“Your subject, Yuan Jixue, greets the Princess Consort.” After exchanging pleasantries with the Princess Consort with practiced ease, the young woman looked at Feng Mian with slight confusion, then quickly composed a gentle smile and offered her a bow.
“You know me?” Feng Mian asked with curiosity, giving her a careful once-over. She was a rare beauty, her plain attire only accentuating her elegant bearing.
Judging by her dress and the way she had been following quietly behind the mansion’s maidservants with her head bowed, she was clearly no noble lady, yet she seemed quite close to the Princess Consort. Who could she be?
Behind her, Liu Ying was even more vigilant. Having read countless romance novels, she knew that any woman who suddenly appeared at the male lead’s residence at a time like this was eight times out of ten entangled in some unspeakable romantic affair with him.
Liu Ying had been so nervous about entering the mansion the next day that she hadn’t slept well the night before and had been drowsy the whole journey. Now she snapped to full alertness, fixing her gaze on the beautiful woman before her.
Yuan Jixue curved her smiling eyes, her demeanor neither humble nor overbearing. “Your subject has never had the fortune of meeting the Princess. It was only upon arriving at the mansion today that I heard Her Highness’s carriage had already arrived, so I took a bold guess. It seems I guessed correctly.”
Clever and bold, indeed. Feng Mian curved her lips slightly, but Liu Ying’s eyes went wide again: She knew the Princess had arrived today, yet instead of coming another day, she’d barged straight in? Something was definitely off!
The Princess Consort asked from the side, “Since Jixue has come, why didn’t you have a servant announce you? If we hadn’t happened to run into each other, were you planning to slip away quietly like this?”
“The Princess has just arrived, so Her Highness must have no time for guests. Jixue is of low status and truly wouldn’t want to impose.” Yuan Jixue lowered her eyes briefly, speaking with a hint of shyness, then raised her arm to show everyone the small bamboo basket hanging from her wrist. “I only meant to leave the newly made medicine sachets and be on my way.”
The Princess Consort said with a smile, “You’re a child I’ve watched grow up. No need to be so formal.”
As if afraid Feng Mian might misunderstand something, the Princess Consort turned to briefly introduce Yuan Jixue. “The Yuan family’s courtyard is right next door to the mansion. Jixue’s father does business abroad and rarely returns. My two boys are also never home, so Jixue often comes to keep me company.”
Feng Mian nodded. “So you’re neighbors. What a fortunate connection.”
Liu Ying drew in a sharp breath: Childhood friends! Next-door neighbors! The worst-case scenario had finally arrived! Princess, what connection? You’d better watch out!
Liu Ying couldn’t help tugging at Feng Mian’s sleeve. Feng Mian turned to look at her and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong, Liu Ying? Are your eyes bothering you?”
The Princess Consort and Yuan Jixue also cast concerned looks her way.
Yuan Jixue said, “Where do you feel unwell? I have some knowledge of medicine and could take a look.”
Liu Ying quickly waved her hands. “This servant is fine, just some sand in my eyes. Wuliu can check for me.”
Liu Ying pulled Wuliu over, and Wuliu leaned in, whispering, “What are you doing?”
Liu Ying: “Protecting the Princess.”
Wuliu: ?
Liu Ying: “Forget it, I can’t explain it to the two of you. I’ll tell you later.”
Meanwhile, Yuan Jixue was gently asking after Feng Mian. “The northern winds carry much sand. Has the Princess felt any discomfort?”
“I’m ashamed to say, I spent the entire journey in the carriage and never got a proper look at the northern frontier’s scenery.” Feng Mian said regretfully.
That Baili Xunzhou had led them through nothing but desolate, remote paths—she couldn’t help wondering if he’d done it deliberately to make her experience the harshness of the northern frontier. She truly hadn’t seen any scenery at all.
“I observe that the Princess’s complexion is pale, with a bluish tint at the bridge of your nose, and you appear somewhat fatigued with heavy-lidded eyes. Clearly you haven’t rested well along the journey and must have fallen ill several times. Once you’re settled, you must take good care of yourself.”
