Qi Jingqing had only just entered the main hall when Feng Lezhen arrived. She was dressed in plain, soft-colored robes, her hair done up in a simple bun, without makeup or any jewelry—pure and clean, like a lotus just risen from the water.
Qi Jingqing was used to seeing her at her most radiant and dazzling. At this moment, her plain appearance struck him, and a trace of dazed wonder flickered in his eyes.
“Why are you here at this hour?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Qi Jingqing snapped back to himself, steadied his breath, and spoke. “Has Jingren already told you… about me?”
“You mean your matchmaking?” Feng Lezhen sat down casually. “Yes, I heard. So? Anyone you like?”
In the depths of winter, with snow heavy in the air, Qi Jingqing had stepped out under the moonlight still clinging to a sliver of hope—but seeing her so indifferent, even that last bit of hope quietly died.
She had no feelings for him.
She never had.
He couldn’t be hasty.
He had to take it slowly.
And yet, as his eyes met Feng Lezhen’s gaze, a tightness rose in his chest. It felt like something had quietly taken root and grown into a towering tree.
Love—so wild, so beyond control.
The silence dragged on, and Feng Lezhen sensed something was off. When she raised her eyes and saw the desolation in his, she blinked in surprise. “What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.” His voice was hoarse when he finally spoke.
Feng Lezhen gave him a look. “You don’t look like it’s nothing.”
Qi Jingqing’s expression returned to normal. “Just a bit restless.”
“Don’t want to get married?” she asked.
“…No.”
“Why is no one willing to get married lately?” Feng Lezhen chuckled.
Qi Jingqing immediately caught the word ‘no one’ and asked, “Who else doesn’t want to get married?”
“Jinan—my guard. You’ve seen him before.”
Qi Jingqing recalled the tall, stoic man. His fingers slowly curled into his palm, nails biting into the skin, but his voice was calm: “Yes, I’ve seen him around often.”
“You don’t want to marry. Then what?” Feng Lezhen guessed, “Is the marquis pressuring you?”
“Not really. It’s just that my parents are a bit too enthusiastic—it’s exhausting.” Qi Jingqing lowered his eyes as he explained.
Feng Lezhen nodded. “No wonder you’re unhappy.”
“…I came so late tonight because of this.” Qi Jingqing smiled, eyes clear and handsome. “I was hoping Your Highness could help me come up with a solution.”
“I’d rather not get involved in your family matters,” Feng Lezhen declined immediately. “If your parents found out, they’d probably hate me.”
“I’m your friend. Shouldn’t you be willing to go to bat for a friend?”
“I’m afraid of pain,” Feng Lezhen replied solemnly.
Qi Jingqing laughed. “Your Highness is truly…”
Seeing his smile, finally genuine again, Feng Lezhen smiled along with him. “The marquis and his wife have always doted on you. Why bother coming to me? Just talk to them directly. If that fails, you can try crying, making a fuss, or threatening to hang yourself… I don’t know that method very well, but you could ask Jingren.”
Qi Jingqing’s heart had been steadily sinking, but he kept the smile on his face and played along with her banter.
They chatted for a while, played a few rounds of chess, and by the time she saw him out, it was already past midnight.
Back in her sleeping robe and sprawled on her bed, Feng Lezhen said lazily, “Inform Hu Wensheng tomorrow—have him go discuss official business with Qi Zhen. Then invite a few noblewomen and get Song Lian to join them for a gathering. Just keep those two so busy they won’t have time to pester their son.”
“Didn’t Your Highness say you wouldn’t help? Yet you’re already doing it.” Ah Ye teased.
Feng Lezhen sighed. “Did you see his face tonight? If his parents weren’t pushing him too hard, would he have come to me in the middle of the night?”
“With a friend like Your Highness, the shizi is truly blessed.” Ah Ye praised.
Feng Lezhen chuckled and tossed a pillow at her.
—
Over the next few days, Qi Jingqing suddenly found himself at peace. Upon asking around, he discovered his parents were unusually busy, and with him showing no enthusiasm, they had temporarily given up on matchmaking.
“Haven’t the marquis and madam been pretty idle the past couple of years? Why are they suddenly so busy?” the pageboy muttered in confusion.
Qi Jingqing appeared composed, but the corners of his mouth couldn’t help lifting. The sorrow and disappointment that had plagued him that night now seemed to have melted away.
Unknowingly, it was already mid-twelfth month. As was tradition, the Marquis household held a feast. Feng Lezhen, having made the greatest contribution to Yingguan this year, received her invitation early.
Ah Ye first asked if Feng Lezhen was going, and once it was confirmed, she immediately began preparing outfits—
Whether in the capital or at Yingguan, she was always enthusiastic about dressing up Her Highness, determined to make her the most dazzling figure at every banquet.
In the blink of an eye, the Little New Year arrived. It was barely You hour, but the sky had already turned completely dark.
Outside the marquis manor, the road was bustling with carriages. Unlike last year, Qi Jingren didn’t hide away in the military camp but stood at the entrance with Qi Zhen and his wife, receiving guests. It seemed she had recently found a way to get along with her parents—her brows no longer furrowed with heaviness and resentment, and her demeanor with others was more poised and mature than before.
“Our young lady has really become more and more composed. The Marquis truly raised her well,” someone complimented with a chuckle.
Qi Zhen glanced proudly at Qi Jingren but said modestly, “She doesn’t know much yet—still has a lot to learn!”
Qi Jingren tugged at the corner of her lips in a faint smile. As she looked up, she spotted the Eldest Princess’s carriage. She paused, then said to Qi Zhen, “Father, the Eldest Princess has arrived.”
