Chapter 45

Once inside the Ming Shou Palace, the difference between here and the Eastern Palace could easily be noticed.

The Ming Shou Palace was, after all, the residence of the Princess, a daughter’s boudoir. Over a month had passed since the beginning of summer, and on the vermilion wooden window frames of the Ming Shou Palace, soft gauze with patterns of butterflies and flowers had been hung. Wherever the light touched, it was gorgeous and enchanting.

Following Aunt Fangruo inside, Feng Yuexian glanced around the hall and noticed the changes in the furnishings.

Crystal curtains hung all around, resembling morning dew collected from flower petals, with thousands of threads outlining emotions, soft and beautiful like clear willows.

An auspicious beast incense burner was placed under the window, and even the soft gauze was infused with a pervasive fragrance, making it soft and fragrant.

Song Pianxian stood in front of the incense burner, elegant and graceful, and turned her head slightly when she heard the sound.

A light smoke floated above the burner, and the fragrance permeated the air. The beauty turned her head, her eyes shining brightly like ripples on the water.

Approaching with a gentle sway, Song Pianxian’s figure was graceful, her clothes flowing like moonlight. She curtsied gracefully and said, “Greetings, sister-in-law.”

As she approached, Feng Yuexian caught a stronger scent from her, intense but not cloying, like smelling a solitary cold fragrance, elegant and refined.

Feng Yuexian’s nostrils twitched slightly, feeling that the scent enveloping Song Pianxian was even more alluring.

“What fragrance is this?”

“It was sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. It’s called ‘Soul Returning Plum.'” Song Pianxian led Feng Yuexian to take a seat in the hall.

“It’s said to be made from plum blossoms steamed with snow during the first snowfall of the year. When burned, it emits the scent of plum blossoms.”

Song Pianxian had never heard of a fragrance that could smell like plum blossoms before, so she was curious. She had the idea to try burning it when Feng Yuexian was available, and indeed, the fragrance was faintly discernible.

“So that’s how it is.”

“I think the Inner Court has also sent some to the East Palace. Sister-in-law can use it when you return.”

How could they be the same?

In the East Palace, there was no princess with such a graceful and charming appearance, as Song Pianxian, who was back to her original self, was slender with a light blue palace ribbon tied in a butterfly knot, her waist delicate and her demeanor soft.

Her faintly shy demeanor between her eyebrows was the most attractive.

“What’s wrong?” Song Pianxian tilted her head, her cloud-like hair swaying.

Only then did Feng Yuexian come back to her senses. She licked her lips lightly, blinked her eyes lightly, and smiled, “Nothing.”

“By the way, I came here this time to give you a pastry recipe and talk to you.”

“Sister-in-law is thoughtful. I am indeed lonely while living in the palace…”

The two chatted casually, softly and gently, laughing and chatting. While they were engrossed in conversation, the Princess showed the ivory handle embroidered silk diamond-shaped embroidered fan in her hand to the Princess Consort.

Because they were very close, the golden phoenix hairpin on the Princess’s head almost touched the Princess Consort’s hair, the green silk entwining around the thin wings of the golden phoenix, exceptionally charming.

One person’s face was like the moon in mid-autumn, and the other’s complexion was like the flower in the spring morning. The beauty was graceful, their clothes and hair brushing against each other. The exquisite hollowed-out ivory handle passed between their spring onion-like fingers. The silk fan was delicate and translucent, and behind the fan, there were hidden depths like autumn water.

This scene was as beautiful as a painting of a beauty, extremely pleasing to the eye. Yin Xue had never seen the Princess Consort get along so well with any other young lady from a noble family.

In the past, there were indeed young ladies from noble families who wanted to exchange handkerchiefs with their young lady, but they were all subtly avoided by the young lady. Even when the cousins of the Feng family came to the general’s mansion, they had never been so close.

Unlike today, where the estrangement and coldness were nowhere to be seen, the two figures were almost pressed against each other.

As Yin Xue was thinking, she heard the two masters say that they wanted to go to the inner room to play with jewelry and the new summer clothes.

The jewelry was extremely delicate, consisting of a set of blue and red gemstone hairpins with some miscellaneous gold and silver ornaments. The jewels shone brightly, dazzling to the eye.

The most eye-catching among them was a lingzhi-patterned crystal hairpin, crystal clear and flawless, as if it were carved from ice, exquisitely crafted.

Feng Yuexian’s gaze lingered on that hairpin for a moment.

Thereupon, a palace attendant passed through the pearl curtain, brought the summer clothes, and since they were of the finest quality, only five or six pieces were brought and spread out on the couch for the masters to inspect.

