Throughout the night, Mother was extremely excited as she told me how a young lady should choose her husband. Listening to some of her rather astonishing remarks, I silently murmured "Amitabha" in my heart, thinking that Father must never find out about this!
This long night passed by quickly. I don't even know when Mother and I fell asleep. But when I woke up, the melancholy I had felt about Qi Yuan and the red - clothed beauty was gone.
I thought I had woken up quite late that day. However, the interior of Qiwu Palace was still dim. It wasn't until a maid came to announce that it was time for the meal that I realized it was already noon. Mother was still sleeping lazily in bed. I walked barefoot towards the door when I heard the pattering sound of rain outside. A cold gust of wind blew through my thin clothes, and only then did I realize that it was raining.
"Princess Xihe, the meal is ready in Shuangsheng Hall. The eldest prince asks you to come over." A maid walked up to me, put a cloak on my shoulders, and helped me put on my embroidered shoes.
"What about the Queen?" I glanced at Mother, who was still sleeping soundly in the palace.
The maid lowered her head and replied softly, "His Majesty is on his way here. We maids will serve Her Majesty to get up and change clothes later."
"All right." I nodded and then made my way to Shuangsheng Hall on my own.
Shuangsheng Hall wasn't far from Qiwu Palace. Walking along the jade - railing palace path, I felt the coolness brought by the summer night rain, which had a unique charm of its own.
As soon as I entered Shuangsheng Hall, Xiyao rushed towards me and shouted, "Second Sister, you slept with Mother last night! Why didn't you come to find me?"
I couldn't help but laugh. "Everyone knows that Xiyao is the most restless sleeper. Why would I come to find you?"
Xiyao pouted. "Second Sister always bullies me. Second Sister came to Qiwu Palace without even telling me. I only found out when I came to Shuangsheng Hall and heard from the maids."
I stepped forward and stroked her head. "All right, it was sudden. By the time I got there last night, you were already asleep. Next time I go there, I'll definitely come to find you, okay?"
"You have to keep your promise!" Xiyao shouted at me, looking up.
I nodded and took my seat. Then I noticed that Brother looked extremely worried. To avoid the awkwardness, I scanned the dishes on the table and exclaimed, "Wow, there are so many delicious dishes today!" I picked up my chopsticks and was about to reach for the food when Brother tapped my hand with his chopsticks and said, "Go and wash up and get dressed first. What do you look like like this?"
I coquettishly said, "Brother, I'm so hungry. Just let me eat first!"
"No!" Brother said with a straight face. "Xihe will be old enough to get married in a couple of years. You can't be so slovenly."
Hearing this, Xiyao couldn't help but snicker, and Zizhen also stopped pretending to be serious and curved his lips.
I thought that I was still their elder sister and should set a good example. So I got up reluctantly and went to wash up.
When I returned to the hall after everything was done, I found that all the dishes had been devoured by the three of them. They happily rubbed their bellies, looking extremely satisfied. I was starving and couldn't help but shout, "Yong Ziming!"
Without his instigation, who would dare to do such a thing?
Seeing this, Brother nimbly jumped up and ran away, shouting, "Who told you not to tell me that you were going to find Mother last night? I was worried all morning. This is your punishment!"
"I did tell the maid last night!" I was angry at his unreasonable behavior.
Brother replied, "The maid on night duty went to the laundry to deliver clothes this morning and only came back around noon. Don't try to explain."
I was extremely indignant and chased after Brother to beat him. But I found that I couldn't catch up with him because I was hungry while he was full. Just then, my empty stomach growled, and I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. So I let out a groan and squatted down on the spot.
"Xihe?" Brother stopped and called me.
I looked up, and my face had turned deathly pale because of the pain...
"Xihe!" This time, Brother stopped joking around and immediately ran towards me.
But seeing the look of concern on his face, I didn't want him to worry. So I said, "Brother, I'm hungry!"
Brother's expression changed so quickly. Realizing that he had been tricked, he was furious. He immediately dragged me up and tried to beat me, shouting, "You just like to make Brother worry, don't you? Bad Xihe!"
I dodged while shouting, "Oh, Brother, I'm really hungry. Go and get me something to eat."
At this time, Xiyao, who had been watching us, snorted unhappily. "I know you two siblings have a good relationship, but you don't have to show it like this, do you? I'm jealous!" She turned her body to the left. At the same time, Zizhen cooperatively turned his body to the right and said, "I'm envious!"
Then they both snorted and walked out of the door, leaving Brother and me stunned.
"All right, Brother, go quickly. I'm really hungry..." After they left, I felt better after a while. The pain in my abdomen had disappeared, as if it had just been an illusion. I pulled Brother and continued to act coquettishly. But Brother thought I was still trying to trick him and waved his hand, saying, "No. If you're hungry, go and find something to eat by yourself. I'm still not happy..."
I pouted at Brother. Unable to bear the emptiness in my stomach any longer, I had to walk out on my own. As I walked, I murmured, "I'll go by myself. It's no big deal..."
As soon as I stepped outside the door, a cold gust of wind blew, making me shiver all over. The rain outside was still falling. I hugged my arms and walked with my head down, thinking about what I was going to eat. In fact, I regretted it as soon as I walked out. I should have just asked a maid to do this. Then I thought that if I waited for a maid to convey my request and then waited for the imperial kitchen to prepare the food and send it to me, I would probably faint from hunger. So it would be better for me to go to the imperial kitchen myself and steal some of the desserts that were meant for Father and Mother.
I made up my mind to be a bit shameless. But I had only walked a few steps when I saw a patrol team coming towards me.
My eyes automatically drifted towards the leader. In an instant, my mind wandered. There had been many times when I had hoped that he would pass by my palace with his men so that I could take a few more glances at him. But not now...
A sharp pain shot through my lower abdomen, and I couldn't help but want to squat down and hold my stomach, just like when I was joking around with Brother.
When I was joking with Brother, the pain in my lower abdomen was really intense, but it only lasted for a moment. But now, the pain was continuous...
I watched as Qi Yuan walked towards me. I really didn't want him to think that I was trying to get his attention and concern again. So I endured the pain and stood up gracefully, then walked forward.
Qi Yuan approached, led his men to bow to me, and then stepped aside. Seeing this, I continued to walk forward. But he suddenly lowered his eyes and said, "Your Highness doesn't look well. Are you feeling unwell?"
I stopped, shook my head, and forced a smile while enduring the pain. "I'm fine." Then I walked away without looking back.
Qi Yuan said nothing. He seemed to look at me for a while longer before leading his men to continue walking. I couldn't help but turn back when I heard their footsteps.
Watching his back disappear in the distance, I finally couldn't hold on any longer. My legs gave way, and I collapsed to the ground.
At this moment, a voice came from afar, calling out, "Xihe."
I thought Qi Yuan had turned back. But when I looked up, I saw the face of Yu Chi Cheng.
The world was dim at this moment. I suddenly felt cold all over. The intense pain made me break out in cold sweat, and my vision went black. Seeing this, Yu Chi Cheng dropped something in his hand and immediately picked me up. But when he looked at the ground, he was stunned. I followed his gaze and saw a pool of bright red blood on the ground. I really couldn't remember where I had been injured when I fell.
He picked me up and stood up, then chased after the patrol team in front of him, shouting, "Princess Xihe has fainted. Where is the imperial hospital?"