Chapter 39 Wen Jin’An’s Disfigurement
Good news: she was caught.
Bad news: he threw her on the ground again.
Wen Xueling stumbled twice before she finally stood steady. She looked up at the tall man standing before her.
His dark robe blended with the night. The mask couldn’t conceal his slender, refined jawline. What was most familiar to her were those indifferent, somber eyes that showed no warmth.
As she looked at him, Wenren Yi’s eyes slightly lowered, and he looked at her in turn.
The young woman showed no awareness of trespassing. Her eyes sparkled like dazzling pearls, boldly and fearlessly staring at him.
Dressed in a smoky green silk brocade dress with a pink and black embroidered fur coat, she was like a blooming peach blossom nestled among the verdant leaves on a bright spring day.
Vibrant, lively, brimming with life.
Wen Xueling’s lips curved into a bright smile. She took half a step forward, closing the distance between them.
“Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor~ Do you like the portrait I sent you?”
“…...”
The radiant almond eyes, so close, rippled with curiosity about his emotions. A fleeting, unusual glint passed through Wenren Yi’s eyes.
“Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor, don’t leave.”
“If you don’t like it, I can switch to other items. Longswords, daggers, crossbows......Which one do you prefer?”
She lifted her skirt and hurried after him. The ends of her hair, falling to her waist, were blown by the cold winter wind onto the back of his hand, slipping through his fingers.
Wenren Yi quickened his pace.
The slender, graceful figure followed him closely, entering the Ink Bamboo Courtyard unimpeded, until they reached the entrance of the study.
Bang!
Wen Xueling watched helplessly as he closed the door, showing no signs of pity for a maiden.
She sighed, “…...Do you like it or not?”
Hearing the young woman’s slightly annoyed and bewildered voice from outside, Wenren Yi’s dark, profound gaze fell on the neatly drawn papers on the desk, weighted down by candies. The emotions in his eyes were unreadable.
The first drawing depicted him in the Imperial Study, leaning with his chin propped up. Beside the miniature figure, there was also a sentence.
【Did you eat the candy, Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor?】
The next one showed him in the carriage, with a small figure pressed against his chest. There were no superfluous words, only four characters.
【Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor......】
The latest portrait was of his back as he left in the carriage, with a small figure waving a handkerchief on the street, accompanied by a questioning voice.
【Your Excellency, Imperial Preceptor, may I come to the Imperial Preceptor’s residence to see you?】
Too many people addressed him as Imperial Preceptor.
But only she, when she spoke those four words, carried an ineffable lingering affection, like a feather brushing against one’s cheek.
It was a little itchy, yet it was hard to pinpoint where exactly the itch was.
Wenren Yi scoffed inwardly: Her ambition had reached him.
No sound came from outside for a long time.
He returned to his desk to handle unfinished business. The candle in the silent room gradually burned down, until dawn.
He pulled open the study window, intending to let the cold wind clear his mind. His gaze was suddenly drawn to two miniature snowmen on the windowsill.
A menacing little snowman, hands on hips, faced another little snowman whose face was smeared black.
Even without an explicit expression, he could sense the little snowman's indignation through its body language.
Wenren Yi’s thin lips curved slightly, but he quickly concealed it, then summoned a hidden guard.
“Miss Wen left after building two snowmen......”
The hidden guard hesitated for a moment, then added, “Miss Wen said she would be back.”
“…...”
Prime Minister’s residence, the Small Building in the North Courtyard.
Wen Xueling fell asleep as soon as she returned from the Imperial Preceptor’s residence.
Upon waking, she heard the news brought back by Tang Chun: Wen Jin’An was smashing things in the Qin Xin Courtyard again.
Since returning from the palace, her scoundrel father had invited over ten physicians to the Prime Minister’s residence to treat her facial injuries.
However, everyone shook their heads, unable to find a cure.
Her scoundrel father had already dispatched someone on horseback to send a message to her second brother, who studied under a medical saint, urging him to return and treat her stepsister’s face.
Tang Chun, while styling Wen Xueling’s hair, shared the information she had gathered.
“…...The second young master sent back word that the medical saint possesses a secret skin-nourishing ointment that can heal all wounds in the world, but it requires the aid of sacred mountain spring water. The one in Qin Xin Courtyard is currently trying to find a way to lift her house arrest.”
Wen Xueling was thoughtful. An imperial decree personally issued by the Emperor, how could she lift it whenever she pleased?
Unless......
Her eyes narrowed: A noble person would assist.
Around noon.
Wen Jinli returned with apologies.
This time, he entered without his usual gloomy expression, sitting before Wen Xueling with a beaming smile, affectionately calling her “sister.”
“Ling’er, Fourth Brother was wrong before. I apologize to you, and I hope you, as a magnanimous person, will forgive Fourth Brother’s unintentional mistake.”
“These are gifts for you, and these new clothes are for Mother. The winter nights are cold, and your clothes are too thin.”
Wen Xueling expressionlessly observed his feigned enthusiasm and intimacy, glancing at the items on the table, and inwardly sneered.
She had seen the hairpin in the wooden box on Wen Jin’An’s maid’s head before. The fabric of the clothes was dull and old, even worse than the material worn by the old women serving her stepmother.
She didn’t respond.
Wen Jinli spoke many self-justifying words.
Seeing her lips curve upward, he showed a hint of disdain.
A country bumpkin like her, if it weren’t for this blood relation, she probably wouldn’t even be qualified to come to the capital in this life.
Wen Jinli continued to speak insincere words, “In Brother’s heart, you and Jin’An are equally important, it's just......”
He narrowed his eyes, feigning concern, “Jin’An grew up in the capital and was doted on by Father and Mother, making her a bit naive and innocent.”
“…...But no matter what, she is our sister, and she is young, so don’t hold it against her.”
After laying out so many empty words.
Wen Jinli finally revealed the purpose of his visit today.
“Ling’er, His Highness the Crown Prince is very fond of the ‘Qintian Ink’ you made. He asked me to ask if you could teach the ink-making technique to the palace’s ink masters?”
Wen Xueling’s clear, cool eyes gazed at his expectant yet guilty ones. She curled her lips and then exposed him, “Is it His Highness the Crown Prince who wants it......”
She paused, then revealed, “…...or is it to lift Wen Jin’An’s house arrest, using my ink-making method as a bargaining chip?”
The smile on the young man’s handsome face froze. He averted his eyes, and his voice unconsciously lowered.
“N-Naturally, His Highness the Crown Prince wants it.”
“His Highness the Crown Prince loves ink, and this is known to all. The method for making ‘Qintian Ink’ has been lost for a hundred years. Now that it has reappeared, His Highness cannot bear to let it be lost again......”
The stuttering explanation he offered was met with Wen Xueling’s disbelieving gaze and a cold, almost mocking smile on her lips.
Seeing this, he became enraged, “Ling’er, I’m your biological brother, how could I deceive you?”
Wen Jinli stood up and said furiously, “Go and write down the ink-making method now!”
“Before lunch, I’ll have someone come to collect the formula.”
After saying that, he fled in haste without waiting for Wen Xueling’s reply.
Outside the Small Building in the North Courtyard.
Wen Jin’An, her face veiled with white gauze, saw him emerge and hurried forward, “Fourth Brother, is it done?”
Wen Jinli said gently, “Jin’An, don’t worry. Brother will definitely get your house arrest lifted.”
If it weren’t for Jin’An, he wouldn’t have been so condescending to Wen Xueling. The thought alone made him annoyed.
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