Chapter 71 Prince Shao
A rustling sound came from outside. It had snowed heavily last night, and the snow in the yard had piled up to ankle height. Yan Niang was leading her maid to shovel the snow and clear a path.
Huiyin struggled to crawl out of the warm bedding. She was a bit unwell in her bed last night, and the crazy talk from Pei Yu had kept her tossing and turning, making it impossible for her to get up this morning.
She rubbed her eyes and got out of bed, groggily walked to the window, and cruelly opened it, letting the drifting snowflakes brush against her face and blow away her drowsiness.
Huiyin covered her flushed face and closed the window. After tidying herself up, she went to find Suiyang. Suiyang was afraid of the cold, so after arriving in Dai County, he stayed indoors and didn't move around.
When Huiyin arrived, she was nestled in the warm pavilion playing Liubo (a board game) with her maids. Suiyang was sitting on a couch in front of a painted lacquer screen, with a soft leopard-skin mat beneath her and a black lacquered armrest behind her elbows. A group of playful maids surrounded her.
There was a small black wooden table next to it, where a maid was warming wine with a small bronze stove, and the faint aroma of fruit wine lingered in the inner room.
Suiyang Chao Huiyin waved, "Sister, you're here! Come and play with us!"
Huiyin untied her cloak and sat down. The palace maid beside her made way for her and knelt down to serve her. Huiyin played a few rounds with her and casually said, "The snow scenery is beautiful today, let's go out and take a look."
Sui Yang frowned and glanced outside. After thinking for a moment with her chin propped up, she agreed. She wanted to take advantage of these last few days to see the rivers and mountains of the Southern Dynasty one last time.
Huiyin helped her get ready, and Suiyang's figure had already unfolded, revealing the slender curves of a young girl. She wore a crimson brocade dress, with exquisite dark patterns inlaid on the cuffs and edges of the garment, and the hem of the skirt was layered and wrapped, exuding elegance and nobility. In addition, she wore a crimson sable fur cloak, the most extravagant of all.
Huiyin, on the other hand, wore a light blue straight-hemmed brocade robe as her inner garment, which was more convenient to wear than the cumbersome curved-hemmed robe. She wore a snow-white fox fur cloak over it.
The two had barely stepped out of the house when a gust of north wind brought them to a halt. Suiyang sneezed, her neck hunched, and Huiyin shielded her from the wind, feeling a pang of regret.
She should stay closer to Pei Yu; it's windy today, and it wouldn't be good if Suiyang fell ill.
Having been huddled inside the carriage on the road to Suiyang, she was startled by the sight of the snow-covered landscape. With her eyes closed and feeling the north wind, she tugged at Huiyin's sleeve and asked, "Sister, where are we going?"
Huiyin dismissed all the servants who had accompanied her and led Suiyang to the back garden. In the garden was a pond with thick layers of ice on its surface in winter, so thick that people could walk on it without breaking the ice.
From a distance, Pei Yu's familiar figure came into view. Not far behind him was a stone pavilion, which was surrounded by bamboo mats to shield it from the wind, making it impossible to see the person inside.
Huiyin released Suiyang and smiled, "Didn't you say you wanted to see Prince Shao one last time before you left?"
Suiyang lowered his eyes dejectedly and sighed, "It's just wishful thinking now."
Huiyin pointed to the stone pavilion, "Go there, the person you want to see is there."
Sui Yang covered her lips in disbelief, tears welling in her eyes, her voice trembling, "He's here? He doesn't blame me anymore?"
Huiyin lowered her head, feeling a little sad, and touched her face to comfort her, "He's here, go see him."
Tears welled up in Suiyang's eyes. Disregarding everything else, she lifted her skirt and ran towards the stone pavilion.
Huiyin watched her departing figure and sighed silently; this was all she could do. Someone slowly approached from behind, offering her a small, exquisite Boshan hand warmer and softly asking if she was cold.
Huiyin lowered her eyes and took it. Her slightly cool palms were quickly warmed by the continuous heat.
Pei Yu: "The two of them want to catch up, so let's find a place to avoid the wind and snow."
Huiyin pondered for a while, then did not refuse.
The two turned around and walked back side by side in the snow-covered courtyard.
Pei Yu: "After I send Your Highness out of the pass, I will send someone to escort you back to Jingzhou. At the latest, I will go to Jingzhou to find you."
