Chapter 46 [46] How can it be so thin and so white...
【46】/First release
Sima Jing glanced at her hands behind her back and said, "Plum blossoms."
The calm tone startled Yun Ran: "How did you guess that?"
In order to hide her secret, she held it upright!
"The way you hold your arms under your arm, and..."
Sima Jing glanced at the half-petal stuck to her moon-white embroidered shoes and said, "You said you were going to visit the plum garden this afternoon."
"Well, Your Highness is very clever."
Yun Ran, never one to be shy about compliments, smiled as he held out the branches of brilliant red plum blossoms behind him. "Look, I picked these especially for you. They're in full bloom and the brightest colors. Yesterday, I saw a white porcelain vase on the windowsill of my bedroom. It's perfect for arranging flowers there."
As she spoke, she looked around the library and pointed at the desk. "Your Highness, what do you think of placing it there? That way, whether you're sitting at the desk reading or writing, or playing chess or relaxing on the couch, you can still see the plum blossoms."
Sima Jing looked at her arms full of plum branches. The bright red and beautiful plum blossoms reflected her snow-white skin and red coat. He wondered if it was a small plum blossom that had become a spirit and strayed into this mundane world.
"Your Highness? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Yun Ran noticed his gaze and frowned slightly: "Don't you like these flowers? Or do you not like red plum blossoms?"
"Actually, I was torn for a while about whether to cut you a green-calyx plum or a white one. Those two flowers are elegant, but they'd be a bit stark in the room. You're already bored from spending all day in your study, and adding such stark flowers would probably make you even more depressed. Red plums are better, though. They're lively and bright, and they suit the festive mood. Just looking at them makes me happy. What do you think?"
It turned out that she didn't just casually cut a few flowers and brought them back, but had considered them carefully.
Sima Jing's cold profile softened a little. He looked at the flowers in her arms and nodded, "The red plum blossoms are very good. Thank you."
Yun Ran: “……!”
This was the second time he had said "very good" to her today.
Not only that, he also said "thank you".
"Hey, Your Highness, don't be polite with me. Just do what you like."
Yun Ran smiled and said, "Then I'll go put it in the vase now and bring it to you later."
Without waiting for Sima Jing to speak, he ran out excitedly.
Sima Jing: “…”
Where does she get so much energy every day?
Soon, Yun Ran brought over the delicate white porcelain plum vase, adjusted the angle of the flower branches, and chatted with Sima Jing about her experiences and interesting things today.
Talking about playing mahjong, she was full of admiration: "My mother is really very clever. I feel like halfway through each game, she can figure out what cards my cousin the Queen and I have left. She used to win every time, but later, maybe because she saw how badly we were losing, she let us win."
Talking about visiting the garden, she was even more excited: "It's so beautiful. The plum blossoms are so well-maintained, and the garden is so elegant. After asking, I found out that it was built by a master in Suzhou. I was wondering why it looked so familiar, just like I was back in Yangzhou."
Finally, she talked about the recent public opinion of Sima Jing: "The ladies all praise you for your graceful appearance and beauty."
After Yun Ran finished speaking, he winked at Sima Jing cunningly.
But Sima Jing remained calm, as if it had nothing to do with him, and picked up the teacup and drank slowly.
Yun Ran was puzzled: "Your Highness, are you unhappy?"
Sima Jing raised his eyelids and looked at her: "Why are you so happy?"
Yun Ran: "Everyone is praising your good looks."
"Who are you all and what does it have to do with me?"
Sima Jing's brows were filled with his usual indifference: "Whether they praise or scold me, why should I care what they think?"
Yun Ran: "...Okay."
She lowered her eyes in disappointment and continued to tend to the flowers.
When the plum blossoms were ready, Yun Ran looked at his masterpiece and became happy again. He showed it to Sima Jing like a treasure and chatted with him about another matter: "Jiu Niang said there is a town called Qingyan at the foot of Mount Li. On the fifteenth day of the lunar year, there will be a big market for the last time before the New Year. It's going to be very lively. Your Highness, do you want to go to the market?"
Sima Jing's thick eyebrows slightly frowned: "Going to the market?"
"Yes, to the market."
Seeing that Sima Jing still looked puzzled, Yun Ran suddenly realized that Sima Jing, with his status, might not know what the folk market meant. So he explained it to him briefly and concisely, and concluded by saying, "Generally, the villages around the mountainous areas are scattered. It is only on market days that everyone gathers together to exchange what they have."
Sima Jing understood what was going on, but his brows were still furrowed: "No."
Yun Ran: "Why?"
