For some time afterward, Jin Heng would often encounter Wei Yinqiu in the palace.
Sometimes she would go to see the Crown Prince and stay in the Eastern Palace for most of the day, and her relationship with the Crown Prince gradually became more and more familiar.
Royal family ties are weak; even blood brothers turn against each other for profit. Yet, she and the Crown Prince, though only cousins, are closer than blood siblings.
That day, as soon as Jin Heng arrived at the East Palace, he saw Wei Yinqiu again. She was following Wei Huaixu, pestering him to teach her calligraphy.
Wei Huaixu was getting a little annoyed by her pestering him. He turned his head and saw Jin Heng. His lifeless eyes immediately lit up. He looked like he had seen a savior.
"Grand Tutor Jin! Grand Tutor, you've finally arrived! Go and teach her, I certainly can't teach her."
It's no wonder Wei Huaixu declined; it's just that Wei Yinqiu's calligraphy... is hard to describe.
Wei Yinqiu seemed to be a born painter, able to sketch a painting with a brush at will, and her carving skills were even more superb. However, her handwriting looked like it was scratched out by chicken claws, so ugly that it was unrecognizable.
Unfortunately, she was still impatient and would slack off after practicing calligraphy for a while, complaining of sore hands or thirst. Wei Huaixu had taught her a few times before, but she couldn't stand it and gave up.
Jin Heng said coldly, "His Majesty only instructed me to teach His Highness the Crown Prince military strategy."
Wei Huaixu said, "Then I'll trouble the Grand Tutor to be flexible and teach me military strategy and calligraphy at the same time. It's good that I need to practice my handwriting more, otherwise I'll be led astray by the little chicks."
Wei Yinqiu was very dissatisfied, "What did you say, Crown Prince? Who's the little chick!"
"Whoever responds is the one who gets the response."
"Hmph!" Wei Yinqiu turned her head away angrily. "I will definitely master it and make you look at me with new eyes!"
"Alright, alright, I'll be watching closely."
Jin Heng was completely taken care of before he even had a chance to utter a sound. Wei Yinqiu came over and pulled him aside, pointing to the white paper spread out on the pear wood table, and said, "Write one for me to see first."
Jin Heng glanced at her; the little girl was still frowning and looking determined to prove herself, which made him chuckle.
He curled his lips and said, "The worst thing in practicing calligraphy is to be impatient and restless. It will be difficult for you to see any results if you are like this, Princess."
She walked to the side, poured herself a full cup of tea, drank it all in one gulp, took two deep breaths, then walked back and said, "Alright, I'm calm now, almost as if I were a dead person breathing. We can begin."
Jin Heng was truly amused by the little girl's actions, a smile spreading across his face and his eyes curving slightly.
Wei Yinqiu stared at him, stunned, as if something was popping and crackling in her mind.
She used to find the story of King You of Zhou playing with the feudal lords by lighting the beacon fires absurd, but now she seems to be gradually able to understand King You's feelings.
Jin Heng picked up his brush and wrote a line of characters on the paper, saying, "Let's practice these few today."
Wei Yinqiu looked up and saw a list of radicals: 一, 木, 目, 言...
Her eye twitched: "What is this?"
"Start practicing from the very basics. Do you expect to be able to run like the wind the moment you land?"
Wei Yinqiu was speechless for a moment, "Alright..."
While she practiced calligraphy on one side, Jin Heng went to the other side to continue lecturing Wei Huaixu.
She looked at it and felt a pang of sadness welling up inside.
This was completely different from what she had imagined. She thought Jin Heng would stand behind her, hold her hand, and guide her stroke by stroke in writing...
It can be said that dreams are lofty, but reality is harsh.
When Jin Heng finished speaking and turned to look at Wei Yinqiu, he found that she had fallen asleep on the table. Her small face was tilted to one side, her left hand supporting her head, and her right hand was still holding a calligraphy brush. Her cheeks and nose were covered with black ink.
Wei Huaixu put down his book, stood up, stretched casually, and said with a smile, "Grand Tutor Jin, I'm going to my martial arts class now. I'll leave Yongning to you."
Then, before Jin Heng could say anything, he slipped away and made a hasty escape.
Jin Heng's handsome brows furrowed as he looked down at the little girl who was sleeping soundly with drool dripping down her face, and sighed helplessly.
He walked over, took the calligraphy brush from Wei Yinqiu's hand, put it away, and bent down to pick her up.
She was only fourteen years old and was already taller than the average woman, but she still looked tiny in his arms.
In a side hall of the East Palace, there was a bed arranged by Wei Huaixu for him to rest. He carried him over, laid him flat, took off his shoes and socks, and covered him with a quilt.
Then, he ordered a palace maid to bring a basin of warm water and personally wiped the ink stains off her face.
After all this commotion, she still showed no signs of waking up.
Jin Heng squatted by the bed and stared at her sleeping face for a long time.
In fact, he understood that the gifts and calligraphy practice were just excuses. Wei Yinqiu hadn't necessarily had a close relationship with the Crown Prince before, so it was obvious to everyone why she was running to the East Palace every few days.
Over the years, he has never lacked women who deliberately approach him, and he has long been used to it.
However, Wei Yinqiu's identity was special, and he could not refuse openly.
Thinking this, he reached out and tucked the blanket around her again.
Jin Heng then got up and left.
Little did he know that as soon as he left, Wei Yinqiu, who had been lying peacefully asleep on the bed, slowly opened her eyes.
She sat up and moved her stiff and aching hands and feet, sighing, "Pretending to be asleep isn't easy either."
In order to cultivate a good relationship with Wei Huaixu, she even gave away her treasured jade cabbage, which she had kept for many years. A princess of high status lowered herself and went to great lengths just to win a smile from a handsome man; even her grandmother scolded her for being foolish.
"I hope that what I have given will bring me what I desire."
...
In the depths of winter, the capital city was blanketed in its first snowfall, which continued for three days.
Wei Yinqiu sat on the edge of the bed, holding a hot water bottle, gazing at the white expanse outside. She sighed, "The Grand Tutor hasn't come to the palace for several days now. Is he annoyed by me?"
The personal maid comforted her, saying, "Princess, you are overthinking it. You are so beautiful and charming, who would want to find you annoying? Perhaps Grand Tutor Jin has been busy with official business these days and has no time to come to the palace."
Just then, the young eunuch who had gone out to investigate hurried back, bowed before her, and, still breathless, said, "Princess, Grand Tutor Jin, he..."
Wei Yinqiu's face lit up with joy. "He's here?"
"No, it's not..."
She stopped abruptly, about to stand up, and said anxiously, "Say what you want to say quickly!"
The young eunuch quickly straightened his tongue and replied, "Grand Tutor Jin is ill and hasn't left his residence for the past few days."
Wei Yinqiu panicked instantly, "What illness? How serious is it?"
"This servant does not know. I asked the palace servant who reported it, and he only overheard the official who entered the palace mention it by chance."
Wei Yinqiu paced back and forth in the hall in a hurry, and finally ran out, lifting her skirt.
The maid chased after her, calling out, "Princess, where are you going? It's so cold outside, you should put on your cloak!"
"I must go and beg my grandmother to let me leave the palace!"
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