A Stolen Romance - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Gifts

Shi Yuning felt that she had slept very well and had a sweet dream.

When she woke up, the sweet lingering aftertaste was still there. But when she opened her eyes and saw the graceful figure by the bed, Shi Yuning hesitated. Maybe she was still dreaming.

“You’re awake?”

Xie Zhaoran held a book in one hand and a fan in the other. Her gaze, which had been on the book, shifted to Shi Yuning’s face when she saw some movement on the bed. She watched as Shi Yuning blinked her round eyes, fluttering her eyelashes up and down. Her expression went from confused to even more confused.

“It’s almost time. Even if you haven’t had enough sleep, you need to get up.”

Xie Zhaoran assumed she just hadn’t rested enough during her afternoon nap. But it was almost time for the dragon boat race, so it wasn’t good to keep sleeping. She had been thinking of waking the girl in about a quarter of an hour, but she hadn’t expected the sleepy girl to wake up on her own.

Xie Zhaoran put down the intricately carved ivory fan and stood up with her book.

Shi Yuning’s eyes were glued to her, following her every move. She watched as Xie Zhaoran walked to the door. The door opened slightly, and Xie Zhaoran seemed to say something to someone outside before quickly returning. Behind her, Qiang Di and a line of palace maids in matching uniforms entered, carrying various washing utensils.

Xie Zhaoran didn’t sit back down on the embroidered stool by the bed. Instead, she walked to the carved rosewood chair by the window on the east side and sat down.

Shi Yuning was aware of everything, yet she felt like she was watching a play. Her mind couldn’t keep up. She didn’t understand what was happening. Was she still stuck in a dream?

Shi Yuning was baffled. Why would she have a dream like this? And why did Xie Zhaoran’s actions seem so natural, as if she were in her own home?

“Miss Shi, please allow this servant to help you get up.” Qiang Di walked over to Shi Yuning, who was just staring intently at Xie Zhaoran without moving. Although surprised, she professionally helped Shi Yuning sit up and led her to the dressing table directly opposite Xie Zhaoran.

The palace maids bowed and quietly brought in the washing items one by one. After washing her hands, Qiang Di wrung out a cloth and gently placed it on Shi Yuning’s face, ready to wash it for her.

But Shi Yuning suddenly took the cloth.

“I’ll do it myself, I’ll do it myself.”

When the warm cloth touched her face, Shi Yuning realized she wasn’t dreaming. She was mortified that she had almost let someone wash her face. Even after half a year in the capital, she still couldn’t get used to a life of being waited on hand and foot. She preferred to do these simple tasks herself.

After washing her face, Shi Yuning’s mind finally cleared. When she saw the palace maids had all left and only Qiang Di was doing her hair, Shi Yuning tilted her head to look at Xie Zhaoran.

“Why is the Crown Princess here?” she asked curiously, looking at Xie Zhaoran, who was sitting gracefully by the east window.

Before Xie Zhaoran could answer, Qiang Di laughed.

“Miss Shi, this is our master’s room in Jin’an Garden. Why wouldn’t she be here?” Qiang Di’s voice was full of laughter. She found Shi Yuning’s question quite amusing.

How would Shi Yuning know this was Xie Zhaoran’s room? She had been vaguely led in here, and there was no sign on the door with Xie Zhaoran’s name on it.

Shi Yuning looked around. The furniture was all made of rosewood, simple yet grand. Besides the sheer curtains, there were also bamboo blinds on the windows. The sunlight filtered through the blinds, creating a soft, dappled light that made the room feel very comfortable. It matched the feeling Xie Zhaoran gave her.

After Qiang Di spoke, she saw Xie Zhaoran’s gaze on her. It lingered for a moment but didn’t show any real blame.

“There are many people today, and there were no other rooms available in the garden.”

Xie Zhaoran’s words were an explanation for why Shi Yuning was placed in her room.

Shi Yuning nodded, feeling relieved. So there weren’t enough rooms, and Xie Zhaoran’s room was also being used to host guests.

