Princess Changping smiled and said, "I see you usually get along well with the people from Ningguogongfu and Yuyue. You grew up together as childhood friends and know each other inside out. Why not choose one of them? Mother can help you find out how they feel."
Xue Wanyao dared not make any promises on behalf of Gu Zhuo. She put down the book and said, "Mother, I have not yet reached the age of capping. I wish to study for a few more years and establish myself before starting a family."
"Starting a family and establishing oneself—family always comes first."
Princess Changping said with a smile, "Spring is just around the corner. On the third day of the third month, the Flower Festival, I will host a flower-viewing banquet at Gongzhufu. You can secretly take a look then and tell me which girl you like. I will help you propose."
Xue Wanyao had never dared to disobey her mother, Madam Xue, since childhood. Faced with the affectionate Princess Changping, she had no idea how to refuse.
"Then I will listen to Mother."
Princess Changping said with relief, "My child has truly grown up. I will go and prepare for the Flower Festival banquet now."
After Princess Changping finished speaking, Xue Wanyao stood up to see her off. "Take care, Mother."
Changping looked at the polite yet somewhat distant child before her and felt deeply relieved. This child had finally grown up quite a bit.
After bowing to see off Princess Changping, Xue Wanyao began reading Gu Zhuo's book.
Trapped in the inner chambers, Xue Wanyao could only relieve her boredom by reading her brother's books. Her brother, afraid she wouldn't understand, would annotate them. Unfortunately, her wedding date was set so hastily that her brother couldn't make it back in time.
Otherwise, if her own brother had escorted her to the wedding and rescued her, she wouldn't have suffered the disgrace of losing her reputation.
As Xue Wanyao was reading, she heard movement outside and stood up. She saw Gu Zhuo approaching with a messy, bird's nest-like hairstyle.
Seeing this, Xue Wanyao couldn't help but smile. "Why didn't you comb your hair before coming out?"
"This prince doesn't know how to comb hair. My legs hurt so much they don't even feel like my own anymore. When will it thunder and swap the two of us back?"
Every step Gu Zhuo took brought a wave of soreness.
Xue Wanyao walked up to Gu Zhuo and said, "Let me comb your hair for you."
After making Gu Zhuo sit down, Xue Wanyao used her fingers as a comb. She initially thought of leaving a strand of hair tied up, but then remembered she was now considered a married woman, so she styled Gu Zhuo's hair into a married woman's bun.
Gu Zhuo unceremoniously placed both legs on the desk. "Wang Quan, Wang Quan…"
Xue Wanyao removed Gu Zhuo's legs from the desk and frowned. "The desk is an important place. How can you rest your feet on it?"
Gu Zhuo glared at Xue Wanyao. "You're using my body and don't feel any pain at all. Do you know how sore your legs are? I wish I could chop both of them off!"
Xue Wanyao then squatted down to massage Gu Zhuo's legs.
When the servant Wang Quan entered, he saw the newly arrived Concubine Xue sitting boldly while his own prince was squatting down, massaging Concubine Xue's legs…
The scene was as shocking as it could be!
"Your… Your Highness…"
Xue Wanyao said, "It's nothing. You may leave."
Gu Zhuo, seeing his servant's expression, also felt it was inappropriate for "Prince Chu" to massage his legs. He glared fiercely at Wang Quan and said, "What you just saw must not be spread outside!"
"Yes." Wang Quan agreed and withdrew from the study.
Xue Wanyao fetched a chair from the side, sat down, and continued massaging Gu Zhuo's legs.
Seeing Gu Zhuo's look of enjoyment, Xue Wanyao thought she was merely massaging herself.
"Your Highness, Princess Changping came earlier and said she will host a flower-viewing banquet on the third day of the third lunar month, inviting all the young ladies of Shengjing. At that time, you can secretly choose a girl you find pleasing to be your Princess of Chu."
