by Fynn Chen
Thoughts of having used her sickness to lure the princess back and depriving Wanwan of pursuing her hobbies during the past few weeks began to loom in Yexuan’s mind. Wanwan was a child of the great plains, her life ought to be led out under the open skies, and where the free land was so abundant that one could not sight its end. Wanwan was the very embodiment of freedom. These thoughts brought tears to Yexuan’s eyes. How could Yexuan be so selfish to starve her of all these beauties of the world. Trying to prevent her tears from becoming apparent to Wanwan, Yexuan had turned away. Yexuan stood up to pace around the room but Wanwan’s calloused hand had closed around her wrist, halting her. A gasp escaped from Yexuan’s lips.
“Okay, fine, I won’t go. I will just go for the next one,” the wildling princess said with a sigh of defeat.
Yexuan was unable to resist her tears then and it flowed down her cheeks. Yexuan knew she really was a hindrance in Wanwan’s life. One that ought to be filled with many activities, instead of being confined to this suffocating palace.
“W-Why are you crying? I said I won’t be going already,” the wildling princess quickly said and stood up in tandem.
Yexuan saw Wanwan close the distance between them and put her arms on both of Yexuan’s shoulders as she positioned herself to look at Yexuan’s face. Taking in a deep breath, Yexuan tried to sustain their gazes and felt Wanwan lifting her chin with her fingertip.
“Don’t cry. I’m not going and I will make sure you take your medicine every day until you have recovered,” Wanwan said with as kind of a smile as she could offer.
In the smiling eyes of Wanwan, Yexuan saw an abundance of genuineness and selfless care for her. It made Yexuan feel undeserving of having Wanwan, such a thoughtful person, as her companion.
Clenching her fist, Yexuan shook her head determinedly. “No, go for the hunting trip. I mean it.”
Cocking her head forward in confusion, Wanwan asked, “What? Why?”
“I want you to go for the hunting trip. You have been cooped up in this palace for the past few weeks and that is already enough. The first and only thing you have been doing when you have returned to this palace was to accompany the sickly me. I do not want you to be held back anymore.”
Wanwan was at a loss for words, a look of consternation etched into her face. Several seconds passed before she removed her finger from Yexuan’s chin and held her hand instead.
“I did it all willingly and besides… it is my political duty to do so…”
Political duty or not, Yexuan knew that the wildling princess had truly cared for her with her heart. Wanwan had even changed her mind so quickly for Yexuan’s sake. Knowing how hard-headed Wanwan could be, Yexuan knew she would have to come up with a suggestion that was equally powerful to affect Wanwan’s decision.
“I will be going for the hunting trip too,” Yexuan said and saw the wildling princess freeze.
“W-What?”
“What? Didn’t you hear? Several princes and princesses will be going as well. I will request to go,” Yexuan said decisively and felt the grip on her hand tighten.
The wildling princess had her jaws clenched and her nostrils flared. Yexuan realised Wanwan was frustrated, and it was evident in her voice. “Don’t do things you don’t want to do, Princess Yexuan.”
Princess Yexuan. Ever since Wanwan’s return, they had dropped their titles and addressed each other by their names when in private. Wanwan only called her Princess Yexuan when she was either taunting her or feeling extremely annoyed. This time round, it was the latter. Yexuan blew out a slow breath to calm her own emotions.
“I want to do it, Wanwan. I want to go on a hunting trip like all other princes and princesses. I want you to go on that hunting trip and enjoy your hobby,” Yexuan said evenly and saw the wildling princess’s face soften a little.
“You’re doing it for me, aren’t you?” Wanwan asked.
Yexuan did not want to deny that. “Yes. I want to do something in return for you… I know what you have sacrificed in coming back even though I don’t know the extent of it.”
Huffing out a breath, Wanwan shook her head. “You don’t have to do anything for me, everything is by my choice.”
“I am not doing it solely for you. You said before that I need to go outdoors more often, this is my chance to do so, I don’t want to be treated as an invalid.” Yexuan said with resoluteness in her eyes, and she made sure Wanwan was convinced.
