Chapter 46

The thin golden hairpin imprinted between the slightly parted lips.

The beauty’s lips exhaled warm and fragrant breath, the golden hairpin almost melted.

Song Pianxian’s mind was in a haze.

She seemed to be dizzy from the warm fragrance rising in the room, unable to understand what was happening for a while.

Feng Yuexian… what was she doing?

Her forearm was held, and warm fragrance came from her lips, her lips slightly melting, the golden hairpin not falling onto her forehead, but instead staining both lips—

Song Pianxian struggled, pushing Feng Yuexian away and sidestepping.

Her movements were too strong, her butterfly-like robe swept across the table of jewelry, causing about ten pieces of gold jewelry to crash to the ground, creating a noisy scene.

“Is the Princess alright?” Aunt Fangruo’s inquiry immediately came from outside.

“I’m fine.” Song Pianxian breathed lightly before responding.

Feeling something strange on her lips, she reached out to wipe it away. It was the golden hairpin, stained with crimson lip color, shining with a golden-red hue.

Song Pianxian’s hand trembled slightly as she lowered her eyes, removing the object and placing it on the table.

She straightened her disheveled sleeves, took a deep breath, and then looked up at Feng Yuexian.

She had thought that the division of labor between herself and Feng Yuexian was tacit, a mutually beneficial cooperation, but she didn’t expect it to go wrong.

Song Pianxian straightened out her thoughts, about to speak up to inquire, only to see Feng Yuexian glance at the gold and silver on the ground, then look at her, her eyes carrying a faint light, her lips slightly lifted:

“Once again, there’s no one else here, why so shy?”

Her voice sounded like a complaint, but more of a helpless indulgence, as if saying “I really can’t do anything with you,” extremely intimate and ambiguous.

“…”

Song Pianxian unusually didn’t respond.

She had originally wanted to ask if there was a misunderstanding between her and Feng Yuexian, or if this was just a momentary impulse on her part, but it seemed unnecessary to ask now.

A dull pain throbbed in Song Pianxian’s temples, as if her body also sensed how difficult the situation in front of her was, emitting a groan.

But no matter how difficult it was, it had to be resolved. Song Pianxian pursed her lips and said softly:

“Yuexian, we are allies.”

“Hmm?” Feng Yuexian instinctively responded, but then she seemed to realize, the smile on her lips gradually fading, her eyes darkening like ink.

“We are allies, I am Song Pianxian, not Song Yu.” Song Pianxian emphasized again.

She straightened her posture, her petite figure well-proportioned, the usually gentle tea-colored pupils now exuding bone-deep calmness:

“And you are my brother’s wife, the Crown Princess of Dali.”

The smile vanished from Feng Yuexian’s face, and her jawline tensed.

Song Pianxian paused for a moment, then concluded:

“Our relationship is not… not that of husband and wife, but that of allies.”

The hall fell into dead silence.

Outside, Fangruo and the others were worried about what might be happening inside the hall, their ears perked up, waiting for their mistress’s orders.

At first, they could still hear some faint voices, but now, there was no sound at all.

It was as if the entire hall was empty, devoid of any warmth or liveliness.

Inside the hall.

Feng Yuexian’s usually calm black eyes seemed to deepen, like shattered darkness, becoming even deeper.

A hint of vulnerability appeared in her eyes, quickly concealed deep down, leaving only surging and overwhelming waves seemingly about to engulf everything.

Her body tensed up, looking at Song Pianxian.

Song Pianxian’s figure was slender, as if a gust of wind could carry away her delicate frame like a thin butterfly.

Yet, despite her frailty, with fluttering wings, she stirred up such immense waves.

Feng Yuexian stared at her for a long time, her gaze falling on her slightly parted lips for a moment, then quickly moving away.

She locked eyes with Song Pianxian, sharp as needles against wheat, lifting her chin, refusing to show weakness:

“The etiquette is deeply ingrained in the Princess’s memory.”

“Not at all,” Song Pianxian replied, slightly bowing her head.

Feng Yuexian looked at the top of her head, where she had just adorned Song Pianxian with jewelry.

Pausing for a moment, Feng Yuexian was unwilling to let it go, knowing she would reveal her defeat, but still had to ask:

“If the Princess has no intention, why are you so meticulous and considerate towards me?”

