Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Eunuch Shian coughed twice and reminded cautiously, "Concubine Xie generally doesn't send people to the front courtyard. Every time she does, it's always with some novel idea." Shian glanced at the food box on the table. "This servant ventures to guess—perhaps there's something else inside?" Prince Jing raised an eyebrow, finally showing a hint of interest. "Open the food box and take a look." Shian hurried forward and opened the insulated food box layer by layer. When he set out the fish soup, Prince Jing's face showed no expression. But when Shian picked out a small, exquisite celadon jade seal, the coldness on Prince Jing's face visibly softened a few degrees. He took the seal and said casually, "Using the same trick twice—does she really think I'm that easy to appease?" Shian stood by, silently saying nothing. Prince Jing toyed with the seal for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Where's the maid who delivered the soup?" Shian immediately replied, "She's still waiting outside." "Have her come in and answer questions." Shian: "Yes!" But inwardly, he couldn't help muttering to himself. Actually, when it came to Concubine Xie, Prince Jing really was quite easy to appease. When Dantao entered the study, Prince Jing asked, "Did your mistress only send the soup, with no message left behind?" Dantao remembered that her mistress's words were only to be spoken when the Prince asked, so she simply shook her head. "My mistress left no message." Prince Jing's brow twitched slightly as he toyed with the seal in his hand. "Do you recognize this seal?" Dantao put on a look of surprise. "This is the jade seal the Prince selected for my mistress from the storeroom a while back." "My mistress originally wanted to paint today, but after finding the seal, she grew lazy and set it aside carelessly. I had the servants search for it for a long time—who would have thought it ended up in the food box." Prince Jing: "...And your mistress just sent you to fob me off with that?" "The seal is in the study—set aside carelessly, and it ends up in a food box?" Dantao answered honestly, "That's what my mistress said." Prince Jing was now genuinely intrigued. "What is your mistress busy with?" Dantao steeled herself and said, "My mistress recently acquired some plum blossoms and is currently admiring them." "Admiring plum blossoms and painting—she's quite at leisure while I'm away." Prince Jing tucked the seal into his sleeve and rose to his feet. "Her calligraphy is ugly—I'm curious to see what her painting looks like." "Shian, to Spring Mountain Courtyard." Dantao: "..." She wanted to praise her mistress for being impressive, but she didn't know where to begin. Xie Run actually wasn't certain Prince Jing would come to Spring Mountain Courtyard. After all, she had deliberately employed a little scheme—but it still depended on whether the other party would play along. After sending Dantao off with the soup, she was bored with nothing to do, so she actually went into the study, laid out paper and brush, and prepared to paint. Of course, she couldn't paint. The original owner had no such skill, and neither did she. But that didn't stop her from enjoying the artistic atmosphere. In winter, the warm brazier burned with fragrant incense, light streamed through the windows papered with bright rice paper, and she could see the clusters of red plum blossoms blooming outside. The desk was wide and sturdy, with a row of brushes laid out, the scent of ink diffusing through the air, and white paper spread across the surface. What a wonderful scene! It looked very cultured at first glance! After having everything arranged, Xie Run sat in the reclining chair across from the desk, leisurely reading a storybook. When Prince Jing arrived, this was the scene he beheld. For some reason, he couldn't help but want to laugh. "I heard Suisui was going to paint, so I came specially to see your skill—but here you are, lying in a chair reading?" Prince Jing glanced at the desk. "The brush and ink are all prepared—are you waiting for me to arrive?" Xie Run: "...Does the Prince want to hear the truth?" Prince Jing was silent for a moment, then coldly uttered one word: "Speak." "This concubine simply wanted to let herself and the child in her belly be steeped in the fragrance of books and learning." With that, she raised her hand and pointed outward. "Doesn't the Prince think that from this angle, the study looks full of scholarly atmosphere?" Prince Jing: "..." Prince Jing was nearly laughed into anger. "Your maid said you were going to paint. I thought—your calligraphy is so ugly, I wondered what your painting would look like, so I came specially to see." Xie Run touched her belly with a troubled look. "Prince, this concubine does know how to scribble a bit. But with this belly sticking out right now, it's truly inconvenient." Prince Jing: "Then what did you mean by leaving the seal in the food box?" Xie Run smiled brightly, her peach-blossom eyes clear and bright, warm and radiant. Every time she smiled like this, Prince Jing's heart couldn't help but soften. He had to admit that doting on the Xie woman was partly because she was perceptive and charming—but it was also inseparable from her youth and beauty. The maids in the study had long since withdrawn, leaving only Xie Run and Prince Jing alone. She raised her hand, her slender, jade-like fingers tugging gently at Prince Jing's sleeve. Intimate yet restrained, as if she were tugging at Prince Jing's heart itself. Xie Run looked up, her gaze as clear as glass. "Prince, this concubine feels that something is missing in front of the desk." "What is it?" "You." Xie Run smiled sweetly, her warmth honeyed: "You lift the brush to paint, this concubine adds fragrance by your side, and together we admire the winter snow and the winter plums—only then would we not waste this beautiful time." "This concubine left the seal behind precisely to invite the Prince here, hoping you might leave behind a painting." She laughed coquettishly. "Even if the Prince grows busy and doesn't come again, this concubine can still gaze upon the painting and think of you." After a pause, she leaned closer to Prince Jing and whispered softly, "My lord, this concubine has missed you." Prince Jing had heard plenty of pleas for favor, but tender words of affection—no one had ever dared speak those to him. Prince Jing was a normal man, and before him stood his beloved concubine, smiling and speaking gently, coaxing him until he felt his whole body flooded with warmth. He gave a light snort, yet his large palm reached out and clasped Xie Run's hand. Her hand was soft and warm to the touch, as if it could heat his very heart and lungs. "If you missed me, why didn't you say so outright? Why must you be so mysterious!" Though Prince Jing spoke harshly, his movements were quite careful as he led Xie Run to the desk. Seeing that his attitude had softened, Xie Run's tone grew even more coquettish. "If my lord was busy with official matters, how would this concubine dare let some trivial girlish thoughts interfere with your important affairs?" Prince Jing was caught between laughter and tears. "So that's why you had Dantao say those words?" Xie Run's eyes darted everywhere, refusing to meet Prince Jing's gaze, looking thoroughly guilty.