NFBE Chapter 315 A Little Woman's Thoughts
Chapter 315 A Little Woman's Thoughts
Qin Tietie was bored in the Prince Xian's mansion. Fortunately, the mansion was big enough that she could wander around here today and there tomorrow.
From a very young age, she helped her father in the blacksmith shop. She was quite outgoing and had a tomboyish personality, being very easygoing. Within a few days, she got along very well with everyone in the household.
That day, having nothing else to do, she went to Tian Xueyan's room to watch her do embroidery. After a few words, Qin Tietie subconsciously asked Tian Xueyan a question.
"I hear a Yue accent in your voice. Are you from Yue?"
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. In her panic, Tian Xueyan pricked the tip of her finger with the needle and cried out in pain.
She sucked the blood from the tip of her finger while trying to come up with a lie.
“I am not from the Yue Kingdom, but my grandmother was from the Yue Kingdom and my grandfather was from the Xia Kingdom. I grew up with my grandparents and may have been unintentionally influenced by my grandmother.”
"Oh."
Qin Tietie responded indifferently, and while Tian Xueyan was sucking her fingers, he picked up the bandage and examined it from all angles. Then, he asked a question out of the blue.
"Judging from the pattern and stitches, the double-sided embroidery you're doing should be Suzhou embroidery from Yue. Have you ever been to Yue?"
Upon hearing this, Tian Xueyan felt her hair stand on end. She was temporarily residing in the palace as an embroiderer, and her identity as a princess of Yue Kingdom must not be exposed. Why was this Qin Tietie so annoying?
Tian Xueyan had no choice but to pretend to be stupid and continue making things up.
"Really? My master never told me that Suzhou embroidery originated from your Yue Kingdom. You know quite a lot."
Qin Tietie pointed to the two mandarin ducks playing in the water on the embroidered surface.
“I’ve seen these two birds before. There’s an embroidery shop right next to my house, and they sell them for a really high price.”
So that's how it is. It was just a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse. She didn't even recognize the mandarin ducks, thinking they were two birds. Tian Xueyan's heart, which had been pounding, finally settled down. She found it somewhat amusing that she had been so paranoid.
"If you like it, I'll give it to you once it's finished being embroidered."
"Wow!" Qin Tietie exclaimed excitedly, "You keep your word?"
In recent days, Tian Xueyan has noticed that the weather is getting warmer and wants to embroider a few fan surfaces to make round fans to give to the young ladies in the mansion. It would also be fine to embroider one more to give to Qin Tietie.
"count!"
Tian Xueyan said to Qin Tietie with a smile.
At this moment, Shi Shu arrived at the door of Tian Xueyan's room and looked at Qin Tietie sitting inside with a blank expression.
"Miss Qin, our Prince has ordered that you come to the workshop. He has something to discuss with you."
Qin Tietie has been feeling unwell these past few days, almost to the point of illness. She feels uncomfortable all over, and she's been doing all the heavy lifting in the manor – chopping wood and carrying water – yet she still seems to have inexhaustible energy.
Upon hearing that the Prince Xian wanted to see her, Qin Tietie immediately got up and walked to Shishu's side. Her voice was usually eight octaves higher than other girls', and it was also muffled.
"What's up? Is it strenuous? I can't do anything too easy!"
Shi Shu's lips twitched. This silly girl was really honest!
"It must be quite tiring, shall we leave now?"
"okay!"
When Qin Tietie heard that it was a physically demanding job, he was overjoyed and immediately agreed without hesitation!
Just as Shishu led Qin Tietie to the front yard, Chunlan rushed over and called out to Shishu.
"Shishu, why didn't you tell me you were coming back?"
Shi Shu avoided eye contact, not daring to look Chunlan in the eye.
"His Highness is in a hurry to send Miss Qin to the workshop, I..."
"Have you been avoiding me lately? Why is that?"
Chunlan interrupted Shishu and looked intently into Shishu's eyes, trying to discern something from them. However, Shishu bit her lip, lowered her head, and once again avoided Chunlan's gaze.
"No...it's just that the workshop is too busy..."
Shi Shu's explanation sounded weak and unconvincing, and even Qin Tietie rolled her eyes at Shi Shu in disdain.
"How about this..."
Chunlan, always a straightforward girl, didn't mind Qin Tietie standing right next to her and said to Shishu decisively.
"Forced relationships are never sweet. If you have another woman in your heart, or if I'm an eyesore, just say so. Don't get tired of hiding from me!
"I didn't! I really didn't!"
