The winter sky over Beizhen was still pale when Prince Murong Yexuan mounted his horse again.
His arm was not fully healed.
His ribs were still bruised.
But he refused to rest.
"Yunchen," he ordered calmly, "We return to the Northern Frontier."
Bai Yunchen gave a long sigh.
"Your Highness, you should rest—"
"I can rest when Beizhen stands secured," Yexuan replied, eyes like cold steel.
And so, accompanied by Prince Murong Yunxian's reinforcements — the Southern River Silk Army — they rode north.
Yexuan's Strange Behavior Begins
Back at the Northern Frontier command camp, Bai Yunchen immediately sensed something different about Prince Murong Yexuan.
The war-hardened prince, who rarely spoke beyond military matters, kept asking about his little sister—again and again.
"Did your sister send you a letter?"
"What did she write this time?"
"Did she create something new again?"
"She healed many people this month?"
"How is her business going?"
"Is she eating properly?"
Yunchen stared at him.
"Your Highness… have you fallen for my sister?"
Yexuan looked straight at him and said, "…Yes."
Yunchen choked.
He stared again.
And again.
"Ah… you're joking."
Yexuan calmly took the letter tucked in Bai Yunchen's pocket. "I'm not."
Yunchen nearly fell off his horse.
Yexuan Steals Letters… Again
Bai Rouyuan wrote regularly to Yunchen — sharing stories about her new perfume formulas, medicine she invented, Yunyan Pavilion's success, her lessons at Sacred Lotus Pavilion, her funny moments with Wen Xianyi, and her second brother Bai Yanyu's studies.
Every time Yunchen received a letter, Yexuan appeared.
"What did she say?"
"Give it here." Yunchen beg him.
"No, I am not returning it."
"…Fine, I will pretend I did not read it."
Sometimes he even hid a letter from Bai Yunchen, just so he could read it first.
Yunchen's suspicion grew. "…You really like her, don't you?"
Yexuan answered without hesitation. "Yes."
Yunchen groaned.
"It would be wonderful if you were her fiancé instead of Zhao Yunxiang!"
"I don't even like him!"
Yexuan raised an eyebrow. "I know."
"You're a hundred times better!" Yunchen insisted.
"A prince! A marshal! Handsome! And actually sane!"
Yexuan's lips curved slightly.
"Then help me."
Yunchen froze. "…What?"
"Ask her to create me a fragrance."
"Just for me."
Bai Rouyuan Creates a Scent for the Prince She Never Met
In the Southern River Silk Region, Yunyan Pavilion was bustling with customers.
Perfumes sold out every week.
Scents she created became local legends.
Rouyuan was mixing jasmine and amber when a letter arrived.
From: Bai Yunchen
To: Ah Yan
She opened it.
'Prince Murong Yexuan wants a perfume made…
just for him.
He says it should be similar to mine but stronger.
And elegant.
And… a little cold.'
Rouyuan blinked.
Prince Murong Yexuan?
The legendary war god of the north?
She imagined him — tall, cold, calm, fearlessly leading thousands.
Huh. Interesting man.
She smiled and replied to the letter:
'Understood. The prince will receive, a fragrance, cologne, soap, shampoo, hair oil, incense, all tailored to his personality.'
She worked for days, sandalwood for strength, cedar for calm, mint for clarity, amber for warmth, white musk for elegance.
When she tested the final scent, she inhaled softly.
"If I ever meet this Prince Murong Yexuan,"
she thought playfully, "I will recognize him instantly."
She chuckled.
She packed the entire gift set, tied it with blue silk ribbon, and added a letter explaining how and when to use each item.
The letter address to Prince Murong Yexuan himself, not to his brother Bai Yunchen.
She wants Prince Murong Yexuan to fully understand it.
She hopes that Prince Murong Yexuan would love it.
A New Customer Arrives
The next afternoon, Bai Rouyuan was tidying the counter when a graceful girl in blue robes entered the shop.
Her posture elegant, gaze bright.
Rouyuan greeted her warmly. "Welcome to Yunyan Pavilion. How may I help you, Young Miss?"
The girl smiled. "I am looking for the perfumes here."
"Everyone says it was so good, but they disappear before reaching the Eastern Sea Region."
Rouyuan nodded politely. "I will prepare what we have in stock, Young Miss—"
"Oh!" the girl interrupted cheerfully.
"I forgot to introduce myself!"
"I am Princess Murong Qingshi, daughter of Prince Murong Shaoheng."
Bai Rouyuan blinked.
She bowed immediately. "Rouyuan greets Your Highness."
Murong Qingshi laughed and waved her hands.
"No! No need for that!"
"Just call me Shishi."
Rouyuan hesitated.
"Then… Young Miss Shishi?"
"How old are you by the way?" Murong Qingshi asked Bai Rouyuan.
"I am 14 years old," she replied.
Murong Qingshi's face lit up.
"Yes! Good! I'm four years older than you — I'm 18 — so Jiějiě is perfect!"
Just then, Wen Xianyi burst into the shop.
"Ah Yuan! The new pigments are— Huh?"
Murong Qingshi turned. "You must be Miss Xianyi."
Wen Xianyi blinked. "How did you know?"
The princess laughed.
"Miss Xianyi, you have a reputation. I heard a lot about you from my cousin."
"And actually, Prince Murong Yuxian is that cousin — on his father's side."
Wen Xianyi puffed proudly, "Owwhhh…reallyyyyy!"
Within minutes, the three of them were chatting as if they had known each other forever.
Murong Qingshi finally said, "We need to be friends."
"No, we must be friend!"
Rouyuan smiled softly. "I would like that."
Wen Xianyi grinned, "And I am included!"
Murong Qingshi laughed.
"Of course! You're impossible to ignore!"
And so—
A princess, a merchant heiress, and a reincarnated genius—became friends.