"Pah pah pah, you heard nothing." Bu Shulin turned back and covered Shen Xihe's ears.
This not only darkened Cui Jinbai's expression but even Xiao Huayong's face turned grim.
Shen Xihe broke free from her grasp, frowning as she shot her a glance.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I forgot to wash my hands. I'll go clean them right now." Knowing Shen Xihe's fastidiousness, Bu Shulin remembered she had been holding reins while horseback riding—something Shen Xihe considered unclean. She hurried to her horse, retrieved a water pouch, and began washing her hands.
Cui Jinbai immediately followed her, leaving only Shen Xihe and Xiao Huayong behind. Xiao Huayong had brought no attendants, while Shen Xihe was accompanied by Moyu and Mo Yuan.
Xiao Huayong nodded to Shen Xihe: "County Princess."
Shen Xihe returned a faint courtesy and wordlessly walked past him. The strong wind carried his distinctive Duojialuo fragrance, but she pretended not to recognize him.
Xiao Huayong turned to watch Shen Xihe's graceful retreating figure, somewhat surprised. Previously, Shen Xihe had always seen through his disguises—not once had he succeeded in deceiving her. Even Qin Zijie, whom she hadn't conclusively identified, had aroused her suspicion. Yet this time, her reaction seemed genuinely unaware of his true identity. This made Xiao Huayong examine his current disguise and carefully recall what differences in his transformation process might have enabled this successful deception.
After pondering for a while without reaching any conclusion, he simply gave up.
Meanwhile, Bu Shulin was awkwardly pouring water from the pouch with one hand to wash the other. Seeing her struggle, Cui Jinbai reached for the pouch: "Let me help you."
Still angry at him—had he not provoked her, she wouldn't have upset Youyou—Bu Shulin refused to let go. "No need."
The usually steady and mature Cui Jinbai felt displeased and even developed a mischievous urge to ruin the good image she deliberately maintained before Zhaoning County Princess. He tugged firmly: "I'll help you."
"I said no need!"
"I'll help you!"
"No need!"
As they struggled over the pouch, it suddenly tilted. Bu Shulin released her grip first, and Cui Jinbai's forceful pull sent all the water splashing onto Bu Shulin's clothes, drenching the front hem of her garment.
Cui Jinbai stood frozen in dismay.
Bu Shulin snatched back the pouch and threw the remaining half directly in Cui Jinbai's face. Fuming, she led her horse to catch up with Shen Xihe.
Shen Xihe had already mounted her horse preparing to leave. Seeing Bu Shulin soaked, she worried the late autumn chill would make her catch a cold during the ride back.
"Can you... build a fire?" Shen Xihe noticed several young men had already started a bonfire in the distance.
They had come out for a casual ride without spare clothing.
"I can. But it's unnecessary. I'm strong—I could soak in an icy pond in winter without issue. Don't worry." Bu Shulin swung onto her horse in one fluid motion.
"Stay and dry your clothes. I'd also like to try some game." Shen Xihe changed her mind.
Truthfully, she welcomed a legitimate reason to stay and probe Xiao Fuxing's depths. To avoid arousing his suspicion and revealing she had already seen through him, Shen Xihe maintained an aloof facade.
This way, whether he was the real Xiao Fuxing or impersonating him again, he would likely continue appearing before her in this identity—allowing her to eventually expose his fox tail."Then stay." Bu Shulin was deeply moved, firmly believing Shen Xihe was enduring those foul men for her sake.
For someone of Shen Xihe's temperament to go this far for her, Bu Shulin was on the verge of shedding tears of gratitude.
Meeting Bu Shulin's overly sentimental gaze, Shen Xihe felt somewhat exasperated. Just as she was about to explain it wasn't for Bu Shulin, Cui Jinbai and Xiao Huayong approached, causing her to swallow her words.
"Hmph." Bu Shulin snorted in displeasure.
She had noticed earlier that Youyou was about to comfort her further, but these two had interrupted, making Youyou too embarrassed to speak those gentle words. She had missed her chance to receive the beauty's concern!
Bu Shulin extended her hand: "I just washed them clean!"
Yet Shen Xihe still offered her hand to Moyu,
allowing Moyu to assist her down from the horse. Forgetting once again that she was supposed to be a man, Bu Shulin thought her hands might have an odor and brought them close to sniff.
Her fawning and accommodating demeanor toward Shen Xihe nearly made Cui Jinbai grind his teeth in frustration.
After Bu Shulin informed them they were invited, Xiao Huayong led them to the bonfire. Dusk was approaching, and several young masters had returned with a full haul—wild rabbits, pheasants, and even a young boar.
Upon arriving, Bu Shulin boldly removed her outer robe, wearing only her snow-white inner garments. Shen Xihe glanced at her flat chest before looking away, helping her hang the clothes to dry by the fire.
Cui Jinbai also removed his outer robe to dry, placing it alongside Bu Shulin's. Bu Shulin paid no mind, edging closer to Shen Xihe until Cui Jinbai grabbed her first: "You're improperly dressed—a man crowding around the Princess, what kind of behavior is that?"
Bu Shulin realized she had slipped up again; around Shen Xihe, she always forgot she was a woman.
She shook off Cui Jinbai's grip: "Two improperly dressed men huddled together—what kind of behavior is that!"
Cui Jinbai: "..."
The men enthusiastically discussed how to prepare the game, while Shen Xihe listened with a slight frown. Their crude knowledge extended only to basic roasting.
Noticing Shen Xihe's subtle reaction, Xiao Huayong asked, "Does the Princess have any suggestions?"
Shen Xihe glanced at him and replied indifferently with one word: "No."
"You... Princess." Bu Shulin nearly used Shen Xihe's milk name but corrected herself swiftly. "Please give them some guidance."
She also wanted better food; she knew Shen Xihe had considerable expertise in cooking, having often visited the Princess Manor for meals.
Everyone stared expectantly at Shen Xihe. Feeling somewhat obliged since she was eating without contributing, Shen Xihe said, "This season, the forest should have some fragrant spices. If you gather some to rub on the game or stuff inside, it will taste better."
"Which spices, Princess? Tell us quickly!" Bu Shulin urged.
Shen Xihe listed several spices suitable for roasting meat. Xiao Huayong glanced at Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai before leading the others to search, leaving them to tend to the drying clothes. By the time the group returned, Bu Shulin and Cui Jinbai had dried their garments and dressed properly.
"Did anyone bring healing medicine?" someone asked upon returning. "Dàláng cut his palm, and none of us brought any."
Roasting game outdoors was a spontaneous idea; they hadn't planned to hunt, so they hadn't prepared healing medicine.
"I have some." Shen Xihe, worried about potential accidents during her first horseback outing, had brought a supply."Then we'll trouble you to apply medicine to the elder brother, we'll go handle the game." The man tossed out this sentence, and everyone set to work.
Shen Xihe had brought her maid and attendants, but she took the medicine from Moyu's hands, intending to personally apply it to Xiao Huayong.
Xiao Huayong was initially delighted, but then it dawned on him that she hadn't recognized him. Her treating him this way was no different from how she would treat any other person, and his expression immediately darkened.
OpenNovel