Shen Youying asked in surprise, "Three days?"

Xue Shen nodded: "So...shouldn't Zhaozhao say something?"

Seeing that Shen Youying pursed her lips and did not answer, Xue Shen could only stand behind her, point to the unfinished painting on the easel, and lean down to whisper in her ear: "This painting only depicts the scenery, not the figures. I'm worried about how to start, so why don't you trouble yourself and help me find some inspiration?"

Shen Youying glanced at him and saw that his lips were curling up in a half-smile, so she knew he wasn't up to any good.

Xue Shen was not interested in painting at all; the only time he picked up a brush was when…

Shen Youying blushed and her heart raced just thinking about his paintings. She didn't want to agree, but Xue Shen had her weakness in his grasp. She didn't want to, but Xue Shen might not give in so easily…

After dawdling for a long time, Shen Youying bargained and said, "I'll just sit there and draw for you, and I won't do anything else."

Xue Shen laughed, giving him a look that said, "Why are you thinking such nonsense?": "It's just painting, what else does Zhao Zhao want to do?"

Shen Youying blushed even more as he turned the tables on her, but in the end she still hesitated before agreeing.

She peeked at the painting, which only depicted a landscape, and said, "I'll sit right here?"

Xue Shen shook his head: "Go back inside, this place is not suitable."

Shen Youying immediately became alert: "Didn't you say you were going to paint? What are you doing back in the room?"

Xue Shen suppressed a laugh: "I've prepared a set of clothes for you to change into." He deliberately raised an eyebrow: "Does Zhaozhao perhaps want to stay here..."

Shen Youying's face was flushed red from his teasing, but she was not as eloquent as Xue Shen, so she could only bite her lip indignantly and get up to go inside.

Xue Shenlang smiled, picked up the easel, and followed her into the house at a leisurely pace.

When Danzhu and Bailuo, who had been stopped by the old servant, saw Xue Shen following behind their young lady, their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Bailuo, in particular, asked dumbly, "Why did Your Highness suddenly come?"

Danzhu reacted quickly, slapping her forehead: "Silly girl, I think that buyer is the Prince." Recalling Wang Deshun's earlier actions in helping the old servant stop the man, she looked at Wang Deshun: "Chief Secretary Wang probably already knew, didn't he?"

Wang Deshun chuckled憨厚ly: "Even if my family knew, it wouldn't be appropriate for us to say anything."

He was the most sensible and perceptive person. Seeing the two enter the room, he gestured with his lip and said, "Your Highness and Princess probably don't need us to serve them here. Please come with me to have a drink."

As the group left the courtyard, Shen Youying went inside.

She looked around the room and found that the layout was very similar to that of the octagonal pavilion.

All four windows were open, with bamboo curtains and gauze curtains hanging down. The early spring breeze blew through, and the gauze curtains swayed halfway, while the copper bells hanging under the bamboo curtains jingled.

The house was filled with peonies in full bloom, just like the outside.

Even the mattresses were sprinkled with fresh peony petals.

Shen Youying looked around and asked Xue Shen, "Where are the clothes I need to change into?"

Xue Shen said there was no rush, and first went to move the charcoal braziers placed in the four corners of the room, asking her, "Are you cold?"

Shen Youying shook her head: "It's already spring, why are there so many charcoal braziers in the house? It'll get a bit hot if you stay here for too long."

Xue Shen smiled but remained silent. After confirming that she was indeed not cold, he took out a set of clothes from behind the cloak beside him and gave them to her: "Zhao Zhao, would you like to change yourself or should I help you?"

Shen Youying glanced at him and realized he had ulterior motives, so she naturally refused.

"I'll change it myself."

But when she carried the clothes behind the screen to change, she discovered that the clothes Xue Shen had prepared for her could hardly be called clothes at all.

It was clearly just a few pieces of fabric that were barely pieced together!

She peeked out with half her face, staring at Xue Shen, her face flushed and her eyes watery: "How can you wear clothes like this?"

Xue Shen asked, "Do you need my help?"

Shen Youying glared at him, her face a mixture of shyness and anger: "There's way too little fabric!"

There are only two pieces of light and thin fabric. Wearing them is almost the same as not wearing anything at all.

Xue Shen, however, said matter-of-factly, "There are only the two of us in the room, Zhao Zhao, there's no need to be shy." He asked slowly, "Or are you saying that Zhao Zhao wants to go back on her word?"

Shen Youying bit her lip in resentment, naturally intending to go back on her word.

But now that she's backed out, Xue Shen might have even more excuses to torment her in other ways. It's just a matter of having her draw a picture instead.

Thinking this through, Shen Youying still endured the shame and put it on.

Xue Shen somehow found some clothes. The fabric was an extremely soft gauze, a thin layer of red fabric embroidered with blooming pink and white peonies on both sides. The width was just enough to cover the chest, and below that, it was only decorated with delicate pure gold tassels, revealing a slender, porcelain-white waist and abdomen.

Below the waist, there was a skirt that was slightly longer than the top. The skirt was also covered with pure gold tassels, and a gold chain adorned with tiny gemstones was wrapped around the legs.

The gold chain was extremely intricate, and it took Shen Youying quite a while to sort it out.

After she finally got dressed, she was wondering how to get out when she noticed a light red veil next to her. She had no choice but to drape the veil over herself and, suppressing her embarrassment, went out barefoot.

Xue Shen had already set up his easel and was sitting in front of it waiting.

When Shen Youying came out, he was attracted by the subtle sound of gold chains and gemstones clinking. He looked in the direction of the sound and his gaze was immediately captivated.

Shen Youying's skin was extremely white; even the finest white jade would pale in comparison to her lustrous, snow-white complexion. Such snow-white skin was especially suited to vibrant red and luxurious gold.

When these two overly vibrant colors collide, they shine brilliantly against her porcelain-white skin, creating a dazzling effect.

Xue Shen's breath hitched slightly, his burning gaze sweeping over Shen Youying. His voice almost instantly became hoarse. He placed his hands on his knees and leaned forward slightly, like a wild beast eyeing its prey, and said, "Remove the veil."

Shen Youying leaned against the chaise lounge that Xue Shen had prepared, glaring at him, and reluctantly pulled down the thin veil to cover her waist and abdomen. But she didn't know that the light red veil was too sheer, and the more she tried to cover herself, the more it revealed a decadent feeling of wanton resistance.

Xue Shen's breathing became slightly heavy, and he finally couldn't help but get up and walk in front of her.

When Shen Youying met his dark and dangerous gaze, her heart raced, and she said timidly, "You said it. It was just painting."

Xue Shen chuckled, grasped her ankle, and positioned her in a satisfactory posture, saying, "You're not sitting correctly, let me adjust it for you."

After saying that, he simply helped Shen Youying adjust her posture and then sat back down behind the easel.

His palms were rough and hot, and when he held Shen Youying's ankle, they left a feeling of indescribable heat.

Even though his hand had left, that indescribable sensation remained.