Behind a veil, her face was not visible to others, but they could see her moist, almond-shaped eyes, which appeared quite innocent and righteous.
Zhao Shuwei sighed lightly and said, “Alright, Youyi, there was a wind today. Perhaps it was the wind that blew the sparks from the brazier onto you,”
Saying this, she then said to the maid supporting her, “Quick, Qishuang, take Miss Sun to the chamber to change her clothes, and call a doctor to have a look.”
After such an incident, Sun Youyi naturally couldn’t stay here any longer. With Miaopin’s support, she was about to follow Zhao Shuwei’s maid, Qishuang, and leave.
It was at this moment that a slender figure in bamboo green appeared at the end of the corridor.
“What a lively scene.”
A clear and slightly amused voice came through, causing Xie Tao to look up instantly.
It was Qi Ji.
She couldn’t help but stretch her neck to look behind him, but did not see Wei Yun’s figure, her eyelids drooping slightly in disappointment.
“Isn’t this Miss Sun?”
Qi Ji looked her up and down, gently tapping his jade fan against his palm, “How did you end up in such a state?”
“Lord Qi.”
Sun Youyi, enduring the embarrassment, paid her respects to Qi Ji.
“This dry winter weather, Miss Sun should take more care in the future to avoid…”
Qi Ji said, giving her another look, but did not continue.
Sun Youyi’s face alternated between pale and flushed, but she dared not say more, only lowering her head and quickly following Qishuang to leave this place of trouble.
“Lord Qi, why have you come?” Heyu paused for a moment upon seeing Qi Ji, his expression briefly showing a flicker of surprise, but soon, all emotion faded into a calm demeanor in her eyes.
“I wanted to ask Princess Heyu, intercepting my guest on the way here, what is the meaning of this?” Qi Ji turned to Zhao Shuwei, his words always accompanied by a smile.
Zhao Shuwei responded with a smile, carrying a hint of apology, “I had no idea Miss Xie was supposed to visit the crown prince’s residence as a guest.”
“Since the crown prince is here, why not sit down and join us in admiring the plum blossoms and composing poetry today?” she added.
Qi Ji, however, shook his head, “The princess should know that I have always been lazy. As for Miss Xie, she has been plagued by illness all year round and has only recently gotten better. In such cold weather, staying outside for too long may not be beneficial for her recovery.”
Qi Ji said this and glanced at Xie Tao.
Xie Tao blinked, and suddenly, she had an epiphany.
Without warning, she closed her eyes and, before anyone could react, she collapsed to the ground.
She hit her forehead, winced in pain, but still kept her eyes shut.
Enduring the pain, she pretended to be dead.
This sudden turn of events shocked everyone.
Even Shao Liyin did not react immediately. She called out “Master” and then hurriedly bent down to embrace Xie Tao in her arms.
“What happened to Miss Xie?” Zhao Shuwei’s eyebrows showed concern.
Qi Ji also did not expect Xie Tao to suddenly fall down. He looked at her face, a smile appeared in his eyes, but he sighed immediately, “The princess may not know, but Miss Xie often faints like this, hence she seldom leaves the house.”
“So it is…” Zhao Shuwei said, the expression in her phoenix eyes unreadable, it was unclear whether she believed it or not.
“I should take Miss Xie back to the Imperial Advisor’s residence first.”
Qi Ji put on a serious look, and as he was about to pick up Xie Tao, Shao Liyin had already carried her on her back.
This girl, taller than Xie Tao, carried her effortlessly.
“Let’s go, Your Highness,” Shao Liyin, thinking Xie Tao had truly fainted, looked somewhat anxious.
Qi Ji nodded blankly.
Then he nodded to Zhao Shuwei, saying, “Then, Princess Heyu, Miss Xie and I will take our leave.”
After saying this, he and Shao Liyin left with Xie Tao through the corridor.
Zhao Shuwei watched their departing figures, her phoenix eyes always serene and clear, yet beneath her eyelashes, there always seemed to be a faint, swirling light.
They had just left when Princess Helan and Princess Heyue arrived belatedly.
Zhao Shuwei greeted them with a smile and a nod, “My sisters have arrived.”
Everyone quickly stood up to pay their respects.
Their respect for Princess Heyu was sincere, yet it was not as cautious and respectful as when they faced Princess Helan.
