Chapter 25 "Is the Princess having a fit of hysteria?"...

Green Branches called the Flowing Spring to summon the steward.

The two servants and the steward stood before the princess, completely bewildered.

"None of you know that General Xie proposed to me, the princess, before the Emperor?" Xue Mingyao asked.

The three hesitated and shook their heads.

Xue Mingyao looked at the steward, "Didn't the general instruct you to prepare betrothal gifts or procure wedding favors?"

Manager Liu solemnly replied that there was no.

The general's instructions were few and far between, but he never forgot any of them and could recite them verbatim.

Xue Mingyao gave a forced smile, "So your general only used words."

The wedding ceremony is complicated, and the high-ranking families in Zhongjing are accustomed to starting preparations before the marriage negotiations begin, otherwise they worry that they won't be able to gather all the necessary items before the betrothal day once the process has started.

Xie Zhuohun seemed to have suddenly had the idea to ask the emperor for a reward on his way to court. He had no intention of seriously considering marrying her.

Xue Mingyao felt both relieved and annoyed.

His hasty words caused her to have a big argument with her brother and rush to the palace to run around. Hmph, it's good to be a man, even better to be a powerful man.

Xue Mingyao closed her eyes again, not wanting to look at anyone from the Xie family.

The group retreated, filled with shock and confusion. They exchanged bewildered glances, and the well-informed Steward Liu cautiously said, "Could it be that the princess is having a fit of hysteria...?"

"Ahem." Green Branch pushed open the door and cleared her throat loudly. "It's almost noon. The princess has ordered that we have lunch here. Have the kitchen prepare it."

She crisply announced the names of four dishes.

Ah Lian scratched his head. The princess really doesn't treat herself like an outsider.

Fortunately, the princess didn't mean to make things difficult for them. The dishes she ordered were all common, and she wasn't too picky about the ingredients. When the kitchen brought them out, the princess didn't complain and gracefully picked up her chopsticks.

After finishing her meal, Xue Mingyao pointed to a dish that was about 80-90% eaten and said, "This spicy tofu is quite good, with a distinct Sichuan flavor."

The only thing that Xichuan, that wretched place, could boast about was its food, which was spicy, fragrant, and numbing. Xue Mingyao had lived in Xichuan for two years and had become addicted to spicy food, so she specially brought back a Xichuan chef. The spicy dishes made by ordinary chefs in the capital were usually not numbing enough, but the Xie family's dishes were a pleasant surprise for her.

Liu Quan laughed and said, "Our general loves spicy food, so the cook is very good at making it."

Surprisingly, Xie Zhuo shared the same taste as her. People from Zhongjing prefer salty food and don't really like spicy food.

After Xue Mingyao had eaten and drunk her fill, she asked Liuquan to find her a book, which she read while waiting.

After whiling away the time, it was almost noon and Xie Zhuo was nowhere to be seen.

Xue Mingyao grew impatient and wanted to leave, but felt bad about having spent so much time sitting there, so she asked Liuquan to show her around the Xie residence.

The Xie residence was a mansion bestowed by the emperor. It was tall, spacious, and magnificent, with an extraordinary presence. Even just the path from the entrance to the central hall impressed Xue Mingyao with its layout.

Liu Quan dared not refuse and immediately led people to visit.

Xue Mingyao strolled through the corridors and pavilions, parting flowers and brushing against willows, taking in the entire Xie residence with great interest. The residence was a little smaller than the Xue residence, but it had much more charm. Rockery was stacked and hills were built, with pavilions and towers scattered at different heights. In particular, there was a clear pond with a small stone bridge over it and a small island in the middle, which was quite elegant.

The Xue family originally had a small pond, less than half an acre in size, which was rather embarrassing to look at. Xue Mingyao fell into it once when she was a child, and the Xue family simply filled it in afterward.

Xue Mingyao sighed again at the Emperor's favor towards Xie Zhuo, but remained expressionless as she asked, "Why is your residence so quiet?"

Along the way, she saw that many houses were locked and the whole mansion was quiet. Strangely enough, she didn't encounter a single servant.

