Chapter 344 Yixiu 22
"What are you talking about, Master?"
Yixiu had an oval face the size of a palm, with a pair of distant mountain-like eyebrows slightly furrowed along her brow bones. Her round, innocent almond-shaped eyes looked up at him from bottom to top. Her lips, without lipstick, were shaped like peach blossoms in early spring, and compared to Ruo Ze's thin lips, they looked even more delicate and innocent.
At this moment, she put on a serious attitude, and she couldn't help but purse her lips tightly, trying to show her seriousness. But she was used to being casual in her own yard, and her hair was tied up loosely, loosely framing her unmade-up face. A few strands of black hair fell out from the side, floating slowly as she turned sideways, making Yixiu look even smaller.
Yinzhen couldn't help but feel dazed. After a quick calculation in his mind, he remembered that Yixiu was only twenty-one after her birthday this year, which was a good age.
The way she was dressed today reminded Yinzhen of the time when Yixiu first entered the palace and they faced each other every day.
"Lord Beile? Why are you staring at me in a daze?"
Yixiu stretched out her left hand and waved it before his eyes, only for Yinzhen to grasp it with his right. The bluish-white jade bracelet on her wrist had been warmed by her body heat, and Yinzhen subconsciously rubbed it twice. "Is this the pair I gave you on the day you entered the palace?"
"Lord Beile has a good memory."
Yixiu praised him with a smile, thinking silently in her heart that it was just his eyesight that was not very good. She had been wearing it for so many years, but he only discovered it today. It was obvious that except Rouze, no one else took it seriously before.
Yinzhen didn't know what she was thinking. Seeing the pair of bracelets had been maintained to a lustrous, smooth, and delicate luster, he knew they were the owner's favorites. He didn't know what to feel, but he just held her hand and suddenly said, "I just got a pair of mutton-fat jade ones. They will complement your skin tone even better. I'll ask Su Peisheng to bring them to you tomorrow."
"Is it made of the same material as the one in your hand?"
Yixiu stretched out her right index finger and gently tapped on the mutton-fat white jade bead hanging on Yinzhen's right thumb. The round nails collided with the jade bead, and two crisp sounds rang in the ears of both parties.
She seemed to be asking casually.
"Yeah, it's the same material as the one I have."
Yinzhen also seemed to be just answering casually.
Yixiu then smiled and asked, "Master, have you come over from the front and had dinner?"
It was around one in the afternoon, and the Qing dynasty's dinner was around one or three, the end of the day. Yixiu wasn't particularly hungry, but simply used this conversation to bring the atmosphere to a close, so as not to appear forced.
"I don't feel hungry right now. Let's talk about it later."
Yinzhen also felt okay. He withdrew his hand, took a sip of tea, and asked, "I saw you coming out of the study just now. What were you doing?"
Yixiu beckoned Huichun over and whispered some instructions to her. After she left, she turned to Yinzhen and said with a smile, "I'm practicing calligraphy in my study when I have nothing to do. I happened to see you free today, so please give me some pointers."
"You're really hardworking. It's so cold that even I'm too lazy to start." Yinzhen sat cross-legged on the kang and took the rice paper from Huichun. He looked at it for a long time before looking up with a look of genuine approval on his face.
"Your calligraphy has reached perfection. It's graceful and elegant, and naturally formed. It has a sense of ancient simplicity. Compared to those who blindly pursue steepness or complexity, it is truly refreshing."
Yixiu smiled somewhat reservedly: "So my calligraphy is worthy of the prince's approval?"
"Yes, even I feel benefited a lot from reading your calligraphy." Yinzhen was first amused by her complacent look, then he tasted the calligraphy in his hand and praised her straightforwardly.
"Then give this one to me as a return gift."
Seeing that Yinzhen was puzzled, Yixiu raised her right hand and shook the green jade bracelet on her wrist.
"Your return gift is really..."
Yinzhen looked at her with amusement. Although this return gift was not proper, he found it novel and interesting precisely because of this. Moreover, giving me a jade pendant and embracing calligraphy and paintings actually suited his refined taste.
"Isn't this a good gift? I don't show my calligraphy to anyone easily, let alone give it to others. This is the first gift from Lord Beile."
"Well, since it's the only one in the world, it's truly precious. Su Peisheng, quickly take Concubine's calligraphy and frame it when you get back. Hang it in my study so I can admire it every day, so as not to waste Concubine's thoughtfulness."
After Yinzhen finished speaking, he asked Su Peisheng to get the box and put the rice paper with the words "The highest good is like water" written on it.
The two chatted and laughed over the calligraphy for a while, and just as the atmosphere was getting good, Jiang Fuhai, who had been guarding outside, walked in. He bowed but then said to Yinzhen, "Beile, someone from the Concubine's side has sent a message saying that the Second Prince...is in trouble."
Yinzhen hurriedly stood up and was about to go out. Yixiu took his hat from Huichun and took out a thinner sable fur coat for him to put on.
Watching him walk away in the casual clothes he had changed into in his own yard, Huichun whispered, "I wonder if Fu Jin's behavior today was intentional."
"She wouldn't go so far as to say this, but she might just go along with the situation. Anyway, she can't shake the reputation of Prince Huifu being frail and sickly."
Yixiu went back to her room to rest, feeling so relaxed and comfortable.
But the atmosphere in Ninghua Hall was not very good.
Huifu was truly in trouble this time. Even though Rouze had a cold feeling towards the child, if he were to go, she would be the first to refuse. Therefore, even though she had just refuted the concubine's words today and then loudly accused the imperial physician of slapping her in the face, Rouze had immediately sent a notice to the palace.
Seeing that the situation was not right, he didn't care what others thought and directly ordered someone to invite the prince from the concubine's courtyard.
The couple sat side by side on the kang in the outer room, their expressions indescribably solemn. Imperial Physician Zhao, knowing the Fourth Prince's personality, didn't act like a bookworm. Instead, he frankly stated that the Second Prince's condition was not good. Although he was stable for now, there was no guarantee it wouldn't relapse. And if it did, if he couldn't be treated in time, he was afraid...
The Aisin-Gioro family had lost many children over the years, and Huifu, born prematurely and suffering from heart disease, was already a vague concept in people's minds. Even Yinzhen, though he tried to elevate Huifu's status for Rouze's sake, never actually took the initiative to see the child whenever he came. Of course, Rouze rarely took the child out on her own initiative either.
Therefore, Yinzhen could still hold on after hearing the news. He asked the imperial physician again with a serious face, and was sure that Huifu could be saved if he could survive tonight. He just nodded and earnestly asked the imperial physician for help. He turned around and was about to say something to comfort Rouze, but she had already spoken:
"Shiro, please don't be too sad. Huifu, Huifu will be fine..."
At the end of her speech, she was choking with sobs and couldn't stop crying. Yinzhen quickly took her in his arms, his eyes red.
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