Upon receiving his orders, Mo Xiao immediately set off for the Lu residence to deliver the message.
Lin Yi came in person to seek Lu Qiuci’s opinion, asking him what sort of ceremony he preferred—a grand affair or a simple one. If Lu Qiuci wished to achieve his own ends, a grand affair would naturally be preferable; yet he feared the expense might provoke Xu Chen’s displeasure.
To his surprise, Lin Yi merely smiled.
“My lord need not worry about that. Since Her Highness has sent me to arrange this banquet, even if you wished to spend a hundred taels of gold on it, it could be done.”
Lu Qiuci felt a sudden flush of embarrassment, yet he sensed deep down that Xu Chen could not possibly have instructed Lin Yi in this manner; it did not seem like something she would do, but rather a decision of Lin Yi’s own making.
As the Head Servant of the Crown Princess’s Residence, Lin Yi possessed considerable discretion; the fact that he had taken it upon himself to inquire about Lu Qiuci’s affairs indicated that he held him in high regard.
Lu Qiuci felt a wave of warmth wash over him. “Thank you for your trouble, Uncle Lin. This is the first time my parents have come to the Princess’s Residence to pay their respects, so I’d like to make it a grand occasion.”
“Also, I’d like to prepare two gifts for my parents, but I’m not sure which jewellery shop in the capital offers the finest wares. I’d be grateful if you could recommend a few.”
Lin Yi replied, “Why go elsewhere? No matter how fine the goods in those shops may be, how could they compare to those in the Princess’s residence? My lord may simply go to the storeroom and select two items to your heart’s content.”
Lu Qiuci looked hesitant, but Lin Yi, as if reading his mind, immediately added, “My lord, do not fear that Her Highness might disapprove; she might well be delighted.”
Lu Qiuci’s cheeks flushed even redder, yet he still did not follow Lin Yi’s advice. He now possessed two hundred taels of gold given to him by the Emperor and Xu Chen; he could purchase gifts for his parents himself and had no need to open Xu Chen’s storeroom.
Seeing Lu Qiuci’s stubborn refusal, Lin Yi looked regretful and could only recommend two of the finest jewellery shops in Tai’an City to him.
But that was not all. Noting that Lu Qiuci had some free time, Lin Yi immediately summoned the Embroidery Workshop to take his measurements and tailor a new outfit, ensuring that the most beautiful and fashionable garments would be delivered to him before tomorrow’s banquet.
They watched as the ladies-in-waiting from the Embroidery Workshop bustled in and out of the Yuhua Courtyard. They also saw representatives from Tai’an’s two most renowned tailors enter the Princess’s residence one after another, carrying precious boxes directly to the Yuhua Courtyard.
The men in the West Wing finally came to a conclusion: it seemed Her Highness the Princess had truly taken a liking to the new master of the household.
For a moment, some were consumed by jealousy, others breathed a sigh of relief, some remained indifferent, whilst others were filled with restless anxiety.
Among them, the one with the most complex feelings was likely Bai Chuyin, who resided in the Fushu Pavilion.
He experienced a whole range of emotions, yet he never let his feelings show on his face; not even the young attendant who served him closely could fathom what was on his mind.
“Everyone assumed the young master would be disliked by His Highness, yet he has won Her Highness’s favour. Has there been no reaction from Qiyun Courtyard?”
“My lord, I do not know what has happened. Ever since Young Master Xia went to intercept Her Highness last night, he has returned to Qiyun Courtyard and locked himself away. I have not seen him leave the premises all day.”
“I fear… he may have suffered some injustice at Her Highness’s hands.”
Bai Chuyin fell instantly into deep thought. At the Crown Princess’s residence, Xia Ling enjoyed a level of favour comparable to his own.
Since even Xia Ling had fared no better, he swiftly abandoned his plan to test Xu Chen’s intentions.
He wondered: could it be that this young master from the Lu family truly possessed some hidden charm? He clearly appeared to be precisely the sort the Crown Princess had always disliked most—self-restrained, proper, and utterly dull.
At a time like this, it was best to remain unchanging in the face of all changes.
Perhaps he could pay a visit to the Sixth Princess and seek her advice.
