Chapter 29: Patches

In the distance, two individuals approached. One wore a vermilion-purple auspicious pattern brocade straight robe, looking around twenty years old, with a handsome appearance. With a green jade belt and purple tassels, he was none other than the current crown prince, Yan Tao.

As he walked, he asked the person beside him, “Have you found out who it is?”

The person beside him responded with a flat tone, “It’s the third brother.”

The crown prince smiled discreetly, lowered the cuff to cover the wound on his wrist, and continued walking. After leaving the palace, they encountered an ambush. More than a dozen assassins emerged from all directions, each move aimed at his life. Perhaps he had been too carefree in the palace, and the third brother couldn’t tolerate it any longer, hence eagerly seeking his life.

He turned his head, thoughtful, and asked, “What does the sixth brother think about this?”

The one referred to as the sixth brother was a sixteen-year-old youth, with delicate features and sculpted facial features. Over the past few years, he had gained a slightly darker complexion, with a wheat-colored skin, shedding the childish and delicate look from his younger years, appearing even more remarkable. He had experienced a sudden growth spurt since last year, now only slightly shorter than Yan Tao.

He was the sixth prince, Yan Yu.

Yan Yu remained silent for a moment and calmly analyzed, “The third brother is too impulsive, not to be feared.”

Matching the crown prince’s thoughts, Yan Tao lightly laughed, patting his shoulder without saying much.

This sixth brother had only been brought back from the common people nine years ago. When he first entered the palace, he exuded a common air, with a simple and impulsive demeanor. Unexpectedly, in just a few years, he transformed completely. It was as if he had undergone a profound change, becoming unrecognizable from his initial naive self.

It was a good thing; otherwise, he wouldn’t have survived in the palace.

While they were talking, they noticed someone coming out of the main residence of the Duke of Dingguo. This person wore a white cloak, and their appearance was unclear. Judging by the figure, it seemed to be a slender young lady. Both of them didn’t pay much attention until they walked closer and realized that the lady had left in haste, not even noticing the fallen patch on the ground.

Yan Tao bent down to pick it up, feeling the soft and smooth silk fabric. In the bottom left corner, there was an embroidered simple heartsease flower, and nothing else.

Yan Tao handed it to Yan Yu, jokingly saying, “Sixth brother, hold onto this for a while. Maybe you’ll run into that young lady.”

Yan Yu glanced at it without much interest, “And what if I run into her?”

Yan Tao smirked, “I can consider myself a matchmaker for our second brother.”

It was his idea… Yan Yu tugged at the corner of his mouth, not taking the bait, “Thanks for the offer, second brother, but I don’t need it.”

The crown prince sighed, genuinely disappointed, “Sixth brother, you’re not that young anymore. Don’t you feel lonely without a woman by your side?”

Being part of the imperial family, he should have been exposed to women at the age of thirteen or fourteen. However, this particular prince not only didn’t take any concubines but also lacked even a regular companion. Sometimes, when Yan Tao took him to visit the homes of courtiers, the courtesans would enter gracefully, each more charming than the last. However, he didn’t even raise his eyes, immersed in his own drink, completely indifferent to the allure around him.

Whenever this happened, no one knew what he was thinking.

Yan Tao believed he was a man of simple desires, but there was one time when he got drunk, and a name slipped out of his lips. The voice was too soft, filled with intense suppression, making it impossible for Yan Tao to discern the name.

When questioned later, he refused to say anything.

Yan Tao asked again, “Or is it that you already have a girl in your heart?”

Yan Yu stopped, looking ahead, “We’re here. Second brother, aren’t you supposed to present a birthday gift? Don’t delay.”

He still refused to speak… Yan Tao smiled and didn’t press further.

*

Exiting the main residence, Xie Zhen still hadn’t realized that she had dropped something. In a daze, she only knew to walk back, paying little attention to anything else. Shuangyu followed her, entirely focused on her, and naturally didn’t notice the fallen handkerchief.

Xie Zhen, somewhat confused, surveyed her surroundings, “Where is this?”

Shuangyu sighed, supporting her as they walked forward, “Miss, this is the way back to the Jade Hall Courtyard.”

She made a sound of acknowledgment, “Where is Mother and Ah Xian?”

“Madam  and Miss should be receiving guests in the front courtyard; they’ll be back soon.”

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped, her eyes turning around, “Not going back to the Jade Hall Courtyard, let’s go to the back courtyard.”

Shuangyu was at a loss. What was going on? This young lady was still unwell; couldn’t they just go back to the room and rest? Of course, Shuangyu didn’t dare to say it out loud. She tactfully advised, “Miss, you haven’t taken your medicine yet…”

Unfortunately, Xie Zhen had made up her mind, and she wouldn’t easily change it. “No rush, let’s take a detour to the back courtyard.”

