Chapter 36 The gatekeeper raised an eyebrow, wanting to sit next to the Second Prince: ...
The gatekeeper raised an eyebrow: "That's why they say he's lucky. I heard that a patch of osmanthus trees in the mansion got sick, and he just happens to be good at that."
Jiang Zhuoying nodded knowingly.
She thanked the maidservant and took the jasmine flowers to the main room. She treated Zhao Xiping's whereabouts as just a pastime and didn't care much about it.
What are you holding in your hand?
The moment I stepped into the study, I was questioned.
Jiang Zhuoying smiled and stepped forward: "Second Prince, this is jasmine that I specially found for you. It can also refresh your mind. I'll brew it for you in a bit."
The man met her eyes, and Jiang Zhuoying's smile froze slightly as she tried to maintain the curve of her lips: "Second Prince, brother?"
"Don't be lazy, go and copy the Thousand Character Classic again first."
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
She has copied the Thousand Character Classic dozens of times in the past few days...
Ultimately, the hardest part for her wasn't pretending not to know how to read or write, but remembering which characters she "could recognize," and making sure that after copying them several times, she "couldn't recognize" them anymore.
Wouldn't that mean it's fake?
Watching the girl listlessly sit back down at her desk, her face contorted in a frown, she picked up her writing brush and began to copy.
Qi Fan walked silently to her and stood with his hands behind his back.
Jiang Zhuoying tried her best to search her memory, marking the words she didn't know with a "circle".
The man watched her movements expressionlessly, then suddenly pointed to the character "ιΆ΅" inside a circle: "Don't you know?"
Jiang Zhuoying's heart skipped a beat. As the saying goes, what you fear most is what happens. Could it be that she should "know" this word?
This is so complicated, it shouldn't be like this! She always circles those fonts with many strokes.
A few crisp sounds rang out as slender knuckles tapped the table.
"When reading, one should calm down, be single-minded, and concentrate fully."
"I've taught you this word eighteen times already, why don't you still get it?"
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
She slowly lowered her head, beginning to brew tears.
"Speak." His thick, sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his voice grew increasingly cold.
The girl looked up again, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, her eyes filled with tears, and the corners of her eyes reddened: "Waaah, it was my fault for making the Second Prince angry."
"I have failed my brother, the Second Prince, in his kindness. I am not worthy of these things... Waaah."
The tall, cold-faced man froze on the spot.
His tone softened from forceful to gentle: "I was the one who yelled at you."
The girl kept shaking her head: "Second Prince is so much older than me, this isn't him being fierce, it's him giving me a lesson."
"I will always remember the teachings of my elder brother, the Second Prince."
The man's face darkened further.
Chu Yixin's voice broke the tense atmosphere in the study at that moment.
He tapped on the pillar of the floor-to-ceiling canopy: "Master? The carriage is ready."
Jiang Zhuoying felt a slight sense of relief, knowing that Big Ice Shard was about to head into the city again.
Once he leaves, this villa will be her domain.
"Take care, Second Prince. I will always remember you and wait for your return."
The girl suddenly stood up, her eyes lowered, looking very obedient, which made him feel a sense of inexplicable guilt.
The man pondered for a moment: "Would you like to enter Luoyang City?"
Jiang Zhuoying was slightly taken aback. Entering the city?!
Gaining the Second Prince's trust further, is he one step closer to the truth?
She nodded eagerly: "Yes, I... I can do it?"
Meeting those bright, sparkling eyes, the man nodded expressionlessly.
The four of them boarded a simple, unassuming horse-drawn carriage and entered the city together.
Chu Yixin was supposed to be inside the carriage, but since there was a girl with him, he went outside to join Pei Yun.
The carriage was somewhat cramped.
Jiang Zhuoying looked around and realized that the carriage she used was not as spacious as her own.
She, living under someone else's roof, has no right to look down on others.
So she pretended to be curious and excited, and said in a sweet and gentle voice, "Second Prince, it's so nice to have a carriage!"
The man slowly glanced at her: "Never sat here before?"
Jiang Zhuoying shook her head: "Second Prince, have you forgotten? Last time I fainted by the roadside, I also rode in your carriage."
The girl blinked, a fleeting, profound meaning in her eyes, as if reminding him of his ruthlessness.
Qi Fan was slightly taken aback, his brow twitched, probably from overwork lately, and his vision blurred.
The little girl has always been well-behaved, how could she have such a look in her eyes?
"So, that was the first time, and this is the second time!"
The man nodded, seemingly unconcerned, and didn't respond to her comment.
Jiang Zhuoying pressed on: "Riding in a carriage is so much fun! Next time, Second Prince, could you take me with you on your trip?"
Qi Fan slowly turned his head, his gaze calm and profound.
The girl leaned closer, her eyes sparkling: "Is it okay?"
The man's gaze slowly swept downwards: "It depends on your performance."
Jiang Zhuoying was slightly taken aback, then shrank back with a disappointed look on her face: "I understand."
Seeing her clearly saddened expression, Qi Fan parted his thin lips slightly, hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't speak.
As the carriage entered the city, the girl, who had been smiling just moments before, never raised the corners of her mouth again.
The man, whose eyes were closed, frowned more and more deeply. Finally, he suddenly opened his eyes, but before he could say anything, Chu Yixin's report came from outside the carriage.
