Chapter 57

Mingshou Palace.

Princess Qinghe sat drinking tea, one hand supporting her cheek.

Before the Princess, who usually didn’t rise until noon to freshen up, came, Feng Yuexian arrived first.

Feng Yuexian wore a black outer garment with a crimson rolled edge, her fair skin and red lips, her hair hanging down.

Due to her martial arts training, she was different from ordinary palace ladies, exuding both charm and a fierce aura, with considerable impact.

Upon seeing Feng Yuexian, Princess Qinghe stood up straight as if facing a stern teacher, her face alert. Why did Feng Yuexian arrive on time as soon as she entered the palace? Could it be that she still held a grudge and wanted to continue setting traps for her?

Princess Qinghe made a quick decision, bending her knee in a respectful salute, her voice full of vigor:

“Princess Consort, ten thousand blessings.”

Feng Yuexian paused.

As a princess, Qinghe usually behaved carelessly, and no one bothered with such formalities with her. Unexpectedly, today she showed some courtesy towards her. Feng Yuexian glanced at her and said:

“Today, you seem to know the proper etiquette — you may rise.”

Of course, she had to behave now; she couldn’t give her any handle to grasp, thought Princess Qinghe, feeling smug.

As they both sat down, Song Pianxian emerged from the house.

She wore a light blue dress, elegant and graceful. Only a few nail-sized pearls and crystals were pinned on her head, giving her a simple and refined look.

Seeing Song Pianxian, Princess Qinghe said:

“Pianxian, look, your sister-in-law is here again.”

She even gave Song Pianxian a wink, as if coaxing:

“Every time your sister-in-law comes, we can’t have a proper conversation.”

The term “sister-in-law” suddenly popped out, almost tripping Song Pianxian over her dress.

She cleared her throat discreetly and made eye contact with Feng Yuexian beside her.

While Song Pianxian looked helpless, Feng Yuexian remained calm and composed, showing no signs of the imposing manner she had when she rushed into the Mingshou Palace earlier.

There was even a hint of a smile on her lips.

Under Song Pianxian’s gaze, Feng Yuexian raised an eyebrow and spoke in a relaxed tone:

“What is it that the Princess can’t hear?”

Princess Qinghe seemed free-spirited but had her own rules. Seeing her cautious response earlier and now this joke, she probably wanted to tell Song Pianxian something and had to drive her away.

With the Princess present, Qinghe felt emboldened and didn’t blink as she said:

“We were talking about how we ladies love to gossip about handsome young men. Since you’re married, it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to hear such things. If the Crown Prince were to find out, he might blame me.”

Feng Yuexian chuckled lightly.

Qinghe looked confused, with a hint of caution in her confusion.

Did Feng Yuexian get annoyed with herself? If she didn’t retort, that would be fine, but why did she seem so pleased?

Song Pianxian couldn’t bear it anymore.

Perhaps due to the heat, her face felt a bit hot. After instructing the palace attendants to open the windows for ventilation and fan herself, Song Pianxian pursed her lips and said:

“If there’s anything, just say it. Your sister-in-law is not a stranger.”

This time, uttering the word “sister-in-law” felt like it was lingering on her tongue, finally spoken out in an extremely tender manner.

“Not a stranger?”

Qinghe glanced back and forth between them. One remained calm, the other appeared content, revealing nothing.

After a brief hesitation, Qinghe propped her arm on the table, puffing her cheeks, and said:

“Well, it’s not a big deal. I just heard that imperial decrees have been sent to various fiefs, including ours in Pingjin. I came to ask if there’s anything special about this Mid-Autumn Festival banquet?”

Song Pianxian understood.

Qinghe had lived in the capital since she was young, but her father was the King of Pingjin in his fief.

Their friendship wasn’t just about personal affinity; Qinghe also kept an eye on palace affairs for her family and sometimes gathered information through Song Pianxian’s connections.

Although the contents of the imperial decree were not public, it wasn’t difficult to find out what was going on.

This time, it seemed that her family had sent her to inquire about the situation.

As for the unrelated Royal Family matter, Song Pianxian smiled and said:

“It’s just a regular banquet. It’s irrelevant to your family. If there’s anything different, it’s that you’re invited to the banquet for a sense of reunion.”

