Chapter 60: Going Out to the Street

In her past life, although Li Yanlan had also pawned Changle’s dowry, she had not been nearly as ruthless as Wen Zehan and Wen Chongqing, nor had she ever sent anyone to take her life.

If it came down to dislike, there was certainly a trace of it, but it hardly amounted to hatred.

Even so, watching her misfortune unfold brought Wen Qiao a sense of easy amusement. Since she and Wen Zehan were mother and son by blood, seeing either or both of them suffer was a rather delightful prospect to Wen Qiao. She could simply sit back and watch the show—why not? It had no bearing on her either way.

"There is no need. Besides, my relationship with the third brother is hardly close."

Wen Qiao had initially leaned out alongside Xiao Yunshu to see what was happening on the street, but the moment she recognized Wen Zehan, she immediately pulled her head back inside. To her dismay, Wen Zehan had caught a glimpse of her and hastily dismounted, hurrying toward their carriage.

Under normal circumstances, he would never have shown Wen Qiao such warmth. However, seeing the imperial procession of a princess—which he readily recognized—he naturally believed that latching onto a princess would be equivalent to marrying into high society.

The mere thought of wedding a princess filled his mind with visions of a meteoric rise, where securing a title and official rank would be as effortless as flicking a finger. Much like his own father, who had married a princess and straightaway inherited a noble title, he fancied that he might finally have the leverage to demand a division of the household estate.

The more he pondered, the more at ease he felt, as though he could already envision the day of his great success and renown.

Hearing Wen Qiao’s words, Xiao Yunshu nodded thoughtfully. It seemed to her that the dynamics between Wen Qiao and her siblings within the Marquis’s estate were likely much the same as her own relationships with her imperial brothers and sisters in the palace—little more than acquaintances who exchanged polite nods. Though bound by name as flesh and blood, they had not crawled from the same mother’s womb, and true closeness was impossible.

Their carriage had halted earlier because a horse on the street had bolted. Had they not pulled off to the side to yield the road, they might well have been caught in the chaos. Now that all was peaceful once more, Xiao Yunshu intended to instruct the coachman to proceed toward the largest silver shop in the capital. She had never expected Wen Zehan to come blundering over, shouting Wen Qiao’s name at the top of his lungs the entire way.

Wen Qiao frowned, a flash of annoyance crossing her face—though that expression was reserved only for the interior of the carriage where she and Xiao Yunshu were alone. The moment she lifted the curtain and thrust her face outward, a beaming smile was plastered across her expression.

She could hardly let the surrounding onlookers know of the discord within the Marquis’s estate, lest it become whispered fodder in private circles behind their backs. She herself cared little for gossip, but she feared Wen Chongqing might not tolerate it.

She knew all too well how fiercely Wen Chongqing guarded his pride. While she had initially intended to leave him to his own devices, she was still living under the roof of the Marquis of Yongning, carrying the label of his sixth daughter. If Wen Chongqing grew displeased and alerted their targets prematurely, it would complicate her plans against him and Xiao Minghe.

Suppressing the rising tide of irritation in her heart, Wen Qiao forced a cheerful tone.

"Why is the third brother not back at the estate studying his books? What is he doing running about at this hour? If Father finds out, I fear another round of reprimands is in store for you."

Though it sounded like concern, a subtle undercurrent of warning lingered in Wen Qiao’s voice.

Internally, Wen Zehan gritted his teeth in fury, but outwardly he dared not show it. Xiao Yunshu was right beside Wen Qiao, peering out alongside her. If he behaved poorly now and left the princess with a bad impression, what hope would he have of seeking her hand in marriage?

Besides, if Wen Qiao were to whisper any ill words about him in Xiao Yunshu’s ear, his aspirations would be ruined. Yet he reasoned that Wen Qiao lacked the audacity to do so; she still had to live under the roof of the Marquis of Yongning, and he would have ample methods to torment her later.

If she truly refused to obey, he would not hesitate to bind her and beat her with a whip as he had before.

With this thought, the awkwardness on Wen Zehan’s face gradually faded, replaced once more by an air of haughty arrogance.

