The Flirtatious Beauty Decides to Steal the Princess - Chapter 35

Fu Qingyin reached out and gently touched the set of fine writing instruments. It had been so long since she had last handled such high-quality brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.

The young ladies of noble families each had their own discerning tastes when it came to these scholarly tools. Some were particularly skilled in selecting them, and everyone focused on their own areas of expertise, which was why the gifts they presented were always so exquisitely refined.

“Since we’re trying to avoid extravagance this time, His Majesty hasn’t ordered any banquets to be held. Today, we had the chefs from Zuixianlou prepare the dishes and bring them over. Let’s go to the small dining hall to eat.”

Jiang Zhiyi had always been composed. Though she occasionally revealed the playful nature of a young girl, she was still far more reliable than the other pampered noble ladies who had grown up in luxury.

Wen Ying!

“You don’t need to feel uneasy. They’re all wonderful people, it’s just that they’ve been confined to the mansion all these years, forced to be perfect young ladies who never make a single mistake in etiquette. Now that they have this opportunity, everyone is letting loose and enjoying themselves.”

There was one thing Jiang Zhiyi didn’t mention: everyone felt that Wen Ying was just as pitiable as them, perhaps even worse off not having enough to eat or wear. From the bottom of their hearts, they ached for Wen Ying, which was why they were so willing to extend their kindness to her.

“I’m truly grateful to everyone.” Wen Ying lowered her head. How could she have ever experienced such warmth in the imperial harem? Although Wen Yunrou had also been kind to her, everyone had kept their distance due to various reservations.

But once outside the palace, all those inexplicable rules and restrictions seemed to vanish. Everyone moved freely, able to follow their hearts in treating others with kindness.

“I understand now. Thank you all.” When Wen Ying smiled, her almond-shaped eyes curved in a way that was utterly endearing. Jiang Zhiyi didn’t linger by her side for long, instead rising to tend to others like an elder sister.

Wen Ying remained seated, feeling the cold wind stirred by the setting sun. She instinctively hunched her shoulders.

Just as she reached out to pull her outer robe tighter, she felt a garment drape over her shoulders.

“Sister Jiang,” Wen Ying thought Jiang Zhiyi had returned, but instead, she found herself meeting Fu Qingyin’s gaze those slightly displeased eyes fixed on her.

Wen Ying couldn’t help but force a smile as she stood up, steadying the robe Fu Qingyin had draped over her, and tried to rise on her tiptoes to pat Fu Qingyin’s head.

Fu Qingyin was a little upset that Wen Ying had first assumed it was Jiang Zhiyi, but seeing Wen Ying straining on her toes softened her heart. She bent down obligingly.

Allowing Wen Ying to pat her head, Fu Qingyin didn’t dare show any anger. The sight of the petite girl standing a head shorter than her was simply too adorable.

Thus, the flicker of irritation vanished, like a little fox whose fur had been smoothed, now preening proudly for all to see.

“The sun is setting. I must depart for my homeland tonight. You shouldn’t stand here in the wind anymore.” Fu Qingyin had much more to say, but after a pause, she only managed to chide Wen Ying for standing in the draft.

Wen Ying was clearly taken aback by how soon they would part. The entire day had been immersed in the joy of finally leaving the palace, to the point where she had somewhat neglected Fu Qingyin.

Remembering the days, they had relied on each other in the Ninglu Palace, Wen Ying felt reluctant to let her go. But how could she stop Fu Qingyin from returning to see her parents?

Wen Ying stepped closer to Fu Qingyin, pinching the hem of her sleeve between her fingers and giving it a gentle tug. “But, last night you kissed me.”

Her voice grew quieter as she spoke, until her cheeks burned crimson. She lowered her head, at a loss for words, leaving the sentence trailing.

Fu Qingyin hadn’t expected Wen Ying to bring this up. She stared at her in surprise, a certain corner of her heart melting at the sight of little Wen Ying.

Fu Qingyin reached out to pinch Wen Ying’s earlobe, then coaxed softly, “What is it, little Wen Ying? What do you want to say?”

The agate beads swayed in Wen Ying’s hair, mirroring the turmoil in her heart. Reason told her to remain silent, to let Fu Qingyin leave without any lingering attachments.

Yet Wen Ying feared, what if Fu Qingyin never returned? So, she stammered out, “You promised to marry me.”

She mustered all her courage, unsure why those words had spilled from her lips. Once spoken, her heart trembled with uncertainty.

She dreaded hearing Fu Qingyin brush it off with indifference, because there were moments when Wen Ying took every word Fu Qingyin said to heart.

“Wen Ying is foolish,” she sniffled, tears welling up before she even realized it. “She doesn’t know how to survive in the palace. She only knows that after meeting you, she started inexplicably believing every word you said.” Her eyes, red-rimmed, lifted to meet Fu Qingyin’s gaze. Unable to hold back any longer, she threw herself into Fu Qingyin’s arms.

Both of them were still wounded, yet neither hesitated to hold the other tightly.

Fu Qingyin had always assumed her feelings were one-sided. But now, hearing Wen Ying’s words, it was as if she had swallowed a calming pill.

She had worried Wen Ying might resent her decision, but now, with her heart steadied, Fu Qingyin was even more determined to seek vengeance and then bind Wen Ying to her side forever.

“Silly girl,” Fu Qingyin murmured with a smile, though her narrow phoenix eyes were utterly serious. “Your sister promises you this in this lifetime, I will take responsibility for our little Wen Ying. I’ll marry you with all the splendor you deserve.”

Wen Ying could see the sincerity in Fu Qingyin’s gaze and reluctantly stepped aside, watching her with longing.

“Wait for me.” Fu Qingyin gathered her few belongings. Sang Zhi, who had stayed behind in the palace, disguised as Fu Qingyin in the Hanguang Palace, meant this journey would be undertaken alone.

Wen Ying, still uneasy, followed Fu Qingyin all the way to the estate’s gates. Night had fallen, and the path ahead was barely visible.

“Sister, couldn’t you leave tomorrow?” Wen Ying blurted out, unable to hold back.

Fu Qingyin paused, then turned back. Her cool lips pressed against Wen Ying’s forehead.

“Little Wen Ying, every moment I delay is a gamble with Sang Zhi’s life. There’s one thing I must ask of you, if Sang Zhi is ever discovered, seek the Empress’s help. But you must never step forward yourself. You’d only be hurt.”

Though she had already discussed this with the Empress, Fu Qingyin couldn’t shake the fear that someone might exploit Wen Ying.

This was the one thing she couldn’t set aside, even as she left the capital. But there was no choice she had to resolve matters swiftly and rally allies.

Wen Ying nodded solemnly, standing obediently in place, still feeling the ghost of Fu Qingyin’s lips on her skin.

Even long after Fu Qingyin had vanished into the distance, Wen Ying remained there, smiling foolishly.

Then, slowly, her smile crumpled. She sank to her knees before the princess’s estate, hugging her legs as tears spilled onto the ground, soaking her embroidered shoes.

“I just can’t bear to part with sister.” Wen Ying repeated these words over and over, not understanding why she felt so dependent on Fu Qingyin. Even when leaving Yun Chu, she hadn’t experienced such turbulent emotions.

Exhausted from crying in the night breeze, Wen Ying finally composed herself. She stood up, rubbed her eyes, and forced herself to appear unaffected before turning back toward the princess’s residence.

By this time, the noble young ladies had all rested sufficiently and were rising to bid Wen Ying farewell. At moments of parting like this, Wen Ying always felt a pang of sadness.

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