Zhao Junqi watched her puffed-up ’threat’; not only was he unafraid, he even laughed.
"Is that so?"
His jewel-toned eyes danced with amusement.
It was just a pity that it had gotten dark, and Xia Ruqing could not see anything.
"I am Zhao Junqi. I just came from the Empress Dowager’s Ningshou Palace. I mentioned I wanted to pick some plum blossoms to send to the Empress Dowager! So, I came here!"
Xia Ruqing was a bit confused.
Zhao Junqi?
The name sounded familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.
Hmm... wait, he... Isn’t he that... Crown Prince Yan?
She had stayed in Prince Yan’s Mansion when she went to Guangnan before; they had met!
"So it’s Crown Prince Yan!"
Xia Ruqing’s attitude changed in an instant, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as he’s not a flower thief, that’s good!
On New Year’s Day, the palace was crowded and watchful eyes were everywhere. If someone were to arrange for a ’flower thief’ and then orchestrate a situation to frame her, that would be no joking matter!
It’s good he’s not, it’s good he’s not!
However, even if he wasn’t, she couldn’t stay for long.
Xia Ruqing then curtsied and said respectfully, "Concubine Xia of the palace greets the Master Prince! There was a great misunderstanding earlier. I hope the Master Prince will forgive me!"
Hearing her say ’Lady Xia,’ Zhao Junqi’s eyes suddenly dimmed, and he said with astonishment, "So it’s you!"
Wasn’t this the lively and agile young woman who used to follow behind his Imperial Brother? The first time he saw her, he thought this young woman was quite remarkable. Her large, almond-shaped eyes were full of spirit, and her every gesture was vivacious. Her brimming vitality forced him to regard her differently. Every time they met, he couldn’t resist looking at her a few extra times. But out of respect for his Imperial Brother, he dared not show it.
Now... He had never expected that their next meeting would be under such circumstances.
"Concubine Xia?" he called her tentatively.
Xia Ruqing was about to correct him, then thought, Why say so much to him? I need to get away quickly. If seen by others, she wouldn’t be able to explain herself even if she had a hundred mouths.
So, she just nodded with a faint smile.
"Yes! If the Master Prince has no other matters, I will take my leave!"
Without waiting for his response, she turned and fled as if escaping.
A fragrant breeze blew through the sea of plum blossoms. Her skirt swirled and her hair streamed behind her—graceful, lively, and ethereal, as if both real and illusory. She looked like a fairy about to ascend to immortality.
Zhao Junqi looked at his own hands, then at the direction she left, and stood stunned for a good while before he reacted. By then, she had been gone for quite some time.
A faint smile touched Zhao Junqi’s lips. He clasped his hands behind his back and then... departed with feigned composure.
Xia Ruqing ran all the way out. Not far away, she saw Zi Su and Zi Ning calling for her.
Xia Ruqing breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"I’m here!"
Hearing her voice, Zi Su and Zi Ning hurried over.
"Master, we finally found you!"
"You scared us to death!"
Xia Ruqing suppressed the panic in her eyes, took a few deep breaths, and said with a smile, "I wandered off too far and almost got lost, but look, I made it out! We’ve picked enough flowers. Let’s go back!"
"Yes!"
Zi Su and Zi Ning, carrying the flower baskets, followed behind their master back to Qingya Residence.
Thus, this encounter was buried deep within their hearts, becoming a secret shared only by the two of them.
Naturally, Xia Ruqing harbored no such tender feelings from the encounter; she had been nearly scared to death. That night in bed, she was still unsettled. Thankfully, thankfully no one was there at the time. Otherwise, if she had been seen in that position... it would have been... simply unthinkable!
Xia Ruqing felt deeply guilty, as if she had wronged her husband, the Emperor.
But then again, it wasn’t intentional on my part. Who could have imagined there would be a man in the Harem’s Imperial Garden! And of all people, she had to be the one to stumble upon him.
TSK TSK, what were the chances of that happening?
Forget it, forget it. There’s no point dwelling on it. I should just go to sleep.
Having decided, she turned over and soon fell asleep.
「Meanwhile, at Zhao Junqi’s residence.」
After arranging the plum blossoms in a vase and sending them to the Empress Dowager, he left the palace with his entourage. The Prince Yan Mansion also had a residence in the Capital City, though it wasn’t very large. Some servants were stationed there year-round to maintain and clean it, so it was ready for him whenever he returned.
That night, when he rode out of the palace, You Hour (around 6 pm) had already passed. Returning to the Prince’s Mansion, he dismounted and headed straight to his study.
The servant boy followed him and ventured a cautious question, "Master Prince, are you not going to the back courtyard today? The Princess Consort might still be waiting!"
Zhao Junqi gave him a cold glance. "Too talkative."
The servant boy flinched and dared not utter another word.
Zhao Junqi walked briskly, with the servant boy almost having to jog to keep up behind him. Reaching the study, he took off his Purple-Gold Cloak and approached the desk.
"Bring me some paints!"
"Yes!" the servant boy quickly replied.
How strange, he thought. Could it be that the Master Prince intends to paint at this hour? Today is New Year’s Day, after all!
Despite these thoughts, his feet didn’t dare to linger. He scurried off and quickly returned with the Master Prince’s complete set of paints.
Only then did Zhao Junqi seem satisfied, gesturing for him to leave.
By the window.
Clad in white, Zhao Junqi stood with his thick eyebrows drawn. Beneath them, his pair of jewel-toned eyes stared intently at the canvas before him, shining brightly. He held a fine brush, dabbing and stroking upon a bolt of white silk. Before long, he had sketched the outline of a beauty amidst red plum blossoms under the moonlight; it was her, seen from the back. As beautiful as the Goddess of Luo on the Banks of the Luo River.
He put down his brush, picked up the canvas, and examined it twice more in the dim candlelight until he was satisfied. His finely chiseled lips curved upward, and his jewel-toned eyes brimmed with amusement.