Chapter 16: Reunion

What is a *xiangpei* (scented pendant)?

The noble young ladies, including County Princess Jiayi, had their gazes fixed on the butterfly-shaped scented pendant dangling from Qiu Heng’s finger.

It was a rustic, wooden red, giving the otherwise light and airy butterfly a dignified and substantial charm.

People of this era loved fragrance and always associated it with elegance; this wooden scented accessory was undoubtedly more appealing to their tastes than a traditional sachet.

County Princess Jiayi was practically soul-snatched by the small, beautiful, fragrant butterfly pendant, and she couldn't help but reach out to take it.

Feng Caiyue gave her cousin’s sleeve a fierce tug, which finally brought the County Princess back to her senses.

"Ahem." County Princess Jiayi tried her best to maintain her composure. "Sixth Miss Qiu, may I admire your scented pendant?"

Qiu Heng smiled and handed it over.

County Princess Jiayi held the pendant gingerly, first touching it, then sniffing it lightly, her heart and eyes filled with nothing else.

"Is there... mint added to this?"

"Yes, summer is here. Wearing this scent can be cooling and refreshing."

"This is quite similar to the incense pills used for perfuming."

"It is indeed not difficult to make..." Qiu Heng simply began to explain the method of crafting the scented pendant.

County Princess Jiayi listened intently, unable to think of anything else for the moment, but the other young ladies were extremely shocked.

They had never seen a scented pendant on the market before. Was Sixth Miss Qiu really just giving away such a unique technique?

The four Qiu sisters were even more hesitant, feeling that Qiu Heng had suffered a great loss.

But they soon had no time to feel sorry for Qiu Heng. Once a noble lady discovered that they were all wearing butterfly scented pendants, they were immediately surrounded.

County Princess Jiayi kept pulling Qiu Heng aside to ask questions.

"I will write down two fragrance recipes suitable for summer. If you are interested, County Princess, you can try them."

County Princess Jiayi was overjoyed and immediately ordered a maid to bring pen and ink.

Qiu Heng picked up the brush and wrote down a recipe, causing the young ladies to scramble for a look. They wanted to master the recipe, but they were also curious about the handwriting of this Sixth Miss Qiu from the countryside.

The small characters were clear, beautiful, and graceful—the very *zhanhua* (hairpin flower) regular script most popular among women.

The gazes the young ladies cast toward Cheng Susu suddenly became subtle.

The social life of noble ladies in the capital was rich and colorful: poetry clubs, painting clubs, incense clubs, cuju clubs... as long as one wanted to play and loved to play, there were plenty of opportunities to gather. Many people present had seen Cheng Susu’s handwriting, and it was not as good as Sixth Miss Qiu’s.

This was truly embarrassing.

Cheng Susu’s face burned, and she clenched her fists tightly.

A hand rested on her shoulder; it was Fang Rui, a noble lady from the Prime Minister’s estate.

"So what if she writes well and knows how to make incense?" Fang Rui whispered with a cold smile after everyone’s attention had shifted away.

Qiu Heng’s grandfather would still have to bow and scrape before her own grandfather.

Once the ink was dry, County Princess Jiayi carefully put the recipe away and took Qiu Heng’s hand. "This is the best birthday gift I have received. Once I make a scented pendant, I will ask Sixth Miss Qiu for more advice."

Qiu Heng smiled. "Actually, the birthday gift I prepared for you, County Princess, is a pair of scented pendants."

Upon hearing this, County Princess Jiayi hurriedly had her maid find the gift Qiu Heng had brought from the mountain of presents.

"Cousin, hurry and open it to see," Feng Caixing urged.

County Princess Jiayi opened the gift box, and the young ladies who were craning their necks to see all gasped in admiration.

Inside, a pair of wooden lotus flowers bloomed in layers, a perfect, natural combination of rustic simplicity and elegance.

Afterward, the scented pendants became the main topic of the birthday banquet, and the Qiu sisters experienced for the first time what it felt like to be the center of attention.

