The startled cry from Caixuan abruptly snapped Mu Xiyan out of her daze, bringing a faint flush of embarrassment to her cheeks as she realized her earlier impropriety. She turned her gaze toward Yan Wuyou seated beside her, noticing how the usually composed young woman gently placed the Book of Songs she'd been holding onto the desk, her brows knitting slightly as she looked toward the study entrance.
At that moment, the curtain at the study doorway was lifted as Caixuan hurried in. Seeing Yan Wuyou and Mu Xiyan, she immediately curtsied. "Rise," Yan Wuyou said calmly.
Once Caixuan had straightened, Yan Wuyou continued, "Compose yourself, Caixuan. What's this flustered manner about? Did you say the Chengqing County Princess has arrived?"
Gasping for breath, Caixuan replied, "Yes... The head maid Peony from Madam's quarters came with word that... the County Princess has secretly traveled from Dengzhou. Upon arriving, Madam immediately went with the concubines to greet her. She told Madam she came specially to invite you to some 'Poetry Contest,' fearing you might refuse again like last year. She wouldn't even sit for tea, insisting on coming straight to your chambers to find you. Madam sent Peony running ahead to warn you to prepare for her arrival."
Pausing to catch her breath, Caixuan added, "I bumped into Taohua rushing through the courtyard gate and came straight here after hearing the news."
Yan Wuyou massaged her temples before instructing, "Go tell Caitao to prepare my hair and change of clothes."
"Yes, miss," Caixuan acknowledged before departing.
After Caixuan left, Yan Wuyou turned to Xiyan with a resigned smile. "I'm afraid I won't have time for our lessons these next few days. This County Princess thrives on mischief—her visits always bring chaos."
Curious, Xiyan asked, "Who is this County Princess?"
"She's the youngest daughter of Prince Yu, newly come of age this year like yourself. We met three years ago at a poetry contest she hosted, which my father took me to. Since then, she often comes to Luozhou to visit, staying several days each time..."
Before Yan Wuyou could finish, the jingling of jewelry and multiple footsteps sounded outside, accompanied by maids greeting someone in the corridor. Then a bright, charming voice called out, "Where's Sister Wuyou? I've come to play!"
From the corridor, Caishu's voice answered, "My lady is in the study, Your Highness."Yan Wuyou shook her head and stood up from the round-backed chair. Seeing this, Mu Xiyan also rose from the embroidered stool. Both turned their gaze toward the study door, where the maids outside lifted the curtain adorned with four-harmony ruyi cloud patterns. In walked a woman as radiant as spring blossoms, her face alight with joy. She wore a large persimmon-red silk brocade jacket with pomegranate-patterned branches and a moon-white gold-woven skirt decorated with flying birds and dyed floral designs. Her hair was styled in double tassel buns, adorned with gold phoenix hairpins holding pearl blossoms and gold filigree earrings with kingfisher feathers and ruby beads. Behind her followed Luo Shi, Wang Yiniang, Jiao Yiniang, and several maids and servants attending the group.
The woman hurried toward Yan Wuyou in quick strides, her smile widening.
Upon seeing her, Yan Wuyou pushed the chair aside slightly and curtsied, saying, "Yan Wuyou greets Princess Qingcheng."
"Wuyou-jie, rise! Why stand on such formalities between us? Call me Ruoxi—I love hearing you say it," the woman replied cheerfully, reaching out to help Yan Wuyou up.
This Princess Qingcheng was the youngest daughter of Prince Yu Chengguang of Yu, named Yu Ruoxi. Privately, she was very close to Yan Wuyou and preferred being called Ruoxi rather than by her royal title.
Yan Wuyou replied calmly, "Your Highness is growing older—this year marks your coming-of-age ceremony..."
