Ling Xuan sat down at the highest pavilion in the Imperial Garden as her clear eyes gazed at the colorful koi fishes swimming around freely in the pond situated near her. This place made her remember the day where she was almost pushed into the pond by Imperial Consort Su and encountered the Empress Dowager, gained her favor, and was the first to attend a private gathering with the aloof Empress Dowager and her precious daughters. This made her remember Princess Yu, whom she had helped. She was pregnant back then, Ling Xuan wonders how the baby looked like. With a mother with such a strong character and a father who is extremely devoted, the child should turn out well. Ling Xuan stifled a sigh that struggled to escape from her as such thoughts ran through her head. It is said that Princess Yu and her Princess Consort did not throw a huge celebration for their child due to the death of Imperial Consort Lan as a sign of respect. Princess Yu and Imperial Consort Lan were friends and Princess Yu is mourning for her deceased friend so it was reasonable but that just made Ling Xuan's heart clench.
The friendship with Princess Yu was a deliberate move made in order to gain a strong backing to stabilize her footing in the Imperial Harem. It was not done out of goodwill nor was it genuine. The princess knows that anyone that comes near her has a motive which is why earning that friendship was surprising for Ling Xuan. Her goal was only for Princess Yu to owe her a favor but she has gotten more than that while meddling in the princess's matters.
If possible, she would like to attend the upcoming first-month celebration Princess Yu is throwing for her newborn child.
"What are you mumbling about?"
A deep familiar voice asked from beside her, shocking her from her thoughts. Jerking her head towards the owner of the voice, Ling Xuan widened her eyes in pure surprise. Standing up, she quickly greeted the person.
The long silky jet black hair flowed along with the soft breeze while framing an incredibly handsome face with a sharp jawline. Those clear eyes stared at Ling Xuan, looking extremely gentle, different from when they first met, held a hint of amusement. A smile tugged the ends of his thin lips, clearly holding back his laughter at the surprised expression of Ling Xuan.
"Ling Xuan greets Duke Fei."
Duke Fei nodded and gestured for her to sit down with him. Ling Xuan took a seat and turned her eyes back towards the vast pond before Duke Fei interrupted her.
"It's starting to get chilly, why are you sitting by a pond in this weather without a maid attending to you? Look at your clothes as well, where is your cloak?" Duke Fei chastised her with a small frown as he noticed the lack of layers Ling Xuan was wearing.
"Didn't feel like wearing much when I stepped out today," Ling Xuan answered absently, her gaze never strayed from the pond.
Shaking his head at her stubborn character, Duke Fei took off his outer coat and draped it over her thin shoulders. The scent of Duke Fei immediately clung onto Ling Xuan's body, a clean scent of jasmine. Ling Xuan had always enjoyed the scent of Duke Fei, the smell of clear jasmine. Unlike the Emperor who had never taken any interest in such feminine products, his body always has the smell of the last woman he was with prior. The women in the Harem uses strong perfume and it makes Ling Xuan's sensitive nose flinch whenever she is nearby.
Duke Fei's body scent smells nice.
"You need to wear more clothes if not you will catch a cold. Your body may not be as frail as before but you still need to take care. Also, eat more. I cannot believe how thin your arm is." Duke Fei did not notice all those thoughts going through Ling Xuan's head. He had noticed how thin her arm is when draping his coat over her and could not help but think that she is thinner compared to the last time he had seen her.
"Men do not like women who are overly thin," Duke Fei offhanded comment made Ling Xuan's gaze leave the pond.
"Does this mean Duke Fei likes women who has a rounder figure?" Ling Xuan raised her eyebrows, silently judging his tastes.
"Duke Fei is saying that he likes women who are healthy. And why are you asking me?" Duke Fei retorted, somewhat amused at Ling Xuan's question. Shouldn't she be asking about the Emperor's tastes and not his?
"Ling Xuan just has suspicions. You have never married nor gotten concubines. There has never been a woman that you have gotten interested in. Ling Xuan had also heard rumors that Duke Fei is…" Ling Xuan's words trailed off as she glanced to the side, avoiding Duke Fei's gaze.
"Bullshit," Duke Fei rolled his eyes. He knows what rumors are going around and he knows that Ling Xuan knows who started all these rumors in the first place. It was originated from the Empress Dowager and the Emperor to prevent any lady of noble lineage from marrying into Duke Fei's household, making the Ling Clan more powerful than it currently is. It is not as if he was totally uninterested in such matters as women and marriage but he just finds the people who come to him for such motives are disgusting. There has never been a woman he was comfortable with talking normally without feeling the pressure of marriage, his sisters are an exception of course.
