The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 32

The next day, the Dewdrop Palace had never been so lively before.

The morning was bright, with a clear sun hanging in the sky, a rare, beautiful day, just as joyous as the occasion itself.

When Wen Ying woke up in her bed in the Dewdrop Palace, she stared blankly at the empty space beside her for a moment before getting up and examining her reflection in the somewhat worn bronze mirror.

For some reason, when she saw her slightly haggard face in the mirror, Wen Ying felt a surge of excitement. It meant she had truly made it to this day.

She had really made it to the day of leaving the palace. Wen Ying glanced at her still-injured arm but dismissed it. The most urgent task now was to load her belongings onto the carriage.

When Wen Ying stepped out of the room with Yun Chu, she saw three or four plain carriages waiting outside.

The men on the carriages immediately descended to help her load the few trunks of clothing she owned. Though her possessions were meager, after living in the palace for over a decade, they still filled two carriages.

As Wen Ying happily returned to wash up, the carriage drivers shook their heads and sighed. They were specially assigned to transport the belongings of princesses leaving the palace to establish their own households. In the past, when the elder princesses left, they had nearly emptied half the palace. But with Wen Ying, there were only two carriages of clothes and books. It was hard not to see the difference between a favored and an unfavored princess.

The drivers didn’t dare say anything. Those already loaded began preparing to leave the palace first, while the carriage meant to carry Wen Ying waited behind.

Today, Wen Ying wore a new dress, one that Matron Gu had prepared long ago, originally intended as a birthday gift. But Matron Gu hadn’t expected to give it to her early.

Wen Ying twirled in front of the half-height bronze mirror, the dress fitting her perfectly. Though her back still ached, little Wen Ying was too happy to care.

These past days, Wen Ying had felt both exhausted and joyful. Now, at last, everything seemed to be drawing to a close.

Yun Chu still wore her old palace attire, though it was freshly cleaned. She stood awkwardly at the door, watching the radiant Wen Ying as if seeing her former mistress.

The jewels and hairpins sent by Emperor Wen were brought over. The palace maid carrying the exquisite tray seemed out of place in the shabby Dewdrop Palace. Wen Ying didn’t refuse them. She had the maid place the jewelry on the table before dismissing her.

“Shall this servant help the princess put on the ornaments?” Yun Chu wiped her hands and looked at the jewelry, recalling the days when she used to style Shen Qingning’s hair and pin her hairpins. The last time she had touched such things was during Wen Ying’s coming-of-age ceremony, when she had adorned her with a jade hairpin.

Seeing these items again, Yun Chu wondered if the world would remain the same in the days to come. So, on this special day, she wanted to style Wen Ying’s hair properly one last time.

Wen Ying nodded and obediently sat at the dressing table. Her loosely tied hair cascaded down, smooth and silky. As Yun Chu picked up a strand, she realized Wen Ying’s hair had grown long enough to be styled into many beautiful updos.

Although Yun Chu hadn’t styled her mistress’s hair in a long time, her hands remained deft. She quickly arranged Wen Ying’s hair into an elegant bun, with just the right amount of strands cascading down. The agate-beaded hairpin adorned her dark tresses beautifully, adding a perfect touch of embellishment.

“Little Wen Ying,” Before Wen Ying could properly examine her new appearance, she heard Xiao Tang’s voice calling from the courtyard outside. She immediately stood up and hurried out.

Xiao Tang stood in the yard with a basket of pastries slung over her arm. When she saw Wen Ying emerge from the main hall of the Ninglu Palace, the sunlight glinted off the exquisite hair ornaments, making them shimmer like rippling water. The brand-new dress also gave Wen Ying an entirely different aura.

“Now you truly look like a princess!” Xiao Tang said with genuine delight. She didn’t know what Wen Ying had discussed with Emperor Wen that day, but she knew her dear friend would soon escape the palace’s suffocating grasp.

Wen Ying was equally overjoyed, her little dimples appearing as she held Xiao Tang’s hands. There were so many things she wanted to say, but words failed her, they simply stood there, smiling at each other in silent understanding.

A chilly spring breeze swept past, making both girls shiver. Only then did they realize they should head inside. The basket Xiao Tang carried was filled with delicious pastries, their aroma making Wen Ying’s stomach growl. Embarrassed, she tugged Xiao Tang toward the hall.

The main hall of Ninglu Palace felt even more desolate now. Xiao Tang couldn’t help but sigh at the bleak sight as she set the basket on the table and began unpacking the treats one by one.

They were all Wen Ying’s favorites but unlike usual, these pastries weren’t cold. Steam rose from them, clearly fresh from the oven. Wen Ying’s eyes widened. “Ah! Xiao Tang, won’t your master be angry? These look like they were just steamed.”

Xiao Tang reached out and pinched Wen Ying’s cheek, her expression both fond and amused. “Master said you’re a real princess now. If you want pastries, shouldn’t you have them right away?”

Only then did Wen Ying understand, these pastries had been made especially for her. Her eyes welled up as she picked up a piece and took a bite, tears rolling down her cheeks as she ate.

