Chapter Eighteen
Using the excuse of fetching an extra layer of clothing, Yixiao quietly slipped away from the banquet and stood by a stone flower bed in the rear garden. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her face, mingled with a soft, willow-catkin-like loneliness.
As she gently comforted Xueying, who had clung to her and wept bitterly, she felt as though an entire lifetime had passed—like waking from a long and absurd dream only to find herself no longer where she once stood.
And everyone in that dream—whether it was Feng Qishan, Feng Suige, Feng Xiyang, Xia Jingshi, or even herself—had merely judged others from their own perspectives and standards. The only difference was that some were more selfish in their considerations, while others thought more of those around them.
Hurried footsteps sounded from the corridor, then abruptly paused—clearly, the person had spotted her and now turned toward her. Yixiao sighed and turned to face Xiao Weiran, whose expression was far from pleased. She surrendered immediately, "I admit I deliberately left the banquet, but I just wanted some time alone."
Xiao Weiran's expression softened slightly, though he remained stern. "The situation is unclear right now. You can't keep acting on impulse like this." Yixiao actually laughed at this. "You sound more and more like His Highness. I never knew that was contagious."
Xiao Weiran studied her thoughtfully before murmuring softly, "Better to retreat and weave a net than stand by the pond yearning for fish." "No need," Yixiao replied with a smile, shaking her head. "There are people in this world who shine like the stars and moon, naturally drawing admiration, yet they remain too distant to approach. Loving someone like that is too exhausting. Rather than entangling in such a fate, it's better to forget and move on."
Hearing this, Xiao Weiran nodded with a faint smile. "You've truly grown up—it's good that you can let go." Yixiao met his gaze for a moment before pretending to sob dramatically. "In this vast world, only Weiran understands me..." As they bantered, the two began walking back toward the inner residence. At the corridor's turning point, Xiao Weiran suddenly glanced back at the spot where they had just stood.
Xia Jingshi was slowly emerging from the shadows of the flowers not far away, his face as calm and unreadable as the vast sea.
Though time was tight, a royal wedding was no ordinary affair. By the day of the ceremony, every necessary preparation had been made.
Colorful banners fluttered atop the outer city walls, and the entire city was adorned in celebratory red. All major streets had been refurbished days prior, with the grandest decorations lining the road from the palace to the guest residence. A crimson carpet stretched from the palace gates all the way to the residence's entrance, flanked at regular intervals by Suosha Guards in gleaming armor.
Yet, as the appointed hour arrived, the guest residence remained eerily quiet, and the waiting procession outside began to stir restlessly.
Xia Jingshi had already changed into a gold-trimmed brocade ceremonial robe but lounged leisurely in the front hall's open chair, eyes closed as if napping. Xiao Weiran finally couldn't hold back and reminded him, "Your Highness, the hour is almost past." "No rush," Xia Jingshi replied unhurriedly.
A short while later, hurried footsteps approached, and Ning Fei's voice carried from a distance, "They're coming, they're coming!" Xiao Weiran finally exhaled in relief and moved to the door, nearly colliding with Xueying as she rushed in.Xueying pushed him away with a cold laugh, "Truly heroic indeed—ruthless and absolute. Ling Xueying is utterly impressed." Xia Jingshi remained unperturbed and asked calmly, "Where is Yixiao?" Xueying scoffed disdainfully and turned to walk out the door. Ning Fei quickly pointed outside, "She's already on her horse, waiting." Only then did Xia Jingshi rise, smoothing his robes before saying to Xiao Weiran, "Let's depart!"
Seizing the moment while the procession was assembling, Xueying slipped over to Yixiao's horse and whispered, "If you don’t want to go, then don’t. He can’t possibly force us to attend the palace ceremony." Yixiao smiled, "It’s fine. Hurry back to the carriage—we’re about to leave." Xueying pressed her lips together, "Or you could ride in the carriage too. It’d be easier to talk on the way." Yixiao leaned over to pinch her cheek lightly, "Go on. I’ll ride beside your carriage—it’s the same." Reluctantly, Xueying rubbed her cheek and left.
