Xu Buyue also climbed up the mountain.
She was sent up the mountain by Xu Ziyi in the name of reinforcements, so she arrived at Qixia Mountain legitimately.
At this moment, the epidemic on the mountain was still spreading. About 30% of the doctors had been infected to varying degrees, not to mention the ordinary people and monks.
The soldiers and food brought by Xu Buyue provided timely and powerful assistance.
Song Yinghuai nodded gratefully to Xu Buyue. "Thank you, Second Master Xu and the princess, for your all - out assistance. I am deeply grateful."
Xu Buyue smiled frankly and generously. "I've said that I'm the most valuable person to Brother Song. It's also the wisest choice for Brother Song to marry into the Xu family... I've helped you several times. Do you like me a little bit more?"
Meeting her frank gaze, Song Yinghuai pursed his lips and said bluntly,
"I've always admired the princess as a heroic woman. If it's about liking, it's definitely there. But it's not the kind of liking a man has for a woman. It's more like an appreciation for a talented person. Thank you for your kindness, princess."
Xu Buyue smiled. "At least you have a good impression of me and are willing to talk to me. I've heard that among couples who respect each other, it's not all about love. Sometimes it's about mutual appreciation and respect... Maybe Brother Song and I can also be like that."
Song Yinghuai fell silent again.
He had thought countless times that if he hadn't met Miss Lan San in this lifetime and was just randomly betrothed to a woman, he might not even be able to achieve the mutual respect in a marriage.
But for a woman like this, he could accept her. Moreover, Xu Buyue was well - matched in status and was a straightforward person.
Few men in the world would refuse such a woman.
But he had met Miss Lan San, who had changed her name to Caiyu.
Although he was often so angry that he saw stars, and although he was often tortured emotionally...
He felt that his life, which had been as dull as stagnant water for the past 28 years, had been enlivened by her.
Whether he was angry or happy, his heart only beat wildly when he saw Caiyu.
There were so many beautiful women in the world, but he only felt an impulse when facing Caiyu.
There were so many temptations in the world, power and desire, but when it came to Caiyu, he was willing to give them all up and choose only Caiyu.
Xu Buyue was right. Among couples who respect each other, it's not all about love. But he just happened to fall in love.
Love starts without knowing why and goes deeper and deeper.
Even he couldn't control it, or rather, he didn't want to control it.
After a long time, Song Yinghuai bowed deeply to Xu Buyue. Then he straightened up and said, "The princess has had a long and arduous journey. Please go and rest first."
A look of disappointment flashed across Xu Buyue's eyes.
She thought Brother Song would be a little touched, but his action now meant that he still insisted on his own path.
She didn't force it. She just followed the servant to the temporarily - built residence.
This area was where the officials lived and worked, and it was full of men.
Originally, Song Yinghuai wanted to arrange a separate Buddhist courtyard for her in the back temple, but Xu Buyue refused.
She was used to living in the army and didn't care much about the gender taboo.
Moreover, Song Yinghuai also lived here. She came up the mountain this time just to get closer to Song Yinghuai, so she would rather endure hardships than live with Lü Baiwei and the monks in the back temple.
As soon as Xu Buyue settled in, there was a knock on the bamboo door.
Xu Buyue was confused for a moment. She got up and opened the door, seeing a strange junior soldier standing outside.
"Who are you..."
"I'm Ge Qingqing, your subordinate."
Hearing this, Xu Buyue's expression became a bit more serious. She let the person in and closed the door.
Qingqing stood inside the door, calmly letting Xu Buyue look her over for a while.
Xu Ziyi had asked her to help Xu Buyue. Although she was reluctant, due to the threat, she still came.
After sizing up Qingqing, Xu Buyue felt a sense of doubt.
Was this the maid her second brother had mentioned before going up the mountain?
The maid who could even annoy Sheng Jiangli?
She seemed to be under - developed. The military uniform on her was so loose that it seemed to fall off at any time.
