Chapter 22 Palm: Princess Jinque Laughs Loudly

A crystal bead curtain hung down, and when the light fell upon it, it immediately glistened with shimmering brilliance.

Princess Jinque sat behind the curtain.

Her figure was lazily leaning against a beautiful bed, and when she heard footsteps approaching, she merely lifted an eyelid and said, “You’re here.”

Xue Qingyin thought she was speaking to her, but when she raised her eyes, she saw… another person behind the curtain!

That person stood next to Princess Jinque, exuding an indifferent aura.

When Princess Jinque’s voice rang out, the person turned to look at Xue Qingyin.

“Greetings, Princess.” Xue Qingyin bowed, then paused and tentatively asked, “And His Royal Highness, the Prince?”

Princess Jinque waved her hand. “Roll it up.”

Immediately, a palace maid came forward and hung the curtain with a golden hook, revealing the person behind it to Xue Qingyin’s full view.

Princess Jinque was a tall woman with a lofty figure. She wore a towering hairstyle adorned with beads and a comb. As she stood up, her dress was embroidered with large lotus flowers in gold and red threads.

She looked elegant and regal, radiant as ever.

And beside her was… King Xuan!

Princess Jinque seemed a little tired. She slowly blinked her eyes and asked, “Miss Xue, were you speaking with the Fourth Princess just now?”

Xue Qingyin answered affirmatively.

“Can’t say I saw it, but Miss Xue seems quite close with her,” Princess Jinque remarked nonchalantly, making it hard to detect her mood.

But the more she spoke in that tone, the more it revealed her emotions.

Without much thought, Xue Qingyin replied, “Hmm, it’s rare to meet someone so foolish.”

Princess Jinque froze for a moment.

After a while, she let out a small chuckle. “Indeed, a rare fool. I just didn’t expect Miss Xue to dare…” She lowered her voice. “To go against authority.”

Xue Qingyin shook her head. “Well, the Fourth Princess had a knife to my neck. Me calling her foolish doesn’t really count for much, does it?”

Princess Jinque became curious and took a step forward. “Since she had a knife at your throat, why did you still dare to play with her?”

“That’s exactly why I dared to. A knife in the open is better than one hidden behind the back.”

“Reasonable,” Princess Jinque said, taking two more steps forward and speaking with a heavy tone, “Interesting!”

Princess Jinque then asked, “Is the Fourth Princess trying to torment you in every way?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head again. “She wouldn’t dare. King Xuan is here.”

Princess Jinque couldn’t help but laugh, her curiosity piqued. She quickly turned to look at the cold King Xuan.

“I wonder what role King Xuan played in all of this?” she asked.

King Xuan flicked his eyelids, staring at Xue Qingyin without speaking.

He hadn’t expected her to be so sharp, not weak like the delicate flowers he was used to.

…No.

Thinking back to the poetry gathering, when she accidentally discovered a secret meeting, she stayed calm beyond expectations.

That sharpness had always been there, just not always visible.

“Why isn’t anyone speaking? Could it be that I can’t know about it?” Princess Jinque asked, more intrigued.

“Only because King Xuan is kind-hearted. That day, when I was with the Fourth Princess, he couldn’t bear to see her bullying me, so he spoke up and ordered her to stop,” Xue Qingyin answered obediently.

Princess Jinque suddenly laughed out loud. “Since when did King Xuan have such leisure?”

Xue Qingyin thought about it for a moment. Well, who doesn’t like a bit of flattery?

She replied, “Because King Xuan is a man of noble character, like a clear jade.”

Princess Jinque paused, and then laughed even louder.

Xue Qingyin was puzzled.

What was so funny?

What was wrong?

At the poetry gathering, King Xuan had scolded a man named Wen Hui for his inappropriate behavior. Later, when she almost died while flying a kite, King Xuan had taken her back and even called for the royal doctor. He had also helped her return to her estate in Princess Jinque’s name, protecting her reputation.

Wasn’t all of this the conduct of a gentleman?

Princess Jinque slowly stopped laughing and said, “Have a chair brought for Miss Xue.”

Xue Qingyin thanked her and sat down gracefully, casually asking, “Does King Xuan not wish to sit?”

Princess Jinque answered, “King Xuan is a very busy man, coming here means he has to leave soon.”

At that, King Xuan finally spoke. “Your estate is dull.”

“How is it dull? What about chariot games?” Princess Jinque paused. “Oh, right, it can’t compare to the excitement of riding horses and killing enemies.”

Turning to Xue Qingyin, she asked, “Miss Xue, have you ever played this before?”

Xue Qingyin shook her head.

King Xuan’s voice sounded at the same time: “She can’t play.”

Princess Jinque turned to him. “Oh? How do you know? Why can’t she play?”

This time, it was Xue Qingyin who answered, “It’s too dangerous.”

Princess Jinque was startled. “What?”

Xue Qingyin recounted the incident with the kite.

Princess Jinque clicked her tongue. “No wonder you used my name that day… so that’s what happened.” Then, she looked at Xue Qingyin with a hint of regret.

“I thought your temperament was quite similar to mine. I was thinking of playing together later, but it’s such a pity that you can’t ride and gallop on horseback.”

Xue Qingyin was naturally a lazy person, so she didn’t feel much regret.

She felt like, before she transmigrated, all her energy was exhausted at work.

After transmigrating, if she could be a leisurely young lady who lounges around, that would be the best.

Just then, a palace maid entered and whispered, “Princess, all the guests have arrived.”

Princess Jinque snapped her fan shut and said, “Then let’s go. If Miss Xue can’t play chariot games, we’ll think of something else…”

Before she could come up with a new idea, Xue Qingyin blurted out, “Shall I play with King Xuan?”

Princess Jinque immediately laughed again. “Alright, you two enjoy yourselves. I’ll go ahead.”

Princess Jinque wasn’t joking when she said she was leaving!

And so, only Xue Qingyin and King Xuan remained, along with a full room of palace attendants.

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Xue Qingyin felt like she had made a misstep.

King Xuan was quiet and few words.

She, too, was not familiar with him.

The things she had said earlier to He Songning about marrying King Xuan were just playful talk. Who wouldn’t say such things?

But now, facing him, she felt she couldn’t even utter a single word.

Just as the silence became unbearable, King Xuan’s voice broke the tension. “Is the Qinglu Manor on the outskirts of the city owned by the Xue family?”

Xue Qingyin responded, “Yes.” Then, she suddenly realized, “Has King Xuan been to the manor?”

King Xuan coldly replied, “Guests arrived, but the host wasn’t there.”

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, “I never expected you to go there so casually!”

Didn’t Du Hongxue say it was particularly hard to invite him?

“Forgive me, it was my fault,” Xue Qingyin quickly apologized.

Today, it seemed like King Xuan was going to make her answer for everything.

He spoke again, his voice icy: “Was there only a few camellias?”

Xue Qingyin froze for a moment.

He really accepted the flowers!

But… it sounded like… he wasn’t pleased?

She replied, “Of course not. The kindness you’ve shown, Your Highness, I keep it in my heart. That’s why I wanted to invite you to the manor to enjoy yourself…”

She trailed off, falling silent.

After all, King Xuan had gone there and found no one.

Trying to salvage the situation, Xue Qingyin suggested, “Shall we sit and play chess?”

She said, “I’ll keep you company to pass the time.”

See? This was at least some effort, right?

King Xuan’s eyes flickered with a hint of emotion.

He looked at Xue Qingyin, completely surprised at how she had so naturally steered the conversation in that direction.