On the other side, in the princess mansion, when the people outside reported that Xie Jingxing was here, Princess Rong Xin was already preparing to sleep.
She had been alone for many years and had no children by her side. Every time it was a festival, she would feel more lonely. Even if Emperor Wen Hui in the palace was her brother, they were not from the same mother after all. How could they be really close? Moreover, getting along with the emperor was never as comfortable as staying in the princess mansion. Therefore, during the Jade Rabbit Festival over the past years, Princess Rong Xin would neither enter the palace nor go out to have fun. Instead, she would lock herself up at home.
Today was different. When she found out that Xie Jingxing was here, Princess Rong Xin was a little surprised. After changing, she went out to welcome him. When she walked into the hall, she saw that Xie Jingxing was already sitting on a chair and waiting. When he saw her, he smiled. “Auntie Rong.”
Princess Rong Xin was close to Princess Yuqing. It was not inappropriate for Xie Jingxing to call her Auntie Rong.
“Why brought you here today?” When Princess Rong Xin saw Xie Jingxing, she was a little puzzled, but at the same time, she was very happy. She had no children of her own and had long treated Xie Jingxing as her son. She pitied Xie Jingxing’s background. When Princess Yuqing passed away and Princess Rong Xin went to the Marquis of Lin’an’s mansion to pay her respects, she even shouted at Xie Ding for failing to protect Prince Yuqing. Although Xie Jingxing was mischievous, he treated Princess Rong Xin very respectfully. He would come to the princess mansion to visit her every New Year. However, he usually came only after the first day of the New Year, which was why Princess Rong Xin was surprised to see him during the Jade Rabbit Festival.
“I miss Auntie Rong, so I came over to visit you. Don’t tell me Auntie Rong doesn’t welcome me?” Xie Jingxing smiled. He was already outstanding in terms of looks, so when he spoke half-jokingly and half-seriously, the maids in the hall blushed.
Princess Rong Xin tapped his forehead and smiled. “You even dare to tease an old woman like me. You’re getting bolder.”
“Missing Auntie Rong is one thing, but I have something to ask of you tonight,” he said.
Princess Rong Xin was stunned for a moment before sitting up straight and saying seriously, “Jingxing, are you in trouble? If there’s anything you can’t handle, just tell Auntie Rong.”
“Auntie Rong, don’t be nervous. It’s just a small matter.” Xie Jingxing smiled and explained, “I have a friend who got separated from her family at the Jade Rabbit Festival today and accidentally fell into the water. Although I saved her, it’s a little inconvenient for me to send her home, so I want Aunt Rong to get your people to send her back.”
Princess Rong Xin understood what he meant when she heard that. Although Ming Qi was relatively open-minded about the matters between men and women, they were still very sensitive to the reputation of a girl. However… Princess Rong Xin looked at Xie Jingxing. “Is your friend actually a girl?”
Xie Jingxing nodded.
“All these years, I’ve never seen a girl around you.” Princess Rong Xin suddenly said teasingly, “Jingxing, you ”’ve come of age now. I wonder how old that girl is. Is she married?”
“Auntie Rong.” Xie Jingxing said helplessly, “She’s still a little girl. Because I owe her a favor, I have no choice but to help. Auntie Rong, don’t tell me you don’t want to help me?”
“What are you talking about?” Princess Rong Xin pretended to be angry. “When have I refused to help you? Fine, fine, fine. Where is that girl now?”
“In the carriage outside. Auntie Rong, can you give her your spare clothes to change into?” Xie Jingxing said.
Hearing this, Princess Rong Xin looked at Xie Jingxing with a meaningful gaze. Seeing this, Xie Jingxing only shook his head helplessly and couldn’t be bothered to explain. Princess Rong Xin instructed the maid beside her to help Shen Miao to the bedroom in the mansion to rest and said to Xie Jingxing, “But you haven’t told me who she is.”
“Shen Miao, the daughter of the mighty general,” Xie Jingxing said lazily.
Princess Rong Xin was drinking tea. When she heard this, she almost choked on the tea. She looked at Xie Jingxing and said in disbelief, “Isn’t that idiotic girl in love with the Prince Ding?”
Xie Jingxing shrugged. Princess Rong Xin looked at him seriously. “Jingxing, there are thousands of girls in the world. You’re still young… You can wait.”
Xie Jingxing was speechless.
On this side, Princess Rong Xin and Xie Jingxing were chatting. On the other side, Shen Miao sat in Princess Rong Xin’s bedroom and watched as maids came and went to tidy her clothes and hair.
In her previous life, Princess Rong Xin did not treat her so warmly. Perhaps she looked down on Shen Miao, or perhaps she felt that Shen Miao was too eager to please Prince Ding, she always treated Shen Miao coldly. Even when Shen Miao became the empress later, Princess Rong Xin was still indifferent to her. Princess Rong Xin didn’t reside in the palace. Occasionally, when she entered the palace, she would show hostility towards Shen Miao, so in Shen Miao’s heart, Princess Rong Xin was not easy to get along with.
Unexpectedly, she received such hospitality from Prince Rong Xin in this life, which puzzled her.