Every flavor was one Wen Ying adored. While wiping her friend’s tears, Xiao Tang gently urged, “Take your time. Master knew you’d love these. She stayed up last night preparing them so they could be steamed fresh today, just for you. She hopes your path ahead will be as sweet as these treats.”

Xiao Tang’s own eyes grew moist as she spoke. Watching Wen Ying’s journey to this point had often pained her, yet she’d been powerless to help.

Xiao Tang was merely an apprentice in the imperial kitchens. Though deeply favored by her master, her destiny was still that of a lowly palace maid bound to a life of culinary labor.

During the years when everyone overlooked Wen Ying, Xiao Tang could only sneak her pastries in secret corners. She always said, “Sweet things make girls happy.”

And so, Wen Ying grew to love pastries dearly. The few extra ounces of flesh on her slender frame came entirely from these treats because in all her years in the rear palace, she’d scarcely tasted meat.

As Wen Ying finished one plate, Xiao Tang moved to serve another. But Wen Ying shook her head, carefully packing the remaining pastries back into the basket. She would save them for after she’d left the palace and settled into her new residence.

Who the mansion belonged to, Wen Ying had some idea, it was probably just a very ordinary residence, but that already made her incredibly happy. All she wanted was to escape this place.

Xiao Tang watched as Wen Ying finished her tasks and couldn’t help but reach out to gently pull her into a hug. “I’m not like the other palace maids. I’ll probably spend my whole life stuck in the imperial kitchens, so we might not see each other much from now on. I don’t have anything good to give you these pastries will be gone once you eat them. But remember this hug, Wen Ying. You’re my only friend. Once you leave the palace, live a better life, and don’t let yourself suffer like before. Promise me?”

Xiao Tang said all this in one breath, leaving the rest of the time for Wen Ying. The two of them simply held each other without speaking for a long while before finally breaking the silence.

“Thank you, Xiao Tang. You take care too. I’ll bring you some storybooks from outside the palace when I can.” This was something the two of them had always dreamed of when they first met. Xiao Tang, who had grown up without parents and was raised by her master, yearned for things beyond the palace walls.

Whenever Wen Ying brought her storybooks, both of them would eagerly wish for more. So, the two young girls made a pact, whoever left the palace first must never forget the other.

Now, Wen Ying hadn’t expected she’d be able to leave the palace so soon. She held Xiao Tang’s hand and made her promise. Xiao Tang, clumsy with words, didn’t know what else to say. After gazing at Wen Ying for a long time, she finally left, turning back every few steps.

After seeing Xiao Tang off, Wen Ying was about to sneak a plate of pastries to Hanguang Hall when she ran straight into Madam Gu.

Madam Gu looked at Wen Ying with a pleased smile, as if admiring the dress she had sewn herself. Then, her eyes swept over Wen Ying’s hairpin and jewelry, finally nodding in satisfaction, she now looked a bit more like a princess.

“This old servant greets Her Highness and pays her respects.” Madam Gu smiled and bowed, but Wen Ying quickly stopped her, clinging to her arm like a spoiled child. “Madam Gu, if you bow to me, you’ll only embarrass me.”

“You deserve it.” A cool, clear voice sounded at the door. Wen Ying’s cheeks flushed as soon as she heard it, as if recalling Fu Qingyin’s boldness from the night before. She lowered her head, not daring to look at her.

But Fu Qingyin deliberately walked over to Wen Ying, took the plate of pastries from her hands, and popped one into her mouth. Though the sweetness wasn’t to her taste, since it was Wen Ying who had brought it, it somehow tasted better than any ordinary pastry.

Fu Qingyin’s smug expression made Wen Ying twist her ear in retaliation, only for Fu Qingyin to pull her closer by the waist in the next moment, as if letting Wen Ying pinch her ear as much as she wanted.

Madam Gu clicked her tongue, stood up, and snatched the plate from Fu Qingyin’s hands, handing it back to Wen Ying with a smile. “These are for our little Wen Ying to eat. You’re too old, no snacks for you.”

Wen Ying nearly choked on her own saliva. She did the math Fu Qingyin wasn’t that much older than her. Why did Madam Gu still treat her like a child?

Unexpectedly, Fu Qingyin agreed with Madam Gu’s words. She nodded and gently smoothed Wen Ying’s hair, her fingers lingering on the agate beads as her smile deepened. “Little Wen Ying looks very beautiful today.”

In truth, she was beautiful every day. Fu Qingyin’s eyes could only see Wen Ying, no one else could compare to her. Every moment, Wen Ying’s beauty left Fu Qingyin utterly entranced.

Wen Ying was utterly embarrassed by the flattery from these two people. She broke free from Fu Qingyin’s embrace and quickly sat down at the table, pretending to be very busy.

Fu Qingyin then gracefully walked over and began massaging Wen Ying’s shoulders, as if she were Wen Ying’s personal maid.

“Today, you’ll finally leave the palace and no longer have to suffer,” said Granny Gu, sitting down on a stool, genuinely happy for Wen Ying.

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