Chapter 478 Princess, it's Young Master Lu who's here!
"Xiao Tao, go to Yuqing Palace and ask Shengming'er if he wants to come with me to the newly opened theater to listen to music."
Xie Yunjia sighed softly, "The New Year is just around the corner. The Rong family has returned to Beijing, and she will definitely be busy spending time with them. She won't have time to spend with me. We should make plans as soon as possible."
Xiao Tao replied, "Yes, Your Highness, then this servant will go to the palace immediately."
"Okay, go ahead."
After Xiao Tao left, Xie Yunjia looked at her plain nails and suddenly had the urge to paint them red, so she immediately asked someone to bring her some nail polish.
A palace maid quickly brought forward a gilded lacquer box containing the finest balsam flower juice, mixed with cinnabar, giving it a bright and vibrant color.
Xie Yunjia sat on the soft couch by the window, not letting the palace maids apply the nail polish. Instead, she gently picked up a thin cotton swab, dipped it in the nail polish, and carefully applied it to her nails.
The sunlight outside the window was just right, shining through the carved window lattice onto her fingertips. The red nail polish made her skin look even whiter and more translucent, adding a touch of delicate charm.
But before she could finish painting all ten of her fingers with such a beautiful color, Xiao Tao, who was supposed to go to the palace, returned.
"Why are you back?"
"Your Highness, Young Master Lu, it's Young Master Lu!"
Xie Yunjia was taken aback, and her fingertips trembled, accidentally rubbing the nail polish onto her fingers.
Xiao Tao seemed very happy, and she wasn't even in a hurry to complete the task Xie Yunjia had assigned her to enter the palace: "Your Highness, Young Master Lu has found a fine zither. He said he came to apologize for offending Your Highness last time!"
"Apologize? What kind of apology did he offer?"
The last time the two had contact was on the day of Xie Yunchuan's wedding. Lu Yixue and Lu Chi followed General Lu into the palace to watch the ceremony. After the ceremony, Lu Chi came to talk to Shengsheng, and Lu Yixue followed closely behind his younger brother, saying that he wanted to keep an eye on him.
Sheng Sheng always liked to linger around Xie Yunjia during these activities, so Lu Yixue was just using this as an excuse to get closer to Xie Yunjia, even if he didn't say anything.
Xie Yunjia was aware of his thoughts, but for some reason, she hadn't even realized it herself that day before she turned and left without even glancing at Lu Yixue.
Could it be because of this that Lu Yixue thought she was angry?
Xie Yunjia fell silent, her expression shifting several times before she finally said, "What an idiot."
To be honest, it was she who embarrassed him, so how did it become that he upset her?
Seeing her princess's reaction, Xiao Tao couldn't hide her joy: "Princess, shall I go and invite Young Master Lu in?"
"Who let him in?" Xie Yunjia glared at Xiao Tao. "Did this princess say anything?"
Xiao Tao pouted. She was already used to her insincerity and didn't call her out on it. She just muttered under her breath, "But Young Master Lu brought his zither and is waiting at the door. It's so cold outside..."
Xie Yunjia had only applied half of her nail polish when a red mark appeared on her fingertip, like a touch of indescribable charm.
She glared at Xiao Tao, her tone stiff: "Let him be cold, he's the one who came to me, what does it have to do with me?"
Despite saying that, she didn't touch Danko again. In a fit of pique, she threw the cotton swab on the table, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards the door. She didn't even realize that she had pursed her lips.
Xiao Tao had long since figured out her princess's temperament, so she immediately went along with it: "What the princess says is true. It's all because Young Master Lu was willing to suffer this. It's just a pity about that zither. I heard that the tone is quite good. Young Master Lu specially asked a famous teacher to tune it. If it's left to freeze at the door, it will ruin the tone. What a waste! After all, it's an apology gift. We can't let him make a wasted trip. If word gets out, it will make the princess seem stingy."
"You little brat, whose side are you on?" Xie Yunjia's brow twitched, and after a long while she snorted, her tone softening slightly, "What nonsense are you talking about? When has this princess ever been petty? Fine, let him in, so that others won't say I'm abusing my status to bully people."
"Yes! I'll go right away!" Xiao Tao's eyes lit up, and she turned and ran out, her steps as light as if she were walking on the wind.
Xie Yunjia watched her retreating figure, then quietly raised her hand to rub the stained nail polish on her fingertips, her fingertips turning red, while her ears inexplicably felt warmer.
A vibrant red swirls on her pink and white fingertips, and Xie Yunjia stares at them blankly for a while.
Coming to her senses, she was about to find a handkerchief to wipe herself clean when she heard steady footsteps at the door. Looking up, she saw Lu Yixue dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, holding a zither in his arms. The zither was engraved with dark patterns and wrapped in thick brocade, clearly being carefully protected.
People, of course, also dress up carefully.
Since Lu Yixue realized that Xie Yunjia was deliberately trying to annoy her, he calmed down and stopped rushing to her to avoid upsetting her. Instead, he quietly tried to attract her from the shadows.
Today he was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, his black hair was neatly tied up, his eyebrows and eyes were still handsome, but he had gained a bit more composure and calmness. Even the way he held the zither was steady and unhurried.
Seeing her look over, Lu Yixue remained composed, calmly cupped his hands in greeting, and said in a gentle and peaceful voice, without a trace of nervousness: "Greetings, Princess."
Xie Yunjia's heart skipped a beat for no reason, but she deliberately put on a stern face and did not answer him immediately. Instead, she picked up a cotton swab again and continued to paint her nails at a leisurely pace.
"Young Master Lu, you seem to have plenty of free time. What brings you here in this freezing weather?"
Lu Yixue gently placed the zither on the table, his movements delicate as he lifted the brocade to reveal the elegant dark patterns on the zither. His gaze fell on its vibrant red nail polish, his expression remaining calm, and he said softly, "I was abrupt in attending the ceremony a few days ago and offended the princess. I found this zither to apologize. If the princess does not like it, I will take it back."
"Who cares about your zither?" Xie Yunjia snorted, but couldn't help glancing at the zither out of the corner of her eye, a hint of concern in her eyes, but she didn't mince words, "I was just suddenly tired that day, it has nothing to do with you. As for you, don't be so presumptuous as to think I'm angry."
Lost in thought for a moment, Xie Yunjia's hand trembled again, and the spot she had just cleaned was stained with nail polish once more.
Xie Yunjia: "..."
Xie Yunjia angrily scolded him: "It's all your fault! If you hadn't spoken to me, I wouldn't have painted it crookedly!"
A quick glint of amusement flashed in Lu Yixue's eyes. He took two steps forward, bent down slightly, and took the cotton swab from Xie Yunjia's hand.
Under Xie Yunjia's surprised gaze, Lu Yixue calmly explained, "Let me help the princess apply it, as an apology for my presumptuousness, hmm?"
Xie Yunjia was so startled that her fingertips recoiled, her cheeks flushed red, and she raised her hand to snatch the cotton swab: "How dare you! Men and women should not touch each other, who needs your help!"
Although her words were sharp and harsh, she didn't use much force with her wrist. Lu Yixue noticed this and gently grabbed her wrist with his own, using a little force so that she couldn't break free but wouldn't feel pain.
Lu Yixue's fingertips were slightly cool as he covered her warm wrist. The sensation was so clear that Xie Yunjia's heart suddenly started racing, and she forgot to struggle, staring blankly at him.
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