We've arrived at Yuanbaolou.
It's Yuanbaolou?
What are you doing here? Are you here to pick out gemstones for Zhuozhuo?
Filled with doubt, Jiang Zhuoying followed the man off the carriage.
She obediently followed behind Qi Fan, step by step, without asking any questions, stepping over the threshold, going upstairs, and then upstairs again.
The group went straight to the third floor of Yuanbaolou, pushed open the door of an inconspicuous private room, and found a figure already sitting inside.
Perhaps hearing the sound of the door opening, the white-robed young man who had his back to the door turned around.
Jiang Zhuoying felt a sudden light up her eyes.
A temperament quite different from that of a large ice crystal.
With gentle eyebrows and a smile at the corners of his mouth, he gives people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze. Coupled with his ethereal white robes, he is even more like a reclusive master from a folk tale, elegant and graceful.
"Oh, who is this?"
When Gu Yunci saw Jiang Zhuoying's face, her expression suddenly froze. When she looked at Qi Fan again, her eyes held a more ambiguous meaning.
Has he finally figured it out and directly snatched the person away?
Qi Fan gave him a cold, warning look.
Gu Yunci raised her eyebrows: "Please sit down, young lady."
Jiang Zhuoying lowered her eyes shyly and nodded weakly: "Thank you, young master."
Despite thanking her, she couldn't just sit down without taking it seriously.
The girl was obedient and compliant. She looked at the man beside her and asked in a soft, sweet voice, "Your Highness? May I do it?"
This is asking him what he means.
This sound made Gu Yunci's eyes show a hint of mockery.
Qi Fan looked at her with a long gaze: "How do you usually address me?"
Jiang Zhuoying paused. She didn't recognize this young man in white whom she was meeting for the first time, and fearing that it might ruin things, she still addressed him as "Your Highness" and "This Servant."
But according to this fellow's words, he's one of our own, just like Eunuch Chu?
The girl's face, more beautiful than a flower, smiled even more broadly: "Second Prince, may I sit down?"
Gu Yunci was slightly taken aback, then chuckled softly. It was obvious that this was being addressed to him.
With her fake brother's approval, Jiang Zhuoying sat down on one side of the octagonal table.
After briefly introducing themselves, we considered ourselves acquainted.
Jiang Zhuoying was obedient and didn't dare to say a word, for fear of being sent away.
Before I could hear anything, I heard that one sentence.
"Ah Zhuo, why don't you go downstairs and wander around for a bit?"
Jiang Zhuoying was unwilling and muttered somewhat aggrievedly, "But I... just want to stay here."
After saying that, she felt that the impact was a bit weak, so she added, "I want to sit next to the Second Prince."
She glanced at Gu Yunci's amused gaze but ignored it.
"Listen to me, you can't always be so timid and afraid of trouble."
The man's voice was as indifferent as ever, without any emotion, and he thought she was just timid and didn't dare to go out by herself.
The plan failed. Jiang Zhuoying stood up, holding her skirt, and nodded dejectedly: "Okay, I understand."
She couldn't force herself to stay; it would not only annoy people but also arouse suspicion.
However, since she has already come to meet the Second Prince's close friend, it's only a matter of time before she takes things a step further.
There's no need to rush.
Having thought all this through, Jiang Zhuoying went downstairs with peace of mind.
The shopkeeper followed closely behind her, a treatment she hadn't even enjoyed three years ago.
After browsing around the second floor, she lost interest. She didn't lack these things, and nothing caught her eye.
Even if you think that way in your heart, you can't show it on your face.
The girl's face was as beautiful as a peach blossom, and with such a face, Mo An behind her dared not slack off.
This is the first girl the master brought. Although she is dressed as a maid, she must be extraordinary in the master's heart.
"Miss Jiang, is there any piece of jewelry that catches your eye?" he asked cautiously with a grin.
The girl's eyes widened suddenly, filled with unease, and she fumbled with her hands in front of her: "I... how could I be worthy of such precious jewelry?"
Mo An's expression stiffened, and his posture became even more respectful: "Miss Jiang is too kind. The master has instructed that you may choose whatever you like."
The girl was somewhat incredulous: "But His Highness only told me to come and browse around, he didn't let me choose anything."
Upon hearing this, Mo An's smile softened with affection. No wonder even the cold-hearted master had taken a liking to this girl.
She was born with eyes like peach blossoms and a charming face, yet her mind was so pure.
"Don't worry, young lady, the master did give the order."
Jiang Zhuoying nodded hesitantly. She was a little bored, but the more she acted, the more enjoyable it became.
After carefully examining all the jewelry, she finally chose a pearl hairpin, decorated with shells and pearls. It wasn't particularly expensive, but it was exquisite.
The shopkeeper stood behind her and wrapped up the hairpin for her, then smiled kindly and said, "Miss Jiang, you can choose some more."
But the girl shook her head, and replied very politely, "I am grateful for Your Highness's kindness, but this hairpin is enough for me. I don't usually need it."
Yes, she wears this double-bun hairstyle every day, which limits her from wearing many beautiful pieces of jewelry.
Although this was a polite way of declining, intended to enhance her public image, it was also the truth.
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