For everyone knew, if Princess Heyu did not get along well with Princess Helan, she, a princess without the support of her maternal family and not favored by Emperor Qi He, might not even compare to the legitimate daughters of court officials.
And Princess Heyue, born to the current Noble Consort Song, with her brother being the current Prime Minister Song Jinian, naturally held significant influence. Her relationship with Princess Helan was not bad, but not particularly close either.
Their coming together was also due to Princess Heyu’s mediation.
“I am late,” said Princess Helan, who usually did not regard others highly, yet she showed a slight smile to Zhao Shuwei.
“You are indeed late, sisters. So later, you must drink a few more glasses of wine and write a few more poems,” Zhao Shuwei said with a bright smile.
She always maintained a gentle and elegant demeanor, making her impossible to dislike.
“Who is the girl from the Imperial Advisor’s residence you mentioned?” Heyue glanced around briefly, seeing only familiar faces.
Aren’t these the noble ladies and gentlemen who attend the poetry conference every year?
Zhao Shuwei lowered her brows and sighed softly, “Miss Xie fainted just now and has been sent back.”
Upon hearing this, Helan frowned slightly, somewhat disappointed, “I thought it was someone significant, but we didn’t even get to see her face.”
—
When Xie Tao was carried onto the carriage by Shao Liyin and set down, she finally opened her eyes.
“Master, you’re awake?”
Shao Liyin was stunned to see her eyes open.
“She was pretending all along.”
At that moment, Qi Ji also lifted the curtain and sat up.
Pretending?
It was then Shao Liyin realized.
Xie Tao chuckled dryly, “How else could I have left… It was too uncomfortable to stay there.”
She couldn’t stay there for another minute.
“I originally thought sister Tao Tao was a straightforward girl, but I didn’t expect you to have such clever moments.”
During the carriage ride, Qi Ji couldn’t help but sigh.
Xie Tao glanced at him, touched her nose, and did not speak.
Qi Ji suddenly became serious and said, “Today’s events, after all, started because of me. If it weren’t for my invitation for you and Yanchen to my villa, you wouldn’t have been intercepted by Princess Heyu… I’m sorry.”
He paused, then continued, “And the things I said to you at the Imperial Advisor’s house that day were actually to test you,”
“Yanchen wouldn’t talk to me about the matter between you and him, so I could only guess… so, many of the words that day were just jokes, please don’t take them to heart.”
The gentle and refined gentleman suddenly apologizing so earnestly made Xie Tao somewhat stunned for a moment.
She quickly waved her hand, “It’s okay… I didn’t take it to heart.”
Qi Ji smiled with a curved lip, “That’s good.”
As if he thought of something, he suddenly explained to her again, “Originally, upon hearing you were intercepted by Princess Heyu, Yanchen hurriedly left the palace to rush to the plum garden, but I stopped him.”
“He was worried about you, so he lost his composure, but if he had come to the plum garden today, the dangers you might face in the future could be more unpredictable, so I stopped him and came on his behalf.”
Finally, he said, “Sister Tao Tao, you must not feel disappointed.”
Qi Ji lowered his eyelids, playing with the rarely opened jade bone fan in his hand, and chuckled lightly, “I have never seen Yanchen lose his composure like this before.”
He said, “It’s all because of you.”
After hearing Qi Ji’s words, the bit of loss that had been lingering in Xie Tao’s heart disappeared in an instant, her heart felt as if it was soaked in a jar of honey, sweet.
She lowered her head, couldn’t help but curve her lips, and softly replied, “I know…”
When Xie Tao was brought back to the Imperial Advisor’s house by Qi Ji, Wei Yun, who had returned to the mansion after they left the plum garden, had already received the news.
As Xie Tao walked through the moon gate into the courtyard and saw Wei Yun sitting in the pavilion, he immediately stood up and quickly walked down the stairs.
“Wei Yun!”
Upon seeing him, her almond eyes brightened.
Her fair and delicate face was radiant with a brilliant smile, and she ran towards him with open arms.
For some reason, as Wei Yun watched her run towards him, his Adam’s apple moved, and a vaguely indescribable emotion surged in his heart.
It felt as if a lost heart had finally settled down.
When she threw herself into his arms, he no longer cared about Qi Ji, Shao Liyin, or Wei Jing’s gazes, only tightening his arms around her, his chin resting on the top of her head.
This feeling, was as if she had not been gone for more than an hour, but for many insurmountable years.
