Suicheng, Yanzhou, the Jade King's Mansion.

In the quiet study.

Xuanyuan Hao wore a white brocade robe with a wide, moon-white belt around his waist. The belt was embroidered with luxurious patterns in gold and silver thread, and a jade pendant hung from it. His hair was meticulously tied up on top of his head with a black ribbon, and a black jade hairpin was inserted diagonally into the bun.

He still stood in front of the desk, slightly bent over, and carefully drew on a piece of snow-white Xuan paper.

He nimbly twirled the brush on the Xuan paper, which featured several red plum trees as a backdrop, with a graceful woman in white standing among them. The plum trees appeared to be covered in snow, suggesting the dead of winter, but the woman's clothing was remarkably thin, barely covering her arms and legs.

The woman in the painting is looking up at the red plum tree with admiration. Her small face is bright and cheerful, like a ray of warm sunshine in the cold winter, illuminating the whole painting.

Xuan Yuanhao slowly withdrew the slender tip of his brush from the woman's eyes. The woman's eyes were the most captivating part of the painting, the finishing touch. The shape of her eyes resembled fox eyes, their expression lively and clever, with long, individual eyelashes clearly visible.

He gently placed the brush on the brush holder, looked at the whole painting with satisfaction, his eyebrows curved, and he smiled silently.

Just then, the study door creaked open, and Liang Yihan walked in, looking travel-worn. He quickly went to a round table, poured himself a cup of tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing a glass of water, he let out a long sigh, plopped down in a chair next to the round table, and looked up at Xuan Yuanhao with displeasure. He complained, "Haozi, I'm helping you recruit soldiers and build relationships all over the world, while you're leisurely painting!"

"I'm sorry, Yihan." Xuan Yuanhao looked up at Liang Yihan and said in a gentle tone, "I don't know any of these things, so I can't help you."

Liang Yihan paused, then shook his head helplessly and said, "Never mind, what are you going to draw?"

Xuanyuan Hao looked down at the painting, not answering the question, but his eyes darkened, and he said in a low voice, "Yihan, perhaps you won't have to run around so much anymore. Today I... I received an imperial decree that a new Moon-Viewing Terrace has been built in the palace, and the Emperor has summoned me back to the capital to attend the moon-viewing banquet on the night of the full moon next month. If I go this time, I'm afraid I won't be able to come back..."

Liang Yihan's expression changed, and he blurted out, "Not now!"

“I know…” Xuan Yuanhao looked down at the woman in the painting, a hint of warmth appearing in his eyes. He said softly, “I know that going back to the capital now is a one-way trip, but what can I do? I can’t openly defy the emperor’s orders, that would just give him a perfect excuse.”

Liang Yihan's face was grim. He lowered his eyes, lost in thought, and murmured, "Let me think, let me think..."

His mind raced, searching for a solution. After a long while, he looked up at Xuan Yuanhao helplessly and asked, "Haozi, do you know that your household accounts are empty? Besides the taxes from your fiefdom, do you have any other businesses?"

Xuanyuan Hao shook his head and honestly said, "No."

"I knew it!" Liang Yihan sighed, looking up at the sky. "How could there be a prince like you in this world... I need money, money..."

Xuan Yuanhao looked at Liang Yihan with a helpless expression and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Yihan."

"You!" Liang Yihan lay back in his chair, staring blankly at the rafters. His eyes slowly moved, and after a long while, he suddenly thought of a plan, his expression softening. He lowered his head, a smug smile playing on his lips, and said, "I've got a plan, Haozi. Quickly have the servants invite a few wealthy merchants. Remember, this must be done secretly, and you need to invite a few who can keep their mouths shut, understand?"

"Okay." Xuan Yuanhao agreed without asking Liang Yihan what he wanted to do. Knowing that the matter was urgent, he hurriedly walked around the table and out of the study.

After Xuan Yuanhao left, Liang Yihan pondered for a long time, his smile deepening. After a while, he stood up and stretched, about to leave when he suddenly noticed the painting on the table. He paused, walked over, and examined the painting closely. A thoughtful expression appeared on his face, and he murmured to himself, "It's her..."

--

November 9th, at the Grand Commandant's residence.

Liuli lay listlessly on the stone table in the guest courtyard, listening to the chattering of several young ladies from the Zhang family in the next courtyard, counting the days on her fingers.

Li Molin, Yu Ke, and Ji Jue have been busy with something these days, and they are rarely seen.

"Ahua?" Liuli called out weakly, but there was no reply for a long time. She rolled her eyes and thought, "Well, even Ahua has gone off to play somewhere."

Liuli held her head in her hands and ruffled her hair into a bird's nest. She was almost sick from being cooped up in the Grand Commandant's mansion for the past few days. If it weren't for Li Molin's promise to take her to the moon-viewing banquet at the palace on the fifteenth, on the condition that she not go out and cause trouble, she would have run out and gone out to play long ago. How could she possibly stay here obediently?