After half an hour of shopping, Fuyi slumped onto a wooden chair inside a jewelry shop, completely drained. On such a hot day, how could Lin Xiaowu still have the energy to shop without breaking a sweat?
“I can’t do it anymore!” She groaned, standing up after Lin Xiaowu had asked her for the hundredth time which hairpin looked better. “My dear, take your time choosing—I’m heading next door to the drink shop for a frozen cream.”
“We’ll be heading to the Summer Palace in a few days. All us unmarried girls will be staying in adjoining courtyards, so of course we had to stock up on accessories!” Lin Xiaowu spun an ornate hair ornament between her fingers. “I don’t remember you ever being this casual before.”
“That was then. This is now.” Fuyi waved her fan. “I’ve found a higher calling.”
Lin Xiaowu: “What higher calling?”
“The peace and prosperity of the country and its people.” Fuyi grinned, pinching the girl’s soft cheek. “Enjoy picking out your accessories. I’ll be back soon.”
“You just want an excuse to slack off.” Lin Xiaowu rubbed her cheek. “Go ahead. Don’t forget to pick me up later.”
Fuyi pulled out a handkerchief and helped Lin Xiaowu wipe the sweat from her brow. “Wait here—I’ll bring you back something sweet.”
As she left the jewelry shop, the streets were noticeably less crowded as people avoided the heat. Arriving at her usual cold treat stand, Fuyi noticed a new assistant behind the counter.
“Boss, hired more help?”
“Ah, Miss Yun! The usual?” The shopkeeper beamed and shoved the assistant aside to prepare the frozen cream himself.
“The usual.” Fuyi fanned herself. “More ice, less syrup.”
“You got it.” The shopkeeper packed the crushed ice tightly into a bamboo cup, then drizzled sweet syrup and fruit over the top. Worried there might be too much fruit, he even pressed it down firmly.
The new assistant watched attentively and placed a bamboo straw into the cup.
“Miss Yun, we look forward to your next visit,” the shopkeeper said as he handed her the bamboo cup.
“It’ll be two months before I’m back.” Fuyi passed him the money. “I’m leaving the capital for a while.”
“I’ll save some ice for you then. When you return, I’ll have one ready.” The shopkeeper paused, then smiled. “By then the hawthorn will be ripe—perfect for that tangy, refreshing flavor.”
“Thank you, Boss.” Fuyi smiled with her eyes. “I’ll come see you as soon as I get back.” She noticed the new assistant watching her curiously, sneaking glances again and again.
“Of course, of course,” the shopkeeper nodded repeatedly.
The assistant also smiled, seemingly in high spirits.
Fuyi jabbed at the crushed ice with her straw but didn’t take a sip right away. The assistant’s gaze followed the motion of her hands.
“Boss, when did this new assistant start working here?”
“Business has picked up lately with the heat, and I couldn’t manage alone. He’s been here three or four days now,” the shopkeeper replied, thinking she was simply curious. “He’s quick on his feet and good with numbers, too.”
Fuyi smiled and turned to leave when suddenly a child darted out and crashed into her, knocking the cup from her hands onto the ground.
Seeing that he had spilled a rich lady’s icy treat, the child was so frightened he sat frozen on the ground, unable to speak.
Storing ice was no easy feat, and frozen cream was a luxury treat for commoners—few families would be willing to spend on something so extravagant.
“Scared now, are you? The ground’s hot—get up.” Fuyi pulled the child to his feet. “Go on home. Be more careful when walking next time.”
“Thank you, pretty big sister.” Seeing that Fuyi wasn’t angry, the boy gave her a grateful smile and bounced off. Clumsy as he was, he seemed like a polite little thing.
She turned back toward the new assistant, who was diligently wiping down the tables, carefully cleaning even the tiniest corners. He did seem like a hardworking fellow.
Fuyi was about to buy another frozen cream when she suddenly heard someone call her name.
“Fuyi.”
She turned around and saw the Crown Prince, high on horseback. In that instant, Fuyi felt as if she were looking at a cool mountain breeze—his presence swept away even the summer heat. Beneath the harsh sunlight, his skin gleamed like luminous jade.
“It’s so hot today. Why aren’t you at home?” Sui Tingheng noticed the sweat beading on her forehead, the fine strands of hair sticking to her temple, and her pale cheeks tinged with pink. She looked rather pitiful.
