Chapter 24

Chapter 24 When Concubine Yun was critically ill, it was Fang Yuan'er who sent ginseng at the crucial moment, saving Concubine Yun's life. Upon hearing that Fang Yuan'er had made the move, Xie Run wasn't surprised in the least. After all, this one held the script in her hands. She was merely curious—why would Fang Yuan'er save Concubine Yun? Fang Yuan'er was hardly a kind-hearted person. Logically speaking, the two were rivals, especially since Fang Yuan'er had already abandoned the path of winning people over. Unless Concubine Yun's survival could influence the plot ahead... Xie Run suddenly jolted with a start. That's right. After Concubine Yun died, new people would be brought into the Prince's household! Although the current timeline differed somewhat from the book, the general plot would still unfold. In the original book, Prince Jing's birth mother, Noble Consort Rou, saw that the Prince's household had few heirs. Of the two who had managed to conceive, one had lost the child, and the other's pregnancy wasn't even stable yet. She had therefore specially petitioned the Emperor to bestow two more women upon him. Both were daughters of officials. At this point in the original plot, Concubine Ning was out of favor, Concubine Yun had passed away young, and Xie Run had long since become cannon fodder. The household had become Fang Yuan'er's solo show. Later, she even became a Concubine Consort by virtue of pregnancy. Fang Yuan'er was just rubbing her hands together, ready to contend with the Princess Consort, when the palace suddenly bestowed two women upon them. They became Concubine Consorts directly, standing on equal footing with her. More importantly, these two were strikingly beautiful, each with their own charm, and they immediately diluted Fang Yuan'er's share of favor. Later, after Prince Jing ascended the throne, the children born to these two women became Fang Yuan'er's formidable rivals. Now that Fang Yuan'er had transmigrated into the book and knew the two rivals were about to arrive, she was likely preparing in advance. Concubine Yun had already been quite favored by Prince Jing, and now she had nearly lost her life carrying his child. Prince Jing was not a cold and heartless man. Mindful of this debt of gratitude, he would surely treat her well. By pulling in an ally at this moment, Fang Yuan'er would have more confidence when the newcomers entered the household later. Xie Run mulled over Fang Yuan'er's calculations, looked at Fang Yuan'er's fighting spirit, then looked at her own boundless lying flat, and sighed that people simply couldn't be compared. Still, she finally felt a sense of crisis. First, new people were about to enter the household. Second, Fang Yuan'er was likely going to get pregnant. Xie Run couldn't help but touch her own belly, which had grown a size rounder. This time, she rather hoped it really was a pregnancy. Xie Run thought, at the very least, she should have a child of her own before falling out of favor, right? For the sake of lying flat and eating melons for the rest of her life, Xie Run decided to make an effort. Two days after the Concubine Yun incident had blown over, Xie Run quietly sent someone to deliver an embroidered pouch to Prince Jing. Mm, she was preparing to court favor. Back when she was punished by Prince Jing, Xie Run had embroidered two pouches to practice her skills. The ugly one she had given to Prince Jing first, keeping the better one for herself. At the time, Dantao had been utterly confused. "Mistress, aren't you afraid the Prince will be disdainful..." Xie Run had said calmly, "The Prince grew up in a nest of wealth and luxury. What fine embroidery hasn't he seen? Whichever of the two pouches goes out, he'll end up disdainful in the end. Giving him the ugly one first also leaves me room to show improvement." Having attended to Prince Jing for several months now, how could Xie Run not know his dog-temper? Ever since Concubine Yun's miscarriage, Prince Jing hadn't set foot in the inner courtyard, instead staying in the front courtyard. Shi'an suddenly passed a message in. "Your Highness, Dantao from Linxuan Pavilion is waiting outside." Prince Jing actually didn't like women from the inner courtyard running to the front courtyard to court favor. He stayed in the front courtyard precisely because he didn't want to see anyone. He had made it abundantly