The Woman Disguised Herself as a Man and Abolished the Prince, Married a Princess and called the Empress - Chapter 8

The moonlight was like water, and the dining table was filled with all sorts of delicacies. Small porcelain plates held emerald shrimp balls—plump and alluring in color. White tofu was carved into lotus shapes, with a thick abalone sauce drizzled on top.

Sweet and sour pork ribs, spicy chicken with two kinds of peppers, fish-flavored shredded pork, green pepper with corn, “lotus pond moonlight”… there were more than a dozen dishes, each a testament to meticulous craftsmanship.

Looking at these dishes, Xiong Shaoqing couldn’t help but sigh. It was indeed a princess’s residence, with such exquisite and elegant food.

Even when she was a marquis’s heir, she had never experienced such refined dining at home. Her birth mother was always frugal and disliked extravagance, so their daily meals were more home-style. Still, they were very delicious.

Lost in thought, she saw Su Xianfeng already eating with gusto. Xiong Shaoqing also picked up her chopsticks and began to taste the food. Liu Hanyue, on the other hand, ate slowly and methodically, occasionally glancing at Xiong Shaoqing, secretly noting her preferences.

Xiong Shaoqing noticed Liu Hanyue’s gaze and felt a little puzzled. Why was her senior sister looking at her all the time? Was something amiss with her?

After the meal, Su Xianfeng proposed retiring to her room to rest. Liu Hanyue mentioned that the room from a few years ago was cleaned daily by servants and that her master could make herself at home.

After Su Xianfeng left, Liu Hanyue took Xiong Shaoqing on a tour of the princess’s residence.

Liu Hanyue led Xiong Shaoqing around the princess’s residence, saying it was good for digestion.

Xiong Shaoqing followed behind Liu Hanyue, observing the grand yet elegant residence. She thought to herself that the princess’s residence in the state of Shu was truly different from the marquis’s residence in the state of Yu, exuding a unique charm everywhere.

“It will take about seven days for your household registration to be processed. You’ll stay here at the residence during that time, and I’ve already asked Fen He to prepare your room,” Liu Hanyue said as she strolled by a pond.

Xiong Shaoqing nodded in response: “As you wish, Senior Sister.”

As they walked slowly, a gentle breeze rustled Xiong Shaoqing’s dark hair. Liu Hanyue turned her head and saw Xiong Shaoqing’s beautiful face in the moonlight, and she was so stunned she couldn’t look away.

Why did her junior sister feel so strangely familiar, as if she had seen her in a past life?

“Meow~” A chubby orange cat jumped in front of Liu Hanyue, interrupting her thoughts.

“Xiao Meng, be a good kitty,” Liu Hanyue said, crouching down to pick up the cat.

Xiong Shaoqing gently approached, leaned down slightly, and carefully reached out a slender finger to pet Xiao Meng.

The cat seemed to sense her goodwill, lifting its head slightly with curious, emerald-green eyes.

As Xiong Shaoqing’s finger touched Xiao Meng’s soft fur, the delicate sensation warmed her heart. The corners of her mouth curled up into a sweet smile, revealing two dimples.

“Do you like cats, too, Junior Sister?” Liu Hanyue asked, raising an eyebrow, watching Xiong Shaoqing with interest.

With a slight smile, Xiong Shaoqing blurted out, “Of course, I love them. Look how cute it is.”

Xiao Meng comfortably half-closed its eyes, purring with satisfaction, its body curling slightly under Xiong Shaoqing’s touch.

Xiong Shaoqing temporarily put her revenge plan aside, showing a look of pure joy. It felt completely natural, without any pretense, because she had never had such leisurely time to play with a cat in the state of Yu.

Liu Hanyue was a crucial part of her plan. As a princess of Shu and her senior sister, she needed to be properly won over.

“Princess, Miss Xiong’s room has been arranged as you instructed,” Fen He came forward and bowed respectfully.

“Good, you may leave,” Liu Hanyue replied.

Fen He bowed and departed, her figure quickly disappearing into the moonlight.

“Junior Sister, it’s getting late. I’ll take you back to your room to rest,” Liu Hanyue’s gaze toward Xiong Shaoqing was as gentle as water, full of care.

“Okay, Senior Sister,” Xiong Shaoqing replied. She felt Liu Hanyue’s gaze and looked up. Their eyes met, and in that moment, Xiong Shaoqing felt that her senior sister’s gaze was so sincere and kind.