It resembled an empty house.

Liu Quan said that the mansion only had one master, the general, and few servants, so it was quiet.

"One master?" Xue Mingyao almost couldn't hold back. "Didn't any relatives come to seek refuge with him?"

Although Xie Zhuo's parents had passed away, he must have other relatives besides them. Cen Zongjing, for example, had many relatives, both near and far. After he rose to prominence, he took in several nephews and nieces who were of decent talent, supporting their education or recommending them for military service, thus gradually cultivating his own family's influence.

Does Xie Zhuo not have such a plan?

Liu Quan shook his head. "Never. I heard that the general was separated from his family a long time ago and has been all alone ever since."

Xue Mingyao remained silent for a while.

“It’s such a waste that he lives in this house all by himself,” she said.

“Who says otherwise?” Liu Quan laughed. “There are more than twenty servants in the mansion, but only A-Lian and I serve the general. The rest serve the house.”

Xue Mingyao: "......"

She knew the Xie family had few servants, estimating at least forty or fifty, but she had guessed too high. No wonder Xie Zhuo always came alone whenever she saw him, rarely even riding in a carriage. He lived like a low-ranking official.

Xue Mingyao returned to the main hall, walked around to cool off and sweat, and then ordered the kitchen to make a bowl of chilled pastries and send them over.

Crispy cakes are mostly loved by children and women. The Xie family's cook was inexperienced and had never made them before, so Liu Quan simply went to the street and bought a bowl. Xue Mingyao ate a few bites and then put it down, saying that the ones sold outside were not made with pure ingredients and did not have enough milk flavor.

As the sun began to set, past Shenshi (3-5 PM), most government offices in Zhongjing had closed. Xue Mingyao didn't believe the Imperial Guards could be so busy; her brother usually returned home in the afternoon. Perhaps Xie Zhuo had social engagements or other matters to attend to.

The Xie family couldn't tell them the general's whereabouts, and even sending them to deliver a message was impossible.

Xue Mingyao could not wait any longer.

If she waited any longer, she'd have to eat dinner at the Xie residence. She'd waited from day to night just for Xie Zhuo; didn't she have any dignity left?

But if we leave, three hours will have been wasted.

Xue Mingyao thought for a moment, then asked Liuquan to bring her writing brush and ink. She picked up the brush with her wrist suspended and wrote a letter to Xie Zhuo. Afterwards, she gracefully left, with a silk umbrella held up by Lüzhi for shade.

Back in the Xue family courtyard, she asked the maids and was relieved to learn that her brother hadn't sent anyone to inquire about her affairs that day. She smiled and asked Qi Zhao, "You didn't say anything to my brother, did you?"

"The princess did not give me such an order, so I dare not act on my own," Qi Zhao said respectfully.

Xue Mingyao was satisfied and glanced at him. "You're always hanging around in front of me, so don't always wear black. Wear something brighter and look better."

"yes."

......

As the crescent moon pierced the dark blue night sky, Xie Zhuo, bathed in moonlight, rode back to his residence.

Liu Quan and A Lian reported to him with strange expressions that Princess Yongning had visited during the day and described in detail what she had done in the mansion.

Xie Zhuo twitched the corner of his mouth, took the mud-sealed letter from Liu Quan, and quickly tore it open.

Xue Mingyao's familiar handwriting leaped into view. The letter was short, beginning with her astonishment at hearing that he had asked for a marriage decree, which overwhelmed her with gratitude and caused her to have a sleepless night. Then came her refusal, delivered in a polite and tactful tone, as if she had never had any grudge against him at the painting pavilion.

Xie Zhuo pondered for a moment whether Xue Mingyao's temper had improved, or whether she was wary of his status and was leaving herself some room for maneuver.

However, the last paragraph of the letter reveals Xue Mingyao's distinctive style.

"Yongning is determined to never marry again. If the general insists on forcing her to marry him, Yongning will resist with all her might. I fear that not only will the good thing not go through, but the general will also become a laughing stock in the capital."

Xie Zhuo carefully folded Xue Mingyao's threat and put it into the precious box.

