Chapter 28: Through the Years, Old Friends Return (Part Four) - A Warning

"This suits you best! It's light and warm, and fits you perfectly!"

Unable to resist her enthusiasm, Ye Yixiang changed into the lilac-colored long dress as requested, and Wuluozhu restyled her hair, adorning it with the pearl hairpin given to her by Chu Huaili.

The woman in the mirror had exquisite features and fair skin. Under the backdrop of gorgeous clothes and delicate jewelry, she lost some of her former aloofness and gained more beauty and charm, even she herself was a little stunned.

Stepping off the carriage, one is instantly overwhelmed by the sweltering, bustling atmosphere.

Shops lined both sides of the street, their banners fluttering in the breeze. Vendors' shelves were overflowing with goods, from the latest fruits and exquisite jewelry to general merchandise from all over the country. The air was filled with the aromas of food, cosmetics, and the scent of sunlight shining on the bluestone slabs.

"Sister, look!" Nie Zhaoxue, like a bird released from its cage, excitedly took her arm, her clear voice drowning out the surrounding noise, "The osmanthus cake from 'Li Ji' is made with golden osmanthus picked this autumn. It's sweet, soft, and melts in your mouth! And the pear blossom wine from 'Zui Chunfeng' over there is refreshing and sweet. Even the nobles in the palace praise it highly!"

As she was speaking, a woman carrying a vegetable basket and her companion's loud laughter drifted into her ears: "Zhang Niangzi, you didn't see it, my husband mistook vinegar for wine yesterday, it was so sour he was grimacing!"

"Oh dear, Sister Wang, please don't say that. My husband's is even more outrageous..."

On the other side, a vendor selling silk flowers was enthusiastically hawking his wares: "Top-quality Suzhou embroidery silk flowers! Girls, come and see! Wear one, and you'll be even more beautiful than the fairies in the moon palace!"

At a tea stall not far away, several porters taking a break were loudly discussing: "Have you heard? The Zhao family in the west of the city was recruiting a son-in-law yesterday. The pomp and circumstance was astounding..."

"That's right! The new son-in-law is said to be a scholar who passed the imperial examination, a veritable god of literature descended to earth!"

Nie Zhaoxue then pointed to a mutton stall surrounded by a crowd. The stall owner was skillfully flipping the meat skewers on the iron rack, the grease dripping onto the charcoal fire, making an enticing "sizzling" sound and filling the air with a fragrant aroma: "That's Liu's Roasted Mutton! They only sell ten muttons a day, so if you go too late, you won't get any! Their mutton is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sprinkled with special spices, making it the most delicious and succulent!"

As they were talking, two young men who looked like scholars passed by them. One of them, shaking his head, recited: "'Ten thousand lanterns illuminate the clouds and music fills the air, ten miles of streets are lined with markets,' the ancients were right. The prosperity here is comparable to the Lantern Festival!"

My companion laughed and said, "Brother, you have such refined tastes. Why don't we go to the 'Elegant Tea Pavilion' up ahead to listen to a storyteller, and then go and taste the Pear Blossom Wine? Wouldn't that be delightful?"

Listening to Nie Zhaoxue's lively and detailed introduction, and feeling the most genuine joys, sorrows, and passion for life of the people around her, Ye Yixiang felt the last trace of gloom in her heart caused by the past.

After finishing their shopping, when they returned to the Nie residence, they could see from afar that the atmosphere in front of the gate was different from usual.

A long, solemn procession stood silently at rest, the vermilion and gilded carriages gleaming with an imposing luster in the sunlight. The guards, all dressed in black brocade robes and wearing uniformly styled ring-pommel swords at their waists, stood with their hands on their swords, their expressions stern, exuding an aura of unapproachability that shut out the ordinary hustle and bustle of the surrounding marketplace.

Nie Zhaoxue tiptoed and peered curiously in that direction a few times, then pulled back and whispered in Ye Yixiang's ear, her voice carrying a hint of understanding: "No wonder brother was so secretive this morning. He said there were distinguished guests arriving, and he and Brother Huaili wouldn't be back until the evening banquet, so he asked me to look after the mansion. I thought it was some important official, but I never expected... it was actually Her Highness the Princess's carriage!"

Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible tension and excitement, clearly indicating that even she, the daughter of a governor, was quite taken aback by the identity of this distinguished guest.

Ye Yixiang was also secretly startled. This Princess Chonghua was the only younger sister of the current emperor. It was said that she was extremely favored by the Empress Dowager and the emperor. When the new dynasty was newly established and the borders were unstable, and there were many calls for marriage alliances, the imperial family withstood the pressure and could not bear to let her marry far away. This shows how noble and favored she was.

Nie Zhaoxue pulled Ye Yixiang through a side gate into the mansion, and they walked through winding corridors toward the reception hall. As they passed through the garden, they saw a beautiful woman with a graceful figure, dressed in a light yellow fox fur coat, sitting under a flower trellis by the water, leisurely sipping tea, surrounded by several palace maids and eunuchs.

The two dared not delay and quickly stepped forward, curtsying together in a clear and crisp voice:

"Your humble servant greets Your Highness, the Princess. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

"This humble woman greets Your Highness, the Princess. May Your Highness enjoy boundless blessings and peace."

Hearing the voice, the beauty slowly turned around. She was extremely beautiful, with skin as white as snow, and eyebrows and features as exquisite as a painting. Her beautiful almond eyes carried an imperial majesty as they moved. She first lingered for a moment on the lively and agile Nie Zhaoxue with a touch of languor, and then, with a hint of scrutiny and inquiry, she fell on Ye Yixiang, who remained respectful throughout.

