Chapter 23

“Is this His Highness’s decision?”

When Aunt Deng returned, Xu Duanyi had already sent Bixi and Shiyu to pack her things.

In fact, there wasn’t much to pack.

She had just married into the royal residence the day before, and many of her things had yet to be unpacked. Most of them were personal belongings, so it wasn’t difficult to gather them up.

She had been waiting for Aunt Deng to return and take her to the new courtyard, but instead, she was met with these words.

Xu Duanyi was a bit surprised and confused.

She hadn’t expected this outcome.

Aunt Deng was, of course, trying to speak in favor of Xie Qingya.

No matter what complaints she might have about the prince, as a servant of the royal family, she couldn’t possibly speak ill of her master.

Besides, she still hoped to bring the couple closer together.

In her eyes, the prince and the princess had already participated in the wedding ceremony, which made them a legitimate family.

What’s more, the princess seemed to be such a good person.

She naturally wished for the couple to have a long and happy life together and hoped the prince would return to the way he used to be with her company.

Even if he couldn’t return to the past, at least she didn’t want him to live as he had before, always hanging out with a bunch of dubious friends.

After hearing Xu Duanyi’s words, Aunt Deng immediately smiled and said, “Yes, His Highness said you’re not in good health, so it’s best not to overexert yourself.”

“He’s been very busy with official duties lately, so he’s resting in the study to avoid disturbing your rest.”

“By the way, His Highness also specifically instructed me to find a doctor to check on you.”

For what Aunt Deng had said, Xu Duanyi was unsure whether it was true or if she had embellished the story.

However, living in the Lingfeng Pavilion clearly seemed to be Xie Qingyao’s idea, and Aunt Deng had no such authority to make that decision.

Although puzzled and not understanding why Xie Qingyao did this, Xu Duanyi hesitated for a moment and nodded. “Then, let’s do as the prince says.”

Since Xie Qingyao had made the decision, there was no need for her to oppose him. After all, it didn’t matter where she stayed. She had only considered his convenience.

“Ah!” Aunt Deng, seeing her agreement, was delighted.

“If there’s anything you need, please feel free to tell me!” She then added, “Should I call a doctor to check on you?”

She was worried that Xu Duanyi might truly be unwell.

“No need,” Xu Duanyi gently declined.

To ease Aunt Deng’s worry, Xu Duanyi added, “Bixi has been with the palace’s physician since she was young, and she’s capable of handling most small ailments. I’m used to having her take care of me.”

Aunt Deng was surprised. “So that’s how it is!”

She glanced at Bixi, who smiled back at her, and was even more astonished. There were truly hidden talents around the princess; both these girls had their own unique skills.

Since that was the case, she didn’t need to bring anyone else in. “Then, please rest first. Call for me if you need anything, I’ll leave you in peace.”

Xu Duanyi smiled and nodded. After Aunt Deng left, she looked down at the boxes on the floor.

Bixi asked, “Mistress, what should we do?”

Xu Duanyi replied, “Let’s settle here for now.”

Still unclear about Xie Qingyao’s intentions, Xu Duanyi added, “There’s no need to unpack everything, just take out the things we’ll need for daily use.”

Bixi understood and nodded to carry out the task.

Shiyu, however, couldn’t help but complain, “Who knows what Prince Nan’an is thinking.”

After Bixi gave her, a light tap on the arm and a glare, Shiyu immediately fell silent.

As the two of them moved the things inside and started tidying up, Xu Duanyi sat on the seat outside.

Not only was Shiyu confused, but Xu Duanyi too didn’t understand what Xie Qingyao was thinking.

Her initial suggestion had been the best and most convenient.

Was he afraid that people around her would tell her aunt?

After thinking it over, Xu Duanyi could only come up with that possibility.

She sighed silently.

She wanted to tell him not to worry. With her watching, no one would dare speak to her aunt about these matters.

But he probably wouldn’t believe her.

Xu Duanyi felt a little helpless.

She stopped thinking about it and looked out the window at the peach tree, which was in full bloom.

The spring sunlight was bright and warm.

The peach blossoms in the daytime were much more vivid than they appeared at night.

That tree had grown sturdier over the years, and the blossoms on its branches were more abundant.

Clusters of delicate pink buds adorned the tree, and when the wind blew, the buds swayed, revealing their soft yellow centers.

She suddenly felt a strong urge to paint.

Over the years, she had painted countless peach trees and flowers.

Her aunt, knowing her fondness, had even had some peach trees from the royal garden specially transplanted into her courtyard.

But the tree she had most wanted to paint as a child had never been realized.