Sima Jing: "There are many people."
Yun Ran: “…”
I actually forgot about this.
"All right."
She spread her hands out with regret: "Then I'll call my fourth brother, Yingying, Jiuniang and the others to go."
Sima Jing: “…”
At that time, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, and the palace lanterns in the corridor were lit one by one.
Yun Ran was about to go out to urge for the meal when the man beside the couch suddenly said, "I'll go."
Yun Ran was stunned for a moment, and only after turning around did he react: "Going to the market?"
Sima Jing hummed: "But, it's just you and me."
The pair of dark eyes as deep as a pool looked deeply at Yun Ran: "Don't bring anyone else with you."
"But the market is more fun when there are more people. Yingying and Jiuniang are fine, but my fourth brother is no exception..."
Yun Ran muttered softly, noticing the man's face growing increasingly gloomy beside the couch. Although she felt he was being a bit overbearing, she remembered that it was she who had strongly invited him to come, and that the Empress Dowager had given her a large box of Dongzhu this morning, asking her to spend more time with him...
"All right then."
Yun Ran took a deep breath and nodded in agreement: "It's just me and His Highness, no one else."
After he finished speaking, the man's tense expression softened slightly.
He stood up from the couch and when he passed by Yun Ran, he took her hand very naturally and said, "Let's go to dinner."
Yun Ran didn't think much about it and let him lead her to the dining room.
The imperial meals in the palace were more exquisite in terms of craftsmanship and plating than those in the prince's palace, but in terms of taste, Yun Ran still felt that the meals made by the chefs in the prince's palace were more delicious.
After talking with Sima Jing, she learned that when the imperial meals in the palace were delivered to the table, they had to go through several inspections. After these repeated inspections, the smell of the food just out of the pot would naturally dissipate.
The food at her Zhanlutang is served directly to the table as soon as it comes out of the pot, without any delay, and it is served steaming hot and fresh.
After dinner, Yun Ran played the piano and kissed as usual to while away an hour. Then he invited Sima Jing again: "Your Highness, it's really comfortable to soak in the hot springs. If you feel uncomfortable, I'll give you my head. Go and try it."
Sima Jing: “…”
What did he want with her head?
But he did feel her kindness.
only--
"No."
Sima Jing lowered his dark eyes, his tone without any fluctuation: "You can go."
Yun Ran: “…”
I don’t understand. I absolutely don’t understand.
But the man looked so determined that she knew it was useless to persuade him, so she could only lower her head and said, "Oh."
She took her spare clothes and left with Qingling and other palace maids.
The night was dark, and the cold wind of December blew across Yun Ran's cheeks, but it couldn't blow away the depression and confusion in Yun Ran's heart. "What do you think His Highness is thinking? I asked him to go to the hot springs, not to drag him into the frying pan. Why does he refuse me again and again?"
Qingling didn't understand either.
If you say you mind a man and a woman bathing together, but they both sleep in the same bed and kiss every night until their lips are swollen, will they still care about this?
But if it is said that King Jing does not like taking a hot spring bath, then he has never taken one even once, so how can he not like it?
After much thought, I can only attribute this to my eccentric personality.
"My lady, there's no need to be unhappy about this. It's his loss that His Highness doesn't come. Since you enjoy it, enjoy it as much as you can. Such a good opportunity only comes once a year."
"You're right. I don't want to be like him and refuse to enjoy the blessings, only to suffer the consequences."
Yun Ran always listened to advice, and soon cheered up, humming a little tune lazily: "At this moment, in this mood, at this moment, I am a little god with nothing to do——"
Late in the night, the world is quiet and the snow is hazy.
Inside the Wanshou Hall, sandalwood incense curls from the green crane porcelain nine-turn top censer.
Queen Mother Zhao was sitting lazily on the beauty couch, her black hair loose, wearing a dark yellow brocade nightgown, and was having her hair combed by a senior palace maid.
After hearing the eunuch's account of the commotion in Feiluan Palace, Queen Dowager Zhao couldn't help but frown, "For two consecutive nights, Princess Jing went to the hot springs alone. Prince Jing hasn't been there once?"
The chief eunuch Zhang Dehai nodded in agreement, paused, and added, "It is said that the princess has been urging His Highness to go, but it was His Highness who insisted on not going."
Queen Mother Zhao also guessed what was going on.
"How can such a good opportunity be wasted like this?"
She narrowed her eyes slightly and murmured, "We have to think of a way."
After pondering for a long time, Queen Mother Zhao raised her hand to signal the chief palace maid to take everyone away, and then knocked lightly on the table.
