even if you eat well and dress well, you'll still grow old and turn into a lump of flesh, and you'll still die.

If one cannot resist the temptations of power and fame while alive, and lives a muddled life without accumulating good deeds, it's uncertain who will be carrying whose shoes in the next life.

“But Lord Xie dislikes vulgar women; no one can catch his eye, as you know,” Song Chunxue countered. “You two were once mutually in love, but you betrayed him. Did you manage to win him back just now?”

"Mutual affection?"

The princess lowered her head and poured herself a glass of wine.

She turned to look out the window. "We've never been in love with each other, otherwise, how could it be your turn?"

That's the truth, but why doesn't she like hearing it?

Song Chunxue crossed her legs and poured herself a glass.

"May I ask, Princess, what have I done wrong? Why are you belittling me like this?"

The princess laughed, "You have an interesting way of speaking. In all these years, no one has ever dared to speak to me like that."

“Yes,” Song Chunxue took a sip of wine, “Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. People of high status rarely hear the truth. This wine is good, but it’s a pity to waste such good food on this table.”

"Don't be shy, please eat whatever you like." The princess felt relaxed because of her reaction. "So he doesn't like women who are too smart."

Song Chunxue understood what he meant. "Are you saying I'm stupid? Thank you for your kindness, but I've already eaten my fill outside."

After a while, the two women drank their drinks in silence.

The princess sighed, "I truly want what's best for him. He used to be so dashing and radiant, captivating countless women. But his temperament also made many people hesitate to approach him."

"That Lady Yin was ungrateful; she actually divorced him and remarried someone else."

It was clear that the princess genuinely felt indignant on Xie Zheng's behalf.

"Perhaps he's just not romantic. A man of exceptional talent and good looks isn't necessarily a good husband." Thinking back to how Xie Zheng looked when they first met, Song Chunxue found it hard to believe that he was so cunning.

“But he treats you differently, yet you are ungrateful and shut him out.”

"Um?"

These words left Song Chunxue completely bewildered, and countless guesses popped into her mind.

Could it be that she also sent someone to monitor Xie Zheng's every word and action?

“Your children are all married and you’re so old. If he were in love with you, you wouldn’t be so reserved at your age. You would have slept in the same bed with him long ago.”

"..."

"You shut him out when you practice your swordplay, but he lingers outside your door late at night. What are you thinking?"

"I..." She even knew this, and Song Chunxue felt a surge of heat throughout her body.

"What is honey to me is poison to you?" The princess sneered. "If you don't want him to be disappointed, you should go back and cultivate yourself properly. Don't waste his sincerity."

"..." She opened her mouth, but couldn't refute it.

My face felt burning, like I'd been slapped.

“We were once close friends, a friendship between gentlemen. I respected and admired him, so I felt sorry for him. Life is short, so enjoy it while you can. If you have too many concerns, then let go.”

Then let go.

Should we leave the capital as soon as possible?

Don't hold him back.

The princess's words lingered in my ears, never fading away.

Song Chunxue lowered her head and poured herself one glass of wine after another, feeling as if a brick was pressing down on her heart, making her feel uncomfortable.

The princess is right. Since she is so indecisive, why delay him?

But he is in a bad situation now, and staying here can help him.

"Why are you sitting here?" Xie Zheng sat down next to her, frowning as he looked at her. "What did she say to you? Was she drowning her sorrows in alcohol?"

She didn't even know when the monarch left.

"She said I was too reserved. Xie Zheng, am I reserved?"

PS: Ouch~