Now, it seemed that she finally had the chance.

With nothing else to do, Xu Duanyi waited for Bixi to finish, and then she asked them to take out the four treasures of the study, setting them up on the tea table.

When Changfeng came to retrieve some items, Xu Duanyi was painting by the window.

“What are you doing here?”

Shiyu happened to be outside, and when she saw Chang Feng, she immediately frowned.

Although she followed her mistress’s orders not to quarrel with the prince’s people and to avoid speaking harshly to Aunt Deng like last night, seeing Chang Feng, the servant of Prince Nan’an, she still found it hard to act kindly.

If her mistress hadn’t been inside, she would have drawn her sword and chased him away.

“Ah… Shiyu, the prince sent me to retrieve some daily necessities.” Chang Feng had anticipated that he wouldn’t be welcomed, but seeing the cold expression on the red-clad girl’s face, he couldn’t help but feel nervous.

He had heard that Shiyu was quite skilled in martial arts.

He wasn’t afraid of being unable to fight her, but he didn’t want to actually get into a confrontation with her.

That’s why he had left Ling Ji behind and come alone.

Chang Feng felt helpless.

Shiyu gave Changfeng a cold look but didn’t speak. Her hand rested on the sword, which seemed almost ready to draw, her fingers tense.

Chang Feng noticed out of the corner of his eye and braced himself, expecting her to make a move.

Unexpectedly, the pressure seemed to fade away like a receding tide.

Shiyu simply coldly said two words.

“Wait.”

Then she went inside.

Not understanding her change in attitude, Chang Feng still quietly sighed in relief.

“Miss, the servant from Prince Nan’an’s side has arrived to take some things,” Shiyu reported when she went inside.

Though still displeased, she didn’t exaggerate the situation.

Xu Duanyi, sitting by the window, heard this and glanced outside.

Sure enough, she saw Chang Feng waiting outside.

The two attendants by Xie Qingya’s side, Xu Duanyi wasn’t very familiar with, but she still knew their names.

One was Chang Feng, the other was Ling Ji, both born in the Wang family.

They had been following Xie Qingya since they were young.

The person standing outside now was the one named Chang Feng.

“Let him in,” Xu Duanyi instructed.

Shiyu acknowledged and went out.

Not long after, Chang Feng entered with Shiyu.

“Princess.”

As soon as Chang Feng entered, he quickly greeted Xu Duanyi.

He lowered his head, his attitude very respectful.

When he entered, Xu Duanyi put down the brush she was holding and smiled as she spoke to Chang Feng.

“I’m not sure where the items the prince usually uses are. Chang Feng, please go in and find them yourself.”

“Bixi, go with Chang Feng,” she instructed.

Bixi nodded in agreement.

“Chang Feng, please.” She turned to speak to Chang Feng.

Bixi’s attitude was much better than Shiyu’s.

Chang Feng felt relieved and grateful for the princess’s considerate attitude. He cupped his hands toward Xu Duanyi and then followed Bixi inside.

Chang Feng was there to retrieve some personal clothing items.

It didn’t take long, and he came back out with Bixi.

When he came out, Xu Duanyi had already resumed painting. Chang Feng, with his sharp eyes, could see that she was painting the old peach tree in the courtyard.

“All done?”

Xu Duanyi caught a glimpse of them returning and smiled as she stopped her work.

Chang Feng quickly lowered his head, not daring to look too long, and responded.

Xu Duanyi nodded.

She was thinking of what to say, but she felt that with her and Xie Qingya’s relationship, anything she said seemed inappropriate. So, she just gave Chang Feng a polite reminder: “It’s still chilly at night, make sure you take care of the prince.”

Chang Feng naturally agreed.

Then he excused himself from Xu Duanyi.

Xu Duanyi didn’t look up and continued painting.

—-

Back in the study,

Lingji was still waiting outside, casually wielding a knife, practicing a few moves.

It had been a while since he had done any real work.

He felt like his knife was getting a bit rusty.

He actually wanted to spar with the maid named Shiyu who was by the princess’s side. He had heard that she had been trained by the former commander of the imperial guards, Gao Chuan, and was skilled in martial arts.

Unfortunately, the prince would definitely not approve.

Lingji was a bit disappointed.

When he saw Chang Feng returning, he casually greeted him, “Back already?”

Chang Feng nodded and, seeing the study door still closed, quietly asked Lingji, “Is the prince still asleep?”

He didn’t know what the prince had been doing last night, to be so exhausted.

If it weren’t for knowing the prince would never do anything improper with the princess, he might have thought…

“He’s probably up by now. I heard sounds just now,” Lingji said.

