"Great!"
Tang Xun smiled softly.
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Right, then... can you paint a White Snow and Red Plum Blossoms Painting for me now?"
"I can’t see the real thing, can I at least look at a painting?"
Xia Jingfeng agreed almost without a second thought.
"Sure!"
After saying that, he called for someone to bring the ink and colors, spreading the purest white paper.
He picked up the brush and slowly began sketching, stroke by stroke.
...
Xia Jingfeng only had the opportunity to learn painting after arriving in Jiangnan in recent years.
In his childhood, he focused only on studying diligently.
Later, when he was working in the Capital City, the Ministry of Revenue was bustling with people and affairs, leaving him no time.
It wasn’t until a few years ago, when he came to Jiangnan and made friends with many talented scholars,
that he began to learn from them.
Although the learning period wasn’t long, fortunately, he was diligent and had well-known teachers guiding him.
So... his paintings turned out quite decent.
At least he didn’t disgrace his master.
More so, they astonished Tang Xun, who had never been exposed to the art of painting.
"Wow!"
"So beautiful!"
"Wow!!"
The sincere praise from Madam is a great motivator for any man.
Xia Jingfeng was no exception.
While he concentrated on painting, he continuously sent tender and sweet glances to his wife.
Tang Xun, while admiring the painting, occasionally returned with a starry-eyed look at her husband.
The couple shared countless unspoken words.
...
Half a Shi Chen later.
Xia Jingfeng blew gently to dry the ink stains on the painting and solemnly handed it to his wife.
"Xunxun!"
"This is the first painting I made for you!"
He gazed at her affectionately and deeply.
"In the future, there will be a second, a third!"
"I want to paint your beauty throughout the four seasons! Hang it in my study, our room, or keep it treasured..."
"When we are seventy or eighty years old, we’ll take them out one by one, year after year, just like revisiting our whole life together. What do you think?"
(A cheesy love confession from a straightforward man!)
Tang Xun felt a bit shy, her face turning red as she said uncomfortably.
"Although... it’s quite a nice thought, but..."
"You should just paint how I am now, there’s no need when I’m old!"
"It won’t look good even if you paint it!"
Xia Jingfeng was amused and exasperated, ruffling her hair.
"Alright, alright! I’ll only paint you as you are now!"
"Hmm!"
The two of them sat down again on the couch, leisurely discussing the weather outside while sipping tea.
The days, the time, seemed so beautifully and peacefully still.
"Oh? By the way!"
"I wonder if... my eldest brother and sister-in-law and the two nephews have reached the Capital City yet!" Tang Xun suddenly asked.
Xia Jingfeng pondered briefly and said.
"They’ve been traveling for half a month already, and the weather over there isn’t great either!"
"It’ll probably take another half month, they should reach the Capital City by the end of the year!"
Tang Xun nodded.
"I wonder why they were in such a hurry, why not stay here for the New Year, and wait until spring to leave?"
Xia Jingfeng chuckled.
"In the end, they’re just guests here; now the Capital City is their home!"
"How can one stay out and not return home for the New Year?"
"You’re right!"
Tang Xun nodded, no longer pursuing the topic.
The two continued to sip tea and watch the rain.
They had overcome many difficulties to be together, cherishing every moment of it.
No one or anything can separate them again, nor affect them in the slightest.
They just want to live like this, sweetly and happily.
The wicked will be punished by fate, won’t they? Why bother about it.
...
In the Capital City, within the Imperial Palace.
Xia Ruqing stifled her longing for half a year, waiting for half a year.
Finally, as the year-end approached, she received news of her brother returning to the Capital.
She patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Finally, he’s back!"
Zi Ning couldn’t help but smile.
"Your Majesty, why are you in such a hurry? It’s only the eldest, not the second prince who returned!"
You won’t even see the new bride!
Xia Ruqing couldn’t hold back.
"I’m not waiting for my brother, I’m waiting for my sister-in-law!"
"My brother can’t enter the palace, and once his position changes after the new year, he won’t be able to enter the palace even more!"
"It’s pointless to wait for him!"
Zi Ning was even more puzzled, and even Zi Yue joined in.
"Why is Her Majesty saying this?"
Xia Ruqing mockingly ’despised’ the two before explaining.
"My sister-in-law can enter the palace on the second day of the new year!"
"She must have met my second sister-in-law, by then... I can know whatever I want to know, right?"
Zi Yue let out a sigh of relief.
"So that’s what Her Majesty was eagerly waiting for!"