A flicker of guilt arose in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it. The blush on her face also faded in an instant, replaced by a faint smile and a pair of pure, clear eyes.

All of this was reflected in Liu Hanyue’s eyes and heart. Her junior sister was truly adorable and shy. She suppressed the urge to tease her, turned her head, and walked toward the long corridor.

Xiong Shaoqing followed Liu Hanyue, passing through a winding corridor and around a rippling pond, arriving at a quiet courtyard. A plaque on the door was engraved with the three characters “Qinglan Hall.”

Pushing the door open, they entered the front yard, which had a small rock garden. Liu Hanyue led Xiong Shaoqing to a side chamber.

“Junior Sister, open the door and see if you like it,” Liu Hanyue said, her lips slightly curled in a sincere smile.

Xiong Shaoqing gently pushed the door open. Inside, there was a desk made of huanghuali wood with a smooth, polished surface. A bronze horse stood on one side of the desk, and several scrolls of calligraphy were neatly stacked. The room was fully equipped with ink, brushes, and paper.

On the purple sandalwood bed, a snow-white silk brocade quilt was laid out, fine and soft. A delicate longsword hung at the head of the bed, its scabbard etched with cloud patterns.

Several lush green potted plants stood by the window. A small bamboo-woven screen was set up, painted with a landscape that complemented the garden outside the window. Behind the screen was a bluestone bath, with several pieces of warm white jade soap on the side, emitting a faint herbal fragrance.

The entire room was clean and tidy, without excessive or complicated decorations, giving it a simple and capable feel.

Xiong Shaoqing stood quietly in the center of the room, looking at the familiar and welcoming decor. Her heart was filled with endless gratitude. The furnishings in this room were quite similar to her own room in the state of Yu.

“Senior Sister…” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “I will never forget your kindness.”

Tears welled up in Xiong Shaoqing’s eyes as she bowed her head slightly.

Concern flashed in Liu Hanyue’s eyes. “My room is in the main hall. If you need anything, you can come at any time. It’s getting late, so you should rest now.”

With that, she slowly left. Xiong Shaoqing looked up, her eyes misty, watching the graceful figure gradually walk away.

At 5:45 the next morning, Xiong Shaoqing, dressed in a simple green outfit, practiced her sword in the courtyard.

A gentle breeze rustled a few strands of hair that weren’t tied up by her wooden hairpin, moving in sync with the longsword in her hand.

The tip of her sword touched the ground, making a crisp sound that echoed in the quiet front yard.

Xiong Shaoqing’s swordplay was both sharp and graceful. The tip of her sword, sometimes a feint, sometimes a real attack, was as fluid as flowing water and as fierce as a sudden storm.

The sparrows nearby were startled and chirped loudly.

She couldn’t slack off these days. The soft bed and pillows of the princess’s residence must not weaken her will to practice. Martial arts are a never-ending journey; she needed to constantly become stronger to have a greater chance of winning in the future.

Clap, clap, clap… Applause broke the silence, and the sparrows scattered.

“Junior Sister, your posture is nimble, your sword skills are precise, and every movement is full of power. You are the most beautiful sight in the residence today,” Liu Hanyue praised without reservation.

A blush immediately appeared on Xiong Shaoqing’s face. “Senior Sister, you flatter me. I apologize for disturbing you with my early morning practice.”

Liu Hanyue shook her head slightly. “You are too formal, Junior Sister. I usually get up around this time, too. Let’s go and have breakfast with our master.”

Xiong Shaoqing nodded and followed Liu Hanyue out of Qinglan Hall.

After the three of them had breakfast, Liu Hanyue suggested they tour Yongning City together. Su Xianfeng declined, saying she had seen enough of it in her earlier years and found organizing her medical notes more interesting. So, Liu Hanyue took Xiong Shaoqing out.

Su Xianfeng watched their departing figures with a meaningful smile.

It was early spring, and Liu Hanyue took Xiong Shaoqing to stroll around the streets, buying kites and snacks. The two walked along a lush, green path, chatting and laughing.

After about half an hour, they arrived at an open grassy area. Liu Hanyue held the kite, and Xiong Shaoqing was in charge of controlling its direction. Watching the kite soar in the sky, they exchanged a smile.

Suddenly, Xiong Shaoqing’s gaze became slightly distant, and she murmured, “This is only the second time in my life I’ve flown a kite. I can’t believe it’s in the state of Shu. Life is unpredictable.”

