RMACAUH Chapter 40
by VolareChapter 40 Chapter 40: Exchanging the Gold Hairpin for Royal Sister-in-Law’s Tourmaline Earrings, As a Token…
Wei Xiaofeng peeled grapefruit for him even more diligently after being praised, placing the peeled sections in a jade dish on the side.
“You eat too, don’t just peel them for me.”
Seeing his hands turn red from the cold while peeling the grapefruit, Feng Yue took a handkerchief, wiped the juice from his fingertips, and tucked his hands into the quilt to warm them.
“Cold!” Wei Xiaofeng tried to pull his hand back, afraid of chilling him.
Feng Yue held it tightly, not letting him pull it back. “Cold hands need to be warmed.”
Wei Xiaofeng leaned into his arms, his face turned upwards, his love unconcealed in his eyes, staring at him in a daze.
Feng Yue couldn’t help but kiss his slightly cold cheek, soft and smooth.
“Does the wound still hurt a lot?”
“It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Really?” Wei Xiaofeng thought he must be comforting him. The injury was so severe, how could it not hurt so quickly?
“It really doesn’t hurt. Some people are born with a dull sense of pain. I’m one of those people. My maternal grandfather said I was a natural warrior.”
Wei Xiaofeng was frightened when he heard this: “You can’t just let yourself get hurt because you have a dull sense of pain. I can’t bear to see you get hurt…”
Feng Yue’s heart stung slightly, and he hugged Xiaofeng tightly: “I made you worry.”
“It’s good that you know. Even if it’s for me, don’t just let yourself get hurt in the future, Feng Yue, promise me.”
“Okay, I promise you.”
Just as their affection was at its peak, Zhao, the head steward, rudely knocked on the door from outside, “Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived. Her Majesty the Empress has sent people to deliver many tonics and medicinal herbs.”
Feng Yue said in a deep voice, “The royal residence doesn’t lack these things. Have them take them back.”
Zhao, the head steward, was a little embarrassed but still went down to deliver the message.
Since learning about the grudges between him and the Empress, Wei Xiaofeng could understand his decision today.
“I wonder what Her Majesty the Empress’s intention is in sending these medicines? Perhaps she still cares about you in her heart.”
“Almost pushed her own son into eternal damnation, losing the chance to compete for the position of crown prince, and now she comes to care. Isn’t that ridiculous? I gave her a chance to explain, but since she didn’t want to say the reason, then I’ll assume she has no reason, and there’s no need to explain in the future.”
“Don’t be sad, I will always be with you. When I was in the Wei family, my father treated me differently from my other siblings, but I got used to it and didn’t feel anything anymore.”
Feng Yue gently stroked his face and smiled, “I’m not sad, because I have you now. In the future, we will have our own children, and our children will no longer be like us.”
Wei Xiaofeng’s handsome face turned red, and he lowered his head. “Not yet, it’s not so easy for a *ge’er* to conceive…”
Feng Yue couldn’t help but chuckle, “Then I have to work harder, cultivating seventeen or eighteen times a day, and it will definitely work!”
Wei Xiaofeng took it seriously and, remembering his fierceness in bed, was quite frightened: “People will die! I, I can’t do it.”
“Hahahaha…” Feng Yue laughed out loud, pulling on the wound on his right shoulder, his face twisting with laughter.
Wei Xiaofeng was embarrassed and annoyed, and wanted to punch him: “You’re teasing me again, you’re so bad! I’m not going to talk to you anymore.”
Saying that, he took away the uneaten grapefruit and sat alone in front of the charcoal fire in the small hall, eating all the grapefruit he had peeled.
The maid outside suddenly knocked on the door: “Your Highness, Royal Consort, it’s already *you* time. It’s time to change into formal attire and enter the palace.”
“Come in.” Feng Yue stretched lazily. At this time, his spirits were still relatively high. His body had a strong ability to recover, and he would be lively and vigorous again in a few days.
The maid brought in the prepared formal attire and served them to wash and change.
The royal New Year’s Day banquet in the palace was extremely lively, even grander than the Empress Dowager’s birthday banquet.
The imperial relatives and nobles sat in the front hall, with seats arranged according to their official ranks from high to low. The people of the Wei family had already arrived at the last row.
Wei Xiaofeng was relieved. Besides his mother, he didn’t really want to see the people of the Wei family, but in such occasions, his mother wasn’t qualified to enter the palace.
The songs, dances, and acrobatics were nothing new, so Feng Yue focused on eating the dishes. Occasionally, someone would come to offer a toast, but he didn’t give everyone face. Seeing him so serious, no one dared to come forward and offer a toast at will anymore.
