Chapter Twenty-Two: You De Inquired Further
Ruan Bi originally thought that Furong Xiangxie was a waterside pavilion built by the water, but it turned out to be a two-story painted boat moored on the water.
The sky was not yet dark, but red lanterns had already been hung up, making it look somewhat like the pleasure boats on the Qinhuai River.
Upon reaching the painted boat, Cui Jiu gestured for them to proceed, saying, "Fifth Miss, please go up to the deck and wait a moment. The Princess and the others will arrive shortly."
Ruan Bi nodded, stepped onto the ship, and stood on the deck, leaning on the railing to gaze into the distance. The sunset on the horizon was like a woven brocade, its strands changing colors, and she couldn't help but be mesmerized.
As Prince Jin and the Princess walked side by side onto the deck, they saw her leaning against the railing, standing in the magnificent sunset. Her face, partially obscured by the setting sun, possessed graceful lines, bathed in a pale gold hue. A cool breeze rippled across the water, causing her blue silk skirt to flutter, as if it might vanish in the blink of an eye. He had initially resolved to ignore her, but in that instant, his resolve wavered.
Ruan Bi turned around and bowed, and everyone took their seats.
Princess Huiwen, as the hostess, naturally sat facing south. Prince Jin sat to her left, below her seat; Gu Jingyi, holding "Mi Tuan," sat to her right, below her seat; Ruan Bi sat to Gu Jingyi's left, opposite Gu Xiaobai. Maids filed in, bringing the evening meal and pouring fine wine.
The musician was playing his zither on the shore again, the tinkling sounds brushing across the water like a dream.
After several rounds of drinks, Prince Jin rose to take his leave, saying that he would be inspecting the imperial guards early the next morning.
The princess did not try to keep him, and instead had Cui Jiu carry a lantern to see him out of the mansion.
Watching his tall figure disappear into the night, Ruan Bi sighed inwardly, feeling a sense of loss.
After dinner, she and Gu Jingyi went to the garden, set up an incense table, burned incense to pray for skill in needlework, and then exchanged gifts. She gave Ruan Bi a sachet with gold embroidery; the embroidery was of average quality, but it was adorned with bright pearls, making it extremely luxurious. Ruan Bi gave her a lampshade embroidered with yellow plum blossom patterns, its delicate embroidery subtly elegant.
After the Qixi Festival, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
Perhaps because she was a guest in someone else's house and couldn't sleep soundly, Ruan Bi got up very early, wanting to go out for some fresh air in the yard. Unexpectedly, when she stepped out of the room, Cui Jiu was already waiting at the door, smiling and saying, "Miss, you're up really early."
Good morning, Father-in-law.
Cui Jiu then said, "The Princess drank too much last night and is still asleep. Princess Jingyi is always a heavy sleeper and won't get up until Chenshi (7-9 AM). Why don't you go for a ride first, Miss?"
Ruan Bi nodded, secretly praising him. This Cui Jiu was truly a shrewd person; knowing she wanted to learn horseback riding, he had gone to great lengths to arrange it. But such a shrewd person, clearly a confidant of the Eldest Princess, why would she send him to serve her?
When they arrived at the racecourse, the sun had not yet risen. Ruan Bi rode her horse around twice when she suddenly heard You De's voice: "Is this what you call riding a horse?"
Ruan Bi turned around in surprise and saw You De standing by the stable, his clothes loose and baggy, a blade of grass between his teeth, looking at her sideways with a disdainful expression, and saying, "Are you just riding around?"
"I never knew how to ride a horse before, I'm learning now." After a pause, Ruan Bian asked curiously, "You... why are you still here? Didn't your prince go back?"
Youde stretched and walked over, saying, "The prince has gone back, but he's been feeling unwell every day. I watched over it all night."
As he approached, a strong smell of horse stench followed him.
Ruan Bi pointed to the stable in surprise and said, "You slept here last night?"
Youde nodded and said, "That's right, how can you watch over the horses if you don't sleep in the stable?" Seeing Ruan Bi's nose twitch, he understood and said in a nonchalant tone, "You young ladies from noble families really have no knowledge. Don't you know that horses are the most precious things in the world? And their scent is the best too." As he spoke, he sniffed his shoulder and exclaimed loudly, "I feel comfortable all over when I smell this."
Ruan Bi turned her horse around and said, "Then you can relax and enjoy yourself."
Youde reached out and grabbed the reins, looking at Ruan Bi, munching on grass.
Ruan Bi was puzzled by his gaze. She glanced at her outfit and, finding nothing amiss, asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
Youde spat out the grass in his mouth and asked, "Little girl, let me ask you, do you like our prince?"
Ruan Bi's heart skipped a beat, and she said, "What kind of foul language are you using?"
Youde said in bewilderment, "How can this be considered vulgar language? I hate you ladies from noble families the most. You're so coy and hesitant. If you like something, you like it; if you don't, you don't. The women of the Northern Rong are much more straightforward."
"This is not the Northern Rong."
"I know, I know," Youde replied perfunctorily. "Just give me a straight answer. If you like him, we'll tell the Prince to bring you back to the Prince's mansion as soon as possible. If you don't like him, we'll also tell the Prince to stop thinking about you."
"I have nothing to say to you, just let go of my hand."
Youde tilted his head and looked at her, saying, "Oh dear, you little girl, I really don't understand you. Which woman in our prince's household wouldn't be tempted by him? Why are you the only one avoiding him? You asked for gold, and he immediately ordered the prefect to bring out the best from the treasury, but you still returned the gold..."
Ruan Bi looked up and saw that Cui Jiu and Xiu Zhi were both looking in their direction. "Let go right now, or I'll call for help."
