Chapter 50 : Still, it’s the Young Lady’s Reputation That Matters

The maid had been waiting anxiously for a long time.

Finally, her young lady, leaning against the bath bucket, looked up to the sky and spoke decisively in three words: “I don’t know.”

The maid grew impatient. “How can the young lady not know?”

Xue Qingyin ignored her.

The maid had no choice but to give up her dreams of flying up to the branches and enjoying the glory and wealth alongside the young lady.

The hot water immersed Xue Qingyin’s body.

Her skin was as white as snow, and her figure was perfectly round and smooth where it should be. The maid could hardly help but feel a flutter of emotions just from looking at her for a moment.

Even if the young lady appeared to be nothing more than a pretty vase, it would be a pity if she didn’t become a princess!

Not to mention, this “vase” now had a bit of wisdom to it, and could even emit some thoughtful sounds when moved.

While the maid’s thoughts were wandering, Xue Qingyin suddenly felt an itching sensation in her inner thighs due to the hot water. Unable to resist, she reached down to scratch.

As soon as she scratched…

“Ah!” Xue Qingyin gasped.

Why did it hurt so much?

She quickly looked down and saw, through the rippling water, that her thighs were rubbed raw.

She had been too excited earlier to feel it.

Now, with the water, it was both itchy and painful.

Xue Qingyin didn’t dare stay in the water too long. After washing off the sweat, she quickly got out of the bath.

The maid helped her, but as she lifted her leg…

Pain.

Why was it so painful?

By the time she finally lay down on the bed, she had exhausted all her strength.

It was as if she were a delicate little mermaid walking on the edge of a blade.

“I miscalculated,” Xue Qingyin murmured.

No wonder King Xuan insisted on stopping her and forbidding her from riding horses anymore.

No wonder he said that if she could get up tomorrow, it would be impressive.

If it were anyone else, the pain of the saddle would probably be bearable.

But since her body had been weak since childhood, even coarse cloth could hurt her skin.

Xue Qingyin didn’t care whether it was strange or not. She pulled the blanket over and lay awkwardly, with her legs apart to sleep.

The pain, though, didn’t affect her rest.

She slept until late in the morning, the next day.

Half-conscious, she felt a cold sensation on her legs.

Xue Qingyin was startled and quickly opened her eyes, only to see the maid sitting by the bed, applying medicine to her legs.

She sighed in relief. “I forgot to apply the medicine yesterday. If I had done it sooner, it might have healed faster.”

The maid replied, “The medicine just arrived.”

“Mm?”

“It was brought by a military officer.”

“Oh, so it was sent by King Xuan?”

Xue Qingyin took the medicine bottle from the maid’s hand.

The jade bottle was unmarked, without any inscriptions or labels, and Xue Qingyin couldn’t tell what kind of medicine it was, though it looked quite expensive.

The jade used for the bottle was of higher quality than the hairpin her mother wore!

Xue Qingyin clicked her tongue in secret.

Such wealth!

This made her remember the suggestion from He Songning, who had advised her to marry the King of Wei, outlive him, and inherit his wealth. That idea suddenly seemed more tempting.

They were all sons of the emperor, so they must be wealthy!

As she played with the bottle, she suddenly heard laughter. “How did you end up like this?”

She looked up.

It was Princess Jinque, dressed in elegant attire.

Xue Qingyin felt a bit embarrassed and curled her legs.

Princess Jinque sat beside her. “I came here today because King Xuan returned to the city. His Deputy Officer said you were ill, so I thought I’d come to check on you.”

Returned to the city?

But hadn’t King Xuan said he was still at the manor today?

Xue Qingyin couldn’t figure it out, so she decided not to dwell on it.

“I got hurt from riding yesterday,” she explained.

“You probably can’t even walk today,” Princess Jinque said knowingly.

Then she suddenly remembered something. “Weren’t you afraid of getting jostled while riding? I remember you’re frail and shouldn’t be riding horses.”

Xue Qingyin smiled. “I have my methods.”

Princess Jinque was about to ask what methods when her gaze shifted and fell upon the jade medicine bottle.

That bottle was a royal supply.

Princess Jinque immediately understood.

Taking advantage of the situation, Xue Qingyin mentioned borrowing a royal physician.