Qi Zhen frowned slightly, but still stepped forward with Song Lian to greet her. Seeing the Eldest Princess’s carriage, the people at the gate also paused and saluted.
“Greetings to Your Highness, the Eldest Princess.”
When Feng Lezhen stepped down and saw the crowd bowing, she smiled gently and raised her hand, signaling them to rise. “Today is a family banquet at the marquis manor—no need for formalities.”
“She says it like the marquis manor is her own,” Qi Zhen muttered under his breath, but still forced a smile and stepped forward. No helping it—although he still didn’t like her, he had to admit that the improved military funding and better provisions for the soldiers this year were all thanks to her.
After the polite greetings, Song Lian signaled Qi Jingren to escort Feng Lezhen inside. Qi Jingren happily agreed and nodded at once.
“With the army’s atmosphere cleaned up and many older officers stepping down, there are a lot of vacancies. I plan to promote some of our own people,” she said in a low voice as soon as they stepped into the courtyard.
Feng Lezhen’s expression didn’t change. “Too much is as bad as too little.”
Qi Jingren paused, then sighed. “Yes.”
“This is a highly sensitive time. Who knows how many eyes are watching those vacancies. The first to rise may not be the ones who get to stay till the end,” Feng Lezhen said casually, glancing at her.
Qi Jingren frowned. “Understood.”
Since they had a rare moment alone, Qi Jingren asked a few more questions, which Feng Lezhen answered one by one. The two continued walking as they talked. When Song Lian glanced back and saw them chatting so amicably, her brows slowly knit together.
“Madam? Madam?”
Qi Zhen called out twice before Song Lian snapped out of it. “Hmm… what is it?”
“I should be the one asking you that. What are you spacing out about?” Qi Zhen frowned.
“…It’s nothing,” Song Lian forced a smile, but a vague unease lingered in her chest.
The banquet was once again held in the main hall. Feng Lezhen took the seat of honor. Before long, the Qi Zhen couple arrived. After exchanging pleasantries with the guests again, the banquet officially began.
Qi Jingqing did not attend.
Feng Lezhen frowned and glanced at Qi Jingren, who gave a slight pull at her lips, indicating that Qi Jingqing wasn’t ill—just seeking some peace and quiet. Their exchange was subtle, but Song Lian noticed. Before she could dwell on it, someone came over to propose a toast.
The meal left Feng Lezhen without much appetite. She soon found an excuse to step out for some air.
The people of the marquis manor were long used to her roaming about. When they saw her, they simply offered a quick salute and returned to their tasks. Feng Lezhen was happy to enjoy her freedom and strolled along slowly. She had barely walked a few steps when she saw Qi Jingqing.
In the moonlight, he leaned on his crutches, smiling at her like an immortal who had just descended from the heavens.
Feng Lezhen was momentarily dazed by his beauty, then smiled and asked, “Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
“How did you know I would come?” Feng Lezhen raised her brows.
“There’s no seat for me at the banquet—it’s boring. Your Highness would surely come out for some air.” After all, this was the only path to the back garden.
Feng Lezhen laughed. “Quite confident, aren’t you?”
“Let’s walk together, then,” he said. “I’ll need you to wait for me, though—my legs are slow.”
Feng Lezhen gave him a smiling glance and walked leisurely toward him.
The two chatted idly under the moonlight. Feng Lezhen occasionally checked his expression. Seeing that he looked well, she continued walking.
Unknowingly, they reached the deeper part of the courtyard, where there were no lanterns—only snow and moonlight illuminated the path.
Qi Jingqing looked around at the unnaturally quiet surroundings. “Shall we head back?”
“Let’s find a place to rest first,” Feng Lezhen said, noticing the sweat on his nose.
Qi Jingqing pressed his lips together, wanting to say he wasn’t tired, but Feng Lezhen had already taken his arm.
The sudden warmth and closeness startled him. The next moment, she said, “There’s a pavilion up ahead. Let’s sit there?”
Qi Jingqing lowered his head slightly. “Alright.”
Feng Lezhen helped him toward the pavilion. All around was a vast expanse of white—only the two dark figures moving slowly across it.
The pavilion wasn’t far, but with their slow pace, it took a while before they reached it. Just as Feng Lezhen was helping him up the steps, a small sound came from the wall corner nearby.
Both of them were from noble families, trained from a young age to be alert in unfamiliar environments. Though the sound was faint, they both immediately fell silent and turned toward it—
It was a man and woman, locked in an embrace, kissing.
Feng Lezhen: “…” Why did she always run into this sort of thing with him?
Qi Jingqing frowned and hesitantly asked, “They… what are they doing?”
Even though he deliberately lowered his voice, the night was too quiet—his words still carried. The couple startled, gasped, and without even checking who it was, quickly grabbed each other’s hands and ran off.
“What are they doing?” This time, Qi Jingqing asked at a normal volume.
Feng Lezhen: “You don’t know?” Didn’t they already… do that thing at night? And yet he doesn’t know this?
“Should I know?” Qi Jingqing countered. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt the conversation was oddly familiar… as if, last time…
He suddenly recalled that dream, and a faint flush rose to his face. After a moment, he said softly, “Father told me a bit. He even gave me a few illustrated manuals, but none of them mentioned that.”
…There was no need to explain it in such detail. Feng Lezhen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Just as she was about to speak, her gaze suddenly fell on his lips.
Qi Jingqing’s eyes flickered slightly, and he leaned in to place a kiss on her lips.
The world fell into sudden silence.