Seeing the general's indifferent expression, the group grew even more bewildered. A-Lian couldn't help but say, "General, the princess seems to completely disregard you, demanding this and that. I've never seen a guest behave like this before. She even said you were asking to marry her—how could you possibly ask for that—"

Liu Quan felt that what he said was inappropriate, so he nudged his arm and said, "Stop talking."

Xie Zhuo smiled and said, "It's nothing serious, everyone can leave."

The two had no choice but to swallow their doubts and turn to leave.

"Oh, right," Xie Zhuo suddenly called out to the two, "Go tell Steward Liu to start preparing the betrothal gifts and wedding favors. Referring to the example of the other mansion, make a list for me to review first."

A-Lian was so startled that he stumbled, but fortunately Liu-Quan caught him in time.

The next day, the gatekeeper of the Xue residence received a reply from the Xie residence.

It was less a reply and more a note, thinly rolled up and tied with a string. Xue Mingyao held it in her hand, her brows furrowing. Xie Zhuo hadn't even bothered to prepare an envelope.

Upon unfolding it, he immediately flew into a rage.

On the paper was a string of illegible, crooked characters: “I am illiterate and request that the princess discuss the marriage in person.”

Xue Mingyao gritted her teeth. Wasn't he a poet and writer? How could he be so illiterate!

His handwriting was terribly bad, even worse than the young prince's neat handwriting. Either he had a servant write it for him, or he deliberately didn't write it carefully.

He begged her to be his wife, yet he still treated her this way; she must be out of her mind to marry him. The sliver of sympathy Xue Mingyao felt yesterday upon hearing that Xie Zhuo was all alone vanished; she only regretted writing such a polite letter. Time and again, she had softened her heart towards Xie Zhuo, only to be humiliated each time. When had she ever suffered such injustice!

There was also a line of smaller print on the paper, saying that he was a new official and very busy, and asked her to come during his ten-day break.

Xue Mingyao sneered. An official of his rank, no matter how busy, could always find time for important matters. He was clearly deliberately stalling her.

Looking down, Xie Zhuo "thoughtfully" gave the date of his most recent ten-day break.

March 10th.

It was the day she invited Chen Liangqing to paint.

After a moment's thought, Xue Mingyao made her decision. She crumpled the letter into a ball and called for someone to bring her pen and ink.

That evening, she took the initiative to go to see her brother.

Her sister-in-law gave birth to a daughter a few months ago. Xue Mingyao played with the baby for a while, and her sister-in-law teased her, "Your good fortune is coming soon, and you'll probably be a mother soon too."

Xue Mingyao chuckled dryly, then heard her sister-in-law say, "After your brother told me, I started preparing for your wedding. Your dowry has all been brought back from the Cen family; just a few more additions and it will be complete..."

Before the Xie family had even begun preparations, the Xue family had suddenly become very enthusiastic about getting things done, which made Xue Mingyao feel increasingly frustrated.

"Sister-in-law, no rush," Xue Mingyao said firmly. "Your body hasn't fully recovered after childbirth, so please don't overexert yourself."

"It's nothing, your marriage is the most important thing," the sister-in-law said with a smile.

After Xue Xingtai entered the house, Xue Mingyao said to him, "I invited General Xie to my residence on the tenth of this month to ask him some questions in person. Marriage requires careful consideration, brother, please don't act impulsively, I will handle it."

Logically, since General Xue and his wife had both passed away, Xue Mingyao's marriage should have been arranged by her elder brother and sister-in-law. However, she was always willful, and since Xue Xingtai saw that she seemed to be willing to accept Xie Zhuo's attitude, he reluctantly agreed.

"Alright. It just so happens that Father's death anniversary is coming soon. I'll take a few days off to go back to the ancestral home to offer incense to him and tell him about you and General Xie, so that Father will be happy."

That would surely be a false alarm.

However, it's a good thing that my brother left the capital these past few days. Otherwise, Xue Mingyao would really be worried that he would impulsively run to the Xie residence to call someone his brother-in-law.

She smiled and said, "Also, remember to tell the old man that I won first place in the Yanshe competition."

