The next day, outside the palace gates.
At the hour of the snake, the glazed roof tiles of the imperial palace were baked to a blistering glare, stinging the eyes of all who looked upon them.
"Hurry up! What are you dawdling for? A bunch of total idiots—are you trying to bake the Prince to death?!"
The personal guards of Xian Wang Manor were urging on the servants who were pushing a wooden cart covered with a large red silk cloth.
Xiao Qi sat on a white horse, pulled up in the only patch of shade at the palace gate. The day was swelteringly hot, leaving him restless and irritable. Had he not been in a rush to deliver a gift to the Empress Dowager, he would have long since returned to the manor to cool off.
*Rumble, rumble…*
A carriage slowly approached the palace gate.
Xiao Qi squinted at it. The old sandalwood body and deep brown curtains, bearing the unique family crest of the Lu family, became increasingly distinct.
It was the Lu family carriage, Xiao Qi realized. It must be the new bride of Huo Yanxing coming to the palace to offer her thanks.
In truth, Xiao Qi had only seen Lu Qingyuan from afar a few times at banquets. Rongyue had spoken to him about this half-sister of hers—a girl raised among the commoners, supposedly savage, crude, and ignorant of etiquette.
The carriage finally came to a halt, and the door creaked open. A maidservant stepped out first, lifting the curtain. The woman inside lifted her moon-white dress lightly, preparing to descend. The hem was embroidered with a few sprigs of orchids, fresh and elegant, swaying as she moved. She wore an azure-blue overgarment, and her hair was adorned with nothing more than a simple jade hairpin. She looked like a spring of clear water—cool, pure, and translucent.
So this was the eldest daughter of the Lu family. She was nothing like what Lu Rongyue had described. Xiao Qi suddenly felt as though the day were not quite so stiflingly hot after all.
He nudged his horse's flank, trotting nimbly to the front of her carriage, and gave a slight nod. "Greetings, Younger Sister Qingyuan."
Lu Qingyuan looked up at him. This was the first time in this life she had seen Prince Xian, Xiao Qi—her husband from her past life—at such close range.
Xiao Qi’s appearance favored the Empress Dowager, possessing seven parts heroic spirit and three parts feminine grace. That pair of peach-blossom eyes had ensnared the hearts of countless noble ladies in the Capital. He was every bit the man described in the verse: *riding a horse, leaning against the slanted bridge, beckoning to the red-sleeved maidens in the towers above.*
Xiao Qi was known to be amiable, generous, and a patron of many guests; he was always meticulously attentive to women. Yet, only those closest to him knew just how cruel and cold-blooded he truly was.
On their wedding night in her past life, it had taken Xiao Qi only a single glance to turn from tenderness to disgust—the moment he saw the wound on her shoulder.
Lu Qingyuan lowered her head slightly to hide the intense loathing and hatred in her eyes.
Xiao Qi, however, interpreted the young woman's gesture as shyness. Combined with Lu Qingyuan’s attire today—truly as pure as a lotus rising from the water, devoid of any artifice—he felt a sudden urge. He had always favored women who were delicate and willow-like; for a fleeting moment, he regretted not having secretly suggested to the Empress Dowager back then that both Lu sisters be married into his manor. Wouldn't that have been a delight?
As he pondered this, Xiao Qi unabashedly let his gaze roam over Lu Qingyuan. His stare felt heavy and tangible, making her feel deeply uncomfortable.
She leaned on Songyan’s hand, stepped down from the carriage, and bowed respectfully to the Prince. "Greetings, Prince Xian."
"No need for such formalities, Younger Sister Qingyuan," Xiao Qi said, looking down at her from his horse. "Why are you traveling alone? Where is Huo Sanlang? On a day for imperial audiences and expressions of gratitude, he isn't even with you?"
Lu Qingyuan smiled but said nothing.
"That boy grew up in the military camps; he lacks any sense of romance. I apologize to Younger Sister Qingyuan on his behalf." Xiao Qi reached to his waist of his own accord, unfastened a piece of fine jade, and held it out toward her. "Take this. Consider it a small token of my esteem."
