Chapter 348: Fighting for the Country Is Only Right and Proper

"Pangtuan, look. That’s the rockery over there," Nanxiang said, pointing.

Ye Qianning looked over. She’d assumed the rockery Nanxiang mentioned would just be a small pile of stones. She never expected it to be so magnificent.

It looked to be dozens of acres in size and was situated in a rear courtyard. For a good distance around it, there was nothing but a long-covered walkway and a single palace residence. The residence’s main gate was locked tight, giving it a desolate air.

Up close, the rockery didn’t look artificial at all. It seemed almost naturally formed.

Ye Qianning reached out and touched it. The stone was faintly cool to the touch. ’This is no ordinary stone,’ she thought. ’A project this massive couldn’t have been completed overnight.’

"There’s a spring inside the rockery, too! It’s ice-cold in the summer, but the water is warm in the winter. It’s so magical!" Nanxiang said, pulling Ye Qianning toward the entrance.

Ye Qianning understood. ’It’s not the water that’s magical,’ she realized. ’It’s the stone.’

’Light-Gauze Wings?’

’Where did that name come from?’

"Nanxiang." A voice called out.

Nanxiang, who was still pulling Ye Qianning, hadn’t even entered the rockery yet. She stopped and turned. The moment she saw the newcomer, her face fell. ’How did we run into her? She’s so annoying.’

Ye Qianning followed her gaze and saw the Sixth Princess, Sang Shu, and the Ninth Princess, Sang Zhen. They were leading a group of palace maids toward them.

The Sixth Princess, Sang Shu, was Sang Qi’s full-blooded older sister and was twelve years old.

The Ninth Princess, Sang Zhen, was the daughter of Consort Dong and was nine years old. Consort Dong had always been close with Consort Yuan; even their children formed factions.

Nanxiang tightened her grip on Ye Qianning’s hand and pouted. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ye Qianning watched them approach. ’There’s no doubt about it, they’re definitely here for me. Sang Qi has a terrible temper; his sister’s is probably even worse.’

"Sixth Princess, Ninth Princess." Nanxiang curtsied.

Sang Shu merely glanced past her, her gaze landing on Ye Qianning. "You must be the young lady of the Xiang family."

"I am," Ye Qianning nodded.

"Hmph. You’re merely the daughter of a general. Why do you not curtsy upon seeing this princess?" Sang Shu’s voice was icy.

"Sixth Princess, please don’t take offense. It is not that I refuse to curtsy, but that you cannot bear my curtsy."

"Insolent! How dare a mere country bumpkin speak so arrogantly! Is this how General Xiang teaches his daughter? Truly an uncouth brute, unfit for polite society," Sang Shu chided, her voice dripping with contempt.

’How could someone like her be worthy of my brother, the Crown Prince!’

"Sixth Princess, General Xiang is the Great General! He has rendered great service to Beili. How can you speak of him like that?" Nanxiang stepped forward to stand in front of Ye Qianning.

"As a subject of Beili, it is his duty to fight for the nation. My Father Emperor appointed him as a General; a reward of that magnitude has already canceled out his merits. Even without him, Beili would have other generals." Sang Shu’s eyes filled with scorn as she sneered, "At the end of the day, all he did was go to battle a few times, and it’s constantly being talked about. Truly shameless."

"Bullshit! If you’re so tough, why don’t you go fight when a war breaks out?" Nanxiang was hopping mad. Her own father, the prince, had fought on the front lines for many years.

He had countless scars and, in his spare moments, would tell her stories of the battlefield’s horrors. Yet, to hear the Sixth Princess speak of it, it was all reduced to a flippant remark.

"Nanxiang, it’s said that bad company corrupts good character. You should spend less time with bumpkins like her. If you dare speak to this princess so disrespectfully again, I will not let you off lightly, even if Uncle Prince Changyang himself were here."

"You..."

Ye Qianning placed a hand on her shoulder and pulled her back. Looking up, she asked, "Sixth Princess, you want me to curtsy?"

"This princess is a princess of the realm. It is only right that you give me the three kneelings and nine kowtows," Sang Shu said, looking down her nose at her.