Xi Linghao's aging and weakness deprived her of her greatest support. She needed to find a new and more powerful backer!
The young, handsome, and simple-minded Second Prince Xi Lingche, who was also the Empress's biological son, became the most perfect target in her eyes!
(First encounter):
In the depths of winter, after a heavy snowfall, the red plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom. Xi Lingche, carrying his painting supplies, was eager to go sketching. As soon as he stepped into the plum garden, he saw a figure in pure white standing beneath the gnarled branches. Lianxing wore only a thin white fox fur coat; her black hair cascaded down her back, reflecting the snow and red plum blossoms, making her appear otherworldly. She seemed to shiver slightly from the cold wind, and the fox fur coat slipped silently from her shoulders.
"Ah..." A soft, delicate exclamation.
Xi Lingche instinctively stepped forward, picked up the fox fur, and handed it over somewhat awkwardly: "Madam, your shawl."
Lianxing turned around, her eyes sparkling with a perfectly balanced mix of surprise and gratitude. Her cheeks were slightly flushed from the cold, adding to her pitiful appearance. "Thank you, Second Prince." She reached out to take the fox fur coat, her fingertips "accidentally" brushing against Xi Lingche's hand. The cool, soft touch made Xi Lingche recoil as if electrocuted, his face instantly turning red.
"Your Highness's hands...are so warm." Lianxing lowered her eyes, her voice as light as a feather, carrying a hint of melancholy. "Unlike His Majesty...who has been feeling cold lately..." She raised her eyes, her eyes, so similar to those of A Yuan's birth mother, filled with tears. She glanced at Xi Lingche with a hesitant look, then wrapped her fox fur tightly around herself and hurriedly left like a startled white butterfly, leaving behind a faint, cold fragrance and a stunned Xi Lingche.
Xi Lingche felt as if the spot on the back of his hand where she had touched him was on fire. His heart pounded, and his mind went blank. Holding his art supplies, he stood there, stunned, having lost all interest in sketching. He felt a strange unease and confusion over that one glance.
(Second encounter):
A few days later, Xi Lingche was organizing his travel sketches in the palace's painting studio when Lianxing came to visit him, drawn by his reputation.
"I've heard that Your Highness is an exceptional painter, especially skilled in landscapes. I also have some knowledge of painting; would I have the honor of learning a thing or two from Your Highness?" She adopted an extremely humble posture, her eyes filled with pleading.
Xi Lingche couldn't refuse, so he reluctantly agreed. Lianxing stood beside him, very close, a faint fragrance lingering in the air. She pointed to a mountain range in the painting, leaning slightly forward, her hair almost brushing against Xi Lingche's cheek: "Your Highness's use of ink here is masterful, creating a harmonious interplay of reality and illusion, with a profound artistic conception. I greatly admire it… but…" Her tone shifted, tinged with a hint of coquettish questioning, "The clouds and mist in these mountains seem to lack a certain liveliness? In my humble opinion, if one could… add a little more detail…" As she spoke, she extended her slender fingers, as if to touch the brush in Xi Lingche's hand, which was dipped in light ink!
Startled, Xi Lingche took a step back, his paintbrush slipped from his hand, and ink splattered all over him, as well as onto the hem of Lianxing's white dress!
"Ah!" Lianxing exclaimed in surprise, her eyes instantly filling with tears as she looked at the ink stains on her skirt, on the verge of sobbing. "Your Highness... I was being presumptuous..."
Seeing the beauty weeping, and then looking at his own disheveled state, Xi Lingche felt embarrassed and flustered. He waved his hands repeatedly, "No, no, no! It was my mistake! Please forgive me, Madam! I... I'll take my leave now!" He practically fled in panic, not even bothering to tidy up his sketches.
(Third encounter):
This time, Lianxing's actions were bolder and more direct.
Xi Lingche was summoned to the imperial study by Xi Linghao for questioning. He had barely entered when Lianxing gracefully entered with a cup of ginseng tea. She placed the tea on Xi Linghao's desk and said softly, "Your Majesty, the ginseng tea is ready." Then, her gaze "inadvertently" swept over Xi Lingche, who was standing to the side, with a hint of sorrow and lingering affection.
Xi Lingche felt a chill run down his spine from her gaze and quickly lowered his head.
Just as Lianxing turned to leave, as she passed Xi Lingche, she suddenly stumbled and fell limply towards him! She let out a soft cry of surprise!
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