Chapter 99: Stay Away from Bad Women
When Wang Shiqi saw that the golden peony had not been placed on his poem, his expression soured. He scanned the crowd, but the flower was nowhere to be seen.
He hurried to ask about it and ran right into Wang Wanqing. "What happened? Where’s the Princess’s golden peony?"
Wang Wanqing replied, "The Princess asked Prince Wei to write a poem praising her. After he recited one, she gave the Peony to him."
Wang Shiqi was incredulous. "How could she just give the golden peony to Prince Wei like that?"
’Does she have any sense of guest etiquette at all?’
Although Wang Wanqing had been shocked at first, she was completely calm now. Moreover, she felt the Princess had done the right thing; it would have been foolish to compromise when she knew she was being targeted by a scheme.
"It was given to the Princess, so naturally, it was hers to do with as she pleased. Are you going to demand it back?"
Wang Shiqi took a deep breath. "Then where is the Princess? Where is she now?"
’I have to go see her.’
Wang Wanqing said, "The Princess has already bid our grandmother farewell and departed."
With that, she glanced toward a covered walkway on the other side. "Prince Wei is still here."
’Holding that golden peony you were so fixated on.’
But Wang Shiqi couldn’t care less about some peony or Prince Wei.
"You were by the Princess’s side the whole time. Did you mention me to her? What did she say?"
"I did," Wang Wanqing said, "but the Princess didn’t respond."
Wang Shiqi frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me she looks down on me?"
Wang Wanqing desperately wanted to nod and say yes.
Even though he was her own cousin—and the Princess was not only on her second marriage but had even killed her former Prince Consort—in all honesty, she felt her third brother wasn’t quite good enough for the Princess. Whether in looks, bearing, or discernment, he fell a little short. But seeing the dark look on his face, she didn’t dare say so.
Wang Shiqi shot Wang Wanqing a resentful glare. "You knew what I intended, yet you couldn’t even keep her here. You’re useless."
Wang Wanqing flared up instantly. "What are you talking about, Third Brother? She’s the Princess! If she wanted to leave, what could I do? Cling to her leg and not let her go?"
"I can’t be bothered to argue with you."
Wang Shiqi strode outside, apparently intending to chase after Xiao Li.
Meanwhile, Xiao Li had run into a small problem. A... cute problem.
As Xiao Li was leaving to board her carriage, she was stopped by someone she never would have expected: Feng Yin.
He was dressed in an understated, gray-blue outfit of Cloud Brocade today, with few adornments. It wasn’t a particularly lavish look, but it couldn’t conceal the appeal his face held for Xiao Li, especially with the unnatural flush that spread from his cheeks to his earlobes.
The faint scent of alcohol drifted from him. He had clearly been drinking.
"Princess..." he began, looking at her with wide, imploring eyes, seeming to want to say something but then hesitating.
’That face, paired with that expression... It’s enough to stir up all sorts of ideas.’
Not wanting to cause a scene with this little drunkard at the gate of the Wang estate, Xiao Li boarded her palanquin. "Get in."
Her palanquin was a spacious model carried by eight bearers, with more than enough room for two people.
Feng Yin obediently followed her inside, sat down across from her, and simply stared.
Xiao Li couldn’t help but smile. ’He’s clearly drunk.’
’Getting drunk and running to find me... How amusing.’
The two of them simply stared at each other. Neither spoke, yet it wasn’t the least bit awkward. In fact, they both seemed quite happy.
They hadn’t gone far when someone came rushing after them.
"Princess! Princess!"
Wang Shiqi caught up to the palanquin, panting heavily. "Was our hospitality lacking? Why have you left so soon, Princess?"
Without taking her eyes off Feng Yin, Xiao Li replied, "I am tired and am returning to rest."
Wang Shiqi pleaded, "Our estate has rooms prepared for a short rest; we would never neglect you, Princess. We also have a theater troupe today, with acrobats to follow. I spent many days meticulously planning all this, just hoping to see you smile, Princess..."
