Seated in the dining hall, palace maids brought in one dish after another, and in no time, the entire table was filled.
Observing, Feng Qingyi estimated that there must have been close to twenty dishes. Each one was exquisitely delicious, looking like pieces of art.
She suddenly remembered inviting Xuanyuan Yan to a couple of takeout meals before. Feeling a bit shy to start eating.
"Miss Feng, please feel free to help yourself," Xuanyuan Yan said.
With the invitation from Xuanyuan Yan, Feng Qingyi dropped all her inhibitions and began to eat heartily.
Standing on the side, Ming Jiu, seeing Feng Qingyi's gusto, whispered to Bai Wei, "Miss Feng really doesn't stand on ceremony!"
"Bai Wei responded, "The young Miss Qingyi is different from the young ladies of Shengjing, you wouldn't understand!"
Ming Jiu wore a puzzled look. What didn't he understand?
Feng Qingyi ate with great concentration. Though her movements were not elegant, they wouldn't be perceived as crude either.
Because she and Xuanyuan Yan were not very familiar, she had no conversation topics, leaving the dining table relatively quiet.
Not until the meal was over did Xuanyuan Yan initiate the conversation, "Miss Feng, when are you going back?"
"I can only stay here for three hours," Feng Qingyi answered.
"Do you have any plans for a place to visit later?" Xuanyuan Yan asked.
Feng Qingyi answered a bit aloofly, "Just a casual stroll."
"Next time you come, you're welcome to visit the palace."
Having said that, Xuanyuan Yan pulled out a token, seemingly out of nowhere, and handed it to Feng Qingyi.
Feng Qingyi looked at the token in her hand, "What's the use of this token?"
"With this token, you can enter and leave the palace at will without anyone stopping you. If something happens in Shengjing, you can take it out."
"I don't come often, I'd better return it to you!"
She had only taken him in for two days, and he was treating her to a meal and giving her a token. She felt the gratitude was a bit much.
Xuanyuan Yan didn't take it back, "Having given it to you already, there's no reason to take it back."
"If something like today happens again, show this token and no one will dare inconvenience you."
"I have known Ah Chuan since infancy and we share a deep friendship. Now that he's on the front line, it's up to me to take care of you."
So it was because of Qin Yuchuan. Feng Qingyi finally accepted the token.
"Thank you then. Today I planned to go out with Bai Wei and others. I'll take my leave now and thank you for your hospitality."
Xuanyuan Yan instructed, "Ming Qi, please see Miss Feng to the door."
Ming Qi led the way with Feng Qingyi, Bai Wei, and Xue Cha following behind.
"Miss Feng, what do you think of His Royal Majesty?" Ming Qi abruptly asked.
Feng Qingyi found it rather baffling. "I'm not familiar with your Royal Majesty, so it's pointless for you to ask me."
"How do you find His Royal Highness compared to General Qin?" Ming Qi reframed his question.
Feng Qingyi found it even more strange, "Each has his own merits. But why are you suddenly asking me such a question?"
Ming Qi: "Just curious. Do you have any plans to marry the General soon?"
Before Feng Qingyi could answer, Bai Wei stepped in.
" The wedding is naturally to wait for the General's return. Who else is Miss Qingyi going to marry other than him? Your questions are really strange."
Ming Qi hurriedly explained, "I just thought that Miss Feng and General Qin are a match made in heaven, so I asked."
"Do you think I'm interested in your Emperor?" It seemed as if Feng Qingyi suddenly understood something.
Ming Jiu replied, "I was just speaking offhandedly, Miss Feng, there’s no need to take it to heart."
"Alright, I genuinely don’t know the Emperor well, and I have no interest in him. The only reason we even met is because of Qin Yuchuan, so you can rest easy!"
Ming Jiu sighed. She may not harbor feelings, but who knows what the Emperor really thinks.
He seemed normal, but during the meal, he kept glancing at her, even sending out that token.
With this token, she could walk freely not just in Shengjing, but all the way to Tianqi. It seemed as though he needed to investigate further.
Reaching the palace gate, Feng Qingyi said her goodbyes to Ming Jiu and then got into her carriage.
After settling in, Bai Wei started to speak, "Miss Feng Qingyi, there’s something I'm not sure if I should say.”
"Say what you mean, plainly."
Bai Wei said, "Miss Feng Qingyi, although you and the Emperor are old acquaintances, do remember to maintain the due courtesy."
"Perhaps the Emperor doesn’t mind now, but who knows what the future holds? After all, monarch and subject should maintain their roles."
"As an outsider, you should adapt to the customs here in Shengjing now that you're here. Once you marry the General and become his wife, you will naturally have to integrate into the circle of Shengjing."
"You cannot disregard the societal norms of etiquette. Otherwise, you will be mocked by the nobles of Shengjing."
"If the occasion arises, I hope Miss Qingyi will learn the customs here."
Listening to Bai Wei’s words, Feng Qingyi fell silent. She had not planned on settling down here.
Even though she and Qin Yuchuan were genuinely in love, she had indeed contemplated marrying him.
But she had never considered the idea of living here in Shengjing for his sake. Maybe she was indeed being selfish.
She didn’t want to live in a society where men were valued more than women, and she didn’t want to ensure a life devoted to serving her husband and raising children.
"Bai Wei, I will consider your words, but only consider. I won't live here in the future."
"Though I haven't discussed it with Qin Yuchuan, and I'm not sure what his thoughts are, I'm determined to make my own decision."
Bai Wei was taken aback, "Miss Qingyi, do you mean to say you won’t settle in Shengjing, even if you get married?"
"That's exactly what I intend," Feng Qingyi replied.
Xue Cha, feeling lost, didn’t make any comment and just sat quietly to one side.
Bai Wei disagreed. "Miss Qingyi, it’s customary for a woman to follow her husband. It has been so since ancient times."
Feng Qingyi had no intention of arguing with someone who had lived here for many years. What seemed like common sense to her might be seen as shocking for them. Arguing was pointless.
"I will discuss this with Qin Yuchuan. You mentioned a newly opened store. Let's go check it out!”
Seeing that Feng Qingyi wanted to change the subject, Bai Wei didn’t say anything more.
They had spent quite some time at the palace, and now she only had a couple of hours left here.
Under the guidance of Bai Wei, the group aimlessly roamed around the shops. Since they didn't see any items of particular interest, they took a car to the suburbs.
The gentle breeze rustled, petals from the trees lightly fluttered down, a sight too beautiful to put into words.
The spring vibes were bright and cheerful. There were many people out to enjoy the day. Some were families; others were men and women who had agreed to meet up.
Feng Qingyi and his group didn't stand out among the crowd.
Leisurely strolling through the peach grove, Feng Qingyi thought he heard the distant sound of a zither. However, the sound was faint and unclear.
"Bai Wei, Xue Cha, do you hear zither music?"
