The Seventh Princess drove the mule cart with great care, while Xi Qingyue held Xi Weilan beside her, and the two of them kept their mouths busy, eating nonstop.
To outsiders, it looked like a maidservant was driving the cart while two young masters sat at the front, nibbling and taking in the scenery—strange, no matter how you looked at it.
Dongxue and the others behind them could hardly bear to watch. If the Seventh Princess returned to the capital like this, who knew what people would say about her.
And so they made their way to the city gate. Xi Qingyue cast a glance at the Seventh Princess and said nothing, merely continuing to munch on her food.
The soldier guarding the gate was about to inspect each vehicle entering the city when he caught sight of the Seventh Princess at the reins. Startled, he quickly halted his steps.
He had meant to kneel and pay his respects, but a single look from the Seventh Princess stopped him. He hurriedly gestured for her to pass, and the cart was waved through without delay.
As the mule cart rolled past them, the soldiers on duty stole curious glances at the two Xi sisters, each of them puzzled in their own minds.
Xi Qingyue was quite satisfied with this — it was clear that the identity of their driver carried real weight, and it came in handy.
Just a short distance past the gate, Xi Qingyue turned her head with a bright smile and said, "Elder sister, we've reached the capital. You've had your taste of the mule cart now, so you can stop here. Didn't you say you had things to do? We wouldn't want to hold you up."
The moment the words left her mouth, before the Seventh Princess could even bring the mule to a halt, Tafeng stopped all on its own.
The Seventh Princess was astonished — could the mule actually understand human speech?
Then it dawned on her: she had been used by these two children.
She had approached them because of Ninth Sister, but the two girls didn't know her at all. Letting her drive the cart so willingly — they'd simply used her to get into the city without trouble. What little schemers.
She couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. "Little sisters, do you have a place to stay in the capital? My house is very big — it has hills and water, a lotus pond, all sorts of lovely flowers, and a beautiful viewing terrace. I even have a small horse yard. Best of all, my head chef cooks wonderfully — better than most restaurants in town. If you have nowhere to stay, you're welcome to come play at my place."
At the mention of food, Xi Weilan's eyes lit up, and Xi Qingyue narrowed her own in thought.
They had come to the capital precisely to eat and have fun. Since there was good food and good amusement on offer, there was no reason to let it pass — even if this woman's intentions weren't entirely pure, the sisters weren't afraid of anything.
She played at being hesitant and asked, "But what if your family bullies us? After all, we're just children, and not even your own children."
Hearing this, the Seventh Princess's smile grew even brighter. "Don't worry — I'm the head of my household. If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me, and I'll deal with them."
Xi Qingyue smiled and pressed on. "And what about other relatives of yours? If they bully us, are we allowed to hit back?"
The Seventh Princess nodded readily. "Naturally, you may."
Xi Qingyue thought about asking how far her home was from the imperial palace but held back. The palace was easy enough to find — she could simply go over at night.
She smiled at the Seventh Princess. "Alright, thank you, elder sister. We have silver with us, so we'll pay you for our meals and lodging."
The Seventh Princess waved a hand dismissively. "What need is there for silver? I'm not short of money. So it's settled, then — let's go."
With that, she urged the mule forward once more, and this time Tafeng behaved perfectly normally.
The mule cart rumbled slowly toward the Seventh Princess's estate, and passersby on the road cast curious glances their way, for some of them recognized the Seventh Princess.
The fact that the Seventh Princess was personally driving a cart—and a mule cart at that—with two children seated beside her, quickly spread across many parts of the capital.
Many people were idly chatting in teahouses when they heard the news, and shock rippled through them all.
They all knew that the Seventh Princess had struck the Fourth Prince and been punished by being sent to Meixi Temple. Yet here she was, returned in no time at all. And those who had bought pastries instantly recalled the jade pendant the two children had shown.
Putting two and two together, they linked Xi Qingyue and her companion to the Seventh Princess, and everyone came to the same conclusion: it was the Seventh Princess who had ordered every pastry bought up.
But even knowing this, no one dared say a word. Even if she’d taken a bite of their food, or even given them a beating, what could they do? Even a prince had been struck.
The Seventh Princess's maternal grandfather was Duke Zhenguo, commander of a hundred thousand troops in the western borderlands, and a man every prince sought to win over. The Fourth Prince, favored as he was, hadn’t dared to offend that connection—even after being beaten so badly he couldn't get out of bed for days, his retaliation had only been to send her to Meixi Temple, without even a strike in return. These ordinary folk were hardly about to risk crossing her.
Xi Qingyue ignored the many probing looks directed at her, while Xi Weilan genuinely didn’t notice—she was still busy thinking about how she’d play once they reached the pretty mansion.
When the mule cart arrived before an imposing and magnificent estate, Xi Qingyue finally looked up. The characters “Princess Wenyang’s Estate” above the gate made her pause in surprise—of all the people they could have run into, it had to be another princess.
“You’re a princess?” Xi Qingyue asked bluntly.
“That’s right. I was actually still outside the city serving my punishment—but thanks to you two, I’ve been allowed back. So I thought I’d bring you home to play, as a way of thanking you. You two are my lucky stars,” the Seventh Princess said, laying out her intentions plainly as she looked at Xi Qingyue.
Now it was Xi Qingyue and her sister’s turn to be puzzled. All they’d done was eat, drink, and have fun—they hadn’t done anything else. They’d only just arrived in the capital themselves.
“Come on, we can talk about all that later. Let’s go inside first—I’ll have the kitchen prepare some treats for you.”
The Seventh Princess stepped down from the mule cart and reached out to pick up Xi Weilan, but the girl shook her head and slipped down from Xi Qingyue’s lap. “No need, I can walk by myself.”
She stood before the estate gate, hands clasped behind her back, a small cloth pouch slung over her shoulder, tilting her head up to stare at the plaque overhead with the air of a little adult—a sight that made the Seventh Princess, the steward, and the maidservants who had come to greet them burst into laughter.
“We welcome the Princess home!” everyone chorused as they bowed to the Seventh Princess, delight clear on every face.
The Seventh Princess waved a hand. “Enough, rise.”
Then, gesturing at Xi Qingyue and her sister, she said, “Let me introduce you two—these are honored guests of this house. No one is to treat them with anything less than utmost courtesy. Whatever they need, you are to see it done. Understood?”
“Understood!” everyone answered in unison.
With that, the Seventh Princess led the two girls into the estate.
“By the way, I still don’t know your names,” she said as they walked along the inner paths.
Xi Qingyue still didn’t give her real name. “I’m Yueqing, and my little sister is Yuelan.”
They crossed a covered corridor, followed the bluestone path past a series of rockeries, and Xi Weilan’s small face was full of fresh wonder at every sight.
She pointed at the lotus pond ahead and yelled, “Sister, the lotuses over there are so beautiful.”
The moment she spoke, a shadow darted out from beside her. The Seventh Princess reached the edge of the lotus pond, lightly tapped her toes to leap into it, reached out to pluck a flower, and swiftly flew back, now holding a gorgeous bloom in her hand.
She handed the lotus to Xi Weilan. “For you.”
Xi Weilan didn’t look at the lotus. Instead, she stared at the Seventh Princess with sparkling eyes. “Sister, your movement just now was even more beautiful than the flower.”
It was the first time she’d been complimented by a child, and the Seventh Princess couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
After laughing, she shook her head with regret. “Ah, what a pity. The Ninth Sister’s lightness skill is far superior to mine. I just don’t know if we’ll ever meet again.”
