Wu Fengmian was currently slightly hungry. She was wondering if they could still get the rice cakes that were ever so popular at the capital's finest sweets shop. She and Xiao Xi strolled around, each immersed in their own thoughts. As they passed the busiest part of the capital, some of the young ladies present blushed at Wu Fengmian's 'handsome' appearance. Oblivious to her admirers, Wu Fengmian grabbed Xiao Xi's arm and announced, "let's get some rice cakes." The young ladies trailed after Fengmian and soon they had a small cluster of perfume, giggles, and face powder as an entourage. Xiao Xi noticed these things naturally but she couldn't confront the people, nor could she covertly inform Fengmian about it without incurring the wrath of the 'discreet' ladies following them, so she just helplessly allowed Fengmian to lead her towards the shop.
As they entered the shop, a sweet yet clean aroma greeted them. However, this calming scent didn't match with the loud and crowded manner of the shop. Suddenly, a clear voice rung from the second floor. "If it isn't the princess, escaped from the palace to come out and play?" The boisterous shop was suddenly filled with silence. Fengmian, having just crossed the threshold with Xiao Xi, flicked her eyes towards the source of the voice. A young man in his early twenties with features on par with Fengmian smiled and met her gaze head on. Fengmian expressed a slight frown but walked on, as if she hadn't heard him. She and Xiao Xi went to take a seat at the elegant tables which littered the three stories of the shop, conveniently choosing one that was close to the young man. "I don't know who that noble one is, but to use the imperial name to quiet down a lively shop is like calling wolf. If the princess were to actually be present, she would surely not need someone unrelated to her to announce her entrance." Fengmian said at neither a high or low volume, seemingly innocently conversing with Xiao Xi. The young man cracked a smile and replied in a similar manner, "Ah, is it that after two years my eyes can no longer identify my best friend's little sister? This noble one shall apologize to the customers of this establishment for the false alarm." Fengmian's eyes widened slightly. She did not recall her brother having a friend like this. Or a friend at all. To be honest, who except for her could put up with her brother's cold and expressionless self? At this moment, the rice cakes and tea that she had ordered arrived. Fengmian's eyes brightened, thanked the waiter, and tasted the rice cake. She smiled, fully savoring the simple albeit delicious treat, deciding to ignore the young man.
An hour later, Xiao Xi led a satisfied Fengmian out of the shop. Suddenly, the young man for earlier rushed out. "Fengmian, is it that you truly don't recognize me?" his voice slightly broke, sounding pained. Fengmian, finally fed up, whirled around. "If you think this lowly one is the princess, why are you addressing her not as her title? I am just a son of one of many court officials. On top of that, I am a male, which happens not to be what the princess is nor sexually identifies as." At this last part, Fengmian had a small moment of internal crisis as to what her preferences were but quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts. Truth be told, last month, she had gotten very sick. In her sick stupor, she had hit her head against a pole and fell into concurrent pond. When she had awakened, all memories of her life had disappeared, leaving her confused about her identity. However, through careful questioning and listening to the palace gossip, she learned much about 'herself.' 'She' had liked sencha, reading, embroidery, yet would often not be found in her courtyard. After seeing her closet having clothes for both men and women, she immediately understood that her past self was odd. Yet this odd personality matched her own quite well, so she had adopted the cross dressing habit from her previous self. Fengmian had come out today for the 'first' time to explore the capital. As for this random stranger, he had ruined her good mood.