Could she really come up with any good ideas?
Xu Buyue coughed. After hesitating for a moment, out of good breeding, she still said, "Please give me some advice, Miss Qingqing."
"I don't dare to give advice." Qingqing said, "I'm dressed as a man now. The princess can just call me Xiao Qing."
"Okay, Xiao Qing." Xu Buyue readily changed her words. "Do you have any ideas?"
She paused and then said, "I won't do any scheming or frame - up things."
Qingqing was a little surprised by her straightforwardness. Then she nodded and said,
"Actually, the way for a man and a woman to get along is like the balance of yin and yang, one soft and one hard. A man like the King of Yan, who is in a high position and has a strong personality, and is surrounded by beautiful women, naturally likes to cherish the tender and delicate. So the princess should make him at least cherish you."
Xu Buyue blinked, looking confused. "How can I make Brother Song cherish me?"
"Show weakness and act pitiful."
"Ah!" Xu Buyue seemed to understand but also didn't quite understand. She was so straightforward that she couldn't turn her mind around.
Qingqing looked at Princess Nan'an with annoyance, thinking that this task was really a headache.
She sighed and said, "When the princess is helping on the mountain, whether doing hard labor or taking care of the patients, make sure the king sees you gasping for breath from exhaustion. Then the king will feel sorry for you."
Xu Buyue imagined herself gasping for breath. Goosebumps rose on her body. She had to answer reluctantly,
"I'll try..."
Qingqing didn't care whether she was reluctant or not.
Anyway, she had done what Xu Ziyi had told her.
As for how well Xu Buyue could perform, as the saying goes, the master leads you in, but the practice depends on yourself.
She was too lazy to worry about it.
The next day.
Xu Buyue went to the front of the mountain to help others carry water by cableway. She was full of energy after a whole day. When passing by the Main Hall, she saw Song Yinghuai discussing things with others. She happily carried two buckets of water that she had just fetched and walked in.
Seeing the princess coming, Song Yinghuai politely greeted and asked, "Has the princess been tired?"
Xu Buyue was just about to lift a bucket of water in each hand to show that she wasn't tired. Suddenly, she remembered Qingqing's advice. The words on her lips immediately changed to:
"Ah, I'm so tired! Brother Song, I've worked so hard!"
As she said, she shook the two buckets of water in her hands and straightened her back.
Everyone in the hall immediately showed awkward expressions.
The princess looked so energetic. How could she look tired?
She was clearly over - excited.
Sheng Jiangli pinched the corner of his forehead and tried not to laugh. "It seems that the princess has been tired..." Tired from acting.
After Xu Buyue finished speaking, she eagerly observed Song Yinghuai's expression, hoping to find a look of cherishing in his eyes.
Unfortunately, she was disappointed. Song Yinghuai just replied expressionlessly, "Then the princess should go and rest earlier."
"Okay." After Xu Buyue left disappointedly, she said to Qingqing who came to find her later, "This method doesn't work. Maybe Brother Song doesn't like women who show weakness. I see that Caiyu doesn't show weakness either!"
Qingqing looked at her in frustration.
Was that showing weakness?
She was as stiff as a board!
Qingqing rubbed her forehead and said, "A woman dresses up for the one she loves. Why don't the princess dress up and put on the most popular makeup of the noble ladies in the capital to surprise the king?"
This was a difficult problem for Xu Buyue. She frowned in embarrassment. "I'm good at fighting, but makeup is really too difficult."
Not to mention applying rouge and lipstick, even just drawing her eyebrows, she might draw a huge gap.
Qingqing sighed. "To be honest, I'm not very good at it either, but I can do a little. If the princess doesn't mind..."
"I don't mind!" Xu Buyue sat down on the chair boldly, took off her big knife, and used the back of the knife as a mirror. She urged, "Come on, draw whatever you like!"
Qingqing: ...
She felt that this task was more difficult than any other task she had ever received in her life!