Sure enough, through the gaps in the vibrant red bougainvillea vines on the opposite corridor, a slender figure in white could be vaguely seen.
With just a glimpse of the hem of her robe, Fu Yu recognized her, it was indeed Qing Yao.
From the other side came warm greetings, with everyone saying how long it had been since they last saw Qing Yao, asking how she had been, and urging her to sit down quickly and chat with them.
Listening to the voices transmitted by the eavesdropping spell, Fu Yu longed to go over and sit beside Qing Yao.
She didn’t know when it had started, but it seemed she wished she could see Qing Yao every single day. Just the sight of her lifted Fu Yu’s spirits.
Indeed, once an intimate relationship had occurred, a strange attachment inevitably developed to some extent.
How terrifying. She hadn’t even succeeded in winning Qing Yao over yet, she mustn’t let herself be the one to fall first.
The conversation from the other side drifted over:
“We thought you’d never attend such banquets again.”
“Yes, it’s good that you’re here. Don’t worry, Princess Zhao Hua just left, it’s safe.”
Fu Yu: ? So, am I some kind of monstrous threat? But upon second thought, Zhao Hua really was.
“Qing Yao, you came today, could it be that your family pressured you to come and meet potential matches too?”
…
Fu Yu was listening intently when suddenly, a sharp “buzz” rang in her ears, like the piercing static from earphones. She couldn’t help but cover her ears.
When she regained her composure, she realized she could no longer hear the conversation from the opposite corridor.
She quickly figured it out, something had happened to the enchanted bougainvillea.
She gazed across the pond adorned with elegantly withered lotus leaves. Amid the dense bougainvillea vines, shadows of figures moved about, and laughter drifted over from time to time, but she had no idea what they were saying anymore.
Under the corridor, Qing Yao held a delicate red bougainvillea blossom between her fingers, looking down at it with a deep, thoughtful gaze.
Someone nearby laughed and said, “Why did you pick this one? Aren’t there bigger and more beautiful blossoms under this corridor?”
Qing Yao gently twirled the flower’s stem with her slender fingers and replied softly, “This one was a bit mischievous. I picked it to teach it a lesson.” Then, as if unintentionally, she lifted her gaze and glanced toward the opposite bank of the pond.
Shortly after, she excused herself from the crowd and descended the corridor, heading along the Dewlight Pond.
Unaware that her little eavesdropping device had been plucked, Fu Yu formed hand seals to reactivate the spell but still heard nothing. She had no choice but to give up.
Bored and about to leave the Dewlight Pavilion, she turned and saw Li Hanlin, dressed in crimson official robes, approaching.
She must be passing by, Fu Yu thought. Surely, she isn’t here for me. Paying it no mind, Fu Yu stepped down from the pavilion’s stairs, ready to leave.
“Princess.”
Li Hanlin called out to her.
Surprised, Fu Yu stopped and turned to look at her. Assuming it was just a greeting, Fu Yu offered a polite smile. Thinking that was the end of it, she was about to continue on her way when Li Hanlin quickly stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
With graceful composure, Li Hanlin bowed and said, “Princess, I have something to discuss with you.”
Fu Yu thought to herself, What does this Li Hanlin, who rejected the marriage proposal, want with Zhao Hua? Could it be that she suddenly regrets it? That would be disastrous. Her heart and body belonged to her shijie; she had never considered abandoning her, even if her shijie had completely forgotten.
Li Hanlin pulled a jade pendant from her sleeve.
Oh no, is this a token of love? Fu Yu pressed her lips together, feeling uneasy. Steadying her nerves, she prepared to speak and nip this unwanted affection in the bud.
Li Hanlin spoke, “Your Highness, I am unworthy of your misplaced affection and truly lack the fortune to accept such a precious jade pendant. I must return it to you so that I may rest at ease.”
Fu Yu felt awkward, realizing she had been preening like a peacock for nothing. She couldn’t help but cough twice to mask her embarrassment.
Li Hanlin added, “The weather has turned chilly lately. I hope Your Highness will take good care of your health.” He held out the jade pendant with both hands, offering it forward.
After a moment’s hesitation, Fu Yu finally reached out, her fingers brushing against Li Hanlin’s palm as she picked up the pendant.
But before she could withdraw her hand, a familiar voice came from behind: “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Startled, Fu Yu turned and saw exactly who she expected.
Qing Yao had arrived at some point without her noticing.
She stood on the jade-paved path, surrounded by clusters of blooming crabapple flowers. Dressed in a graceful white gown, she looked like a celestial maiden who had strayed into the mortal world, her sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze.
Her words were respectful, but she made no gesture of a formal bow, standing straight and revealing, perhaps, that she wasn’t all that eager to “greet” the princess.
Fu Yu abruptly withdrew her hand, noticing the jade pendant still in her grasp. Almost as if possessed, she handed it back to Li Hanlin: “Well, Scholar Li, I have plenty of jade pendants. There’s no need for the trouble. I have matters to attend to, so please carry on.”
