TSWRLM -Chapter 187 Visiting to Apologize

“Princess, I have never met the woman you mentioned,” Chun Xi said.

Having never met her, there was naturally no way to compare.

Hearing her answer, Princess Hengyang’s eyes flickered. She thought for a moment and said, “That woman is beautiful and gentle, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Back then, she was the dream of many sons of noble families, and even the women admired her. She’s like… Xiao Qinghe.”

At the mention of Xiao Qinghe, Chun Xi had a rough idea of who the princess was referring to.

She was indeed very different from Princess Hengyang.

But Chun Xi couldn’t judge who was “better” based on that.

After a moment of thought, Chun Xi said earnestly, “I’ve never interacted with her, but if the princess holds her in such high regard, it must be that you don’t care what others think of you. And now, living freely and without restraint, you have no need to waste energy on old matters.”

“Kindred spirits are hard to find,” Princess Hengyang murmured, clearly touched. She wrapped her arm around Chun Xi and planted a kiss on her cheek. “A-Xi, you truly are my kindred spirit! Why didn’t I meet you sooner? If it had been you back then, what need would there have been for the princess consort at all?”

Princess Hengyang’s voice grew louder and louder, drawing astonished glances from the surrounding guests.

What did this mean? Had the princess grown tired of men and now fancied women?

Chun Xi began to sense something was off. She grabbed the princess and whispered, “Princess, are you drunk?”

Princess Hengyang had been drinking when Chun Xi arrived, and by now had already downed two jugs. Though the fruit wine was sweet, it was enough to get her tipsy.

“I’m not drunk! I can drink a thousand cups and still stand! Servants, fetch two casks of the finest daughter’s red wine from the cellar. Today, I will drink three hundred cups with A-Xi!”

The princess shouted, removed her outer robe, and prepared to dance. Just then, a maid reported: “Princess, Young Master Wei has arrived.”

“Wei Lingze? What is he doing here?”

“Young Master Wei says he has come to apologize to Your Highness.”

“Apologize? I don’t need apologies. What if he goes mad again and hurts me? Get him out of here.”

After saying this, Princess Hengyang pulled Chun Xi along, and Chun Xi had no choice but to follow.

Chun Xi could handle trivial tasks and whip work, but she had no skill in music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Princess Hengyang, however, clearly knew how to dance.

The garden had musicians. When Princess Hengyang began to dance, they immediately played in harmony. Soon, she was completely immersed in the music.

Her body flowed with the rhythms, forming various graceful shapes. Chun Xi, untrained in dance, could still tell she was utterly carefree and joyful.

And beautiful.

After so many years, had the princess consort really never been attracted to the princess?

Just as this thought crossed Chun Xi’s mind, an extraordinarily handsome man stepped past the crowd and approached Princess Hengyang.

During her visits to Wuyou Pavilion, Chun Xi had seen many attractive men, but the man before her left her stunned.

He was breathtakingly beautiful.

His eyebrows and eyes were perfectly shaped, his figure tall and graceful, and his deep, shimmering eyes seemed full of infinite tenderness, able to drown anyone who met his gaze.

He could easily be mistaken for an immortal descending to the mortal world.

Chun Xi, struck by his beauty, froze in place, unable to look away.

But the man didn’t notice her; he looked only at Princess Hengyang. “Young Master Wei is kneeling at the gates of the princess’s residence. Your Highness, please see him.”

“He injured many of my brother’s guards. I don’t wish to see him,” she said.

“I will accompany you,” he added, trying to guide her outside. Princess Hengyang shrugged off his hand and turned to Chun Xi: “A-Xi, come with me.”

Chun Xi stepped forward, and a maid handed the princess her outer robe.

Once dressed, Princess Hengyang regained her commanding presence.

Chun Xi accompanied her outside, stealing glances at the man trailing behind.

The princess noticed and said calmly, “If you want to look, look openly. I won’t be upset.”

Chun Xi withdrew her gaze and whispered, “Princess, is this the princess consort?”

“Mm,” Princess Hengyang nodded. “Do you see why I have such good taste?”

Without hesitation, Chun Xi gave a thumbs-up: “Your Highness has impeccable taste! I’ve never seen anyone so handsome in my life!”

No wonder the princess didn’t bring anyone from Wuyou Pavilion home—having such a handsome man there would outshine anyone else.

“He may be handsome, but he’s useless—a pretty vase. Looking at him too long gets boring,” Princess Hengyang said loudly, completely unconcerned about the man behind them.

Chun Xi twitched and stayed silent.

Soon, they reached the gates of the princess’s residence.

Outside, Wei Lingze knelt with a thorned rod on his back, drawing a crowd.

Seeing Chun Xi by the princess’s side, his eyes darkened briefly, but he reminded himself he was there to apologize and quickly regained composure.

“I, Wei, previously offended Your Highness at Yunshan Temple. I have come today to offer my apology. Please punish me as you see fit.”

He then removed the thorned rod from his back and offered it with both hands.

Princess Hengyang’s eyes flickered. The gatekeeper stepped forward and took the rod: “Young Master Wei, you have offended us.”

Raising his hand, the gatekeeper struck Wei Lingze hard across the back.

Blood appeared instantly. Wei Lingze groaned in pain, his face paling. The gatekeeper hesitated, surprised at how hard he had hit.

Chun Xi whispered, “Princess, it looks like Young Master Wei has an old injury on his back.”

Though Princess Hengyang didn’t care about onlookers, if Wei Lingze was using a self-inflicted injury to gain sympathy, she would bear the blame.

“Are you hurt?” she asked.

Wei Lingze nodded. “I was punished by my father before. Just a small wound. It doesn’t matter.”

“One strike drawing blood is hardly ‘small.’ Go now.”

Wei Lingze frowned, wanting to argue, but Princess Hengyang added sharply, “Don’t misunderstand. I’m not concerned for you. I just worry about your old injury worsening. If anything happens, I’ll bear an undeserved blame. If you truly wish to apologize, heal your wound before coming again.”

With that, she turned and walked away. Wei Lingze wanted to stop her, but Princess Hengyang snapped, “Step aside, dog. If you dare stop me again, kneel there and take your punishment. That way the world will know that for so many years, you never forgot your aunt.”

Wei Lingze’s handsome face stiffened. He made no further move.

Chun Xi’s ears buzzed.

The princess consort’s previous love… had been Wei Lingze’s aunt!?