Chapter 157

Chapter 157 Xiaoshu was taken aback and said softly, "Mistress, did you misspeak?" After all, it should be about whether Prince Jing was willing to see Xie Run, not about what attitude Xie Run should adopt when meeting Prince Jing. Xie Run smiled. "Don't let your panic cloud your judgment." "Even if I've lost favor, the Fifth Young Master is still doing well. If the Prince doesn't want to see me, he'll still have to see the Fifth Young Master, won't he?" "It's still far too early for your mistress here to fall out of favor!" Judging by how reluctant Prince Jing had been to leave her side, Xie Run felt confident she wouldn't lose favor anytime soon. If he hadn't come to see her yet, it was likely because he was plotting something. When Xie Run said she needed to decide what attitude to take when meeting Prince Jing, it was precisely because she didn't want to let him have his way so easily. In other words, she needed to play a little game with Prince Jing, to let him know she was somewhat different. Of course, she couldn't explain all this clearly to the two maidservants. Xie Run knew that ever since she had secured her position as Concubine Consort, she had never truly fallen out of favor. Now that she suddenly faced a crisis of losing favor, her maidservants were all somewhat flustered. Seeing that their mistress showed not the slightest concern, Xiaoshu and Dantao gradually steadied their own hearts. Xie Run continued her daily routine of climbing the hill to exercise, occasionally playing with the child, showing not the slightest intention of courting Prince Jing's favor. Many people in the manor assumed Xie Run was waiting for Prince Jing to bend first, and they were all waiting to see her make a fool of herself. After the initial panic, the maidservants of Spring Mountain Court gradually regained their composure. Xie Run remained silent for another five days before finally making a move. Taking advantage of Prince Jing's day off, Xie Run first sent someone to the front courtyard to check on Prince Jing's whereabouts. Only after confirming that Prince Jing was in the study did she have Dantao and Xiaoshu dress her up. In the past, Xie Run always dressed modestly, wearing as few hairpins as possible for fear that the weight would strain her neck. This time, she styled her hair in a high bun, adorned with a full set of filigree ruby hair ornaments, with two vivid red ruby earrings dangling from her ears, making her skin appear as white as snow. A jeweled necklace hung around her neck, and numerous ornaments dangled from her waist. With each graceful step, a pleasant tinkling sound rang out. Her makeup was also a departure from her usual light style—her brows were elongated, her lips tinted a glossy red, and a red lotus flower pattern was painted between her brows with cinnabar. With a smile in her eyes and brows, she exuded charm and allure, carrying the delicate air of a favored concubine. The maidservants of Spring Mountain Court were all stunned by the sight. Xiaoshu murmured softly, "With such beauty, our mistress is in no way inferior to the ladies of the palace." "What a pity that she doesn't usually dress up—it's a waste of such looks." Xie Run smiled. "Beautiful as it is, it's truly exhausting." If it weren't necessary, Xie Run really wouldn't bother with such adornment. She extended her hand gracefully, picked up a pair of filigree gold bracelets from the table, and slipped them on, then rose with Dantao's support. "Let's go. We're going to request an audience with the Prince." The maidservants of Spring Mountain Court assumed Xie Run was going to court the Prince's favor and were extremely excited. The limelight of this manor couldn't be monopolized by Side Consort Fang! There was a considerable distance from Spring Mountain Court to the front courtyard. Along the way, when the maidservants and older women saw Xie Run in her full regalia, they all guessed she had dressed up specially to go to the front courtyard to court the Prince's favor. By the time Xie Run arrived at the front courtyard, the news had already spread like wildfire. Prince Jing, who was reading in the study, heard the news and curled his lips into a smile. "So she can't sit still after all." Eunuch Shian asked knowingly, "Your Highness, if Concubine Xie comes, will you see her?" Prince Jing's gaze darkened as he glanced at him. "What do you think?" Eunuch Shian smiled ingratiatingly. "This is Concubine Xie's first time coming to the front courtyard. This old servant wouldn't dare to stop her." "You