Chapter 15: Peculiarity

Northern Garrison Princedom

Early in the morning, after Wei Yun arrived at the stables of the princedom, she saw a small chestnut horse mixed in among a row of tall and mighty steeds. It looked quite out of place.

She frowned at the groom waiting nearby and asked, “Where did this come from?”

The groom immediately bowed his head respectfully and replied, “In response to the Prince, this was brought back by the eldest young master yesterday.”

“Mo’er?”

Wei Yun walked forward and circled around the small chestnut horse, looking it over.

The more she looked, the deeper her frown became: why did she feel like she had seen it somewhere before?

“Do you know where the eldest young master got this horse from?”

The groom answered honestly, “Yesterday the eldest young master went out with the young master from the Shen family. It’s likely a gift from him to our eldest young master.”

Hearing this, Wei Yun nodded. Upon learning it was given to Wei Jing Mo by Shen Ruo, she didn’t inquire further.

She just looked at the groom and instructed, “Alright, go bring out my horse.”

“Yes.”

——

Wan Yue Pavilion

Wei Jing Mo reclined on a soft couch, flipping through an ancient scroll in his hands, with a thin floral blanket draped over his body.

Dong Qing and Dong Gua sat on low stools in front of the door, one embroidering a plain handkerchief, the other tangling a ball of yarn.

Dong Gua glanced outside at the servants cleaning in the courtyard, the ball of yarn in his hands getting more and more tangled. Beside him, Dong Qing glared at him disapprovingly, then snatched the ball of yarn from his hands.

Seeing this, Dong Gua gave him a sheepish look, his expression somewhat innocent.

He just felt it was too quiet and a bit boring.

At this moment, a gentle call came from the courtyard gate: “Cousin!”

Shen Ruo, dressed in light cyan robes, walked in with fluttering sleeves.

Hearing his voice, Wei Jing Mo immediately put down the ancient scroll in his hands and sat up straight. He saw Shen Ruo had already stepped into the room.

Without waiting for instructions, Dong Gua happily brought over a tall stool.

After Shen Ruo sat down gracefully, he looked at Wei Jing Mo’s left foot with concern in his eyes: “Is your foot any better today?”

The news of Wei Jing Mo’s foot injury had not been kept from the people in the Grand Tutor’s mansion. Yesterday, after Shen Ruo returned home, he was punished by the old Grand Tutor to copy books in the study.

He had barely slept all night. Early this morning, worried about Wei Jing Mo, he had sent a visiting card to the Northern Garrison Princedom early.

At this moment, his delicate face was full of fatigue, his usually lively and animated eyes had dimmed, with a few bloodshot lines visible.

Seeing his haggard appearance, Wei Jing Mo frowned slightly. He quickly asked Dong Gua and Dong Qing to brew a pot of refreshing tea.

His voice was somewhat deep: “My injury will be fine after a couple days of rest. But you, why have you made yourself look like this? Where are your personal attendants? Is this how they take care of their master?”

Shen Ruo replied carelessly, “I just don’t like having them follow me around. Besides, I’m not going to someone else’s house, so there’s no need for them to come along. When I was little, I don’t know how many times I ran out alone!”

Wei Jing Mo looked at this cousin who had been rebellious since childhood, still disapproving: “No matter what, you need someone by your side. If you run out like this, won’t the Grand Tutor’s mansion be in an uproar?”

As he spoke, he glanced at Dong Qing who was bringing tea over, and instructed, “Find someone to inform the Grand Tutor’s mansion, just say the young master is here.”

After putting down the things in his hands, Dong Qing immediately bowed his head and replied, “Yes.” Then he turned and quickly walked towards the door.

Shen Ruo looked at Wei Jing Mo, whose face seemed a bit displeased, and innocently rubbed his pretty nose. Changing the subject, he said, “Oh right, the autumn hunt is coming up soon. You’ll go this year, won’t you?”