Huiyin stopped and looked Pei Yu in the eye. "I will not go back to Chang'an with you, and you will not leave Chang'an for me. We can't be together."
Pei Yu stared at her intently, his voice low and hoarse: "It's up to people to make things happen."
Huiyin felt a wave of helplessness. She had been tormented by Pei Yu these past few days to the point of losing her temper, so she simply gave up and stopped thinking about it.
Halfway there, Huiyin realized they were on the wrong path; this was not the way back to where she was.
She stopped in her tracks. "Where are you taking me?"
“My place is secluded; no one will see you, and no one will gossip.”
Huiyin didn't want to go. She wasn't feeling well today, and if it weren't for the fact that she could meet Prince Shao in Suiyang, she would have stayed in her room all day. It was so cold and snowy; it was much more comfortable staying in the warm room.
She had just turned around and taken a step when someone grabbed her around the waist and lifted her into the air.
Pei Yu mischievously lifted her up, and Huiyin, unsteady on her feet and worried about falling, could only cling to his neck. She stared at him expressionlessly for a long time, her fingertips clenching tightly.
Pei Yu kicked open the door, and the warmth of the inner room rushed in, dispelling the chill from both of them. He silently placed Huiyin on the couch, knelt down in front of her, and coaxed her with practiced ease, as if he had done it many times before: "It was my fault, I will never dare to do it again, please don't be angry."
Huiyin turned her face away sullenly. He always said the same thing, but never listened or changed. He would quickly admit his mistake after making someone angry, leaving them feeling like they were punching cotton, unable to breathe properly. He was extremely annoying.
She said coldly, "Why did you bring me here?"
Pei Yu got up and brought tea from the stove, poured a cup of hot tea for Huiyin to warm up, and then diligently got up to place a soft pillow on the couch behind Huiyin so that she could lean comfortably on it. He casually said, "I noticed that you don't look well today. It must be because you've been traveling for too long and your muscles and bones are uncomfortable. I recently learned a massage technique from someone. Would you like to try it?"
Huiyin's mind stirred slightly, and she looked at him suspiciously. It was truly unbelievable that he would learn such a skill.
"Are you trying to deceive me?"
Pei Yu's lips curled slightly, revealing a flirtatious look familiar to Huiyin. "Would I dare?"
She pouted, turned around and lay down on the soft couch, pointing to her lower back, "This area is very sore and weak when I get up today."
Pei Yu stroked Huiyin's waist, kneading it with just the right amount of force, neither too light nor too heavy.
Huiyin closed her eyes comfortably. And to be honest, Pei Yu wasn't lying. His technique was just right, and soon Huiyin felt all her fatigue disappear and she felt extremely comfortable.
After kneading for a while, Pei Yu suddenly took off his shoes and got onto the bed, reaching out to untie the sash of Huiyin's outer garment.
Huiyin was startled, stood up, looked at him defensively, and angrily rebuked, "What are you doing?"
Pei Yu spread his hands, looking completely innocent. "I wanted to loosen up your muscles and joints. Winter clothes are too thick and inconvenient."
Huiyin covered her collar and didn't notice anything amiss, but she couldn't possibly undress in front of Pei Yu; what would that look like? She got up from the bed, her tone indifferent, "No need, I'm already fine, thank you."
Pei Yu reached out and grasped her arm, then knelt down and massaged her from her waist down to her shoulders and spine, his tone seductive: "We've been in the carriage the whole way, and I know you're not feeling well. I promise I won't do anything, I just want to make you feel a little better."
His technique was skillful, and in just a few moments, Huiyin felt weak all over and leaned against him. She had to admit that it was indeed very comfortable.
No matter how well the carriage was shockproof, traveling south along the rugged mountain roads had already made her frail body feel uncomfortable all over.
Since he was willing to do such a flattering thing, there was no reason for her not to enjoy the good fortune. Huiyin sat back down, crossed her arms, tilted her head back, and nodded slightly to Pei Yu with her chin. "In that case, let's give it a try."
This was the first time Pei Yu had seen her so arrogant and domineering, and a fire seemed to burn in his heart, stirring within him.
He suppressed his excitement and knelt on either side of Huiyin, his hands stroking and kneading her back. Unlike the previous touch, after the winter clothes were removed, the soft inner garment seemed to be nothing to him. He even felt as if he was directly touching Huiyin's body, which was soft and delicate.