Xiao Weiran watched from afar, slightly relieved, though his gaze shifted disapprovingly when it returned to Xia Jingshi in the ceremonial carriage.
When Yixiao hadn’t appeared by departure time, Xia Jingshi had ordered him to hurry her along. He had no choice but to report truthfully that Yixiao and Xueying had no intention of attending the ceremony, though he had left sufficient guards at the residence for their protection. Yet now... Perhaps this was for Yixiao’s safety, but it still felt unnecessarily harsh.
Xiao Weiran coughed softly. Hearing this, Ning Fei glanced up, caught his look, and gave a slight nod before turning his horse around to ride back.
Yixiao was chatting idly with Xueying, who had half-lifted the carriage curtain. At Ning Fei’s approach, Xueying silently let the curtain drop. Ning Fei awkwardly glanced at the window before saying to Yixiao, "Are you alright? His Highness is just worried about leaving you both at the residence—he didn’t mean to embarrass you."
Yixiao forced a smile, "I understand. I just don’t like overly formal occasions. Don’t overthink it." Ning Fei nodded but still seemed uneasy. "If you feel uncomfortable later, find Weiran. He can bring you back early. I’ll stay with His Highness."
From behind the curtain, Xueying sneered, "Why bother staying? The princess dotes on him—it’s not like she’d harm him." Ning Fei wasn’t in the mood to argue and merely gave Yixiao’s shoulder an encouraging pat before riding back to his position.
Yixiao watched him go with a smile. "Once, His Highness ordered me to lead troops into battle in his stead. Ning Fei, still recovering from serious injuries, insisted he could go. Weiran suddenly punched him in the chest, and he toppled off his horse like a sack. When I helped him up, he patted my shoulder twice—just like now—and growled, 'If you dare come back on a stretcher, I’ll beat you awake three times a day until you recover...'"
Xueying had lifted the curtain again unnoticed. Hearing this, she scoffed, "Classic Ning Fei—was that during the war with Su Sha?" "Mm," Yixiao replied, pulling something from her pouch and tossing it into the carriage. "Don’t think I’ve shown you this before." Xueying picked it up and gasped, "The embroidery is exquisite, and the filling is rare incense!"
Yixiao nearly fell off her horse. "I meant for you to open it." The words slipped out, overlapping with a memory.
"Yixiao can’t sew..."
"I meant for you to open it!"
Feng Suige...That day, when Feng Suige pushed her out the door with a single palm strike, she had instinctively wanted to say thank you. Fortunately, the words hadn't left her lips before the door slammed shut—otherwise, she would have been terrified by her own reaction...
"...It's a talisman..." Hearing Xueying's voice as if in a daze, Yixiao snapped back to reality and turned to look at her. "What talisman?" Xueying leaned lazily against the window, tossing the arrowhead up and catching it again. "I mean, whoever thought of engraving words on an arrowhead to make a talisman for you—that's quite the gesture. Where did it come from?"
"This isn't a talisman," Yixiao suddenly felt mischievous. "Since it's an arrowhead, naturally it was pulled out of someone's body." Xueying stopped tossing the arrowhead and, after a long pause, rolled her eyes. "Stop trying to disgust me on purpose." Yixiao blinked, then said seriously, "It's true. Look closely—the bloodstains are still there. Maybe even bits of flesh are stuck to it..."
"Fu Yixiao! I'm cutting ties with you!!" Xueying flung the arrowhead at her in a rage. Yixiao caught it deftly and burst into laughter. Xueying scrubbed her hands furiously against the carriage curtain. "If you want the sachet, come get it yourself—Fu Yixiao, you're absolutely disgusting!"
Hearing the commotion, Ning Fei turned back in confusion, exchanging a puzzled glance with the equally bewildered Xiao Weiran. Then, as if by unspoken agreement, both looked toward Xia Jingshi.
Xia Jingshi remained as composed as ever, though a faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips—whatever the reason, this was the first time in four years he had heard her laugh so freely and heartily.
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