“Thank you. I’ve been frail since childhood and have grown accustomed to it.” Feng Mian’s lips curved slightly, her ink-black eyes sparkling with curiosity. “To discern all that from mere observation—are you sure you only have a passing knowledge of medicine?”
Before Yuan Jixue could respond, the Princess Consort said with a smile, “This child is being modest. She’s studied medical texts on her own since childhood and has read through nearly the entire collection in the mansion’s library.”
“Just book knowledge, nothing more. I’ve never actually treated a patient. I only use my understanding of pharmacology to prepare medicine sachets and pass the time.” Yuan Jixue spoke at an unhurried pace, her voice as pleasant to the ear as a spring breeze.
The Princess Consort helplessly tapped Yuan Jixue’s forehead, acting every bit the doting elder, then turned to praise her to Feng Mian. “Jixue’s medicine sachets are truly excellent. When I can’t sleep, I rely entirely on her sachets to calm my mind and aid my rest.” As she spoke, the Princess Consort took a sachet of plain silk embroidered with crabapple blossoms from Yuan Jixue’s hand and offered it to Feng Mian to examine.
“Miss Yuan’s embroidery is truly exquisite.” Feng Mian leaned in to smell it. A faint medicinal fragrance was tempered by a light, sweet floral scent, not at all pungent. Even though she disliked the smell of medicine, she found this sachet quite pleasant. “The scent of this sachet is also very distinctive.”
“The Princess flatters me. It’s just a small craft—surely nothing compared to what they make in the capital.”
“What’s not as good as Shengjing?” Baili Xunzhou and Prince Dingbei finally caught up at a leisurely pace. The father and son had never been fond of strolling through gardens, so they had fallen behind, discussing the northern border defenses and Wolf Bone Ridge. They walked slower and slower, bickering heatedly for a while before remembering to catch up with the Princess Consort.
Yuan Jixue bowed to the two men. “This humble woman pays her respects to Your Highness and to Young Master Shizi.”
Young Master Shizi?
Liu Ying and Wuliu, following behind Feng Mian, whipped their heads around to exchange a shocked glance, both pairs of eyes wide with astonishment.
Liu Ying, whose wariness had just begun to ease, perked up again, pricking up her ears to hear what came next.
Feng Mian was also taken aback. She blinked rapidly, glancing from Yuan Jixue to Baili Xunzhou.
What was this—some kind of sweet brother-and-sister act?
But Baili Xunzhou merely nodded in a perfunctory manner to return the greeting, and Yuan Jixue showed none of the blushing, delicate demeanor of a lovestruck maiden. Quite naturally, she handed the small bamboo basket in her hands to Baili Xunzhou.
“We were just talking about that. As it happens, these two are for Your Highness and Young Master Shizi. I’ve added mint and borneol—they can refresh the mind and ward off fatigue. If you’re on a forced march, you can keep them on hand.”
Baili Xunzhou seemed to have misunderstood something. He deliberately glanced at Feng Mian, and the moment he took the bamboo basket, he raised his voice in praise. “Miss Yuan’s craftsmanship is naturally excellent. There’s no need to pay any mind to others’ nitpicking. If one likes Shengjing’s things so much, then one should go back to Shengjing. Why come to my northern border and find fault with everything?”
This was clearly a barb aimed straight at Feng Mian.
How could the Young Master act like this? And wasn’t this Miss Yuan doing it on purpose? Liu Ying seized the opportunity, puffing up with indignation and about to defend her mistress, when a female voice cut in first to explain: “The Young Master misunderstands. The Princess Consort was actually complimenting my craftsmanship just now, so I made a modest remark about myself.”
As she spoke, Yuan Jixue looked at Feng Mian with slight apology. “My words were poorly chosen. Young Master Shizi has a straightforward temperament and speaks a bit hastily. I do hope the Princess Consort won’t take offense.”
Anyone who saw it would think Yuan Jixue was offering a sincere apology, but Liu Ying was screaming inwardly: What relation do you have with the Young Master that you’d apologize on his behalf for the Princess Consort’s forgiveness? The line between close and distant couldn’t be clearer!