Wanwan gave a mischievous lopsided smile before nodding. “As long as your body is up to it. Anyway, I doubt you will be able to join the hunt, your father Emperor would never allow it. You will most likely be staying in the tents and it is going to be so boring.”
“Even more boring than being confined in my own quarters?” Yexuan asked scornfully.
Wanwan chuckled. “Of course not. Alright then, make sure you are healthy enough to go for this trip. I don’t want to have to feed you medicine in the tent every day.”
“That is your duty,” Yexuan reminded Wanwan.
With a raised brow, Wanwan brought a hand up to Yexuan’s face. Wanwan paused midway, her hand hovering in the air hesitantly. Yexuan saw the column of wildling princess’s throat bob in nervousness before Yexuan took her hand and brought it to her own face. The warmth of it began spreading across Yexuan’s face and she would have closed her eyes to savour the touch. Then, Wanwan pinched her cool cheek lightly, bringing Yexuan back to her senses.
“My duty? It is your body, take care of it. Love yourself, only then, will you have the energy to love others and your countrymen,” Wanwan said coolly.
Even if those were simple words from the Bo’er princess, Yexuan still felt touched, and she let out a small laughter. When Wanwan removed her hand, the loss of warmth nearly made her pout.
Yexuan was then reminded about the earlier conversation they had with her royal brothers, about attending meetings and the governance of the country. Multiple times, she had caught Wanwan staring at her. Yexuan knew what was on the wildling princess’s mind. How could she not when their last and biggest argument was on that topic. A princess is not just a princess, she has the ability to change things in her country as long as she has the will to do it. This was a thought that Yexuan had come to embrace over the past few months after mulling over the argument Wanwan and her had.
Yexuan nodded to the wildling princess’s words. “I will take better care of myself… but can you make another promise to me?”
Wanwan tilted her head as she waited for Yexuan to continue speaking. The words were nearly stuck in her throat and Yexuan found it difficult to articulate them despite having thought about it over several nights. Leaning forward, Wanwan urged Yexuan to continue with that growing look of anticipation on her face.
Mustering her courage, Yexuan stared straight into Wanwan’s eyes. “Promise me that you won’t leave me even after I have recovered.”
Princess Wanwan burst out into laughter as she put her hands back on Yexuan’s shoulder. “Let me think about that. I might have to consult my sister, my royal brothers and my father Khan about this,” the wildling princess managed to make a joke out of a serious conversation and that made Yexuan feel heartened.
“Think through it,” Yexuan said encouragingly with a wry smile.
That was the end of the discussion for the day as the wildling princess had urged Yexuan to return to her quarters to heal her body sufficiently to be able to join the hunting trip. Without waiting for Yexuan to reply, Wanwan had ordered the palace maids to bring umbrellas in case of rain, and personally saw to sending Yexuan back to her quarters. Wanwan did not know that all her little actions had made Yexuan’s heart flutter like never before and made Yexuan wonder what her life was going to be like without Wanwan in it.
**
The end of the cool Spring heralded the beginning of the warm Summer. The foliage in the imperial gardens and the numerous courtyards in the palace grew denser, infusing the palace with a myriad of beautiful stunning reds and luscious g
reens. Slow blooming flowers which refused to blossom in the cooler weather of Spring were nudged to flaunt their vibrance in this season. With the goings and comings of season, was the arrival of the much-anticipated outing of the year. The great imperial hunt.
Wanwan did not know that the hunting trip could be such a huge motivation for Yexuan to recover so quickly. Within that one month, the imperial physician had passed Yexuan to be fit enough for the trip albeit with constant medical attention for the courtly princess.
Yexuan showed herself to be more elated than Wanwan had expected. In that past month, Yexuan had not only visited Scarlet frequently at the stables with her but had also requested to attend some of the meetings that the princes were attending. Wanwan had almost forgotten that Yexuan had also passed the age of fourteen and was deemed mature enough to listen in to worldly affairs.
