A Stolen Romance - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: Making a Sachet

Shi Yuning had thought that making a small sachet would be a simple task.

As it turned out, it took her a full seven days!

Not a single one of her ten fingers was left unscathed, each poked with several holes. During the day, Shi Yuning had to hide from Xiao Liu’er and the other maids, or the news would surely reach her mother, Tu Chunhua. With her mother’s penchant for gossip, she would definitely ask who it was for and probably start giving her instructions on how to make it. In the end, just like many times before, she would find her work lacking and want to take over.

This sachet was a thank you gift for Xie Zhaoran, and it had to be made by her own hands to be sincere.

Because it was for Xie Zhaoran, Shi Yuning also had to avoid the woman who would show up out of nowhere every night. For the past few days, her mother had told her to stay home, and she had obediently done so during the day. Her mother would never have guessed that she would sneak out with Xie Zhaoran every night to grab a late-night snack.

They hadn’t done much. It seemed Xie Zhaoran had been very busy lately. She would usually just come to have a late-night snack with her. They hadn’t gotten drunk like they did last time.

From that night, Shi Yuning only remembered them beating up Prince Yu and then drinking on the rooftop. She couldn’t remember anything after that. When she asked Xie Zhaoran, she was told to think for herself. Since she couldn’t remember, she stopped trying. She figured nothing important must have happened.

For the past few days, she had been busy making the sachet. If it were for herself, she would have simply made the most basic design and filled it with fragrance. Since it was a gift for Xie Zhaoran, she couldn’t let it be too simple. Shi Yuning had never embroidered flowers before; this was her very first time. The first few attempts were truly a mess. After redoing it countless times, it was finally presentable.

Looking at the sachet with the begonia flower she had embroidered, Shi Yuning was relieved to have finished it just in time for the Dragon Boat Festival. It was the perfect excuse to give it to Xie Zhaoran, to ward off mosquitoes, bugs, and bad luck. She could use it however she liked.

…

The Dragon Boat Festival

The fifth day of the fifth lunar month was a clear day.

The scorching sun hung in the sky, and humid heat steamed upwards, with only a few occasional breezes to bring a little coolness.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, the Dragon Boat Festival was an important holiday. The palace held a grand banquet every year. There would also be a dragon boat race and other activities.

The banquet was held in Jin’an Garden, which had a large man-made lake called Siyu Lake. When Shi Yuning arrived, she saw young nobles in colorful clothes gathered in small groups on both sides of the lake. They were all eager and ready to win the dragon boat race.

In previous years, the biggest prize was an item the Emperor had carried with him. This year, things were different. The prizes were on display in the nearby Guanli Pavilion. Layers of noblewomen and young ladies strained their necks to get a peek.

In the very center was a pair of intertwined white jade pendants with a hollow carving, bestowed by the Emperor himself. This was the most coveted prize in the competition. If a young man won it, it would bring honor to both families if it were used as an engagement gift.

To the left was a jeweled hair ornament with two butterflies playing with flowers and spreading wings, personally bestowed by the Empress. It was exquisitely crafted and beautiful. To the right was a set of emerald jade wine cups from the Western Barbarians that the Crown Prince had offered. These were all priceless items that money couldn’t buy.

Of course, besides the top three prizes, there were also many other gold, silver, and jewels for the participants. Everyone got a share, and no one left empty-handed.

“I thought with the Emperor’s recent illness, the Dragon Boat Festival activities would be canceled,” the Left Minister’s wife said with relief. Her son was a strong contender for the championship.

“You’re joking, Madam. The Dragon Boat Festival banquet is a palace tradition. Even if His Majesty is unwell, we still have the Crown Prince.”

“But I heard that the Crown Prince isn’t feeling well today either. He has sunstroke.”

“Don’t worry. There’s still the Crown Princess. The Dragon Boat Festival banquet won’t go on without a host.”

They weren’t wrong. The Crown Prince had indeed been feeling unwell lately. He had only shown up briefly because the Emperor was sick and the Empress had to tend to him.

