Chapter 82

Chapter 82 When Prince Jing heard that Xie Run was throwing a tantrum, he found it quite unusual indeed. He came straight to Spring Mountain Court with his attendants. "I heard you lost a piece of jade and are throwing a tantrum?" "I came specially to take a look." Prince Jing walked into the room with a smile, a hint of amusement in his eyes. Xie Run sat by the couch with reddened eyes, glaring at him without getting up to receive him, looking genuinely upset. The beautiful woman before him glared at him with tearful eyes, appearing so charming and alluring that it made one's heart itch. Prince Jing stepped forward, deliberately circling around to look at her face. He raised an eyebrow. "Have you really been crying?" Xie Run discreetly scanned the room, confirming no personal maids were present, then immediately began her performance. "I am angry!" She said it with complete seriousness. With her delicate and radiant features, her anger didn't look like anger at all—it looked like coquettish sulking. Prince Jing laughed. "It's just a piece of jade, nothing so rare. If you like it, I'll send you a few more pieces another day." Xie Run shot him a glare with her misty peach-blossom eyes. "How is that the same?!" Prince Jing sat down. "How is it different?" Xie Run emphasized, "This jade is the first gift the Prince ever gave me, and it has my childhood name carved on it. It's extraordinarily meaningful!" Only then did Prince Jing remember this detail, inwardly annoyed that Shi'an hadn't reminded him. He reached out to stroke Xie Run's cheek, helping her wipe away her tears. "How did you lose the jade?" Xie Run said pitifully, "I don't know." Prince Jing: "Have you had people search for it?" "I've looked everywhere I went." "Don't worry too much. It might have fallen into the snow. Once the snow melts, perhaps it will be visible." Xie Run grew even more aggrieved, leaning against Prince Jing's chest. "This is a gift the Prince gave me with his own hands!" Prince Jing smiled and comforted her: "The jade pendant is important, but your health is equally precious. Getting upset over a jade pendant and harming your health wouldn't be worth it." Xie Run lay against his chest, using Prince Jing's clothes to wipe her tears, saying nothing. Prince Jing laughed. "Isn't it just a jade pendant? I'll have Shi'an open the storeroom later and pick out eight or ten pieces of jade for you. You can have whatever characters carved on them you like." Thinking of the seal Xie Run had given him, Prince Jing added, "And carve another seal, also with your childhood name on it." Xie Run gave a light hum. "I want good ones!" "Pick whatever you like, alright?" Prince Jing was always generous with the women he favored. Xie Run pressed her advantage: "I also want the Prince to personally carve one for me!" At this point, she truly seemed to be indulging in her favored status. But Prince Jing happened to enjoy exactly this, and he agreed cheerfully, "Fine, fine, fine!" Xie Run couldn't help herself—she hugged Prince Jing and kissed him. "Prince, you're too good to me!" Prince Jing deliberately teased her, "Giving jade makes me good, and not giving makes me bad?" "Naturally!" Xie Run showed a hint of pride. "They say, marry a man, marry a man, for clothes and food. I married a good man—no worries about food or clothing, and endless fine things besides." "Then the Prince is the best man in the world!" Prince Jing was delighted by her words. "I didn't know you could be so silver-tongued. I've underestimated you before." Xie Run said proudly, "Before, I had no backing and not so much favor, so naturally I wasn't as bold as I am now." "Today I threw a tantrum, and the Prince came specially to soothe me." Xie Run lifted her eyes, her moist gaze filled with tenderness, her voice turning soft and alluring. "It shows the Prince has me in his heart." "I'm very happy!" Prince Jing, coaxed by her sweet words, felt rather light-headed. Beautiful, gentle yet charming in temperament, skilled at coquettishness and sweet talk— What man wouldn't be swept off his feet? Shi'an thought to himself on the side, his master really ought to restrain himself. If he floated any higher, he'd be giving half the storeroom to Concubine Xie. Since he was already at Spring Mountain Court, Prince Jing stayed for lunch and took an afternoon nap there before leisurely returning to the front courtyard. The women in the rear courtyard couldn't help but feel envious. Even the Princess Consort couldn't help but remark, "Others have to invite him three or four times and still might not get the Prince to come sit for a while." "Concubine Xie throws a tantrum, and the Prince rushes over to Spring Mountain Court. Clearly, he's truly taken with her." The Princess Consort was curious—what methods did this Xie woman actually have? On ordinary days, she seemed like an obedient and gentle honest person, without much distinctive character. Concubine An had a similar temperament, and her looks weren't bad either. But she had never received favor, so everyone assumed Prince Jing didn't care for that type. Now it seemed, perhaps people were different, or perhaps the Prince's tastes had changed? "Concubine Xie certainly has her methods." Nanny Li said unhappily, "I thought she was well-behaved, but who knew that after a few days of favor, she'd float up to the heavens." "She never showed any temper before, but now she's making a fuss over a jade pendant so the whole courtyard knows about it—probably just to lure the Prince in." The Princess Consort said calmly, "Even with ten thousand methods, the Prince has to be willing to play along." "One is willing to strike, the other willing to take it. Why blame her?" Nanny Li didn't understand her mistress's thinking. "Princess Consort, are you just going to watch this happen with your own eyes?" The Princess Consort asked curiously, "Why not?" "I think she's quite good!" "She hasn't done anything out of line. Though she's gained the Prince's favor, she's always been respectful toward me on ordinary days, and she doesn't have those scheming intentions." The Princess Consort sighed regretfully again. "If only everyone in the inner court were like Concubine Xie." Nanny Li: "..." Nanny Li sighed at the Princess Consort's lack of ambition while equally looking down on all women who used schemes to seduce Prince Jing. The Princess Consort used to find her a bit annoying. But as the boring days dragged on, the Princess Consort actually began to find some amusement in bickering with Nanny Li every day. Nanny Li was old and somewhat stubborn. Though her words didn't please the Princess Consort, she only ever spoke—she never acted. Whatever the Princess Consort told her not to do, she would never do. Nanny Li was also interesting. Every time she was rebutted by the Princess Consort, she would sulk in silence on her own, and after a while, she'd manage to console herself. Then she'd say it again next time. As this happened more and more often, it became a unique way of interacting between the two. Once Prince Jing had left, Xiaoshu followed Eunuch Shian to the storeroom and selected ten fine pieces of jade. White jade, yellow jade, ink jade... all were top-grade items. After this commotion, the entire inner court knew that Xie Run had lost her jade pendant and had used that excuse to extract ten pieces of jade from Prince Jing's estate. Even Fang Yuan'er, who was always free with her money, couldn't help feeling a bit jealous. After all this fuss, Xie Run finally felt a little more at ease. Everyone knew she had lost her jade pendant, so if the pendant ever appeared at another incident scene, she couldn't be casually framed for it. But Xie Run had relaxed too soon after all. At the third watch, someone quietly knocked on the side gate of Spring Mountain Courtyard, saying they had news to deliver to Concubine Xie. The old woman guarding the side gate immediately went to report. When Xie Run saw the visitor, she was quite surprised. She studied the other woman for a moment before asking, "You're from Concubine Wan's courtyard? Why haven't I seen you before?" It had been a while since they'd last met, and Sui Jin's face had become sallow and gaunt, full of sickly signs. She revealed a bitter smile. "This servant fell ill after serving Concubine Wan for a few days and hasn't left the courtyard in a long time. It's only natural that Concubine Xie doesn't recognize me."