Yelü Sage had evidently put effort into learning Han etiquette, as she made no mistakes in manners throughout the meal. However, with an outsider present, the atmosphere felt more subdued compared to usual, and even the Prince of Yanbei, who enjoyed joking and teasing, maintained his princely demeanor from start to finish.
After the meal, the Prince of Yanbei prepared to leave, but Yelü Sage called out to him as he stood: "Prince..."
The Prince of Yanbei glanced at her expressionlessly.
Yelü Sage seemed hesitant, and just as everyone thought she might bluntly ask when the Prince would visit her courtyard, as she had upon arrival, she instead said, "Prince, this is my first time in Yunyang City. May I be permitted to go out and explore?"
The Prince of Yanbei raised an eyebrow and glanced at the Princess Consort. "If you wish to go out, inform the Princess Consort and bring some attendants." With that, he left without looking back.
Xiao Jingxi also had matters to attend to, so he departed after the Prince of Yanbei left.
Once the Prince was gone, Yelü Sage turned to the Princess Consort and said, "Sister Princess Consort, I have several maids who have served me since childhood. They did not accompany me into the mansion yesterday. May they now be allowed to enter and attend to me?"
Yelü Sage had eight accompanying maids, all brought from Liao. When she entered the mansion yesterday, these maids were stopped and remained in an outer courtyard.
The Princess Consort pondered for a moment before replying, "According to the rules of our mansion, they should not be allowed entry. However, since they have served you closely since childhood, an exception can be made. But before entering, they must learn some of the mansion's etiquette from the etiquette nannies."
Yelü Sage immediately expressed gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Sister Princess Consort."
The Princess Consort remained unfazed by the address and nodded, summoning Nanny Xin. In Yelü Sage's presence, she instructed Nanny Xin to send several etiquette nannies to the outer courtyard to teach Yelü Sage's maids the mansion's rules.
"Our mansion has many rules. They will likely need to study for about a month before they can enter. During this time, Princess, please make do with the mansion's maids," the Princess Consort said gently from her seat.
A month of etiquette training before entry was a long time, but Yelü Sage only frowned slightly before agreeing. She then added, "Sister Princess Consort, may I go out today to look around?"
Since the Prince had already given instructions, the Princess Consort naturally did not object. She was about to have her maid Sujin make arrangements when Yelü Sage turned to Xiao Jinglin: "Is the Commandery Princess free today? Could you accompany me for a walk? I have long admired the Commandery Princess since my homeland but never had the chance to meet you. I truly yearn to know you."
Yelü Sage used the word "yearn" to describe her feelings toward Xiao Jinglin, perhaps due to her limited proficiency in Chinese.
Although Xiao Jinglin had previously warned Ren Yaoqi to avoid contact with Yelü Sage, when Yelü Sage extended this invitation, she glanced at the Princess Consort. In truth, Xiao Jinglin also wanted an opportunity to probe the depths of this Liao princess. The Yanbei Prince's Mansion had placed Yelü Sage's residence near her Xihe Hall partly to have her keep an eye on the princess.The Princess Consort smiled indulgently and said to Xiao Jinglin, "Since you have nothing to do at home, why not accompany the princess out for a look?"
Xiao Jinglin glanced at Ren Yaoqi again, considering whether to bring her along. Noticing Xiao Jinglin's look, Yelü Sage proactively extended an invitation, "If the young madam has time, would you like to join us as well?"
Ren Yaoqi looked at Yelü Sage and smiled.
Ren Yaoqi rarely spoke, but she had been observing the words and actions of this Liao princess all along. She noticed that the princess seemed quite accustomed to taking the initiative. Although she had been very careful to appear approachable and compliant, the habits ingrained from long-standing authority were not so easily concealed.
It appeared this princess held some status in Liao as well, though it was unclear why she had been sent for a political marriage. Typically, royal women dispatched for such marriages were relatively less favored, as their position was often awkward. Limited by their foreign identity, even if they bore children, their offspring had little chance of becoming heirs.
After some thought, the Princess Consort agreed to let Ren Yaoqi go out as well, though she also felt it would be better for Ren Yaoqi not to interact too much with Yelü Sage. However, with Xiao Jinglin present and Ren Yaoqi being a cautious person, she felt reassured.
Ren Yaoqi returned to change into more suitable attire for going out. When she emerged, Xiao Jinglin was already waiting at her door. Xiao Jinglin hesitated and said, "Perhaps you shouldn’t go after all."
Ren Yaoqi linked arms with Xiao Jinglin and smiled, "It’s been a while since I’ve been out. It’ll be nice to take a stroll. Besides, you’re with me—what is there to fear? And I’ve brought Leshan and Leshui along."
Xiao Jinglin thought for a moment and said nothing more.
Yelü Sage was quicker than Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi. By the time they appeared, she was already waiting beside the carriage. Ren Yaoqi and Xiao Jinglin saw her examining the carriage, which was slightly larger than an ordinary one.
Yelü Sage was not wearing Liao attire today but instead a lake-green duijin beizi embroidered with exquisite magnolia patterns. However, her stature was taller than that of Han women, with slightly broader shoulders and hips, so the Han clothing looked somewhat incongruous on her.
