A Minor Incident

Meanwhile, elsewhere within the Royal City’s North Market.

The area was bustling with noise, and the warmth of the long-unseen winter sun streamed through carved wooden windows, spilling onto the polished floor of the “Splendid Embroidery Workshop,” a venerable and time-honored silk establishment.

The air was permeated with the faint, pleasant fragrance unique to new cloth.

Xun Xue stood before shelves dazzling to the eye, her fingertips gently brushing over bolt after bolt of magnificent fabric.

The Cloud Brocade was as smooth as water, while the Celestial Silkworm Silk flowed with a lustrous, jade-like sheen reminiscent of moonlight.

She carefully compared the textures and patterns, her expression focused.

“Wrap up these two bolts of Cloud Pattern Brocade, and that bolt of pink-white Celestial Silkworm Silk as well.”

Having made her selection, Xun Xue gave gentle instructions to the shop assistant waiting by her side.

She was thinking of having a few more bright, lively outfits made for Little Qiancha, as well as adding some comfortable everyday clothes for Little Wanbai.

That little one was always clad in those two sets of somber shrine official robes; it felt stifling just looking at her.

Lu Qiancha was fine, as she had plenty of beautiful ready-made clothes stored in her storage ring.

Ling Wanbai, however, only had two sets of official robes.

Once they were dirty, the little one could only burrow into her bedding or revert to her original form to hide, which was truly heart-wrenching to witness.

Lu Qiancha stood quietly by Xun Xue’s leg, her blue eyes sweeping over those intricate patterns with a distinct lack of interest.

In her opinion, clothes just needed to be lightweight, durable, and not get in the way.

However, as long as she could stay by Xun Xue’s side, even standing here for a whole day felt as sweet as syrup.

With the cool, elegant fragrance of her mother lingering at the tip of her nose and the warmth of her fingertips in hand, this was the greatest peace and happiness in Lu Qiancha’s heart at this moment.

Ling Wanbai, on the other hand, stood like an exquisite little jade carving on Xun Xue’s other side.

Her grey eyes looked straight ahead, and her small face remained devoid of expression, making it impossible to decipher whether she found the colorful fabrics novel or simply felt bored to death.

Xun Xue placed the fabrics, which the shop assistant had carefully packaged, into her storage ring.

Then, she naturally extended both hands—one taking Lu Qiancha’s hand, and the other grasping Ling Wanbai’s cold little hand.

“We’ve bought the fabric. Come, let’s go stroll through the East Market,” she said warmly.

Just as the three stepped out past the silk shop’s door curtain, which was hung with brocade tassels, the hustle and bustle of the North Market’s streets instantly rushed toward them—

Ling Wanbai, who had been following Xun Xue like a quiet shadow, suddenly lifted her small head.

In those grey eyes that usually lacked any ripples of emotion, a tiny but crystalline spark rarely seen there began to dance.

“Are we going to eat good food now?”

Her voice maintained that characteristic flatness, but the anticipation she tried so hard to suppress still quietly leaked out through her slightly leaning body and the small hand that subconsciously gripped the corner of Xun Xue’s clothes.

Xun Xue looked down and met those grey eyes that were trying hard to maintain calm yet were sparkling brightly.

The corners of her mouth unconsciously curved into a gentle arc.

“Mn,” she responded softly, her fingertips gently pinching the cheeks of the two little ones. “What do you want to eat? Whatever it is, I will buy it for you later today.”

“I want Char Siu Bao!”

Lu Qiancha reacted as if a fuse had been lit, instantly jumping for joy with her small hand raised high, waving it excitedly.

Those blue sapphire-like eyes shone with astonishing brightness, making no attempt to hide her desire, as if her gaze had already pierced through the crowd to see the large buns—steaming hot, thin-skinned, filled with meat, and perfectly sweet and savory—right before her eyes.

She had been craving them for a long time since their last shopping trip.

“Alright, we will buy Char Siu Bao for our Little Qiancha. We’ll buy as many as you want to eat.”