Without caring about Shuangyu, she walked ahead on her own.

Shuangyu hurriedly caught up, wearing a worried expression, “Miss, what are we doing in the back courtyard?” With the old lady’s birthday celebration, there should be many female family members in the back courtyard, and since they were unfamiliar, what was the purpose of going there?

Xie Zhen turned her head and sweetly smiled at Shuangyu, “I won’t tell you.”

Shuangyu couldn’t help but feel helpless.

The back courtyard was a bit of a distance from the Jade Hall Courtyard. After walking through long corridors and passing through two moonlit gates, they had to tread along a cobblestone path for a while before reaching the scene in the back courtyard. There was a not-so-small lake in the back courtyard, now frozen. Three octagonal pavilions were built by the lake, surrounded by gingko and pine trees. The previous night’s frost had created a picturesque scene, with frost flowers glittering like a glass world.

At this moment, there was no one in the pavilion. Xie Zhen walked over and told Shuangyu, “It’s too cold here. Go get two braziers and, by the way, bring my moon-white and sky-blue ice silk gown.”

Shuangyu didn’t understand her intentions. Bringing braziers made sense, but why bring clothes?

Xie Zhen simply said, “Just go when I tell you to go.”

Shuangyu didn’t say more, “Miss, wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”

As Shuangyu left, Xie Zhen sat on the railing of the pavilion, leaning against a pillar, closed her eyes, and soon began to feel drowsy.

Before long, a few young ladies walked into the pavilion. Leading the group were Xie Ying and another girl in a white silk jacket and horse-faced skirt. Xie Yin and a few others followed behind. They chatted amicably, exchanging words, and no one noticed Xie Zhen in the pavilion.

The girl in the white silk jacket was Ling Xiangyun, the granddaughter of the Prince Regent. She smiled and asked Xie Ying, “I heard that the Fifth Miss and Seventh Miss have returned home. Why do I only see the Seventh Miss and not the Fifth Miss?”

Just now in the main hall, they had already encountered Xie Xian and found her to be an exceptionally rare beauty. Ling Xiangyun admired her and praised her eyes, saying she was the most beautiful young lady she had ever seen. Xie Xian was frightened by her enthusiasm and hid behind Lady Cold, refusing to come out, only revealing a pair of big watery eyes to secretly observe people.

Ling Xiangyun immediately took a liking to her and even invited her to visit her home.

Of course, Xie Xian didn’t agree; she was too shy.

As they had just come out of the front courtyard and wanted to sit and chat in the back courtyard, Ling Xiangyun happened to think of another young lady in the Duke of Dingguo’s residence and casually asked about her.

Xie Ying, not having seen the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince, was absent-minded, “Fifth sister caught a cold today and didn’t come out…”

Ling Xiangyun expressed regret, “It’s a pity. After the spring starts, Sister Ah-Jie plans to host a banquet at the mansion. I wanted to invite them.”

Ling Xiangyun’s sister, Ling Xiangwu, was the Crown Princess and had been married to the Crown Prince for two years, with a daughter. Hearing this, Xie Ying’s eyes lit up, “The Crown Princess is hosting a banquet?”

She nodded, “Ah-Jie has been cultivating peonies herself, and they will bloom soon. She wants to invite everyone to appreciate the flowers and cultivate an elegant atmosphere.”

Considering that the visitors to the Crown Prince’s mansion were often the children of high-ranking officials, Xie Ying thought she might have the chance to meet a few princes. Xie Ying became interested, “I was just thinking…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Ling Xiangyun suddenly seemed stunned, staring straight ahead.

Following her gaze, Xie Ying saw Xie Zhen leaning against a pillar, napping. She froze.

If one wanted to understand what “heavenly fragrance, national beauty, fairy-like grace, and jade-like quality” meant, one only needed to look at the person before them.

Xie Zhen lowered her head slightly, perhaps due to the lingering effects of the cold wind. Her rosy cheeks, slightly parted lips, resembling blooming peach blossoms, were delicate and alluring. A strand of hair by her ear hung down, caressing her smooth face with each breeze. It almost made others envy that strand of hair, wanting to replace it, to feel how soft and tender her face truly was.

Upon hearing the commotion, her long eyelashes trembled, slowly opening. A pair of misty water-like eyes looked towards the newcomers. Initially a bit confused, upon recognizing them, she charmingly called out, “Third sister, fourth sister.”

Her voice was soft, with a tone that one might have when just waking up, tickling the ears.

Others were all stunned. Beauty after waking up was actually this enchanting. Even though they were women, they couldn’t help but feel a flutter in their hearts.