He dismounted, took an oil-paper umbrella from an attendant, and opened it above her head. “Why isn’t anyone attending to you?”
“Xiayu and Qiushuang went shopping for me. I wasn’t feeling well in the jewelry shop, so I came to buy frozen cream.” Fuyi glanced at the half-melted treat on the ground and leaned in to look at Sui Tingheng’s face.
His hand holding the umbrella stiffened slightly, but he tried his best to remain composed, letting her study him as she liked.
“It’s such a sweltering day, and yet Your Imperial Highness doesn’t seem to sweat,” Fuyi remarked in awe. Their Crown Prince stood like a celestial being among mortals—utterly untouched by the mundanity of life.
“I don’t sweat easily,” he explained, seeing her curiosity. “Even in summer, my hands tend to stay cold.”
Fuyi stared at the hand holding the umbrella—just half an arm’s length away. It was white and smooth like jade, with long, slender fingers and neatly trimmed nails.
“Your Imperial Highness, this subject daughter has a small, improper request,” Fuyi said, extending her index finger. “Would you allow me to touch the back of your hand?”
Sui Tingheng was silent for a moment. “You may.”
The summer cicadas screeched somewhere in the trees, making his heart buzz with unrest.
Her soft fingertip brushed against the back of his hand, as light as a cloud—only to vanish like a breeze. He didn’t even get to feel her warmth.
“It truly is cold,” Fuyi murmured, reaching out to touch it once more. “If someone didn’t know better, they might mistake you for a celestial being.”
‘Such beautiful hands, and so cool in this heat—they must feel wonderful to hold,’ Fuyi’s mind wandered. ‘The future Crown Princess sure is blessed.’
The umbrella above her head wobbled. Sui Tingheng turned his head and took a deep breath. The cicadas were getting louder—so loud he felt like his mind was going fuzzy.
He lowered his gaze, not wanting Fuyi to see the turbulent emotions in his eyes. He focused on the melted ice water on the ground, as if that alone could keep his composure.
Ants, drawn by the sweet scent, had already swarmed the spilled frozen cream. Some crawled onto the bamboo straw. Sui Tingheng found himself wondering how many would climb up the straw.
“By the way, Your Imperial Highness, would you like to sit for some tea—”
“Fuyi!” Sui Tingheng suddenly grabbed her arm tightly, so hard it hurt.
Startled, she looked at him. That ethereal, perpetually calm face now wore a look of panic and helplessness.
“Summon the imperial physician.” He dropped the umbrella in his panic, his fingers accidentally brushing against her hand. The temperature was cold—so cold that Fuyi felt like she’d touched a block of ice.
“Summon the physician!” he said again, his voice trembling as he shouted to the guards behind him.
“Immediately!”
Sensing danger, the guards quickly surrounded the area, while one leaped onto his horse and galloped away to summon help.
“Your Imperial Highness?” Seeing his hands shaking violently, Fuyi thought he had suddenly fallen ill again. Disregarding propriety, she grabbed his arm to steady him. “What’s wrong?”
To her shock, she was suddenly pulled into a tight embrace. The prince seemed afraid of frightening her and tried to speak gently, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably: “The frozen cream… it was poisoned. How much did you eat?”
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.” She couldn’t tell if he was trying to calm her—or himself. “The physician is on the way. You’ll be fine. You’ll be fine.”
She stared at Sui Tingheng, stunned. She had never imagined that this otherworldly man would ever look at her with such an expression.
It reminded her of when she had fallen off that cliff years ago—her parents had looked at her the same way, eyes filled with endless pain and terror.
“Your Imperial Highness.” Fuyi took a step back and said quickly, “You don’t need to worry—I didn’t get a chance to eat it. It spilled before I could.”
On the ground, ants still feasted on the melted treat. The ones on the straw had already fallen into the ice water, dead.
She turned to look at the drink stand. The new assistant, sensing her gaze, turned and fled.
Seeing the figure run, Sui Tingheng immediately leaped to his horse and drew his bow. With a single shot, the arrow pierced through the man’s back.
He tossed aside the bow. His fingertips were still trembling.
“Sorry, I lost my composure.” Under the blazing sun, he turned his pale face toward Fuyi and offered a smile—gentle and graceful as always. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”
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She truly is very lucky!