That little bean had wanted her to hear the words.
The maid servant next to her had also started pleading, “My Lady, the Fifth Princess is still so young. If my Lady really wants to teach her, why not take it slow? It’s only her first time, she might get hurt.”
Noble Consort Xi looked out, adjusting the lid of her tea cup. She replied in the same cold, faint voice, but the corner of her lips was hooked into a smile, “She’s the first person who wants me to teach martial arts to, so I had to test her potential and perseverance.”
As she spoke, Xi Xingjiang’s brisk, light steps indicated his return from his exploration around the area. He entered the courtyard and thought he had entered the wrong place when he saw the squatting little bean.
He rubbed his eyes and looked around, and was sure that he had not gone into the wrong courtyard. He looked at Lin Feilu, whose legs were shaking so terribly, and howled with laughter.
Lin Feilu actually had the strength to glare at him in return.
Xi Xingjiang squatted in front of her, and asked curiously, “Little bean, are you also punished by my aunt?”
He emphasized the word “also” very vividly.
Lin Feilu refused to show any weakness, “I am learning martial arts from the Lady!”
Xi Xingjiang raised his eyebrows in surprise, then toyed with the two little shaking knots on her head teasingly, “Look at you, why are you seeking death at such a young age?” He leaned closer and whispered, “Do you know what was my aunt’s nickname when she was at the frontier juncture?”
“What is it?”
“The female Yama.” (God of Death)
“…” Lin Feilu retorted loudly, “You are speaking nonsense! The Lady is not a female Yama! The Lady is a goddess!”
The blood drained from Xi Xingjiang’s face, and indeed, Noble Consort Xi’s cold voice echoed from the hall, “Get in here now!”
Xi Xingjiang gritted his teeth and tugged at her knots, “I’ll deal with you later!”
Then he went in with a sour face.
Thanks to Xi Xingjiang’s distraction Lin Feilu was able to hold on for a while longer, but finally lost all her strength and sat on the floor.
Songyu immediately massaged her legs, and Noble Consort Xi had also come out of the hall. The little bean hung her head as she saw her, “My Lady, Little Lu tried her best.”
Without responding, Noble Consort Xi turned to Songyu, teaching her massages that could help to relax the muscles. Songyu listened obediently.
Lin Feilu looked at her, and pulled at her sleeves when she finished speaking, asking, “My Lady, did I fail the test?”
“By the time we leave the retreat palace, you will have to complete the two hours of martial-art squat, and not even a minute less.” Noble Consort Xi said shortly.
“!”
They were going to stay in the palace for many more days, which means she could split the two hours into many minutes!
The little bean hugged her thigh again, “You are so nice, my Lady, you are a beautiful and kindhearted goddess!”
“I’m not a goddess, but you’re definitely a bootlicker.”
“…”
Lin Feilu suddenly realised that Emperor Lin’s lack of visit to Noble Consort Xi’s palace was probably because she was too mean.
She saw Xi Xingjiang kneeling inside the hall as she left the residence. She made a face at him happily and hopped away, leaving Xi Xingjiang gnawing his teeth.
But her legs were too sore after only a few hops, and was carried the rest of the way back by Songyu.
That night, Songyu massaged Lin Feilu according to the method Noble Consort Xi had taught her. It was very effective; her legs were only a little sore the next day.
She was smarter this time. She practiced her martial-art squat in the Tingyu Pavilion before going to the hot spring, to make full use of its relaxing effects.
The servants in Tingyu Pavilion watched the Fifth Princess squatting in the yard. After exchanging confused looks, they finally turned their eyes to Songyu.
Songyu looked exasperated, “I would have to begin from the crow with a broken wing. “
(T/L: Beginning from the crow with a broken wing means start telling from the very beginning.)