But he only made a quick appearance. The rest of the event was left to the Crown Princess and the newly returned Grand Princess to host. A quick glance was enough for everyone to see that the Crown Prince’s illness was serious.

Everyone also found Prince Yu’s injury bizarre. Not only was he still bedridden, but the culprits couldn’t be found anywhere. If Prince Yu hadn’t been injured, today’s banquet would have been his chance to shine.

Shi Yuning had arrived early. She walked around for a while and heard everyone debating who had injured Prince Yu. Some guessed it was a martial arts master, while others guessed it was the Crown Prince. Everyone had their own theories, but they all agreed on one thing: the culprit was a formidable person!

Shi Yuning listened with a smile. When the palace maids came to seat the guests, she went to her assigned seat.

Just as she sat down, Xie Zhaoran and the Grand Princess arrived together.

Today, Xie Zhaoran wore a complicated court gown and an elaborate hairstyle, looking elegant, noble, and unapproachable.

The princess beside her looked much simpler—or rather, too simple.

For such a grand festival, women of noble standing would usually dress up. But the Grand Princess wore a simple dark blue riding outfit with her black hair tied up high. Other than a single jade crown, there were no other accessories in her hair.

She was slender and tall, about the same height as Xie Zhaoran. Her expression was solemn. Her dark eyes weren’t gentle or alluring but held a steely resolve and composure that was unusual for a woman.

Shi Yuning had heard about the princess’s exploits more than once before, but seeing her in person, she was utterly captivated. Her presence was light and elegant, yet it carried an undeniable killing aura that made her impossible to ignore.

She was truly worthy of being called the Great Yan’s number one female general!

Shi Yuning noticed that she wasn’t the only one in awe. The eyes of the other young noblewomen were also filled with admiration and respect. It seemed that an extraordinary woman like this would always be a source of wonder for other women.

While she was looking at the princess, the princess also noticed her.

After the Crown Princess received greetings from the ladies and asked them to take their seats, Xiao Liju immediately leaned her head over and quietly asked Xie Zhaoran, “Is that green-dressed girl with the big round eyes who’s staring at me without blinking the young lady from the Shi family?”

The moment Xie Zhaoran came in, she had seen Shi Yuning, but the girl only glanced at her before setting her sights on Xiao Liju. This made her quite unhappy. So, in response to Xiao Liju’s question, she pretended not to hear it. Instead, she just smiled and gestured to the other ladies to enjoy the food and wine.

Xiao Liju saw that Xie Zhaoran was looking straight ahead and not at her. She chuckled softly and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, “You didn’t answer me first. Don’t blame me.”

Without waiting for Xie Zhaoran’s reaction, she raised her voice and called out to Shi Yuning, who was not far away. “That young lady in the green dress, are you the granddaughter of Marquis Yun Xiang, the Shi family’s daughter who recently returned?”

At her call, the area around them fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Shi Yuning.

Tu Chunhua’s heart tightened. She didn’t understand why the princess was suddenly looking at them when they were minding their own business.

Shi Yuning, however, wasn’t flustered. She had a feeling the princess didn’t have any malicious intent towards her.

She stood up and curtsied. “Yes, this subject is.”

Xiao Liju smiled. “I heard the good news in the army and never had a chance to congratulate the Marquis personally. Come over here and sit next to me.”

“Your grandfather and I fought side by side in the army many times. He even saved my life. Seeing you makes me feel very close to him.”

So that’s what it was. Tu Chunhua was relieved. She stood up to thank the princess and reminded Shi Yuning to mind her manners and not embarrass them.

Shi Yuning promised she would and happily sat next to Xiao Liju. After settling in, she even nodded to Xie Zhaoran, who was one seat away.

Xie Zhaoran gave a faint smile in return and thought, This little idiot, she’d get sold off and help bargain down the price.

