Falling petals danced in the air, and the hem of her skirt fluttered gracefully. With a brush in his hand, Sui Tingheng subtly lifted his gaze to settle on the young woman sipping tea with his mother beneath the blooming trees.
A lone peach blossom petal floated into the inkstone, its delicate fragrance mingling with the ink, as if to infuse into the unfinished painting. And yet, even the most vibrant of colors paled in comparison to the breathtaking splendor of her beauty.
Sui Tingheng lowered his head again and softly sketched her eyes—radiant, like twin pearls. She loved to smile, and even her eyes seemed to gleam brighter than others.
“Your Imperial Highness.” Fuyi approached the table, lifting the hem of her skirt slightly as she leaned over curiously. “Have you finished the painting?”
At the sound of her voice, he paused. “It still needs time for the colors to be filled in.”
“Your Imperial Highness is truly skilled. You’ve painted me beautifully.” Fuyi stared at her portrayal on the paper, momentarily mesmerized. ‘Am I truly this pretty?’
“Unfortunately, my painting skills are limited. I can capture the form, but not the essence,” Sui Tingheng said, setting down the brush. “This painting falls short of the real Miss Yun.”
Fuyi thought the prince was being modest, but as she observed his expression, she realized he genuinely believed the painting wasn’t good enough. Except for him, she’d never seen anyone hold themselves to such a high standard.
“This subject daughter knows only a little about painting, but in my eyes, this one is unparalleled.” Fuyi gently blew away a fallen petal on the painting and marveled, “This subject daughter has long heard of Your Imperial Highness’s vast talents, but seeing this painting today, I finally understand what it means for a transcendent immortal to walk among mortals, radiating unparalleled brilliance.”
“As long as Miss Yun does not dislike my work for being too crude, I am content.” Sui Tingheng shifted slightly to give her a better view of the painting. “Today is the sixth of the third month. Is it not your eighteenth birthday in three days?”
It suddenly dawned on Fuyi that her birthday was near. No wonder her mother had been busy making new clothes and accessories for her recently—she had thought her recent good behavior had softened her mother’s heart, but it turned out her birthday was approaching.
“Fuyi is already eighteen?” The Empress approached them with a few flowers in her hands. “Time flies so quickly. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown into a fine young lady.”
The Empress’s overly affectionate tone made Fuyi once again question whether she had hit her head as a child and forgotten a part of her memories. Otherwise, why did the Emperor and Empress seem so familiar with her childhood?
When she was little, she had been mischievous and playful. She hated studying and spent her days skipping school with Lin Xiaowu and their usual gang. Needless to say, she never had any interaction with the Li Wang couple or their son.
‘Could Father have been secretly working with the Emperor all along?’
Noticing Fuyi staring at her with puzzlement, the Empress reached out to gently pat her hairpin, speaking kindly, “Between people talented in arts and literature and those with extraordinary martial arts skills, who do you prefer to spend time with?”
“The third son of General Cao is very skilled in martial arts and we are best friends,” Fuyi pondered for a moment before replying. “On the other hand, my elder brother has always been a diligent student since childhood, so this subject daughter admires both types of people.”
Seeing that Fuyi did not grasp the hidden meaning of her question, the Empress chuckled lightly and shook her head, thinking—’Well, seems like this girl still isn’t there yet.’
“Mother Empress,” Sui Tingheng called, “are these flowers for Father Emperor?”
The Emperor was a rather straightforward man who cared little about refined stuff, but the Empress had a fondness for tending flowers and plants. If flowers appeared in his chambers, they were undoubtedly prepared by her.
“Your father is busy with state affairs and has no time to admire the blossoms. Wouldn’t it be a pity to waste all these beautiful peach blossoms if we don’t share them with him?” The Empress placed the flowers into a vase and instructed a eunuch to deliver them to the Emperor.
…
Meanwhile, in the imperial study, the Emperor sat at his desk, his gaze fixed on the kneeling Ning Wang. It had been over ten days since their last meeting, but Ning Wang had visibly lost weight, and the light blue spring robe draped over him only made him appear even more haggard and subdued.
“What are you doing?” The Emperor stepped forward to help him up. “We are brothers; how could things become so distant between us?”
“Imperial Brother, your younger brother has failed to discipline my subordinates, and with my wife newly married into the manor, I also failed to manage the inner yard properly. This allowed criminals to infiltrate the Ning Wang Manor, almost leading to a grave disaster.” Ning Wang’s eyes reddened with remorse. “I have disappointed you.”
“Lu-shi comes from a prestigious family in northern Lingbei. She was chosen for you personally by our late father and the Noble Consort Zeng. She is a virtuous woman,” the Emperor said, gently patting his shoulder. “After such an incident, she must be quite frightened. Spend more time with her.”
“Younger brother will heed your advice, Imperial Brother.” Ning Wang’s face turned pale as the Emperor’s hand landed on his injured shoulder.
“Zhen has only been on the throne for two years, and the court officials have recently expressed dissatisfaction with you. Be cautious in your words and actions from now on, and avoid further troubles.” Concerns flickered in the Emperor’s eyes. “If such an incident occurs again, perhaps Zhen won’t be able to silence the rumors and will have no choice but to punish you severely.”
“Yes, Imperial Brother, this younger brother understands.” Ning Wang knelt again. This time, the Emperor did not help him up.
“Ruijing,” the Emperor said, gazing down at the kneeling young man, “Zhen remembers you aren’t usually fond of wearing such plain colors. Though our father is no longer with us, you still have an elder brother. Don’t let yourself suffer unnecessarily.”
“Understood.” Ning Wang glanced at his robe and obediently responded.
“Stand up when speaking. Kneeling between brothers—what kind of behavior is that?” The Emperor finally pulled him up and turned to see a eunuch from Zhaoyang Palace standing outside. “What is it?”
“Greetings, Your Majesty. Her Majesty noticed the peach blossoms are in full bloom and wishes for you to enjoy them as well.”
“Bring them in,” the Emperor replied. When he turned to Ning Wang again, his smile became more genuine. “Your sister-in-law loves to send flowers. Since you’re here today, why not join her in admiring them?”
“Oh, that reminds me.” The Emperor picked up two poetry collections from the imperial desk and handed them to Ning Wang. “Zhen heard you’ve taken an interest in poetry lately. Take these back to read.”
“Thank you for the bestowal, Imperial Brother. This younger brother will study them carefully.” Ning Wang bowed and stood, enduring as the Emperor affectionately patted his injured shoulder once more.
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