The servant was so anxious that he scratched his head and sweated profusely.
"Then why are you suddenly ignoring me?"
A glimmer of hope ignited in Chunlan's heart, and she questioned Shishu.
"I..." Shi Shu suddenly gritted her teeth, "I feel I'm not good enough for you!"
After saying that, Shishu strode towards the gate of the mansion. Qin Tietie was dumbfounded. He looked at Chunlan, then at Shishu, and hurriedly chased after Shishu.
"I'm so angry! This is so inexplicable!"
Chunlan stomped her feet in anger. When she was pursuing Shishu, why didn't she think Shishu was unworthy of her? Now that her mind was entirely on Shishu, Shishu was using the excuse that she wasn't good enough for her. How could she accept that?
At this moment, in Tian Xueyan's room, she propped her head up with one hand, staring at the two mandarin ducks on the embroidered face, lost in a daze.
In the past, as long as she could see Huang Shuo even once a day, she would feel at ease. But now she hadn't seen Huang Shuo for several days, and she was anxious and distracted every day.
Although she didn't know the specific details, she could roughly guess that Huang Shuo was helping the prince and princess with their work in the workshop outside the city, and she didn't want to bother them unnecessarily.
How can I meet Huang Shuo?
A slight worry appeared between Tian Xueyan's brows. She sighed softly, got up, and was about to go out for some fresh air when she saw Chunlan walk in with a pout, pick up the teapot, take a few sips of tea, and sit down in a chair in a huff.
"What's wrong with you?"
Tian Xueyan asked with concern.
"It's all because of that bastard Shi Shu!"
As Chunlan spoke, she clenched her fist and slammed it on the table.
Tian Xueyan immediately understood. She had only been in the Prince's mansion for a short time when she learned that Chunlan and Shishu were a couple. The Prince and Princess were enlightened and tolerant, and did not value formalities. Instead, they advocated true feelings.
Everyone was happy to see it happen, and they often joked about Chunlan and Shishu.
"Look, look! Shishu chased Chunlan around every day, and finally won her over!"
The housekeeper even loudly revealed secrets to her.
"I saw the purse that you taught Chunlan to embroider hanging on Shishu's waist. It seems that their good news is coming soon!"
Even the usually nonchalant Little Fairy Doctor secretly gossiped with her.
These days, Shishu has been staying and eating with the prince in the workshop and rarely returns to the palace. Tian Xueyan thought this was normal, but it turns out that Shishu and Chunlan are having a falling out.
Is there some misunderstanding between you two?
Tian Xueyan pushed the pastries on the table toward Chunlan and asked cautiously.
"If there really is a misunderstanding, wouldn't it be better to just talk it out? But I really don't know what misunderstanding there is between us. He won't tell me when I ask him, and just now he said something inexplicable like he's not good enough for me!"
Chunlan picked up a piece of jujube cake and took a big bite, as if the jujube cake was Shishu, and taking a bite made her feel relieved.
"I am the princess's personal maid, but the princess treats me like a sister. Shishu is the prince's personal bodyguard. He grew up with the prince and is as close as a brother to him. How can you say that he is not good enough for me? Excuses! All of them are just excuses!"
"What you said may be a bit presumptuous, but the logic is sound."
Tian Xueyan slowly sipped her tea.
A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea!
Chunlan picked up another piece of jujube cake, took a bite, and complained angrily.
Tian Xueyan almost laughed as she listened. They say a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, but it turns out that this applies to men as well.
Seeing Chunlan's distressed expression, she suddenly had an idea. She thought to herself, "I'm just worried about not being able to see Huang Shuo, so why not make a little use of Chunlan?"
Suppressing her excitement, Tian Xueyan smoothed a strand of hair behind her ear, smiled gently at Chunlan, and spoke softly:
"Sister Chunlan, don't you think it's too miserable for the Prince and Princess to live and eat with the blacksmiths all day long? Should we cook something nice and send it to them?"
Tian Xueyan's words struck a chord with Chunlan, and the bad mood she had just been upset by Shishu immediately vanished.
Thinking that she would soon see the princess, Chunlan was overjoyed. She grabbed Tian Xueyan and, not wanting to linger for a moment, hurriedly walked out of the house.
"Come on! Help me cook a few dishes and deliver them before dinner! I'll also bring the Princess a few changes of clothes!"
"Okay, I'll do whatever you want!"
Tian Xueyan was surprised that her little trick had worked so easily, and immediately responded happily, feeling as if the spring breeze was rippling on her face.