06
Xuanjing watched the two eunuchs who had made things difficult for him leave in a huff. The pond returned to its tranquility, with only the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves and the seemingly frail Ninth Princess standing before him.
He bowed slightly, his posture impeccable, his tone gentle yet carrying just the right amount of aloofness: "Xuanjing thanks the Ninth Princess for helping me out of that predicament."
Si Mianmian lowered her eyes slightly, her long eyelashes casting a light shadow on her fair cheeks. Her voice was so soft as if she were afraid of disturbing the tranquility of the moment: "Your Highness, there is no need for such formality. It was the palace servants who were unruly and made Your Highness laugh." She paused, then raised her clear almond eyes, with a hint of innocent curiosity, "Just now, Your Highness mentioned the evening primrose. Mianmian longs for it, but it is a pity that the deep palace is so desolate, and I have no chance to see such exotic sights."
Her words subtly glossed over the previous conflict, shifting the conversation to a seemingly romantic topic, maintaining a pure and harmless facade while providing a pretext for continuing the conversation.
Xuan Jing's gaze swept over her slender fingers and slightly thin clothing. He had heard a little about the Ninth Princess's situation; her birth mother had fallen out of favor, and she herself was walking on thin ice in the palace. Was her action today simply out of kindness, or was there another motive? The smile on his lips remained unchanged as he smoothly replied, "If the Princess is interested in the customs and culture of Yan Dynasty, although I am not very talented, I am willing to tell you a little about it. However..." He changed the subject slightly, with a hint of self-deprecation, "Your Highness knows my identity, and there are some things that are inconvenient to say."
Survival Handbook Rule #6: When talking to smart people, there's no need to spell everything out. While showing vulnerability, also demonstrate the value they can "invest" in.
Si Mianmian immediately showed an understanding expression, even with a hint of regret for those in the same boat: "Your Highness, I understand. These palace walls are deep, and sometimes... they are like another exquisite cage." Her words stopped abruptly, as if she had misspoke, and she covered her lips, her eyes revealing a hint of panic and loneliness. "Mianmian misspoke, Your Highness, please pretend you didn't hear me."
The unspoken meaning in those words, like a fine needle, gently pierced the hidden barrier deep within Xuan Jing's heart. Looking at the girl's forced composure yet barely concealed loneliness in her eyes, a slight stirring stirred within him. Yes, a noble princess and a hostage from an enemy nation, in this foreign court, in a sense, weren't they both "prisoners"?
However, this subtle resonance was fleeting, replaced by a deeper sense of vigilance. The more beautiful a creature, the more dangerous it often is. This Ninth Princess is far more complex than she appears.
“Your Highness is too kind,” Xuan Jing replied gently, skillfully avoiding sensitive topics. “As for scenery, the Yu Dynasty’s palace is magnificent and grand, and the Imperial Garden has different views in each of the four seasons, far surpassing the Yan Dynasty’s palace. Especially the library, which I’ve heard contains books from all over the world, is truly something to aspire to.”
"The library?" A genuine glint flashed in Si Mianmian's eyes, and it was not a pretense. The original owner was timid, but because no one paid attention to her, she secretly read a lot of miscellaneous books. She was worried about how to reasonably "broaden her horizons." "Mianmian has also heard that the library is vast, but..." Her tone lowered, "We women are afraid it is inconvenient for us to go there often."
“The princess is of noble birth. If she asks Her Majesty the Empress for permission to occasionally visit the library to read classics and historical texts to understand the principles of things, Her Majesty will surely not object.” Xuanjing casually suggested, then added, “Xuanjing sometimes goes to the library to borrow a few books for leisure, just to pass the time.”
In just a few words, a location where they might "bump into" each other in the future was subtly hinted at. Neither of them spoke of it, understanding the unspoken agreement.
Another gust of wind blew by, carrying the chill of late spring. Si Mianmian coughed lightly at the opportune moment, and Qiu He immediately stepped forward with concern: "Princess, the wind is picking up. You've only just recovered, you should go back."
Si Mianmian nodded and gave Xuan Jing an apologetic smile: "Your Highness, Mianmian will take her leave now."
"Princess, please proceed with caution." Xuan Jing nodded.