She wished she could press her mouth to her mistress’s ear and shout it out.
But Feng Mian, though she hadn’t read many storybooks, was no fool. Having spent so many years in the palace, she could now see that Yuan Jixue was subtly trying to show off her closeness with Baili Xunzhou.
Still, Yuan Jixue had some maidenly pride. She wanted to pull off a bit of green-tea scheming, but couldn’t quite swallow her dignity, and seemed even more reluctant to reveal that side of herself in front of the Princess Consort. So she came across as awkward and constrained, which, in Feng Mian’s eyes, held no real threat at all.
Baili Xunzhou knew nothing of these convoluted undercurrents. He only knew that he had wronged Feng Mian due to his own preconceptions, and how could he let someone else apologize on his behalf? He immediately stepped before Feng Mian and solemnly clasped his fists in apology. “My apologies. I passed judgment without knowing the full story. That was my fault.”
“Alright, alright. It was just a minor misunderstanding over words—there’s no need for the two of you to apologize one after another.” Feng Mian quickly sidestepped to avoid receiving Baili Xunzhou’s deep bow. Otherwise, it would make her look terribly petty.
The Princess Consort drew Feng Mian close and shot Baili Xunzhou a reproachful look. “He deserves to apologize. He hears a gust of wind and takes it for rain. To put it nicely, he’s outspoken; to put it bluntly, he doesn’t use his head.”
Baili Xunzhou opened his mouth, but in the end, not a single word came out. He could only swallow his frustration and look at his mother, silently accepting the scolding.
Seeing this, Yuan Jixue spoke up to take her leave and relieve his embarrassment. “Since the items have been delivered, I’ll be on my way.”
She then turned to Feng Mian, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes especially sincere. “I didn’t expect to meet the Princess Consort here today. The medicine pouch I prepared for you is still missing a few ingredients and won’t be ready for another two days. I do hope the Princess Consort won’t hold today’s carelessness against Jixue.”
Apologizing again? She certainly loved to apologize. Feng Mian hadn’t received this many apologies in her dozen-plus years in the palace as she had today. After all, the only one who constantly provoked her, Chu Jinglian, was hardly the type to apologize easily.
“Miss Yuan, there’s truly no need to be so polite. It’s still early. You’re the first young woman of similar age I’ve met since arriving in the northern border—why not stay and chat for a while?”
After all, as a neighbor of the prince’s residence for over a decade, she was surely more familiar with the household than Feng Mian, who had just arrived. Perhaps she could glean some information from her.
Liu Ying couldn’t understand why her mistress would keep her here. She wished Yuan Jixue would leave as soon as possible.
“Thank you for your kindness, Princess Consort. But today my father and brother have returned home, so I really shouldn’t stay out too long.” Yuan Jixue said with a hint of reluctance.
Hearing that Yuan Jixue’s father and brother had returned, Baili Xunzhou’s brow furrowed slightly. “Then how can we let you go back alone?”
It was just going home—what was wrong with going alone? Liu Ying’s heart leaped. Was the Young Master about to say he’d escort her back himself? What kind of propriety was that? If the common folk on the streets found out that on the Princess Consort’s very first day in the northern border, the Young Master had escorted another woman home, wouldn’t her mistress’s position become even more difficult!
She quickly nudged Feng Mian’s lower back, signaling her to speak up and stop the Young Master.
“The Princess Consort has just arrived today. Young Master Shizi need not—”
“Shan Yi, escort Miss Yuan back.” Baili Xunzhou turned and gave the order crisply, only then noticing that Yuan Jixue had spoken. “Miss Yuan, what did you just say?”
Liu Ying: “…”
All that worry, for nothing.
Feng Mian subtly tilted her head, pressing her lips together to suppress the smile threatening to curl at the corners of her mouth. She knew it—this young heir had certainly failed to catch the young lady’s hints and coy refusals.
Yuan Jixue: “…”
Yuan Jixue awkwardly clutched her handkerchief, pressing her lips together as she shook her head. “It’s nothing. Thank you, Brother Crown Prince.”
She turned and left with Shan Yi, her graceful figure quickly disappearing into the intersecting corridors.