In the following days, news of Xie Zhuo's request for the emperor to grant him a marriage with Princess Yongning slowly spread outside the palace. Those who heard it marveled, considering it another scandalous affair involving the already troubled princess, but in reality, they didn't quite believe it.

General Xie is upright and does not seem like a womanizer at all.

“Ze Lan is very angry and won’t even see me.” Xue Mingyu came to find her older sister, her tone flat, without any obvious resentment.

Xue Mingyao touched her lips with her fingertips, trying on lip rouge. A row of round little porcelain boxes were stacked on the dressing table in front of her.

"She'll be willing to see you once she finds out the marriage isn't going to happen."

"We're not exactly close, so I don't care," Xue Mingyu pouted. "Doesn't my elder sister want to marry General Xie?"

Xue Mingyao nodded without hesitation.

Xue Mingyu asked in surprise, "Why?"

Why? Is Xie Zhuo some kind of extraordinary treasure that anyone would be overjoyed and grateful to fall into his arms? Xue Mingyao doesn't want him; she just wants to kick him away and send him flying far away.

Xue Mingyao fiercely wiped away the crimson mark on her lips. "I don't like him."

Xue Mingyu muttered, "You're not still hung up on Chen Hanlin, are you?"

"I've asked him to come and paint tomorrow," Xue Mingyao said calmly.

Xue Mingyu gave an "oh," observed her expression for a moment, and then suddenly chuckled, "It's been so long, and you still haven't managed to win him over, sister?"

Indeed, Xue Mingyao's competitive spirit was not as strong as before, and she said frankly, "The Chen Liangqing you admire is more than just a gentleman; he's practically a monk, with a whole bunch of rules and regulations to follow."

“That’s why he’s special, unlike ordinary young men.” Xue Mingyu praised him, her expression unusually serious.

Chen Liangqing was indeed exceptional.

The next day, Xue Mingyao spent more than an hour getting ready. Her loose, black hair hung languidly to one side, like thick clouds. A few peach blossom ornaments adorned her forehead, perfectly placed, adding a touch of delicate beauty to her fragrant and snow-white appearance.

She sat alone, fan in hand, surrounded by beaded curtains and jade screens, with wisps of green smoke rising from the room. The occasional fragrant breeze stirred the silk curtains, evoking endless romantic thoughts.

However, Chen Liangqing's gaze remained calm and clear as always when he painted, as if in his eyes, Xue Mingyao was no different from a book or an article.

He lowered his head, pen in hand, the fine brush moving across the silk fabric, his demeanor and features still bearing a resemblance to Xie Qinglang. If it were Xie Qinglang, she would be teasing him now, and he would blush and scold her, push her away, and inevitably engage in a passionate, entangled affair.

But what about Chen Liangqing... if she touches him inappropriately, how will he react?

I don't think I'll blame her; I'll blame myself for not getting out of the way in time.

Xue Mingyao moved her lips slightly, letting out a very soft laugh. A butterfly that had been lingering outside the window quietly landed on the green window frame.

Chen Liangqing paused for a moment, his pen still.

Green Branch came in and plucked the incense for the third time, but the butterfly had vanished without a trace. Chen Liangqing raised her head and said gently, "Princess, you don't need to pose anymore."

He paints very quickly.

If it were Xie Qinglang, she would have only managed a few strokes by now, and would have gotten angry and refused to paint for her. But on Chen Liangqing's canvas, the ink brush had already outlined the figure, and the woman in the painting had a gentle smile, quite lively.

Given Chen Liangqing's meticulous nature, he thought he would paint her in a more dignified manner.

Xue Mingyao praised, "Chen Lang's painting is truly excellent."

Chen Liangqing lowered his eyes, seemingly unaware of the change in how she addressed him, and smiled faintly, "Princess, you can praise me after I finish painting."

"Then I'll wait until you finish drawing." Xue Mingyao had someone bring over a small stool, and she and Chen Liangqing sat down at the drawing table to watch him work on the line drawing.