Xue Wanyao spoke slowly. Upon hearing this, Gu Zhuo frowned tightly and said, "You didn't refuse for me? You agreed?"
"Princess Changping is your mother. How could I dare not comply?"
Gu Zhuo said, "Precisely because she's my mother that you could refuse! My mother has always doted on me. You've really gotten me into trouble. Go quickly and tell my mother that I don't want to choose a princess consort!"
Xue Wanyao whispered, "Your Highness, I dare not."
Xue Wanyao had never known it was possible to disobey one's parents' orders.
Gu Zhuo scratched his head and said, "You dare not? What if my mother really arranges a princess consort for me? Not to mention that I'm currently in your body—if I truly marry a princess consort, which of us would consummate the marriage?"
Xue Wanyao coughed lightly, her face flushing red.
Gu Zhuo said, "On the third day of the third lunar month, you must tell my mother that among all the young ladies in the courtyard, you didn't take a fancy to a single one. Understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
After dinner, Xue Wanyao strolled around Linfengyuan to aid digestion. Having been away from the estate for two days, she almost wished those two days had been nothing but a dream.
As dusk fell, Xue Wanyao returned to the main bedroom.
She did not see Gu Zhuo and only then learned that he had gone to bathe. At the mention of bathing, a blush appeared on Xue Wanyao's face.
A sound came from the doorway. Xue Wanyao looked up and saw Gu Zhuo, whose face was redder than maple leaves. The young girl wore a pink inner garment and underskirt, her ear tips flushed with heat.
Gu Zhuo walked to the bed and buried himself under the covers.
Like the ostrich Xue Wanyao had read about in the "Bainiaozhi," his entire head was buried in the silk quilt.
In the darkness, Gu Zhuo recalled what he had seen when looking down in the bathing pool. He gripped the quilt tightly, only emerging after a long while to catch his breath.
Seeing Gu Zhuo's appearance, Xue Wanyao let out a soft laugh.
Gu Zhuo glared at Xue Wanyao and said, "Laugh again? If you laugh again, this prince will… will… slap your face."
Xue Wanyao bit her lower lip, suppressing her laughter, and said, "Your Highness… should I still sleep on the small couch today?"
Gu Zhuo replied, "Otherwise? You still want to sleep on this prince's bed? Dream on!"
Xue Wanyao looked at the small couch in Gu Zhuo's room. It was not a proper place for resting.
Although Xue Wanyao herself was tall for a woman, she could barely manage to sleep on it.
But now she was in Gu Zhuo's body. Gu Zhuo was nearly half a head taller than her, making sleeping on the small couch far too cramped.
"Your Highness, your stature is too tall. I'm afraid the small couch won't be sufficient!"
Gu Zhuo lowered the gauze curtain and said, "If it's not sufficient, can't you curl up and sleep?"
Xue Wanyao sighed helplessly and had no choice but to sleep once again on the hard, small couch.
In the dead of night, Gu Zhuo found his hands and feet so cold that he couldn't sleep at all. His feet felt like blocks of ice. "Xue Wanyao, are you still awake? Why are your feet so cold when you sleep? Are these even feet? They're practically thousand-year-old ice."
Xue Wanyao coughed and said, "Many women are like this. Although it's already the second lunar month, there's still a late spring chill. Nights are colder than the depths of winter. Your Highness can have a servant fetch a hot water bottle to warm your feet."
"Hot water bottle?" Gu Zhuo said, "I haven't used such a thing since I was a child. I doubt there's even one in the entire manor. Are there any other methods?"
Xue Wanyao coughed lightly and said, "You could find a maidservant to share your bed—that would keep you warm, and your hands and feet wouldn't feel cold anymore."
Gu Zhuo frowned. "How could I share a bed with a woman? Besides, what if the maidservant also has cold hands and feet? If anything, I should find a manservant."
"No!" Xue Wanyao jolted upright from her small couch.
"How about… how about I share the bed with you, Your Highness?"