Zhang Dehai understood and hurried forward, bending deeper, "Your servant is here."
Queen Mother Zhao sat up from the couch and gave some instructions in a low voice.
Finally, she stroked her sleeves and said calmly, "Make arrangements."
***
The next morning, Yun Ran got up as usual, washed up, and did morning exercises.
Sima Jing also watched her do morning exercises as usual, and after she finished her morning lessons, he had breakfast with her.
Because she was going to ride a horse today, Yun Ran specially chose a light and loose lilac satin jacket, and a skirt made of a dirt-resistant dark green fine cloth. Her thick black hair was not decorated with any pearls or hairpins, but was simply tied into a bun with a hairpin. In order to make it easier to move, she did not wear any jewelry.
Despite such a simple make-up, she has an exquisite and picturesque face, so she doesn't look shabby at all. Instead, she has a natural and unpretentious beauty.
"Your Highness, I'm ready to go!"
A crisp voice came from behind. Sima Jing, who was in the corridor, turned around and saw the young lady's fair and pure face.
She has bright eyes, white teeth, and a face as soft as a cherry. Even without makeup, her cheeks have a faint blush that is full of energy and blood.
At this moment, Sima Jing was reminded of what she had said before -
"Your Highness, have you ever heard of the saying 'food, sex, and nature'? It means that eating and liking beautiful women are human nature."
"Just like a baby, when he sees something beautiful, he subconsciously draws closer..."
It's my nature.
For example, right now, I want to pinch her soft face.
"Your Highness?"
Yun Ran looked at the man's hand that suddenly reached out to her and was slightly surprised: "Is there something dirty on my face?"
Sima Jing woke up as if from a dream, and his long fingers froze in mid-air.
After two breaths of silence, he pursed his lips and said, "I was mistaken."
After saying that, he turned around and strode out without looking back.
Yun Ran thought, "How could he be wrong at such a close distance? Could it be that His Highness's eyesight is not good at such a young age? Hmm, he must have damaged his eyes by reading for too long. I have to persuade him to combine work and rest and relax appropriately." As he hurriedly caught up -
"Your Highness, please walk slower and wait for me!"
Built along the mountainside, the Lishan Palace offers a cool and tranquil retreat in the summer, perfect for escaping the heat. In winter, hot spring water from deep within the mountain flows through jade channels into dozens of hot spring pools, offering warmth and relaxation.
In addition, there is a large enclosure to the west of the palace, covering an area of 1,000 acres, separated by fences and ropes. Inside, there are artificially raised yellow sheep, elk and musk deer, as well as jackals, tigers, leopards, pheasants, hares, etc. that are native to Mount Li.
Summer hunting and winter hunting have always been activities that the royal family is keen on. When the late emperor was alive, he often brought his concubines and princes to Mount Li to hunt for entertainment.
But for Yun Ran and Sima Jing, it was their first time in Weichang and they were completely unfamiliar with this place.
Fortunately, the two of them had their status, and with Chang Chun, a veteran in the palace for many years, before they even entered the enclosure, they saw the eunuch in charge of the enclosure, accompanied by a number of eunuchs and guards, greet them with a smile on their faces: "Your servant respectfully welcomes His Royal Highness Prince Jing and His Royal Highness the Princess."
Sima Jing never liked dealing with these things and just glanced at Chang Chun.
Chang Chun immediately understood and cleared his throat, saying, "Your Highness wants to teach the princess how to ride a horse today. Please, Eunuch Xue, lead the way to the stables, and Your Highness will select two good horses."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Xue, who was in charge of the enclosure, hurriedly said, "Your Highness, the Empress Dowager sent instructions to us yesterday. We have already prepared some of our best horses for you and the Princess. Please move forward, Your Highness and the Princess."
Upon hearing this, Sima Jing frowned slightly and turned his eyes to look at the young lady beside him.
Yun Ran raised her head and gave him an awkward smile. "I mentioned this matter casually while playing mahjong yesterday. I didn't expect the Queen Mother to be so concerned that she even sent someone to give me instructions."
Sima Jing didn't say anything, just pulled her arm and walked forward.
Yun Ran also vaguely sensed his displeasure from the strength of the man's grip.
But what's so unhappy about this?
The Empress Dowager is also doing this to make things convenient for them.
Although she was confused, she immediately put the doubts behind her once she arrived at the stable.
The stable was filled with the smell of hay and leather. Because it was a dark winter day, oil lamps were lit beside the beams even during the day.
The dim light fell on the rows of horse troughs, illuminating the neatly groomed horses, some majestic and some agile.