At first, it was very comfortable and there was nothing wrong with it, so Huiyin closed her eyes to rest. But slowly, the hands behind her started to cause trouble, always intentionally or unintentionally touching her sensitive spots, and then quickly leaving.
At first, she thought it was just a coincidence, but after it happened several times, she became suspicious and turned to look at Pei Yu.
But the man looked very serious, his eyes and brows never wavering, and he was focused on massaging her.
Huiyin turned away sullenly. Could it be her imagination?
Soon, she realized it wasn't true. When Pei Yu's hand left her chest and moved down her waist and hips, Huiyin couldn't help but get up and push him away.
Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes were brimming with tears, she unconsciously bit her lower lip, her legs were curled up together, and her chest rose and fell with her rapid breathing.
Pei Yu still looked innocent, but after being pushed away, he showed concern. "What's wrong? Do you have a fever?"
Huiyin glared at him fiercely, but at this moment, her emotions were surging, and the glare had no deterrent effect but instead became more seductive.
She rolled off the bed to put on her shoes, taking deep breaths to calm her turmoil. Her body was burning hot, and she felt restless. She knew exactly what it was; she wasn't ignorant of human affairs.
In the past, when Huiyin and Pei Yu were together, they were both full of youthful vigor and were extremely compatible in bed, enjoying a lot of pleasure. Now that they were separated, Huiyin hadn't thought about this for more than half a year, but today, Pei Yu's words stirred up those romantic thoughts in her mind.
She closed her eyes, her fingertips digging fiercely into her palms, cursing Pei Yu inwardly. She knew he had no good intentions. Fortunately, she could still bear it; although her body was burning hot, going outside for some cool air would calm her down.
Thinking of this, Huiyin hurriedly got up, dressed, and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, Pei Yu approached from behind, whispering in her ear, so close that she could kiss his lips with just a turn of her head.
He said, "I can help you."
The meaning was self-evident. Huiyin shoved his head away with one hand, stood up and sneered: "You're dreaming, you shameless scoundrel."
She took a carved jade hairpin off her head and threw it onto the bed, the hairpin landing on the bedding with a dull thud.
Pei Yu raised an eyebrow, picked up the hairpin and examined it closely. It was a magnolia bud style, a very ordinary design.
“What does this mean?” he asked.
Huiyin straightened her clothes, put on her cloak, turned and left without a second thought, leaving behind the words, "Donate money."
Pei Yu: ...Very well, you treat him like a male prostitute in a brothel, and even give him a tip.
——
Sui Yang's body trembled slightly as she slowly approached the pavilion. The figure inside looked familiar; she would never forget it in her lifetime.
"sorry."
Wang Zishao was startled and turned his head stiffly, finally seeing his beloved whom he hadn't seen for more than half a year. Her eyebrows and eyes opened a little, and her scarlet dress made her skin look extremely fair, even more beautiful than before.
Those eyes, which were usually smiling, were now filled with sorrow, and he looked at her with tears in his eyes and a face full of guilt.
Wang Zishao felt a slight pang of guilt. Why did he feel guilty? The one who should feel guilty was never Suiyang; it was him. He was the one who was powerless to protect the one he loved. In just three months, it would have been his and Suiyang's wedding.
He stepped forward, stood before Suiyang, and tremblingly reached out his hand, then suddenly stopped. He was no longer worthy to touch Her Highness the Princess. From the very beginning, this marriage was an insult to his status.
"Yangyang, you did nothing wrong, there's no need to blame yourself."
Because of this one sentence, Suiyang could no longer hold back. The fear, sadness and confusion about the future that had been building up for days all burst forth at this moment. Large tears welled up in her eyes, and she choked back sobs as she rushed into Wang Zishao's arms.
She rushed into the embrace that had brought her countless joys and made her feel incredibly safe.
Prince Shao held Suiyang tightly in his arms. They talked about everything, their arms tightening around each other, as if they wanted to embed the other into their bodies and never be separated again.
Wang Zishao: "Yangyang, I don't blame you. You must remember from now on that life is the most important thing. No matter what happens, keeping your life is the most important thing. Only by living can you have a future."
Prince Shao's biggest worry was Suiyang's life. She was a princess sent for a peace treaty, and the Xiongnu might not necessarily harm her. However, the Xiongnu region was different from the Central Plains in every way, and their customs were completely different.
He worried that Suiyang would not be able to accept it, so he became depressed and died with a heavy heart.