“The second time? Did you have little free time when you were young, Junior Sister?” Liu Hanyue’s brows furrowed in confusion.

“I was the heir to a marquis in the state of Yu. My father wanted me to become a great talent, so I had heavy lessons in the six arts when I was young, with no time for play. Later, to avoid the emperor’s suspicion, I feigned a frivolous lifestyle.”

Xiong Shaoqing’s gaze was distant, her voice low. “Even so, I couldn’t escape that catastrophe.”

A faint, sorrowful look hung on her lips. Liu Hanyue dropped the kite and walked directly in front of Xiong Shaoqing.

“Junior Sister, you’re not made of iron. You’ve endured too much. You should let your emotions out. Whether it’s sadness or a breakdown, I’ll be here to help you get through it.”

Xiong Shaoqing looked at Liu Hanyue’s caring eyes, and a flicker of reluctance crossed her heart, but she had no other choice. To win Liu Hanyue’s affection, she had to show a bit of vulnerability.

The time was right. With this thought, a bright smile flashed in Xiong Shaoqing’s eyes. She picked up a piece of crispy peach pastry from the oiled paper. “Senior Sister, try this. It’s very fragrant.”

The two sat side by side, enjoying the pastries until sunset before returning to the residence.

Upon their return, they saw Steward Lin rushing to report that Master Su had left a letter and departed. Liu Hanyue took the letter and immediately opened it. Xiong Shaoqing also leaned in to read it closely.

The letter stated that Su Xianfeng’s medical notes were left in her room and hoped that Liu Hanyue would study them diligently to reach a higher level.

For Xiong Shaoqing, Su Xianfeng’s words were more humorous. She was told to practice more, never to let her fists get rusty, and not to neglect her study of internal cultivation. When they met again, she would be tested. If her master wasn’t satisfied, she should think back to the scene of their first meeting.

Reading this, a chill ran down Xiong Shaoqing’s spine, and her face flushed.

Liu Hanyue asked, “Junior Sister, what was the scene of your first meeting with our master?”

“Well…” Xiong Shaoqing hesitated a little. Liu Hanyue saw her embarrassment and didn’t press the matter, instead telling Steward Lin to instruct the kitchen to prepare some light porridge and side dishes.

After Steward Lin had gone, Liu Hanyue said softly, “Junior Sister, let’s go to the dining hall for some light porridge to settle our stomachs.”

Xiong Shaoqing nodded, following Liu Hanyue’s lead.

“Junior Sister, when you mentioned our first meeting, I remembered mine with our master. At that time, I was very young and was suffering from a severe cold poison. The imperial physicians in the palace were at their wits’ end. My father, the emperor, sought out famous doctors from all over the world to treat me, and our master came in response to the call.”

Liu Hanyue spoke at length about her past, how she had relied on her master to detoxify her, or she would have been dead long ago. The cold poison, however, was so potent that it left her weak and sensitive to cold, preventing her from practicing martial arts.

“Senior Sister, did you get the cold poison because of palace struggles?” Xiong Shaoqing had a good guess. As a member of the royal family herself, she naturally understood the cruelty of imperial conflict.

Liu Hanyue nodded. “The details are a long story. I’ll tell you slowly when we have a chance.”

As they talked, the two of them arrived at the dining hall. The light porridge and side dishes were ready, steaming and emitting a fragrant aroma.

“Junior Sister, try this lotus leaf porridge,” Liu Hanyue said, serving Xiong Shaoqing half a bowl.

Xiong Shaoqing took a small spoonful. The fragrant scent of lotus leaves spread in her mouth, blending subtly with her taste buds, as if she were in a lotus pond.

The two of them ate some more side dishes and, after the meal, returned to their rooms to rest.

The night deepened. Xiong Shaoqing sat quietly in the bluestone bath, her eyes closed, clearing her mind and enjoying the moment of peace. As her body relaxed, her mood also became cheerful, and a smile unconsciously appeared on her lips.

A folk tune from the state of Yu echoed in her mind, and she began to sing. Her voice conveyed a sense of unrestrained freedom. At that moment, she heard the sound of a zither, its notes like silk threads, delicate and melodious. The tune perfectly matched the song she was singing.

Who was playing the zither, and how could it harmonize so well with her singing?

The two voices intertwined again, like a flowing painting, warm and joyful. The surrounding flowers and plants seemed to be infected by the harmonious melody, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.

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