The sky was hazy and mist-covered, just beginning to show the pale light of dawn.
Di Shengyue stood under a tree, a sword in her hand.
The silver blade glinted with cold light. Di Shengyue suddenly opened her eyes, a sharp intensity flashing in their profound depths. The sword shot out like a long rainbow. She lightly touched the ground with her feet and sprang into the air, the sword weaving around her, causing her robes to flutter.
Each thrust of the keen edge brought a rush of breaking wind. The golden leaves, swept up by her sword energy, fell one after another, as if carpeting the ground in gold.
Xiao Yinxue stood watching at the courtyard gate, only feeling that amidst the flowing sword light, Di Shengyue’s figure was graceful and dazzling, making it impossible to look away.
For a moment, Xiao Yinxue was mesmerized.
Di Shengyue finished her martial practice and stood under the tree, breathing slightly.
She was wearing a thin, long robe, which was now soaked with sweat and clinging tightly to her body.
Her dark hair cascaded down, loosely draped over her. Fine sweat trickled down her jawline, sliding along her slender neck, and disappearing into her collar.
She looked truly sensual and alluring.
For some reason, Xiao Yinxue felt her face flush. She quickly covered her face, hoping to dissipate the heat.
“Princess, was it a good sight?” Di Shengyue curved her lips into a mischievous smile, stepped forward, and propped her elbow against the wall behind her.
Xiao Yinxue found herself fully enveloped in Di Shengyue’s embrace, instantly becoming both ashamed and annoyed: “You, when did you get here!”
“Right when the Princess was utterly captivated,” Di Shengyue chuckled.
“Who was captivated by you!” Xiao Yinxue retorted, her face red.
“Then, why was the Princess staring at me just now?” Di Shengyue plunged the long sword into the ground, and used her index finger to lift Xiao Yinxue’s chin, meeting her gaze, “And why are you lowering your head now?”
Xiao Yinxue’s cheeks grew even redder.
“I, I just suddenly wanted to learn martial arts,” Xiao Yinxue insisted stubbornly, “I wanted to learn, so I watched you practice. Is that not allowed?”
“If the Princess wishes to learn, of course it is,” Di Shengyue smiled, choosing not to expose her. “However, practicing martial arts is hard work, I worry the Princess won’t be able to stick with it.”
“Who are you looking down on!” Xiao Yinxue glared fiercely at Di Shengyue upon hearing this, declaring, “There’s nothing in this world that can defeat this Princess!”
Provoked by Di Shengyue, Xiao Yinxue’s fighting spirit was instantly aroused.
“In that case, would the Princess like to try?” Di Shengyue stepped away from Xiao Yinxue and extended her hand to her.
“Try, then try,” Xiao Yinxue said.
Di Shengyue’s smile deepened.
She had long felt that Xiao Yinxue’s body was frail and that she should practice some martial arts to strengthen herself.
Moreover, teaching Xiao Yinxue herself would allow the two of them to grow closer.
Di Shengyue originally intended to teach Xiao Yinxue simple movements, but Xiao Yinxue insisted on learning the sword form she had just performed, so Di Shengyue indulged her.
“And this part, you must straighten your back,” Di Shengyue said, gently supporting and patting Xiao Yinxue’s lower back with one hand. It seemed she hadn’t aimed quite right, and the slap landed on her delicate bottom.
“You!” Xiao Yinxue’s cheeks instantly turned crimson. Before she could say anything, Di Shengyue pressed her entire body close to hers.
Di Shengyue tightly embraced Xiao Yinxue’s slender waist with one hand, and with the other, supported Xiao Yinxue’s arm, lifting her sword-holding arm up slightly and guiding her arm to perform a sword flourish: “Princess, here, your arm needs to be raised a little higher.”
Di Shengyue’s gaze was focused only on the sword tip, her eyes full of seriousness, and for a moment, Xiao Yinxue couldn’t find the words to scold her.
Xiao Yinxue could only focus her mind on practicing the sword.
In the place Xiao Yinxue couldn’t see, Di Shengyue curved her lips.
Sweat-dampened strands of hair clung to Xiao Yinxue’s exquisite small face. Her fair cheeks were now flushed red, looking utterly adorable.
Di Shengyue tidied Xiao Yinxue’s messy hair and raised her sleeve to wipe away the beads of sweat that had appeared on her forehead.
After guiding Xiao Yinxue through the movement again, she said softly, “Princess, try it one more time.”
“No more practice, this Princess is tired,” Xiao Yinxue put down her hand, rubbing her sore arm, and complained, “Why are you so strict?”
If she made even a slight mistake, Di Shengyue would correct her over and over, making her repeat it repeatedly.
In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Xiao Yinxue felt her arm was unbearably sore and refused to continue.
Seeing this, a flicker of undetectable disappointment crossed Di Shengyue’s eyes.
She also knew that the Princess’s delicate body truly couldn’t continue, so she withdrew the sword.
After stopping, Xiao Yinxue realized her arm was terribly sore, so tired she couldn’t even lift it.