The short and fat eunuch Xue walked towards them and came to the top quality horses that had been specially brought out. He was about to introduce them in detail but was stopped by Chang Chun.
Eunuch Xue was puzzled: "......?"
Chang Chun said, "Your Highness likes quietness and hates people chattering in his ears. Just stand there and listen to the orders. Your Highness will make the choice himself."
If someone else had come today, Eunuch Xue would have suspected that Chang Chun was deliberately suppressing him because he was afraid that he would show his face in front of his masters.
But the person before him was the mysterious and eccentric Prince Jing. Even though he had been working in the palace, he had heard of the prince's bad reputation.
It is said that he keeps countless poisonous snakes in his yard. If he is in a bad mood or his servants do not serve him well, his servants will be thrown into the snake cave and eaten to death by thousands of snakes.
Forget it, for such a terrifying person, saving your own life is the first priority.
Eunuch Xue shut his mouth awkwardly and cast a grateful look towards Chang Chun.
Chang Chun accepted it silently, and then concentrated his attention on the movements in the stable.
"Your Highness, this horse looks very good. It is fat and strong. You can tell it can run very fast!" Yun Ran pointed at a dark horse with white on its head.
Sima Jing said nothing, but raised his hand to stroke the black horse's mane.
The horse immediately snorted and dug its front hooves into the ground twice, revealing its fierceness.
"This one won't do."
Sima Jing said, "It's too impatient and not suitable for beginners. If you get thrown off by it, you'll either break an arm or a leg, or be killed instantly."
"So scary?"
Yun Ran was shocked. He stopped looking at the black horse and walked towards a chestnut horse. "What about this one?"
Sima Jing reached out and touched the horse's head. The chestnut horse did not dodge, but instead cooperated and touched his palm.
Yun Ran was very surprised to see this: "This horse is very well behaved. It shouldn't throw me off."
Sima Jing: "Although this horse is docile, it is a little old..."
At most, I can ride it for another two years, but then I won't be able to take her for a ride as freely as I want.
Yun Ran obviously thought of this as well. Although he felt a little regretful, he still touched the chestnut horse's head.
Just as she was about to walk towards the silver-gray horse next door, a slight sound suddenly came from the corner.
Yun Ran was slightly startled, and when he turned around, he saw a slender and strong white horse standing beside the manger.
Its mane was covered in moonlight, with only a rouge-red birthmark on its forehead, like a newly blossomed plum blossom. It was chewing hay with its head lowered, and when it heard footsteps, it raised its head, its amber eyes looking over gently, a little grass dust on its eyelashes.
"Your Highness, look at this horse. Does the mark on its forehead look like a plum blossom?"
Sima Jing nodded and reached out to test its temperament. When his fingertips touched the horse's neck, the white horse rubbed the back of his hand very docilely.
Yun Ran couldn't help but reach out and touch the plum blossom birthmark. It felt warm and cool. Bai Ma also leaned his head towards her hand, not afraid of people at all.
"Your Highness, how about this?"
"This horse has a good temperament and is young."
Sima Jing nodded, a rare gesture, and then glanced at the eunuch who had been carefully serving beside him and asked: "What is the origin of this horse?"
"Your Highness, this horse is called 'Xuedianmei', a mare that is over four years old."
The eunuch in charge of the horses bowed and said, "This horse was sent as a tribute from Dayuan. It has a gentle temperament but good legs. It was tamed the other day. If the princess wants to learn horse training, this horse is full of energy and quick to respond. It is the perfect horse to train and ride."
"Wow, only four years old." Yun Ran immediately found the tall horse in front of him adorable. He bent down and took a handful of grass to feed it. "Little darling, are you willing to let me be your master?"
The little white horse was in its most lively and affectionate state. It ate the grass in Yun Ran's hand obediently and snorted with joy.
Seeing that she and the horse got along very well, Sima Jing chose this one.
As for his horse—
"Today I'm mainly teaching you how to ride a horse. One horse is enough."
"We two ride on one?"
Yun Ran was stunned. He looked at the white horse again with a worried look in his eyes. "It's only four years old. Will the two of us crush it?"
Sima Jing: “…”
The eunuch who tended the horses beside him said hurriedly, "Don't worry, Princess. A four-year-old horse is like a twenty-year-old horse in our time. It's at its strongest and most vigorous. Not to mention two people, even three people can't crush it."
Yun Ran had never raised a horse before, so he smiled sheepishly when he heard this: "That's good."
The eunuch who tended the horse asked, "Princess, would you like to give it a new name?"
