The stars hung low over the wild fields, wind whispering through the treetops as branches laden with starlight swayed gently.
Baili Xunzhou sat perched on a tree branch with one knee drawn up, looking down. Below, the young lady stood amidst the frost-covered ground, staring blankly upward in silence. Her unadorned black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her fluffy crane-feather cloak wrapped around a pale, delicate face. The tip of her nose had turned slightly red from the wind, like a fallen peach blossom.
He furrowed his brow, leaped down from the tree, and landed before Feng Mian, his shadow falling over her and enveloping her completely.
Only then did Feng Mian snap back to her senses, finding her voice to explain: “I… I couldn’t sleep, so I got up for a walk.”
Baili Xunzhou raised his hand, and Feng Mian instinctively leaned back—only to see him reach out and snatch the round jade pendant still clutched in her hand.
“Even if the Commandery Princess is fond of it, one shouldn’t take what belongs to another, should one?” Baili Xunzhou deliberately jabbed. He never slept well outdoors at night, so he’d simply found a high vantage point to keep watch. He’d heard the noise when Feng Mian quietly slipped off the carriage, but he’d been too lazy to bother. Who would have thought that after a while, she’d walk right up and yank off his jade pendant?
It was hard not to suspect she’d done it on purpose.
Feng Mian quickly apologized: “I’m sorry. I thought it was starlight just now…”
She felt a bit embarrassed, realizing how foolish she’d been.
Baili Xunzhou snorted coldly. After fastening the jade pendant back on, he crossed his arms and dismissed her: “If the Commandery Princess has nothing else to do, she’d best return quickly. If she falls ill again, this young prince won’t stop to wait for you.”
Feng Mian was indeed beginning to feel a chill creeping in. She paid no mind to Baili Xunzhou’s cold demeanor or his barbed words, merely smiling at him, her teeth as neat as rows of shells.
“Thank you for your concern, Young Prince. I haven’t yet thanked you for your care along the journey. If you had pushed Swift Feather Camp to full speed, we would have been left far behind long ago.”
“You’re overthinking it. It’s not that I wish to look after you—it’s that my mother ordered it, and I have no choice but to obey.” Baili Xunzhou immediately distanced himself, every word practically screaming “afraid you’ll tattle.” Then he said bluntly: “Since there’s no one else around today, I’ll speak plainly with the Commandery Princess.”
Feng Mian looked up and saw Baili Xunzhou’s cool gaze fixed intently on her, his dark eyes like obsidian washed in spring mountain snowmelt—chilly, clear, and luminous.
“Our marriage was bestowed by His Majesty. My father and mother have accepted it, but I do not.” His voice was crisp and clear, like a bamboo pick lightly tapping thin-glazed porcelain, carrying a faint chill.
This young prince was unexpectedly candid.
Feng Mian hadn’t expected him to so directly tell her he didn’t want this marriage. To be honest, given how ruthless his conduct had been earlier, even if he’d grabbed her by the throat and forced her to annul the engagement, she wouldn’t have been surprised. His current sincerity left her silent for a long moment.
Seeing Feng Mian say nothing, Baili Xunzhou assumed she was hurt. He thought that was just as well—if she retreated in the face of difficulty, it would save him from fighting with his parents.
He had no awareness whatsoever that one ought to comfort a young lady who was upset. Instead, he said cheerfully: “If you’re willing, you can visit the manor and sit for a while. The Prince Dingbei’s estate will host you well, and you can slowly discuss annulling the marriage with my mother. If you’d rather not continue the journey, then write me a letter, and I’ll give it to my mother. You can go explain things to His Majesty yourself. How’s that?”
As he asked, he even lifted his chin slightly, clearly proud of how brilliant his two options were.
Seeing how delighted he looked, Feng Mian suddenly felt a mischievous impulse. She smiled slowly and said: “If only the Young Prince had said so earlier.”
Baili Xunzhou cast her a puzzled glance. Feng Mian continued: “Before meeting the Young Prince, I too was quite anxious and reluctant.”
Hearing her say “reluctant,” Baili Xunzhou should have been pleased, but somehow he felt a sense of foreboding.
Feng Mian’s apricot-shaped eyes curved into crescents, her pupils sparkling with bright light, and her tone took on a hint of maidenly shyness: “But now that I see the Young Prince’s handsome bearing and honest sincerity, truly unlike all the young lords of the capital—I find I rather like it. I think this marriage is just right. No need to annul it.”