At the mere thought of that figure from his memories, Bai Chuyin felt a surge of excitement. He ordered a young attendant to fetch ink and paper, preparing to send a letter out of the Princess’s residence.
Evening soon fell. As Xu Chen had sent no word that he would be staying at the Yuhua Courtyard tonight, Lu Qiuci dined alone.
After the servants had cleared away the table, he returned to his room, took the fabric that Di Liu had cut for him earlier that day, and set about making a pouch for Xu Chen with his own hands.
He thought to himself that, no matter what, the Princess had bestowed a favour upon him, and he ought to send her something in return to express his gratitude.
As the Crown Princess, Xu Chen would surely not be impressed by even the most precious gold, silver, or jewels; in that case, it would be better to give her something he had made himself.
Lu Qiuci took this matter very seriously, and the reason was quite understandable: he did not seek Xu Chen’s favour in great measure; he merely wished to live a comfortable life within the Crown Princess’s residence and to be able to protect his father.
The candlelight crackled intermittently; nearly ten lamps bathed the room in bright light. Lu Qiuci had been quietly embroidering for over an hour, having already completed most of the design on the pouch. With one more evening’s work, it would be finished.
His eyes were beginning to feel a little sore, and Dongyi immediately said with concern, “My Lord, it is very late. Please leave the embroidery until tomorrow.”
Diliu chimed in, “Yes, my Lord, it is getting late. Shall I send someone to fetch you some water?”
Lu Qiuci set down his needle and thread and gazed out of the window. Outside, the night was as still as water, and a waning moon appeared silently from behind the treetops.
‘It’s so late now; Her Highness probably won’t be coming tonight,’ Lu Qiuci thought to himself.
He didn’t feel particularly disappointed, for in truth, he hadn’t felt much affection from Xu Chen.
Even though Xu Chen had kissed him the very first time they met.
So it was only natural that Xu Chen wouldn’t be coming tonight.
For some reason, the thought that Xu Chen wouldn’t be coming tonight actually made Lu Qiuci breathe a slight sigh of relief.
He told Dongyi to put away the sewing basket, then nodded to Di Liu, preparing to wash up and retire for the night.
What Lu Qiuci never could have imagined was that, just as he had taken off his clothes and was about to get into bed, he suddenly heard the announcement from outside.
“Her Highness has arrived—”
The entire Yuhua Courtyard instantly descended into chaos. Lu Qiuci scrambled out of bed, slipping on his shoes as he hurried out, nearly bumping straight into Xu Chen.
“Your Highness?”
Xu Chen: “Tell those servants not to trouble themselves. I have already dined and require nothing further.”
“Furthermore, prepare water at once; I wish to wash.”
Lu Qiuci dared not look at Xu Chen’s expression; he possessed an innate, almost animal-like sensitivity to others’ moods, a gift that had saved him from reprimand on countless occasions since childhood.
For some reason, he could not shake the feeling that the Crown Princess’s countenance was rather sour at that moment, her brow furrowed with a deeper, more menacing gloom that made one dare not even breathe.
Xu Chen quickly finished her bath, changed into her nightgown, and walked into Lu Qiuci’s chamber.
By this time, Lu Qiuci had already been sent to bed by her, but he dared not sleep; he could only sit obediently by the bedside, waiting for her.
Seeing this, her mood finally improved somewhat. She told Lu Qiuci to lie down further in, then lay down herself, pulled the brocade quilt over her, and finally closed her eyes.
Xu Chen’s sleep had never been good, not even in her previous life. In fact, she had already lain down in her own bedchamber earlier, but she had tossed and turned, feeling that she hadn’t slept as comfortably as she had the night before.
After tossing and turning for nearly an hour, she finally gave in to herself, dressed once more, and made her way to the Yuhua Courtyard.
Xu Chen detested the feeling of being out of control, and she loathed being swayed by desires beyond her grasp. When she realised she preferred Lu Qiuci’s bed to her own bedchamber, her mood turned decidedly sour.
However, upon arriving at the Courtyard and seeing Lu Qiuci himself, Xu Chen’s irritation gradually faded.
For she realised one thing: even if her desire for sleep was slightly beyond her control, Lu Qiuci himself was entirely within her grasp.