With that, she hurried toward Qing Yao.
In her mind, a fit of giggles erupted. If Xiao Mei had a physical form, she’d likely be rolling on the floor laughing. Gasping for breath, she said, [Hahaha, your behavior just now gave off the awkward vibe of being caught in a clandestine exchange with an outsider by your significant other.]
Fu Yu: “…”
Alright, her reaction had been a bit strange. Why had she returned the jade?
Qing Yao said, “It is my fault for interrupting Your Highness and Scholar Li.” Yet her eyes remained calm, showing no trace of remorse.
Fu Yu smiled and said, “Senior Sister, I was just looking for you in the garden. Everyone said you wouldn’t come.”
Qing Yao twirled the bougainvillea in her hand, lowering her gaze without a word.
Fu Yu felt as though Qing Yao was deliberately using her eyes to signal her to look down. She complied, and only then did she notice the bougainvillea in Qing Yao’s hand.
Truth be told, there were countless flowers along the corridor, each looking nearly identical. But when Fu Yu saw this particular one in Qing Yao’s grasp, she was absolutely certain it was the very flower she had enchanted.
“This flower suits the dress you’re wearing today,” Qing Yao said softly as she slowly raised her hand and tucked the bougainvillea into Fu Yu’s hair.
Fu Yu froze. What was Qing Yao doing? A sudden warmth spread across her cheeks. But then she noticed Qing Yao looking at her with the same kind, mentor-like gaze she reserved for fellow disciples, devoid of any deeper meaning. Perhaps… she simply thought the flower looked nice in Fu Yu’s hair.
The rising heat in Fu Yu’s face instantly cooled. Ahem, it seemed she had overthought things.
After a brief moment of disappointment, Fu Yu gathered herself, reached up to adjust the flower in her hair, and smiled. “Thank you, Senior Sister.”
Xiao Mei: [What a touching display of sisterly affection.]
Fu Yu: Shut up.
She forced a smile onto her face.
Qing Yao nodded. “No need for thanks. Please lean closer, Your Highness. I have one more thing to say.”
Fu Yu found it a bit odd, wondering what Qing Yao could possibly have to tell her. Glancing at the maids nearby and the awkwardly standing Li Hanlin, she nonetheless brought one ear closer to Qing Yao.
Qing Yao parted her lips, her warm, fragrant breath slipping into Fu Yu’s ear, making her feel so ticklish it almost reached the depths of her heart.
“No using magic recklessly here, or I’ll punish you thoroughly when we return,” Qing Yao’s voice was extremely soft, yet carried the authority of the sect leader.
Fu Yu froze once more. These words made it clear that Qing Yao had recognized her.
“S-s-sect Leader… Senior Sister.”
“Mm,” she acknowledged, confirming her identity.
Although Fu Yu had vaguely suspected yesterday that this Qing Yao wasn’t the Qing Yao from three hundred years ago but the current sect leader, she hadn’t dwelled on it and had pretended not to know. Now that it was out in the open, she instinctively became extremely obedient.
“O-okay… I won’t use it.”
Qing Yao nodded gently. “Good girl.” Her voice remained soft.
Fu Yu knew that Qing Yao was indeed much older than the original body she had transmigrated into. In Qing Yao’s eyes, she was merely the youngest junior sister in the sect. So, when Qing Yao called her “good girl,” it was likely just a way of coaxing a child. But to Fu Yu, the words inexplicably made her feel as though her heart had been captured, as if she would willingly follow and obey whatever Qing Yao said next.
But Qing Yao said nothing more and left.
Fu Yu stared at Qing Yao’s receding figure, lost in thought for a long while before snapping back to reality. When she turned around, she saw Li Hanlin still standing there.
Noticing the princess’s gaze, Li Hanlin once again offered the jade forward.
Fu Yu reached out and accepted it.
Li Hanlin bowed and took her leave. As she retreated, she couldn’t help but feel that the princess before her was different from before. Her eyes no longer followed her, and she no longer clung to her obsessively. Li Hanlin felt as though something had drifted away from her.
What was even stranger was that Zhao Hua and Qing Yao had actually spoken to each other calmly!
And Li Hanlin wasn’t the only one who found it odd.
Not far away, behind a large tree, the empress had been shamelessly eavesdropping for quite some time.
Good heavens, she had stumbled upon a shocking secret: Qing Yao had actually placed a hairpin in her unruly daughter’s hair, and the key was her unruly daughter hadn’t refused. What’s more, the two had even whispered to each other, and her unruly daughter had seemed somewhat shy.
This was unusual.
Where there’s abnormality, there must be mischief.
Perhaps her daughter’s lifelong animosity toward Qing Yao wasn’t rooted in hatred after all.
So… should she go back and draft an imperial marriage decree?
The empress forced herself to calm down: She needed to observe a bit more. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake in matchmaking.
With that thought, she instructed the matron beside her, “During the banquet later, arrange for the princess and Qing Yao to sit together.”