The Ninth Princess spoke slowly, her gaze fixed on the peach blossoms, as if looking past them into the distance.
“Your Highness, who is that girl?”
The Ninth Princess turned, looking at Xue Xing Yue, and said word by word, “Princess Xing Yue.”
Xue Xing Yue trembled all over. “Princess Xing Yue.”
“How dare you! Is Princess Xing Yue someone you can simply call out to?” the Ninth Princess said with a cold sneer.
Xue Xing Yue lowered her head and said, “This commoner knows her mistake!”
For once, the Ninth Princess did not dwell on the matter. She reached out and touched the peach blossoms. “Xiu Zhu, the peach blossoms have bloomed so beautifully. Why hasn’t Fifth Brother returned yet?”
Zhao Xiu Zhu choked back a sob. “Because Fifth Cousin is already gone.”
“No, that’s not true. I remember Fifth Brother saying he would watch my wedding. I want him to appear. I miss my Fifth Brother.” The Ninth Princess gazed at the peach blossoms, her eyes shimmering.
On the way back, Xue Xing Yue remained silent, and Qin Er Niang did not disturb her.
Upon returning to her room, she shut herself inside.
She only felt a pang of sadness. So, that young man was the Fifth Prince. She had met him before.
But once they had missed each other, there was no turning back.
Feng Yun recounted the day’s events to Song Xiu Yuan.
“What was her expression?” Song Xiu Yuan suddenly opened his eyes. In an instant, his youthful radiance flowed, as if the world held no splendor comparable to his gaze.
Feng Yun was taken aback. “Miss Xue seemed a bit surprised, but after that, there was nothing more. However, upon returning to the estate, Miss Xue shut herself in her room and did not eat dinner.”
Song Xiu Yuan nodded. “I understand. You may go.”
Feng Yun retreated. Song Xiu Yuan gazed into the distance, his eyes somewhat unfocused.
For several consecutive days, Xue Xing Yue was taciturn. Qin Er Niang, being observant, knew that her mistress wished to be alone and acted accordingly. Previously, when the eldest miss, Song Xue, had wanted to see Xue Xing Yue, Qin Er Niang had refused. Later, when the Ninth Princess sent for her, Qin Er Niang personally went to the Ninth Princess’s residence and informed her that her young lady had fallen ill after visiting the imperial villa.
Though arrogant, the Ninth Princess knew where to draw the line. She could only suppress her anger in secret. She refused to believe that Xue Xing Yue could feign illness indefinitely.
One day, Fu Bao, the head maid to Madam Song, arrived. Qin Er Niang invited Fu Bao in. Fu Bao bowed slightly to Xue Xing Yue and said, “Miss Xue, Madam requests your presence.”
Xue Xing Yue looked at Fu Bao and said, “Thank you, sister. I will come after I have tidied myself.”
After Fu Bao left, Qin Er Niang said, “Miss, you are finally speaking. Your appearance before had startled me. I thought you had lost your soul.”
Xue Xing Yue blinked and looked at Qin Er Niang. “Why do you say that?”
Qin Er Niang replied, “Previously, within the Pavilion, there was a secret technique that could separate a person’s soul.”
Xue Xing Yue looked at Qin Er Niang. “How does it separate? Isn’t that an evil art?”
Qin Er Niang nodded. “It is an evil art. The practitioner must be a relative of the person whose soul is to be separated, or someone with a close connection. Otherwise, the practitioner will suffer a backlash.”
“Backlash?”
“Yes. In severe cases, it leads to death. In milder cases, one loses all their inner power. No one dares to try it, because who would willingly sacrifice their life for this secret technique?”
After speaking, Qin Er Niang suddenly remembered something and continued, “However, I once heard the Right Protector mention that someone attempted it back then, but unfortunately failed. What happened to that person remains unknown.”
Xue Xing Yue felt an indescribable emotion upon hearing this. She couldn’t pinpoint the feeling, only that it was profound. “If someone were to do that for me, I would be overjoyed,” Qin Er Niang said with a smile.
“Don’t be too happy too soon. Why would someone undertake soul separation? Doesn’t it mean they hate that person to death?”
Qin Er Niang pondered this for a moment. “Miss is not wrong. Why would one resort to soul separation under normal circumstances?”
“Therefore, don’t think about such things,” Xue Xing Yue said.
Qin Er Niang nodded.
After tidying herself, Xue Xing Yue proceeded to Madam Song’s courtyard.
Fu Guo saw her and smiled. “Miss has arrived.”
Xue Xing Yue nodded. Fu Guo bowed and said, “Miss, please follow me.”
Entering the room, Xue Xing Yue immediately saw Madam Song reclining on the bed.
“Madam,” Xue Xing Yue said, bowing.
Madam Song nodded and said, “Has anyone in the estate been disrespectful to you?”
“Madam, everything has been well in the estate. I am grateful for your concern.”
“Don’t be polite with me. If there has been any transgression, tell me, and I will punish them severely.”
Xue Xing Yue nodded. “Yes, Madam.”
Madam Song nodded with satisfaction. “Has the Princess been causing you trouble recently? You don’t need to be afraid. There are no outsiders here.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Xing Yue thought, *No outsiders? Does she take me for a fool?*
She had clearly heard footsteps outside the door. Although very light, she already knew they belonged to the Ninth Princess.
“I’m not sure what Madam means by that,” Xue Xing Yue said, looking up at Madam Song.
Madam Song looked at her and said kindly, “My child, don’t be afraid. Just think of me as your grandmother, and let’s have a good chat.”
*Grandmother? My grandmother was never so scheming and cunning.*
Xue Xing Yue feigned a look of bewilderment. “I truly don’t understand what Madam is referring to.”
Seeing her pretend ignorance, Madam Song’s gaze turned cold. However, her expression remained kind. If Xue Xing Yue hadn’t been observing her closely, she might have been fooled. As the footsteps grew closer to the door, they suddenly stopped.