"I informed Father before I left and obtained his permission. As for you, after finishing your studies, you do not hurry back to the estate, yet here you are wandering aimlessly outside. Ah, so the sixth sister has a companion to entertain. I am Wen Zehan of the Marquis of Yongning’s estate, third in the family. May I ask which noble household this young lady belongs to? My sister’s temper is usually rather sharp, and her speech tends to be somewhat overbearing; it is rare indeed for her to make friends, and I am genuinely glad for her. Yet if she has caused any offense, I hope this young lady will not hold it against her."

Having just played the part of a strict and caring elder brother, he now shifted smoothly to a tone of mild gentleness regarding Wen Qiao.

Xiao Yunshu was not about to fall for such a facade.

Being close friends with Wen Qiao, she naturally resented hearing anyone disparage her. Even if the speaker was Wen Qiao’s third brother—and especially since Wen Qiao had explicitly described their relationship as mediocre, if not downright hostile—Xiao Yunshu saw no reason to spare Wen Zehan any face.

Hearing his speech, Wen Qiao could not help but suppress a laugh. When it came to play-acting, one truly had to hand it to Wen Zehan; he and Li Yanlan were cut from the exact same cloth. She refused to believe he had approached her out of nowhere for a casual greeting. He must have recognized the princess's imperial escort and rushed over to curry favor.

Contempt rippled through Wen Qiao as she looked at his utterly shameless display, though she kept her features faultless. Xiao Yunshu, however, offered him no quarter whatsoever, cutting him off sharply.

"There is no need for you to concern yourself with this princess's affairs. Sister Qiao and I are close, and I know her character well. There is no need for outsiders to make disparaging remarks before me. You would do well to mind your own business, Third Young Master Wen."

With that, Xiao Yunshu dropped the curtain with a sharp snap, pulling her head back inside. Realizing Wen Qiao was still lingering outside, she reached out and yanked her inward as well. Taken by surprise, Wen Qiao stumbled into the carriage, only to be greeted by Xiao Yunshu’s triumphant expression, which carried a subtle air of waiting to be praised.

This way, Wen Zehan would not dare to trouble Wen Qiao upon their return. After all, she had publicly declared her identity as a princess in broad daylight, and since the princess had openly snubbed him, would he dare to seek retribution against a royal? Besides, the surrounding crowd had all witnessed her dragging Wen Qiao inside by force.

She simply could not bear to watch Wen Qiao put on false pleasantries for Wen Zehan a moment longer. Since Wen Qiao detested him, there was no need to suffer in silence.

Listening to Xiao Yunshu’s words, Wen Zehan’s teeth itched with rage, yet because she was a princess, his hands were tied.

The emperor had many daughters, and rumor had it that this Sixth Princess was the most favored of all. That was precisely why he had attempted to impress her, hoping to secure a marriage with the emperor’s dearest daughter. He had never imagined the princess would humiliate him so publicly in the middle of the street. If he were to marry such a creature and bring her home, would she not turn his household upside down?

Influenced by Wen Chongqing, Wen Zehan did not hold princesses in particularly high regard. After all, hadn't Changle been cherished by the late emperor, with the current emperor showing her equal favor, only to die quietly and obscurely within the Marquis's estate in the end?

Consequently, Wen Zehan did not view marrying a princess as an insurmountable feat; rather, he believed women the world over were much the same. To be wedded to him should be considered their good fortune.

Though Wen Qiao could not read Wen Zehan’s exact thoughts, her deep understanding of him told her he undoubtedly looked down upon women—much like Xiao Minghe. Perhaps all men of his ilk were cut from the same cloth.

For now, Wen Qiao was unaware that Wen Zehan harbored designs on Xiao Yunshu. Had she known, she would likely have mocked him for a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh.

Yet, with so many onlookers gathered on the open street, even humiliated as he was, Wen Zehan dared not talk back to a princess. Away from the inner chambers, a princess represented the majesty of the imperial throne. To openly defy one was equivalent to showing contempt for royal authority.

Such a risk was far beyond his daring, leaving him no choice but to grind his teeth in resentment and retreat crestfallen to his carriage. He brushed off the earlier incident of the spooked horse as a mere accident.

