He Yue was so angry that she couldn't help but pull Thirteen's ear again. Thirteen quickly grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest, looking at her affectionately: "I'll draw it for you, okay? It will definitely be better than this one. But, you have to listen to my explanation first."
He Yue suppressed her anger, plopped down in a chair, turned her head, and snorted, "Go on! I'm listening!"
Thirteen pulled over a chair, carefully sat down beside her, and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.
Heyue didn't struggle or pay attention to him. Thirteen slowly explained: "Actually, Nian Gengyao stayed in the capital for a few years before he went to Sichuan to take up his post. At that time, Fourth Brother admired him very much and always wanted to win him over, but he didn't want to be too obvious. Nian Gengyao was also proud and arrogant. After he married Nalan, he was considered to be one of the eldest brother's faction, so Fourth Brother gave up."
Now that my eldest brother is under house arrest, his hopes of seizing the throne are dashed. I'm thinking of taking this opportunity to win over Nian Gengyao to my fourth brother's side; it wouldn't be a bad thing.
At this point, Thirteen gripped Heyue's hand tighter, pondered for a moment, and, having no intention of hiding it from her any longer, confessed: "Before the Crown Prince was deposed, I never thought about these things, and only focused on assisting the Crown Prince. But since the Crown Prince was deposed, my eldest brother has been imprisoned, and my third and eighth brothers are both in the running for the throne."
In terms of ability, Fourth Brother is no less capable than Third Brother and Eighth Brother. In terms of status, Third Brother's mother and Empress Dowager De were both imperial concubines, Eighth Brother's birth mother was from the Xin Zhe Ku (a low-ranking official family), while Fourth Brother's adoptive mother was Empress Xiaoyi, making him a legitimate son. He is far superior to them. Rather than letting them succeed, it's better to help Fourth Brother.
Heyue listened silently, showing no surprise or fear, but rather remaining extremely calm.
Thirteen was quite surprised, and continued, "But Nian Gengyao is not someone who is easily used. If he weren't truly loyal, Fourth Brother wouldn't have used him. However, it would be a pity to abandon him. After seeing his sister yesterday, I noticed that he dotes on her very much. If his sister could enter Fourth Brother's household..."
Thirteen glanced at her cautiously, afraid she would be angry. Seeing that Heyue's expression was calm and she showed no displeasure, he breathed a sigh of relief: "With his sister staying by Fourth Brother's side, Nian Gengyao will definitely be loyal to Fourth Brother. I didn't want you to misunderstand and think I was selfish or too scheming, so I didn't tell you. Please don't be angry, okay?"
Knowing the whole story, He Yue was no longer angry. She glanced at him with amusement and said, "Why would I be angry? It's a very simple matter. Just do what you think is right."
Feeling guilty about her earlier behavior, she gave him a push, feigning anger: "Go back to your painting, I'm sleepy, go rest."
I slept very well last night, so how could I be sleepy? I was just embarrassed.
Thirteen smiled, kissed her temple, but did not let her go. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "This matter is not urgent. I will paint a picture for you first."
He Yue's cheeks flushed slightly, but she was also happy and agreed with a smile.
The beautiful woman lay languidly on a chaise longue, one hand supporting her chin, her eyes smiling as she gazed at the man painting. The scene was exquisite.
The man gazed intently at her, becoming somewhat mesmerized. A drop of ink from his brush fell onto the rice paper. He quickly lowered his head, picked up another sheet of rice paper, and began to paint seriously, concealing his inner turmoil.
Time passed by unnoticed. Heyue looked at his serious expression, yawned, and gradually fell asleep there.
In fact, Heyue doesn't have to maintain this posture all the time. A person who is truly good at drawing has his own impression in his mind and can draw the result he wants.
Moreover, it's someone who's already deeply etched in your heart.
It was just Thirteen's personal desire to see her like this a few more times.
Seeing that she was asleep, Thirteen put down his pen, smiled, and gently picked up Heyue, placed her on the bed, took off her shoes, and covered her with a blanket.
The moment she touched the bed, Heyue's slightly furrowed brows instantly relaxed. She hugged the blanket, rolled over, and lay face down on the bed, her cheek slightly turned to the side, pouting her lips.
Thirteen chuckled softly, noticing that her clothes were slightly disheveled, revealing a small patch of fair neck skin, and the image of her when she was painting automatically appeared in his mind.
It's truly...absolutely gorgeous.
Like a lazy Persian cat.
Seeing that she was sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to disturb her, so I suppressed my impulse and returned to the table to continue painting.
Before noon, Thirteen woke Heyue up for her meal.
Heyue woke up groggily, and with the help of Hailan and Zhizhu, she washed up and had a meal with Shisan.
After finishing his meal, I was curious about how the painting was going, so I rushed over and stared in amazement at the figure of the woman on the rice paper.
The woman in the painting is languid and charming, with deep affection in her eyes, quite different from her usual gentle demeanor.
At least He Yue had never seen herself look at him with such tenderness.
However, it makes her facial features appear even softer and more delicate.
Although it is not yet finished, it has already amazed Heyue.
Thirteen hugged her from behind, glanced at the woman in the painting, then looked at Heyue with a smile in his eyes.
"how?"
He Yue nodded repeatedly, clearly delighted. It was much more lifelike than Nian Yuzhu's, which pleased her greatly.
She turned around, hugged his neck, and gave him a light kiss on the lips, her smile bright: "It's a good painting, I'm very satisfied. I'll definitely keep it as a keepsake after I finish it."
Thirteen smiled deeply, and the two cuddled together for a while before stopping.
He Yue remembered something and asked him, "By the way, is Nalan Rongruo in love with Shen Wan?"
Thirteen asked him in surprise, but still answered seriously, with regret in her eyes: "Nalan Rongruo was admired by everyone, but he was also extremely infatuated and could never get over his feelings. He did have a story with Shen Wan, a famous courtesan in Jiangnan. Although I never saw it with my own eyes, I have read his poems and heard their story, which was extremely poignant and moving."
"What happened to Shen Wan?" He Yue asked curiously. Since Nalan Rongruo had left, where had Shen Wan gone?
Thirteen shook his head, his expression indifferent: "I don't know. Since Rong Ruo's death, Shen Wan has disappeared without a trace."
Oh, it is indeed a pity. If only I could meet Shen Wan, what kind of person is she that made Nalan Rongruo fall in love with her?
Thirteen looked at her and smiled slightly: "I used to envy their relationship, but after meeting you, I realized that we are happier than them. At least I have a lifetime to spend with you, while their love, no matter how touching, will eventually end in separation by death."
He Yue nodded in agreement. That's true. No matter how touching the emotions are, if they leave regrets, they are ultimately too poignant and bring tears to one's eyes.
On that day, Thirteen finished painting Heyue, and Heyue treasured the painting and kept it safe.
After all, it was the first painting that belonged to her in both her past and present lives, so it naturally had a different meaning.
Thirteen finished painting Nian Yuzhu, wrote a letter, and ordered someone to bring it back to the Yongjun Prince's Mansion in the capital immediately.
Before sending the letter, Heyue asked him what if they were discovered, especially by Emperor Kangxi, who would surely have people watching their every move. Wouldn't Thirteen's actions arouse Emperor Kangxi's suspicion?
Thirteen chuckled: "Of course I understand. That's why the messenger was someone I trust very much. He's the one who delivers some of my private letters with Fourth Brother. Besides, there's nothing inappropriate written on them. It's just that I met a beautiful woman on the road, but we were destined to be apart, and I was just lamenting to Fourth Brother about it."
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