The two walked over to the canopy bed and took a look.

Moon white, indigo green, crimson, sakura grass color, all different.

The only similarity was that all the robes were made of thin gauze, all were light robes, and through the layers of fabric on top, you could see the color of the bed underneath, indicating how thin they were.

Fang Ruogu explained to Feng Yuexian on the side, “The Princess cannot use ice in the summer, so the robes of the summer clothes are all made of thin gauze and thin silk shirts, mostly made of light materials, and many styles have been made.”

In this dynasty, the Palace also loves to wear light gauze clothes to avoid the heat of summer, but often they would not only cut this kind of fabric. Only in the Ming Shou Palace, because the Princess cannot use ice, every summer, the Inner Court only sends over light and thin clothes.

Song Pianxian had never worn such gauze clothes before. She remembered that Qing Rong had the reputation of being “the lightest of gauze,” and she pinched the fabric with her hand, indeed thinner than the adjacent light gauze.

It was still necessary to show Feng Yuexian and add headwear before considering the bet complete.

Remembering the bet, Song Pianxian found an excuse to dismiss the crowd and glanced over the group of people, smiling lightly:

“Yuexian, which outfit do you want to see first?”

After waiting for a while, there was no response from behind.

Where was Feng Yuexian?

Turning back to look, just as she had half-turned her body, she heard Feng Yuexian’s slightly deep voice:

“Let’s start with the one you have in your hand.”

The one in her hand? Song Pianxian glanced down, the one she was pinching between her fingers was a crimson satin robe.

“Alright.”

Song Pianxian picked up the thin gauze robe and turned to look at Feng Yuexian. Feng Yuexian was standing very close to her.

Perhaps because of the window behind her, Feng Yuexian’s eyes were a little deeper than usual.

Seeing that she didn’t intend to move her feet, Song Pianxian smiled and said:

“It will take me some time to change clothes. You can have some pastries and wait for a moment.”

With that, she walked out on her own.

Feng Yuexian paused for a moment, nodding slightly:

“Yeah.”

She turned and walked out, pushing aside the crystal curtain, heading to the main hall.

Feng Yuexian walked slowly to the octagonal table, as Song Pianxian had said, to taste the pastries.

A martial artist’s hearing was excellent, and through the crystal curtain like willows, the faint sound of fabric rubbing against each other came.

Feng Yuexian breathed lightly.

She picked up a piece of red bean cake, with a round red bean that seemed welcoming, falling into her palm.

Feng Yuexian glanced at it, her tongue lightly rolled, and the red bean rolled into her throat.

Swallowed.

There was a small exclamation inside.

“What’s wrong?”

Feng Yuexian turned back, her steps swaying, making a clear collision sound.

“It’s nothing, just a bird fluttered against the window outside, and it has been driven away by the palace servants.”

Song Pianxian’s voice was still melodious, with a unique leisurely tone, very pleasant.

But at this moment, Feng Yuexian was not in the mood to listen anymore. She had been captivated by the scene before her.

The crystal curtain flowed like icy gauze, pouring out silver light.

Through the blurry curtain, Song Pianxian had her back to her, she must have almost finished changing, with only the robe left to wrap around her shoulders.

The crimson satin hung on her arm, with two tight and slender arms adorned with red gauze, and a pair of round and delicate shoulders, slender and tender.

At the back of her neck, the green silk piled up like clouds, loosely scattered, revealing the back of a sheep-fat jade-like half.

She delicately pinched the fabric, her arms moving lightly like the feathers of a phoenix, her head slightly lifted, the green silk trembling, the crimson gauze flowing over her shoulders and neck, concealing the flawless beauty beneath.

Like vermilion ink dropped into water, thin smoke-like red swirls emerged. It was like rouge spilled onto rice paper, the fine powder swirled into a crimson light smoke, enticing with fragrance.

Green silk flowing, jade bones and ice-cold skin, crimson satin burning with brilliance, graceful posture.

Delicate, gorgeous, magnificent, passionate.

Under the window, the fragrance of the “Soul Returning Plum” rose lightly, and beside the incense burner, a small fan was placed, its tassel hanging at the edge of the table.

The crystal curtain was clear and radiant, half-covered and half-revealed, everything was like a fairy palace, beautiful and hazy.

Feng Yuexian’s breath halted.

At this moment, she realized she shouldn’t have turned back.

Or rather, before, she was just waiting for an excuse to look behind the curtain, and by divine luck, she got it.

Now, after enjoying the beautiful scenery, her rationality was barely returning.

