Chapter 12 “You Look So Ordinary”

Chapter 12: "You're So Ordinary-Looking"

The next morning, the sunlight was more dazzling than usual, pouring brightly onto my face and making my cheeks feel hot. Still groggy, I rose, washed up, and prepared to join my father for breakfast in the dining hall. By my reckoning, he shouldn't have left for the morning court session yet.

To reach the dining hall, I had to pass through the main hall. As I walked by, yawning, I saw someone standing in the center of the hall with his back to me. Dressed in a pale-white robe, he stood tall and elegant like jade, a jade crown holding up half of his dark hair, exuding an aura of austere detachment.

Just then, my father emerged from his chambers and bowed respectfully to the man. "Your Highness, your presence honors my humble abode. This humble official apologizes for not having welcomed you sooner. I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."

"It's fine," Xie Yan replied, as sparing with words as ever.

Noticing me frozen at the entrance, my father quickly called out, "Xiao Qiu, come and pay your respects to His Highness."

With a sullen expression, I stepped forward and tilted my head in a rather sloppy bow. "This commoner greets Your Highness."

Xie Yan cast an indifferent glance my way before turning back to speak with my father, completely ignoring me. Like a petty person, I couldn't help but think he was still holding a grudge from yesterday, when I refused to heed his words and return to the Crown Prince's residence with him.

Hmph, who cares about him? I felt a surge of irritation myself.

"Your Highness, what brings you here today?" my father asked with utmost deference. "You needn't have troubled yourself to come in person; you could have simply sent someone with your instructions."

Xie Yan, who was arrogant and domineering toward me, behaved with perfect decorum toward my father. He nodded slightly and said, "Feng Muqiu was injured because of me. I was so worried about his condition that I couldn't sleep last night. That's why I came to disturb the Prime Minister so early this morning. I hope the Prime Minister won't take offense."

Xie Yan truly had two faces—this poised and proper demeanor was a far cry from the fierce way he'd bullied me yesterday. To everyone else, he was elegant, gentle, and gracious. To me, he was vindictive and cold-hearted.

And full of lies!

Yesterday, he said kissing me was just for fun. Today, he was spouting sweet words to my father, all to coax me back to the Crown Prince's residence as free labor. It made my teeth itch with anger.

I cursed Xie Yan a thousand times in my heart, but then I heard my father say, "In that case, if Your Highness doesn't mind, please join us for breakfast. The imperial physician already examined Xiao Qiu's injury yesterday. As long as he rests well, he'll recover soon."

I shot my father a look, shaking my head subtly, but he, assuming I was merely being petulant, ignored me and proceeded to instruct the kitchen to serve the food. To make matters worse, my resistant expression was caught by Xie Yan, who curled his lips into a faint, silent smirk, mouthing two words at me:

"How fun."

He actually said "how fun"! Damn him—I was so angry I felt like my head was about to steam. I could only say to my father, "Dad, I suddenly lost my appetite. I'm not eating. I'm going back to my room."

Seeing me like this, Xie Yan raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery in his eyes. I knew he was deliberately trying to provoke me, to get back at me for disobeying him yesterday. What a petty man!

Naturally, my father wouldn't allow it. He scolded me angrily, "Nonsense! How can you skip a meal? Feng Muqiu, stand right there and behave yourself."

As if I dared to act up in front of Xie Yan! I retorted silently in my heart, meekly gesturing toward the dining hall and mumbling, "Your Highness, this way, please."

Usually, when I was at the Crown Prince's residence, I stood while Xie Yan sat and wrote, so I often forgot that Xie Yan was much taller than me.

He walked ahead of me, his broad shoulders and narrow waist evident with every step, his sleeves swaying gently in the breeze. Following behind, I found myself staring at his back. Xie Yan's back was even broader than my father's. It would be so comfortable to sleep leaning against it.

Lost in thought, I didn't expect Xie Yan to suddenly turn around.

I couldn't stop in time and crashed straight into his chest. Xie Yan always carried a faint, cold fragrance—like the scent of pinewood or winter snow, subtle and chilling. I couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Xie Yan showed no reaction to my "enthusiastic" embrace. He stood there unfazed, letting me sniff him like a cat detecting the smell of fish.

His hand rested loosely around my waist as he looked down at me, his gray eyes catching the morning sunlight like two dull yet beautiful glass beads.

I don't know how long I clung to his robe, sniffing him, before he suddenly spoke, his tone indifferent. "Your father is here."