clear, yet someone still came rushing over. Either she wasn't smart, or she was knowingly defying him. If she wasn't smart (or knowingly defying him), why should he favor her? But hearing the words "Linxuan Pavilion" suddenly gave him pause. He didn't immediately say he wouldn't see her. Eunuch Shian smiled along. "Most people, this servant would send away, but this Mistress Xie has always been one of good temperament, so this servant didn't dare make the decision for Your Highness and came to ask instead." This "good temperament" was also a way of saying Xie Run knew her place and never competed for favor. Prince Jing raised an eyebrow. "Did she say what she came for?" Shi'an: "She said she specially made a pouch for Your Highness..." Prince Jing raised an eyebrow, thinking of the pouch Xie Run had embroidered last time. It was so ugly he couldn't bear to wear it on his person. Xie-shi had always been honest and well-behaved. Could it be that she had been frightened by recent events and thought of embroidering a pouch to court favor? Such a straightforward and somewhat foolish thing to do—it really did seem like something Xie-shi would do. Prince Jing suddenly became curious about how ugly Xie Run's newly embroidered pouch would be. He set down his brush. "Go and bring the pouch in." "Yes." Soon, the pouch was in Prince Jing's hands. The moment he saw the green bamboo embroidered on the pouch, his brow furrowed. He let out a sigh and said after a long while, "Truly ugly." Shi'an stood nearby, pretending not to hear. Prince Jing wasn't satisfied with merely disliking it himself—he had to drag someone else into it. "You tell me—those hands of hers, slender and delicate as scallion shoots, how can the things she embroiders turn out this ugly?" "In all the years I've lived, I've never seen such an ugly pouch?" Shi'an chuckled. "This servant does think it's much prettier than the last pouch." But inwardly, he muttered to himself—it seemed the Prince did hold some affection for Mistress Xie after all. If this were anyone else, it would be an eyesore of epic proportions, and the Prince would likely take one look and toss it aside, let alone bother pulling their servants aside to complain. Upon hearing Shi'an's words, Prince Jing gave a light snort. "That's not wrong to say. It is indeed a bit more pleasing to the eye than the last one." As he handled the pouch, Prince Jing noticed a corner of white paper peeking out from inside. He opened the pouch and unfolded the white paper within, finding two characters written on it: "Suisui." After reading it, Prince Jing shook his head with a complicated expression. "Forget it. When the child learns to write in the future, she absolutely cannot be the one teaching him." "A disgrace to the teaching profession!" With that, Prince Jing laughed. Though still ugly, it had indeed improved considerably. Deliberately writing her childhood name inside the pouch—what else could it mean but an invitation for him to come? Shi'an chuckled. "The Prince certainly thinks ahead. It's only been three months since Mistress Xie entered the residence, and you're already thinking about teaching the young master to write. Clearly, the Prince truly dotes on Mistress Xie." Prince Jing shot him a sidelong glance. "I dote on her because she pleases me." With that, he tucked the note back into the pouch. "Very well, it has indeed been a while since I last went to see her." He mused inwardly that her childhood name was not Suisui, but rather Suisui with different characters. As he reached the doorway, Prince Jing suddenly stopped. "Shi'an!" Shi'an immediately stepped forward. Prince Jing: "Find a fine piece of jade and have these two characters carved onto it." He only flashed the note before Shi'an's eyes before tucking it back into the pouch. Fortunately, Shi'an was quick-witted and immediately replied with a smile, "This servant will see to it." Prince Jing gave a light snort and promptly led his entourage to Linxuan Pavilion. After the formal greetings were done and the servants were dismissed, Xie Run quietly reached out and tugged at the corner of Prince Jing's robe. She wore a pink ru skirt today, her hair simply coiled into an elegant bun, making her look both gentle and alluring. Prince Jing was taken aback, then chided in a low voice, "You... this is improper." Though his words scolded her, he didn't shake off Xie