"Go ahead and call out, call out, call me over and I'll talk too..."
Given his personality, he really is capable of doing it. If things escalate to that point, he'll be the only one who suffers embarrassment.
"...When we were in Xingping City, every time the Prince went out, all the young ladies from noble families would rush to the streets to see him, crowding the streets so tightly that it was impossible to move. They would throw handkerchiefs and flowers at him, and some even wrote letters to the Prince, some with flowers, some with money, oh my..." Youde twisted his neck and said, "It gave us goosebumps. After returning to the capital, every time he went to the palace, the palace maids would deliberately run up to him. And last time we went to the back garden of the Marquis of Yanping's residence, didn't the Imperial Noble Consort's sister deliberately run into the garden? You're the only one who's pretending to be proper, but the Prince has his eye on you, the one who's pretending to be proper. Let me tell you, if you like our Prince, stop being so coy and let him take you as a concubine as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will be too late, and there won't be a place for you in our Prince's residence."
Ruan Bi sneered and said, "Do you really care about your Prince's Mansion's location? Let go of me now." With that, she yanked hard on the reins, and the horse neighed.
Youde gripped the reins tightly and said, "What do you mean? Give me a straight answer, stop beating around the bush. Do you like him or not? Let me tell you, if I don't like our Prince, I'll chop your head off and use it as a chamber pot. Damn it, I really regret it. I should have just killed you back at Yuxu Temple."
Ruan Bi was furious and raised her whip to strike his hand that was holding the reins.
Youde grabbed her with his other hand, laughing loudly, and said, "The little girl is angry and embarrassed. It seems she still likes you. I'll go tell the prince later and have him bring you back to the manor as soon as possible, so you don't have to stare at those rotten words all day."
Before the words were finished, a sound of something cutting through the air grew louder as it approached.
An arrow flew like a meteor and struck the horsewhip that the two men were pulling at each other, breaking the whip in two.
"Excellent archery skills," Youde exclaimed, turning his head to take a look.
Not far away, Gu Xiaobai rode up on horseback, frowning, and said, "Luo Youde, what are you doing?"
Youde chuckled and said, "I wasn't doing anything. I was just teaching Fifth Sister how to ride a horse."
Gu Xiaobai glanced at Ruan Bi and saw her slightly annoyed expression, so he knew that wasn't the case. But he had known Youde for a long time and knew that he wouldn't flirt with Ruan Bi in a frivolous way. Also, considering that Youde was his cousin's personal guard, he could only say, "Fifth Miss is a guest of my household. You must not be presumptuous."
"How could I dare to be disrespectful to her?" Youde exclaimed loudly. "If I were disrespectful to her, wouldn't the Prince scold me to death?"
Ruan Bi gritted her teeth in anger.
Fortunately, Gu Xiaobai didn't understand the meaning of those words, thinking that the Prince of Jin was very strict with his subordinates and that he was afraid of being scolded. "It's good that you know, my cousin is the most careful about the law."
Even though Youde was outspoken, he knew he couldn't say anything carelessly in front of outsiders. He nodded and said, "Zhu Ri is alright now, Young Master Gu. I'll head back to the Prince's Mansion now." Only then did he loosen the reins.
Ruan Bi's face was ashen. She tugged at the reins and ran a few steps away.
A moment later, Gu Xiaobai caught up with her, looked at her face, and asked, "What did he say that made you so angry? Tell me, and I'll get revenge for you."
Ruan Bi was still angry and said in a harsh tone, "Do you really think you're that kind?"
Gu Xiaobai choked, and said sullenly, "You always think the worst of me. I did save you, and you wouldn't even tell me your name back then."
Ruan Bi ignored him and urged her horse forward.
Gu Xiaobai caught up again and asked, "You really don't want me to avenge you?"
Ruan Bi casually replied, "No need. How can I entrust something as satisfying as revenge to someone else?"
Gu Xiaobai paused, savoring the words, and found them incredibly agreeable. His gaze towards Ruan Bi softened with admiration. "You're right. Revenge is something you have to do yourself. But Youde is highly skilled in martial arts; you probably can't defeat him. If you need help, just tell me."
Ruan Bi was surprised by his sudden change of attitude and raised an eyebrow at him.
Gu Xiaobai's heart raced under her gaze, but he feigned composure and said, "I heard from Cui Jiu that you've only just started learning to ride? You won't learn by just walking around like this. Let me teach you." Seeing Ruan Bi's confused expression, he quickly added, "In the capital, my riding skills are second to none. With me teaching you, I guarantee you'll learn in no time..."
...
Standing by the railing, Cui Jiu smiled as he watched Ruan Bi and Gu Xiaobai talking incessantly. He gave a few instructions to the servants, then turned and went back to the Princess's bedchamber. The Princess had just gotten up and was sitting languidly in front of her dressing table, drinking tea, while a maid stood behind her, carefully combing her long hair.
Upon seeing Cui Jiu, the eldest princess complained, "I'm really getting old. I only drank so much last night, and I'm still feeling dizzy when I wake up."
Cui Jiu chuckled and said, "The alcohol last night was strong; a cup of hangover tea will do the trick."
The eldest princess took a small sip and asked, "Where did you come from? Where is Fifth Sister?"
"After returning from the racecourse, the Fifth Miss is riding a horse right now, and the Eldest Young Master is teaching her."
The eldest princess was not surprised at all. She smiled slightly and said, "Little Bai is indeed just like me. Back then, when I saw Duke Gu, I was also very critical of him. Everyone thought I disliked him..." At this point, she sighed sadly.
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