I snapped out of my daze and sprang away from him, guiltily looking around. Sure enough, Xie Yan wasn't lying—my father had just stepped out of the main hall and said with a smile, "The dining hall is this way, Your Highness."

So what had Xie Yan been about to do when he turned around? I couldn't figure it out.

Xie Yan and my father had plenty to talk about, from current policies to the customs of neighboring countries—they might as well have discussed poetry, song, and the meaning of life. Bored out of my mind, I played with my fingers, impatiently waiting for breakfast to be served.

My father didn't know Xie Yan's dietary preferences, so the table was mostly filled with my favorite breakfast dishes. He warmly urged Xie Yan, "Your Highness, please try these. They're naturally not as refined as the imperial kitchen's offerings. If you don't like them, I'll have the chef prepare other pastries."

"It's fine. Please help yourself, Prime Minister," Xie Yan said with a neutral expression.

Though he appeared impeccable, I knew he didn't like these pastries. He was used to drinking salty milk tea in the mornings, and since it wasn't on the table, I doubted he'd eat much.

Thinking this, I wolfed down some pastries and planned to ask the kitchen to prepare some salty milk tea.

Just then, Xiao Man suddenly entered. He bowed to the Crown Prince and greeted my father before handing me a letter. "Young Master, this letter was sent by Young Master Yuan."

The moment he finished speaking, Xie Yan shot me a sharp, icy glare. His expression clouded, his thin lips pressed tightly together, and his fingers curled on the table as if he wanted to kill me with his eyes right then and there.

I suddenly remembered what I'd told Xie Yan and quickly tried to distance myself. "Haven't I always told you to burn these? Why did you forget today?"

Xiao Man looked somewhat wronged. "This servant thought so too, but the attendant from his side insisted that his young master is gravely ill and begged me to deliver this letter to you."

I sneered. That bastard Yuan Ye—even if he died of illness, it would be a service to the people. I was about to speak when Xie Yan interjected leisurely. Holding a porcelain spoon, he sipped his porridge unhurriedly but said to me, "Since Young Master Yuan cares so much about you, shouldn't you read it and repay his sincerity?"

Though he said this, his cold, sharp eyes glared at me repeatedly, and his tone was unusually sarcastic. Even my father noticed and said, "His Highness is here today. Don't bother him with private matters. Deal with it later."

I couldn't be bothered to engage with Yuan Ye. Even if Xie Yan forced me to read the letter, I had no intention of doing so. I said firmly to Xiao Man, "Even if he's dead and this is his suicide note, burn it immediately."

"Understood, Young Master." Xiao Man, realizing he'd overstepped, apologized and left.

For the rest of the meal, Xie Yan only spoke with my father. Whenever I tried to chime in, he'd stop and give me a cold look before ignoring me entirely, leaving me utterly embarrassed.

After breakfast, my father invited Xie Yan to head to the morning court session together. I saw them off at the door, but Xie Yan still ignored me, not even granting me a glance.

I couldn't understand why he was angry and felt a bit conflicted, wondering if I should say something to cheer him up.

Xie Yan's palanquin was parked outside my house—ornate and exquisite, with exotic bells hanging from its four corners that jingled whenever the wind blew. After some deliberation, I brought the salty milk tea the kitchen had prepared and approached the palanquin.

"Xie Yan, Xie Yan," I called several times, but he didn't respond. I had to use my uninjured hand to lift the curtain. Inside, Xie Yan was resting with his eyes closed. He'd clearly heard me but was ignoring me.

The interior of the palanquin was spacious, lined with soft silk carpets and filled with the scent of fine incense. I placed the milk tea to the side and slowly crawled inside.

By the time I reached Xie Yan, he finally opened his eyes slightly and said to the attendants outside, "Let's go."

I immediately felt the wheels begin to roll, but I was still inside the palanquin.

"What are you doing here?" Xie Yan looked down at me. His eyelashes were longer than most people's, his pupils light, and his nose bridge high. When he looked down at someone, he exuded arrogance and impatience.

"I brought you milk tea," I said, like I was seeking credit, pointing to the drink I'd brought.

"Then why did you come inside?"

"You didn't answer when I called, so I had to come find you," I explained patiently.

But he still seemed displeased. After staring coldly at my face for a long moment, he suddenly said, "Feng Muqiu, you're so ordinary-looking. Why is Yuan Ye so obsessed with you?"

As he spoke, he reached out and pinched my cheek.