Run's hand, allowing her to tug at him. After all, men say one thing but mean another. Xie Run spoke in a soft, coaxing tone. "This servant... has missed the Prince." Hearing this, Prince Jing felt his heart as though it were soaking in hot spring water, a strange warmth spreading through him. In the past, Xie Run had been obedient, but she rarely spoke such direct, flirtatious words. Suddenly saying something like that was rather stirring. The two sat down on chairs, and Xie Run served tea to Prince Jing. Prince Jing inhaled the tea's fragrance and said in a low voice, "Not bad." Xie Run was momentarily stunned. She had been so troubled these past days that she hadn't had time to practice tea whisking. Her skill level... should be about the same, right? But since Prince Jing praised her, she'd simply accept it. Fearing boredom, Xie Run led Prince Jing to the study. Xie Run blinked her eyes. "This servant has been practicing calligraphy quite diligently lately..." With that, she handed him several sheets of newly practiced large characters, gazing at him expectantly. All but saying "praise me, praise me" outright. Prince Jing found it amusing. Glancing at the characters, which had indeed improved somewhat, he smiled. "Barely passable to the eye." Xie Run's face immediately lit up with joy. Outside the window, several red flowers vied for attention, but none could outshine the spring color between Xie Run's brows. "You called me here just to look at your calligraphy practice?" Prince Jing wasn't truly a man devoid of romantic sensibility. On the contrary, beneath his stern and steady exterior, he quite enjoyed a bit of playfulness. Xie Run said softly, "These past days... this servant has been somewhat afraid. I thought that if I could just see the Prince, perhaps I wouldn't be so scared anymore." She didn't mention what had happened during those days. Afraid that Prince Jing would be displeased to hear it. Prince Jing's throat tightened. With a sweep of his arm, he pulled the Lady of Beauty's waist close, his voice dropping a register. "Seeing me and you're not afraid anymore?" Xie Run gazed up with her watery peach-blossom eyes and nodded obediently. "I was afraid before, but seeing the Prince puts my heart at ease." She even leaned of her own accord against Prince Jing's broad, sturdy chest. Prince Jing: "Is there nothing you wish to tell me?" Xie Run looked up, a hint of confusion on her face. "Tell you what?" Seeing her still looking so clueless, Prince Jing let out a helpless sigh. "Never mind. With a head like yours, you probably don't have that kind of scheming anyway." Xie Run: "..." In the past, when something happened in the rear courtyard, other concubines would inevitably put in their two cents when they encountered Prince Jing. Either saying how truly wicked so-and-so was, never imagining she'd harm others; or vouching for another as a good person, believing she wouldn't hurt anyone. Things that had nothing to do with them, yet they insisted on chattering on about them. Prince Jing was already irritated; he sought their company for some peace and quiet, yet even then he couldn't find tranquility. Now seeing that Xie Run hadn't yet caught that disease, he was rather pleased. Xie Run wanted to argue with Prince Jing to prove her mind wasn't that dull, but after a moment's thought, she decided not to explain. Stupid was fine, since Prince Jing seemed to like stupid. Prince Jing raised a hand. "Enough. Go grind some ink for me..." He paused mid-sentence. "You do know how to grind ink, don't you?" Xie Run's face flushed, and she bit her lip with a soft, indignant tone. "Does this servant really seem that foolish in the Prince's eyes?" Prince Jing gave her a long, deep look. Xie Run: "..." Though she wanted to play the fool to catch the tiger, she didn't actually want to cement an image of herself as a pig. Xie Run couldn't help herself and pinched Prince Jing's waist. And honestly, Prince Jing's waist was lean and firm—quite nice to the touch. Xie Run realized her mistake the moment she pinched him. Her expression stiffened, and she secretly glanced up at Prince Jing's face—only to be caught red-handed. Xie Run immediately broke into a smile, changing the pinch into a gentle touch. "Your Highness, this servant noticed your robes are a bit dirty." "Heh." Prince Jing cast a sidelong glance at Xie Run. Seeing her face full