She sat in the deck chair, stretched out her arm, and raised an eyebrow at Di Shengyue.
Di Shengyue naturally began to massage it for her.
Di Shengyue’s kneading strength was just right, effectively alleviating Xiao Yinxue’s discomfort.
Xiao Yinxue closed her eyes contentedly, enjoying the massage.
She was so tired because of Di Shengyue, so it was only right that Di Shengyue should wait on her now.
Di Shengyue looked at Xiao Yinxue, who was as docile as a small cat tired from playing, and the smile in her eyes deepened.
The Princess truly was the most adorable person in this world.
Seeing that the two had rested, Luoxiang brought over the tea and placed it beside them.
“Princess, news has arrived from the palace,” Luoxiang said.
Xiao Yinxue, lulled almost to sleep by Di Shengyue’s pressing, opened her blurry, sleep-filled eyes and asked, “What news?”
“General Gu has won,” Luoxiang replied.
“Not surprising,” Xiao Yinxue yawned, glanced at Di Shengyue, and said, “You gave him so many brilliant strategies; if he still couldn’t win, then there’s no need for that General Gu to be on the battlefield.”
A few days ago, Xiao Ningxin sent someone to ask Xiao Yinxue for a pot of dark chrysanthemums. Di Shengyue then buried the sealed strategy note under the flowerpot and had it delivered.
“How is the Princess so clever, knowing that the strategy was meant for General Gu?”
Di Shengyue smiled, thinking that Xiao Yinxue appeared spoiled and unreasonable, but her heart was as clear as a mirror.
Luoxiang poured tea for both of them and said, “The Wei Kingdom is now retreating constantly. In order to seek peace, they have not only sent their treasured perfume powder but also their ‘national treasure’.”
“National treasure?” Xiao Yinxue asked with some curiosity, “What national treasure?”
“The Princess of Wei,” Di Shengyue replied, “It is rumored that the Wei Kingdom has a princess whose beauty is devastating, like a celestial maiden descending to earth. Anyone who has seen her, regardless of gender, is said to be completely captivated, thinking of her day and night. Therefore, the Wei King has always hidden her deep within the palace, never showing her to the public. The Wei Kingdom has even offered this Princess, so it seems they have indeed been heavily defeated.”
Di Shengyue mused, stroking her chin.
In the previous life, with the same military tactics, General Liu did not push the Wei Kingdom to this extent, yet General Gu did.
It seemed the military generals under the Third Prince were more capable than she had imagined.
In the previous life, this Wei Princess was presented to the most powerful Ancient Kingdom.
Di Shengyue still remembered that the Ancient Kingdom fell into chaos not long after and was later annexed by surrounding nations.
Thinking this way, this Wei Princess was probably not a benevolent figure, and the Wei Kingdom’s intention in sending her was absolutely not good.
However, these matters were good news for her.
This Xiao Kingdom, after all, needed to be as chaotic as possible.
Di Shengyue revealed a meaningful smile.
Xiao Yinxue saw Di Shengyue start smiling as soon as she heard about the Wei Princess entering the palace, and her mood immediately soured.
First, it was Xiao Ningxin, and now the Wei Princess.
Does this Di Shengyue fall for anyone she sees?
“You’re so happy about the Wei Princess entering the palace?” Xiao Yinxue snorted coldly.
“Princess, where has your mind wandered to again?” Di Shengyue stretched out her index finger and lightly flicked Xiao Yinxue on the forehead.
Xiao Yinxue covered her forehead, a hint of annoyance surfacing in her eyes.
Before she could retaliate, Di Shengyue leaned closer and whispered in Xiao Yinxue’s ear, “Currently, in the inner palace, the Empress and Consort Wan’s families are dominant. As the Empress Dowager’s legitimate daughter, Princess, you are naturally the focus of everyone’s attention. If you make even the slightest mistake, you will be immediately seized upon. The perfume powder from the Wei Kingdom is about to enter the palace. At that time, our shop will quickly be targeted. Wouldn’t it be a good thing to have a Wei Princess enter the palace to divert the attention of those within the palace?”
Xiao Yinxue considered it and felt that this made sense.
“Princess, to me, all other women are mere common beauties. Can’t you see that my eyes can only hold you alone?” Di Shengyue said, looking deeply at Xiao Yinxue.
Xiao Yinxue looked at Di Shengyue’s eyes, deep and placid like water, reflecting only her image.
That wave of tenderness was almost overwhelming, and Xiao Yinxue’s heart rate involuntarily quickened.
She caressed Di Shengyue’s cheeks and leaned closer.
As their eyes met, she saw endless tenderness in Di Shengyue’s eyes.
Moved by an impulse, Xiao Yinxue suddenly hooked her arms around Di Shengyue’s neck and kissed her on the lips.
Di Shengyue was momentarily stunned and couldn’t react right away.
Before Di Shengyue could respond, Xiao Yinxue let go of her, her cheeks slightly flushed, and quickly turned and ran away.
Di Shengyue touched her lips, where a trace of Xiao Yinxue’s warmth still lingered.
The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.