"Ling Xuan is jesting, don't get so angry." Ling Xuan chuckled at the annoyed face Duke Fei was making. It was somewhat funny when the normally dignified Duke Fei, the god of war feared by many, would twist his face and pout. If the ladies of the capital were to know that Duke Fei has this side to him, how many would swoon and fall heads over heels in love with him? Not to say that Duke Fei does not have suitors. With just his face, Ling Xuan feels that the ladies who want to marry into his household would need to queue from his mansion's doorstep all the way to the capital gates and maybe even more.
"You haven't answered my question yet." Duke Fei reminded her as he composed himself after seeing her laugh.
"Ling Xuan was just reminiscing the past. Does Duke Fei know? The deceased Imperial Consort Lan was once plotted against at this very place."
Duke Fei shook his head, "I am not aware."
"Duke Fei is a busy person. Of course, you wouldn't know about the trivialities of the Imperial Harem." It was not a spiteful comment. Ling Xuan knew from the gossips that travel quickly among the maidservants that Duke Fei is always being sent out on missions by the Emperor. Because the Emperor was incompetent, he needed help. Duke Fei who was expected to ascend before his arm was injured, was trained in managing the state affairs so the Emperor requires his aid often.
"But would you believe if I said, that fateful day, I almost lost my life here?" Ling Xuan whispered solemnly. The scenes replayed in her mind and subconsciously, her hands grasped her skirt tightly as though she went back in time and was experiencing it again.
"I believe you." Duke Fei answered her, not a hint of amusement left in his eyes or tone. He had heard stories from the Imperial Harem from before his brother ascended the throne and after. There were never nice stories but he had always thought of those women as pitiful. Their entire life, just for power and greed or maybe for love, fully vested for one person. And that one person might not even remember your maiden name.
Is it truly worth it?
"But it was also that day where I met someone who became my friend. She is a strong person, always on her guard though. I feel she needs to relax a little bit now that she has become a mother. It's just sad that I can never tell her the truth," Ling Xuan muttered softly, her gaze dropped as she could not help but let a soft sigh escape her dainty lips.
Duke Fei stared at her as he pondered her words. The late Imperial Consort Lan was on close terms with the Empress Dowager and her two daughters, especially Princess Yu after helping her in one of her troubles. Duke Fei does not have any personal grudges against his two Imperial sisters and he truly wishes them well. He has an amicable relationship with his sisters and has received an invitation for her upcoming gathering. Seeing Ling Xuan being so down casted and even bought up Princess Yu, Duke Fei is sure about his guess.
Which made what he was about to say even more suited for the current situation.
"Even if you cannot tell her the truth, you can still forge a friendship with your new identity in the upcoming celebration."
Ling Xuan snapped her head towards his direction, her face full of anticipation. Seeing her acting this way, Duke Fei broke out into a small smile before he took out a letter of invitation and handed it to her.
Ling Xuan took the letter and read it before glancing up at Duke Fei. "Is it fine to bring me along with you?" Shouldn't one normally bring a lover into these occasions? Would people misunderstand and use this to cause trouble for Duke Fei?
As Ling Xuan mulled over the possible scenarios in her head, Duke Fei lifted his slender finger to her scrunched up forehead and gently rubbed it to smoothen the pale skin under his fingers. It was an instinct he had as an older brother to two little sisters but Duke Fei's actions stopped Ling Xuan's thoughts in their tracks as she glanced up from her long eyelashes at the gentle face staring down at her.
It reminded her of how her older brother would sometimes rub his hands over her forehead whenever he thinks she looks ugly, just to annoy her. She used to be very bothered by that action but now Duke Fei is the one doing it, she has mixed feelings. Half of her heart wants to smack Duke Fei but the other half is strange. It almost felt as if her fingertips were a little numb, was it because her body was starting to feel the chill? Maybe she should go and get an Imperial Physician to take a look at her. Maybe Duke Fei is right, she might be coming down with a cold after sitting here so long with just a few layers.
Ling Xuan was so lost in thought that she did not realize she was staring at Duke Fei without saying a word and it was making the situation starting to look a little bit awkward. Duke Fei took back his hand and coughed in embarrassment before hastily taking his leave after telling Ling Xuan to wear more clothes and eat more meat.
Ling Xuan tilted her head to the side as she watched Duke Fei hurry away. Was he in a rush to go somewhere? It didn't look like it in the beginning…
Ling Xuan shrugged it off and begin to make her way back to Imperial Concubine Mother Ling's Palace, one hand clutching onto the coat that Duke Fei left behind on her shoulders while the other hand clenching onto the precious invitation letter given to her by Duke Fei.