The sun leaned against the branches, gradually moving westward. Today was a fine day with a clear blue sky, and a fiery red glow appeared on the western horizon, deepening in color as it approached the horizon.
Old Madam Xu was getting on in years. Upon hearing the news, she waited at Chengyu Pavilion. Seeing that Li Shiyue was not in mortal danger, she felt relieved and talked for a while, but she was already exhausted.
Upon seeing this, Madam Zhou quickly and considerately helped Old Madam Xu walk towards Shousong Hall.
Li Shiyue sat on the bed. Xu Yunci had also been to Chengyu Pavilion, but he always stayed in the outer room. This was the inner room.
Although Xu Yunci was at the round table on the outside, and only half of his body could be seen through the light blue and white gauze curtain, he was still an outsider, which was still somewhat against the rules.
Besides, he was the one who broke his promise first, and now she couldn't find him at all. He did have important business to attend to, but he didn't have time to say goodbye, and for some reason, Li Shiyue felt a tightness in her chest.
The room was quiet. Li Shiyue lowered her head, her ears almost pressed against her chest, as if her own heartbeat was amplified infinitely. She focused her attention, and it seemed as if she heard another heartbeat in her ear. She couldn't help but look up.
The phoenix eyes behind the curtain were now peering through, and Li Shiyue pursed her lips, almost instinctively avoiding eye contact.
"I didn't mean to leave."
Xu Yunci's voice came from behind the curtain. Since he was an outsider, he stood by the round table, with the curtain blocking his view. He could only see about 50-60% of what was happening inside and didn't know much about it.
Li Shiyue stopped twisting her fingers. Was she explaining herself to herself?
"If something can make Your Highness and my cousin so anxious, it must be something important. I don't blame my cousin, so there's no need for him to explain to me."
Doesn't it need an explanation?
But he just wanted to tell her, and for some reason, he simply didn't want her to misunderstand.
“I am not as willful as my cousin, nor am I an unreasonable young child. The polo match was a matter between Princess Chunhui and me, and it was something I wanted to resolve myself. I did not expect my cousin to abandon his important business to accompany me.”
“I really overestimated myself. Besides, my cousin is carrying the hopes of the common people and the officials. If it weren’t for my cousin, how could I have gotten away today?”
She stood up, supporting herself on her arm, and walked over in her embroidered shoes. She bowed respectfully to Xu Yunci and said, "Speaking of which, I should thank my cousin for always helping me."
Xu Yunci moved aside, avoiding Li Shiyue's bow, and sighed softly, "That's not what I meant."
“I know my cousin treats me like a sister. We don’t need to say nice things as family, but I still want to thank my cousin. He really did help me with those things, and I remember them all.”
"Why don't I embroider a sachet for my cousin after I recover? My sixth cousin was pestering me for one the other day." Li Shiyue lowered her eyes shyly. After all, besides these things, the only other things she could offer were those in the storeroom. The Duke's mansion was huge and belonged to someone else, so they didn't need those things.
Sending it only to Xu Yunci might give others cause for gossip, so it's better to send it together as a small gift between her and her siblings. It's something everyone has, so even if people find out later, no one will say anything.
Besides, their clothes are made of brocade from the palace, by the most fashionable embroiderers in the capital. Gifts are meant to express feelings, especially for someone of Xu Yunci's status; if she wanted to give something truly precious, she might not have the means.
Xu Yunci looked at the person in front of him. She was delicate and frail, and her waist was so slender that he felt he could snap it with just a little force.
His gaze was deep, and his little cousin's complexion was much better than before: "Are you scared?"
The smile on Li Shiyue's face visibly disappeared, and she finally revealed a bit of a girlish and naive look: "I'm scared, I'm terrified when the horse gets startled."
I'm afraid I won't be able to come back, I'm afraid of the pain, I'm afraid of that feeling of knowing I'm going to die.
It was just a fleeting moment. Before Xu Yunci appeared, her past life seemed to float before her eyes. The regret and resentment she felt were soothed as if Xu Yunci had enveloped her.
"At that moment, I thought, if I were to see my mother and grandmother, I would think of my maternal grandmother, my uncles and aunts, and my cousins."
Actually, there was also her heartless father. When it really came to that, she selfishly only thought of her father, mother, grandmother, and maternal grandmother.
Childhood was wonderful. My mother was still alive, and my father's heart was still with her and my mother. The family was harmonious and happy, and my grandmother was enjoying her old age.
The sealed childhood memories are like something from hundreds of millions of years ago.
The news that the Rongguo Duke's cousin had been granted the title of Princess of Yichang County caused quite a stir in the capital, especially since this was the same person who had been bestowed the title by the Emperor earlier.
The emperor wanted to suppress the rumors that happened at the polo match, but with so many officials and their families present, it was impossible to stop them from spreading.
Li Shiyue, Princess Chunhui, and Xu Yunci were all caught up in the gossip.
However, Xu Yunci did not sit idly by. He ordered the jailers to start arresting people. After arresting a few ringleaders, he punished them by falsely accusing them of slandering officials of the imperial court. The rumors in the capital gradually disappeared.
This was exactly what the Emperor wanted to see. Although he cherished their past relationship, Princess Chunhui was his only daughter, so how could he not feel sorry for her? But whenever the Qingliang Palace caused a ruckus, the Emperor felt sorry for her, but he also began to harden his heart, ordering Eunuch Gao to find an old nanny to teach her manners.
Li Shiyue's peaceful life remained undisturbed thanks to her title of "Princess of Yichang County".
Yichang was a small prefecture in Dayong, not even as prosperous as Yunzhong Prefecture. The government was willing to officially give it the name "Yichang," but since its surname was Li, the fiefdom of Yichang Prefecture was, in essence, still under the control of the imperial court.
Even if the officials still cherished past relationships, they weren't so foolish as to elevate themselves to such a high position.
Drinking various tonic soups every day and simmering them with medicine over a low flame, Li Shiyue eventually felt that she had acquired a bitter taste from the medicine.
After a month and a half of rest, the bandages on her arm were finally removed, but she still couldn't exert any force.
Li Shiyue had never felt the air so fresh, and even her steps felt lighter. She said to Lian Dong behind her, "It's almost May, isn't it time to pick lotus pods? Lotus seeds are good for the heart and calm the mind, so why don't we pick more and make some lotus seed soup? I've noticed that my aunt has been very busy these days."
Lian Dong was surprised. No wonder the girl was so popular. Anyone would be delighted to hear such a sentiment: "Miss is too impatient. How can lotus seeds in May compare to lotus flowers in June? If you are so inclined, why not put some calming spices in the sachet? The old lady and the first lady can hang it in their room. It will be just as good."
"Oh right, and sachets too. I've been embroidering slowly these days, and if my sixth cousin finds out, she'll pester me for a few more." Li Shiyue's lips curled up, her tone light and cheerful. When she lowered her eyes, she was like a lotus flower emerging from clear water, captivating all who looked at her.
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