Song Pianxian’s expression in that moment was difficult to describe, like she was carefully pondering words she didn’t understand, yet also reminiscing.

She quickly composed herself, but Feng Yuexian still caught it.

As if sensing something, Feng Yuexian said in a flash:

“You’ve never cared about me, have you?”

Song Pianxian weighed her words:

“We assist each other, but inadvertently, it seems to have caused misunderstandings for you, Yuexian. In hindsight, it’s my fault.”

Assisting each other.

Feng Yuexian’s throat rolled with emotion, it seemed.

She smiled, but it was unclear who she was smiling at.

Whether Song Pianxian’s “it’s my fault” was laughable, or her own wishful thinking was even more laughable.

“Do not disturb the Princess’s tranquility.”

Feng Yuexian straightened her back, her voice gentle and steady, every move and gesture like the most suitable aristocratic upbringing, impeccable.

As she turned to leave, her sleeve billowed like swirling clouds.

The palace doors opened, allowing the light from outside to stream in, dispersing the intoxicating fragrance of the palace.

As Feng Yuexian stepped out, her skirt quickly disappeared in front of the crimson door.

After she left, the palace was left empty, with pearls and jewels scattered on the ground, and the extinguished fragrance.

Song Pianxian looked around, her head throbbing more, as she sat down, thinking in her mind:

“09, is Feng Yuexian also bent?”

The use of “also” in this sentence was extremely clever, leaving 09 unable to refute.

“According to the collected information, there is no indication of Feng Yuexian’s sexual orientation. Feng Yuexian never married or mentioned it to anyone, so…”

“I understand,” Song Pianxian sighed lightly.

When she read the information, she only thought Feng Yuexian was a woman with a strong career ambition, different from ordinary women who were involved in love affairs, which would hinder her ambitions, but she didn’t expect this result.

Perhaps it was her actions that misled Feng Yuexian.

In a low voice, 09 said, “It’s not the host’s fault. Feng Yuexian’s behavior doesn’t seem like she’s fond of the host either. I was startled.”

After a moment of silence, Song Pianxian said:

“Anyway, I should pay more attention.”

“And, everyone has different personalities, and their ways of expressing emotions vary, so we can’t judge them one-sidedly.” She spoke gently.

09 nodded as if understanding vaguely.

Aunt Fangruo came in, startled to see everything overturned: “Why is everything knocked over?”

“Oh my, all the jewelry is unusable now. We need to have the internal affairs department send another box.”

Saying this, she scrutinized Song Pianxian’s expression carefully: “When the Princess Consort left just now, she seemed slightly displeased. Did something happen between you and the Princess?”

Aunt Fangruo was a shrewd person who had lived in the palace for most of her life, able to detect when something was wrong. However, Song Pianxian had no intention of saying more, only saying:

“It’s nothing serious, Auntie, please don’t worry.”

Thinking of the jewelry, Song Pianxian remembered the piece stained with lip color. If Aunt Fangruo saw it, she might guess something.

As Aunt Fangruo walked to the side, revealing the table where the jewelry was placed, Song Pianxian immediately looked over to search.

But she found that the place was empty, with no trace of the jewelry.

Song Pianxian was stunned.

Feng Yuexian returned to the Eastern Palace.

Yin Xue had been following her since childhood and naturally noticed that her mistress became cold after leaving the Ming Shou Palace.

Feng Yuexian had a strong presence, especially when she wore her cold and beautiful face.

Even Yin Xue, who usually laughed and played around, dared not misbehave at this moment, quietly serving behind Feng Yuexian with Yin Bing.

Yin Xue was thinking about how to please her mistress when she heard Feng Yuexian ask, “Is there anything happening in the clan recently?”

This was asking about the news outside the Ice Palace.

Yin Bing carefully thought for a moment and said, “There have been no weddings or funerals recently, but a few days ago, fewer refugees from Jiangnan came to the capital. Some parents died on the way and entrusted their children to relatives from the same hometown, bringing them to the capital to find a livelihood.”

“Master saw this and proposed to establish a private school, using the name of our Fei Family’s ancestral school. General Shu Xiu is in charge. It is estimated that the school will open in a few days.”