Until I’ve determined whether you have any intention of rebellion, when that intention might arise, and whether you’ll ultimately rebel—how could this marriage possibly be annulled?
No annulment. Absolutely not.
Those few words startled Baili Xunzhou so much his eyes went wide, all the sharpness in his brow dissolving into bewilderment. He hadn’t done anything—what was she liking?
“Wait—”
“The Young Prince is right—the night is cold. If I fall ill again, I won’t be able to travel alongside you. I’ll go back to rest now.” As she spoke, Feng Mian pressed the silver hand warmer engraved with auspicious cloud patterns into Baili Xunzhou’s hands. “Keep this hand warmer to warm your hands, Young Prince. Even if you’re accustomed to the northern frontier weather, you must still take care of yourself when camping out in the open.”
With that, she gave him no chance to speak again, turned, and hurried back toward the carriage.
Baili Xunzhou instinctively caught the hand warmer, and Feng Mian’s fingertips, warmed by the device, brushed against his slightly cool palm. The touch was so hot it nearly made him jump. He stared in astonishment at the hand warmer still diligently radiating warmth between his hands, forgetting to move for a long moment.
When he looked up again, the figure wrapped in the large crimson crane-feather cloak had already entered the carriage and disappeared from sight.
The east was faintly pale, and the stars were gradually fading. In the light of dawn, the members of Swift Feather Camp were already energetically preparing to set out. The Luan Yi Guard was still in a fluster, making their final arrangements. The northern frontier nights were truly freezing, and many had not slept well. On top of that, they had only managed a few hours of rest, so most were somewhat listless.
Feng Mian genuinely admired Swift Feather Camp. They must have undergone years of relentless day-and-night training to possess such endurance.
Regardless of what the Young Prince himself was like, he certainly knew how to lead troops.
Feng Mian’s gaze landed on the young man riding at the head of Swift Feather Camp. She had slept soundly last night after returning, and she wondered whether the Young Prince had been so furious that he threw the hand warmer on the ground. But judging by how spirited he looked now, he probably hadn’t stayed angry for long.
Baili Xunzhou sensed the gaze on his back, and his entire spine stiffened. He hadn’t slept all night. The hand warmer in his embrace was both awkward and hot, and though it had gradually lost its warmth, it remained a hot potato in his hands.
He was the dignified heir of Prince Dingbei, one who had weathered wind and rain, who had spent countless nights sleeping outdoors in heavy snow. How could he be so delicate as to need a small hand warmer for warmth?
Utterly ridiculous.
“Your Highness, ginger tea.” Shan Yi brought over two coarse ceramic bowls, handing one to Baili Xunzhou and downing the other in one gulp.
“Where did this come from?” Swift Feather Camp had no habit of drinking ginger tea.
“The County Princess’s maidservant sent it over. She said they brewed two large pots to ward off the chill, warm the body, and refresh the spirit—everyone gets a share.” Shan Yi grinned, glancing toward the spot where the ginger soup was being distributed. “Your Highness, I have to say, drinking a bowl of this really does warm you up.”
“Do the men of my Swift Feather Camp look so delicate?” Baili Xunzhou was displeased. Small favors, buying people’s hearts.
“Oh, then I’ll have another bowl.” Seeing that Baili Xunzhou wouldn’t take it and seemed unwilling to drink, Shan Yi withdrew his hand, preparing to drink it himself.
The bowl had just reached his lips when someone snatched it away forcefully. Shan Yi looked up in surprise and saw Baili Xunzhou tilt his head back, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly as he downed the ginger tea in a few gulps, then tossed the empty bowl back into Shan Yi’s arms.
“Pass the word—finish quickly. We move out immediately.”
“Yes.” Shan Yi pursed his lips and carried the two empty bowls back.
“What? The Young Prince personally escorted the County Princess back?”
At the city gate of Yunzhong Commandery, a sweat-drenched youth gulped down an entire large bowl of water before recovering. The villagers had estimated the County Princess would arrive within the next couple of days, so early that morning they had sent him to scout how much distance remained between her and Yunzhong. But he hadn’t run more than a few li before he spotted the familiar Swift Feather Camp—and leading the vanguard was none other than the Young Prince, with the County Princess’s procession following behind.
Startled, he turned and sprinted back at full speed. He had to get the news to the villagers before the Young Prince and his party entered the city!
“I saw it with my own eyes—how could it be false?” the youth urged. “Quick, quick, take everything down. The Young Prince is about to enter the city!”
