“He wouldn’t dare come here. He borrowed my allowance last month and hasn’t returned it. My father forbids him from entering a woman’s chamber. If you don’t believe me, please come in and search, and have a cup of tea while you’re at it,” Wei Linxia said.
The woman glanced around, somewhat puzzled, and hesitated before deciding to enter and look. Wei Linxia noticed her exploratory gaze.
Of course, Wei Fengzhi couldn’t still be in the room; otherwise, he wouldn’t have needed help escaping. After the woman left, he returned, bowed deeply to thank her, and requested a cup of tea. He praised her for looking out for her brother in a critical moment. Wei Linxia, holding her teacup, stirred the tea leaves and said, “Not from brotherly affection, but because I’m interested in her willow whip and wanted to see how novel it is. Also, about last month’s allowance… just buy me a book.”
Wei Fengzhi drank the tea in one gulp, stood up frustrated, and jumped out the window. Wei Linxia, arranging her tea leaves, took a sip and remarked, “Did he think I’d help him for nothing? My brother is truly naive.”
After her tea, Wei Linxia had already mentally crafted several stories about the woman and Wei Fengzhi. Following her afternoon nap, she visited her mother’s room to pay respects and casually asked about the morning’s guest. Her mother replied, “This guest is quite something — a princess from Yan Kingdom.”
“No wonder she chose a willow branch as her weapon, being close to the barbarian lands,” Wei Linxia said. Her mother inquired further, and Wei Linxia feigned surprise, “Didn’t brother say he was accidentally injured by the princess’s whip, scratched by a willow branch?”
Her mother remembered, and mother and daughter were laughing when Wei Fengzhi entered listlessly, glancing at them and asking, “What’s so funny?” Wei Linxia shook her head, silent.
“You don’t, but I do. The Yan Princess is coming to the mansion to apprentice under father,” Wei Fengzhi said dejectedly.
Her mother frowned, “What’s going on? Just a prince arrived, and now a princess? How are we to live?”
“Our mansion must have good feng shui,” Wei Linxia remarked, her expression calm.