Inside the carriage, however, a flash of silver light danced briefly across Wen Qiao’s fingertips before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, leaving no trace behind. Neither Xiao Yunshu nor anyone else noticed the small object in Wen Qiao’s hand.

"Well, all is well now. Why doesn't my sixth cousin come down and stroll with me? There are plenty of delicious treats nearby, and it won't take us long to walk. We can browse at our leisure. Sitting cooped up in a carriage defeats the very purpose of going out to shop!"

The two young girls continued wandering through the neighborhood without straying far. For Xiao Yunshu, this outing with Wen Qiao felt entirely different from any previous excursion from the palace; the simple company of Wen Qiao brought her a unique joy.

Glancing back at the two young eunuchs struggling under the weight of numerous packages with miserably sour expressions, Xiao Yunshu teased them with a laugh.

"You two are not only my money pouches but also my beasts of burden. You’ve truly had a hard time. Look at those long faces of yours! I haven't even bought that much. If I bought any more, the two of you would surely collapse from exhaustion."

Xiao Yunshu was generally kind to the maids and eunuchs in her service. Her reputation for being overbearing was merely a reflection of her spirited conduct; in truth, she was a kind-hearted young girl. The attendants closest to her in her palace quarters were often willing to exchange light jests with her.

Everyone knew the Sixth Princess's temperament: as long as one did not cross her bottom line, all was well. Most of the time, she was remarkably easy-going, turning cold only when a foul mood struck. This affability only made the staff of Chengfu Palace all the more fond of her.

The two young eunuchs exchanged glances, maintaining their piteous expressions. One of them finally ventured, "How could that be? It is our utmost honor to serve the Princess! It's just... Princess, you really have bought quite a mountain of things. Even if we returned, you couldn't possibly use them all."

Imperial Noble Consort Cheng had only warned Xiao Yunshu regarding the Crown Prince, leaving her in the dark regarding any potential faults in her other siblings. Thus, Xiao Yunshu naturally intended to purchase extra items to distribute among her sisters upon her return.

As for Wen Qiao, no such allocation was necessary; throughout their shopping trip, whatever caught Wen Qiao's eye was instantly paid for by the princess. Wen Qiao’s attempts to contest the bills were entirely futile, leaving her with a mixture of helplessness and amusement.

Even so, the packages were undeniably bulky and numerous. Huaping and Daiqiao, walking behind Wen Qiao, were similarly loaded down with armfuls of parcels. Yet neither complained; instead, they were genuinely delighted to see Wen Qiao willing to venture out and enjoy herself.

By now, the sky was growing dusk. Given the absence of nocturnal entertainment in this ancient era, people retired early, and the street vendors were beginning to pack away their wares.

Realizing the lateness of the hour, Wen Qiao considered urging Xiao Yunshu to return to the palace before the gates were locked, lest the Empress seize the opportunity to reprimand her the following day.

Even if the Empress remained silent, she suspected Imperial Noble Consort Cheng would likely face passive-aggressive barbs on her account. While the Noble Consort had little fear of the Empress, it remained an avoidable annoyance. Wishing to spare Chengfu Palace any trouble, Wen Qiao prepared to suggest they head back.

Just then, Xiao Yunshu’s gaze drifted toward a nearby stall, where a silver hairpin instantly caught her eye.

"The hour grows late indeed. After purchasing this hairpin, my sixth cousin must hurry back to the palace before the gates are barred. But let it be understood: I am paying for this hairpin. Once we acquire it, we turn back and conclude our outing for today, saving the rest for our next adventure. Otherwise, I vow I shall never accompany you shopping again! You have already bought me far too many things; by rights, I should be the one benefiting more from this trip. This hairpin looks rather novel, and though you seldom have cause to wear such things within the palace walls, it is hardly an expensive trinket. Just take it as a trifle to amuse yourself."

It wasn't that Wen Qiao felt uneasy accepting gifts—after all, she frequently bestowed tokens upon Xiao Yunshu—but even imperial princes and princesses operated on fixed monthly allowances that could hardly sustain such lavish spending.

If Xiao Yunshu spent too freely now, she would soon find her allowance depleted, likely requiring the Imperial Noble Consort to make up the difference from her own coffers.