Reminded by the youth, everyone scrambled into motion. They bumped into one another, jostled about, all while still finding time to gossip with him. “Hey, what did the Young Prince’s expression look like? Did he acknowledge this marriage after meeting the County Princess?”
The youth recalled the Young Prince’s expression and shuddered. “Judging by that deadpan face of his, he didn’t look pleased. Most likely he’s been pestered into a corner and can’t shake her off!”
Just as they were talking, the clatter of hooves arrived at the city gate.
Shan Yi spotted the crowd bustling at the city gate from afar and cheerfully pointed it out to Baili Xunzhou. “Your Highness, look—everyone’s lined up to welcome you!”
The Young Prince had been wearing a grim face these past few days for some reason. Let him see something cheerful to lift his spirits.
“I’ve only been out of the city for a few days—surely this isn’t necessary?” Baili Xunzhou feigned indifference, but a smile secretly tugged at the corner of his lips as he imperceptibly quickened his pace.
The crowd at the city gate split in two in an instant. Half of them swarmed forward, blocking Baili Xunzhou’s horse, and greeted the Young Prince in a flurry of voices.
“Uncles, aunties, no need to crowd here—please disperse. Today the County Princess’s procession enters the city. I’ll chat with you all another day.” Baili Xunzhou spoke to the crowd surrounding his horse with unusual gentleness.
The uncles and aunties exchanged glances, all feeling deeply guilty, and refused to budge, chattering away: “Oh, Young Prince, don’t be in such a hurry! Isn’t the city gate open whenever you enter? Just wait a moment.”
“That’s the County Princess’s carriage behind you, isn’t it? My, how imposing! What does the County Princess look like?”
Baili Xunzhou grew suspicious at being surrounded like this, then suddenly noticed people behind the uncles and aunties busying themselves with something. Doubt rose in his heart. He inverted his long spear, using the shaft to push aside those blocking his way, spurred his horse forward, and asked, “What are you doing?”
“Young Prince, don’t!”
Before the startled words had even faded, Baili Xunzhou felt his horse step on something. He was just about to look down when he suddenly raised his head in alert, his long spear drawn in the same instant—
A shower of chives, scallions, white onions, and fiddlehead ferns came pouring down over his head, all vegetables with heavy aromas.
Baili Xunzhou’s movements faltered. Unwilling to harm the food, he withdrew his spear and was hung all over with the various vegetables, turning into a vegetable tree on the spot.
“Oh dear, Young Prince!” The crowd surged over in a messy rush, some picking vegetables off him, others gathering them from the ground.
Baili Xunzhou grew even more bewildered: “What exactly are you all doing?”
Setting up ambush traps at the city gates, of all things?
The crowd averted their eyes in a flurry, none daring to look at the young prince. Baili Xunzhou pressed the shaft of his spear against the head of the boy who had first delivered the message: “A Hao, you speak.”
The boy called A Hao glanced miserably toward the princess’s carriage: “Everyone felt sorry that the Young Prince was being forced into marriage, so we thought we’d just scare her off…”
“Nonsense!” Baili Xunzhou angrily rapped the boy on the head with his spear shaft. “Aren’t you afraid of angering the princess and losing your heads?”
“The law is the law—who says dumping vegetables is a capital offense? Besides, there’s still the carriage in between, so it wouldn’t even hit the princess. It’s just to let her know that we people of the northern frontier all stand on the Young Prince’s side!” A Hao argued with conviction. “And besides, these vegetables are still fresh—look!”
“Wasting food is an even greater offense.” Baili Xunzhou glared at him. He was displeased—how had the grand gift he’d prepared for the princess ended up being enjoyed by himself instead? This Yunzhong Commandery was getting more and more undisciplined.
“If my father and mother find out, they’ll surely punish you with seven days of labor.”
An elderly woman carefully shielded A Hao behind her and gave an awkward smile: “No waste, no waste—they can be washed and eaten. Will the Young Prince come to our house for a meal today?”
“I couldn’t possibly accept.” Baili Xunzhou twitched the corner of his mouth, remembering the princess sitting in the carriage behind him. She would surely ask about this matter. How should he answer to keep her from lodging a complaint with his mother?
On the carriage in the distance, Feng Mian and the others were craning their necks to look.
Liu Ying asked curiously: “Is this some kind of northern frontier welcome custom?”
“I’ve only heard of people throwing fruit to fill a carriage. Seeing someone pelted with such a big bundle of vegetables—that’s a first for me.” Feng Mian was equally puzzled. Watching the northern frontier folk bustling around Baili Xunzhou in a flurry, she was somewhat surprised at how beloved he was.