In comparison, although Xiao Jinglin was also taller than the average woman, her frame was well-proportioned. Thus, despite her imposing presence, she carried a unique grace in Han women’s clothing.
Yelü Sage glanced at Xiao Jinglin and Ren Yaoqi, tugged at her sleeve somewhat sheepishly, and said, "I’m still not quite used to your clothing, and I don’t wear it as beautifully as you do."
The three of them boarded the same carriage together. Yelü Sage seemed fascinated by everything, even examining the interior decorations of the carriage with keen curiosity.
The carriage carried the three out of the Yanbei Prince’s Mansion. As Xiao Jinglin remained silent, Ren Yaoqi spoke up and asked, "Where would the princess like to go for a stroll?"
Yelü Sage thought for a moment and smiled, "I’m not familiar with Yunyang City at all. Why don’t you decide?"After a brief moment of contemplation, Ren Yaoqi instructed the coachwoman outside to head to Zhengyang Avenue. As the main thoroughfare of Yunyang City, Zhengyang Avenue was lined with shops on both sides, offering a wide variety of goods, making it the most bustling area in the city. Since they were out for a stroll, it made sense to visit a lively place, which would also be relatively safer.
Yelü Sage naturally had no objections and spent the entire journey curiously looking around, appearing quite enthusiastic.
Seeing her like this, Ren Yaoqi smiled and asked, "Has Your Highness never been to Yanbei before?"
Yelü Sage was intently watching a vendor carrying a pole of candied hawthorns and nodded in response, "Yes, this is my first time in Yanbei. It's much livelier here than in our Great Liao, and there are many more vendors on the streets."
The carriage slowly circled a few of Yunyang City's main streets, and Yelü Sage's enthusiasm remained undiminished throughout the journey. It wasn't until nearly noon that she remarked, "I've heard that the teahouses and restaurants here have storytellers and performers? I've never seen a storyteller before, nor have I watched an opera."
Ren Yaoqi glanced at Xiao Jinglin, who replied without hesitation, "Then let's go to the teahouse ahead. It's almost noon, and there are quite a few good restaurants nearby. We might as well have our meal out."
Ren Yaoqi did not object, and Yelü Sage seemed quite pleased.
The teahouse Xiao Jinglin chose was one Ren Yaoqi had visited several times before. It catered to female patrons, so the three of them discreetly entered through the back door and were led by the proprietress to a large private room on the second floor.
Xiao Jinglin ordered a pot of Longjing tea and several plates of snacks and dried fruits.
Since Yelü Sage had expressed a desire to listen to storytelling, Xiao Jinglin did not ask the teahouse to clear the area. In truth, Princess Xiao was not accustomed to making a fuss. Although they were in a private room on the second floor, they could see the first floor through the latticed windows, while those outside could not clearly see inside their room.
Perhaps by coincidence, the storyteller on the first floor was recounting the life of the fourth Prince of Yanbei, Xiao Qishan, and had just reached the part where he drove the Liao people out of Yanbei year after year. The atmosphere was lively, with thunderous applause and cheers from the audience.
After taking her seat, Yelü Sage listened attentively. The storyteller, being from Yanbei, naturally portrayed the old prince as exceptionally brave and wise.
Tales of him charging alone into enemy camps, winning against overwhelming odds with clever tactics, and receiving divine aid in desperate situations painted him as a great hero of the Yanbei people. In contrast, the old Liao king in the storyteller's narrative was depicted as cunning, ruthless, foolish as a pig, and plagued by terrible luck.
Xiao Jinglin drank her tea without changing her expression. Ren Yaoqi glanced at her and then calmly introduced the snacks on the table to Yelü Sage, pretending not to hear the commotion outside.
Only after this segment of the story ended did Yelü Sage thoughtfully remark, "Everyone says the old Prince of Yanbei was a great hero, and I've heard some of his deeds, but I've never heard the stories this storyteller told."
Without waiting for Xiao Jinglin or Ren Yaoqi to respond, Yelü Sage proactively changed the subject and asked curiously, "Will the storyteller talk about the Prince's affairs?"
Xiao Jinglin gave Yelü Sage a glance. "Are you interested in my father's matters?"
Yelü Sage nodded candidly and earnestly replied, "Yes, I want to learn more about the Prince."Xiao Jinglin raised an eyebrow. "Haven't you met him before? Don't you already know him well?"
Yelü Sage paused at these words, glanced at Xiao Jinglin, and then smiled. "I want to learn more about him." She did not deny having met the Prince of Yanbei.
Just then, firecrackers sounded from the street-facing window, lively and bustling. Curious, Yelü Sage stood up to take a look.
Hongying went to check and returned to report, "Today is the day the Meng family is delivering the dowry to Yun Mansion."
Actually, whenever readers feel the plot is getting dull, it's usually because the author is stuck or needs to lay the groundwork for the story, and updates tend to slow down...
But things will get better once we get through this phase...〒_〒
Thank you all for your patience and understanding...^^~.
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