Chapter 118 : The Sense of Ritual

Xue Qingyin touched her chest, feeling that she still had some conscience left.

So, just before going to bed, she said to King Xuan, “Your Highness, remember to wake me up when you get up.”

King Xuan responded, “Hmm.”

Xue Qingyin felt that his answer was rather perfunctory, so she had already crawled into her blanket, planning to rest. But after a moment’s thought, she stubbornly got back up, grabbed her outer robe and draped it over her shoulders, then hurriedly called for Nong Xia.

“Tomorrow, when you see His Highness is leaving, wake me up.”

Nong Xia stared at her, confused. “Miss, your clothes…”

“Huh?” Xue Qingyin looked down. “Oh, I put on the wrong clothes. It doesn’t matter.”

Xue Qingyin tugged at the outer robe.

It was King Xuan’s robe.

It was large and loose, with the hem even trailing on the floor. But it was especially good at blocking the wind.

“I’ll remember, Miss. Please rest early.” Nong Xia snapped back to her senses and replied.

Xue Qingyin nodded, reassured, and went back to sleep.

At the time of Mao (5 a.m.), the sky was just about to brighten.

Outside the Prince’s residence, the royal guards were in armor, carrying swords and holding torches.

Fang Chengzhong circled around them, dismounted from his horse, and walked into the prince’s residence, just in time to meet King Xuan.

“Let’s go,” King Xuan said.

Fang Chengzhong couldn’t resist asking, “Aren’t we going to see the secondary Concubine?”

King Xuan casually replied, “She’s still asleep.”

Fang Chengzhong muttered quietly to himself, wondering if His Highness couldn’t even wake her up? But he was about to set off.

Meanwhile, Nong Xia hesitated for a moment.

She wanted to wake up Miss, but King Xuan had told her not to, saying Miss was tired and should rest.

But Miss’s instructions kept replaying in her mind.

In the end, Nong Xia stubbornly decided that as Miss’s maid from her family, she had to follow Miss’s orders.

Determined, Nong Xia rushed into the room and shook Xue Qingyin awake. “Miss, hurry! Wake up! King Xuan is already walking to the main gate…”

Xue Qingyin jolted awake.

She looked around and realized that King Xuan was already gone.

“My clothes?”

“Here, here!”

“Tea, give me some tea…” Xue Qingyin quickly rinsed her mouth and splashed some water on her face, then rushed toward the door.

“Miss, your hair hasn’t been done yet!” Nong Xia called, following behind her.

At this point, Xue Qingyin didn’t care about her hair.

She lifted her skirt and quickly ran.

The palace servants outside, too slow to react, only started running after them when they heard Nong Xia calling, “Secondary Concubine! Where is the secondary Concubine going?”

“Secondary Concubine, slow down! Wait a moment…”

She was delicate, and if she fell, it could be disastrous!

At the same time, the royal guards led the horses to King Xuan.

He nodded and mounted the horse.

Just as he was about to turn the horse and leave, something seemed to cross his mind, and his expression shifted slightly.

Fang Chengzhong looked back, unwilling to give up, and asked, “Your Highness, shall we depart now?”

“Mm.” King Xuan took the reins.

As he turned the horse, footsteps grew nearer, along with Nong Xia’s breathless cries, “Wait, wait… Miss, wait for me!”

Hearing this, Fang Chengzhong immediately realized that the secondary Concubine had arrived.

Without thinking, he turned to look at King Xuan.

But where was King Xuan on the horse?

He had already dismounted.

King Xuan climbed the stairs to meet Xue Qingyin, who was running toward him.

Her hair was loose, and she had thrown on his cloak over her clothes. The wind tousled her hair, and in the faint morning light, her cheeks were slightly flushed, while her eyes shone brightly.

She was running toward him.

It was as though she was running straight into his heart.

His gaze drifted over the cloak that was his, and for a moment, his expression grew hotter.

King Xuan didn’t hesitate and quickly stepped forward to catch her.

Xue Qingyin naturally fell into his embrace.

“Why are you running so fast? Be careful not to strain yourself,” King Xuan said, furrowing his brow as he gently patted her back.

Xue Qingyin was breathing heavily. “Y-Yes… I almost had a relapse.” She raised her face and glared at him, “Who’s to blame? It’s because Your Highness didn’t wake me up.”

King Xuan’s heart softened, and he almost wanted to kiss her.

But seeing how hard she was breathing, he refrained.

Instead, he raised his hand and gently swept aside the disheveled hair flying in all directions.

Xue Qingyin put her hand on his arm and rested her chin on it. “Let me… rest for a moment.”

King Xuan replied softly, “Mm.” He didn’t move, standing there like a pillar.

Fang Chengzhong stood at the bottom of the stairs, unable to resist grinning.