Xie Ying’s expression was a bit unsightly. She forced a smile, “Isn’t the Fifth sister sick? Why is she here?”

Xie Zhen stood up, rubbed her eyes, “I remembered something and specially came here to wait for Third sister.”

Xie Ying was puzzled. What could be so important?

Coincidentally, Shuangyu returned from the Jade Hall Courtyard, carrying a large-sleeved gown. Behind her, two maids were carrying braziers, rushing over.

Shuangyu came to Xie Zhen, “Miss, the clothes are here.”

Instead of taking them, Xie Zhen asked her to bring them to Xie Ying.

Xie Ying didn’t understand, “What does this mean?”

Xie Zhen looked at Xie Yin, who suddenly had a bad premonition. True to her expectations, she said the next moment, “Fourth sister mentioned that your clothes don’t fit anymore, and since our body shapes are similar, you can borrow my clothes. This one is my favorite. If Third sister doesn’t mind, you can take it.”

Xie Ying’s face turned green. She actually said such things in public? And what was her identity, borrowing clothes from a common-born sibling?

Xie Ying glared at Xie Yin, the reproach evident.

Xie Yin felt wronged. She had mentioned it privately, but she hadn’t said it in front of Xie Zhen. How did she know? She wanted to explain, “I didn’t…”

Xie Zhen blinked, “Did Fourth sister forget? You were the one who told me through a maid.”

Her skill in telling lies was top-notch, showing no change in expression or heartbeat. As for which maid it was… let them figure it out themselves; it had nothing to do with her.

Xie Ying wouldn’t accept her clothes in any case, partly to save face and partly because she looked down on them. What good clothes could there be in that poor village near Qingzhou? Xie Ying didn’t even glance at them, “Thank you, Fifth sister, but you must have misunderstood. I don’t lack clothes.”

Xie Zhen showed a regretful expression, letting Shuangyu take the clothes away. In any case, her goal was achieved. If Xie Ying didn’t accept them, it was just as well. She wouldn’t bear to give them away.

Although Xie Ying denied it, the expressions of the other girls around changed, assuming that Xie Ying was just saving face, deliberately saying such things. One of them even covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

Xie Ying’s face looked even worse, and her gaze towards Xie Yin was as sharp as a knife.

On the other side, Ling Xiangyun, captivated by beauty, had already started inviting Xie Zhen, “Should my elder sister attend the banquet? You’ve just returned from Qingzhou, you should get to know more people, and Crown Princess will also be there.”

Facing the warm invitation, Xie Zhen couldn’t resist and finally nodded, “Alright.”

Ling Xiangyun happily took her hand, mentioning that a carriage would come to the Duke’s residence to pick her up and asked her to bring Xie Xian along.

*

After the birthday banquet, Xie Ying hadn’t attended to Xie Yin for several days.

Xie Yin suffered a loss and questioned all the maids in the courtyard, but none of them admitted. She was furious and punished everyone with a meal, but still couldn’t relieve her anger.

Soon, it would be the peony banquet set by the Crown Princess. Xie Yin greeted Xie Ying several times before Xie Ying reluctantly forgave her. The two discussed, and Xie Ying went to ask the Madam, who managed the expenses of the Duke’s residence. Everything had to go through her. In a few days, they sent over a dozen pieces of top-quality fabric to the main, third, and fourth houses to make spring clothes. However, what was sent to the second house, though not of low quality, was not as good, and the colors were dark, not suitable for young girls.

Xie Zhen took just one look and originally thought of burning them, but after some thought, she had the maids take them to be used as cleaning cloths.

Did they think this would embarrass her?

Xie Zhen thought to herself that she wouldn’t let them have their way.

*

Prince’s residence.

Since the last time she saw Xie Zhen and Xie Xian, Ling Xiangyun often praised them when she came here, “Sister doesn’t know, the fifth and seventh young ladies of Duke Dingguo’s residence are the true beauties. If I were a man, I would definitely marry both of them…”

Princess Ling Xiangwu chuckled at the words. Her personality was vastly different from her sister’s. Ling Xiangyun was a bit carefree, while she herself was gentle and virtuous. She playfully tapped her sister’s nose, “The peony banquet is in a few days. I want to see if it’s really as exaggerated as you say.”

Ling Xiangyun raised three fingers as a pledge, “Absolutely true!”

Somehow, this statement reached the ears of the Crown Prince. Yan Tao asked Ling Xiangwu about it while she helped him change clothes. She smiled and shook her head, “How could Xiangyun say such exaggerated things? Your Highness knows her temperament; she’s always eccentric and rarely speaks the truth.”

The Crown Prince thought about it and realized it was true, so he didn’t inquire further.

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