Sui Yang was crying so hard she could barely speak. She clutched Wang Zishao's clothes tightly, as if grasping at a lifeline, and said, "I know, I remember everything."
Wang Zishao heard her sobbing and could no longer hold back. He lowered his head, burying his face in Suiyang's shoulder and weeping.
——
Huiyin went straight out the door. She and Pei Yu had been entangled for a long time, and the originally clean courtyard was covered with a thin layer of snow. The goose feather snowflakes were falling from the sky, which was a rare beautiful sight.
She walked to the place where she had parted ways with Suiyang, but Suiyang was no longer there. In the pavilion, besides Wang Zishao, there was another person, an acquaintance.
Huiyin walked slowly over, her embroidered shoes crunching on the snow. The two people in the pavilion turned to look when they heard the sound. When Prince Shao saw Huiyin arrive, he quickly lowered his head to wipe away his tears. The person beside him was none other than Wang Huan, whom he had not seen for a long time.
Wang Huan wore a thick, straight-hemmed robe and no crown. His face was as fair as jade, his nose was as straight as a mountain ridge, and his jawline was as sharp as if carved by a knife, making him appear aloof and distant.
Wang Zishao, on the other hand, had a deep red tinge spreading across the corners of his eyes. His beautiful eyes were now empty and lifeless, making one feel involuntarily sorry for him.
Prince Shao bowed and greeted her, "Sister Huiyin."
Wang Huan nodded slightly to Huiyin, who stepped forward and lightly raised Prince Shao's arm to greet Wang Huan. She then sat down at the stone table and pointed to the stone benches beside her, indicating that they should sit down.
Noticing Wang Zishao's turbulent emotions, Huiyin first turned to Wang Huan and asked, "How have you been lately?"
Wang Huan: "I'm doing well in Luoyang. How are you?"
Huiyin smiled and said, "Let's not talk about these formalities between us. I just wanted to ask what you're doing here."
Wang Huan glanced at the stunned Prince Shao and said helplessly, "If you can't rest easy about His Highness, then naturally I can't either."
Huiyin nodded upon hearing this, and then asked Prince Shao, "How did your talk with His Highness go?"
Wang Zishao remained silent for a long time, his eyes welling up with tears. "She wished me to find a good partner soon."
Huiyin sighed almost imperceptibly. She also felt sorry for Suiyang and Wang Zishao, who were separated from their love. But since things had come to this, letting them see each other one last time before they left would be enough to leave no regrets.
Huiyin looked at Wang Huan, her eyes flickering slightly. Wang Huan didn't ask anything, got up and walked outside the pavilion, leaving the two of them alone to talk.
Huiyin looked at Wang Zishao's swollen eyelids and sighed inwardly. She knew it was inappropriate to say these things to Wang Zishao now, but if she didn't say them now, she was afraid she would never have the chance again.
Huiyin: "Do you think only Princess Guangling has feelings for you?"
Wang Zishao's handsome face suddenly changed color, and he looked up in disbelief, "Sister, what are you saying?"
"I am not making this up. Although there is no concrete evidence, this matter should be true. In fact, the marriage alliance between Suiyang and Zheng may not be unrelated to the Zheng family."
Prince Shao stood up angrily, bracing his arms on the stone table, his expression grim. "Is it because of me that Suiyang..."
Huiyin shook her head. "There are many factors involved in the marriage alliance with Suiyang, and it's not because of you. I'm not saying this to you for any other reason. Guangling is arrogant and will do anything to get what she wants. Now that Suiyang is in a marriage alliance, and you are not engaged, she might try to harm you."
"Although she is now married to the Prince of Zhennan, the prince is mentally challenged, and His Majesty already feels guilty towards her. Furthermore, Consort Zheng dotes on her, so it's hard to guarantee that she won't do something in the future."
Wang Zishao raised his hand to cover his eyes, and clear tears dripped from between his fingers to the ground, turning into water droplets in an instant.
He gritted his teeth and said, "I know what my sister means. Don't worry, I will never do as she wishes."
Huiyin was relieved to receive this promise. She wasn't asking anything of Prince Shao, but she felt it would be disgusting if Guangling were to lay a finger on Suiyang's former fiancé.
How could everything in this world go as she wished?
She stood up and patted Prince Shao on the shoulder, "Let's go back, the princess will be leaving the seclusion tomorrow."
"I'd like to see her through customs, is that alright?"
