In the summer imperial garden, the air was filled with the fragrance of lotus blossoms and the chirping of cicadas. Since the turmoil in the Northern Barbarian lands subsided, the palace had regained its former tranquility. However, beneath this tranquility, several feelings were stirring more and more intensely.
That morning, Xiao Chengyu was practicing calligraphy in his study when he suddenly heard a melodious flute sound coming from outside the window. The tune was clear and gentle, and it was none other than the "Youlan Cao" that Gu Nianzhi had played at the Dacibei Temple that day.
A slight stirring in her heart, she put down her pen and walked to the window. There, beneath the willows by the lotus pond, stood Qi Mingxuan, dressed in a moon-white robe, gently playing his flute, his posture as upright as bamboo. The morning light filtered through the willow leaves, casting dappled shadows on him, making him appear like an immortal.
As the music ended, Qi Mingxuan seemed to sense something and turned to look at him. Their eyes met, and he smiled slightly, holding his flute and bowing: "I have disturbed Your Highness's peace."
Xiao Chengyu leaned against the window and smiled, "Cousin Mingxuan's flute skills have improved more and more. This 'Youlan Cao' has a unique flavor when performed on the flute."
"Your Highness flatters me." Qi Mingxuan took a few steps closer and looked up at her. "I just feel that the melody is serene and beautiful, and it matches the morning light and the color of the lotus flowers very well." He paused and asked naturally, "Would Your Highness like to practice painting today? I recently acquired a She inkstone, which is excellent for applying ink."
Since their conversation by the lotus pond that night, a thin veil seemed to separate them. Qi Mingxuan remained considerate and attentive, but he never crossed the line again, only showing his care for her subtly.
Just as Xiao Chengyu was about to reply, he suddenly heard a silvery laugh. Turning around, he saw Ashina Yun leading Xiao Chengrui this way.
"Yu'er! Look, I caught a silly goose!" Ashina Yun waved the kite in her hand, laughing brightly. Since her engagement, she had become much more cheerful, and spent her days dragging Xiao Chengrui around to play.
Xiao Chengrui looked helpless, but his eyes were full of doting: "What silly goose? That's a hawk..."
“I said it’s a goose, so it’s a goose!” Ashina Yun glared at him, then turned and smiled, “Yu’er, do you want to go fly kites together? The Imperial Horse Ranch is a very spacious area!”
Xiao Chengyu smiled and said, "Second Brother has now become Sister Yun's follower."
Xiao Chengjun's face flushed slightly, and he said stiffly, "Who's her follower! I'm just worried she'll cause trouble..."
"He clearly doesn't want to leave me!" Ashina Yun proudly took his arm and winked at Xiao Chengyu. "Yu'er, you don't know, this morning I only went to ride a horse for a little while, and he was frantically searching for me all over the place..."
"Ashina Yun!" Xiao Chengrui's ears turned bright red, and he pretended to cover her mouth. The two of them laughed and joked around, completely unlike their previous tense demeanor.
Xiao Chengyu looked at them and couldn't help but smile. Then, she turned her gaze and saw Qi Mingxuan staring at her quietly, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively avoided his gaze, saying to Ashina Yun, "You all go first, I still have some calligraphy to practice."
Ashina Yun was about to persuade her again when Xiao Chengrui stopped her, saying, "Yu'er needs to practice calligraphy, let's not disturb her." He nodded to Qi Mingxuan and half-dragged, half-carried her away.
After the two had walked away, Qi Mingxuan said softly, "The Second Prince and Princess Yun are quite a good match."
Xiao Chengyu nodded: "Yes. Although there was a lot of bickering at the beginning, people who are sincere to each other will eventually come together." As soon as he said it, he realized that it had a deeper meaning and couldn't help but feel annoyed.
Qi Mingxuan seemed oblivious, simply saying, "Your Highness is right." He paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Does Your Highness still remember the little deer that wandered into the hunting grounds last autumn?"
Xiao Chengyu was taken aback: "I remember. Its leg was injured back then, and it was my cousin who bandaged it up."
"I saw it again today while taking a walk in the woods," Qi Mingxuan said with a slight smile. "Its leg injury has healed, and it even brought a fawn with it."
Xiao Chengyu asked in surprise, "Really? Where?"
"It's in that oak grove in the West Garden." Qi Mingxuan said with a smile in his eyes. "If Your Highness wishes to see it, I can show you the way."
He asked the question so naturally, as if it were just a casual remark. But Xiao Chengyu thought of the painting "Ladies in a Spring Garden" and hesitated.
Just as she was hesitating, she suddenly saw Xin Rui stride over, followed by Qin Sang. The two seemed to be arguing about something; Qin Sang frowned slightly, while Xin Rui scratched his head, looking helpless.
"What's wrong?" Xiao Chengyu asked hurriedly.
Xin Rui sighed, "It's all because of her father's matter. Qin Sang insisted on going into the mountains to look for him herself, but I said sending someone would be enough, and she just wouldn't listen..."
Qin Sang said firmly, "I know my father's whereabouts best. Besides, the terrain in the mountains is complicated, and outsiders are more likely to get lost."
Xiao Chengyu looked at Xin Rui: "Cousin Rui, aren't you going with us?"
Xin Ruijun blushed: "Of course I'll go! But she..." He lowered his voice, "She said it's inconvenient for a man and a woman to travel together alone!"
Xiao Chengyu couldn't help but chuckle. Her cousin was invincible on the battlefield, but a complete novice when it came to love.
“That’s easy,” she said with a smile. “I was just thinking of going to the West Garden to relax. Why don’t we go together? Just say that I’m going into the mountains to worship Buddha and ask Miss Qin to accompany me, with Cousin Rui as my bodyguard.”
Xin Rui's eyes lit up: "This is great!" Then she cautiously asked Qin Sang, "What do you think..."
Qin Sang glanced at Xiao Chengyu and finally nodded: "I will leave it to the princess's arrangements."
Thus, what was originally a trip for two became a trip for four. Qi Mingxuan naturally accompanied them, ostensibly to "explain the scenery of the mountains to the princess."
The Xiyuan Mountains were lush and green, filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers. Sure enough, we found the mother and fawn in the oak forest. The fawn was timid, hiding behind its mother, looking incredibly cute.
Xiao Chengyu was delighted and whispered to Qi Mingxuan, "Thank you for bringing me here, cousin."
Qi Mingxuan smiled: "To be able to make Your Highness smile is their good fortune." His tone was gentle, but his gaze never left her.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