Si Mo, sitting diagonally across from him, found him interesting. He had long heard that this Guangling Prince was brave and good at fighting, proficient in all eighteen kinds of martial arts, and wanted to spar with him.
Now, it seemed that his personality suited him as well.
At this time, that bright figure once again broke into his sight. He saw him holding a wine cup and coming over to toast Feng Yue.
Feng Yue didn’t drink himself, but instead took the wine from his hand.
“You are a *ge’er*, drink less wine.”
Feng Xilan was a little unhappy when he heard this: “Brother Yue, are you looking down on me! Isn’t Royal Sister-in-Law also a *ge’er*? Royal Sister-in-Law will be unhappy if you say that.”
Who knew that Wei Xiaofeng would smile and say, “I’m not unhappy. Feng Yue is right.”
“A *ge’er’s* drunken misbehavior will be gossiped about.” Actually, it was because of his injury. He was trying not to touch alcohol and found an excuse. He usually wouldn’t think so meticulously.
“Feng Yue is right.” Wei Xiaofeng nodded.
“Hey~ Why do you seem to be getting more and more stupid since you married Brother Yue?” Feng Xilan leaned forward and asked him in a low voice, “Every time you open your mouth, it’s ‘Feng Yue is right, Feng Yue is right.’ You’re going to be completely dominated!”
What were they talking about? They were chattering away. Feng Yue looked him and Wei Xiaofeng up and down.
“Feng Yue is not that kind of person.”
Feng Xilan exclaimed: “My God, you’re hopeless.”
Wei Xiaofeng smiled at him. Feng Xilan patted his shoulder hard and looked at him with sympathy before turning around and leaving.
Si Mo took advantage of his brother’s inattention and secretly slipped out of the main hall, following him.
At this time, many young *ge’er* in the Imperial Garden were enjoying the lanterns and setting off firecrackers. Feng Xilan leaned against the railing, drinking wine alone and watching them play.
Thinking of Wei Xiaofeng’s infatuated gaze towards Feng Yue, he felt a little disdainful, but deep down in his heart, he was somewhat envious.
“Wishing to gain one heart, never to be parted until old age.”
“Oh, missing your lover?”
A head suddenly stretched out from the other side of the railing, startling Feng Xilan so much that he almost threw the wine pot in his hand.
“I’m missing your ancestors!” Feng Xilan was so angry that he didn’t say nice things, spitting all over Si Mo’s face.
Si Mo wasn’t annoyed at all. In fact, he found his fiery appearance very cute. He raised his hand to wipe the saliva from his face and smiled quite obsequiously: “My ancestors turned to dust hundreds of years ago, so there’s no point in missing them. Why don’t you miss me instead?”
Feng Xilan glared at this lecher, “Don’t you Southern Zhao have any *ge’er* you like? You came all the way to the capital to run wild? Why don’t you look in the mirror!”
Si Mo raised an eyebrow, feeling anger in his heart, but it aroused his desire to win even more, “But I just like you like this.”
“Is that so?” Feng Xilan sized him up with extremely critical eyes, grabbed his collar, and laughed mockingly: “But I hate dogs like you who are horny everywhere.”
Si Mo pursed his lips, his eyes as sharp as knives, staring at him without blinking. After a long time, he said, “What I want will definitely be mine.”
Feng Xilan pushed him away disgustedly: “Stay away from me, or don’t blame me for being rude!”
“Si Mo!”
Feng Xilan looked up following the sound and saw a tall and graceful man walking towards him, wearing a luxurious black robe and head ornaments decorated with sapphires. A blue teardrop jade hung between his eyebrows, and his eyes were a rare light amber color.
Looking at him, Feng Xilan felt his heart lose its rhythm.
Si Ming couldn’t hide his impatience. He had only stopped watching him for a moment, and he had run out to play wild.
If it weren’t for his grandmother insisting that he take this burden with him, he wouldn’t have bothered with him at all.
“Big brother, why did you come out too?”
Si Ming took a deep breath: “Before we came, you promised me that you wouldn’t run around without permission and would behave properly.”
“That banquet was boring!” Si Mo rolled his eyes rebelliously and didn’t take Si Ming’s lessons to heart.
Si Ming bowed towards Feng Xilan and pulled Si Mo to turn around and leave.
When Feng Xilan came back to his senses, the two brothers had already walked ten steps away.
These two brothers were truly like clouds and mud. Besides looking slightly similar, their temperaments and personalities were completely different.
*
On New Year’s Eve, Feng Yue took Wei Xiaofeng to the Duke’s residence to celebrate the festival and stay up late.