Qiang Di saw Shi Yuning’s trusting expression and laughed inwardly. Jin’an Garden was bigger than the Western Suburb Palace. How could it be short of a few rooms? Such a lie was so ridiculous that even a ghost wouldn’t believe it. Only someone as naive and unfamiliar with palace affairs as Shi Yuning would believe it.

Shi Yuning did believe it right away and thanked Xie Zhaoran sincerely.

After thanking her, she seemed to remember something. She looked up at Qiang Di, who was doing her hair.

“Earlier when I was sleeping, I felt like someone was fanning me. Was that you, Miss Qiang Di?”

Shi Yuning’s movement messed up the hair Qiang Di had just neatly arranged, but Qiang Di didn’t mind at all. At Shi Yuning’s words, her eyes lit up. She couldn’t believe that the cold, aloof Xie Zhaoran would do something like that behind the scenes!

She was so eager to share this great discovery with Qin Xiao and the others.

Qiang Di held back her laughter and said, “Miss Shi, you might not know this, but our master usually doesn’t require anyone to serve her in her room.”

She hadn’t directly answered Shi Yuning’s question, but Shi Yuning wasn’t stupid.

She let out a small gasp of surprise. “Ah.”

Shi Yuning looked at Xie Zhaoran by the east window in disbelief. The window might be closed, but it couldn’t block out the sunlight from outside. The light filtered through the cracks and fell on Xie Zhaoran’s complex court gown. The golden thread butterflies woven into the fabric gleamed in the light, seeming to come to life and dance as her clothes moved.

Xie Zhaoran sat there so quietly, surrounded by sunlight, butterflies, and a gentle breeze, radiating a soft aura. Even her gaze seemed infused with spring water.

“Was that you, the one who fanned me?”

Shi Yuning’s voice was full of disbelief. How long had she been asleep? Judging by the sky, it must have been at least an hour. Had Xie Zhaoran been fanning her for that whole time?

Her gaze was filled with doubt and trembling as she stared at Xie Zhaoran.

Qiang Di had sped up her movements. After securing the last strand of hair, she glanced at Xie Zhaoran’s expression, understood, and quietly left the room.

Only Xie Zhaoran and Shi Yuning were left in the room, as if Qiang Di and the others had never been there.

Xie Zhaoran’s lips were curved in a smile, but she didn’t answer Shi Yuning’s question directly.

“Were you hot when you were sleeping?” she asked in return.

Shi Yuning immediately shook her head. “No, I wasn’t hot. I slept very comfortably.”

It was true, Shi Yuning thought. When she first lay down, she had felt a little warm from the alcohol, but the breeze from the fan had cooled her down, and she hadn’t felt hot after that.

She thanked Xie Zhaoran even more sincerely than she had when she learned she had borrowed the room for her.

“Thank you, Crown Princess. I don’t even know what to say. If my mother knew that the Crown Princess stooped so low to fan me, she would make me take stock of myself and ask if I’m even worthy.”

As she spoke, Shi Yuning suddenly seemed to remember something. She stopped talking and took something out of her sleeve.

Shi Yuning looked at the sachet in her hand, a little troubled. She seemed to be talking to herself, but also to Xie Zhaoran.

“I was going to give you this sachet to thank you for last time, but now I feel like this gift is too shabby to give. It’s not enough to express my gratitude. It doesn’t match up to how good you’ve been to me.”

Although Shi Yuning’s words were like self-talk and her voice was very low, Xie Zhaoran was a martial artist. Even with the room separating them, she heard every single word.

The hand that had been holding the book suddenly tightened. Her well-defined knuckles looked even whiter against the black book cover. Xie Zhaoran put the book on her lap and extended her hand to Shi Yuning.

“Come here.”

Shi Yuning saw that Xie Zhaoran wanted to see the sachet. Although a little embarrassed, she walked over with the item and handed the sachet to Xie Zhaoran. After all, it was something she had spent many days and poked many holes in her fingers to make.

“I hope you like it,” Shi Yuning said with a shy smile.