Qiu Fu thought to herself: She didn't care for it anyway; it wasn't meant for her.

"Fourth Miss Qiu, this butterfly scented pendant matches the purple tassels unexpectedly well."

Qiu Fu couldn't help but curl her lips. "It’s mainly because the texture and color of the butterfly are substantial enough to hold it down. My sixth sister..."

When Ling Yun, the Prince’s Heir, arrived with several young men, this was the lively scene he witnessed.

Those who came with him were either cousins or relatives, all there to celebrate County Princess Jiayi’s birthday.

When the noble ladies bowed to greet them, they could hardly hide their excitement.

It wasn't that they were shallow; it was just that the Heir’s immortal-like temperament was too outstanding. Like a noble crane, he made the handsome men around him look like common barnyard fowl.

When Qiu Heng saw the Heir, her suspicions were confirmed: he was indeed the "Brother Bai" she had known in her youth.

Standing among the noble ladies, she avoided the Heir’s gaze and lowered her eyes to bow.

Noticing the young girl’s avoidance, the Heir dismissed the thought of greeting her.

County Princess Jiayi received another wave of gifts, and the Heir’s group departed.

Watching the elegant, jade-like young man walk away, one noble lady clutched her chest and murmured, "Heavens, the Heir is so handsome!"

She had only gone on a long trip; what exactly had she missed?

Even Feng Caixing couldn't help but sigh in distress: When would she ever be able to see her cousin without losing her composure? It was all because he had been away from the capital for too long and she wasn't used to it.

Feng Caiyue, however, glanced at Qiu Heng without a trace.

Sixth Miss Qiu and her cousin must know each other, yet she had acted like a stranger just now. Was she afraid of gossip?

Actually, she was quite curious about how Sixth Miss Qiu had come to know her cousin. A country girl and a Prince’s Heir... well, she was very curious.

While the ladies were immersed in the Heir’s beauty, a maid walked over. "County Princess, the Princess Consort heard that Sixth Miss Qiu brought a type of scented accessory never seen before, and she would like to see Sixth Miss Qiu."

"Mother wants to see Sixth Miss Qiu?" County Princess Jiayi couldn't leave because she had to host the other ladies, so she instructed the maid, "Sixth Miss Qiu is visiting the Prince’s estate for the first time; take good care of her for me."

"Yes."

Seeing Qiu Heng leave with the maid, the young ladies sighed: She had already been summoned alone by the Princess Consort?

When Qiu Heng met the Princess Consort of Kang, the Marchioness of Changchun was also there.

The two sisters did not look much alike in appearance. The Marchioness of Changchun could be called pretty, but the Princess Consort of Kang had to be described as a peerless beauty.

Only such a beauty could give birth to a son like the Heir.

"Greetings to the Princess Consort, greetings to the Marchioness."

The Princess Consort of Kang looked Qiu Heng over carefully and smiled. "What a refined child. I heard Sixth Miss Qiu made a new type of scented accessory; may I have a look?"

Qiu Heng handed the butterfly pendant to the maid, who then passed it to the Princess Consort.

"It really is a novel thing." The Princess Consort’s fair fingers brushed over the pendant before she handed it to the Marchioness. "Sister, take a look too. Today’s young girls are truly clever and talented."

The Marchioness of Changchun took the pendant, looking quite interested. The Princess Consort asked Qiu Heng a few more questions, then said, "Sixth Miss Qiu, go and play with Jiayi."

With only the two sisters left in the room, the Princess Consort sniffed the fragrance lingering on her fingertips, her expression unreadable. "I knew it. A young girl who could associate with Yun’er wouldn't be mediocre."

She just didn't know to what extent that association went.

As Qiu Heng walked toward the garden, she guessed the Princess Consort’s purpose in seeing her.

She could feel that the Princess Consort was not interested in the scented pendant; she was interested in her.

Was it because of the Heir?

As she thought this, a hem of moon-white robes came into view. It was the Heir, Ling Yun, waiting ahead.

"A-Heng," he called out openly, not hiding the joy of their reunion.

(End of chapter)