A sense of security and comfort instantly returned to Xu Chen.
Xu Chen’s mood shifted from being on edge to completely at ease. The moment she lay down, the room fell instantly silent, leaving Lu Qiuci lying on the bed, utterly bewildered.
Utterly baffled!
He turned his head slightly to look at Xu Chen, unable to fathom why he had misjudged the situation. Clearly, Xu Chen shouldn’t have come back tonight, yet she had chosen to stay at his Courtyard for a second time.
Ripples suddenly spread across Lu Qiuci’s calm mind, leaving him feeling utterly bewildered.
He knew not how long had passed before he finally succumbed to drowsiness and drifted off. Once he was asleep, Xu Chen, too, finally allowed herself to slip into the realm of dreams.
She pondered for a moment: why did Lu Qiuci give her such a sense of comfort when sleeping? Perhaps it was because this man was so gentle?
Just like a small animal—if one were to hold a kitten or a puppy, one would indeed find it easier to fall asleep.
She slept soundly through the night, and the next morning, Xu Chen opened her eyes right on time.
She turned and found Lu Qiuci still asleep. This time, he wasn’t sleeping in her arms; instead, he was curled up on one side, looking tiny.
Yet Lu Qiuci was not short; he appeared to be over 1.7 metres tall, and at not yet eighteen, he would grow even taller.
He was simply too thin: his knuckles were prominent, his waist lacked any hint of excess flesh, and his legs were long and shapely, tapering to slender ankles—he did not look particularly healthy.
Xu Chen rolled out of bed, picked up the clothes beside him and began to dress. She had already dealt with Zhou Yan’s matter yesterday, and the blueprints for the new spinning machine had been handed over to the craftsmen; today she ought to pay a visit to the Ministry of War.
Although Xu Chen made very little noise, Lu Qiuci awoke quickly. He opened his eyes with a start and, seeing Xu Chen already standing by the bed getting dressed, was taken aback and scrambled to his feet.
“Forgive me, Your Highness. I have risen late.”
In truth, after two days of interaction, Lu Qiuci was no longer as afraid of Xu Chen as he had been.
He realised that Xu Chen was not as rumoured; he did not arbitrarily punish her servants on a whim.
Sure enough, Xu Chen did not reproach him, but merely patted him on the head before leaving the rest of the dressing to him.
Lu Qiuci noticed that Xu Chen was to wear his official robes today. He hesitated for a moment before asking, “Is Your Highness going to court today?”
Xu Chen glanced at him and said, “It is not a court day today. I am going to the Ministry of War.”
Xu Chen naturally would not explain in detail to him what he was going to the Ministry of War for, nor would Lu Qiuci press the matter further. He worked with nimble hands and feet, and soon had Xu Chen fully dressed and ready.
Looking at Xu Chen in her official robes, Lu Qiuci felt somewhat dazed. He did not know how to describe it, but he simply felt that Xu Chen, clad in her official robes, appeared even more imposing than usual.
The resplendent dignity of the official robes seemed to temper some of the dark, menacing aura about Xu Chen. Lu Qiuci suddenly felt a flush rise to his cheeks, marvelling once more at how Xu Chen’s appearance truly stood head and shoulders above all others, unrivalled by anyone.
If Xu Chen had known what Lu Qiuci was thinking at that moment, she would surely have told him that this was what was known as the allure of a uniform.
Of course, Xu Chen did eventually find out about this; as for what happened after that, we shall leave that for another time.
Once she was fully dressed, Xu Chen prepared to leave; the two guards, Xuan Ying and Xuan Yu, were already waiting outside.
Lu Qiuci saw Xu Chen off. Just as Xu Chen was about to step out of the Courtyard, he was suddenly overcome by a sudden impulse and called out to Xu Chen.
“Your Highness!”
“I sent word to the Lu residence yesterday that my mother would be coming to pay her respects with my father at noon today.”
“Will Your Highness be coming to receive them?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Chen gave it some serious thought.
She was indeed very busy, but she would surely have time for a meal; however, that would depend on whether her visit to the Ministry of War today went smoothly.
So Xu Chen said, “Perhaps I will.”
“If I am unable to attend, you may receive your parents yourself. Should you require anything, speak to Uncle Lin.”