Chapter 14: Palace Attendants
Dong Qing, Dong Gua, and the attendants of several other young masters were anxiously waiting. As the sun was about to set, why hadn’t their young masters returned yet?
Both of them were somewhat regretful now, thinking they shouldn’t have stopped here to wait just because of what the cousin young master had said. If the main wife found out when they returned, they feared they wouldn’t escape punishment.
Just then, someone excitedly shouted: “Look quickly! The young masters are coming back!”
After this voice fell, everyone looked up towards the front.
Indeed, several slender figures appeared in the distance ahead. They were slowly walking this way in the last rays of the setting sun.
Dong Qing and Dong Gua’s eyes lit up, and they immediately ran forward.
When they got closer, they realized that Wei Jing Mo was actually sitting on a small chestnut-colored horse. Looking at the quality of the horse and the saddle equipped on it, it was clearly very valuable.
Seeing this, both of them couldn’t help but feel confused: How did the young master come back riding a horse?
Dong Qing was always attentive and noticed his somewhat stiff left leg. His expression changed slightly: “Young master, is your leg injured?”
As soon as he said this, Dong Gua next to him also became nervous: “The young master is injured? Is it serious? We’re so close to the Capital Guards camp, should we notify the princess?”
Hearing the mention of the Capital Guards camp made the expressions of the few young masters present a bit awkward.
Thinking of how they had just been frightened into panic earlier, in such a sorry state. They hadn’t shown any of the dignified and restrained qualities of young masters from good families, and it had all been seen by a noble lady.
The young masters only now came to their senses, and couldn’t help but worry inwardly: Would the Seventh Princess tell others about this?
They were all 15-16 year old unmarried young men, with extremely thin skin. They were afraid that if this incident got out, it would invite ridicule!
Wei Jing Mo had now completely returned to his usual cold demeanor, his handsome jade-like face expressionless: “There’s no need. It’s not a serious injury, I just twisted it a bit. Mother is busy with military affairs, there’s no need to trouble her with these small matters.”
He paused, then looked at the two of them and instructed: “It’s getting late, we should head back to the residence.”
Seeing his calm and natural expression, with no sign of strain on his face, Dong Qing and Dong Gua didn’t try to persuade him further. Though their young master looked cold and indifferent, with muted emotions, he actually had very strong opinions inside, and once he decided on something he rarely changed his mind.
Dong Qing stayed behind to hold the reins, while Dong Gua went to call the coachman to bring the carriage over.
During the wait, the other young masters had already gotten into their respective household carriages and said their goodbyes.
Only Shen Ruo and Wei Jing Mo were left standing here.
Shen Ruo didn’t dare look at Wei Jing Mo’s poetic and picturesque jade face, still feeling guilty and uneasy about his injury.
Wei Jing Mo could tell what he was thinking just from his expression, and slowly said: “Cousin, I really am fine, you don’t need to blame yourself.”
But Shen Ruo looked up at him, opening and closing his mouth as if not knowing what to say.
If he hadn’t insisted on coming here, Wei Jing Mo wouldn’t have been injured. No matter what, it was his fault.
At this moment, the carriage from the Northern Pacification Princess’s residence conveniently arrived.
Naturally, Wei Jing Mo couldn’t return home openly riding a horse. His slender and frail wrist supported his body on the horse, and with the assistance of Dong Qing and Dong Gua he finally dismounted.
After sitting inside the carriage, he first instructed Dong Qing and Dong Gua: “Take that horse back to the residence.”
Then looking at Shen Ruo sitting silently in the corner, he said to the coachman outside: “Go to the Grand Commandant’s residence first.”
With that, the coachman immediately drove the carriage towards Feng Ling City.
—
When Feng Bai Su led the soldiers of the first and second squads back to the Capital Guards camp, night had already fallen.
There were still soldiers from other units training on the grounds in the camp.
Seeing Feng Bai Su strolling in leisurely, followed by a group of grimy and dusty soldiers, they were quite curious. When they had left, they had been full of spirit, proudly riding tall horses. Now they were all hanging their heads, like defeated remnants of an army.
Seeing this, everyone became quite curious.
It was just routine horsemanship and archery training, didn’t they do this every few days? How did they become so depressed after just one afternoon?
Seeing their naive looks, the soldiers of the first and second squads had bitterness in their hearts but couldn’t spit it out.
Damn it! Did anyone know what they had gone through this afternoon?
The green shadows covering their eyes… the birds hidden in the middle… fluttering wings… cold arrows flying everywhere in the dense forest…
The soldiers of the first and second squads couldn’t help but shudder. Though it was just one short afternoon, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
Now all their eyes had not yet recovered, each pair bloodshot and red, seeing double when looking into the distance.
They had nearly strained their eyes blind in that verdant forest!
Everyone was physically and mentally exhausted, their gazes world-weary as they looked at the curious soldiers in the camp watching them.
The only comfort in their hearts was: This painful torment wasn’t something only they had to experience, tomorrow it would be the others’ turn!
Thinking of this, a strange sense of consolation arose in everyone’s hearts.
It was precisely because of this that when the soldiers of the first and second squads returned, they all kept their mouths shut, ignoring the inquiries about the horsemanship and archery training from the other soldiers. Instead, they gave them strange looks that were both excited and world-weary.
This left those who hadn’t yet participated completely baffled, thinking their behavior was inexplicable.
—
As soon as Feng Bai Su returned to the Capital Guards camp, Wei Yun immediately received the news. She even knew all the details right away.
After listening to her personal guard’s account, a smile appeared on her usually serious and profound face: “It sounds quite interesting. How were the soldiers who participated in this training?”