The royal guards watched in silence, feeling this moment was rare.

The morning breeze blew gently, but it wasn’t cold.

Xue Qingyin’s breathing gradually returned to normal.

Finally, she pulled away from King Xuan’s embrace. “I can tell my body is much better these days. Otherwise, when you return, I’d be lying in bed.”

King Xuan looked at her deeply. “Mm, still needs more rest.”

Xue Qingyin smiled. “Alright, Your Highness, go now.”

King Xuan paused. “Hmm?”

“I’m just here to see you off. It’s enough just to see you leave.” Xue Qingyin said firmly.

King Xuan replied softly, “…”

“And that’s why I didn’t wake you. There’s no need for extra effort.”

Xue Qingyin shook her head. “That’s not ‘extra effort,’ that’s a sense of ritual. Even if it’s just for one more look at you, it’s different.”

King Xuan’s heart stirred.

Different?

Yes, it was different.

Just seeing her here made his mood brighten instantly.

King Xuan couldn’t resist pulling her into another hug and said to the servants trailing behind them, “Take care of the secondary Concubine. If anything happens, I will hold you accountable.”

The servants lowered their heads in acknowledgment.

“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself!” Xue Qingyin said.

Afterward, she reached up and hugged King Xuan around the waist. “See, this is a sense of ritual too. You hugging me, and me hugging you, may seem unnecessary, but it’s still different.”

King Xuan’s heart softened even more.

He said gently, “I understand.”

Turning, he left. For the first time, he felt the pang of attachment in his heart.

He knew how hard it was for the soldiers to part from their wives and children, but before, he only understood it; now, he was truly experiencing it.

Xue Qingyin stood there, watching them leave, before she was helped back by the palace servants.

“I can’t walk anymore,” Xue Qingyin said, wrinkling her nose and acting delicate. “Lift the sedan.”

The servants dared not speak out of turn and hurried to lift the sedan.

Fang Chengzhong, who could no longer hold back, remarked, “The concubine and the prince have a deep bond. I must admit, I’m a bit envious!”

King Xuan smirked, “You should get married too.”

Fang Chengzhong sighed, “My parents passed away early, and no one is arranging a marriage for me. Besides, for someone in our line of work, it’s not easy to marry. Even if I do marry, my wife would be left alone in an empty house, unable to find me if trouble strikes.”

Fang Chengzhong quickly dismissed the thought. “Forget it! I suppose the only time I’ll be able to stay in the capital and marry will be when I’m too old to follow the prince into battle. But by then, with all my injuries, it may be too late, and no one would want me!”

His words were a bit of an exaggeration.

He was a vice-general in King Xuan’s army, still under thirty, and while he didn’t have noble connections, his abilities had allowed him to rise to his current position. Many families from smaller households would be eager to marry their daughters to him!

However, even those close to King Xuan were hesitant to marry.

It wasn’t easy to build the Prince’s household into the fortress it was now. If their wives were secretly arranged by the enemy or were easily swayed by bribery or manipulation, it could lead to disaster.

“Hmm, it’s hard being away from home, but being alone in an empty house is even worse,” King Xuan suddenly spoke.

He always knew that Xue Qingyin had been wronged in marrying him, and that feeling was growing stronger.

Xue Qingyin, left alone in the empty house, took a nap. After waking, the housekeeper came to see her.

She sat there, leisurely eating breakfast while listening to the housekeeper explain, “The prince should be leaving the city now.”

Xue Qingyin looked out the window at the sun and asked, “What? He’s only leaving now?”

The housekeeper, knowing she wasn’t familiar with such matters, smiled and explained in detail, “The prince left early, but it wasn’t to immediately start marching. First, he has to perform a ritual, then meet with the emperor, and after that, ministers will send him off. When he leaves the city, the common people will gather to watch too.”

It sounded complicated.

Xue Qingyin sighed. “So being a figure like King Xuan is no easy feat.”

“When they reach the army camp, they’ll make offerings to heaven, then drink with the soldiers, and make an oath. The army will then move out, with the supplies following. This will take another hour or two,” the housekeeper continued.

Xue Qingyin nodded and asked, “Did you serve in the military too?”

The housekeeper nodded. “Yes, except for the palace servants who were sent from the palace, the rest of the staff have all fought alongside the prince.”

This meant that the Prince’s household was filled with trusted individuals. Having experienced life-and-death situations together, their loyalty and obedience were unparalleled.

No wonder King Xuan had intended to leave the housekeeper’s duties to her. He wasn’t worried she would be unable to handle it or that news would leak out.

Xue Qingyin set down her chopsticks, wiped her mouth, and stood up. “Prepare the carriage.”

It was time to visit the estate.

Coincidentally, as she finished speaking, someone came with a letter: “This is from Mr. Lin, for the side Concubine.”