"Little sister of the Nie family, it's been a long time since I've seen you. You've grown into a beautiful young lady, even more so than before." She smiled slightly, her voice gentle and melodious, like pearls falling on a jade plate, but her gaze did not leave Ye Yixiang.

"Yes, Your Highness, it's all my brother's fault! He's always having people come up with all sorts of delicious things for me!" Nie Zhaoxue playfully stuck out her tongue, complaining with the innocent charm of a young girl. "Those noble young men who come to propose marriage all say behind my back that they don't like chubby girls, but my brother doesn't care about any of that! If this keeps up, I'll really never get married!"

Princess Chonghua chuckled at her innocent and whimsical words, and gently placed the white jade teacup in her hand on the delicate little charcoal stove in front of her to warm it.

His gaze remained fixed on Ye Yixiang's face, which was lowered to reveal a section of her fair and delicate neck. His tone was gentle yet carried an undeniable authority and a hint of the wisdom of someone who had been through it all: "You are still young, at the carefree age. Why rush into marriage? Enjoying a few more years of carefree happiness is the right thing to do."

She subtly changed the subject, asking directly, "This young lady looks unfamiliar, is she...?"

Ye Yixiang's heart tightened, and she lowered her head even more respectfully, her long eyelashes casting a faint shadow under her eyes. Her voice was steady but deliberately humble: "Your Highness, I am a lowly woman, and I fear that my name may offend Your Highness's ears."

The eldest princess looked at her submissive, gentle, and pitiful appearance, and a glint of something unreadable flashed in her eyes, as if she were admiring her, but also as if she had a deeper consideration.

Her smile remained unchanged as she gracefully gestured to the seat opposite her: "Since you are a guest at the Nie residence, you must be a distinguished guest of Danzhi. There's no need to be so formal. Come and sit down, have some tea with me, and let's chat."

Upon hearing this, Nie Zhaoxue immediately and obediently pulled Ye Yixiang to sit down as instructed. A palace maid standing nearby quietly stepped forward and poured them fragrant and refreshing hot tea.

“Your Highness,” Nie Zhaoxue blinked her big eyes, feigning a hint of reproach, and asked tentatively with a grin, “when will you agree to be my sister-in-law?”

"Although my brother never says it, he misses you terribly! Last autumn hunt, the golden pheasant you hunted, my brother didn't throw away a single beautiful feather. He secretly kept them and even had them made into a feather coat a few days ago. He showed it off to me, looking just like a peacock with its tail feathers spread out!"

Before she could finish speaking, the head maid standing behind Nie Zhaoxue changed her expression slightly and quickly stepped forward, curtsied and begged for forgiveness: "Your Highness, please forgive me! My second young lady is young and has been spoiled by the young master. She speaks without restraint and does not know the rules. She had no intention of offending Your Highness. Please be magnanimous and do not hold a grudge against a child."

Princess Chonghua simply smiled indifferently, waved her hand, and looked at Nie Zhaoxue with gentle eyes: "It's alright, the girl is innocent and simple-minded, which I like. Such genuine nature is much better than those who are pretentious all day long."

Just then, a servant came to report: "Second Miss, the young master sent me to ask if the guest list and seating arrangements for the banquet have been finalized? The young master is waiting for a reply."

Nie Zhaoxue turned around and saw Cao Kang, a close attendant of her brother Nie Huaizhang. Knowing that it was important business, she stood up and apologized to Princess Chonghua, saying, "Your Highness, as you see... I have to go to the front to deal with this first, so I'm afraid I won't be able to talk to you."

Princess Chonghua nodded slightly, indicating that she should go about her business.

For a moment, only Ye Yixiang and Princess Chonghua remained under the flower trellis by the water.

The atmosphere seemed to become increasingly subtle and quiet after Nie Zhaoxue left.

Ye Yixiang lowered her eyes and stared at the clear, green tea in front of her. Her fingertips curled slightly inside her sleeve, and she felt an invisible pressure and unease.

“Miss, there’s no need to be so formal,” Princess Chonghua said, as if she could see through her unease. Her voice remained gentle, yet it carried a penetrating power. “I’m just bored and wanted to chat with someone. Try this tea; it’s this year’s new tribute, White Dragon Jade Dew.”

Ye Yixiang obeyed, extending her slender, fair fingers to gently grasp the warm, lustrous jade teacup. The translucent jade cup was brought to her lips, further accentuating the delicate beauty of her fingers and lips. Her lowered gaze and submissive demeanor conveyed a breathtakingly fragile beauty.

“Daughters from ordinary families might at least hope to find a soulmate.” Princess Chonghua’s gaze seemed to drift into the distance, her voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of melancholy. “But when it comes to the marriages of royal children, do they ever have a say in their own destiny?”

"Perhaps it was to maintain peace on the border and send her to a distant land; or perhaps it was to coordinate the deeply entrenched forces in the court and win over important officials."

"If after marriage one can achieve mutual respect and affection, and love grows over time, it is certainly a blessing from a previous life; but more often than not, one has wasted half a lifetime and exhausted one's passion for the sake of the country and the world."

Ye Yixiang raised her eyes and looked at the noble yet seemingly helpless princess opposite her, and softly comforted her: "Your Highness has a beautiful face and an extraordinary demeanor, and all the young men in the world admire you."