Chapter 37: Birthday

When they returned to the courtyard, Hongxue stood at the door like a guard, but Xia Tong ignored her. Instead, Fang Yu quietly closed the door and slipped her a note.

“This is from a servant in the manor. He said that as long as you agree to save Miss Shen, he will accept any condition you set,” Fang Yu whispered.

Xia Tong took the note immediately and guessed that the second male lead wouldn’t easily give up on the heroine. However, saving her wouldn’t be simple.

“Go and tell that servant to tell him to bring over 200,000 taels first, otherwise there will be no rescue.”

To her surprise, there were spies from the second male lead in the manor. This was unacceptable. As a princess, she had to take action. Once she saved the heroine, she would need to get rid of that spy.

“This…” Fang Yu was a little surprised, her expression was full of seriousness, “Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but you really shouldn’t go against the prince.”

After removing her cloak, Xia Tong set the note alight, watching it turn to ash as she casually glanced at Fang Yu. “Miss Shen has helped me, so it’s only right that I save her. The twenty thousand taels are just an additional condition.”

Of course, she was determined to rescue the heroine, but she wouldn’t do it for free. Twenty thousand taels was a substantial amount, but the second male lead would surely provide it.

Fang Yu hesitated for a moment but ultimately said nothing more before turning to leave the room.

Xia Tong settled onto the soft couch and began embroidering a pouch. She was just talking, if she could save the heroine, she would. If not, there was nothing she could do—she couldn’t risk her own life. The villain was extremely ruthless, and the heroine would certainly suffer in his hands. Just thinking about it was terrifying.

The next day, the capital was lively because the crown prince was marrying a wife. The duke’s residence had significant influence, which made the eastern palace even more powerful. Even without leaving her residence, Xia Tong could imagine the bustling scene outside. Finally, her fake sister was getting her wish.

As they were once good “best friends”, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Xia Tong not to send a gift, so she arranged for a statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, to be delivered. This served as a way for the Regent’s residence to congratulate the Crown Prince on his wedding since it was out of the question for the villain to offer congratulations in person.

After a whole day of stitching, her eyes were nearly blurred, but she finally finished embroidering a pair of pouches by evening.

“Master… how has your embroidery skill declined so much?” Qing’er observed the finished products for a moment before commenting.

Xia Tong felt a bit embarrassed. Although she had inherited the original owner’s memories, she couldn’t inherit the skill. Just managing to create something like this was already quite good; it was just that Qing’er had too high expectations of her.

“Since I returned to the capital, I haven’t touched these things, so it’s natural to be a little out of practice,” she said, taking a sip of tea to feign calmness.

Hearing this, Qing’er found it strange but didn’t say much. Instead, she looked at Xia Tong earnestly and said, “Tomorrow is the Prince’s birthday. You must seize this opportunity and not let Madam worry any longer.”

Their eyes met, and Xia Tong’s ears turned red. She understood what Qing’er was referring to but felt that it was absolutely impossible to engage in such activities with the villain.

“I know what I’m doing. Tomorrow, remember to get some tonic from the storeroom to send to Mother, and check how things are in the household. If Mother has suffered any grievances, you must report back,” she suddenly said.

Qing’er nodded repeatedly, then went to bring her dinner.

As she stepped outside, Fang Yu was directing people to move flowers. Qing’er glanced around, then quietly approached and whispered a few words. Fang Yu’s expression instantly became serious.

“Then… it seems inappropriate?” Fang Yu appeared worried.

Looking back at the closed door, Qing’er leaned in and whispered, “This is the Madam’s intention. The Master may not be anxious, but this cannot go on for too long. I see that the Prince is quite concerned about the master. This is just a matter of making the best of the situation.”

After hearing this, Fang Yu glanced at the tightly shut door and could only nod in agreement.

As the weather gradually turned cooler, everyone donned their autumn clothes, and fallen leaves danced in the air, giving the atmosphere a somewhat desolate feel. The next day was the regent’s birthday, but since he did not host any banquets, some court officials only symbolically sent over a few congratulatory gifts. Those who came to curry favor were all turned away at the door, and no one dared to complain.

In the silent, solemn study, a faint scent of ink lingered. A man stood at the table, reading a letter, and as he tightened his fingers, pieces of paper gradually slipped through the gaps.

“Master, isn’t the plan to wait until the beginning of the year?” Xifeng below frowned with a puzzled look on his face.

The man was writing something on the rice paper, his voice calm and steady, “This King has his own plans.”

Noticing a hint of displeasure in the other’s tone, Xifeng wisely kept quiet, but then asked about the person in the prison, “What should be done about Shen Xin?”

He had noticed these days that the Princess had been inquiring about the location of the dungeon both openly and subtly. The Master could not possibly be unaware, yet he remained indifferent.

“Recently, the Ministry of Justice has introduced a new hanging method that leaves a person with a breath of life. Keeping them alive might come in handy,” he said.