A fact stood out and it was that Yexuan was often subtly reminded by others in court as well as the other jealous royal siblings that she was truly just a princess and princesses rarely involved themselves in politics. Wanwan found that unpalatable and in turn, counter reminded Yexuan that female politicians were rare but not unheard of. Wanwan’s vote of confidence in Yexuan seemed to always make the courtly princess smile.
That night as they were both lying on Yexuan’s bed in her bed chamber, Wanwan had once again, told the courtly princess about one of the greatest scholars in Bo’er, Scholar Miying. Yexuan always listened with undivided attention. The night before the hunting trip, Wanwan had not intended to keep Yexuan up too late, but she could not bear to turn down the curious questions from Yexuan.
“This Scholar Miying, you seem very familiar about her,” Yexuan had commented.
“Of course, we grew up together… well, actually more like my elder sister Yanyan and Miying grew up together,” Wanwan said with pride.
“Like us?” Yexuan clarified, as she flipped herself from her sleeping position and laid on her stomach instead. The floral scent from Yexuan’s silky and luscious hair wafted into Wanwan’s nose when she shifted. Propping her head on her hand, Yexuan directed large, inquisitive eyes at Wanwan, which Wanwan found irresistibly adorable.
“So… are they like us?” Yexuan repeated her question and prodded Wanwan on her shoulder with a slender finger.
Wanwan pressed her lips together as she wondered, then nodded after some time. “Somewhat like us, I guess. Except that Miying and Yanyan really knew each other since they were babies, and their thoughts were always in tandem. Like the meeting of minds and souls.”
A sweet smile spread across Yexuan’s face she mouthed those words ‘meeting of minds and souls’.
“That sounds really nice.”
Wanwan met Yexuan’s sweet smile with her own crooked one and flipped herself to lie on her stomach as well. Her two legs folded backwards and fluttered in the air as she answered more queries from Yexuan.
“Yea… but well… right now they are separated in two lands and the last time I returned to Bo’er. I barely saw Miying.”
Disappointment was written across Yexuan’s face and she inclined her body forward as she asked. “Why is that so?”
Wanwan sighed. “From what my royal brothers told me, Miying had stationed herself semi-permanently at the military encampments with several of my elder brothers. She is working harder than ever to become a war adviser.”
Also, perhaps to distract herself from the loss of Yanyan. Wanwan told herself internally.
“A female war adviser?” Yexuan asked in shock.
Wanwan smirked and nodded, leaning her face towards Yexuan. “Yea… pretty impressive, don’t you think? Every war that adopts Miying’s strategy has only gained victory and never tasted defeat. The male Jing soldiers must be trembling with fear whenever they hear about her.”
Yexuan smiled wider and leant towards Wanwan as well. Their faces were so close that their noses were almost touching but that has already become a norm these days.
“Really… the way you describe her makes it sound very fantastical. She is like a legendary character.”
Wanwan gave her infamous slanted smile and said, “well… you never know, Miying might become an important historical figure recorded in our Bo’er books.”
Yexuan raised a brow in wonder and sighed dreamily as she rested her head on her folded arms. Reckoning that they have delved too late into the night, Wanwan got up to put out the candles.
“Anyway, it is late, we are setting off at twilight tomorrow. Turn in now, before your body betrays you right before the hunting trip,” Wanwan warned.
Mild discontentment flashed in Yexuan’s eyes and she sat back up on the bed. “Are you cursing me?”
“I wouldn’t dare to, my lovely courtly princess. My head will roll if I do and war will ensue between our countries,” Wanwan japed.
The discontentment in Yexuan’s eyes melted away and was replaced by amusement instead. Then she got up as well and followed Wanwan about to put out the candles in her quarters. Usually, this would have been a maid’s chore, but the two princesses had agreed that they disliked external presences. And so, their palace maids had learnt of when to keep away from the princesses at times and Wanwan did not mind doing such easy tasks.
Yexuan commented, “seriously, you are becoming more theatrical.”
“A result of spending too much time with your royal brother, Prince Zhongtai,” Wanwan said plainly and Yexuan laughed.
