The two originally planned to leave the palace after the medicine was applied, but since Youtao and Luoxiang had not yet returned, they waited in Fengxi Palace.
“Princess, please show me around Fengxi Palace,” Di Shengyue suggested, having nothing else to do. “I want to see the place where you grew up.”
Xiao Yinxue gently replied with an “Mhm,” then took Di Shengyue’s hand and led her around.
Di Shengyue looked at the hand Xiao Yinxue had taken, her eyes moving slightly. She secretly wiggled her fingers, interweaving their hands so their fingers were laced together.
Xiao Yinxue seemed to sense it, but only paused briefly and did not pull her hand away from Di Shengyue’s.
Di Shengyue subtly curled her lips, gripping tighter.
After walking for a while with Xiao Yinxue and admiring the scenery of Fengxi Palace, Di Shengyue said, “Princess, I want to see your sleeping quarters.”
“It’s just an ordinary bedchamber,” Xiao Yinxue stopped, her cheeks flushed for some reason. “What is there to see?”
Di Shengyue had only mentioned it casually, but seeing Xiao Yinxue’s slightly flushed cheeks, she suddenly sensed something unusual.
“Princess, what are you nervous about?” Di Shengyue walked in front of Xiao Yinxue and looked into her eyes.
Those clear, autumn-water eyes were now subtly brimming with shyness. The moment her gaze met Di Shengyue’s, she was startled and immediately looked away.
“Who, who’s nervous!” Although it should have been a vigorous denial, Xiao Yinxue’s words lacked any force.
Di Shengyue immediately became more interested in Xiao Yinxue’s bedchamber. Xiao Yinxue rarely got this nervous.
Di Shengyue took a step forward.
Xiao Yinxue subconsciously stepped back, only to realize her hand was held by Di Shengyue and she couldn’t retreat.
She tried to slip her hand out of Di Shengyue’s grasp. Sensing Xiao Yinxue’s movement, Di Shengyue tightened her hold on Xiao Yinxue’s hand even more.
Di Shengyue leaned close to Xiao Yinxue’s ear and asked, “Could it be that the Princess’s bedchamber holds some unspeakable secret?”
Xiao Yinxue’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson: “There’s no secret.”
Thinking about some of the items kept in her bedchamber, Xiao Yinxue couldn’t help but feel guilty, her eyes darting around, unwilling to look at Di Shengyue.
Xiao Yinxue’s expression clearly indicated there was a problem.
“Since there’s none, then Princess…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Xiao Yinxue interrupted: “I don’t like others seeing my bedchamber.”
“Oh?” Di Shengyue raised an eyebrow, looking at Xiao Yinxue with a teasing gaze.
Xiao Yinxue avoided Di Shengyue’s sight and pulled her toward the back garden: “I’ll take you for a walk in the back garden! It’s beautifully manicured there.”
“But I only want to see the Princess’s bedchamber.”
“I said no!” Xiao Yinxue quickened her steps, as if trying to flee from a certain place.
Di Shengyue watched Xiao Yinxue’s anxious look, a playful smile in her eyes. She subtly glanced at the sleeping quarters in the opposite direction from the back garden. It seemed Xiao Yinxue’s bedchamber must be in that direction. Perhaps she could sneak in sometime to see what little secret Xiao Yinxue was hiding.
As Xiao Yinxue hurried along, she also felt ashamed. She decided she must find an opportunity to tidy up her bedchamber completely.
The back garden of Fengxi Palace was grandly designed, with many plum trees planted around.
“The old nanny told me that these plum trees were transplanted by my Imperial Father from a very distant place,” Xiao Yinxue said, looking at the distant plum trees. “It is said that Imperial Father spent a lot of effort to cultivate these rare trees.”
It was a pity that Imperial Father’s love for Imperial Mother didn’t last long.
Sensing Xiao Yinxue’s low mood, Di Shengyue didn’t say much, just stood quietly beside her, keeping her company.
Xiao Yinxue glanced at Di Shengyue, a warmth adding to her eyes.
She led Di Shengyue into the pavilion in the back garden, where a chess box sat. Since it hadn’t been used for a long time, it had become worn, and faint cracks could be seen on it.
Xiao Yinxue touched the old chessboard, her eyes filled with nostalgia: “When I was little, I often set up the pieces here alone. The old nanny in the palace told me that Imperial Mother often played chess with Imperial Father here. I didn’t get to see Imperial Mother much, so I always wanted to do some of the things she did and feel her presence. The palace tutors only taught the most basic moves; they never mentioned how to play a game or how to strategize. I once asked Imperial Father to give me some pointers, but he got angry the moment he saw this chessboard and left.”
Xiao Yinxue picked up a white piece and placed it in a corner of the board, saying, “Later, the nanny told me the reason. Imperial Mother was highly skilled at chess, and also a very determined person. Every time Imperial Father and Imperial Mother played, it would end unhappily. That’s why Imperial Father was so displeased when he saw the chessboard.”
“The Empress was indeed someone who hated to lose.” Recalling the stories about the former Empress that her father had told her, Di Shengyue said, “It was precisely because of her refusal to be defeated that she earned the title of ‘God of War’ of the Xiao Kingdom.”
“Yes, the ‘God of War’,” Xiao Yinxue murmured softly.
Clack. A black piece landed in the opposite corner.
One black and one white piece occupied different places, echoing each other from afar, yet never able to touch.
Just like Xiao Yinxue and the former Empress.
“Has the Princess ever resented the Empress?” Di Shengyue asked.
The former Empress went to the battlefield soon after Xiao Yinxue was born, having almost no opportunity to spend time with her.
The following year, the former Empress returned victorious and became pregnant with the First Prince. Her attention was entirely focused on the First Prince, and she was very cold toward Xiao Yinxue.
However, because the former Empress was severely wounded on the battlefield and her body was too weak, the birth was extremely painful due with a breech presentation.
Ultimately, the First Prince was stillborn, and the former Empress also passed away due to overwhelming weakness.
This was how Xiao Yinxue became a princess without a mother’s affection.
Thinking of this, Di Shengyue’s eyes dimmed. She had once believed this to be the case.
But judging from the conversation between the previous life’s Xiao Yinxue and the Emperor, the Emperor seemed to be involved in the former Empress’s death.
The darkness of the court was far more terrifying than she had imagined.
Xiao Yinxue shook her head and said, “How could I resent Imperial Mother? Imperial Mother has always been my pride. I just regret that my physical constitution is so weak. Otherwise, I would also want to be like Imperial Mother and protect what I care about most.”
As Xiao Yinxue said these words, she looked up at Di Shengyue.
Di Shengyue was suddenly stunned. How could she have thought such a sensible Xiao Yinxue was unreasonable in her previous life?
Di Shengyue’s gaze towards Xiao Yinxue became increasingly gentle.
Her eyes were filled with affection.
She stepped forward and embraced Xiao Yinxue, letting her head rest against her waist.
“Princess, you don’t need to protect anyone anymore,” Di Shengyue’s voice was so gentle, carrying profound tenderness.
You have already protected me well, both in the past life and this one.
Therefore,
Di Shengyue said seriously: “From now on, I will be the one to protect you.”
Leaning against Di Shengyue, Xiao Yinxue felt a sense of security she had never experienced before.
“Mhm,” she gently responded.