Mu Yunhua asked the kitchen to stir-fry several dishes and took them to the secret room of the Wang residence.
He placed the dishes one by one on the small table and faced Yuan, the old eunuch, drinking and eating while chatting.
“How have you been thinking about it these past few days, old sir?”
Yuan, the old eunuch, wore shackles on his wrists, which jingled when he picked up the dishes, looking calm and comfortable, without any awareness of being a prisoner.
Seeing him pretending to be deaf and mute, Mu Yunhua continued to persuade: “During the time you were missing, the Empress didn’t ask or care and didn’t even think about sending someone to look for you. It shows how unfeeling she is. It’s not worth risking your life for such a person!”
Yuan, the old eunuch, couldn’t help but glance at him, “Just eat if you’re eating, why are you talking so much!”
“I don’t know what you’re scheming.”
“Little thing, you like to worry about these idle things.”
“You old thing, don’t appreciate it, that’s fine. Tell me, if you follow our Prince, would he mistreat you?”
“If you don’t shut up, no one will eat.” Yuan, the old eunuch, threatened.
Mu Yunhua glared at him and stuffed a piece of pork belly into his mouth. After eating it, he picked up another piece and stuffed it into Yuan, the old eunuch’s mouth. Seeing Yuan, the old eunuch, stunned on the spot with an unbelievable expression, Mu Yunhua slapped the table and laughed out loud.
“You turtle grandson!” Yuan, the old eunuch, picked up his chopsticks and hit his head a few times, “No respect for elders, let this old man teach you a lesson today!”
Mu Yunhua slipped away like a loach, grinning cheekily: “Eh~ Can’t hit me!”
…
The Duke’s residence, which had been silent for many years, had never been as lively as it was this year.
Several young people of similar age set off firecrackers together in the yard, and Feng Xilan came over with two younger sisters.
Wei Xiaofeng, who had been calm for only a few days, still acted like an innocent child when he started making trouble, chasing after the two sisters with Sang Cai in the yard with fireworks.
Chen Suian, being with Feng Yue, didn’t like to talk about anything other than knives, guns, sticks, and who was good at Kung Fu.
“After you left, the military camp recruited another genius. That light skill of his is so well-practiced… Even grandfather marveled at it!”
“Can he be better than Mu Yunhua?” Feng Yue carefully wiped his Thunderclap Spear, repeatedly admiring it, still fond of his companion weapon.
“Don’t you believe it, it’s definitely a little better than Mu Yunhua. When you see him one day, have them compete!”
“When my injury heals, let’s have a match. I’ve been thinking about some new moves recently. Let’s see if you can break my new moves.”
“Who knows when that will be!”
Feng Yue’s breathing stopped. Yes, after this separation, it would be many years before they met again.
Chen Suian patted his left shoulder hard: “Don’t be too sentimental. Anyway, there’s no war to fight right now. If I get tired of staying in the Northwest, I’ll go to Guangling to find you.”
Feng Yue smiled lonely: “Okay, then you must come and find me.”
Chen Suian: “By that time, maybe your children will be running all over the place.”
“Time to eat dumplings! Children, come over quickly!”
At this time, Duke Chen shouted towards the yard. The young ones put down the firecrackers, wiped their hands one by one with wet towels, and went back to the house to eat dumplings.
An old nanny in the mansion smiled and said: “Eat slowly, the kitchen is still wrapping them. There are plenty, as many as you want to eat.”
After eating dumplings, Wei Xiaofeng pulled Feng Yue to the yard to set off firecrackers with him.
When the firecrackers exploded, the sound was particularly loud, so Feng Yue helped Wei Xiaofeng cover his ears tightly and pulled him back.
When Wei Xiaofeng smiled happily, he always looked back for Feng Yue’s figure, as if he was there, the happiness could be doubled.
Feng Xilan saw the interaction between the two and became even more envious.
A group of people set off firecrackers until midnight, and a large bonfire was lit in the yard. Everyone gathered around to drink and tell stories.
Duke Chen was old after all and couldn’t compare with the children. After drinking some wine, he asked the servants to help him back to his room to rest.
Several *ge’er* usually didn’t drink much wine, and they fell after a few cups. Feng Yue asked the maid to take blankets from the house to cover Wei Xiaofeng and had them take the two sisters back to the house to sleep.
Sang Cai lay on Wei Xiaofeng’s lap, Wei Xiaofeng leaned in Feng Yue’s arms. When Feng Yue covered him with a blanket, he woke up for a moment and shared half of it with Sang Cai.
Chen Suian wasn’t satisfied with the drinking and went to the wine cellar to get more wine. For a while, only Feng Xilan and Feng Yue were left chatting idly.
