As the Dragon Boat Festival approached, Li Weiheng came running in an apricot-red dress, with fresh flowers in her hair. She first went to Lady Wei’s room, winking at Wei Lindong. Lady Wei, mistaking the gesture, thought something was wrong with Li Weiheng’s eyes. Blushing, Li Weiheng said she had something to discuss with Wei Lindong.
Xi Linxuan held a small flower bud in his hand, frowning in disgust as he threw the withered flower on the ground, juice still clinging to his palm.
He wasn’t intentionally eavesdropping; he was bored with reading and annoyed by the palace maids asking about the Dragon Boat Festival arrangements. So, he dismissed his attendants and found a quiet spot. When Wei Linxia and her companions arrived, he secretly parted the wisteria leaves to watch them.
Xi Linxuan thought that Li Weiheng was too naive. Didn’t she see the subtle smile on Wei Linxia’s face as she looked down at the flower bud? He understood that the impolite prince, Xi Zhaoting, was also the object of affection for the Wei family’s young lady.
“Foolish,” Xi Linxuan whispered softly, unclear whom he was referring to.
Wei Linxia hesitated over the embroidery fabric, finally threading her needle and embroidering, somewhat distracted. She thought this would be the last one she would make for Li Weiheng.
The sky-blue fabric featured a soaring eagle, which was not easy to embroider and would take considerable time. The fragrance pouch would suit Xi Zhaoting, and Wei Linxia smiled shyly before sighing. What did it matter how good it looked when everyone knew Xi Zhaoting loved Li’s young lady?
She put down her needlework, walked to her usual desk, retrieved a book, quickly glanced through a few pages, then returned to her embroidery. Though Yu Mo had served her since childhood, she couldn’t understand what her mistress was doing.
The book’s characters were mysterious, and whenever the mistress seemed troubled, reading it would calm her down. This puzzled Yu Mo, as it was different from the scriptures she usually copied.
In this world, one’s life is fleeting compared to the vast sweep of history, like a mayfly’s brief existence. Why struggle with the petty emotions of love? Like the heroes in the book, one should enjoy these short years with passion.
