Spring Remains the Same - Chapter 61

Because Wei Xiu and Puyang were always together, the attendants serving them had also become familiar with one another. No one found it strange when Puyang followed Wei Xiu inside.

External affairs were already exhausting enough to drain one’s mind and energy. If they had to constantly second-guess each other in their private lives, it would be far too taxing. Both Wei Xiu and Puyang understood this well.

Upon entering the inner chamber, Wei Xiu’s gaze swept across the room, and she dismissed all the attendants.

Seeing this, Puyang also sent away the people behind her.

The room fell silent, leaving only the sound of their breathing. The short walk from the courtyard entrance had been enough to calm Wei Xiu down. She went to the side table, took out some tea leaves, and scattered them into a pot. Then, she lifted the kettle from the small stove and poured the boiling water into the pot.

Puyang sat down by the table without speaking. Her serene gaze rested on Wei Xiu, a thoughtful expression on her face. Wei Xiu’s hand trembled, nearly spilling the water. She focused on her task, steadily returning the kettle to the small stove.

In an instant, the fragrance of tea filled the room. In such severe cold, to return home and drink a cup of hot tea to warm oneself was not only an elegant affair but a beautiful one.

After a moment, Wei Xiu placed a teacup before Puyang and filled it for her.

The teacup was made of wood, polished smooth and carved with patterns of flowers and birds. Puyang lifted it, blew on the surface, and took a sip. She was about to speak, but Wei Xiu preempted her. “I misspoke just now.”

Puyang was taken aback for a moment, then a faint, somewhat lonely smile bloomed on her face. After spending so much time together, even now, she still couldn’t see through Wei Xiu. Wei Xiu still kept her at a distance. “Sir, your formality truly saddens me. Between us, must we still weigh our words? What do you mean, you misspoke?”

The teacup in her hand, despite its thick wall, seemed to burn fiercely. Wei Xiu gazed at the hazy shadows beneath the window and said faintly, “A slip of the tongue is a slip of the tongue. I should rightly apologize to the Princess.”

“How will you apologize?” Puyang asked.

Wei Xiu thought for a moment, and Puyang spoke again, “How about this?”

Like what? Wei Xiu turned her head. Her Highness leaned over, one hand caressing her cheek. Wei Xiu’s eyes widened abruptly as a soft sensation touched her lips, a tenderness that came suddenly and permitted no refusal.

They had never been this close, so close it felt as if they could possess each other at any moment, as if their very souls were melting into one another.

Wei Xiu found herself unable to think, unable to move, her entire body frozen stiff. Puyang’s breath was inches away. Her eyes were closed, her long, curled lashes trembling lightly. Her lips were pressed against Wei Xiu’s, but she made no further move—she was nervous too. A sudden pang of sorrow struck Wei Xiu’s heart. Between them, it was always Her Highness who took the initiative. But Her Highness was also a woman; she could be shy, nervous, and afraid. She also needed tolerance, pity, and protection.

But why did those past events have to lie between them? If only she were not burdened by a deep feud, and if only Puyang were not born into the imperial family, how wonderful that would be.

Wei Xiu closed her eyes and slowly responded. She was very new to this. She licked Puyang’s lips lightly, then, clumsy and unsure of what to do, she only dared to trace the outline of Puyang’s lips, tentatively, bit by bit.

Puyang’s lips grew hot. Her light fragrance was so intoxicating, her breath so bewitching. Wei Xiu wanted only to forget everything and never awaken from her captivating tenderness.

Only when both felt breathless did they slowly part.

Puyang’s face was flushed red like a sky full of evening clouds, her eyes misty, filled with a maiden’s unique shyness. Looking at her, Wei Xiu’s heart softened. She could no longer deny it; the princess had long since merged into her heart, making her happy when she was happy, and worried when she was worried. Like a pearl in the flesh of a clam, it could grind her until she ached all over, yet she couldn’t bear to let it go. She still had to gently envelop her, letting her shine with brilliance.

Puyang sat back down on the couch. Filled with affection and shyness, she lowered her head slightly. The atmosphere had softened, but the original knot of tension had to be untied. She asked in a low voice, “Sir was unhappy today. Was it because of the Prince of Yuzhang?”

Outside just now, when Wei Xiu had spoken of Jiangnan being a fine place with a displeased tone, Puyang had understood. She was happy that Sir was jealous—jealousy meant she cared—but she also worried that Sir would lose patience with her because of it.

Wei Xiu no longer tried to evade the topic. She told the truth. “Because of him, and yet not because of him.” She had been annoyed to see the princess speaking with the Prince of Yuzhang, but she also knew that even if it had been someone else, she would have felt just as bad.

Puyang was a little confused and looked at Wei Xiu with puzzlement. Wei Xiu smiled, a hint of melancholy in her expression. “If one day, you and I were to turn against each other, how would Your Highness treat me?”