The faint scent of sandalwood lingered on his sleeves, as if he were truly a detached and ascetic monk, and any approach from ordinary women would be considered a desecration.

Xue Mingyao hesitated for a long time before her hand, hidden beneath her soft silk sleeves, gently slid up to his waist.

It was warm to the touch through the thin clothing. Xue Mingyao thought to herself, "Even if a young man of this age has a cool and aloof personality, his body is still full of fire."

Perhaps it was the sandalwood scent that made her feel calm. Her slender hands gently slid along his waist as she silently counted numbers, one, two—he would stop her when she counted to what number.

Three, four.

He still didn't move.

Xue Mingyao boldly placed his entire palm on Xie Qinglang's waist. His waist was as narrow as Xie Qinglang's, but firmer. A surge of annoyance rose in his heart. Why did he still have to think of Xie Qinglang at this moment?

five.

“Princess, this is improper.” Chen Liangqing grabbed her sleeve to stop her from reaching for his waist—even under these circumstances, he remained a gentleman and did not touch her hand.

Xue Mingyao inappropriately recalled Xie Zhuo's large hand pressed against her chest.

A burning passion surged within her, and Xue Mingyao grabbed his wrist with her other hand, her eyes brimming with spring-like desire. Her charming voice seemed to float in the air, "Can't Chen Lang break the rules for me just this once?"

Chen Liangqing said in a low voice, "Princess, I have already broken many rules of etiquette for you."

"Really? I didn't realize that." Xue Mingyao smiled, her soft fingertips gently stroking his wrist. "Look, it's spring now. I always feel lonely in spring. Could you please, Mr. Chen, take pity on me and comfort my loneliness?"

Chen Liangqing looked her straight in the eye and said seriously, "Princess, you are in the prime of your youth and wish to dispel your loneliness. Why not find another love and form a good marriage?"

“I don’t want to,” Xue Mingyao said lightly. “Marriage is the most troublesome thing; it only brings endless trouble. I prefer to follow my heart and act on impulse.”

“What the princess says is not the right path,” Chen Liangqing said in an increasingly indifferent tone. “On the contrary, it will only lead to more emptiness.”

"Chen Lang seems to know a lot? How can you be so sure that what you leave me with is emptiness?"

Xue Mingyao's gentle voice was like a small fan, gently touching the heartstrings and stirring up a strange itch.

Chen Liangqing lowered her head, her fingers resting quietly on her wrist, not moving. He put down his pen, brushed her hand away, and said firmly, "Princess, I'm sorry."

Xue Mingyao did not insist any further.

She twisted a melon once; it tasted sweet at first, but the aftertaste was too strong, and she still remembers the bitterness. She doesn't want to twist it anymore; she wants to wait for the melon to ripen and fall from the vine.

But Chen Liangqing... can she wait until the day he matures?

She probably didn't have that kind of patience, and perhaps during this time, her gaze was drawn to other handsome scholars.

Yu Guangli and Chen Liangqing stood up.

"Are you leaving?" Xue Mingyao looked up and asked reproachfully.

Chen Liangqing said helplessly, "It is not appropriate for me to sit at the same table as the princess."

“But you were sitting at the same table with me the whole time—” Xue Mingyao blinked, “So it was Chen Lang who broke the rules for me?”

Chen Liangqing remained silent.

Xue Mingyao chuckled softly. Despite her stunning beauty, her laughter was as innocent and childlike as if she were overjoyed to have received a piece of candy or to have found a loophole in an adult's words.

Chen Liangqing's throat was dry, as if a slight itch had spread through it after eating something sweet. He had a sweet tooth when he was a child, and would secretly save up several days' worth of candy, then swallow it all at once, feeling both itchy and satisfied. No one noticed his excessive love for sweets, because he had abruptly given up this bad habit that was not befitting a young master from a noble family before attracting anyone's attention.

Occasionally, when he craves something sweet, his throat becomes itchy.

But he never satisfied himself again. Not even once.

Xue Mingyao stopped laughing and said seriously, "I know that Chen Lang will break many more rules for me in the future."

Chen Lang remained noncommittal.