Song Pianxian’s demeanor was gentle, complemented by her aquamarine attire. Her words and actions carried the gentle breeze of the forest, elegant and soft.

In this moment, Qinghe noticed her handkerchief was placed differently.

Upon careful consideration, it was her attitude.

Members of the Royal Family were born as top-tier talents, accustomed to self-centeredness. Even Qinghe herself, a respected noblewoman, usually didn’t bother to think much for others.

Every word and action exuded natural nobility, especially when someone asked for something, there was a hidden prideful indifference beneath the casualness.

But now, Song Pianxian’s patience and humility were evident, showing understanding and tolerance, her demeanor flowing freely.

Qinghe was deeply moved; indeed, she was her sister, so outstanding.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Qinghe whispered, “It’s rare to see you, yet I’m here disturbing your peace.”

Acknowledging herself as the palace’s happy-go-lucky princess, Qinghe reproached herself, “In my absence, you must have missed a lot of joy…”

Cursing herself inwardly, she realized she was the kind of woman who only remembered her sisters when she encountered problems!

“Why are you blushing?”

“Huh?”

Qinghe looked at Feng Yuexian, who suddenly spoke, and touched her own face. Was she blushing?

“Because I feel ashamed,” Qinghe said solemnly.

Feng Yuexian chuckled softly.

Qinghe’s face hadn’t cooled down since Song Pianxian finished speaking, looking like a blushing parrot; she seemed too silly.

Thankfully, she didn’t come to the palace often; otherwise, Song Pianxian might have been driven silly by her.

As Feng Yuexian was pondering, Qinghe continued, “I have nothing to do either. Why not move into the palace for a while, accompany you for a bit, and after the Mid-Autumn Festival, I’ll…”

Clack.

Feng Yuexian’s teacup hit the table, the lid shifted slightly, making an ear-grating friction sound.

Qinghe silenced herself, looking over.

Feng Yuexian raised her eyelids lightly, revealing a smile.

“Please continue, Princess.”

Feng Yuexian’s smile was extremely beautiful, but it made Qinghe shiver, almost whimpering aloud.

Please, don’t smile at me like that!

“I… I’d better not say anything for now.”

Qinghe put on an appearance of being easy to talk to, as if negotiating with Feng Yuexian.

Feng Yuexian was also accommodating, speaking calmly, “It’s acceptable for the princess to stay in the palace. What do you think?”

Qinghe was close to Song Pianxian, so it wasn’t Feng Yuexian’s place to refuse her. Otherwise, it would truly be like “a mother to her husband’s younger sister.”

Seeing that Feng Yuexian didn’t intend to interfere, Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and secretly reflected on her own overreactions. She looked at Song Pianxian, her eyes shining.

A good sister would never refuse her, and she loved meeting with her, listening to stories about which concubine was pulling the hair of whose primary wife outside!

Under Qinghe’s hopeful gaze, Song Pianxian smiled apologetically, “Summer days are always tiring. If you stay in the palace, I won’t have the energy to entertain you, fearing that I might bore you.”

Did… did her little sister just refuse her request?

Qinghe blinked dumbly, looking a bit foolish.

Feng Yuexian had long anticipated this outcome; with Song Pianxian playing both sides, how could Qinghe be allowed to stay in the palace and meet frequently?

Seeing Qinghe looking like a foolish parrot from her family’s estate, Feng Yuexian showed rare kindness, “Since you’re in the palace now, why not go see Qi Baozhu? She’s living alone in the Wude Palace, even lonelier than the Princess.”

Qi Baozhu was the Second Prince’s Consort. With the Second Prince guarding the imperial tomb, the Emperor hadn’t mistreated his family. Qi Baozhu still lived in the Wude Palace.

After the palace attendants went to the Wude Palace a few times, the Ministry of Internal Affairs didn’t dare to withhold the Wude Palace’s allowances anymore. Compared to when Song Qu was in power, Qi Baozhu’s life had improved, but it was still lonely.

Qinghe and Qi Baozhu had an okay relationship; they used to enjoy the banquets together. Thinking of Qi Baozhu’s situation, Qinghe was stunned for a moment, then stood up decisively, “I’ll go see her and talk to her about the latest popular plays.”

