90 Ai Fen and Huang Xi

Jingfei returned to her chamber and settled around the floor table. She succeeded in feeding at least one dumpling to Li Hua. Jingfei was upset when Huang Xi told her that he didn’t like her and she should give up on her feelings for him.

She could not have let it happen. He was hers. So, by hook or crook, she would delay Lóng Wei’s and Li Hua’s trip to Xinshui town.

“If anything happens to Li Hua’s then, the Sixth Prince may put blame on the First Princess,” Lin Jie expressed her concern.

“Nothing will happen until she takes her night meal. She will be sick for a day or two. Then, they have to halt their plan to go to Xinshui,” Jingfei stated. “Lin Jie, did you bring what I have asked for you?” She lifted her head.

“Yes, First Princess.” Lin Jie turned to the servant and took the silk fabric from her. “What does the First Princess want to do with it?” Lin Jie queried as she placed the folded silk fabric on the table.

“I need to design a beautiful robe for Commander Huang Xi,” she replied and stroked her hand over the fabric.

“Pardon this servant, First Princess, but the Commander hurt your feelings. He sounded angry and it seemed he didn’t like that the First Princess tried to stop him. He never sounded this rude with the Second Princess,” Lin Jie affirmed while being on her knees.

“Second Princess?” Jingfei arched her brow. “Sister Ai Fen talks with Commander Huang Xi?” She chuckled and asked Lin Jie to explain to her.

“I saw the Second Princess distributing sweets to everyone in the family before the marriage of the Sixth Prince. She had encountered Commander Huang Xi before coming to you, so handed him the sweet to taste. Who knows if the Second Princess is the reason for the coldness of Commander Huang Xi towards the First Princess.” Lin Jie’s words troubled Jingfei. Everyone knew that she had feelings for Huang Xi. Then, how could Ai Fen do this to her? She clenched her fists but calmed her down.

.....

“Sister Ai Fen might have given the sweet to Commander Huang Xi because he had encountered her. Sister Ai Fen also knows her boundaries.” Jingfei didn’t believe Lin Jie’s words that Ai Fen could ever come between her and Huang Xi.

“The First Princess is na?ve. Sometimes a sweet-looking and a calm person is dangerous too. The way Commander Huang Xi smiled at her and she smiled back at him was different, First Princess.” Lin Jie filled the ears of Jingfei, who started to get insecure.

Jingfei was still not ready to believe Lin Jie. Ai Fen was not the type who would ever betray her. “I don’t mind it, Lin Jie. I know my second sister,” Jingfei affirmed, showing her faith in Ai Fen.

“But the First Princess must not forget that the Second Princess is her step-sibling. These days even blood relations betray each other. Step-relations are not to be trusted, First Princess. Also, men’s minds are strange. What if Commander Huang Xi falls for the Second Princess instead of the First Princess?” Lin Jie raised many insecurities and suspicions in Jingfei’s mind, who had clutched the silk fabric tightly.

Jingfei stood up and decided to see Ai Fen. She had to make sure that Ai Fen would not do any such thing which would sour their sisterly relationship. Lin Jie followed the First Princess, who had headed to meet Ai Fen.

In the royal garden, Ai Fen picked a few scented flowers in a bamboo basket that her handmaiden had held. “Second Princess, what will you do with so many flowers?” Qiqi asked in curiosity.

“Qiqi, Royal Father likes to taste different herbal flower teas. So, I thought of collecting some for my Royal Father and Mother. Moreover, tomorrow Sister-in-law Li Hua will prepare tea for everyone. I am thinking of giving her some. Her tea skills are too good,” Ai Fen said while keeping the tiny smile on her lips. She looked into the basket. “I think these will be enough,” she said and took the bamboo basket from Qiqi.

“Second Princess, let Qiqi carry it.” The handmaiden didn’t want her mistress to carry it.

“It is not heavy, Qiqi,” Ai Fen said and gladly climbed up the stairs.

“Second Princess, that day when you offered the sweets to the Sixth Prince, then he coldly refused to taste them. If the Second Princess gives these flowers to Princess Li Hua, then the Sixth Prince may get angry at her.” Qiqi knew that Lóng Wei didn’t like to take anything from the royal family members.

“Qiqi, these are from the royal garden. I do not think that Brother Lóng Wei would raise any objection,” she confidently said and reached the corridor.

“Qiqi, I was thinking of taking permission from the Royal Father to go out and see the market,” Ai Fen stated.

“His Majesty might not allow the Second Princess to go out alone. Last time the Second Prince had accompanied her, but this time His Highness seems busy,” Qiqi asserted.

“I will ask the Fourth Brother to accompany me then,” Ai Fen proclaimed and she decided to go to meet her father first. To her surprise, she found Commander Huang Xi present in the private chamber of the King.

“My humble apologies for intruding in when my Royal Father is discussing something important with the First Commander. Ai Fen will come later.” She bowed and was ready to leave when Qiu Zedong told her to stay.

“Why did Princess Ai Fen come? Our conversation has ended,” Qiu Zedong stated.

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“Royal Father, I wanted to go to the market. It has been four months since I last went out,” Ai Fen asserted.

“These days the market is crowded because of the upcoming Festival. The Second Princess shall go after a week,” Qiu Zedong replied.

“Father, I will tell Brother Mingquan to accompany me along with a few soldiers,” Ai Fen said.

“The Princes are busy these days. Prince Mingquan has gone outside with the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister. The other Princes are busy with the Kingdom’s work. Prince Lóng Wei will not accompany the Second Princess, so it is better for her to wait for a week.” Qiu Zedong politely refused.

“If His Majesty allows, then I can accompany the Second Princess,” Huang Xi interjected. Qiu Zedong glanced at him and readily agreed to it.

Ai Fen looked at Huang Xi, who rose to his feet and bowed before the King. “Please follow me, Second Princess,” Huang Xi said humbly.

She nodded at him and thanked her father before leaving the chamber. Ai Fen had already told Qiqi to keep the flowers in her chamber and come to the main entrance gates of the palace.

Huang Xi prepared the palanquin for Ai Fen and asked her to get inside it. He put his hand on the palanquin’s top so that Ai Fen’s head would not get a hit. He pushed down the thin curtain and waited for Qiqi to return.

Qiqi reached while panting. She got onto her knees and pushed away from the curtains. “Second Princess, the First Princess is in the chamber. She doesn’t look in a good mood. She wants you to meet her right now,” Qiqi informed Ai Fen, who was bewildered to hear her.

Huang Xi listened to their conversation and asked if everything was good. Qiqi stood up and lowered her head. Ai Fen came out of the palanquin and apologized to Huang Xi for causing him trouble. “Commander Huang Xi, my elder sister wants to see me. If he has time, then he can wait,” Ai Fen requested.

“Sure. My tasks for today are over. Princess Ai Fen can take her time,” Huang Xi affirmed. Ai Fen thanked him and left for her chamber with Qiqi.

Huang Xi decided to follow her and went behind her.

~~~~~~

Jingfei was on the chaise lounge, waiting for Ai Fen to return. When Qiqi told her that Huang Xi would follow Ai Fen to the market, her anger reached cloud nine.

“I have told the First Princess that the Second Princess and Commander Huang Xi have something between them. Lin Jie is upset because her mistress was treated badly by Commander Huang Xi while he has free time to accompany the Second Princess,” Lin Jie asserted.

“Sister Ai Fen didn’t do right by betraying me,” she murmured.