Feng Yuexian said lightly, “It sounds interesting. I want to go and see.”

Yin Xue looked puzzled, hesitated to speak, wondering why her emotionless mistress seemed to find it interesting.

Yin Bing thought more: “Does the Crown Prince know that you are leaving the palace?”

The feather fan in Feng Yuexian’s hand snapped onto the table. She smiled ambiguously, “Does this palace need his permission to leave the palace?”

She murmured softly, but the two Er Yin were intimidated by her released aura and dared not speak, as silent as cicadas in the cold.

“Prepare.”

“Yes.” Yin Bing and Yin Xue replied without hesitation.

Perhaps it was a fantasy for other consorts to leave the palace, but Feng Yuexian’s identity made it impossible for anyone to stop her.

But before stepping onto the sedan chair, Feng Yuexian looked back at the Eastern Palace. In her heart, there was an unconscious awareness that prompted her to say, “Order to keep a close watch on the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince must stay in the Eastern Palace. In case of any accidents, inform this palace immediately.”

“Yes,” Yin Bing noted, preparing to inform the guards.

“There’s also the Yongxin Hall,” Feng Yuexian explained carefully. Song Pianxian was still obedient, usually active in these places. “And also the Ming Shou Palace.”

She would still go to the Ming Shou Palace to dress as a Princess, can’t miss that.

Anyway, even if she’s not there, Feng Yuexian should still know Song Pianxian’s whereabouts.

She always felt uneasy if she couldn’t see her at a glance.

It must be because Song Pianxian’s body was too weak, making her worry.

When she realized she had been thinking about that person again, Feng Yuexian closed her eyes, unwilling to think about her anymore.

When Song Pianxian returned from the secret passage, she heard Xue Qing observe with a calm mind, “The Princess Consort has returned to the General’s Mansion, and her return date is uncertain.”

Xu Jing chimed in, “The Princess Consort was quite fierce, couldn’t stop her even if I tried.”

Returned to the General’s Mansion?

09 murmured softly, “Is Feng Yuexian… going back to her family?”

…

Song Pianxian was momentarily at a loss for how to answer 09.

She only felt a splitting headache, her eyelids heavy. In a moment of distraction, her eyelids drooped, and her body followed suit, falling downward.

“Your Highness—”

The world dimmed.

Song Pianxian realized she had fainted.

She was accustomed to feeling dizzy every now and then with this body, but for the first time, she dreamed after fainting.

In the dream, there was a very familiar face, long unseen. The reddish-brown eyes were exceptionally beautiful, dressed in a white shirt and suit trousers, skin shining white.

She sat about a meter or two away from herself, looking at her, not saying a word, as if sulking.

Song Pianxian looked at her for a long time, and when she finally spoke, she realized she had been smiling for a while.

Her voice was very soft, afraid of blowing this person away:

“Long time no see, Qinglu.”

But Lin Qinglu was very stern, accusing her:

“You don’t miss me.”

Song Pianxian shook her head, saying nothing.

No.

Lin Qinglu glanced at her, “You’re finding a new love behind my back.”

A new love?

Song Pianxian chuckled, “What new love?”

“See for yourself.”

Song Pianxian, feeling helpless, looked over and saw Feng Yuexian’s figure emerging in the pure white dream.

In front of her, to the left was Lin Qinglu in a shirt and suit, and to the right was the Princess Consort in an embroidered dress.

“…”

This was indeed a dream, Song Pianxian thought, perhaps even a nightmare.

Feng Yuexian looked at Lin Qinglu and said coldly, “So it’s because of this woman.”

“…”

Lin Qinglu stared at Song Pianxian, “Has your heart broken in two? Fallen in love with someone else?”

“I—”

“She hasn’t,” Feng Yuexian interrupted Song Pianxian.

Song Pianxian opened her mouth, looking over.

Under her gaze, Feng Yuexian flicked her long sleeves, creating a swirl of mist.

She appeared calm on the surface, but in this dream, Song Pianxian could easily sense Feng Yuexian’s inner distress:

“Song Pianxian doesn’t like me.”

Lin Qinglu became even angrier, and behind her, a furry little cat tail emerged, swatting at patches of small clouds:

“Song Pianxian, you actually don’t like her!”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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