“Brother Yue, I really feel strange. When did you start to have such deep feelings for Royal Sister-in-Law?”
Feng Yue naturally wouldn’t explain anything about his past life and present life to him, but just perfunctorily said: “Feelings don’t start from a specific point, they go deep from the beginning. Who knows?”
Feng Xilan nodded thoughtfully: “That’s right. Some people have a connection at first sight, while others can’t develop this affection even after seeing each other for ten thousand years.”
Feng Yue, acting as a confidante older brother tonight, asked him: “What? Do you have someone you like?”
Feng Xilan’s handsome face turned red. Even such a heroic person had shy and awkward moments, “Yes, but… I don’t know him very well. The first time I saw him, my heart was thrown into chaos, Brother Yue, do I like him?”
“The person you’re talking about is Si Ming?”
“How do you know? Brother Yue, do you understand him?”
Feng Yue shook his head: “I don’t understand. The Si family has always been far away in Southern Zhao, and they don’t come back to the capital every year to congratulate the Emperor on the festival. This year, the two unmarried young members of the Si family have returned to the capital. Among the royal family, those who are of marriageable age and not yet married are only you.”
Hearing this, Feng Xilan couldn’t help but feel nervous: “Are you saying that they came for a political marriage?”
“Yes,” Feng Yue thought of all the results about Feng Xilan’s past life. He couldn’t stop the current situation, but it wasn’t impossible to protect his life, “Do you really have feelings for that Si Ming now? You have to think clearly.”
Feng Xilan shook his head in confusion, “I don’t know. I never thought about… marrying into Southern Zhao. Anyway, it’s a political marriage, can’t he be an adopted son-in-law? Can’t our Prince’s residence mistreat him?”
“Being an adopted son-in-law is feasible. When the Emperor bestows the marriage, you can open a separate Prince’s residence and be independent, but…” Feng Yue sighed helplessly: “The heir of Southern Zhao can never be an adopted son-in-law. However, the second son can be considered.”
Feng Xilan spat in disgust, “Choose him? I’d rather not marry for life!”
Feng Yue didn’t expect him to react so strongly and couldn’t help but laugh: “Why? That Si Mo is clearly also handsome and unparalleled. Although his temperament can’t compare with the heir of Southern Zhao, it shouldn’t make you so disgusted, right?”
Feng Xilan snorted coldly: “I’ve seen too many people like this!”
“What kind of person?”
“It’s just, it’s just seeing someone and having lustful thoughts! You didn’t see the way he looked at me. It’s obvious he’s not a good person. A promiscuous playboy who doesn’t know how many *ge’er* he’s ruined. So dirty!”
“That’s not necessarily…” Judging a person’s character solely based on a few glances is a bit rash. After all, he didn’t like him. It’s normal that when you hate someone, everything they do is wrong.
“Don’t talk about him. It’s bad luck!”
“Then let’s talk about Si Ming?”
As soon as Si Ming was mentioned, Feng Xilan’s ferocity instantly turned into a pool of tenderness, “What’s there to say about him?”
“If he really wants to marry you, will you go back to Southern Zhao with him?”
Although Feng Xilan didn’t answer, he already had the answer in his heart. Feng Yue sighed softly and didn’t ask any further.
“Feng Xilan, there’s something I want to remind you as your brother.”
“Brother Yue, tell me.”
“You must remember firmly, no matter how much you like someone in the future, never lose yourself for him.”
“I won’t!” Feng Xilan found it funny: “How could I be that kind of person? To be so desperate for love and affection, I’d be wasting my life and making people laugh!”
Feng Yue’s expression was undoubtedly grave, and his eyes carried a trace of pity that he couldn’t understand, making Feng Xilan feel uneasy.
“Brother Yue, why are you being so serious?”
“Then you must remember every word you said today, and never waste your life, making people laugh!”
Feng Xilan’s heart skipped a beat, looking at Feng Yue, stunned for a long time.
“Why aren’t you talking?”
“I, I remember, Brother Yue, don’t worry.”
“How about this? In a few days, we’ll go horseback riding in the suburbs and invite the Si family brothers together? I can also give you some advice.”
Feng Xilan was overjoyed and expectant: “Brother Yue, you’re so good!”
“It’s natural to advise on my own brother’s lifelong happiness.”
After the fourth day of the New Year, Feng Yue sent invitations to the Si family brothers, inviting them to the suburbs on the fifth day.
On the fifth day, a large group of noble families and children came, including the rarely seen fourth son of the Wei family.
After the cold spring, new buds were seen on the sparse branches, and shallow green grew on the withered yellow grass. The suburbs were a large plain connected to the rolling mountains. The time when all things recovered was the season for spring outings.