Xue Qingyin opened it. The gist was that the two famous painters had already arrived at the estate and would stay there for a few days, waiting for her.

The term “waiting” was used very insistently.

The two painters were worth a fortune, yet Mr. Lin treated them as if they were under his command.

It was clear that Mr. Lin had excellent connections.

After reading the letter, Xue Qingyin was ready to leave. The housekeeper hurriedly sent someone to follow her.

“These are all people the prince specially arranged for you. You can bring them along and send them on errands as needed.”

Xue Qingyin nodded and thought to herself that in the past, she had relied on He Songning’s people for such matters. Now, she had King Xuan’s support!

“His Highness is thoughtful,” she said.

The housekeeper smiled even more, then added, “If you need more, you can also call upon the palace guards. The prince said he has already given you the token to command them.”

Given to her? When?

Xue Qingyin was confused.

The housekeeper replied, “A few days ago, I saw it hanging at your waist.”

Xue Qingyin suddenly remembered. It was before their marriage, when King Xuan came to see her at the Xu family. He had given her a coral and jade ornament, and later, took a jade seal from his waist and hung it on hers.

Could this token command the palace guards?

Xue Qingyin couldn’t help but marvel. King Xuan was truly generous! He had given it to her before she even entered his household.

She immediately instructed He Xia to take it from the box and wear it at her waist.

Such things should be flaunted when necessary—this way, others would know she wasn’t someone to be trifled with!

She would wear it every day from now on!

Under the housekeeper’s guidance, everyone the prince had left behind in the household met with Xue Qingyin.

She casually asked, “Do you know where Mr. Liu Xiuquan is staying?”

The servant nodded, “I do.”

“Then please invite him to the estate on the outskirts of the city for tea.”

“Understood!”

Xue Qingyin wasn’t one for scholarly pursuits, and when she met the two painters, she feared they wouldn’t have much to talk about. So, she decided to invite Liu Xiuquan instead!

After the arrangements were made, the carriage was ready.

The carriage from the Prince’s household was very different from the Xu family’s.

First of all, it was larger. The carriage prepared for Xue Qingyin was two circles bigger than the one from the Xu family.

Inside, she had no trouble at all.

She sat comfortably and thought to herself that such good things shouldn’t be enjoyed by her alone.

She immediately ordered for her mother, Madam Xu, to be picked up.

When Madam Xu saw her, she was delighted. “When you’re not around, I can’t help but worry. If it weren’t for your aunt keeping me company, I’d be quite bored.”

Xue Qingyin said, “You could manage the estate, too.”

Madam Xu replied, “But it’s yours now. I can’t take it back.”

Xue Qingyin thought for a moment and persuaded, “Just think of it as you managing it for me.”

Madam Xu nodded. “That would be fine.”

At that point, Madam Xu couldn’t help but ask, “How are things at the Prince’s estate?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head. “I don’t know. It must be very wealthy, though. Otherwise, how could the prince be so generous with the gifts he gives me?”

Madam Xu immediately remembered the grandeur of her bride price…

Sighing, Madam Xu said, “Well, you’re not the main Concubine, so this isn’t really your responsibility. As long as the prince treats you well, that’s enough.”

Xue Qingyin casually replied, “I was supposed to manage it, but I can’t possibly handle it on my own.”

Madam Xu froze, shocked. “You were supposed to manage it?”

Xue Qingyin nodded. “Yes, the ledgers were brought to me. The housekeeper also gave me the key to the storehouse, along with various seals. He said everything from the estate to the Prince’s personal affairs was to be handed over to me.”

Madam Xu was speechless with shock.

The Prince’s estate was so vast!

The Xu family couldn’t compare.

She could entrust her daughter with those affairs only because she was her own child.

King Xuan had truly gone all out, even disregarding the rules.

As the saying goes, money speaks louder than words.

To see a man’s true intentions, don’t just listen to his sweet words. Look at who he entrusts with the financial power. Love can’t fill an empty stomach!

“Mother?” Xue Qingyin said, looking at her mother, who seemed stunned.

Why was she so dazed?

In the west of the city, the servant told Mr. Lin, “Lord Feng sent someone to ask why you haven’t been out to meet friends these past few days.”

Mr. Lin shuddered, realizing he had been too concerned about the Princess Concubine’s situation. This wouldn’t do.

Fearing others might notice, he quickly changed the subject. “Has the letter you were asked to send gone out?”

The servant answered, “Yes, it has.”

Mr. Lin nodded. “Then please invite Lord Feng and the others to the estate on the outskirts for tea.”

Why should anyone else benefit?

Mr. Lin thought, it’s better to send gifts to the Prince’s Concubine!

“Wait. Prepare the carriage. I’ll personally invite Ning Gong over as well.”

That would boost the Concubine’s reputation!