After taking a few steps, she realized, “Why did you say she’s even lonelier than Pianxian?”

Weren’t they both equally lonely souls with no one to play with?

Then, Qinghe heard the Princess Consort speaking slowly and calmly:

“Princess, I’m here.”

“…”

Qinghe looked at Song Pianxian like a heartbroken man. Wasn’t she Xia Jian?

“…The Princess Consort is just teasing you; she doesn’t come often,” Song Pianxian reassured the child.

Feng Yuexian didn’t argue either; she just took a sip of the sweet tea.

She indeed didn’t come often.

She only played with Song Pianxian in the Eastern Palace.

“I see.”

Simple-minded Qinghe suddenly realized, silently scolding Feng Yuexian in her heart, feeling satisfied, and left.

After Qinghe left, they could return to the Eastern Palace.

Feng Yuexian came by sedan chair, so naturally, she would return the same way. Song Pianxian would take the secret passage. She stood up, adjusted her palace ribbon, and said:

“Yuexian, after finishing your tea, return to the Eastern Palace…”

Feng Yuexian smirked, “Not calling me your sister-in-law anymore?”

Song Pianxian remained silent, looking at her with soft eyes.

Unable to resist such a gentle gaze, Feng Yuexian stood up and walked towards Song Pianxian.

Seeing her expression, Song Pianxian knew what she wanted to do.

There were many palace attendants outside, and it was broad daylight. Song Pianxian couldn’t let her act recklessly in the Ming Shou Palace.

She stepped back, gently reprimanding, “No fooling around.”

Coincidentally, as she stepped back, she reached the crystal curtain. The curtain, like willow branches, was crystal clear in the light, shimmering and sparkling, rustling as she parted it.

Behind Song Pianxian, the opened window let in a gust of wind.

The crystal curtain fluttered in the wind, the colorful dots rising into the air one after another.

Accompanying them were the wide sleeves of Song Pianxian’s thin gauze robe, spreading out like green mist in the forest.

The deep green palace ribbon floated with the crystal curtain, lifted by the wind, hovering lightly in the air—

In the next moment, caught in Feng Yuexian’s hand.

Song Pianxian’s tea-colored eyes widened, her lips slightly parted.

In the wind, Feng Yuexian’s robes spread out like bird wings behind her, her garments fluttering as she approached, resembling a mystical bird soaring through the sky.

Separated by a few strands of crystal curtains, Feng Yuexian’s palace ribbon in her hand folded several times, gently tugged with a hint of force, pulling Song Pianxian into her embrace.

The wind calmed.

The curtain between them seemed to adorn them with a pearl curtain veil, partially concealing their faces, exuding a lively elegance.

Feng Yuexian tilted her head slightly, passing through the gap in the pearl curtain, lightly brushing her nose against Song Pianxian’s.

She chuckled softly, her words as gentle murmurs due to their proximity:

“Hiding from me, hmm?”

Song Pianxian blinked, her long, dense lashes brushing against the transparent crystal, tickling Feng Yuexian’s heart.

“This is the Ming Shou Palace.”

Feng Yuexian sighed softly.

“Alright, I won’t do anything.”

When Feng Yuexian spoke, Song Pianxian naturally trusted her.

But the next moment, Feng Yuexian lowered her head—

Song Pianxian was startled.

She kissed her.

Through the flawless, sparkling crystal.

Their lips didn’t meet, yet conveyed a different kind of intimacy and affection.

Their breaths brushed against the crystal.

Feng Yuexian’s eyes were filled with playful smiles.

Unbeknownst to Song Pianxian, her own eyes softened.

Outside the hall, by the window.

Yin Xue suddenly snapped back to reality as if struck by lightning.

Her movements were too obvious; Yin Bing looked into her eyes, asking sharply, “What’s wrong?”

Yin Xue’s reaction was slightly delayed. She quickly shook her head, “N-nothing.”

She reacted again and hurriedly stepped back, blocking the window panes to prevent others from seeing.

It was only now that she seemed to come to her senses.

What did she just see…?

Yin Xue looked utterly bewildered.

Did the master—

offend the Crown Prince?

Or is she getting intimate with the Crown Prince’s Little Sister??

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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