Chapter 77

The red horse sent by Gu Ci was incredibly majestic, and within half a day, it had become very close to Nianxi. They got along well, moved harmoniously, and seemed to understand each other.

Nianxi and Gu Ci had never been apart, and during this time of deep affection, Gu Ci became even more attached to her. Though they called it galloping at the hunting grounds, it was just the playful banter between lovers.

Yesterday, an incident involving Jiang Yuan occurred, and there were rumors that Princess Xinchang was somehow implicated. Consequently, today, fewer ladies came to the hunting grounds, with everyone busy trying to gather news.

Xiao Nanxi galloped around the quiet hunting grounds once, finding it rather dull. She glanced sideways at Nianxi, whose smile blossomed like a flower, then turned to glare angrily at Gu Ci. What she said last night wasn’t wrong—now that Nianxi had Gu Ci, she didn’t care about her at all!

However, Gu Ci’s attention was entirely on Nianxi, leaving him oblivious to the princess’s hateful and jealous gaze. Instead, Nianxi noticed and rode over, asking, “Princess, would you like to join us for a hunt?”

Xiao Nanxi agreed without hesitation.

The two worked well together from the start and had hunted quite a few small animals recently. Thus, without the need for the guards’ assistance, they quickly shot down a small badger.

Gu Ci cheered loudly from the side, and Nianxi beamed with joy.

Xiao Nanxi knew that these two were doing their best to accompany her. She now somewhat understood why Nianxi had chosen Gu Ci. Their tacit understanding was too good, and they both had kind hearts. Even when being kind to others, they did it quietly without making anyone uncomfortable.

Still, Xiao Nanxi felt a little uneasy.

Nian’er had already accompanied her for many days, and Gu Ci had just arrived—they must have had much to talk about. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Gu Ci and Nian’er were so deeply connected.

She didn’t want to disturb them. So, she put down her arrow and said to Nianxi, “I’m tired. I don’t want to play anymore.”

Nianxi was long accustomed to the princess’s unpredictable whims. Smiling, she nodded and said, “I’ll come find you at lunchtime.”

Xiao Nanxi waved her hand and rode her horse out of the hunting grounds.

Yan Qing had been following her all along. Seeing the little Princess dismount in low spirits, he asked, “Why doesn’t the Princess continue playing?”

Xiao Nanxi turned around angrily.

The sunlight shone from behind the man, casting a shadow before him, which happened to fall at her feet. He stood against the light, and Xiao Nanxi couldn’t see his face clearly. It was as though she had never paid attention to his appearance before. From childhood to adulthood, he had been her shadow, silently following her and protecting her. There was only one time when her horse lost control—he had rushed out to shield her beneath him. As she held onto his strong waist in that dangerous moment, her heart was incomparably calm.

Xiao Nanxi took a step forward, wanting to look closer at Yan Qing’s face. He had a pair of narrow, phoenix-shaped eyes that naturally carried a touch of aloofness when he looked at others. Rarely smiling, he had thin lips, a straight nose, and a cold yet handsome demeanor. He was far more exceptional than the other guards Xiao Nanxi had seen before.

Xiao Nanxi had never realized how good-looking Yan Qing was and momentarily stood in a daze.

Yan Qing didn’t know what had gotten into the little princess today as she kept staring at him. Yet, his patience was astonishingly good; expressionless, he allowed her to scrutinize him. His gaze naturally fell on the little princess’s face. In the sunlight, he noticed the freshly applied lip color on the little princess’s lips. The bright crimson lips were slightly pursed, as dewy and tender as flower petals kissed by the morning dew. With his hand clenched into a tight fist behind his back, he discreetly averted his gaze.

The master and servant stood there, staring at each other for quite a while. Passing palace servants saw this scene and, though finding it strange, no one dared to interrupt.

For reasons unknown to her, Xiao Nanxi’s mood suddenly brightened. She turned around and continued walking back, her crisp and melodious voice ringing out, “The hunting grounds aren’t fun. I’m going back to read my storybooks.”

The autumn air was crisp and refreshing, with an antique charm amidst the lush greenery.

Xiao Nanxi and Yan Qing walked one after the other—the lively and innocent little princess and the tall, silent guard. As they strolled along the solemn, ancient pathway of the imperial residence, the vast expanse of sky and earth created a unique sense of harmony and anticipation.

…

The following morning, Pei Jian departed early for the capital.

Although Gu Ci had swapped shifts with his colleagues, his time was limited. After spending two days with Nianxi, he, too, returned to the capital.

