Xiao Wei was currently burning with anxiety and had no mood to cause trouble for Yun Wenfang. After persuading Wu Yiyu, she immediately ordered people to pack their belongings and return to Ningxia.
Her visit this time to discuss the matter of Ningxia's garrison with the Prince of Yanbei ultimately came to nothing, as she hardly had any opportunity to speak with Xiao Yan.
When the Old Princess Consort learned the reason for Xiao Wei's return to Ningxia, she was also furious, scolding Wu Xiaohe harshly, but could only let Xiao Wei and her daughter leave.
The Princess Consort had people prepare three large carts of gifts for Xiao Wei and her daughter to take back to Ningxia, putting on a full show of courtesy. However, when the Wu family's carriage left the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, the Princess Consort claimed illness and did not see them off, only sending her personal maid to make a brief appearance. Xiao Jinglin was not even seen in the slightest. This once again greatly angered the Old Princess Consort.
In truth, the Old Princess Consort had not considered that, as the mistress of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion, the Princess Consort had the right and the standing to disregard anyone she did not wish to entertain. The Princess Consort had always given face to the Old Princess Consort in the past, enduring Xiao Wei and her daughter to avoid an awkward scene.
But after all, the Princess Consort was the Princess Consort. If you insisted on tearing up all pretense with her, there was no reason for her to continue flattering you. Even if she herself did not mind, the dignity of the Yanbei Prince's Mansion could not tolerate it.
Xiao Jinglin sat by the window on the second floor of a certain tavern in Yunyang City, expressionlessly sipping the sweet wine in her cup as she watched the Wu family's carriage grandly depart from Yunyang City. Then, with the same blank expression, she turned her head back.
"Too sweet!" Xiao Jinglin said, setting down the wine cup in her hand.
The man dressed in dark clothing sitting opposite her smiled upon hearing this, then picked up the jade pot beside him and refilled the cup in front of Xiao Jinglin. His movements were elegant and natural, resembling an exquisite ink-wash landscape painting from a distance.
"But you like it," he said with a smile. "However, you must not overindulge. Finish this small pot and that's it."
Xiao Jinglin frowned, somewhat displeased. "I already said it's too sweet, not at all like wine."
The man opposite remained unmoved. "Even if it doesn't taste like wine, it is still wine, and its aftereffects are strong. If you go out on your own in the future, you are not allowed to drink this peach blossom brew. Without someone watching over you, you could get drunk without even realizing it."
Xiao Jinglin downed the wine in her cup in one gulp, pursed her lips, and changed the subject. "Xiao Jingxi, was it your doing in Ningxia? I was still troubled about how to avenge that poisonous spider incident with Wu Yiyu. Now that you've sent them away, how am I supposed to vent my anger?"
Xiao Jingxi gently brushed away Xiao Jinglin's hand as she reached for the wine pot, instead picking it up himself and filling her cup halfway. "How do you want to vent your anger? In a fight, she might not be your match, but if it comes to scheming and underhanded tactics... it's better to give her an opponent who can match her. You need not waste unnecessary thoughts on such matters. After all, everyone has their own battlefield. It is unwise to attack another's strengths with your own weaknesses."
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment and felt that Xiao Jingxi made sense. The most direct method she could think of was to beat Wu Yiyu black and blue on a dark and windy night. However, given the previous incident with Yun Wenfang, although she did not fear Xiao Wei and her daughter, she worried that the Princess Consort might be put in a difficult position by the Old Princess Consort.
"Is Di Hao in Ningxia your man?" Xiao Jinglin asked.Xiao Jingxi set down the small jade wine pot in his hand and chuckled softly, "What does it matter whether they are my people or not? Those who can be used don’t necessarily have to be one’s own. You’ve read military texts and historical records—you should know that both officials and generals need timely rotations and transfers. Staying in one place for too long breeds change. The Wu family has been in Ningxia for four generations now, hasn’t it?"
Xiao Jingxi picked up the wine cup in front of him, sniffed it lightly, and took a small sip. "A new ruler brings new ministers. It’s time for Ningxia’s blood to be refreshed."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinglin pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "But Father might be concerned about Old Princess Consort and Aunt. After all, the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion is Aunt’s maternal home."
Xiao Jingxi smiled faintly, a hint of mockery in his tone, "Oh? Hasn’t Aunt always believed that her maternal home is in the capital, and that the one sitting on the golden throne is her true backing?"
Xiao Jinglin fell silent for a moment, then picked up her wine cup and drained it in one gulp. Her expression remained impassive as she said, "You’re right. Perhaps Father is overthinking it."
So it was time to make certain people understand where her maternal home truly lay and to see whether the distant waters of the capital could quench a nearby fire. Otherwise, they’d keep causing trouble every few days—truly idle and restless!
"Has your master written to you?" Xiao Jingxi ignored Xiao Jinglin’s gaze and motioned for Tong He to take away the now-empty small wine pot. He picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of kidney bean roll onto Xiao Jinglin’s plate.
Xiao Jinglin shifted her attention to the pastry and replied casually, "Yes. The Liao people have been acting unusually lately."
"Are you returning to Jiajing Pass?" Xiao Jingxi raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Jinglin finished the kidney bean roll on her plate in two bites and reached out to take another piece herself. "Not necessarily. It’s not yet time to go back."