Wei Jing Mo took the refreshing tea from Dong Gua’s hands and passed it to him. Hearing the question, he replied calmly, “I’ll go. Father has already talked to me about it in advance.”

Upon hearing his affirmative answer, Shen Ruo’s face immediately lit up with a smile: “That’s great! You haven’t participated in previous years, and I’ve been so bored by myself. This time, I’ll definitely take you to the outskirts to hunt a few animals back!”

Wei Jing Mo seemed to be amused by his boastful words, and a hint of laughter appeared in his cold ink-black eyes: “How could cousin ever feel bored? Every year I hear Father say that you and a group of young masters almost go crazy with fun.”

“Hah,” Shen Ruo averted his gaze embarrassedly, mumbling, “…It wasn’t that much fun. They’re not like you, you’re my cousin after all!”

As he spoke, he simply stood up and sat next to him on the soft couch, his voice full of coquetry.

Hearing this, the laughter in Wei Jing Mo’s eyes deepened, and he teased, “Cousin’s mouth really knows how to make people happy!”

The two bantered for a few sentences. Suddenly, Shen Ruo’s eyes flickered, and he asked with some curiosity, “Cousin, I’m actually quite curious about something. Did anything happen between you and that Seventh Princess in Cangcui Forest yesterday? I felt like the atmosphere between you two was a bit strange.”

Upon hearing his words, Wei Jing Mo’s fingers on his leg moved slightly. His eyelashes trembled involuntarily, and he said faintly, “What could have happened? I just sprained my foot, she lent me her horse, and then we came out.”

“Is that so?”

Shen Ruo also felt that he might be overthinking. How could his cousin, a fairy-like young master as pure as the clear wind and bright moon, have any entanglement with that flirtatious and unrestrained Seventh Princess? Even if there were any, it should be with the Fifth Princess who has been in the limelight recently. Only she could barely match his cousin.

His tone relaxed, and he said reassuringly, “That’s good! Although she saved us yesterday, gratitude is gratitude. Don’t learn from those hero-saves-beauty stories and have any ideas about her.”

He looked at Wei Jing Mo and earnestly advised, “Look at that face of hers that attracts bees and butterflies, and all those romantic affairs of hers. A woman like that is clearly heartless at first glance. Whoever marries her in the future will surely live in constant fear and anxiety, having to fight every day.”

Even though he himself was an unmarried young master, he put on the airs of an experienced person.

“Listen to your cousin, like whoever you want, but don’t like someone like that.”

As he finished speaking, Shen Ruo suddenly leaned close to Wei Jing Mo’s ear and whispered, “I heard that yesterday, several beautiful young men were taken into Qingfeng Palace again.”

“Tsk tsk tsk,” he shook his head, “The world is really declining, so licentious!”

News never stayed contained within the imperial palace. Any slight movement would be known throughout the entire Fengling City within an hour. Especially regarding these young and vigorous princesses, not even the slightest movement was overlooked.

Wei Jing Mo’s expression was somewhat cold, his light ink-black eyes showing no waves. He looked at Shen Ruo indifferently and said, “Why is cousin telling me these things? What do her affairs have to do with me?”

Shen Ruo was still sighing in his heart when he heard Wei Jing Mo’s cold words, which actually put his mind at ease.

He reached out and patted his shoulder, saying softly, “It’s nothing! I’m just afraid you’re too naive and might be deceived by her pretty face!”

Unfortunately, he failed to notice that although Wei Jing Mo’s expression was cold, he used “her” instead of “Seventh Princess.”

This young master, who was usually cold and distant towards others, how could he speak words that seemed like sulking according to his usual temperament?

Shen Ruo was still smilingly chatting with Wei Jing Mo about other matters. After staying for a while longer, he finally couldn’t suppress the drowsiness and returned to catch up on sleep.

After Dong Gua saw Shen Ruo off from the mansion, he returned to find Wei Jing Mo sitting on the soft couch, lost in thought. With his eyes lowered, it was unclear what he was thinking about.