Xiao Li knocked on the palanquin wall. Outside, Rong Qing immediately moved to block Wang Shiqi. "Mr. Wang, the Princess is in frail health and is not suited for long outings. She needs to return to rest. Please do not pester her."
Wang Shiqi was unwilling to give up, but there was nothing more he could do now.
"I was not considerate enough and have tired you, Princess," he said. "I will call on you another day."
No one responded to him, only the sight of the procession growing ever more distant.
Wang Shiqi clenched his fists inside his sleeves, his gaze fixed on the procession as it was about to vanish around the corner. His eyes grew dark and sinister.
’Xiao Xuanyang... this is far from over between us.’
Xiao Li had no time to spare him a thought, because the silent little fool across from her was finally showing a reaction.
Feng Yin pursed his lips. "Wang Shiqi... is... plotting something... Princess... must be... care... ful..."
His tongue was clearly thick with drink, but he insisted on getting the words out.
At this, Xiao Li couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "Hahaha! How can you be so adorable?"
’Did he get drunk and come all this way just to warn me about that?’
"Alright, I know he’s no saint. So? Do you think I’m a good person?"
Her expression suddenly shifted, her gaze turning dangerous as she stared at the little morsel in front of her.
Previously, she’d been too busy stirring up trouble to be bothered, but now, she had plenty of time on her hands.
’Those rosy lips, that fair face... he looks like he’s just begging to be teased.’
She leaned in slightly and reached out. Her long, slender fingers easily touched his scorching hot cheek.
The cool touch made him flinch back, but only for a moment before he resumed staring at her. ’So obedient,’ she thought.
Xiao Li gave his cheek a little squeeze. "Feng Tangtang, do you know who I am?"
Feng Yin stared at her, remaining silent for a long moment before finally answering, "The Princess."
Xiao Li’s fingertips drifted to his earlobe and gave it a squeeze. It was soft and searingly hot to the touch. She was surprised to find he even had his ear pierced. Images of him wearing various earrings flashed through her mind. ’He would look gorgeous.’
Snapping back to the present, she asked, "Do you think I’m a good person?"
This question seemed a bit too complex. He was silent for even longer this time, and in the end, he actually turned his head away, refusing to answer.
’Excellent. Even drunk, he knows not to lie.’
"You knew I wasn’t a good person, yet you still dared to come find me. Did your elders never teach you that good boys... should stay far away from bad women?"
She smiled, a look both wicked and bewitching, like a devastatingly beautiful scorpion-tailed viper staring at its prey, waiting for the moment to devour it.
"Hmmmm?"
How could Feng Yin possibly withstand such a thing? He immediately tried to flee in a panic, and thankfully, Xiao Li grabbed him just in time to keep him from falling straight out of the palanquin.
"Alright, that’s enough."
Xiao Li pulled him back inside and couldn’t resist squeezing his cheek again. "Remember this lesson when you get back. I won’t let you off so easily every time. Next time, I’ll definitely tease you until you cry."
With that, she ordered the palanquin to halt. "Rong Qing, send two men to escort him home."
"Yes," Rong Qing replied.
After dispatching two men to escort Feng Yin, Rong Qing’s gaze lingered on the young man’s face for an extra moment.
’So this is the Princess’s type?’
’Isn’t he a bit too green?’
Xiao Li truly did have a soft spot for this kind of adorable creature, but it wasn’t born of romantic desire. It was more that she enjoyed teasing him. Just looking at him put her in a good mood.
As Xiao Li walked toward her residence, she saw from a distance that the window to her secret base, located above the third floor, was unexpectedly open.
Her first reaction was anger. "Which of you went up there?"
Everyone quickly shook their heads. "None of us has been up there."
Xiao Li didn’t quite believe them and strode toward the stairs. But when she went up and took a look, she found a purple-clad figure sitting in her usual spot.