After speaking, Gu Qin suddenly paused, gazing at the name on the rice paper with a headache. What was going on with him lately?

“Master, the Princess has sent someone to invite you to dinner.”

The butler’s voice suddenly came from outside, and Xifeng couldn’t help but smile slightly. Thankfully, this Princess had a good heart and remembered that today was the Master’s birthday.

Upon hearing this, the man at the desk casually tossed the letter aside and said in a low voice, “I won’t go.”

*

As the day passed, the sky outside had turned dark. The cold wind battered the doors and windows, creating a series of noises, while inside, the flickering candlelight cast a warm glow on the woman’s face, revealing her delicate features.

The table was laid with several light dishes, and next to it was a pot of warm wine. The woman wore a floor-length peach-colored dress, her figure slender and graceful. At that moment, she rested her chin in her hand, staring intently at the door, a look of disappointment on her face.

After a while, Qing’er stepped forward and said softly, “The Prince must be delayed by some matters. Why don’t I take the dishes away to keep them warm?”

Xia Tong didn’t respond, instead glancing at the food and pouring herself a cup of wine. She huffed lightly, “No need. I’ll eat by myself.”

After all the effort she had put into cooking, if he didn’t come, then so be it. She should never have been so kind to an antagonist!

“The Prince must have something urgent. Why don’t you wait a little longer?” Qing’er urged, a bit anxious.

Xia Tong ignored her and put a piece of potato into her mouth. She was not the kind of person who would treat herself badly. Whoever wanted to wait could wait.

“Your Highness.”

As the maid’s voice came from outside, the door was suddenly pushed open, and a tall figure stepped in. Xia Tong immediately set down her chopsticks and swallowed the food in her mouth.

The room was warm, and even in autumn, they had lit the charcoal fire, which showed just how weak this woman was.

“This servant greets Your Highness,” Qing’er said happily, stealing a glance at her master before discreetly closing the door and stepping out.

Although the dishes on the table weren’t exquisite, they looked good. Gu Qin walked over and sat down, adjusting his sleeves. Suddenly, he raised his eyes and said, “Today, you’re being so attentive. Are you trying to plot against me again?”

Xia Tong: “……”

This man’s paranoia was reaching new heights!

“Your Highness can choose not to eat, but how can you wrongfully accuse me?” She pouted, her face full of grievance. “I’ve been enduring my injuries and spent the whole afternoon preparing these dishes without even tasting them myself. Now I’m being judged by someone else’s standard!”

Her small face was filled with indignation as her rosy lips opened and closed while she expressed her grievances. Gu Qin’s gaze flickered as he fixated on her.

“Are you saying I’m a petty person?” His voice grew heavy.

After a pause, Xia Tong felt that she had complained too much, and immediately coughed again, and shook her head honestly, “That’s not what I meant, this…”

Suddenly, she pulled out a small purse embroidered with a white horse from her sleeve and quietly handed it over. “This is… embroidered by me myself. Though it’s not valuable, it’s the thought that counts.”

Qing’er had wanted her to embroider mandarin ducks, but Xia Tong flatly refused. That was just too intimate for her to casually stitch.

With delicate, pale hands trembling slightly, she presented the purse, which looked ordinary except for the eye-catching white horse design. When their gazes met, she suddenly looked flustered and bowed her head, appearing guilty like a thief.

Seeing her flushed ears, Gu Qin pressed his lips together, then lifted his hand to accept the gift. After glancing at it a couple of times, he tucked it into his robe, picked up his chopsticks, and took a small bite of a vegetable ball without saying a word.

The candlelight flickered weakly, and the room fell into a rare tranquility. Xia Tong touched her forehead, feeling strangely hot and lightheaded, as if she were holding her breath and couldn’t exhale. Has she caught a cold?

“Why are you being so attentive today? Is there something on your mind?” He lifted his gaze, used to her unnecessary flattery during idle moments.

With the candlelight dancing softly, Xia Tong pressed her lips together, suddenly feeling a strong urge to curse. Did she really seem so opportunistic?

“If the prince thinks that way, then there’s nothing I can do,” she replied, taking a sip of wine. The alcohol emboldened her, and she leaned in to ask, “I heard you captured a woman recently?”

As if he had expected this question, the man let out a scoff, glancing at her flushed face. Her rosy lips seemed to tempt him, moving in a way that was mesmerizing. Gu Qin swallowed hard, then glanced around the room before his gaze settled on the candlestick.

So, she dared to use hehuan oil^[1]Hehuan oil (合欢油), also known as the oil of the “Silk Tree” or “Mimosa Tree” (Albizia julibrissin), is traditionally associated with the bark or flowers of the Hehuan … Continue reading? This woman truly had some nerve.

“Your courage seems to be growing,” he said, his sharp features unreadable.

Meeting her bright gaze, the man’s expression darkened. He suddenly pushed a pot of wine toward her, his voice low, “Drink this, and I’ll tell you.”