The imperial procession lingered in Qu Zuo for five more days than expected and departed on an October morning. The journey back to the palace was as grand as the arrival, with banners fluttering, majestic ceremonies, and dignified displays. Like before, fine jade horses and luxurious carriages made for an impressive convoy returning to the capital.

It is worth noting that after the incident involving Jiang Yuan and the young master of the Han family, Princess Xinchang never appeared in public again. Rumor had it that she had been sent back to the capital early.

However, when Marquis Xindu and his wife came to retrieve Jiang Yuan, a heated argument with Marquis Anjing, Han Lin, occurred in front of the emperor. The situation nearly escalated to a physical altercation, becoming the talk of the court.

Thankfully, the empress personally intervened, leading to Han Lin begrudgingly agreeing to accept Jiang Yuan as the rightful wife. The two families selected an auspicious date for the marriage.

As all of this unfolded just as Gu Ci had predicted, Nianxi paid no further attention to it. This autumn hunt, including the journey there and back, lasted nearly a month. She missed her parents and older brothers dearly and was filled with anticipation for her return.

Upon returning home, Madam Li had already prepared a table full of dishes that Nianxi loved. The family gathered together, recounting their time apart in a heartwarming atmosphere. She shared stories from the hunting grounds, vividly describing how she hunted small animals, earning applause and cheers from her parents. Then she mentioned tasting the strong liquor offered from beyond the borders for the first time—it was so spicy and intense that her tongue went numb for an entire meal, causing her family to laugh along with her. She also spoke of the breathtaking scenery in Qu Zuo and the glow of the setting sun.

The dinner lasted for more than an hour.

Nianxi felt completely content in body and soul. When she returned to her room and fell asleep, she didn’t wake up until the sun was high in the sky. She sighed sincerely, “There’s no place like home.”

Lan Zhi came in with clothing and smiled upon hearing her words, “Miss, have you had a good rest? Madam instructed that after the long journey, you must be exhausted, so no one was allowed to disturb you. Even when Marchioness Pingyang’s household sent someone early this morning, the maids turned them away.”

“My cousin?” Nianxi got up with a smile, washed up in the dressing room, and then sat at the dressing table. She chuckled to Xing Yue, “She must have heard about Princess Xinchang and is eager for me to tell her everything.”

“Just a simple bun hairstyle will do.”

Xing Yue obliged and skillfully combed Nianxi’s silky, cloud-like hair. “The Heir’s wife must be missing you dearly.”

Nianxi smiled but said nothing. After slowly finishing her grooming, she had lunch with her mother before leisurely taking a carriage to Fusheng Banzhan.

Wang Muyi was already waiting for her there.

As expected, after a few pleasantries, Wang Muyi got straight to the point and asked, “Why did Jiang Yuan suddenly marry Han Gaojie? The two families completed their betrothal agreements just the other day and plan to marry at the beginning of next month. And what about Princess Xinchang? She was sent back to the capital ten days ago and is rumored to be under house arrest.”

“Not only that but news also spread from Marquis Xindu’s residence that their second son had suddenly fallen gravely ill and was unfit to be a suitable match for Princess Xinchang. They are even preparing to submit a request to annul the engagement.”

As expected of Cousin Mu, she managed to find out everything. The only thing she didn’t know was, ‘What exactly happened at the hunting grounds?’

Nianxi leisurely finished a bowl of almond pudding, which she had modified herself. Although it wasn’t as rich as the one by Fan Ji, adding Ba juice (*) made it refreshing and gave it a unique flavor.

T/n: some kind of plant.

Seeing Cousin Mu’s eager expression, she recounted the events that had taken place in the imperial palace that day.

Wang Muyi furrowed her brows as she listened. At the key points, her nose and eyes scrunched up in frustration, and when the story finally reached the part where Nianxi escaped unscathed, she let out a long breath of relief. “Serves them right!”

“Jiang Yuan and Xinchang deserved what they got. If you ask me, this outcome is far too lenient! We’re all women—why don’t they scheme against men for a change? Why must they harm other women?”

“What on earth were they thinking?”

“They could at least learn a thing or two from Xu Wanxin!”

It had been a while since Nianxi had paid attention to that person, so she was a bit caught off guard when she heard about her from Cousin Mu.

A while back, Xu Wanxin had been visiting frequently, always warm and affectionate during their meetings. However, because of Nianxi’s experiences in her previous life, she always felt uneasy about her overtures. Later, perhaps noticing Nianxi’s indifference, Xu Wanxin stopped trying to approach her.

“What about Miss Xu?”