As the Emperor's birthday came nearer, the capital was bathed with a festive atmosphere. All the commoners were gossiping spiritedly, making guesses as who among the nobles would give the most extravagant gift.
Every year, the emperor's birthday party served as a venue for calculating wealth among the aristocrats. The richer, the more extravagant their gifts were.
The people also made conjectures as they estimated the wealth of the fourth prince. For the past years, the prince wasn't able to attend the banquets as he guarded the borders. But now the prince was at the capital, so attending his imperial father's birthday was a must.
As the person who starred in peoples' gossips, the fourth prince was nonchalantly sitting across his beloved, posing like a statue as Ying Yue painted a portrait of his.
After a while, the beautiful girl put down her brush as she stared at the canvas that was drying off.
No matter how she stared at it, she felt it was lackluster but it was undoubtedly the best one she made thus far.
When she was thinking of scratching the painting to make a new one, the prince made his way behind her, "Yue'er's painting is so lifelike as usual. I will gladly treasure this well."
The prince was truly delighted as this was the first memento made by his love. This girl was like an endless treasure trove. Her talents, skills, and intelligence were all topnotch.
Ying Yue was delighted to hear this so she rewarded the sticky prince a kiss on the cheek.
That afternoon the couple walked along the garden whispering sweet nothings while envisioning their future together.
Xiao Hua interrupted them saying that they have a visitor. The second prince and his concubine Bai paid a visit.
Upon hearing this, Ying Yue's eyes sparkled in delight as she was about to see her sister whom she missed dearly. Seeing her reaction, the prince who initially thought of sending them away had to give in as he ushered her to the reception hall.
Bai Xingmei forgot etiquette the moment she saw her little sister. She was worried to death thinking how she was fairing out in the fourth prince's manor. Seeing her well and healthy, she can finally put her mind at ease.
"Yueyue, how are you these days?" The worried woman ran up to Ying Yue, clutching her hands as if reassuring herself that she was there in flesh and not just a simple illusion.
A gentle cough resounded and Bai Xingmei's eyes that were filled with worries widened as big as a saucer. Finally remembering where she was and who was beside Ying Yue, she made her long due greetings, her face blushing in a speed visible to the naked eye.
Ying Yue who was amused helped her sister who was prostrating like her life depended on it up.
"Mei'jie need not be formal, Wei'er is glad that you care too much about me to the point of forgetting everything else."
The iceberg general made a sound of agreement. This was his wife's family, he cannot be imposing.
The second prince watching from the side was astounded. Since when did this emotionless man become warm and doting?
After that little interlude, the four sat down and conversed.
"What a small world indeed. The little girl whom I and Feng'er owed a life to was actually my brother's concubine and my wife's sister." The second prince expressed his gratitude.
"Why do you owe your life to Yueyue?" The overprotective sister asked as she feared something dangerous happened to Ying Yue in places she didn't know about.
Ying Yue who felt the prelude of sis-con defensive attitude immediately clarified, "Mei'jie, when I was in the forest, I saw the second prince and sir Feng injured and called for help."
Bai Xingmei who believed her words to be the entire truth without any doubt praised how her little sister was virtuous and magnanimous.
The two princes who knew the real score twitched as they listen to the songs of praises being sung to the high heavens.
After that little skit was over, the second prince expressed his reason for coming over.
"Ah'wei, father emperor's birthday is on the next day, have you made preparations yet?" Knowing this brother of his, by this time, he probably doesn't have a gift yet. Luckily enough he thought far ahead and brought a couple of gifts that he can share with him.
But contrary to what he expected, the emotionless man smiled and bragged, "Of course, my wife Yue'er made the gift herself."
A flash of astonishment flashed through the second prince's eyes as he observed his brother. Since when did he start having these vivid expressions? Then he stared at the quiet girl beside his brother. Truly, love can move mountains. Quite literally.
"That's great, can I see it?"
The fourth prince solemnly declined. "No, you can't."
Ying Yue who knew how petty her man could get was not surprised and decided to speak up. "It was just a little painting I made for the Emperor. It still won't be too late if the second prince will see it on the birthday feast."
The second prince, of course, knew how firm this brother of his was when he decided on something thus he quick-wittedly stirred the direction of the topic elsewhere.
The two women excused themselves to walk along the garden as the Xingmei knew how lovely her sister's plants were.
While they walked Ying Yue opened out of the blue, " Mei'jie, about the gifts to be presented to the emperor, I wonder if you could humor me and listen to my opinion?"
Bai Xingmei nodded and the two began to talk spiritedly about the gifts.
Ying Yue didn't want to implicate the second prince's household with the present they will be presenting. As there was a high chance that the emperor died because of poison in the previous life, she wanted to gift some herbal concoction that can help him recover his vitality so he can have enough time to be cured if it really was a poison that took his life. Ying Yue can't arbitrarily give the emperor a potion or medicine as it will arise suspicion hence the painting. Now she could only look and act according to circumstances.