Xue Mingyao rose lightly, her flowing skirt trailing behind her, and returned to the couch in another corner of the room, where Chen Liangqing sat down as well.

"Will Chen Lang be able to finish painting today?" Xue Mingyao asked.

"It's hard to say. It takes a while to color."

"It's alright, Chen Lang, please paint here a little longer. I enjoy watching you paint," Xue Mingyao said with a smile.

It wasn't exactly a show of hospitality, but Chen Liangqing couldn't refuse.

The sunlight flickered, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, but because the spring light was so beautiful, even the dim light felt like light. After lunch, Chen Liangqing continued painting in front of the green window, while Xue Mingyao sat on the small couch, her hand supporting her chin, looking down at him.

The room was quiet, just like the atmosphere in Xue Mingyao's memory. Her beloved husband was bent over his desk, and she kept him company. Or perhaps it was the other way around, with him placing himself before her to accompany her. Whether it was sunny or rainy outside, they huddled in this quiet room, each day and night being their entire life.

The man she likes could be many people, not just the one from seven years ago.

The sunlight slid across Xue Mingyao's eyelids, gently closing her eyes. Xue Mingyao's head gradually tilted to the side, resting on her arm.

The room went through several cycles of light and shadow, and Chen Liangqing's pen remained untouched for a long time.

He looked at the person sleeping soundly on the bed, lost in thought.

The sun generously moved westward, and the surroundings became gloomy, with a faint, cool fragrance permeating the air.

Chen Liangqing finally put down his pen, slowly walked to the small couch, squatted down and gazed at her.

Xue Mingyao's body was slumped so far, one of her fair arms dangling in front of the bed, the shawl wrapped around her wrist slipping down and dragging on the floor. Chen Liangqing lifted her forearm and pulled her back onto the bed. Xue Mingyao seemed to be conscious and let out a soft, delicate moan. Chen Liangqing stopped moving, and seeing that she didn't wake up, he pushed the shawl back over her shoulder, completely covering her body.

However, it cannot be concealed in the end.

Her thick, black hair framed her clear, fair face, and her cheeks were smudged with vibrant rouge. Although her captivating black eyes were closed, her thick, feathery eyelashes curled up, as if they were still stirring something.

When Chen Liangqing was a teenager, he studied at the academy. His classmates, who were also playboys, loved to gossip about the beauties of the capital, with Princess Yongning being the subject of their conversations.

"A face that could topple kingdoms, yet so frivolous and dissolute. Heh heh, who knows, maybe one day I'll be able to kiss the princess's lips and taste her beauty!"

“When other princesses are flirtatious, they flirt with handsome men. With your looks, you can forget about it in this lifetime.”

"If I don't have a chance, do you? You're not any prettier than me!"

"Of course I can't, none of us can. In my opinion, the only one with a chance is Liangqing..."

Their voices lowered; they dared not offend him too much.

Crimson lips? He lowered his gaze and saw her full lips, adorned with glossy crimson lip rouge. He'd heard that lip rouge always had a fragrance, the legendary fragrance of a beautiful woman, intoxicating and soul-stirring, often making even the most heroic men lose their spirit and blemish the purest of gentlemen.

Chen Liangqing inexplicably reached out and touched Xue Mingyao's lips.

The gauze curtain covered most of the window frame, leaving only a narrow gap through which a pair of eyes filled with disbelief were pasted. The next moment, tears welled up in those eyes.

Xue Mingyu wiped her eyes, no longer wanting to look, and turned and ran quickly away from her sister's house.

The corridor was silent and deserted, save for the figure of the second daughter of the Xue family, who was running with her skirts up. The warm, bittersweet spring breeze cut her face, drying her tears.

"Second Mistress!" The maidservant was slightly surprised when she saw her.

Xue Mingyu stopped in her tracks, ignoring the maid, and looked up at the mountain-like man behind her. She said angrily, "General Xie is here to see my sister? I'm afraid this is not the right time. My sister is currently enjoying herself with Chen Hanlin!"

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Author's Note: Updates will resume at 9 PM starting tomorrow~ My identity will be revealed in the next chapter.