Xiao Jingxi asked patiently, "When will it be time to go back?"
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment. "Mother definitely wouldn’t want me to leave now." If not for the Princess Consort holding her back, she would have left Yunyang City long ago. Fortunately, she had made a friend in Ren Yaoqi during this visit; otherwise, she didn’t know how long she could have endured among the seemingly kind but inwardly fierce women.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jinglin suddenly said, "When are we going to White Crane Town to see Yaoqi?"
Xiao Jingxi’s chopsticks, which were about to pick up another pastry for her, paused, nearly dropping the piece of pineapple cake. Fortunately, Second Young Master Xiao’s mental fortitude was strong, so to outsiders, aside from a very slight tremor in his chopsticks, nothing seemed amiss. His smile remained flawless, without any obvious cracks. "We?"
Xiao Jinglin’s gaze slowly shifted from Xiao Jingxi’s chopsticks. She then picked up her plate and took the pastry from him, her expression unchanged. "Oh, I just said it casually. I meant when I should go to White Crane Town to see Yaoqi."
Xiao Jingxi: "..."
Xiao Jinglin suddenly felt in high spirits. "By the way, have you found the pigments I asked you to help me find?"
Xiao Jingxi set down his chopsticks and smiled gently and elegantly. The composed Second Young Master Xiao had returned. "Yes, I found them. I had Tong Xi send them to White Crane Town early this morning."Xiao Jinglin also set down her chopsticks, propped her chin on her hand, and scrutinized Xiao Jingxi for a moment. "Did I tell you to send it to White Crane Town? It's for my own use!"
Xiao Jingxi was left speechless, simply looking at Xiao Jinglin without a word.
Xiao Jinglin lowered her hand, picked up her chopsticks again, and continued eating the pastries. Only after finishing an entire plate of mung bean rolls did she leisurely remark, "Xiao Jingxi, do you have someone you fancy?"
Xiao Jingxi calmly picked up the wine cup in front of him and took a small sip, about to speak.
But Xiao Jinglin smiled quietly, then cheerfully instructed Tong He, "Have someone bring another pot of peach blossom wine. Can’t you see your master’s cup has been empty for a while?"
Xiao Jingxi glanced down at the cup in his hand, which had indeed been drained long ago: "..."
Only after thoroughly enjoying Xiao Jingxi’s rare moment of embarrassment did Xiao Jinglin continue, "Xiao Jingxi, haven’t you noticed that you’re losing your composure more and more often because of a certain someone?"
Xiao Jingxi slowly calmed the warmth creeping up his ears, his voice as composed as ever. "So what if I have? I’ve never needed others to remind me of my own state."
Xiao Jinglin took the wine pot Tong He handed her, filled her cup to the brim, and said, "My master once told me that after realizing he had fallen for my mistress, he began saving up for the betrothal gifts. It took him five years, exhausting all his efforts, to gather the few extremely rare treasures my mistress desired. Before that, he was penniless. And those rare treasures were only mentioned in a song my mistress sang the first time he saw her. The gist of the lyrics was that she was waiting for her beloved to bring those items to her, and then she would bring her dowry and leave with him. My mistress is from the Dingling tribe, and my master only half-understood the song’s lyrics, but he took them to heart. So, five years later, when he went to see my mistress with those treasures, she was so startled she called her four older brothers to give him a beating."
Xiao Jingxi listened attentively, unable to suppress a smile.
Xiao Jinglin took a sip of her wine and said, "Many people think they’ve given a lot for the person they care about, but in reality, that ‘lot’ is often just a tiny fraction of what they possess. They’re unwilling to give more. My master, on the other hand, had very little, but he gave everything he had. The difference lies in this: those who think they’ve given a lot will weigh their options and make trade-offs when faced with unavoidable choices, but someone like my master wouldn’t."
Xiao Jingxi was surprised that Xiao Jinglin would say something like this.
It wasn’t that he thought it improper for Xiao Jinglin, as a woman, to speak so openly about personal matters. Xiao Jinglin had grown up on the frontier, raised by her free-spirited master, and she had always been straightforward with those she trusted and felt close to. Besides, she had had a few extra drinks today.
He simply hadn’t realized that Xiao Jinglin would give such matters serious thought.
So, it turned out Xiao Jinglin wasn’t unaware of Yun Wenting’s feelings. She had even pondered them carefully. Unfortunately, Eldest Master Yun’s affection likely fell into the category of "weighing options and making trade-offs when faced with unavoidable choices" in Xiao Jinglin’s eyes.
Xiao Jinglin suddenly turned to Tong He with dissatisfaction and said, "This isn’t peach blossom wine!"Tong He said in a gentle tone, "Commandery Princess, you've already finished a pot of peach blossom wine. This is fruit wine I found for you—try it, it's also quite delicious."
Xiao Jinglin stared at the cup in her hand and muttered, "What kind of wine is this? It's just sugar water! You're as cunning as your master!"
Tong He felt like crying but had no tears left.
Xiao Jingxi, observing Xiao Jinglin's state, knew she was drunk.
That pot of peach blossom wine indeed had a strong delayed effect.
Xiao Jingxi felt utterly helpless.
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