Puyang frowned slightly but still considered the question seriously before answering, “If you and I were to turn against each other, I would be sad if I won, because my heart would ache for you. I would also be sad if I lost, because I would have lost you. It would be a dilemma, a mutually destructive outcome.” She couldn’t imagine a time when they would be at odds. Although it hadn’t been long since they had confessed their feelings, she knew Wei Xiu’s character well. She was resolute and not easily swayed. Since she had pledged her life to her, she would certainly not betray her.

Thinking of this, she smiled. “Why does Sir ask such a thing?”

Wei Xiu said, “I always fear that day will come.” That day would come sooner or later, like fate. She looked at Puyang and said, “If that day truly comes, I will certainly yield to Your Highness.”

Puyang smiled. “That would be good, then.” She still didn’t take it to heart.

There was something Puyang had been thinking about for some days, and now was a good time to ask for Wei Xiu’s opinion. She appeared hesitant, as if embarrassed, and Wei Xiu watched her with curiosity.

Puyang bit her lip, and steeling herself, she said softly, “Once the Prince of Yuzhang leaves the capital, I will report to my Lord Father and marry you, Sir. What do you think?”

Before, when she didn’t have Sir, it didn’t matter. Marrying someone she didn’t like would only be asking for trouble. But now, Puyang wanted to settle their status as soon as possible, to become a married couple with Sir, so they could be together in a proper and justifiable way.

Wei Xiu, however, had not expected her to say this. Resistance immediately rose in her heart. She was unwilling to even be a minister of the Wei court, let alone call the Emperor ‘father.’ But Puyang’s expectant expression made her unable to refuse. She said tactfully, “His Majesty may not be willing to have me as the Prince Consort. In such a turbulent time, why stir up trouble over this matter?”

Puyang smiled slightly. “You don’t understand His Majesty. He will agree.”

In the Emperor’s heart, nothing was more important than the realm; otherwise, the matter of appointing a crown prince would not have been delayed until today. Although she was favored, it was only because she had never touched His Majesty’s bottom line. The current marriage proposal came from Qi, which posed no threat to Wei. But if Qi were powerful and attacked Wei, and Wei was powerless to fight back, would His Majesty agree to a marriage proposal from Qi then? He certainly would.

Puyang understood this clearly, but she wasn’t hurt or resentful because of it. People always had to make choices and have priorities. Her father’s love for her was real; it was just that major affairs came first.

Bringing calculation into her marriage with Wei Xiu made Puyang feel a little resistant, but she still said, “Sir has repeatedly offered brilliant strategies and already holds a place in His Majesty’s heart. But your refusal to enter officialdom makes His Majesty feel that you are not secure. A person without desires is the hardest to control. This time in the palace, he brought up your refusal to join the court again. This was not necessarily an unintentional remark.”

In other words, although being unable to walk was a flaw, what did they need to do personally? A single command and someone would do it for them. The most important issue was whether her inability to walk would hinder the continuation of the family line, and Puyang could find a way to resolve that matter.

In her past life, she had not married, and His Majesty had said nothing, which showed that he had given her great freedom. She might have to go to the palace and plead a few more times, but His Majesty, constrained by her genuine affection and wanting to control Wei Xiu, would very likely agree.

Puyang was confident, which was why she had proposed this. She looked at Wei Xiu and said gently, “As long as you are willing, Sir, I have ways to handle the rest.”

Since Wei Xiu had appeared before the Emperor, repeatedly offered brilliant strategies, and yet refused official positions, she naturally had countermeasures in place and would certainly not let the Emperor suspect her.

What Puyang said was not a problem for Wei Xiu at all. What troubled her was Puyang’s heartfelt wish.

The thought of them being eternally bound, seeing each other day and night, never to be parted, made Wei Xiu’s heart burn with an intense longing. In the end, she too was moved by the idea.

If she could be moved by this today, there would be more and more things in the future that she would find herself unable to refuse. One day, she would be forced by her own actions into a corner with no way out.

Puyang looked at her expectantly. She could never imagine that Wei Xiu would refuse; there was no reason for her to refuse. Since they were sincere with each other, marriage was a natural progression. A glimmer of joy was already showing in her eyes, just waiting for the good thing she believed was certain to come to truly arrive.

That clear gaze, filled with a joy as simple as a child’s, made Wei Xiu feel as if she were being torn apart. The words of refusal were already on the tip of her tongue. Just as she was about to speak, a knock suddenly came from the door.

They both turned to look at the door at the same time.

“Your Highness,” Qin Kun called from outside.

If it weren’t for an urgent matter, Qin Kun would never have disturbed them. Wei Xiu breathed a sigh of relief and said to Puyang, “Your Highness, call him in.”

Author’s Notes:

Currently, the disagreement regarding the Top/Bottom attributes only comes down to two points, which are,

Is Wei Xiu a tsundere Bottom, or an awkward tsundere Bottom.

I never thought there would be a day when opinions were so nearly unanimous. How disappointing.