However, the tenderness was fleeting.
At this moment, Jin Heng was sitting, while she was standing. The man's face still held a cold expression, his silent eyes fixed on her, as if he wanted to stare a hole through her before he would stop.
Wei Yinqiu felt as if she were being pricked by needles, and crossed her hands in front of her, looking like she was ready to obediently listen to her scolding.
Jin Heng's long, slender fingers curled slightly, tapping lightly on the table. His tone was slightly stern: "Tell me, why did you drug them and then stay here?"
"Lily said that this is the only way to test whether you care about me."
"Lily? That courtesan from earlier?"
"Yes, she was the one who brought me the vegetables when I was about to run away. She also covered for me and brought me food."
Why would she help you?
"Because she knows I'm a princess, and she wants to get something out of me."
Jin Heng scoffed lightly, "Not too stupid after all."
Wei Yinqiu moved closer to him, squatted down, and looked at him expectantly like a little puppy wagging its tail, pleading in a coquettish voice, "Grand Tutor, I know I was wrong, I won't do it again, please don't be angry anymore."
Jin Heng's expression softened considerably. "Did she teach you this too?"
"No, this is self-taught."
He raised his hand and ruffled her hair, then smiled and said, "Okay, don't be angry anymore, let's go back."
"Uh-huh."
Wei Yinqiu took his hand and walked out.
After leaving the brothel, Jin Heng ordered someone to bring out the two drunkards from the Orchid Pavilion Preface and take them directly to the Wei Huai Preface.
Wei Huaixu, who was waiting at Juxian Pavilion, had just heard about this when the two drunkards were handed over to him. Jin Heng sent someone to deliver a message saying that he had sent the princess directly back to the palace.
Wei Huaixu was filled with helplessness. Not only had he not had his fill of fun, but he also had to stay behind to deal with the aftermath.
...
It was said that Huang Kun had been beaten up by Wei Huaixu's men, stripped of his clothes, and thrown at the gate of the Minister's residence. Seeing his beloved son suffer such a calamity, Minister Huang was both angry and heartbroken, and shouted that he would seek justice for his son.
Before Minister Huang could take any action, he was impeached the next day at court, accused of indulging his son's debauchery and abducting women. The evidence was conclusive, and the emperor directly fined him his salary, suspended him from his post for half a month, and ordered him to go home and properly educate his son.
After this incident, he immediately realized that his unfilial son had provoked someone he shouldn't have. He could only swallow his anger and return home, where he beat Huang Kun again and confined him to his quarters for a month.
These were all things that the palace servants had inquired about and told to Wei Yinqiu.
At that time, she was sitting in the Imperial Garden admiring the plum blossoms and eating osmanthus sugar cakes she had bought at the Lantern Festival.
"Princess, Grand Tutor Jin has arrived," a young palace maid who had been scouting ahead said hurriedly as she approached.
Wei Yinqiu immediately stuffed the last bite of osmanthus sugar cake into her mouth, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and went to meet her.
Jin Heng, dressed in court attire, with a handsome appearance, walked gracefully towards them, like an immortal stepping out of a painting.
"Is the Grand Tutor heading to the Eastern Palace now?"
He shook his head and said, "His Majesty has asked me to handle other important political affairs. The Crown Prince has changed his tutor, so I will not be going to the Eastern Palace as often in the future."
Wei Yinqiu frowned. "Then does that mean I won't be able to see you as often anymore?"
Jin Heng looked at her and said, "Actually, His Highness is very happy that the Princess can visit the East Palace often. He said he was disgusted, but in fact, it was because of your company that the East Palace became more lively. Even if I no longer go to the East Palace to give lectures, the Princess should not neglect His Highness the Crown Prince. It would be good to visit him when you have time."
Wei Yinqiu didn't expect him to say such a thing to her. She pouted and said with dissatisfaction, "What kind of person do you take me for? Even if... even if I ran to the East Palace for you in the first place, my feelings for the Crown Prince have never been just for show. Even if you never come again, he and I will still be siblings. That is an unchangeable fact."
He smiled and said, "That's good."
"Besides these, is there anything else you want to explain?"
"Hmm? What else?"
Wei Yinqiu stomped her foot in anger, "What about me? Why don't you think about me? You only care about my brother, the Crown Prince. Could it be that you have some kind of illicit relationship with him?"
"Princess?!" Jin Heng narrowed his eyes, completely baffled by the bizarre things that were going on in her head.
"Never mind." Wei Yinqiu sighed helplessly. Faced with such a stubborn person, she could only convince herself not to take it too seriously.
"How about this, can you promise me that you'll come to my coming-of-age ceremony?"
Jin Heng remained silent for a moment.
Wei Yinqiu immediately became unhappy, "So you're forcing me? Then don't ever show your face in front of me again!"
He sighed and could only nod in agreement, "I will certainly be present when the princess comes of age."
Wei Yinqiu was finally satisfied.
...
For the next four months, Jin Heng rarely entered the palace, and Wei Yinqiu saw him only a handful of times.
She was determined to dress up beautifully on her coming-of-age ceremony, to outshine everyone and make Jin Heng unable to take his eyes off her!
Unfortunately, despite her constant longing and yearning, she ultimately came up empty-handed.
The Empress Dowager held a grand coming-of-age banquet for her, almost on par with the grand banquet held for the eldest princess back then.
People came to offer their congratulations in an endless stream, but she maintained a stiff smile and seemed distracted.
"The ceremony is complete, why hasn't Jinheng arrived yet?" Her personal maid was even more anxious than she was.
As Wei Yinqiu watched the sky darken, her disappointment reached its peak. Suddenly, she stood up and turned away, saying, "This princess is tired."
The people behind her said in unison, "Respectfully seeing off the princess."
She didn't even turn her head.
Passing through winding corridors and along palace paths with high walls and tiled roofs, she removed layer after layer of heavy clothing, laying them out on the path she walked, like petals of a flower about to wither and fall to the ground.
Tears streamed down her face, blurring her makeup and making her look unrecognizable and particularly eerie.
She didn't care at all, looking as lost and dejected as a wandering ghost. Until she stepped into her palace, she saw the man standing under the crabapple tree in the courtyard from afar.
He was dressed in flowing white robes, his cascading black hair tied only with a light blue ribbon. A gentle breeze blew, causing his hair to flutter with his robes. The crabapple trees stood tall against the wind, their petals fluttering and swirling around him, making him seem as if he might vanish with the wind at any moment.
Wei Yinqiu rubbed her eyes, making sure he wasn't hallucinating, then lifted her skirt and ran towards him.
However, as she got closer, she gradually stopped, halting two steps away from him, no longer daring to go any further.
"Didn't you say you weren't coming?" she asked, her voice surprisingly hoarse.
"Why are you crying so horribly?" Jin Heng took out a plain white handkerchief, cupped her face, and gently wiped away the smudged rouge and powder. "Who told you I wasn't coming? I promised, and I won't go back on my word."
"But……"
"You should know that I shouldn't be too flashy."
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