The princess's residence was shrouded in a hidden aura, so much so that one didn't even need to move an inch.
Everything was blurry and fast-paced; Qin Zhaoyue understood how Fujiwara Takumi felt back then.
Lightning fast!
In what felt like just a few breaths, they had traveled from the central hall to the main entrance.
Besides Qin Zhaoyue, Sui Mo and Mo Yi also caught the Hidden Insect brand AE86.
The others were a little slower, walking on their way.
Old Fang, the gatekeeper, had never seen anything like this before, and his heart skipped a beat.
He didn't charge much, and the majority of the money he charged her went to Miss Suimo the first couple of times. Could it be...?
Then His Highness made a shushing gesture, and his lips immediately closed tightly.
Qin Zhaoyue shrank back, taking each step extremely lightly, and slowly moved to the door, pressing her ear against it.
The group of people outside, who had no cultivation, could actually hear everything if they opened their senses.
But that's how you have to do eavesdrop on gossip, otherwise it'll just take away three-tenths of the fun.
Qin Zhaoyue winked at the person behind her, meaning: What are you doing? Hurry up and come closer.
Suimo and Moyi exchanged a glance, both seeing helplessness in each other's eyes, and then leaned over to the prince on either side.
Only Yin Zhe crossed his arms and showed no intention of moving an inch.
Qin Zhaoyue curled her lip, inwardly scoffing.
What's with this old gossip kingpin, he's already spilled the beans, what's he trying to be all coy about?
Outside the gate, the Wen family's carriage "just happened" to block the Pei family's way.
The maid helped Wen Tingwan down from the carriage, and they bumped right into Pei Xueqiao.
Today's visit is to ask for a favor, so naturally I cannot steal the princess's thunder.
She had only applied a very thin layer of pearl powder to her face, not a deathly white that looked like snow, but a smooth, even complexion close to her skin tone.
Only a slight highlight is added to the bridge of the nose and forehead, making it appear almost like a bare face from a distance, but revealing its porcelain-like smoothness upon closer inspection.
Her eyebrows were brushed with very light blue-black ink, and her cheeks were rouged like the color of newly ripened osmanthus, delicate and elegant, almost like the blush of sandalwood.
Two tiny, thin floral ornaments adorn her temples, one a plum blossom and the other an autumn cicada, their faint glimmers only visible when she turns her head.
The same thought was expressed regarding clothing.
She wore a short, cross-collared, narrow-sleeved blouse in a soft autumnal color, which at first glance appeared simple and unadorned.
However, upon closer inspection, the collar, cuffs, and hem edges are subtly trimmed with a narrow border of the same but slightly darker silk thread.
The color of the inner garment subtly transitions to the outer garment, which is then tied with a floor-length skirt.
The skirt is made of a light, soft, and draping two-tone damask that flows like water when you walk, giving off a subtle silky sheen.
In short, from a distance, it appears simple and unadorned, like a quiet autumn grass under a clear autumn sky, without any ostentation.
But upon closer inspection, from the texture and luster of the fabric, the subtle shimmer of the jewelry, to the extremely understated makeup, everything reveals a carefully crafted taste and ingenuity.
Qin Zhaoyue, who sensed all of this from inside the door, curled her lips.
Wow, to be honest, this "natural" beauty takes much more effort than her makeup and styling; she's really showing off her cleverness!
Wen Tingwan's eyes sparkled, and with a slight lift of her slender fingers, she brushed two strands of hair behind her ears.
He slightly raised his chin, just in time to meet the young man in brocade robes opposite him.
A fleeting hint of surprise flashed across her eyes, quickly turning into astonishment, like the fear of a young deer seeing its prey for the first time, only causing a ripple in the lake of her heart.
"But... Young Master Pei in person?" Her voice held a barely perceptible hint of joy, light as a feather.
Pei Xueqiao's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, but he had no recollection of her whatsoever. He simply gave her a polite bow with his hands clasped.
"My name is Pei Xueqiao. Please forgive my poor eyesight, but I don't know who you are, young lady?"
Wen Tingwan's heart sank slightly. Although she had some talent, she was indeed not good enough for the newly appointed top scholar.
She curtsied and returned the greeting: "My name is Wen Tingwan, Zhaoyue's cousin."
Hmm? Pei Xueqiao's eyebrows twitched slightly. He vaguely remembered that the Sixth Prince had asked him to predict the exam questions in order to give them to Wen something. It seemed that it was this person in front of him.
"Wishing Miss Wen all the best in her upcoming exams."
"Thank you, Young Master Pei." Wen Tingwan's voice was gentle, but her fingertips subtly tightened their grip on the hem of her sleeve.
"But Tingwan was really uneasy, so she asked her cousin for help."
"If I encounter any difficulties, may I humbly ask for your guidance, young master?"
The last sentence was as light as a mosquito's buzz, almost melting into the wind.
Qin Zhaoyue, who was inside the door, rolled her eyes, pouted, and twisted her body.
Tingwan felt uncertain, Tingwan was afraid, Tingwan's stomach rumbled, Tingwan wanted three pigs to eat...
Pei Xueqiao hesitated.
He would naturally not agree to such a request from a stranger, but the other party was the Sixth Prince's cousin.
Wen Tingwan clenched her fists tightly, her fingertips sinking slightly into her palms.
Her body leaned forward slightly, "unconsciously," as if she had uttered inappropriate words. Two streaks of rouge spread from her cheeks, staining her ear tips.
Those bright, clear eyes were now even more shimmering with moisture, their gaze carrying a hint of helpless shyness, like the eyes of a fawn moistened by the dew in the forest.
My heart was pounding, because it was clear that Young Master Pei was hesitant.
At this crucial moment, just before the door opened, the old gatekeeper, Fang Tou, opened the door and glanced outside.
"Young Master Pei is still here."
"Ah!" Pei Xueqiao exclaimed, taking three steps back to get away from Wen Tingwan.
Even though she was his cousin and they had spoken openly at the door, he still subconsciously took steps to avoid suspicion.
This action pierced Wen Tingwan's heart, and she didn't even realize that her nails had dug deep into her palms.
Old Fang seemed oblivious to the awkward atmosphere. "And who is this young lady?"
Huh? Pei Xueqiao was stunned for a moment.
Since she is His Highness's cousin, how could the gatekeeper not know her?
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