“Hmph, you troublemaker, why are you still in my arms? Go to sleep,” Xi Linxuan said with a hidden smile.
Wei Linxia, exhausted, knew the matter was likely settled, so she lay down and soon fell into a deep sleep, unaware of how Xi Linxuan would deal with Feng Shou later.
In her dream, Wei Linxia felt cold, constantly chasing after a running stove for warmth.
“There might be such a foolish young lady in the world… never mind, since she’s here,” Xi Linxuan said, moving his hand slightly aside. Wei Linxia curved her body forward, pressing her face against his hand.
“Just like a little dog smelling meat, how amusing,” Xi Linxuan thought, enjoying watching Wei Linxia move an entire pillow’s distance.
The author’s note: The airport is so far away… so tired… I’ll reply to bonus points tomorrow, hehe.
Wei Linxia’s arrival did not delay the journey, but presented a small issue: she was not on the original passenger list, and all her clothes were left behind. When she caught up, she only carried a needle bag. By the next morning, she realized she couldn’t wear the same clothes all the way to the frontier, or she’d either be laughed at or smell terrible.
“I’ll borrow a palace maid’s clothes for now and have Feng Shou buy me two more at the next city. It’s no trouble,” she said. Wei Linxia wasn’t picky about clothing, as long as she wasn’t barely clothed or starving.
The carriage traveled north. Wei Linxia, having been rained on and traveling late, felt cold and kept shivering. Xi Linxuan beckoned her.
“No need, this concubine is fine. No massage is necessary,” she replied, wary of those who claimed to help but bullied her instead.
“Say it again, come here,” he insisted.
Wei Linxia moved over, curious about his intentions. Suddenly, his dark cloak spread out, enveloping her and instantly darkening her vision. Just as she was about to struggle, an arm wrapped around her, encircling her in a warm embrace. The clothes wrapped in the cloak had been heated for a while, providing comfort.
“Wei Linxia, what excuse did you use for the Emperor to agree to let you come?” Xi Linxuan asked, having asked Feng Shou yesterday but not being allowed into the palace, naturally not knowing.
“I told the Emperor a folk saying,” Wei Linxia said warmly, “marry a chicken, follow a chicken; marry a dog, follow a dog. The Emperor found it interesting and reasonable, so he agreed.” She could use his leg as a pillow and take a nap. She wouldn’t be foolish enough to tell him she was “treating his leg,” or else he would punish her… Her face quietly grew hot.
“Are you calling me a dog?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Then you’re calling me a chicken! Wei Linxia, you’re quite bold.”
“Your Highness, you’re the one who’s bold. The Emperor said it was reasonable, yet you say I insulted you. Do you mean to suggest the Emperor was wrong? I have…”
“Shut up, put away your imperial decree.”
Now that you’re in my hands, the imperial decree is useless,” Xi Linxuan rebuked. He knew Wei Linxia wasn’t telling him the truth, but even if he hung her up, she wouldn’t speak if she didn’t want to.
“Yes, Your Highness,” Wei Linxia casually responded, aware it was futile; they would soon be far from the Emperor.
While adjusting in his embrace, her hand touched something hard and angular like a box. Wei Linxia thought for a moment and smiled.
By noon, they set up camp and prepared lunch. Wei Linxia pretended to be deeply asleep. Once Xi Linxuan left the carriage, she got up, lifted the cushion, and found a rosewood box. Opening it, the lifelike wax figure was as before. She carefully put it back and stepped out, feeling refreshed. The midday sun was just right—perhaps one of the few sunny days they would enjoy on Yan Dynasty’s land. Further north, it would get colder, and the grass wouldn’t be as lush as here. Compared to the northern territories of Huo Kingdom, the frontier lands seemed even more desolate.
“Why are you standing there? The nobles are waiting to eat. Hurry, take this to the table over there,” a cook shouted at Wei Linxia, who was basking in the sun.
Wei Linxia took the hot plate from the cook and carried it to the table where Xi Linxuan, Wang Ling, and Mu Feiyun were seated. The three had different expressions upon seeing her. Wei Linxia smiled helplessly: “Wearing someone else’s clothes always comes with a price.”
Ordered by Xi Linxuan to sit nearby, Wang and Mu were about to rise, but Wei Linxia quickly stood up. “Your Highness and the two lords surely have matters to discuss. As a mere woman, I dare not eavesdrop. Your Highness, I take my leave.”
“Go,” Xi Linxuan said. Wei Linxia returned to the carriage and called Feng Shou to bring her some food, pondering whether she should learn cooking skills, as they might be useful in the future.
“Princess Consort, why aren’t you dining with His Highness?” Feng Shou, supportive of her, brought two fat chicken legs, gleaming in the bowl.
“It’s fine. Feng Shou, you haven’t eaten either; come, eat with me. I can’t possibly finish all this,” Wei Linxia invited.
She understood the importance of showing respect to the officials during this life-or-death journey. If she insisted on her status as Princess Consort and distanced herself from Xi Linxuan’s officials, they might not receive the help they needed.
“Feng Shou, when we go to the city, don’t buy me those fox or peacock fur coats. Buy a few cheaper ones, and get yourself some too. We’re the only ones in the group who came unprepared,” Wei Linxia said.
“I don’t mind. I’ll make do with what I have,” Feng Shou replied, gnawing on a chicken leg.
“Consider it my reward to you,” Wei Linxia said.
Xi Linxuan asked, “Are you full?”
“Feng Shou brought me two chicken legs. I saw the cook only stewed three chickens,” Wei Linxia laughed.
Suddenly, she was wrapped in Xi Linxuan’s large cloak, hearing his muffled voice: “Wei Linxia, you… oh, you.”
“Your Highness, did you really not want to marry me?” Hidden in the cloak, Wei Linxia’s tone was aggrieved, but her smile shone brightly.
Caught off guard, Xi Linxuan replied, “Of course, it’s true.”
“Oh, so it was true.” Still sounding aggrieved, she reached into the cloak and pulled out a rosewood box, catching Xi Linxuan’s changing expression. “This is what I originally gave you. Maybe you should return it. Let me see if you’ve damaged it. I can’t explain to Master Xu Zhen if it’s broken…”
Xi Linxuan tried to grab it, but Wei Linxia quickly stepped back and opened the box, her surprise evident. “No wonder you didn’t want to marry me. You have a sweetheart, and you’ve even deformed the gift I gave you.”
“Is it ugly?” Xi Linxuan asked.
“How could something you treasure so much be ugly? Truly, skin like snow, face like a silver basin, beauty surpassing a peony…”
“Yes, even if you grew for ten more years, you couldn’t look like this,” Xi Linxuan said casually.
“Oh, she even has a beauty mark between her eyebrows like mine. And this red dress I have too…”
“Anyway, it’s not you.”
“Then who is it?”
“You don’t know her.”
“What a pity. If you’d told me, I would have… oh, forget it. You’re not going to tell me anyway,” Wei Linxia closed the box and handed it back to Xi Linxuan, looking disappointed.
“I was thinking of finding a concubine for you. But since you don’t want a concubine, never mind,” Wei Linxia said.
The further north you go, the higher the sky becomes. It gradually gets so cold that people just want to curl up in their quilts and not stick their heads out. It’s mid-October, and Fengshou said it would take another month to reach Rong’s capital, just when it’s getting cold. Their tone is full of worry. Many of the palace maids in the East Palace have never been north of the Qi River in Yanchao, and they often look sad at this time, probably because they were frightened by the extreme cold they imagined.