Yun Ran thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Let's call it Snow Plum. This name is apt and lovely. It shows that whoever gave it this name put a lot of thought into it. So I will also accept their kindness."
Coincidentally, Xuedianmei was raised by the horse-raising eunuch who was responsible for the introduction.
He had been assigned to the Lishan Paddock at the age of thirteen, and in the blink of an eye, he had been raising horses there for over thirty years, serving emperors and nobles of two dynasties through the cold and hot seasons, and had also given away many horses. Naturally, horses had to change their names when they followed new masters.
This is the first time I have met a noble person who still uses his old name.
And she did not only do it because the name "Snow-Dot Plum" was appropriate, but also because of the "kindness" of the insignificant horse breeder.
After sending away His Royal Highness Prince Jing, who exuded the aura of "keep away from strangers", and Princess Jing, who always had a smile on her face, the eunuch who was in charge of the horses stood in the stable, looking at the place where Xuedianmei had been before, and his eyes silently turned red.
The eunuchs nearby saw this and laughed at him, "Old Yin, what's wrong with you? It's a blessing for Snow Plum to be favored by Princess Jing! It's not the first time we've given a horse away, why are you crying like you're marrying off your daughter?"
The eunuch who tended the horses wiped his face with his hand and spat, "You know shit. I'm just happy."
As for what to be happy about.
He couldn't put it into words, but he was just... happy, like a human?
-
"Your Highness, it's too high!"
Yun Ran had just been lifted onto the horse by Sima Jing's waist when she hugged the horse's neck tightly. Her face turned pale with fear: "How can it be so high!"
Sima Jing looked at her cowardly look and chuckled.
He slapped her hand away again: "Don't hold me so tightly, the horse will feel uncomfortable too."
Yun Ran: "But this is too high..."
You don't feel it when you're standing below, but when you're actually sitting on the horse and looking down, it's a completely different feeling.
Sima Jing didn't say anything. He held her legs with one hand, lifted the hem of his robe with the other hand and put it into his belt. Then he held the saddle with one hand and climbed onto the horse.
Yun Ran only felt the horse's back sway slightly, and the next moment, a familiar warmth came from behind him.
She looked back and was met with Sima Jing's cold, pale face that seemed to be smiling.
"Still lying down?"
There seemed to be a hint of smile in the man's usually calm tone.
It was the first time that Yun Ran saw Sima Jing so relaxed. It seemed that the person sitting on the horse was no longer the ill-fated and lifeless King Jing, but an ordinary, handsome young man of 22 years old.
But this feeling only lasted for a moment.
When she took a second look, that carefree feeling disappeared quickly like morning dew.
"If you want to keep riding like this, I don't mind."
As Sima Jing spoke, he lightly clamped his legs around the horse's belly, and the horse quickly started moving.
It would have been fine if he hadn't moved, but once he moved, that slender waist bent softly right in front of him.
Also, because she was wearing a short jacket today, when she lay down, a small piece of white skin on the back of her waist appeared and disappeared from time to time with the bumps.
How can a woman's waist be so thin and white?
Sima Jing's throat felt slightly tight.
The hand that was casually resting on the side of his leg moved, and after a while, stretched forward -
"It seems not so scary anymore?"
Yun Ran suddenly stood up, but felt as if he had hit something on the back of his waist.
Just as she was about to look back, two strong long arms tightened around her and held her tightly in their embrace.
Yun Ran was stunned by this intimate hug-like posture. Then she heard the man lower his head and whisper in her ear, "Don't move. I'll take you for a few laps to get used to it."
He was the teacher, so Yun Ran naturally listened to him: "Okay, I won't move, Your Highness, you can go."
Sima Jing maintained the posture of vaguely embracing her, driving the white horse, and silently retreating a distance with his waist.
Next, the two of them trotted around the racecourse several times.
Yun Ran also gradually adapted to the height and bumpy feeling of the horse's back.
Sima Jing handed the reins to her and said, "You run."
Yun Ran was nervous and expectant. Holding the reins, he turned to look at him and said, "Then Your Highness, could you please stay with me on the horse instead of getting off?"
Looking at the pair of bright eyes so close and full of pleading, Sima Jing's throat rolled, and his voice was also slightly hoarse: "Okay."
Yun Ran heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
With Sima Jing behind her, she subconsciously felt at ease.
Just as she was holding the reins and driving the horse at a leisurely pace, a long voice suddenly came from outside the paddock: "Your Majesty has arrived, the Queen has arrived——"
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Author's note: I'm giving away a red envelope in this chapter! [Please!]
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