Chapter 22: A Grand Gesture, A Gentle Landing-A princesa volta com o filho, e o frio e poderoso ministro se arrepende amargamente(A batata-doce roxa está muito quente.)

"Your Highness, Princess Xuanyun has left the palace."

Cheng Liuyi was busy imagining how wretched and miserable Cheng Xueyang must be when she received this latest report from her palace maid.

Startled, Cheng Liuyi hurriedly stood up and walked to the window. "What time is it?" she asked.

"Your Highness, it is the hour of the goat," the maid replied.

Cheng Liuyi looked displeased. "Father granted her an audience at midday. It has only been two hours—isn't that too fast? What was her expression?"

The maid recalled the look on Princess Xuanyun's face as she left the palace. "She looked perfectly normal."

"Normal?" Cheng Liuyi raised her voice. "Shouldn't she have come out weeping?"

The maid shook her head, still feeling a lingering sense of dread. She remembered that Princess Xuanyun had seemed to notice her; the Princess had glanced at her and smiled, as if to say: *Watch your eyes.*

Cheng Liuyi asked again, "Has the imperial decree for the marriage been issued?"

The maid shook her head. "Not yet."

"What did Father and Cheng Xueyang talk about?"

Again, the maid shook her head. "Eunuch He dismissed us, and we couldn't get close. Only His Majesty and Princess Xuanyun were inside the grand hall. It is impossible to know what transpired."

Enraged, Cheng Liuyi slapped the maid across the face. "You know nothing! What use are you to me?"

Ever since Princess Yunxiang was slapped by Princess Xuanyun at the Prince Shou residence, she had taken to slapping her servants at the slightest provocation to vent her frustrations.

The maid fell to the floor, clutching her cheek with teary eyes, and pleaded, "Your Highness, have mercy!"

Cheng Liuyi’s chest heaved with anger, her eyes filled with resentment. Her father’s punishment for Cheng Xueyang was far too lenient. It was a classic case of raising a hand high only to let it fall gently—Cheng Xueyang had merely been left cold and hungry for a single day.

Meanwhile, her own face had been swollen for three full days, and even now, the puffiness had not completely subsided.

How hateful—truly hateful!

Suddenly, an idea struck Cheng Liuyi, and she hurried out of the sleeping quarters.

She went to the treasury and saw two tall jade raw stones covered by white cloths. One was a gift from her father, which she had yet to decide how to carve; the other was something seized from Cheng Xueyang’s residence. She had intended to smash it at the Prince Shou residence to provoke Cheng Xueyang, but before she could, that violent woman had beaten her, and the stone was brought back to the palace along with them.

Didn't Cheng Xueyang claim she had another piece of raw jade of the same size at her own residence? She would like to see how Cheng Xueyang could possibly produce it.

"Let’s go! We are leaving the palace. Invite a few others to join me at the Princess’s residence to take a look at Cheng Xueyang’s 'treasure'!"

***

The carriage pulled up in front of the Princess’s residence.

Song Hui called out softly, "Your Highness, we have arrived."

Cheng Xueyang, who had been dozing inside, opened her long, narrow eyes at the sound of his voice. She rose, straightened her cloak, and stepped out of the carriage.

"Mother!"

A sweet, joyous voice called out, and Cheng Xueyang looked over. Xuanxuan was running at the front, her face beaming. "Mother! Mother is back!"

Suxin followed closely behind, arms slightly outstretched, fearing Xuanxuan might trip. "Slow down, Your Grace, take care!"

Nanny Xiao and the newly hired steward for the outer courtyard, Steward Zhou, also came to greet her.

At the very back stood a graceful figure waiting at the gate, smiling as she looked over. "Sister Xue, you're back."

Cheng Xueyang stepped down from the carriage using the footstool. Xuanxuan pounced on her, and Cheng Xueyang bent down to scoop the child into her arms. "You little imp, you’re always so reckless. You’ll trip if you run like that."

Xuanxuan didn't care; she rubbed her cheek against Cheng Xueyang’s. "Mother, you’re finally back! I thought I’d have to wait until evening. Since you’re back at noon, does that mean I can go out and play?"

Cheng Xueyang chuckled. "You, all you think about is playing."

Xuanxuan retorted with a serious expression, "But Mother also said that this is the age for playing, so I should play!"

Cheng Xueyang handed Xuanxuan to Suxin. "You may play on this street in front, but don't go any further."

"Yay! Freedom!"

Xuanxuan jumped down from Suxin’s arms and dashed toward the street.

"Slow down, Your Grace!" Suxin called out, then looked at Cheng Xueyang, wondering if she had heard correctly.

Cheng Xueyang gave her a reassuring look. "Go on."

Suxin hurried to catch up and take Xuanxuan for a walk.

Nanny Xiao and Steward Zhou were also greatly relieved to see Cheng Xueyang return safely. Cheng Xueyang was quite satisfied with Steward Zhou, the newest member of the household. The Princess’s residence was currently at the center of a storm, and no one knew if it might be swallowed by the waves at any moment, yet he had still chosen to come. His background was clean, and he was no one’s spy.

Cheng Xueyang remembered the day Steward Zhou came to apply for the position. He had said, "Perhaps Your Highness does not remember me, but fifteen years ago in the north, my family and I were refugees starving by the roadside. It was Your Highness who gave me a jade bracelet to trade for food in the city, and that is how my family survived. I have always intended to repay such great kindness."

When Steward Zhou arrived, he had presented that small jade bracelet. After he had achieved some success, he had tracked it down and kept it with him ever since.

Cheng Xueyang recognized it; it was indeed an object from fifteen years ago. Back then, she had traveled north with her Imperial Sister and Lin Xuan, and upon seeing this family's plight, she had given away the bracelet she was wearing. As for why Lin Xuan had followed them, it was because he had been poisoned; only the Imperial Sister had the antidote, so he dared not resist and had protected them all the way north.

After much time, the bracelet had returned to her. Yet, times had changed. The bracelet remained the same, its luster undimmed, showing it had been well-cared for, but she could no longer wear it, and her Imperial Sister would never return.

Steward Zhou reported, "Your Highness, Miss Gu is here to visit. We have invited her inside for tea. When she heard you had returned, she came out to welcome you."

Nanny Xiao also had a favorable impression of Gu Anyu—not to mention the past, the kindness of her sending buns and soup just yesterday was worth remembering. "Miss Gu is truly intelligent and kind-hearted, unlike her cold-blooded brother."

*Cold-blooded?*

That certainly matched Nanny Xiao’s impression of Gu Mo. In the past, when Cheng Xueyang had been devoted to Gu Mo, Nanny Xiao had watched with growing anxiety, always scolding Gu Mo for being cold-hearted and lacking appreciation for beauty, lamenting that it was the worst misfortune for Her Highness to have fallen for him.

"Steward Zhou, Nanny Xiao, you may return to the residence. I will walk with Anyu for a while."

Nanny Xiao agreed. "Then this old servant will go prepare lunch. Your Highness and Miss Gu can dine together later."

Cheng Xueyang nodded; she had only had a few bites in the palace and was indeed hungry.

Gu Anyu walked over and bowed respectfully. "Sister Xue."

Cheng Xueyang’s gaze softened as she looked at Gu Anyu, and she affectionately took her hand. "Our meeting the other day was too rushed for us to catch up properly, and I am grateful for your care yesterday. Words cannot express how much I appreciate you."

Gu Anyu smiled shyly. "Sister Xue, such words make us sound like strangers. In my heart, we are already family—after all, I am Xuanxuan’s little aunt."