“Right, Prince Zhongtai has a fondness for flamboyance,” Yexuan acknowledged.
Wanwan gave a slight bow of her head before beckoning Yexuan to go to bed once more as she put out the remaining candlelight. Yexuan refused and insisted on waiting for Wanwan.
Once they were draped in near darkness, illuminated by a single lamp. Wanwan pulled Yexuan along behind her by her wrist as they made for bed.
“Ride close to me tomorrow,” Wanwan whispered to Yexuan and saw the shy smile on the courtly princess’s face as Wanwan pulled the covers over her.
Then, Wanwan climbed into the bed as well and felt Yexuan snuggling closer to her and pulling up the covers for her in return. Wanwan sighed at Yexuan’s adorable stubbornness.
Since a week ago, because of frequent torrential rains in the night, Wanwan had decided to save the trouble and spend the night at Yexuan’s quarters instead of having to shuttle back and forth between their quarters. It was not too big a deal for Wanwan since she had shared the same bed with Yanyan since young. However, Yexuan had never shared her covers with anyone in her life and she was a little unused to it during the first few nights. Subsequently, Yexuan had admitted that she slept exceptionally well with Wanwan by her side. So, even after the seasonal heavy rains had stopped, Wanwan decided to sleep over at Yexuan’s quarters whenever it had gotten too late.
“Goodnight,” Yexuan said softly.
“Goodnight,” Wanwan replied.
**
The next day, they were greeted by the brilliant summer sun’s rays, bathing them in a joyful mood.
The hunting party was massive, an event which the Emperor had decided to attend personally so security was at its peak. News about the sickly Princess Yexuan tagging along with them for this trip had surprised the court. Multiple times, Wanwan had caught sight of other princes and princesses alike craning their necks to catch a glimpse of Yexuan to verify this news for themselves. They were truly surprised when they confirmed Yexuan’s presence with their own eyes because Yexuan had rarely been outside of her quarters or around the palace. Coupled this with Yexuan’s increasing participation in court affairs, the other royal siblings became even warier.
Wanwan snorted at them fiercely when she rode up to Yexuan, acting like the courtly princess’s most loyal bodyguard. Wanwan had rarely seen the other princes and princesses because she had spent almost all her time with Yexuan. However, Wanwan remembered a couple of faces who had come over to their area to catch a glimpse of her after her hunting incident last year. Their faces were committed to her memory and Wan
wan knew she had disliked this bunch of princes and princesses more than the rest.
Unlike Prince Zhongtai and Zhongxiu, the other royal children of Pei seemed to constantly have some malicious intent and Wanwan wished she could put them all in place by giving them a glorious beating with her wooden sword.
However, as if anticipating all these, Yanyan had stolen a moment with Wanwan before they set out. With a serious expression, Yanyan had warned her younger sister to not expose herself to dangerous situations and embroil herself in squabbles with other members of the Pei royal family. Wanwan pulled a long face and stuck out a tongue as she promised her sister to stay safe and to not get into conflicts. Wanwan remembered how much pain she had been in during the previous hunting incident and how bitterly her elder sister had wept because of her. Besides, this time round she needed to stay alert enough to also keep a lookout for Princess Yexuan against those mean-looking royal children. Getting hurt was not permitted.
As they rode out in smaller parties, Yexuan had also obediently heeded Wanwan’s words and rode close to her or as close as Scarlet would let the other steed get. Wanwan had to soothe the feisty mare several times to prevent the young equine from biting Princess Yexuan’s much more mature and gentler steed.
After an hour of riding, Wanwan noticed that Yexuan was still healthy but had decided to ask anyway. “How are you feeling?”
Princess Yexuan gave a small smile, “I feel well. Don’t worry, the physician has taken a look at me before we set off and I will call out for you if I start to feel unwell.”
“Good, good,” Wanwan said.
After several moments of riding in quiet and peace, they heard hoof sounds nearing them.
“You two are slowing the party down,” Prince Zhongtai joked then continued, “Princess Wanwan, shall we set the party’s pace?”