Mu Xiyan, standing nearby, sensed the implied meaning in Yan Wuyou's words: that propriety and hierarchy must be observed, and a young lady should behave with dignity. Was this deliberate distance? For some reason, the dazzling gaze the noble, enchanting princess directed at Yan Wuyou stirred a faint discomfort in her heart. At least her mistress remained indifferent toward the princess, which eased her unease slightly.
"What does coming of age matter? Does Wuyou-jie dislike me now? Am I too old to come play with you?" Yu Ruoxi pouted, clinging to Yan Wuyou's arm in a coquettish manner.
Before Yan Wuyou could respond, Luo Shi chimed in with a beaming smile, "Your Highness, how could you say such a thing? My Wuyou often speaks of you and would be delighted to have you visit more often..."
"Wuyou-jie, is that true? I know you're always cold-faced but warm-hearted, saying one thing and meaning another..." Yu Ruoxi blurted out happily before suddenly pausing, sticking out her pink tongue sheepishly. "Ah, I misspoke again. Wuyou-jie, don’t be angry—please don’t take it to heart, alright?"
Mu Xiyan watched as the princess clung to Yan Wuyou's hand, twisting her body like a child begging for candy. She could hardly believe this was a princess of such noble stature—there was no trace of royal dignity in her behavior. Instead, she resembled nothing more than a spoiled child tugging at an adult for sweets.Yan Wuyou glanced at Luo Shi, her lips twitching slightly. She knew both her mother and father were eager for her to maintain ties with the youngest daughter of the Prince of Yu, solely because the girl's father held immense power. The current emperor doted on his younger brother, who wielded considerable influence at court. Thus, despite knowing how troublesome and demanding the young noblewoman could be, Luo Shi treated her like royalty whenever she visited, showering her with warmth. Naturally, Yan Wuyou was expected to cater to the girl's every whim and keep her company—though it gave her nothing but headaches.
"Alright, I'm not angry. Stand still..." Yan Wuyou grasped one of her arms and gave it a gentle pat, speaking in a tone one might use to soothe a child.
Yu Ruoxi immediately stopped fidgeting at her words, obediently straightening up with a smile playing on her lips as she gazed at Yan Wuyou, her bright, clear eyes sparkling. Mu Xiyan, standing nearby, couldn't help but marvel inwardly—this noblewoman truly listened to Yan Wuyou. The moment she settled down, the innate regal air of her royal lineage became unmistakable, so overwhelming that Mu Xiyan instinctively lowered her head under the weight of it.
Seeing her calm, Yan Wuyou relaxed slightly before asking, "Your Highness, wasn't your 'Poetry Contest' supposed to be held on the tenth day of the tenth month, as it is every year? Why has it been moved up this time?"
Yu Ruoxi opened her mouth to reply but suddenly noticed a young woman standing behind Yan Wuyou, head bowed demurely, her posture serene. The girl had lustrous dark hair and skin as fair as fresh snow, exuding an air of gentle elegance. Earlier, in her excitement to see Yan Wuyou, she hadn't noticed anyone else in the study.
Now that she had, she blurted out, "Sister Wuyou, who is that behind you?"
Though her tone was casual, Mu Xiyan distinctly sensed a flicker of displeasure and tension in her voice.
Yan Wuyou smirked, turning to pull Mu Xiyan forward. "This is my newly wedded wife—and also the bookkeeper in my study."
"What?!" Yu Ruoxi's eyes widened, her voice rising sharply in disbelief. How could this be? She nearly doubted her own ears.
Yan Wuyou watched Mu Xiyan, amusement dancing in her eyes as she noted the blush creeping up the girl's ears from the teasing remark. She stifled a laugh before turning back to Yu Ruoxi. "Did you not hear me clearly, Your Highness?"
Yu Ruoxi stood frozen, shock and displeasure thick in her gaze as she stared at Mu Xiyan.
