Chapter 102

Chapter 102

Eunuch Shi'an coughed twice and cautiously reminded, "Lady Xie usually doesn't send people to the front courtyard. Whenever she does, she always has some novel ideas."

Shi'an glanced at the food box on the table and said, "I'd guess there might be something else inside?"

Prince Jing raised an eyebrow, finally showing some interest.

"Open the food box and let's have a look."

Shi'an hurried forward and opened the insulated food box layer by layer.

When he set out the fish soup, Prince Jing's face was blank.

When Shi'an picked out a delicate little green jade seal, the chill on Prince Jing's face clearly eased.

He took the seal and said offhandedly, "Pulling the same stunt twice, does she really think I'm that easy to win over?"

Shi'an stood by in silence.

Prince Jing toyed with the seal for a bit, then suddenly asked, "Where's the girl who brought the soup?"

Shi'an immediately replied, "She is still waiting outside."

"Tell her to come in and speak."

Shi'an: "Yes!"

But he couldn't help thinking to himself.

Actually, Prince Jing was pretty easy to win over with Shufei Xie.

When Dan Tao came into the study, Prince Jing asked, "Did your mistress just send the soup with no message?"

Dan Tao, remembering her mistress said to only speak when the prince asked, just shook her head and said, "My mistress didn't leave any message."

Prince Jing raised an eyebrow, fiddling with the seal in his hand. "Do you know this seal?"

Dan Tao put on a look of surprise. "This is the jade seal Your Highness picked from the storeroom for my mistress a while back."

"My mistress was going to paint today, but after finding the seal, she got lazy and just tossed it aside. I had the maids look for it forever, but never thought it'd end up in the food box."

Prince Jing: "...Did your mistress put you up to this to fool me?"

"The seal was in the study. How could it end up in the food box if she just set it aside?"

Dan Tao answered honestly, "That's what my mistress said."

Prince Jing, now curious, asked, "What's your mistress up to?"

Dan Tao steeled herself and said, "My mistress got some plum blossoms and is enjoying them."

"Admiring plum blossoms and painting? While I'm away, she's having a good time."

Prince Jing tucked the seal into his sleeve and got up, saying, "Her handwriting is terrible; I'm curious what her painting looks like."

"Shi'an, let's go to Spring Mountain Courtyard."

Dan Tao: "..."

She wanted to say her mistress was amazing, but didn't know where to begin.

Xie Run wasn't really sure Prince Jing would come to Spring Mountain Courtyard.

After all, she'd used a little trick, but it depended on whether he'd fall for it.

After sending Dan Tao to deliver the soup, she got bored and actually went into the study to set up paper and brushes, ready to paint.

Of course, she couldn't actually paint.

The original owner couldn't paint, and neither could she.

But that didn't stop her from soaking in the vibe.

In winter, the warm stove was burning with incense, and light came through the windows covered with bright paper, clearly showing the clusters of red plum blossoms outside.

The desk was big and solid, with a row of brushes, ink scent in the air, and white paper laid out.

What a great vibe! It looked really impressive at first glance!

After having everything set up, Xie Run sat on a reclining chair opposite the desk, leisurely reading a storybook.

When Prince Jing arrived, this was the scene he saw.

For some reason, he couldn't help but want to laugh.

"I heard that Suisui was going to paint, so I came specifically to see your skill. How is it that you're now lying on a chair reading a book?"

Prince Jing glanced at the desk. "The brush and ink are all prepared. Were you waiting for me to come?"

Xie Run: "...Does Your Highness want to hear the truth?"

Prince Jing was silent for a moment, then coldly uttered one word: "Speak."

"I just wanted to let myself and the child in my womb be immersed in the fragrance of books."

As she spoke, she raised her hand and pointed outside. "Doesn't Your Highness think that looking at the study from this angle gives a very scholarly atmosphere?"

Prince Jing: "..."

Prince Jing was almost amused. "Your maid said you were going to paint. I thought, since your handwriting is so ugly, I wonder what your painting would look like, so I came specifically to see."

Xie Run touched her belly with a troubled expression. "Your Highness, I can do scribbles, but with this big belly, it's really inconvenient."

Prince Jing: "Then what did you mean by leaving the seal in the food box?"

Xie Run smiled radiantly, her peach-blossom eyes clear and warm.

Every time he saw her smile like this, Prince Jing's heart couldn't help but soften.

He had to admit that doting on Lady Xie was not only because she was understanding and interesting, but also inseparable from her youth and good looks.

The maids in the study had long withdrawn, leaving only Xie Run and Prince Jing.

She raised her hand, her slender fingers like green onions, and tugged lightly at Prince Jing's sleeve.

It was ambiguous yet restrained, as if tugging at Prince Jing's heart.

Xie Run looked up, her gaze clear as crystal. "Your Highness, I feel that something is missing in front of the desk."

"What is it?"

"You, my lord." Xie Run smiled, warm and sweet. "When you take up your brush to paint, I'll be your red-sleeved companion, tending the incense, and together we'll admire the winter snow and the plum blossoms—only then will we not waste this beautiful time."

"I left this note precisely to invite you here, my lord, so that at least one painting of yours would be left behind."

She laughed charmingly. "Even if my lord grows too busy to come in the future, I can gaze at your painting and think of you."

She paused, then leaned close to Prince Jing and whispered softly, "My lord, I've missed you."

Prince Jing had heard no shortage of words meant to win his favor, but no one had ever dared to say such tender, amorous things to him.

Prince Jing was only a man; the one before him, speaking softly and smiling warmly, was his beloved concubine. Cajoled this way, he felt his whole body flooded with a surge of heat.

He gave a light snort, yet his large hand closed around Xie Run's.

It was soft and warm in his grasp, as if it could warm him to the very core.

"If you missed me, why didn't you say so outright? Why must you make such a mystery of it!"

Prince Jing spoke gruffly, but he was extremely gentle as he took Xie Run's hand and led her to the desk.

Seeing his attitude soften, Xie Run's tone became even more coy.

"If my lord was busy with official affairs, how would I dare to let some little girlish thoughts disturb your important matters?"

Prince Jing did not know whether to laugh or cry. "So that's why you had Dan Tao say those words?"

Xie Run's eyes darted around the room, everywhere except at Prince Jing, with an unmistakable guilty air.