The jade was warm and translucent, carved with a lifelike auspicious beast—a rare treasure indeed.
Lu Qingyuan stepped back slightly and said softly, "Prince Xian, this item is too precious. I dare not accept it. I hope Your Highness will keep it."
"Rongyue and I are to be married soon. Since you and Rongyue are sisters, you are naturally my sister-in-law. Why would you be afraid to accept it?"
Xiao Qi’s hand remained suspended in mid-air, with no intention of pulling back. Lu Qingyuan was in a bind—to take it or not would both be problematic, especially with onlookers about. In her heart, she cursed Xiao Qi up and down.
*Whoosh—*
A sharp, urgent sound cut through the air, followed by an arrow whistling from the distance. Before anyone could react, the arrow precisely pierced the tassel of the jade pendant. The tassel snapped instantly, and the jade fell to the ground with a *clack*, shattering into two pieces.
"Assassins! Protect the Prince!" Xiao Qi’s guards immediately drew their swords.
The sound of hooves approached from afar, and everyone turned to look. A man led the way, dressed in black military armor and riding a black horse at a gallop. His dark hair was tied in a crown, and a few stray locks, dampened by sweat, clung to his cheeks.
Just as he was about to collide with Xiao Qi, he pulled hard on the reins. The black horse reared up, its front hooves pawing the air as it let out a hiss. It stopped less than half a meter from Xiao Qi’s white horse.
"Ah, it’s Huo Sanlang," Xiao Qi said, unmoved. He raised a hand, signaling his guards to sheath their weapons, and a fake smile curled his lips. "It’s hot today, and your temper is just as fiery, Sanlang. Why not join us in my mother's palace later for some mung bean and lotus seed soup to cool off?"
Huo Yanxing spoke in a clear, resonant voice: "Prince Xian, yesterday, while you were hunting on the outskirts of the Capital, you destroyed civilian crops and allowed your men to trample the commoners' fields. It just so happens that they have come to the Huo Family Army for justice. I am here to demand an explanation for them."
"Huo Yanxing, you demand an explanation from me? I haven't even begun to hold you accountable for firing arrows recklessly beneath the palace walls and destroying my jade," Xiao Qi said dismissively with a wave of his hand. "Forget it. You and I are soon to be brothers-in-law; for the sake of Younger Sister Qingyuan, I won't hold this against you."
Xiao Qi’s repeated use of "Younger Sister Qingyuan" made Lu Qingyuan’s skin crawl.
Huo Yanxing finally cast his gaze toward Lu Qingyuan. At the sight of her, his brow furrowed once more. His first thought was that this look did not suit her. Even though he knew nothing of women’s dresses, jewelry, or makeup, he could tell this outfit was not nearly as lovely as what she had worn two days prior. She belonged in red—the kind of vibrant, intense red that looked bright and full of life—not these dull, flavorless neutral tones.
Recalling the wager from yesterday, he grew worried. Had she mortgaged her dowry just to win?
"Oh my, what is going on with you two lords?"
At that moment, a shrill voice came from within the palace gate—it was Eunuch Li, the personal attendant to the Empress Dowager. "Her Majesty is still waiting inside. It’s hot out here; why don't we go inside the palace to talk?"
Xiao Qi let out a cold snort. "I am here today to offer a gift to the Empress Dowager. I hope some people will know better than to spoil her mood."
With that, he dismounted and strode ahead.
Huo Yanxing also dismounted, unbuckled his sword, and walked toward the palace alongside Lu Qingyuan. No one noticed that as he entered the gate, he shot a meaningful look at an inconspicuous young eunuch.
Lu Qingyuan quickened her pace, intending to ask him a few questions, but Huo Yanxing spoke first: "Why are you dressed so hideously?"
Lu Qingyuan: "..."
If you don't know how to talk, you could just keep your mouth shut.
She rolled her eyes at him, tightened her little face, and moved a few steps to the side, putting some distance between them.
Huo Yanxing felt baffled. Was it wrong to even ask?