Xun Xue couldn’t help but chuckle, rubbing that soft little head with a smile.

She then turned to Ling Wanbai, who was trying hard to maintain her dignity but whose eyes were glued to her with longing, and softened her voice further.

“And what about Little Wanbai? What delicious food do you want to eat?”

Ling Wanbai pondered seriously for two seconds, her small brows even furrowing slightly, as if weighing a major decision.

Then she lifted her small face, her gaze incomparably firm as she announced concisely:

“…Want to eat meat.”

“Alright, I’ll buy you big buns with fresh meat filling in a moment. You can have as many as you like.”

Xun Xue promised warmly, her eyes smiling.

“Many thanks, Lord Immortal.”

Ling Wanbai maintained the etiquette of a Shrine Official, responding calmly to express her thanks.

However, the large, fluffy tail behind her began to sway left and right uncontrollably in small arcs.

The rhythm was brisk and cheerful, silently narrating the unspeakable joy in its owner’s heart at this moment.

Xun Xue did not expose the other’s little secret; she simply smiled and rubbed the top of Ling Wanbai’s soft hair again.

Immediately after, she held the two little ones tight and led them to merge into the lively crowd of the East Market.

It was high noon, and the East Market was boiling with voices; the tantalizing aroma of food and the enthusiastic shouts of vendors intertwined under the warm sun.

The three soon arrived in front of a bun shop shrouded in rising steam and overflowing with fragrance.

“Shop owner, two Char Siu Bao and two fresh meat buns. Please trouble yourself to pack them separately,” Xun Xue said clearly to the busy store owner.

“Alright, dear customer! Coming right up!”

The owner beamed, his hands and feet nimble as he packed the buns into two thick oil-paper bags respectively, handing them over piping hot.

“Would you like to order anything else?”

“No need, just these,” Xun Xue shook her head slightly, taking out a few shiny copper coins and placing them on the counter.

“Got it, take care! Come back if you like them!” the owner called out with a hearty laugh.

Just as they left the aromatic range of the bun shop, Xun Xue handed the two warm paper bags to the two little ones who had been waiting with outstretched necks.

Lu Qiancha couldn’t wait to cup the bag with both hands; she immediately grabbed a chubby Char Siu Bao from inside, opened her small mouth, and took a huge bite—”Ah-woo.”

The firm, bouncy meat dice wrapped in rich, sweet, and savory sauce exploded in her mouth.

The ultimate sense of satisfaction caused her fluffy tail behind her to instantly swish back and forth with a whoosh-whoosh sound, her small face radiating a pure and unmasked glow of happiness.

Beside her, Ling Wanbai maintained that unruffled poker face, taking small, elegant, and gentle bites of the white, chubby fresh meat bun in her hand.

But the tip of that fluffy grey tail was swaying left and right at a standard frequency, extremely slightly, silently leaking her inner delight.

Xun Xue watched the two little wolves beside her eating with total contentment, their tails wagging randomly, and the gentle smile in her eyes overflowed like spring water.

“Do you want to eat anything else?” Xun Xue’s voice was as soft as the breeze.

“Mmph… No eat! I’m sthuffed full!”

Lu Qiancha mumbled indistinctly with her cheeks stuffed bulgingly full, looking like a greedy little squirrel.

“What about Little Wanbai? Do you want to taste some other pastries?” Xun Xue turned to Ling Wanbai, who had already finished eating quietly and was looking at her with those grey eyes.

“I am full too.”

Ling Wanbai swallowed the last mouthful and answered succinctly and crisply, her expression still showing no ripples.

Xun Xue nodded with a smile, taking hold of the two satisfied little paws once more.

She selected a few varieties of sweets and candied fruits unique to the Northern Region, and only then, with a full harvest and warmth in her heart, did she set foot on the road back to Shuixian Palace.

However, this heartwarming atmosphere came to an abrupt halt before the gates of Shuixian Palace.