Chapter 12: Cocktails
The “winter survival kit” was sent over piece by piece, only after receiving the Third Princess’s consent.
The princess was overwhelmed with gratitude as she received the items:
【You and your sister are too kind! You’ve sent me so many things to keep warm. I truly don’t know how to repay you…】
【Don’t worry about it! Just accepting them is repayment enough! If you can’t understand the instructions, just ask!】
Jiang Xue knew she should have told her sister. Her sister would definitely help her find ways to make the Third Princess’s life more comfortable.
However, she’d sent quite a lot this time, and unlike books and candy, these items weren’t easy to hide. She asked her sister for advice: “What if that jerk of a Crown Prince suddenly decides to check on her, or a nosy servant discovers the things we’ve sent? Will the Third Princess get in trouble?”
“Didn’t the Third Princess call you a ‘spirit’?” Jiang Mei said. “Even though she stopped mentioning it, people in ancient times were quite superstitious. Science wasn’t advanced back then, so many natural phenomena couldn’t be explained, let alone something like this, which would be considered ‘supernatural’ even in modern times.”
“So, let’s use that to our advantage.”
“The royal family believes themselves to be closest to the heavens and divine will, with the emperor’s power supposedly granted by the gods. Let’s use that belief against them. Let them know that this princess is under divine protection the moment she arrives in Daying, and they’d best not mess with her.”
Jiang Xue was taken aback but immediately relayed everything to Xiao Luohan.
Afterward, she couldn’t resist adding: 【If Your Highness has anything you don’t feel safe keeping with you, I can hold onto it for you.】
Perhaps influenced by too many historical dramas and novels, she couldn’t bring herself to trust the servants, especially since the Third Princess hadn’t even brought her own attendants.
Xiao Luohan did tend to see her as a spirit.
If not a spirit, how could she send such wondrous things out of thin air and show such kindness to a useless, dying person like her?
But the things the “spirit” sent, whether objects or books, were tangible. Although Xiao Luohan believed in the supernatural, these experiences were gently broadening her horizons.
Reading the book Jiang Xue had recommended, about a woman given a second chance at life, she recalled her elder sister’s words about the vastness of the world and the countless things she’d never heard of.
This book, and this connection, was one of those things.
On the other side of the book was another world, and Jiang Xue was a person living there, not a spirit from the underworld or a deity from the heavens.
So, when Jiang Xue emphasized this again, suggesting she use the “divine protection” angle to her advantage, Xiao Luohan finally accepted her theory. She received the gifts with a newfound sense of ease.
That evening, she put on the fluffy pink slippers.
She didn’t know what kind of cotton they were made of, but they were warm and cozy, with soft soles that were surprisingly comfortable to walk in.
The heat patches were also wondrous. These palm-sized “plasters” only needed to be applied to her undergarments to generate warmth, without burning her skin.
She was deeply grateful to Jiang Xue and her sister. Unfortunately, limited by her status and circumstances, she couldn’t think of a way to repay them. After pondering all night, she decided to carefully read the books Jiang Xue had sent and provide detailed feedback.
—Jiang Xue seemed eager for her to learn about the “modern era.”
Back in Jiang Xue’s world, Jiang Mei had watched the video Xie Xitong had sent, and the sisters were discussing how to modify the choreography.
“Use my practice sword,” Jiang Mei said, addressing the props as well. “Your custom-made sword is beautiful, but it’s too heavy.”
Jiang Xue shook her head. “But what if I practice with it every day? I should get used to it, right?”
“Your arms will be killing you.” Jiang Mei squeezed her arm through her jacket. “Do you like it that much?”
“Yes!”
Jiang Xue knew her sister’s sword was custom-made by a renowned craftsman. Its elegant design didn’t compromise its functionality. It was usually displayed in her sister’s study as a decorative piece, but every year, it was meticulously maintained, both the blade and the scabbard preserved in pristine condition.
It was beautiful to watch in motion. She’d seen her sister perform an impromptu sword dance last year.
“If you really want to use that sword, we’ll have to adjust the choreography to conserve your energy.” Jiang Mei dragged the progress bar on the video, pressed play, and carefully watched the solo sword dance segment several times.
Jiang Xue skipped over to her sister’s study and brought back the sword. After admiring the carved plum blossoms on the blade, she suddenly had an idea: “Could we get a small self-defense knife made for the Third Princess?”
“Absolutely not,” Jiang Mei said firmly. “If she’s never learned how to use a knife, she’s more likely to hurt herself if she ever needs to use it.”
She didn’t share her deeper concerns with her sister, pushing them aside and focusing on the video.
Around eleven o’clock, they heard their mothers’ voices downstairs.
“I wonder which bar Mom and Mama went to tonight,” Jiang Xue said casually, organizing her history notes, a smile in her voice. “When I’m old enough, I’m going too!”
Her mothers, Ms. Jiang and Ms. Wei, had met in a bar. After getting to know each other, they realized they were a perfect match, got married, and then had them.
“With your stomach, you’ll be limited to virgin mojitos,” Jiang Mei said, tapping her lightly on the head. “It’s too cold now. I’ll make you one in the spring.”
She knew how to mix a few simple cocktails, having learned from Ms. Wei during her college years.
Jiang Xue ducked her head and mumbled, “Okay.” Her gaze shifted to the diary. “Let’s make one for the Third Princess, too! I haven’t offered her any drinks from here yet!”
Because of this thought, she had a dream that night.
Her sister, still a college student, was slicing limes in the kitchen, the air filled with a tangy citrus fragrance.
A younger Jiang Xue was stirring a glass of crushed ice with a metal chopstick, the clinking sound echoing in the room.
As she stirred, she said with a smile, “Listen, Your Highness, it’s so refreshing!”
Even in her dream, she was thinking about offering the Third Princess a drink.
A soft voice beside her murmured in agreement.
Jiang Xue looked over and saw the Third Princess, wrapped in her robe, watching her, her lips pursed in a small nod.
She didn’t know how long the Third Princess had been standing there. She only remembered asking, surprised, “Aren’t you warm, Your Highness?” Then, the dream vanished like a popped bubble.
The dream was so strange. She had only seen the Third Princess once in her dreams before. She hadn’t expected her to reappear so clearly.
The moment she woke up, before dawn even broke, she sat at her desk, still in her pajamas, and wrote about her dream for the Third Princess.
Halfway through, she suddenly remembered her sister’s warning about the Third Princess’s deceased sister. Filled with regret, she grabbed some correction fluid and covered up everything she’d written.
Fortunately, the Third Princess hadn’t replied. She must still be asleep. It was better this way!
After making sure the correction fluid had completely obscured the words, Jiang Xue turned off the light and went back to sleep.
—She didn’t know that Xiao Luohan, who always woke early, had already read everything.
She hadn’t replied because the scene Jiang Xue described was exactly what she had dreamt of last night.
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