"Your Highness, don't listen to Wuyou's nonsense," Luo Shi quickly interjected from behind Yu Ruoxi, smiling as she explained the situation—how Yan Wuyou had fallen gravely ill, how Daoist Zhang had divined that Mu Xiyan's marriage would bring luck to ward off the illness, and how she had been allowed into the study to attend to Yan Wuyou's studies to keep her from boredom. She recounted everything in detail to the bewildered noblewoman.After listening to Luo Shi's words, Yu Ruoxi let out a sigh of relief, her face lighting up with a smile again. She grabbed Yan Wuyou's arm and gave it a hard pinch, scolding playfully, "Sister Wuyou, you're so mischievous! How could you tease me like that?"
Yan Wuyou hissed in pain and quickly pulled her arm free from Yu Ruoxi's grasp, frowning and shaking her head repeatedly. "Your grip has gotten even stronger as you've grown older..." she muttered.
Mu Xiyan had never seen the usually composed and dignified young lady being pinched like this before. Unable to help herself, she let out a muffled laugh, turning slightly away and covering her mouth with her hand to hide her amusement. She thought to herself, judging from the young lady's words, the Princess Qingcheng must have done this to Yan Wuyou before, otherwise she wouldn't have complained about her grip getting stronger.
Yan Wuyou, however, felt a bit embarrassed by Mu Xiyan's laughter. She was annoyed that Mu Xiyan found it funny instead of feeling sorry for her. Then again, she wondered, what exactly was their relationship? Why should Mu Xiyan care about her? Perhaps those seemingly infatuated glances were just like a young girl's admiration for pretty flowers or jewelry—nothing deeper.
Ever since that day at Pudu Nunnery, when she had been inexplicably drawn to Mu Xiyan's soft lips, and later when Mu Xiyan had risked her life to save her at the Guanyin Temple on the hill, Yan Wuyou's wavering heart had already leaned decisively toward her.
Last night, after hearing her father mention "eunuch-maid partnerships" and "lesbian relationships," she had initially felt uneasy about her own feelings for the girl. Seeing her mother's disdain for Caimo had only deepened her despair. She had lain awake half the night, lost in thought. But this morning, the moment she entered the study and saw the refreshingly gentle figure of her "bride"—the one brought in to ward off bad luck—her heart had melted at the sight of those clear, round eyes and sweet smile. It was as if she were intoxicated by the very air Mu Xiyan breathed as she sat quietly in the study.
She liked her—no, she adored her. She couldn't change that.
But now, more than ever, she wanted to know if the girl felt the same way about her. If Mu Xiyan had no special feelings for her, why frighten her by dragging her into this whirlpool, into an uncertain and troubled future? But if, by some small chance, she did feel the same—though Yan Wuyou knew from her readings how rare mutual affection between women was—she would make different plans. She wouldn't just sit quietly, waiting to marry someone else and live a life she didn't want.In truth, she had no idea that after Mu Xiyan couldn't help but let out a sudden laugh, she immediately felt a pang of guilt. Seeing the young lady's furrowed brows, she thought the princess must have pinched her hard. Recalling those jade-carved fingers, she imagined the skin on her arms must be just as fair and translucent as jade—now likely marked with red streaks, or even bruises if it was too harsh. Her heart ached at the thought. Were it not for the fact that the one who pinched her was the esteemed princess, she might have scolded her outright—why pinch someone when you could just speak properly? Then it struck her how casually the princess had reached out to pinch Yan Wuyou's arm, a gesture so intimate it almost seemed like playful flirtation.
Playful flirtation? The phrase lodged itself in Mu Xiyan's mind, and suddenly, a sour feeling bubbled up inside her...
Meanwhile, Luo Shi and the others who had followed Yu Ruoxi in couldn't help but chuckle at the scene.
Yu Ruoxi herself let out a soft laugh, stealing a glance at Yan Wuyou. The princess's flawless jade-like face seemed tinged with a faint flush—whether from annoyance or something else—her brows slightly knitted in what appeared to be irritation. Yet even this annoyed expression was...
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