The arrangements for the banquet were proceeding smoothly and Lingxi spent the entire day outlining all important tasks and assigning various activities to the servants and eunuchs.
The day was quiet for Lingxi and He Yu. However, the next day was far more eventful.
[Wei City]
He Rui was not impressed by Sang Xue'er's attitude towards him. After all, she was the one who started the journey early without a message and came in without proper permission.
On reaching Wei City, he went straight to Weizhong Teahouse to see her with Lv Chi and Lu Qian.
Sang Xue'er, on the other hand, was also waiting for him.
The morning was a bit cloudy and looked like it was about to rain. She was grinding incense when He Rui entered the room. She didn't rush what she was doing to greet him.
"Commandary Princess Anning", He Rui called.
There was a short beat of silence as she placed the made incense in her handkerchief. She picked up the handkerchief and held it between both hands as she stood up.
"Prince Jing", she acknowledged him without a curtsy.
Of course, He Rui noticed but he knew that was not the right time to argue with her.
"Your Grace, may I ask what is going on?" he said instead.
"What does Prince Jing think is going on?" she asked in return looking directly into his eyes without a hint of fear or nervousness.
"Your Grace departed from the Southern borders without being summoned. Secondly, you disregarded all protocol and stayed outside the posthouse. If something happened, does Your Grace expect us to take responsibility?" he asked sternly but Sang Xue'er's next statement left all three men speechless.
"Why not?"
"What did you say?" He Rui could not comprehend her words at that moment.
"I left the Southern borders earlier than planned but that is not for your highness to question me about. I will answer to His Majesty myself. Secondly, I don't understand how Prince Jing is so poorly informed that he did not know the direction the one he was to escort went and made her wait. That is a failure on your part. Thirdly, your highness decided to send subordinates to apologize on your behalf failing to take responsibility for your own actions. Fourth, Your Highness knew I was going to pass through Wei City eventually and did not bother to make proper preparations. So, if anything were to go wrong along the way, it would only be Your Highness's fault", Sang Xue'er stated all the facts looking directly at him.
"Your grace sure states fact clearly but your grace should also know that leaving the Southern borders without an imperial order is already a grave offense and also, none of the events that followed after would have happened", He Rui was not pleased with her conduct.
"I said I will answer to His Majesty himself not you", she paused for a moment before continuing, "living in the borders has always taught me that everything should function with order and timing. Prince Jing, right now, you are not just a prince but an escort his majesty appointed himself to accompany me. You've failed in your duty. How do you plan to take responsibility?" she asked.
He Rui knew her words made sense but he could not help but marvel at her audacity. Even Lv Chi and Lu Qian were dumbfounded by her words.
He Rui took a deep breath before taking a step backwards.
He stretched his hands forward to give a bow, "I failed in my duty. Your grace, I ask for your forgiveness".
"To every action, there is a consequence....but I indeed caused some trouble so I'll let it slide this time"
[Channing Palace]
[Lotus Fragrance Pavilion]
The Lotus Fragrance Pavilion was a newly renovated hall that was being used by Lingxi. There were shelves containing different medicinal herbs, incense materials among many others. It was no less in size compared to He Yu's study.
Lingxi was busy making incense sticks.
"Your highness, why are you making incense?" Xin Lan asked watching Lingxi prepare the incense with full concentration and dedication.
"Commandary Princess Anning has always loved light but bold fragrances. I'm making one to light in the banquet hall", Lingxi answered with a smile.
"Your highness even knows Her Grace's preferences. You two must be quite close", Xin Xie noticed.
Lingxi smiled without giving a response.
Qin Yan walked and gave a bow, "Commandary Princess Anning is close to the capital", he reported.
Lingxi gave a short sigh. She knew Sang Xue'er's personality.
However, Xin Lan was surprised, "so quick? Wasn't she supposed to arrive until two days later?"
"Xue'er has never liked delays", Lingxi commented as she placed a piece of the incense in the incense burner to observe the scent.
"Light it"
Xin Xie bent down to light the incense and the mild yet sharp fragrance filled the room.The carriage rode along the forest path and stopped in front of an inn.
**********
"Your grace, please step out", He Rui called.
"Are we stopping already?" Sang Xue'er asked from the carriage.
"It's already dark and not very safe to proceed. We should rest at a inn tonight and continue tomorrow morning", He Rui said.
Sang Xue'er said nothing for a minute before saying, "help me down"
He Rui alighted from his horse and stretched his hand out to help her down but instead of Sang Xue'er, Qingtong appeared. She avoided his hand and stood opposite him. Sang Xue'er came out and Qingtong also stretched her hand to help her down. Not sparing a glance at He Rui, she accepted Qingtong's hand and alighted.
He Rui dropped his hand not complaining. After all, the order was for Qingtong but he had assumed it was for him.
Sang Xue'er turned to him, "are we going?"
He Rui could not argue. He walked in with Lv Chi and Lu Qian to book the rooms while Sang Xue'er and Qingtong followed behind.
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi and He Yu closed their eyes, but both of them knew that neither of them was sleeping.
Lingxi turned from her side to face his direction.
"I can't sleep," she said.
He Yu turned to face her. "Are you hungry?"
Lingxi couldn't help but sigh a bit. "Do you think everything around me revolves around food?"
"Doesn't it?"
Lingxi couldn't help rolling her eyes before sitting up.
"I'm hungry anyway," she said.
He Yu couldn't help laughing a bit.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
He Yu stopped laughing, but the gleam in his eyes was still as clear as day. He sat up, held her shoulder, and turned her to face him.
"What do you want to eat?" he asked.
Lingxi thought for a while and asked, "Do you know how to grill fish?"
"Hunh?"
********
Lingxi was holding a lantern with He Yu by her side who was holding a fishing rod. She was calmly and leisurely leading through the bushes and they had been talking for almost thirty minutes. He Yu was following her silently following her in every step.
Suddenly, Lingxi stopped in the middle of the bushes and turned to He Yu.
"What's wrong?" He Yu asked.
"You don't know where I'm taking you but you have been following me for nearly half an hour. Aren't you worried or afraid?" she asked.
"Well, at least, you won't kill me", He Yu answered with a smile.
"You are pretty confident", she said but He Yu's smile did not change.
She bent down and took out some paper and started making a paper lantern.
"What are you doing?" He Yu asked.
"Making a lantern", she answered.
"Don't we already have one?" He Yu asked.
Lingxi paused for a second and took out a flair. She blew it and used it to light up the lantern, "during one of my travels, I was once told that if you released a paper lantern in the sky before fishing, it would bring you luck"
He Yu had not heard of such a tale before. She stood up and released the lantern up in the sky.
As they watched it go up, He Yu commented, "I've never heard of such a tale before"
Lingxi turned to continue walking, "believe it or not, it's up to you"
He Yu watched the lantern a second longer before following her.
"When I was returning to the capital my carriage had gotten stuck. Fortunately, Qin Yan found this shortcut and I discovered a lake here", she told him as they walked.
"Yes, I remember you telling His Majesty that you braved all odds just so you could see me that night", He Yu said.
"I was pretending so His Majesty wouldn't get suspicious of me choosing you. Don't flatter yourself", she said.
"You said it anyway", He Yu insisted with a sense of victory.
Lingxi faced him, "I won't argue with a child"