of guilt, he wanted to laugh yet also felt disdain. Her soft fingers brushed across his waist, leaving a trail of searing warmth. Prince Jing casually stepped back, letting out a light scoff. "Why aren't you going to grind the ink?" Xie Run smiled at once. "Yes, this servant will go right away." Prince Jing stood to the side, sweeping his brush across the paper in one fluid motion. Xie Run leaned in to glance at it, understanding for the first time what "iron-drawn silver-hooks" truly meant. Xie Run murmured in admiration, "No wonder Your Highness always finds my calligraphy ugly..." What Prince Jing had written were the two characters of Xie Run's childhood name—Suisui. Just two simple characters, yet they carried a fierce, imposing aura. They say the writing reveals the person—looking at these characters, one could tell Prince Jing was a man of ambition. He set down his brush, admiring his own work for a moment, then said, "I've had a gift prepared for you." "A gift?" Xie Run looked at Prince Jing curiously. Before long, Eunuch Shian presented an exquisite box. Prince Jing: "Open it and take a look!" Xie Run opened the box to find a jade pendant resting neatly inside. The jade was of exceptional quality, warm to the touch, with a rich emerald hue blooming at its center—strikingly beautiful. Xie Run turned it over and saw two characters carved on the back—Suisui. It was her childhood name. Xie Run's long, narrow peach-blossom eyes held a smile, like ripples spreading across a clear pool, silently alluring. Without waiting for Prince Jing to ask, Xie Run spoke up on her own: "Your Highness, this servant loves it very much!" Prince Jing instinctively curved his lips, then immediately pressed them flat, putting on a proper air. "Just a piece of jade, and your mouth is already grinning from ear to ear..." The implication was that he found Xie Run lacking in sophistication. Having served Prince Jing for so long, Xie Run had come to understand his nature—hard on the outside, soft within. She shamelessly said, "This servant was born into a modest household, so indeed I have little experience with fine things." "This jade pendant is already the finest jade this servant has ever seen in her life." Prince Jing felt a pang of discomfort at her words, and inexplicably, a hint of pity rose in his heart. "You are my woman—do you think I would ever let you lack for good things?" Xie Run just clutched the jade and smiled foolishly. "This servant treasures fine things, but treasures even more the fine things that Your Highness personally bestows." Hearing this, Prince Jing felt rather warmed inside. That night, Xie Run was thoroughly worn out by Prince Jing, and couldn't help but bite his shoulder. Before falling asleep, she thought—she'd already offended him once during the day, so what was one more time? The next morning, when Prince Jing rose and caught sight of the bite mark on his shoulder, he couldn't help but let out a soft hiss. "This Xie woman grows more audacious by the day." Dantao and Xiaoshu, who were attending to his dressing, dared not make a sound. Only after Prince Jing had left did they let out a heavy sigh of relief. Before long, Linxuan Pavilion received a great many fine gifts. When Xie Run lazily rose to dress and do her makeup, she was dazzled by the pile of jewelry on her vanity table. Xie Run steadied her waist, frozen in place: "This is..." Dantao said with a beaming smile: "His Highness sent these over as rewards first thing this morning." Xie Run swept her gaze over the gold and jade hairpins and ornaments on the vanity, her eyes landing on the two boxes in the middle. In one box was a complete set of butterfly-and-flower emerald hair ornaments; in the other was an entire box of gemstones. There were large ones and small ones—the largest ruby was nearly half the size of an infant's fist. Xie Run murmured softly, "I've struck it rich..." This thigh of Prince Jing's was indeed thick and wealthy. With these jewels and ornaments, she was guaranteed financial security for the rest of her life. Dantao added specifically, "Mistress, today's rewards were all delivered by Jing Wu from the front courtyard—they likely came from His Highness's private treasury, and no one else knows." Hearing this, Xie Run was even happier. With a grand wave of her hand, "Rewards for everyone!" The entire Linxuan Pavilion was filled with joy.