Willow on the Palace Wall (Lily ABO) - Chapter 10

010: Xiao Chu Isn’t Afraid

Su Ling raised an eyebrow, teasing Su Ce with a smile.

Her Royal Sister was either so arrogant that no one was good enough for her, or she was simply preoccupied with military matters. Either way, she had no concubines or even serving maids. Ever since she passed the age of marriage, even the Emperor had become quite concerned about her marital status.

“Which family’s Kunze has caught Royal Sister’s eye? I wonder if I might be able to take a look?”

“Your Highness misunderstands. I simply met a distressed common woman by chance and took pity on her…” Su Ce gestured for Su Ling to enter the tent. “A military camp is not like the palace. My tent is quite humble, but please rest a while. I have already sent someone…”

“There’s no rush for all that. I’m more curious, Royal Sister: are you truly just taking pity on this Kunze woman?”

Su Ce had the word “yes” on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it.

Xiao Chu was lying on her bed, her clothes disheveled. Her outer shirt hung half-off the edge of the bed, and her smooth, pale back was partially concealed by the curtains. A thin, red strap was stretched across her back. In the flickering candlelight, it looked like a trembling heartstring, playing with one’s emotions. The loose knot beckoned to be untied.

“…Mmm… sister, you’re back?” Xiao Chu had heard the noise outside the tent long ago. She was merely pretending to have just woken up, rubbing her eyes with one hand. She sat up groggily and turned her head back. Her waist arched into a delicate curve, more alluring than the willows on the Qin Huai River in spring.

“…Please forgive me, Your Highness.”

A blush crept uncontrollably back onto Su Ce’s face. She rushed forward, pulling the blanket to cover Xiao Chu. “The border is not like other places; the wind is much colder. Be careful not to catch a chill.”

“With sister here, Xiao Chu isn’t afraid.” She sweetly buried her head into Su Ce’s chest, not forgetting to give a discreet wink to the Crown Prince behind her back, clearly asking her to keep her secret.

“You’re the honorable daughter of the Prince of Huainan, the most famous Kunze in the capital, Hua Muchu. Have you been playing a trick on the royal family by impersonating a commoner and approaching the Eldest Princess?”

Su Ling’s face was cold as she questioned Xiao Chu. After Su Ce had left to patrol the camp, the very same well-behaved Hua Muchu had snuck into her tent.

An unmarried Kunze behaving so brazenly? There was only one such person in the entire Great Yan Dynasty: Hua Muchu.

“Of course not! I just didn’t have time to explain,” Hua Muchu giggled. “I had to do it to avoid drawing attention. If the Eldest Princess knew I was from the Prince of Huainan’s family, she would definitely send me back! I worked so hard to sneak out!”

“You sneaked out?” Su Ling was shocked. No wonder the Prince of Huainan had looked so serious lately.

“My father is so rigid and long-winded! He keeps nagging me about my marriage every day! It’s so annoying!” The Prince of Huainan, a man so powerful the Emperor himself was wary of him, was described by Hua Muchu like a regular father, obsessed with the marriage of his beautiful, young Kunze daughter.

“So I sneaked out this time. I just wanted to have some fun for a few days. Will you pretend you never saw me, Your Highness?”

Hua Muchu pleaded sweetly, but Su Ling’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

She didn’t believe a word of it.