Xie Zhaoran looked at her deeply before lowering her head to inspect the sachet. She gently sniffed it. “It smells just like you.”

Shi Yuning nodded. “Yes, you said you liked the scent last time, so I wrote to someone to have some herbs and other flowers sent from Jiangnan.”

She was very happy that Xie Zhaoran still remembered the scent. It must mean she truly liked it. “This scent is not only pleasant, but it also repels mosquitoes and bugs. It’s very useful.”

She wanted to prove that she wasn’t just giving a random gift to get by; she had put thought into it. But before she could list any more benefits, she heard Xie Zhaoran’s clear voice.

“Put it on for me.”

“Huh?” Shi Yuning was confused. She watched as Xie Zhaoran stood up in front of her and pointed to the belt of her complicated court gown.

Shi Yuning looked at the expensive fabric of the dress, then up at Xie Zhaoran. “Are you sure? This sachet might be a little… mismatched with your outfit?”

Mismatched? Shi Yuning thought. It’s more like it’s defiling it. It was like a piece of coarse cloth stuck onto a body of gold.

“Didn’t you say this scent repels mosquitoes and bugs? There are many bugs by the lake, so it’s perfect,” Xie Zhaoran said unhurriedly, with a smile in her voice that made people feel good.

Shi Yuning thought about it and agreed. They were going to the lake to watch the dragon boat race.

She took a small step forward. This one step closed the distance between them, and Shi Yuning felt the temperature around her rise significantly. She felt as if her face was being steamed. The warmth around Xie Zhaoran, like her presence, was hard to ignore.

She tried not to think about that odd feeling and patiently untangled the slightly knotted string. As she carefully threaded it through Xie Zhaoran’s waist wrap, she couldn’t help but touch Xie Zhaoran’s waist. Shi Yuning’s eyes lit up.

What firm muscles!

Shi Yuning felt a pang of envy. That waist looked so powerful. Unlike her, her skills weren’t great, and her muscles weren’t great either. With admiration, she threaded the knot through Xie Zhaoran’s belt, wrapped it around, and securely hung the sachet on Xie Zhaoran’s waist.

It didn’t look as mismatched as she had thought, after all. Shi Yuning smoothed the sachet’s tassel. At least the scent was very harmonious.

Shi Yuning suddenly remembered something. After taking a step back, she asked Xie Zhaoran, “Last time during the spring hunt, I noticed it took you a long time to tie the knot on my sachet. Were you worried you’d break it?” Shi Yuning gestured to the sachet tied at her waist.

Xie Zhaoran glanced at the sachet on Shi Yuning’s waist, then at her own. The corners of her lips curled up even higher. She didn’t answer Shi Yuning’s question, which was a silent admission.

“Thank you, Miss Shi. I like it very much.”

Shi Yuning was also very happy that the other person liked her gift.

“I’m glad the Crown Princess likes it.”

Xie Zhaoran’s hand, which was hanging at her side, gently gripped the sachet on her waist. She looked at Shi Yuning.

“In the future, when we’re alone, call me by my name. Zhaoran. It means ‘as bright as the sun and stars, with an air of righteous integrity.'”

Shi Yuning was a little slow to react to the sudden change of topic. After a long pause, she asked in return, “Is that okay?”

Her mother had repeatedly warned her to follow the rules in the palace.

Seeing Shi Yuning’s hesitation, Xie Zhaoran showed a lonely look, as if she was a little sad. “I thought since you gave me a gift, you at least considered me a friend.”

“I’m afraid if I get used to it, I might mess up the social order in front of others. That would be trouble.” Shi Yuning felt she wasn’t a very cautious person and was afraid she wouldn’t be able to differentiate between private and public settings.

But as for Xie Zhaoran’s request, Shi Yuning had a guess. “You don’t like people calling you that?” She had never heard anyone around Xie Zhaoran call her by her name. Did she not like being the Crown Princess?

Xie Zhaoran looked down at Shi Yuning’s serious face. The fingers holding the sachet gently hooked and brushed the tassels.

“Do you want to hear a secret?”

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