Song Pianxian adjusted her clothes, seeing them roughly in order, she turned and said:

“I’m done changing.”

Behind the crystal curtain, Feng Yuexian sat with her back to it, her steps only occasionally shaking.

But with the curtain blocking the view, and the golden steps being extremely delicate and small, Song Pianxian suspected she might have been mistaken, but when she looked again, it seemed they hadn’t shaken at all.

Feng Yuexian stood up, her expression unchanged:

“Let me see.”

Smiling, Song Pianxian slightly raised her hand and opened her beautiful sleeves:

“Here.”

Feng Yuexian brushed aside the curtain and entered, the crystal flowing through her hand like parting shimmering waves.

She gracefully approached, a cold fragrance emanating from her, and in an instant, the two stood together.

Amidst the blending fragrances, Song Pianxian said:

“Now that you’ve changed, let’s choose some jewelry.” She walked first to the intricate mirror with entwined branches and flowers, “Did Yuexian like anything just now?”

Following closely behind, Feng Yuexian’s gaze fell on her shoulders, her voice calm as she replied:

“As the guest, it’s up to the host to choose for me.”

“Mm.” Song Pianxian paused in front of the table full of gold, silver, and jade, looking contemplative.

Feng Yuexian said, “Let’s fulfill the bet first.”

“Okay.” Sitting on the stool, Song Pianxian extended her arm toward Feng Yuexian, gesturing “Please.”

With only a layer of crimson satin draped over her small arm, her fair skin was partially exposed, incredibly alluring.

Feng Yuexian glanced at it briefly, then looked away.

She didn’t dare to look too much.

She chose a phoenix hairpin adorned with jewels, walked behind Song Pianxian, and placed it in her cloud-like hair, controlling her strength, afraid of hurting the delicate person who was always so frail and sickly, requiring careful handling.

Feng Yuexian also chose several glass hair ornaments, hesitating, seemingly wanting to pile them all on Song Pianxian’s head.

Song Pianxian was amused and exasperated, she decided on two herself to avoid the outcome of a pile of hair ornaments flying into her hair.

After Feng Yuexian properly adorned her hair, she pretended casually:

“Do you want a golden hairpin?”

“Willing to accept the outcome of the bet, I’ll defer to your wishes.”

The Song Pianxian in the phoenix mirror smiled, apparently teasing.

Feng Yuexian’s gaze deepened slightly as she opened a box of various flower hairpins made of embedded jade and wood, choosing among them.

Song Pianxian, with nothing else to do, glanced at the jewelry on the table. After a while, she picked up a bracelet buried in the pile of gold and silver, only to discover its uniqueness upon closer inspection.

This bracelet was made of nothing extraordinary, just gold and silver, but what was rare was its novelty. It had three or four very small hollow golden balls strung on it, filled with scented beads, probably jasmine, which was very sweet and delightful.

Song Pianxian put it on her wrist, shaking it a bit, causing the scented beads inside to sway.

“Yuexian, look.”

Feng Yuexian, busy picking flower hairpins, heard the movement and glanced up.

On Song Pianxian’s snow-white wrist, the bracelet shimmered with gold, and the scented beads shook randomly, causing the jasmine scent to waft around.

Song Pianxian’s wrist was too slender, and the bracelet loosely rolled onto her forearm, hiding under her crimson sleeve, only a glimpse of a golden-red shadow visible.

The jasmine scent lingered around her creamy and fragrant wrist, refusing to dissipate.

Feng Yuexian tightened her grip on the wooden box in her hand, gently rubbing the jade with her fingers.

“Have you chosen yet?”

“Done,” Feng Yuexian replied, her usually cold yet charming voice slightly hoarse.

“What pattern is it?”

Song Pianxian sat on the stool, turned her head and raised her body, leaning over to look at the golden hairpin in her hand.

Feng Yuexian didn’t answer, her hand suddenly grasped Song Pianxian’s forearm, leaning down to press her against the phoenix mirror.

Her other hand gently lifted Song Pianxian’s chin, gentle yet firm.

Feng Yuexian kissed her.

The just moistened peach blossom hairpin flourished amidst the tender and abundant caresses.

The thin robe scattered like mist, weak and powerless under Feng Yuexian’s pressure, spread out in front of the phoenix mirror.

As the light robe slid down her arms, there was no more cover. Under Feng Yuexian’s touch were jasmine fragrance, creamy jade, and the delicate figure.

The wooden box full of flower hairpins rolled to the ground, the various flower hairpins inside scattered out, splendid and magnificent.

The light smoke in the stove swirled gently, and the crystal curtain swayed.

The golden hairpin softened.

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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