Shi Yuning had always admired skilled martial artists. Xiao Liju, who had been in the army for many years, spoke with a natural wit that made Shi Yuning very happy. Shi Yuning even forgot the oath she had made a few days ago about not drinking again. As Xiao Liju clinked her cup against hers again and again, Shi Yuning drank frequently.

The banquet was only halfway through, and Shi Yuning’s face was already flushed. Everything seemed to be a double image.

Xie Zhaoran watched as Xiao Liju’s intentional toasts. The little fool happily accepted every one of them. Who was it that told her last time that being drunk was too uncomfortable and she’d never drink too much again?

What a little liar.

Xie Zhaoran shot a cold glance at Xiao Liju, who was still clinking cups with Shi Yuning. She also raised her own cup, turned to the side, and clinked it against Xiao Liju’s.

“Doing this on purpose?”

Xiao Liju’s face was polite as she returned Xie Zhaoran’s toast, but her words were not.

“I’m happy.”

Shi Yuning, who was clearly quite drunk, heard Xiao Liju say she was happy and also raised her cup. She smiled foolishly and said, “I’m happy, too. I’m so happy to have met the princess and felt an instant connection. Cheers!” She then drank it all in one gulp.

Xie Zhaoran was both angry and amused. She ground her back teeth. This little idiot!

“Since you’re so happy, why don’t you get a sister?!” Xie Zhaoran said sarcastically.

Drunken Shi Yuning couldn’t hear the hidden meaning in her words. Even if she were sober, she probably wouldn’t have understood. She giggled, as if she thought it was a great suggestion, but she also felt a little shy.

“Can I? Can I have the princess as my older sister?”

Xie Zhaoran gave her a cold look. “You’re really something. You just get drunk and want to claim a sister!”

Seeing that Shi Yuning was getting more and more drunk, Xie Zhaoran quickly told Qiang Di to carefully escort her to a room to rest. Fortunately, the sound of music and dancing was loud in the hall, and no one noticed them.

After Shi Yuning was taken away, Xie Zhaoran’s expression sobered. With a polite smile still on her face, she appeared to be watching the performance but was actually talking business with Xiao Liju.

“Lately, the Emperor’s health has been getting worse.”

Xiao Liju heard this, put down her wine cup, and sighed slightly. “He still won’t see me.”

Xie Zhaoran’s expression remained unchanged. “What did the Empress say?”

Xiao Liju gave a bitter smile. “My mother said that my father is still angry that I didn’t go and marry the Northern Barbarian chieftain, saying I’ve embarrassed him.”

Xie Zhaoran scoffed. “You didn’t want to marry for peace, but you led just three thousand men and drove the Northern Barbarians out of Yinzhou, reclaiming four prefectures and thirteen states. What good would a princess bride have done for border stability? Now the Northern Barbarians dare not trespass again. Can the Emperor really not see the value in that?!”

She felt truly wronged for Xiao Liju!

Xiao Liju never thought her decision back then was wrong. It was just that her father’s thinking was deeply ingrained. Men who fought on the battlefield were heroes of the Great Yan Dynasty. A woman doing the same was seen as showing her face in public and not acting like a proper woman.

“I think it’s impossible to convince the Emperor.”

Xie Zhaoran nodded. Then they would have to proceed with the original plan.

Fortunately, the palace guard was now on her side.

“I’ll leave things here to you.”

Xie Zhaoran stood up, straightened her clothes, and, on the pretext of needing to sober up, left the banquet.

…

Shi Yuning was taken to an empty room by Qiang Di to rest. After lying down, the drunkenness and sleepiness washed over her. Her head felt heavy, and she was about to fall into a deep sleep.

In a daze, she seemed to hear footsteps. She thought another person had gotten drunk and needed a place to rest, so she tried to move over to make some room.

Just as she moved an inch, she smelled a familiar scent close by.

Before Shi Yuning could make out what it was, a cool breeze began to blow. Shi Yuning’s face, which was hot from the alcohol, gradually cooled down.

It was so comfortable. She wondered which little palace maid was fanning her. Filled with gratitude, Shi Yuning fell into a peaceful sleep.

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