Princess Jinque laughed. “Why go so far for that? You could have just asked King Xuan.”

Xue Qingyin was confused.

Wasn’t it King Xuan who had asked her to speak to Princess Jinque?

Princess Jinque saw her confusion and smiled, laughing. “You were always so clever, but today you’re acting a little silly. King Xuan is right here, why didn’t you ask him for help?”

“He asked me to come to you, Princess.”

“Eh?” Princess Jinque paused. “You’re borrowing a royal physician for someone else? Not for yourself?”

“Not for me, it’s for my half-sister.”

Princess Jinque’s face lit up with a mischievous smile. “Ah, now I understand… So it was King Xuan’s doing.”

What was she implying?

Xue Qingyin felt perplexed.

Why couldn’t they just speak clearly? Why the riddles?

But Princess Jinque didn’t elaborate further. She knew that Xue Qingyin was probably too weak to rise, so she left, taking her people with her to ride horses on the mountain.

Their relationship wasn’t deep enough for Princess Jinque to stay. At this point, they only shared a good rapport.

Xue Qingyin stared at the canopy above her, bored to death.

Now, she regretted riding so many laps.

“Why don’t you tell me a story?” she said to the maid.

The maid frowned. “What story should I tell? I can’t read.”

“Hmm… anything about the house, even rumors. Even ghost stories would do.”

The maid’s spirits lifted slightly. “Well, we always tell ghost stories when we keep the night watch…”

While Xue Qingyin listened to the story, King Xuan was in an audience with the Emperor.

Emperor Liang De, in a good mood, said warmly, “You’ve been coming to pay respects more frequently lately. I’m pleased. Rise, rise.”

King Xuan stood up and went straight to the point. “That day on the lake, there was no result.”

Emperor Liang De raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“There were too many people on the lake. It would be better to hold a banquet in the palace.”

Emperor Liang De realized what he meant and said in surprise, “King Xuan wants to select a bride through a palace banquet?”

King Xuan remained silent for a moment, and no one knew what he was thinking in that brief span of time.

Then he simply answered, “Yes.”

Emperor Liang De, after a brief pause, said, “Very well. I will invite the noble ladies to a palace banquet in the name of the Empress Dowager.”

King Xuan calmly added, “Invite all the noble ladies.”

Emperor Liang De was puzzled.

King Xuan had never been one to pursue women for their beauty, and after the lake trip, his temperament seemed unchanged.

Emperor Liang De even suspected that his son might have some unusual preference.

Why was he so eager now?

Emperor Liang De pressed his doubts down.

No matter what, it was good that King Xuan finally made a decision.

“I just hope you can get married soon,” Emperor Liang De said, patting his son’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Father,” King Xuan replied coldly.

But Emperor Liang De was pleased and wanted to invite King Xuan to dinner.

However, King Xuan declined.

Emperor Liang De was disappointed. “Still busy with the affairs of the Anxi Army?” he asked. “I’ve told you before, sometimes it’s better not to be too kind.”

If Xue Qingyin had been here, she would have been shocked.

Because the King Xuan in Emperor Liang De’s mouth, and the one in the Fourth Princess and Princess Jinque’s mouths, was completely different!

King Xuan stood there silently, listening to the Emperor’s words, then finally said, “It’s not the Anxi Army.”

“Then what is it?”

“Training the army in the outskirts of the city.”

“Oh.” Emperor Liang De frowned, “Fine, I understand. You can stay for the palace banquet, no more excuses.”

“Yes, Father.”

The attendants, accustomed to this awkward exchange between the royal father and son, showed no surprise.

Meanwhile, Xue Qingyin had been lying in bed for two hours listening to stories.

Her bones ached from lying down too long.

Just as she couldn’t take it anymore, a cold voice came from outside the door. “Are you still riding horses?”

Hadn’t he returned to the city?

Xue Qingyin opened her eyes wide.

Back at the Xue residence, Xue Qinghe knew that He Songning wouldn’t be coming today.

He had been coming less and less.

Was it because Xue Qingyin had become more radiant?

Had he finally realized that his younger sister needed his care?

While Xue Qinghe pondered this, Qiu Xin suddenly burst into the room, full of excitement.

“Second Young Lady! The royal physician has come to our house!”