Chapter 45 Ask the young master to add a few words
Xiao Jinghe tapped the table with his knuckles, his eyes sharp as a torch as he examined Xie Zhili, his tone tentative.
It was true that his behavior had been strange recently. First, he lived in the same courtyard with Yu, asked the imperial physician to change the prescription, and now he came to ask for the night pearl on behalf of Yu.
Xie Zhili lowered his eyes, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the hem of his sleeve. His voice was steady but with a subtle tension: "It's not easy for my sister-in-law to be a widow. I can only do my humble part."
But after knowing each other for many years, Xiao Jinghe knew Xie Zhili's character clearly. He could do so much for the Yu family, which obviously showed that he cared about them.
"There's no need to hide anything between you and me. Yu is beautiful, and if you like her, she's suitable."
Xiao Jinghe thought: A gentleman does not take away what others like. If Xie Zhili is determined to marry Yu, he will help him.
Yu was a teasing person, but Xie Zhili was of great use to him.
He couldn't lose the support of the people because of the Yu family.
Xie Zhili didn't know what Xiao Jinghe was thinking. He knew that although he had a friendship with the prince, some things could be said, but some things had to be kept to himself.
Things like being involved with a widowed sister-in-law, if they fell into the hands of others, would be a handle that, although not fatal, would hinder one's career.
At this moment, he had to cover up Xiao Jinghe's temptation no matter what.
Xie Zhili pretended to be relaxed and said with a smile, "Your Highness has misunderstood. I have no such thoughts."
Xiao Jinghe still looked skeptical, "Really?"
Xie Zhili said respectfully, "How dare I deceive Your Highness?"
He had some feelings for Yu Qinghuan, but he didn't like her that much, so this couldn't be considered as deceiving the prince.
Hearing this, Xiao Jinghe picked up the tea, the steamy heat blurring his expression, "That's good."
Xie Zhili took the night-shining pearl and stood up to say goodbye, "Your Highness, it's getting late. I will take my leave first."
Xiao Jinghe raised his thin lips slightly, in a very good mood, and nodded slightly.
After Xie Zhili left, he solemnly instructed the attendant beside him, "Go back and prepare the other night-shining pearl. The palace will need it tomorrow."
Servant: "Yes."
...
Since lunch, Yu Qinghuan has been staying in the room, painting on his body in front of the bronze mirror.
Sang Ru, who was standing by, saw that the number of butterflies from the Western Regions was decreasing, and she felt a pang of pain. "Madam, please use them sparingly."
Don’t wait, the things will be used up before you can see the prince.
Yu Qinghuan curled her lips. If she were to paint on someone else, it would be a piece of cake. But now, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she was not satisfied at all.
If he is not even satisfied with himself, how can Xiao Jinghe like him?
Could it be... that I really have to ask Mu Huaian for help?
Yu Qinghuan turned to look at Sang Ru, handed the brush to her, and coughed lightly, "Would you like to try again?"
Sang Ru was at a loss for words. "Madam, please don't make it difficult for me. If it really doesn't work, forget it. We can think of other ways. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince always has other preferences."
Yu Qinghuan put down the paintbrush in his hand, leaned on the desk and sighed, "Even if the prince has other hobbies, it's difficult to find out."
It was not easy to find out from Xie Zhili last time that the prince liked calligraphy and painting, and I was almost suspected by him.
In the short term, I must not ask again.
Sang Ru also sighed.
Yu Qinghuan fiddled with the glass bottle with her fingers, thinking back to last night's events. "Last night, Xie Zhili thought I was asleep and said he wanted to take me as his concubine and asked me to bear him several children."
Hearing this, Sang Ru slowly widened her eyes, "Second Master wants to take you as his concubine?!"
Seeing Yu Qinghuan nod, Sang Ru was furious. "You are the Marquis' wife, how could he have such thoughts!"
From being a dignified marquis' wife, she had fallen into the status of a concubine of her deceased husband's younger brother. The Second Master was determined to make his wife the laughing stock of the entire capital!
Yu Qinghuan's face was filled with worry. He held Sang Ru's hand and said, "So I have no other way out. I must capture the prince. Do you understand?"
Sang Ru was so angry that she almost spit fire. She wanted to go to the kitchen, pick up a kitchen knife, and cut the Second Master into pieces.
She had thought that the Second Master was a good man before, but he actually wanted to make her wife a concubine!
At this time, the melodious sound of the piano from Zhuangzi next door penetrated the wall and rang in the ears of the master and servant.
After hesitating for a while, Sang Ru said, "Madam, the young master must be an excellent painter. Let's go and ask him for help."
Yu Qinghuan lowered his eyes to look at the paint on the table, listened to the music of the piano beside his ears, and finally made up his mind.
She stood up, gathered her clothes, and tied her belt, while instructing Sang Ru, "Put your things away and take them with you. Come with me to see the young master."
Sang Ru immediately put all the glass bottles into the box and followed closely behind his wife.
...
After climbing over the courtyard wall, Yu Qinghuan went around to the back door of the Mu family manor. Sang Ru knocked on the door and asked, "Is the young master here?"
The gatekeeper was delighted when he saw that it was Yu Qinghuan, "Yes, yes!"
Sang Ru: "Please tell the young master that my wife has an important matter and would like to ask for your help."
The servant smiled and said, "My young master has instructed that whenever the Madam comes, she can go in directly without being informed."
Sang Ru turned to look at his wife and wondered what happened between his wife and the young master yesterday. Why did she come to look for the young master today without even having to call him.
Yu Qinghuan was slightly startled, "Thank you."
After entering the yard and walking along the long corridor, the sound of the piano became closer and closer. Yu Qinghuan saw Mu Huaian playing the piano in the yard. She waited until the song ended before she approached.
Seeing Yu Qinghuan, Mu Huaian's eyes lit up with a smile and he was about to stand up.
Before he could stand up, Yu Qinghuan bowed to him and said, "I came here today because I want to ask you something, young master."
The word "young master" made Mu Huaian's mind waver, and bitterness spread from the bottom of his heart. Sure enough, although she didn't say anything yesterday, she was distant from him today.
The mask from yesterday should not have fallen off.
Mu Huaian suppressed the bitterness in his heart, smiled faintly and asked, "What's the matter?"
Yu Qinghuan stroked the drawing in his sleeve, his eyes falling on Mu Huaian. He had already come this far and there was no way he could retreat.
As long as Mu Huaian is willing to help her, she, Yu Qinghuan, will remember this favor for the rest of her life. No matter what he needs in the future, she will definitely do it for him.
But there were other servants in the yard, so she couldn't speak too clearly.
Yu Qinghuan bit her red lips lightly and spoke with difficulty, "I heard that the young master is an excellent painter. I have a painting and I would like to ask the young master to add a few strokes to it."
Mu Huaian was slightly stunned. He had thought it was something difficult that made her so serious, but it turned out that he was just adding a few strokes to her painting.
"Okay, leave the painting here, and I'll send someone to deliver it to you tomorrow."
"......" Yu Qinghuan originally thought that since he had bought Western Region Butterfly Color yesterday, he should know what she meant when she said this today.
But at this moment, Mu Huaian asked her to keep the painting...How to keep it? Should he chop off his own shoulder?
She was nervous because of her guilty conscience, her fingertips clenched until they turned white, and she lowered her eyes to avoid Mu Huaian's gentle gaze, "It's the Western Region Diecai."
A "Zheng" sound was heard. Mu Huaian's hand had not yet been withdrawn from the guzheng, and his fingertips accidentally plucked the strings.
His Adam's apple rolled twice, and the tips of his ears quickly turned red.
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