Chapter 245

Chapter 245 Xie Run walked over and sat down across from Prince Jing, her posture composed and gentle. Xie Run had long noticed that Prince Jing's mood had been low when he entered the courtyard today. Even though Taotao had managed to amuse him for a while, once things quieted down, a shadow of gloom still lingered between his brows. Judging by his demeanor, it seemed he had just returned from the palace. Xie Run didn't press him with questions, only smiling as she spoke of the day's affairs: "The weather has been rather nice these past two days. I was thinking of taking Taotao to the garden in a couple of days to fly kites, and while we're at it, I can have him practice his walking a bit more." "Those maids all dote on him, afraid he'll catch a chill the moment he steps outside. They layer him in one garment after another, bundling him up until he looks like a ball." "He could walk just fine before, but once they pile all those clothes on him, he can barely keep his balance—staggering about sideways like a crab." Prince Jing's brow relaxed slightly as he looked at Xie Run with a hint of exasperation. "Does that sound like something a mother would say?" Xie Run straightened up and said with complete confidence, "So what if I'm a mother?" "Does being a mother mean I have to lie through my teeth—when he's clearly bundled up like a ball, I'm supposed to praise him for being as skinny as a bamboo pole?!" At the thought of Taotao wrapped up like a ball, Prince Jing couldn't help but laugh. Xie Run continued, "I never knew how hard the Princess Consort had it before. These past two days, stewardesses have been showing up at our doorstep at the crack of dawn waiting for me. I haven't even had a chance to sleep in." Prince Jing leaned back lazily, his eyes lowered. "I'm afraid you'll be even busier in the days to come." Xie Run was startled. "My Prince, what do you mean?!" Seeing her usually smiling face overtaken by surprise, Prince Jing grinned mischievously. "Worried you won't be able to sleep in anymore?" Ever since the first time she had attended to Prince Jing, when he hadn't required her to rise early to help him dress, Xie Run had almost never gotten up early to attend to him since. Prince Jing had indulged her at first. But somewhere along the way, on a morning when he braved the biting wind to head to court, he looked up at the pitch-black sky, then glanced at Xie Run sleeping soundly beside him. Something in his heart... felt a little unsettled. So now he was deliberately teasing her. Xie Run said calmly, "...Then I'll simply go to bed earlier." With that, she tugged at Prince Jing's hand. "But my Prince, why will things be busy? Do tell me quickly—at least I can be somewhat prepared." Prince Jing patted her hand and dropped two shocking pieces of news. "Concubine Jing has passed away." "I'll likely be leaving the capital in a few days. At the shortest, half a month; at the longest, three to five months before I return. During this time, the affairs of the household will be in your hands and Consort Sun's." Upon hearing these two pieces of news, Xie Run's first reaction was that Concubine Jing's death was connected to Prince Jing—that this was why he would be leaving the capital for a time at such a critical juncture in the struggle for succession. After a moment, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The fact that Prince Jing was telling her this so calmly now suggested it had nothing to do with her. Xie Run asked softly, "But how did Concubine Jing pass away so suddenly? She was still carrying the Emperor's child..." Prince Jing's voice turned low and heavy. "You must never speak such words again!" It was rare to see him so stern, his dark eyes brimming with complex emotions. "Not only must you not speak of it, you must also keep the tongues of everyone in this rear courtyard in check—no one is to discuss it in the slightest." Xie Run realized the gravity of the matter and nodded. In the past, Prince Jing never shared matters of the palace with the Side Consorts or Concubine Consorts of the household. It was only now, with the Princess Consort unwell and the household under the management of Xie Run and Consort Sun, that he would speak of such things. Xie Run vaguely guessed at something—perhaps Concubine Jing's death was... not honorable. Even Prince Jing didn't dare mention it openly. With Concubine Jing gone, what of Prince An? Seeing Prince Jing's demeanor, he seemed reluctant to bring up Prince An. She changed the subject and asked, "Then where will you be heading this time, my Prince?" Prince Jing: "Yunzhou." Xie Run nodded. "Though spring has arrived, the weather is still cold. At the very least, I'll hastily sew a few spring garments for you to take along." Before Prince Jing could speak, Xie Run had already covered herself in advance. "My sewing skills are poor, I admit, but at least it's a token of my regard. Even if you don't wear them, don't refuse them now." "Once you reach Yunzhou, so far away, I won't know whether you actually wear them. If you just humor me with a word that you did, I can be happy for days." Prince Jing smiled. "You've grown increasingly bold with your words." Xie Run: "I've been attending to you for two years now, my Prince—we even have a child together. If I still weighed every word I spoke, you and I would have grown distant by now." Prince Jing reached out and tapped her forehead. "And increasingly silver-tongued." Xie Run accepted the compliment. Perhaps because he hadn't visited Spring Mountain Courtyard in some time, Prince Jing seemed rather fond of Xie Run today. That evening, as he kneaded her waist, he said in a low voice, "Why do I feel your waist has gotten a bit fuller?" Xie Run: "..." If this weren't Prince Jing, she truly would have kicked him right off the bed. So what if she'd gained weight? Was she eating his family's rice? Come to think of it... she supposed she had gotten plumper eating his family's rice. Xie Run gritted her teeth and said softly, "Is my Prince implying he's dissatisfied with my figure?" Prince Jing said seriously, "No. It's just that I think you were too thin before—it was a bit bony to the touch. Now that you're a little fuller, it's much more comfortable." "It's not that I mean fat, merely that you're more voluptuous now—a different kind of charm..." Before Prince Jing could finish speaking, Xie Run covered his mouth with hers. "Since Your Highness likes it, there's no need to say more!" If you're going to do the deed, just do it—why add commentary? The next morning, as Prince Jing dressed, he felt a dull ache in his shoulder. Unable to resist, he turned his head to look and saw a row of teeth marks on his shoulder, bitten quite deeply—blood had even been drawn. Prince Jing looked at it and couldn't help but hiss: "She really bites hard!" He knew full well that Xie Run was angry because she'd heard him say she'd gained weight the night before. She was usually so gentle and soft—he never expected that when angered, she'd bite. As he stepped out, Prince Jing glanced at the sky and saw it was still dark and overcast. That sense of unwillingness surfaced again. He suddenly turned around and strode back into the courtyard. Eunuch Shian and the others following behind were utterly bewildered. Prince Jing entered the inner chamber and caught sight of Xie Run sleeping soundly on the couch, her porcelain-white, delicate face carrying a hint of allure. The room was warm and cozy, suffused with a fragrance unique to a woman. Prince Jing stepped forward, reached out, and pinched Xie Run's nose. Xie Run was in the middle of a deep, sweet sleep when suddenly she couldn't breathe, forcing her eyes open. Her peach-blossom eyes opened, dazed and innocent, only to meet Prince Jing's deep, smiling gaze. Xie Run: "Your Highness... has something happened?" Prince Jing suppressed his smile and said with mock seriousness: "Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to let you know I'm heading to court." Xie Run stared at him quietly, her mind slow to catch up. By the time Prince Jing flicked his sleeves and left, Xie Run finally snapped back to reality. Lying in bed, she suddenly burst out laughing. Was Prince Jing being a little too childish?! Prince Jing, who hadn't walked far, heard her laughter and unconsciously quickened his pace, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Because of Prince Jing's little stunt, Xie Run went back to sleep and ended up waking late.