The guard was silent for a moment, as if stumped by the question.
She pondered for a while before slowly uttering a few words: “A pitiful sight.”
Hearing this, the smile on Wei Yun’s face deepened. It was rare to hear such words from her mouth.
Seeing her smiling expression, the guard couldn’t help but ask: “Princess, is what the Seventh Princess did somewhat inappropriate?”
This was actually a euphemistic way of expressing it. What she really wanted to ask was: Isn’t this going too far in making trouble?
But Wei Yun seemed quite appreciative, leaning back. There was even a hint of pleasure in her voice: “I actually find this Seventh Princess quite interesting. It seems capricious and troublesome on the surface, but thinking carefully, to achieve the goal she demands actually requires a soldier to have superb physical balance and excellent dynamic visual ability.”
Her thin lips couldn’t help but curl up: “Her Majesty has sent quite a good person this time. From now on, things will get interesting in this Capital Guards camp.”
Seeing the glint of interest in her eyes, the guard didn’t know who to feel sorry for.
The little princess who clearly had no interest in being here? Or those vigorous young soldiers in the Capital Guards camp?
—
Qing Feng Palace
Feng Bai Su waved away the palace maids trying to salute on both sides and strode into the inner hall. She immediately sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea.
When Cong Bai entered the hall, she saw Feng Bai Su sitting inside. Her eyes instantly lit up: “Your Highness, you’re back?”
“Mm…” Feng Bai Su replied weakly after drinking a cup of tea. She said lazily: “Bring the meal. I feel like I could eat a whole cow right now.”
Hearing this, Cong Bai couldn’t help but smile and immediately ran outside: “This servant will go right away! The small kitchen has been preparing for you!”
Feng Bai Su sprawled on the table with her upper body and waved at her, telling her to hurry.
She hadn’t expected to be delayed until so late today. She hadn’t eaten much at noon, and now felt like her stomach was tied in knots from hunger.
Feng Bai Su felt a bit depressed: She had clearly planned to be a slacker in the Capital Guards camp and wait to be driven out by the Northern Pacification Princess. Why had she suddenly become so conscientious and responsible? This didn’t match the persona she wanted to establish, did it?
She thought with a face full of despair: Could it be that she was born to be a workhorse? Working herself to death in her previous life was understandable, after all it was for survival. But now as a princess, she clearly had the ability to eat and wait for death!
Indeed, this habit of unconsciously wanting to do things perfectly once she started needed to be changed!
As Feng Bai Su was propping up her chin lost in thought, four beautiful palace attendants walked in carrying meals.
Seeing Feng Bai Su sitting in the chair, their beautiful eyes looked at her shyly and coyly.
They moved with light and graceful steps, placing the jade plates in their hands on the table.
One attendant with a pure and innocent appearance even picked up the jade chopsticks and held them out to Feng Bai Su, calling out softly in a delicate and gentle voice: “Your Highness.”
Suddenly hearing a sweet voice by her ear immediately woke Feng Bai Su from her reverie.
The fresh and sweet fragrance of a young man also entered her nose. She immediately looked up and saw a petite young man with a pure appearance standing beside her, his fair hands holding a pair of jade chopsticks.
Beside him, three other equally beautiful young men were waiting. Seeing her gaze turn to them, they immediately looked back at her shyly with flirtatious glances.
Feng Bai Su: “…”
“Cong Bai!!!”
Her sharp shout instantly frightened the beautiful young men beside her, their small faces turning pale.
Cong Bai from outside also immediately rushed in hurriedly, looking at Feng Bai Su and stuttering: “Your, Your Highness.”
Feng Bai Su pressed her temple with a bit of a headache, pointing at these few young men and asking what was going on: “Who are they? Didn’t I say that outsiders are not allowed to enter the inner hall?”
Her voice cooled a few degrees: “It seems I’ve been too lenient with you? To let you make such arbitrary decisions!”
Cong Bai had never seen Feng Bai Su so angry before, and didn’t dare look at the few teary-eyed young men beside her. She fell to her knees with a thud, explaining somewhat frantically: “Your, Your Highness, please calm your anger! These four palace attendants were sent over from Fu Liu Palace this morning. The Male Empress arranged for them to serve in the inner hall, so this servant let them in.”
When Feng Bai Su heard it was Liu Gui Jun’s intention, some irritation rose in her heart, but her anger subsided.
Her peach blossom eyes glanced at Cong Bai on the ground, and she said flatly: “Get up. In the future, no matter who sends them, arrange for them to go somewhere else. Don’t let them wander in front of me.”
She didn’t even look at the four delicate young men prostrating on the ground, coldly instructing Cong Bai: “Take them out.”
Cong Bai immediately responded: “Yes.”
Then, she led the four palace attendants out.
Feng Bai Su looked at the closed door, but that cloying sweet scent still permeated the room.
No longer in the mood to eat, she strode to the inner chamber and opened all the windows around to let in fresh air.
It wasn’t that Feng Bai Su disliked men, she just didn’t like wasting time on this aspect. After all, when the time came she would marry a husband! She didn’t know why, but Liu Gui Jun always thought there was something wrong with her body, and sent a bunch of men over every few days.
It really made her feel somewhat annoyed with these powdered and rouged, sickeningly sweet young men. Originally she wanted to let things take their natural course, but it successfully pushed her to the point where she couldn’t help but frown at the sight of men.
Feng Bai Su’s good mood was completely ruined!
She was puzzled, what’s wrong with being single? Why spend this precious time on men? Wouldn’t it be nicer to have a good sleep with that time?