wouldn't dare?" Prince Jing snorted lightly. "You old fox!" How many times had he stopped people when Fang Yuan'er came to the front courtyard? As soon as Xie Run arrived, Eunuch Shian immediately personally welcomed her inside. Prince Jing was sitting at his desk, looking perfectly serious as he reviewed official documents, occasionally making annotations. "Concubine Xie, is there something you need from this Prince by coming to the front courtyard?" He had originally intended to deliberately keep Xie Run waiting for a while, but when he casually looked up and caught sight of Xie Run's delicate, charming, and alluring appearance, he found it hard to look away. Prince Jing cleared his throat. "Your attire today is quite novel." Xie Run smiled. "Your concubine has a timid heart, so naturally she needs these gold and jade ornaments to bolster her courage." There was a hint of confusion in Prince Jing's eyes. Xie Run didn't seem to be here to court his favor? But with her smiling so sweetly, she was truly beautiful enough to captivate anyone's gaze. Xie Run moved with graceful steps, her long, deep peach-blossom eyes slightly lowered, staring intently at Prince Jing. "Your Highness has been in the manor for days without visiting Spring Mountain Court—have you forgotten your concubine and Taotao?" Her words carried a hint of reproach and three parts of coquettish petulance. As her gaze shifted, there was such deep affection in her eyes, as if she had been wronged in her sincerity. Those eyes, which reflected only Prince Jing, slowly reddened. Prince Jing's heart softened, and he found it hard to keep up the act. Just as he was about to open his mouth to say some soothing words, he heard Xie Run purse her lips and say, "Since Your Highness no longer favors your concubine, then your concubine will take the liberty to be a little presumptuous." "Presumptuous?" Prince Jing couldn't help but laugh. "I heard that you were already presumptuous once back at Songya Court, and quite spirited you were about it?" Prince Jing's words were full of teasing, with no hint of reproach. Xie Run's eyes grew even redder, tears welling up and threatening to fall but not quite falling, and she immediately turned the tables on him. "Didn't the Prince say that as long as we hold the moral high ground, we can fight back? Now that I've returned, am I to be held accountable?" She looked as if she had nothing left to lose, gritting her teeth and saying, "If that's the case, then this concubine has nothing to fear!" With that, she glanced around, picked the nearest porcelain vase that wasn't too valuable, and smashed it. With a loud crash, the vase shattered into pieces! Prince Jing was stunned, and Shi'an and the others guarding outside were equally dumbfounded. Hadn't they agreed she was coming to curry favor? After smashing it, Xie Run nervously glanced at Prince Jing. Seeing that he wasn't angry, she stepped forward and grabbed the brush stand, flinging all the brushes to the ground. Then she threw the inkstone, paperweights, and books from the shelf, one after another. As she threw things, she kept watching Prince Jing's expression, just like a child who had never done anything wrong but was throwing a tantrum with timid boldness. Prince Jing went from initial surprise to barely suppressed laughter, sitting quietly in his chair watching Xie Run wreak havoc. "The ornaments on the bookshelf were gifted to me by Imperial Father. Do you want to smash those too?" Xie Run walked closer and actually thought it over seriously, then, as if making a firm decision, picked one up and hurled it aside! Prince Jing could hardly contain his smile and added, "There's a gift prepared for you in the third cabinet. Do you want to smash that too?" Xie Run paused, picked up the box, and opened it to find a ruby necklace with an exotic flair. The center ruby was half the size of an infant's fist, and the entire necklace was exquisitely crafted, dazzling and resplendent. Xie Run silently hugged the box to her chest. Prince Jing glanced at her sideways and asked with a hint of a smile, "Not smashing anymore?" Xie Run hugged the box and gave a light snort: "This concubine only wants to smash the Prince's things! Why would I smash my own?" Prince Jing let out a scoffing laugh. "Fine, go ahead and keep smashing!" Xie Run clutched the box, using one hand to pick through the study, tossing whatever caught her eye to the floor. As she threw things, she carefully edged backward, afraid of hurting herself. Until the floor was strewn with everything.