Watching the slender figures of the master and servant walk away hand in hand, Xuan Jing's gentle smile gradually faded, his eyes returning to a deep, still pool. He raised his hand, his fingertips seemingly still tinged with the sensation of the pebble he had just flicked out, tripping the eunuch. Even without Si Mianmian's intervention, he had plenty of ways to make those two eunuchs suffer in silence, it just... would be a bit more troublesome.
This Ninth Princess has certainly saved him some trouble. But why did she help him? Is it genuine kindness, or... has she seen through something?
Xuan Jing's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Whatever the reason, life in the deep palace seemed to have become more interesting because of this unexpected "younger sister."
Survival Handbook Postscript: An accidental act of kindness, like a pebble thrown into a lake, may create unexpected ripples. Sometimes, what seems like helping others is actually opening a window for yourself.
A few days later, in the afternoon, Si Mianmian indeed obtained the Empress's permission to come to the palace library under the pretext of "quietly reading 'Admonitions for Women'".
The library was tall and secluded, with sunlight streaming through the high windows, creating beams of light in the air filled with the scent of books. She deliberately avoided the crowded areas and walked deep into a bookshelf displaying geographical notes.
Sure enough, behind a row of bookshelves, there was that familiar figure. Xuan Jing was standing by the window, holding a book in his hands. The sunlight cast a soft glow on his profile, and he looked as serene as a painting.
Si Mianmian tiptoed, pretending to be focused on searching for books, until she was almost about to bump into him when she "startled" that someone was there. She exclaimed softly, took a small step back, and the book "accidentally" slipped from her hands.
Xuan Jing seemed to only then notice her. He turned around, bent down, and smoothly picked up the book for her, handing it back to her. His voice was still gentle: "Ninth Princess, what a coincidence."
“Your Highness.” Si Mianmian took the book, her cheeks slightly flushed, a hint of shyness in her expression. “Thank you, Your Highness. I never expected to meet you here.” Her gaze fell on the scroll in his hands. “Is Your Highness reading a geography book?”
"Just flipping through it since I had nothing else to do." Xuan Jing closed the book, the cover of which read "Records of Customs and Geography of the Western Regions." "Does the princess also have an interest in this kind of miscellaneous knowledge?"
“I just feel that the world in the book is vast, and it allows me to temporarily forget the trivialities of life,” Si Mianmian said softly, her tone carrying a hint of longing and melancholy. She walked to the window, looking down at the palaces below, her voice even softer, “Sometimes I think, how wonderful it would be if I could be like the birds in the book, and see the world outside.”
The loneliness in her words was completely different from her usual obedient and docile demeanor; it seemed like a genuine emotion revealed unintentionally.
Xuan Jing stood beside her, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "Though the world is vast, where is the way home? Sometimes, what traps people is not the palace walls."
In one sentence, it seemed to be a sigh, but also a response to her statement about the "exquisite cage" that day.
Si Mianmian's heart stirred slightly, knowing that he had already received the "resonance" signal she had deliberately released. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion and inquiry: "Your Highness's words are so profound. Mianmian doesn't quite understand, but I feel... a little sad."
Xuan Jing met her gaze. This time, he didn't look away immediately, nor did he try to hide it with a perfect smile. Her image was clearly reflected in his dark, jade-like eyes, and a fleeting, genuine emotion seemed to flash through them, too quick to grasp.
“The princess is still young and doesn’t need to understand these things.” He finally just smiled faintly and put his gentle mask back on. “It’s getting late, Xuanjing should take his leave.”
He nodded slightly, turned and left, his clothes fluttering in the breeze.
Si Mianmian watched his figure disappear at the end of the bookshelf, her fingertips gently brushing against the book "Records of Customs and Scenery in the Western Regions".
She knew that today's "chance encounter" and those few heartfelt words had been like a seed, quietly falling into Xuan Jing's heart. Although the surface of the lake remained calm, the seed had already been planted; all she needed to do was wait patiently and water it at the right time, and one day it would sprout.
Survival Handbook Revisited: The first step in the strategy is to make the other person feel that you are "the same kind" as them. Even if it's just an illusion, it's enough to lower their guard.
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