Feng Yue took Wei Xiaofeng to ride side by side slowly. After the last incident, he was still a little afraid of riding a horse, but with Feng Yue by his side, he ran two laps and let go of his courage again.
He was lively by nature and had some talent after all. After running a few laps freely, he could already ride very well.
Feng Yue felt that, besides not liking to study, Wei Xiaofeng would learn everything else as soon as he learned it. He was quite a smart person.
The young men on the scene couldn’t help but focus their attention on Wei Xiaofeng. The young *ge’er’s* smile was bright, his fit and well-proportioned figure galloped freely and calmly. He looked like a spirited and unrestrained youth, and even the simple attire was eye-catching.
Wei, the fourth son, looked at his younger brother from a distance and didn’t dare to recognize him for a moment. In a short period of time, he seemed to have become a different person, making him look strange and timid.
“Royal Sister-in-Law! How about we have a race?!” Feng Xilan quickly caught up on horseback.
Wei Xiaofeng, like a newborn calf, was not afraid of tigers and readily agreed: “Okay!”
“Then there must be a prize. If I win, you will give me these earrings!”
These earrings of Wei Xiaofeng’s were newly given to him by Feng Yue, made of tourmaline, with peacock feathers hanging at the end. When moving, they swayed in the wind, and the gems and feathers refracted colorful light, extremely gorgeous.
Although Wei Xiaofeng was a little reluctant, when going out to play, it was natural to seek happiness, so he generously said: “As long as you win me, they will be yours.”
Feng Yue sat on the horse and couldn’t help but laugh. He had only just learned to ride a horse and was already starting to compete with others.
“I won’t take advantage of you,” Feng Xilan said, taking off a beautifully carved gold hairpin from her head, “This gold hairpin was made by the first craftsman of the dynasty for two years. The craftsmanship is extremely complicated to make a phoenix hairpin. Is it comparable to your pair of earrings?”
Wei Xiaofeng smiled and said: “Naturally, it is!”
Everyone gathered around with interest. Someone in the crowd shouted: “How can there be a prize without a bet? I bet Prince Xilan wins!”
“I also bet Prince Xilan wins.”
…
Everyone on the scene bet on Feng Xilan to win, without exception.
Feng Yue rode forward and shouted: “I bet Guangling Royal Consort wins!”
As the words fell, a burst of jeers rose one after another.
Wei Xiaofeng rode his horse to Feng Yue’s side and whispered: “You’re stupid, I’m going to lose anyway. You can just bet with them, and I’ll lose you a share later.”
Feng Yue smiled: “Then why are you betting with Feng Xilan?”
Wei Xiaofeng: “It’s fun! Winning or losing isn’t that important. Everyone is happy. It’s rare to have today’s grand occasion, and you can’t lose the momentum even if you lose!”
Looking at his proud little appearance, if there weren’t so many people present, Feng Yue really wanted to kiss him.
“My little Royal Consort is very reasonable, then you go!”
It was originally thought that Wei Xiaofeng was going to lose extremely embarrassingly. After all, the entire capital knew that Princess Feng Xilan had been used to playing wild with Feng Yue since she was a child, and she could ride and shoot at the age of ten, and her Kung Fu was also very good.
Who would have thought that Wei Xiaofeng could follow closely behind him, unable to shake him off.
As they competed, both of them had a desire to win. Wei Xiaofeng wholeheartedly wanted to surpass Feng Xilan, concentrating and being unperturbed, and actually performed beyond his normal level.
However, in the end, his horse riding skills were much worse. Feng Xilan reached the finish line first, and Wei Xiaofeng was a few breaths slower.
Applause rang out throughout the entire scene, and even Feng Yue couldn’t help but marvel. Wei Xiaofeng was already very impressive to be able to do this!
Although he lost, Wei Xiaofeng was also smiling and extremely magnanimous. He neatly took off his earrings and handed them to Feng Xilan and praised him sincerely: “Prince Feng Xilan is so powerful. It seems I have to practice for a few more years to catch up with you.”
Feng Xilan couldn’t help but be impressed by this person’s magnanimous mind and also neatly took off the gold hairpin on her head and handed it to Wei Xiaofeng.
“I won with shame. I heard that Royal Sister-in-Law has not ridden a horse a few times and can ride so well. I don’t need to practice for so many years. I will surely be able to surpass Feng Xilan soon. Today, regardless of winning or losing, only friendship matters. I will exchange the gold hairpin for Royal Sister-in-Law’s tourmaline earrings as a token of sworn friendship. Royal Sister-in-Law, please don’t dislike it.”