Xie Qinglan temporarily stayed at the Prince of Qin's residence.

The next morning, Shen Youying sent Danzhu to the Prince of Huaiyang's residence to tell him that she was lonely during her illness and therefore wanted Xie Qinglan to stay at the residence for a few days.

Given her status as a princess and the Qin King's temperament, even if the Prince's residence was unwilling, no one dared to go to the Qin King's residence to demand her return.

When Danzhu returned from the Prince's residence, she vividly described the expressions on the faces of the Princess Consort of Huaiyang and Xue Shaojun: "At that time, the Princess Consort's kind smile was almost unable to hold on. She was clearly furious inside, but she still politely asked the nanny beside her to see me out. Xue Liulang even chased after me and asked many questions, such as how the eldest daughter was doing in the Prince's residence and whether she was having any trouble adjusting. I brushed them off and didn't reveal a single word."

Shen Youying, holding a hand warmer, said, "It seems that neither Xue Shaojun nor the Prince's Mansion has noticed anything amiss. The people the Prince sent out have already found the Taoist temple where he recuperated. In a few more days, they should be able to return with witnesses and statements."

Xie Qinglan nodded, her expression much more relaxed, regaining some of her usual lively demeanor: "Let's not talk about him anymore. What are we having for dinner tonight? I heard that Fanlou has a new honey-roasted lamb leg, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and incredibly delicious... but there are only so many servings each day, and so many people are lining up to eat it. Since you can't go out right now, why don't you ask someone to buy one to try?"

Looking at her still-recovering face, Shen Youying said, "Then I'll have someone use the prince's nameplate to buy it. His name is more useful. It should be delivered by dinner time."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qinglan burst into laughter and leaned closer to her, whispering, "I never thought that the title of Prince Qin could be used in this way one day."

*

At dinner time, Xue Shen came out of his study and could hear bursts of laughter coming from Tingmei Pavilion from a distance.

He glanced in the direction of Tingmei Pavilion and summoned a maid to ask, "Why is Tingmei Pavilion so lively?"

The maid said, "The princess and Lady Xie ordered honey-roasted lamb leg from Fanlou and are drinking and playing poetry."

After listening, Xue Shen paused for a moment, then asked the guard serving him, "Did the Princess send someone to invite her?"

The guard glanced at his face, carefully shook his head, and said, "No."

Xue Shen's fingertips itched. He put his thumb and forefinger together, rubbed the pads of his fingers, and muttered, "You little ingrate."

.

Fanlou's honey-roasted lamb leg lived up to its reputation. Shen Youying ate until she was a little full, and after drinking some fruit wine, she felt a bit tipsy. So she put on her cloak and went with Xie Qinglan to enjoy the snow and digest their food under the eaves.

As the two were strolling leisurely, Wang Deshun came quickly over with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He bowed to the two of them before saying to Shen Youying, "His Highness has something to discuss with His Highness. He requests that His Highness come to the study."

Xue Shen rarely summoned her in such a formal manner, so Shen Youying subconsciously assumed that there was something important to discuss. She told Xie Qinglan to wander around on her own while she went to the study with Wang Deshun.

On the way there, Shen Youying asked, "Did Your Highness say what it was about?"

Wang Deshun shook his head: "The prince didn't say anything, but he looked unwell, so it must be something serious."

Upon hearing this, Shen Youying became even more worried. She went to the study, knocked on the door, and entered. She didn't even notice that Wang Deshun didn't follow her in, but instead carefully closed the study door from the outside.

Winter days are short and dark. By this time, it was already completely dark. The study was lit, and Xue Shen sat behind a screen, his tall figure projected onto it.

Shen Youying quickly walked around the screen and saw him sitting behind his desk with his eyes lowered, holding a brush suspended in his hand, as if he were painting. When he saw Shen Youying coming over, he put down his brush and waved to her.

Shen Youying stepped forward and asked with concern, "Wang Deshun said that His Highness has something to discuss with me?"

Xue Shen glanced at her, leaned back in the tall, carved mahogany chair, and said slowly, "It's nothing serious. I just suddenly felt like painting, but halfway through, I realized that it's better to paint people."

It turned out he was just painting. Shen Youying breathed a sigh of relief and said, "What is Your Highness painting? I thought something had happened—"

Her words came to an abrupt halt upon seeing the drawing paper spread out on the table.

On the snow-white Xuan paper, there was a carved canopy bed. The bed curtains hung down to the ground and were fluttered by a breeze from somewhere, vaguely revealing the silhouettes of two people on the bed.

The figure is depicted with meticulous brushstrokes. It is very realistic, even the fish and lotus patterns on the woman's only clothing are depicted. In particular, the carp and lotus are painted with lifelike detail, and the lotus blooms on the trembling, plump petals, which makes the man bend down to pick up the petals.

Shen Youying's eyes widened slowly, revealing an expression of disbelief.

The man and woman in the painting are clearly Xue Shen and her.

A surge of heat rushed up in an instant, and even the lingering effects of the alcohol began to rise, reddening her cheeks.

Shen Youying glared at him, her face flushed red: "How could you draw... draw these things!"

Xue Shen raised an eyebrow and smiled: "What, is it not drawn well?"

As he spoke, he frowned and glanced at the person in the painting, then looked at Shen Youying. His fingers intentionally or unintentionally landed on the person's cheek, then slid down her long neck and touched the tender lotus bud that was about to bloom.

"It's been too long since I've painted, so the result isn't very lifelike, which is why I had to call Zhaozhao over..."

He applied slight pressure with his fingertips, crumpling the lotus petals.

Shen Youying's face was burning hot, and she felt as if Xue Shen's fingertips were touching her, not a painting.

A chill ran down her spine, and her legs felt weak. She bit her lip, wanting to leave: "You can draw it yourself, I need to go back and rest..."

Before she could even take a step, Xue Shen grabbed her waist and pulled her back, pinning her against the large table.

Shen Youying was forced to bend over backward, and if Xue Shen hadn't supported her with his arm, she would have almost fallen onto the table.

Xue Shen leaned in close with an oppressive air, pressing against her, but did nothing. Instead, he took a new small sheep-hair brush from the brush holder and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "The painting you did just now wasn't good enough. Let's paint another one."

Shen Youying leaned back, clinging to his arm for balance. She was still confused about his intentions when he picked up the brush, until Xue Shen dipped the brush in rouge and the tip touched her skin. Only then did she tremble in surprise, her wide eyes gradually welling with tears…

Xue Shen had previously studied painting under a master painter, and although he hadn't painted for a long time, his skills hadn't become too rusty.

He used rouge as ink and his snow-white skin as paper to paint a blooming peony.

Layers upon layers of varying shades of red bloomed on her snow-white skin, creating a stunningly beautiful effect.

Xue Shen leaned down and kissed her, smearing the rouge on her face, then kissed Shen Youying's tearful eyes: "Zhao Zhao, do you want to see how beautiful you are?"

Shen Youying was too ashamed to look at him and could only shake her head. Tears welled up from the base of her eyelashes and clung to the reddened corners of her eyes, like trembling dewdrops on flower petals, both pitiful and adorable.

Xue Shen sighed, picked her up, turned her around so that her back was to him, kissed her sweaty nape tenderly, and then took out a small bronze mirror from the drawer and placed it in front of Shen Youying.

In the dim bronze mirror, the peony blooms in its full glory.

Xue Shen pressed his ear close to hers, biting it gently and then gently, and coaxed her, "Zhao Zhao, open your eyes and look, no one is more beautiful than you."

Shen Youying's eyelashes trembled as she bit her lip hard.

Xue Shen smiled, not pressuring him, and picked up the pen beside him again...