Prince Shao raised his head, tears welling in his beautiful eyes, and pleaded in his voice.
Huiyin looked reluctant and couldn't bring herself to refuse. She had watched Prince Shao grow up, and the boy had always been carefree and unrestrained, never showing such vulnerability and distress.
"Follow me from a distance, and don't show yourself."
"Thank you, elder sister."
Having finished their conversation, Huiyin got up and left without lingering any longer. She didn't know what the situation was like in Suiyang, and she had to go back and check on it.
As soon as she stepped out of the pavilion, she saw Wang Huan looking at her. Huiyin walked forward, her face somewhat silent.
Seeing this, Wang Huan comforted them, saying, "If you could facilitate their meeting and allow them to express their feelings, I'm afraid they would both regret it for the rest of their lives."
Huiyin's expression remained downcast: "It's just a pity..." She didn't finish her sentence about what was a pity, but Wang Huan understood without her saying a word.
He moved his lips, wanting to say something comforting, but he himself couldn't even get what he wanted, so how could he have the right to do so?
He couldn't help but step forward, wanting to pat Huiyin on the shoulder, but his raised arm froze, because not far in front of him, there was a person staring intently in their direction, with an extremely cold expression.
Huiyin noticed Wang Huan's unusual behavior and looked in the direction of his gaze. She saw Pei Yu wearing a dark black cloak with trim, his expression pale, and his dark eyes staring at her without moving.
She frowned slightly, avoiding Pei Yu's direct gaze; his demeanor made her inexplicably uncomfortable.
Wang Huan saw Huiyin's expression clearly from beginning to end. He knew exactly what had happened between the two of them, and that's why he came to Dai County with her.
Wang Huan lowered his eyes and calmly asked, "Do you need my help?"
What would he help her with? Naturally, he would help her get rid of Pei Yu. Huiyin hesitated for a moment. She and Wang Huan had a past relationship, even an ambiguous one, which Pei Yu was aware of.
If we use Wang Huan, we might actually be able to make Pei Yu give up.
After a long silence, she sighed and said, "Let's take another look."
——
When Huiyin returned to her lodgings, all the maids who served her inside were waiting outside, their faces full of worry. The wet nurse from Suiyang, the usually stern-faced old woman, was also there.
Seeing Huiyin return, she seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and stepped forward to ask, "Miss Song, His Highness went out with you for a while, and when he came back, he locked himself in his room and wouldn't let anyone in."
Huiyin looked at the closed doors and windows, waved for the maids to disperse, and looked at the worried old woman in front of her. She said softly, "Let her be alone for a while. Some things she can figure out on her own."
After a long while, Suiyang finally opened the door and asked someone to prepare food for her. Huiyin went in and saw Suiyang lying listlessly on the soft couch, her eyes red and swollen, just like a little rabbit with red eyes.
She sat down beside him, gently stroking Suiyang's head, offering silent comfort. Suiyang sensed Huiyin's arrival, quietly leaned closer, resting his head on her lap, and murmured, "I... I thought I had let go... but the moment I saw him..."
Huiyin listened silently to her sobs, to Suiyang reminiscing about her time with Wang Zishao. She felt as if she had entered the story, sharing their emotions. Before she knew it, tears were streaming down her face as well.
She knew that words of comfort would be pale and powerless, and that Suiyang, so resilient and decisive, didn't need her comfort; all he needed was her quiet presence.
Soon, Suiyang snapped out of her daze, but Huiyin felt even more sorry for her. She preferred Suiyang to be the carefree little princess she used to be.
Huiyin had a meal with her for a while. The Prefect's wife sent someone to deliver a message saying that there would be no curfew on the streets of Dai County tomorrow, New Year's Eve, and there would be a New Year's Eve lantern festival. She asked if the two of them would like to go and see it and join in the fun.
Suiyang wasn't interested, and Huiyin didn't care much about the lantern festival either, but she didn't want Suiyang to stay unhappy like this, so she agreed to take her out to cheer her up.
The prefect's wife was very hospitable and soon sent someone to bring them a local maid to guide them, along with some fine clothes and jewelry.
Huiyin only wanted to take Suiyang out alone to relax, so she didn't let anyone make a fuss. Anyway, Dai County was a military stronghold with a large army stationed there, and with Suiyang's guards around, they wouldn't encounter any danger.
To her surprise, the three of them also received the news and went to the lantern festival without prior arrangement.
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