Annoyed, Wei Lindong retorted, “This servant girl knows to go back and has no intention of following Your Highness to the capital.” She lifted the curtain and jumped off the carriage.
As the curtain swayed, Xi Linxuan reached out to touch it but hesitated, finally lowering his hand. He brought the flower to his nose, faintly catching Wei Lindong’s scent.
“In the capital, only a husband can pin flowers for his wife.”
Wei Lindong returned to the mansion as the sun was setting. Several servants at the gate were relieved to see her. Upon entering, she was nagged by Yu Mo and her mother’s maidservants, then embraced and taken to see Madam Wei.
In front of Madam Wei, only Wei Fengye was present. Madam Wei didn’t ask anything, but her knowing expression made Wei Lindong’s heart tremble. Fortunately, she only mentioned that she had sent servants in advance to relay a message.
“Mother, why did you bring him over? Aren’t there wet nurses?” Wei Lindong asked.
Madam Wei smiled, seeming open-minded: “Put yourself in her shoes. If I were her, I wouldn’t want the child to be only with servants. Besides, this child is quite lovable. I’m idle every day, so I’ll take care of him.”
Wei Lindong felt her mother’s smile was somewhat bitter, like swallowing an unripe plum.
Back in her room, Wei Lindong was still angry with Xi Linxuan. After changing her clothes, she remembered the acupuncture needle Xi Linxuan mentioned and worried that someone might throw it away if she waited until tomorrow.
Regardless of the light rain outside, Wei Lindong took an umbrella and a small goat-horn lantern to Xi Linxuan’s courtyard.
The courtyard was uninhabited. Only the corridor lanterns were lit. She pushed the door open, lit the candles, and searched the cabinet by the east wall. Unexpectedly, she found a stack of drawing papers beneath the needle bag, looking used and slightly curled. Wei Lindong wondered if these were drawings by Xi Linxuan that the palace maids had forgotten to collect.
Taking them out, she looked through them page by page. These drawings depicted a woman, mostly in profile or with her head lowered, with no full-face portraits. One drawing showed a stone path with flowers on the right side, and another depicted a woman’s back. The dress pattern felt increasingly familiar. She stood on tiptoes and brought the candle closer to look.
Could these drawings be of her? Her heart began to race, and she tightened her grip on the papers.
Perhaps they were just random drawings. As she walked towards the screen, she suddenly froze and quickly walked a few steps to the other side of the screen.
From Xi Linxuan’s usual seat, she could see clearly through the screen. This meant that every time she sat there for acupuncture—whether dozing off, bored, or making faces—he had seen it all. Wei Lindong felt utterly frustrated by this discovery, wondering how many faces she had made and if she had yawned wide open, all while being unaware that someone was watching.
Not wanting to leave the drawings behind, she rolled them up and took them with her, appreciating the artwork regardless of the subjects. Two days later, she had the tall white wax figure moved back to her room for needle practice. She found the withered flower on its head ridiculous and plucked it off.
Counting down, she realized there were three days left before Xi Linxuan’s departure to the capital. She thought it might be for the best; not seeing him again would avoid any potential annoyance. On the day he left, Wei Lindong went to treat Lian Yi as usual. The coachman took a different route, mentioning a noble’s carriage was passing, and the road was strictly controlled. Although she considered stopping the carriage, she ultimately decided against it.
With so many people and such a grand procession, she wouldn’t see much anyway. After he left, she should be happy, so why should she eagerly watch him?
As she passed through Nanfeng Street, Wei Linxia ordered the carriage to stop and walked in. She saw palace guards returning to their camps and shops opening to attract customers. Discussions about the carriage and its impressive entourage filled the air, as aristocratic affairs were easy fodder for idle chatter.
While walking along the street, she came across a seller of jingle bells. Having given away her childhood ones to Xi Linxuan, she planned to buy a few for Wei Fengye.
The elderly seller greeted her enthusiastically: “Young master, are you buying these as a gift?”
“Yes, as a gift,” Wei Linxia replied.
“Don’t let its simplicity fool you; it has good symbolism. This one is called a Tao Embroidered Ball. It sells especially well during the Qixi Festival, when young people buy them for their loved ones. Some feelings are better left unsaid,” the old woman explained.
Wei Linxia’s hand froze, and her smile stiffened: “Madam, did you say this is called a Tao Embroidered Ball?”
The old woman nodded confidently, watching as Wei Linxia quickly put down the bells and ran away.
Oh no, why had Master Xu Zhen never told her it was called a Tao Embroidered Ball? She had treasured them and given them to Xi Linxuan. How would he misunderstand her now?
Almost reaching the mansion gate, Wei Linxia was drenched in sweat. She tried to comfort herself that these were just small bells. How could a noble prince care about such things? He would probably have a maid store them away and forget about them.
Besides, he wasn’t from Huo, so how could he know their alternate name? She had just learned it herself.
It’s fine, definitely fine.
Even if he knew, what could he do? He had already returned to the capital.
Gradually, Wei Linxia calmed down. Only occasionally, when looking at the tall white wax figure, would she think of Xi Linxuan. She would console herself that it was because they were of similar height, wasn’t that what Lady Lian Yan thought too?
As she was thinking, she heard children’s voices outside the window. Wei Linxia hurried to greet them and saw her mother holding Wei Fengye. Her serious expression gave her an ominous feeling.
“Mother, do you have something to tell your daughter?” Wei Linxia asked.
Lady Wei nodded, seeming hesitant, taking a long time to speak. Wei Linxia waited patiently.
“Mother has something to ask you, and you must answer truthfully.”
“Yes, daughter would not dare to hide anything,” Wei Linxia responded.
“Do you and the Thirteenth Prince have… mutual affection?” Lady Wei asked.
Wei Linxia knelt and replied, “Mother, what makes you say this? Daughter is merely doing her utmost for the prince, which you and father know. Our interactions have always been proper. Why would you ask such a thing?” Her voice trembled with emotion.
The conversation continued with discussions about rumors and Wei Linxia’s reputation, exploring the complex social dynamics she faces.
“Your Highness seemed very angry when he came yesterday,” Lian Yi said.
“Is that so?” Wei Linxia responded indifferently.
After a long silence, Lian Yi asked, “Miss Wei, do you know what immense wealth and glory you have lost?”
Wei Linxia calmly sipped her tea and said, “Immense wealth is not something everyone can bear; it’s like sailing in massive waves, with an inevitable risk of capsizing.”
“How true. Since ancient times, the greater the wealth, the greater the danger,” Lian Yi said.
Wei Linxia laughed, “Guard Lian, I am just a small woman; please don’t scare me with such scenarios.”
After leaving the Lian family and returning home, she saw a green sedan chair at the gate, surrounded by palace eunuchs and guards.
Not wanting to be seen in her male disguise, Wei Linxia had the driver go around to the back street and enter through the side gate. In the courtyard, a palace eunuch from the Empress Dowager’s palace was pacing anxiously.
