Chapter 35: The Visit
Ji Yunhe and Lin Haoqing accompanied Princess Shunde all the way from the main gate into the valley. The thick path of flowers was constantly laid out before Princess Shunde's feet. Ji Yunhe knew very well how much further it was to get to Li Feng Hall, where Lin Canglan lived. She looked at the flower petals under the princess, listened to the gossiping voices of her maids, and suddenly stopped in her tracks.
"Princess," she opened her mouth and said. Princess Shunde stopped, but the maids laying down flower petals did not stop. They busily labored forth as if they wanted to cover the entire valley. Lin Haoqing also turned his head to look at Ji Yunhe, his face showing some displeasure. He did not want her saying anything out of line. But Ji Yunhe could not help it, she bowed.
"Our Demon Valley just experienced great upheaval from the battle against the jade phoenix. We haven't yet had time to clear the roads of scattered rocks and debris. Walking barefoot may be unwise, even with hundreds of flowers paving the road. I worry that a loose stone may cause injury to the princess. Please put on some socks and shoes."
Princess Shunde smiled and raised an eyebrow. She studied Ji Yunhe for a while.
"You are someone who cherishes flowers," Princess Shunde said.
"The heart is kind." Ji Yunhe bowed her head. Just as everyone was thinking that was a compliment, the smile on Princess Shunde's face disappeared.
"But I am not." The red flower embellishment between her eyebrows suddenly formed a stern look.
"I am the one who picks flowers," she said. "I love to pick flowers in full bloom. All of the beauty in this world, ninety percent are trampled under my feet, and ten percent are worn on my body." She reached out with her slender fingers and held Ji Yunhe's chin, making her look up.
"All the land in this world, half of it is mine, and these hundreds of flowers, they are also mine. You, the one who cherishes flowers, is still mine." Princess Shunde's sharp nails gently stroked over Ji Yunhe's face.
"I don't like flowers that don't bloom, and I don't like people who talk too much." She was extravagantly ornamental. Just as she had said, ninety percent of the world's beauty was under her feet, and ten percent on her body. Ji Yunhe was dressed in plain clothes and her face was bare without any powder or lip color. Her entire person was completely unadorned.
A person in the sky and a person underground, face to face, created an ironic imagery of extreme contrast. But Ji Yunhe was not intimidated. She stared straight into Princess Shunde's eyes and asked without subservience, "So will the princess put on some socks and shoes?"
Princess Shunde's eyes grew colder and Lin Haoqing frowned. The maids and demon masters around them went silent, afraid to even breath.
Only Ji Yunhe seemed to feel no pressure. She said, "The road in the Demon Valley is rugged and difficult to walk." Lin Haoqing stepped forth and bowed.
"Princess, the Demon Valley is very remote from civilization. People here are vulgar and lack proper etiquette. Please have mercy and forgive us." Princess Shunde glanced at Lin Haoqing.
"She is interesting."
Surprisingly, she made a comment not to kill or to torture, but to say Ji Yunhe... was interesting. Lin Haoqing was a bit surprised. Princess Shunde threw a glimpse to the side. Eunuch Zhang immediately understood and ran into the long trail of servants, then came back out with some socks and shoes. Another eunuch kneeled on the ground before her with his back arched out, steady and firm. Princess Shunde sat down onto his back.