He unconsciously lightened his footsteps, feeling that a layer of frost seemed to have wrapped around the young master at this moment.

Taking a few steps closer, Dong Gua called out softly, “Young Master?”

Wei Jing Mo suddenly looked up, his clear and otherworldly jade face somewhat cold: “Throw away that red brocade robe.”

“Ah?”

This abrupt statement left Dong Gua a bit confused. After a few seconds, he remembered it was the one brought back from the Choosing Husbands Banquet that day.

He didn’t understand why the young master suddenly wanted to throw away that brocade robe, but he still obediently replied, “Yes, Young Master.”

Just as he took out the brocade robe and was walking out, Wei Jing Mo’s voice suddenly came from behind again: “Never mind, keep it.”

Hearing this, Dong Gua’s footsteps paused, and he turned back somewhat bewildered.

He secretly glanced at Wei Jing Mo, who was now pursing his thin lips, and put the red brocade robe back. His mind was in a complete muddle.

On the soft couch, Wei Jing Mo lowered his eyes. His curled and dense eyelashes trembled lightly, hiding the slightly wavering moisture in his ink-black eyes.

He didn’t know what was wrong with himself, why when he heard Shen Ruo talking about those things, his heart couldn’t help but feel stuffy. It was as if something was pressing on his heart.

A trace of bewilderment flashed through Wei Jing Mo’s cold ink-black eyes.

Could it be that there were some aftereffects from spraining his foot? Otherwise, why would he feel so uncomfortable in his heart?

——

Imperial Guard Camp

After Wei Yun rode her horse to the camp, she saw a chestnut horse that stood out from the rest, identical to the one in the princedom’s stable except for a white spot on its forehead.

She suddenly realized why that horse had seemed so familiar!

Wei Yun’s brows furrowed involuntarily, her thin lips tightly pressed together. A strange feeling rose in her heart.

After yesterday’s self-reflection, Feng Bai Su began to continue executing her slacking off plan. She aimed to get Wei Yun to kick her out of the Imperial Guard Camp as soon as possible.

So today, she had been staying in the tent, lounging lazily in a chair.

Unfortunately, ever since Wei Yun came in, she began to feel like she was sitting on pins and needles. She didn’t know what was going on today. This Prince kept looking over at her, with deep black eyes containing a few parts criticism and a few parts disdain. It made Feng Bai Su’s skin crawl!

Finally, Feng Bai Su couldn’t bear it anymore and looked towards Wei Yun, asking with a smile on her face, “Why does the Prince keep looking at me today? If you have something to say, feel free to speak directly.”

Wei Yun, however, answered a different question, her voice somewhat low: “I hear that Your Highness has taken in quite a few men in your back courtyard. It’s not a big deal for a woman to take in a few young men, but too many is not good. Your Highness should prioritize your health!”

Feng Bai Su: “??”

“Why has the Prince suddenly brought this up?”

Wei Yun glanced at her lightly, “I just see that Your Highness is not young anymore, and has reached the age to marry a primary husband. With too many men in the back courtyard, I’m afraid no son would be willing to marry Your Highness. I think it would be better for Your Highness to dismiss them early, so as not to delay marrying a primary husband.”

Feng Bai Su: “…”

A trace of bewilderment rarely crossed her charming and affectionate peach blossom eyes: Had the Northern Garrison Prince taken the wrong medicine today? Otherwise, why would she be so concerned about her lifelong affairs?

After remaining silent for a while, Feng Bai Su quietly replied, “…Thank you for your concern, Prince. By the way, I need to lead other squadrons in horseback archery training today, so I’ll go first!”

As she spoke, without waiting for Wei Yun to respond, she quickly flashed out of the tent.

Wei Yun looked at her somewhat agitated retreating figure, unable to help frowning.

She felt somewhat dissatisfied in her heart: Flirtatious, lazy, impetuous, immature…

Tsk!

She withdrew her gaze full of disdain.

Feng Bai Su: n days of damaged reputation…