Afterward, he got up and reported to the person inside the study, “Prince, Chang Feng has returned with the items.”

A voice from inside instructed Chang Feng to come in.

Chang Feng entered with the items.

Xie Qingya was sitting at his desk.

He had been the governor of Shuntian Prefecture for over two months now.

He knew that there were spies of Cao Da in the prefecture, but usually, he acted like a hands-off official, leaving the daily duties to the deputy and various other officials.

But he hadn’t been idle.

Over the past two and a half months, almost three, he had conducted a simple investigation into the workings of the Shuntian Prefecture and had gotten a rough understanding of the background and allegiances of the people there.

He had mostly figured out who was behind each person.

Not everyone was Cao Da’s, though. It was human nature to seek profit and avoid harm. Compared to him, an official with no real power, who mostly avoided work, people naturally listened more to Cao Da.

But every person had their weaknesses.

Not everyone needed to be aligned with someone, and Cao Da couldn’t claim everyone. Some had their own ambitions and couldn’t stand Cao Da’s methods.

The Shuntian Prefecture, independent from the six ministries, managed all the political orders in the capital. Though it wasn’t as famous as the six ministries, it was still an indispensable place.

And it was the closest to the people, facing them directly.

The higher-ups looked down on this place, thinking it was just a position handling trivial matters.

They had to mediate disputes among powerful families, a job that seemed thankless.

But if he could gather these people to his side, aligning them with the emperor, it would make future actions much easier.

Xie Qingya pondered how to proceed, not paying much attention to Chang Feng’s work.

Only when Chang Feng placed the items down did Xie Qingya casually ask without looking up, “Did they make things difficult for you?”

“No,” Chang Feng replied, not mentioning Shiyu’s attitude, thinking it unnecessary. He only told him about Xu Duanyi’s instructions: “The princess was very polite and even told us to take good care of you.”

Upon hearing this, Xie Qingya paused his work.

He was silent for a moment.

Just as Chang Feng thought there was nothing more to say and was about to leave, he suddenly heard Xie Qingya ask, “What is she… doing?”

Chang Feng paused.

He instinctively glanced at the man behind the desk.

But the man’s head was lowered, and from Chang Feng’s angle, he couldn’t see his expression.

Besides, he didn’t dare to look too long.

“The princess is painting,” Chang Feng answered truthfully, “She’s painting the peach tree in the courtyard.”

“Peach tree…” Xie Qingya murmured.

As if recalling something, he pressed his lips together.

After a while, he didn’t say anything else and simply waved his hand, signaling Chang Feng to leave.

Chang Feng bowed and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Lingji remained in his original spot, carefully wiping his treasured sword, his gaze vacant as he stared ahead, lost in thought.

“What are you thinking?” he asked Chang Feng.

Chang Feng glanced down at him.

Lingji parted his lips as though he wanted to say something, but seeing Lingji’s carefree demeanor, still holding the sword, he hesitated and said nothing.

“…Nothing.”

He turned his head away and decided not to think about it anymore.

After all, the prince always had plans in mind, and whatever happened in the future was beyond their control.

Let’s just see how the prince decides.

Chang Feng couldn’t help but sigh when he thought back to the prince’s early days in the military.

If not for those events, the prince and the princess would have been a perfect couple.

Lingji didn’t know.

But Chang Feng was clear on the matter. He knew who had given the protective talisman the prince always carried, and he knew why the prince had been accumulating military merits back then.

—-

After Xu Duanyi finished painting, it was already time for lunch.

Aunt Deng was very efficient. After leaving early in the morning, she had the kitchen send over today’s menu for Xu Duanyi to review, asking if anything seemed inappropriate so she could make adjustments in advance.

Xu Duanyi crossed out several dishes.

It wasn’t that she didn’t like them; she simply couldn’t eat that much by herself.

She then instructed the kitchen staff that the meals didn’t need to be so extravagant; just two dishes and one soup for lunch and dinner would suffice.

—-

In the afternoon, she had materials prepared to mount the painting she’d finished, intending to hang it up later.

Mounting a painting was a large task that required a lot of supplies.

Just then, Aunt Deng asked her to meet with the house stewards.

Xu Duanyi instructed Bixi to stay behind and continue preparing things while she went out with Shiyu to tour the Prince’s residence and meet the stewards.

Xu Duanyi first met with the stewards of various areas, getting acquainted with their faces.

Then, accompanied by Aunt Deng, she toured the palace.

