Since they came to appreciate the snow, everyone discussed it. Xi Linxuan was not interested and sipped his warm wine. Suddenly, a crisp voice asked him, “Your Highness, is winter in the capital as cold as Huo City? Is the snow this heavy?”
Xi Linxuan answered without looking up, “Slightly warmer, less snow.”
“Thirteenth Brother, what do people do when it snows in the imperial palace?” Yan Junzhu asked, having never been to the capital despite being a noble.
“Mostly the same everywhere,” Xi Linxuan said, putting down his wine cup to see Wei Linxia looking at him with expectation. He noticed her clothes were particularly ugly.
As Xi Linxuan seemed uninterested, the conversation shifted. Li Weiheng recalled her childhood, animatedly describing her first visit to Uncle Wei’s house and meeting Sister Shenbei, sharing stories of digging mouse holes in the back garden and quoting a poem to her father when scolded.
The discussion continued with more childhood stories, laughter, and playful reminiscences about Wei Linxia’s pranks, creating a warm atmosphere.
Wei Feng Zhi’s face turned red, attracting everyone’s attention. Weilin Xia lowered her head and smiled secretly, while Xi Linxuan covered his face with his wine cup. Only Li Weiheng, confused, said to Weifen Zhi: “Brother Chenli, how can you disparage someone’s beloved object?”
Weifen Zhi glared at Weilin Xia, who pretended not to see.
After a while, the snow viewing ended as the sun tilted westward. A eunuch sent by the empress dowager reminded them: “Your Highness, it’s getting late; the empress dowager will worry if you don’t return soon.”
” Their servants helped them carefully board their carriages. Princess Yan and Xi Zhaoting drove side by side, while Weifen Zhi ran to Weilin Xia’s side, and the siblings went up the mountain. Princess Yan asked Xi Zhaoting why. He explained, “Miss Wei was weak as a child and raised in a Taoist temple on the mountain. She returns several times a year, so it makes sense she would go there today.”
Xi Zhaoting’s voice was not low, and those in the following carriage could hear. Xi Linxuan thought about how, judging by Weilin Xia’s current appearance, it was hard to believe she had once been physically weak. He wondered if she had worn Taoist robes at the temple.