Though she had visited the palace many times as a child, back then she was too young, and some of her memories had faded. Furthermore, she hadn’t been to many places in the palace. Aside from the Grand Princess’s residence, she mostly stayed in Xie Qingya’s Lingfeng Pavilion and hadn’t properly toured the palace.

The scenery of the Nan’an Prince’s residence was indeed beautiful.

It was said that the Grand Princess loved gardening.

Whenever the old prince had free time, he would personally plant flowers for the Grand Princess.

They walked through flower-filled paths and by willows.

As Xu Duanyi walked to a certain place, she suddenly noticed a tall persimmon tree in the yard behind a wall.

It wasn’t yet the season.

All she could see was the sturdy persimmon tree standing there behind the wall, like a formidable general at attention.

“What’s that place?” She stopped and asked Aunt Deng.

Aunt Deng followed her gaze and immediately laughed. “That’s the prince’s study.”

Xu Duanyi was surprised.

She hadn’t expected the place she casually asked about to be Xie Qingya’s study.

Aunt Deng didn’t notice her surprise and continued, “That persimmon tree was planted the year the prince was born, personally by the Grand Princess and the late Prince. It was originally planted in Lingfeng Pavilion, but for some unknown reason, the persimmon tree and the peach tree planted together never bore fruit.”

“Later, the Grand Princess took charge and moved the persimmon tree to this yard.”

“It’s quite rare. After the two trees were separated, they both started bearing fruit.”

“When the prince was young, he was very mischievous. Whenever he could run, he loved climbing trees. When he was little, he liked climbing all kinds of trees. Every time the persimmon tree bore fruit, he would always end up picking it clean.”

“The Grand Princess would always get angry when she saw it, saying that if the prince didn’t like persimmons, he could just leave them hanging on the tree. They would still look nice during winter when they admired the snow.”

“But our prince didn’t have the slightest interest in the romantic thoughts of flowers and snow. He just couldn’t stand seeing them hanging there.”

Aunt Deng spoke nostalgically and couldn’t help but smile.

But when she thought about her late master, some sadness appeared on her face. She quickly concealed her sorrow, not wanting the princess to see it, and asked Xu Duanyi, “Would the princess like to go to the study?”

She was trying to arrange for Xu Duanyi and Xie Qingya to meet.

However, Xu Duanyi hesitated for a moment before gently declining, “No.”

Whether Xie Qingya was there or not, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to go.

If Xie Qingya were there, she wouldn’t know what to say, and it would only be awkward.

If Xie Qingya wasn’t there, then it would be even more inappropriate for her to go.

Noticing the look of disappointment on Aunt Deng’s face, Xu Duanyi understood her intentions but pretended not to notice.

“I wonder where Changning and Ping’an’s rooms are? I’d like to visit them later,” she changed the subject and continued walking forward.

Seeing that Xu Duanyi had made up her mind, Aunt Deng could only let her go. She quickly followed her and said, “I’ll take you there, but Sanlang and Nülang are both out studying. They won’t return until evening.”

The group walked on, chatting as they went.

Meanwhile, Lingji, who had been secretly listening behind the yard wall, saw Xu Duanyi walking away and hurried inside to report to Xie Qingya.

“Master, master!”

The door to the study was open.

Xie Qingya was writing something.

When he heard the noise, he furrowed his brow.

“What is it?”

He still didn’t look up.

Lingji replied, “The princess has arrived…”

Xie Qingya’s expression froze.

As if in disbelief, he instinctively looked outside.

But the outside was empty—there was no one.

Xie Qingya furrowed his brows.

Before he could ask Lingji, Lingji smiled and said, “Don’t worry, the princess has already left. She didn’t come in!”

Lingji didn’t notice Xie Qingya’s expression at the moment and was still feeling relieved.

He had just been worried that the princess was going to enter!

Fortunately, she didn’t!

Otherwise, the prince would have to keep pretending again, and that would be too exhausting!

However…

He glanced at the prince behind the desk and felt that the prince’s expression seemed a bit strange now?

Confused, he asked, “Prince, what’s wrong?”

“What’s wrong?” Xie Qingya replied, somewhat impatiently.

“You look…”

Before he could finish, Lingji suddenly noticed that the prince had raised his head to look at him, and his expression was cold, sending a chill down his spine.

Lingji suddenly couldn’t speak.

He silently shut his mouth, made a gesture to indicate silence, and then retreated step by step.

Xie Qingya watched him leave before he lowered his head again. His previously calm mind had inevitably been disturbed. He felt irritated for a long while, unable to calm down. Finally, he stood up and walked to the window to look at the persimmon tree in the yard.