Tang Miaoling stared fixedly at Qiuxia, her gaze laden with resentment. In my past life, my death was partly facilitated by your meddling.
Qiuxia, uncomfortable under her intense gaze, shifted uneasily. "Mistress?"
"You just said that Ning Wan'in is my cousin. How could I ever usurp her favor?" Tang Miaoling replied coldly, her voice sharp. "Do you truly think so little of me, that I would disregard the bond of sisterhood?"
Qiuxia hurriedly fell to her knees. "Mistress, forgive me! I spoke out of turn!"
Cuiping, standing nearby, was thoroughly puzzled. Since when had the mistress cared for sisterly affection? She had snatched from even her own sister, let alone a cousin.
"Do not speak of such things again. I share a deep sisterly bond with my cousin, and I would never vie for her favor," Tang Miaoling warned.
Qiuxia was taken aback. She hadn't realized her mistress was so sentimental and hurried to apologize, kowtowing fervently.
She had chosen Ning Wan'in due to her father's affiliation with Marquis Changping, whose connections made her a target for manipulation. If Ning's family had been more powerful, Qiuxia would not have dared arrange such a scheme for her mistress.
"Enough. You may go," Tang Miaoling dismissed her, dismissing her thoughts with a slight wave.
She hastily sipped a cup of Longjing tea to steady her nerves.
How dare she make me antagonize my cousin? Not a chance, I won't risk my life for that!
Today, I'm lucky to have my head still attached to my shoulders...
At dusk, the Emperor once again visited Yonghe Palace.
Tang Miaoling, ever proper, knelt at the front of the courtiers, silently wondering whether it might be better to relocate given her cousin's favored position. The constant kneeling and saluting was such a nuisance.
Perhaps she should suggest the move to Shu Fei? Oh, right, once relocated, she might be able to distance herself from the frightening cousin...
Tomorrow, she'd bring it up, immediately!
Once more, the Emperor ignored Tang Miaoling. His steps stopped before Ning Wan'in, as he extended a hand to her. "Rise."
Ning Wan'in blushed slightly as she took his hand, walking with the Emperor into the Lingxue Pavilion.
Naturally, the Imperial Household Department spared no effort in fulfilling His Majesty's commands. Within a single day, a lotus pond had been dug, and a greenhouse containing carefully nurtured lotus seeds was delivered.
If Ning Wan'in wished for it, she would have to wait her turn, but if the Emperor desired, the flowers were at his command.
The eight large water basins were removed.
Herlian Qi found the Lingxue Pavilion far more to his liking, leading Ning Wan'in to the chambers.
The desk was littered with scattered sheets of Xuan paper, accompanied by unfinished paints and brushes.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty," Ning Wan'in said with a slight furrow of her brow, her voice apologetic. "I intended to paint a summer lotus scene for you as a token of my gratitude, but alas, I have not yet finished."
"Your painting is not required for me," Herlian Qi dismissed her with a hint of disdain.
However, in a better mood today, he decided to glance at her work. He picked up a scroll from the desk and gave it a cursory glance, his expression unreadable.
"Who taught you this? Who could possibly have imparted such a method to you?"
The sight was painful to behold.
"A famous teacher invited by my family. He speaks well of painting theory, though I do not fully understand," Ning Wan'in lowered her gaze, a guilty expression on her face.
Herlian Qi furrowed his brow. "There's no need for words in painting; what good is theory? Your work is a mess. You must start anew—from copying, and practice diligently."
"I understand, Your Majesty. I've copied many of your paintings already!" Ning Wan'in immediately brightened, eager to show her enthusiasm.
Herlian Qi:...
With your current skill, what use would it be to copy my works?
"Start with something simple..." Herlian Qi instructed. "Wang De Gui, fetch the painting albums I copied as a child."
Wang De Gui bowed and exited.
Herlian Qi turned his attention to Ning Wan'in's eager face, and he felt a flicker of interest. Without realizing it, he had assumed the role of a teacher—there was a natural fondness that grew for diligent students.
"For now, don't bother with my paintings. Begin with flowers, birds, stones, and grass—simple elements. Master the techniques, and then learn about composition and layout." Herlian Qi continued, offering casual guidance.
Ning Wan'in's eyes widened with joy. "Thank you, Your Majesty! You are far more skilled than my teacher, and your explanation makes sense to me."
Herlian Qi chuckled. He had heard countless praises of his artistic skill, but he had grown immune to the flattery. Yet, somehow, Ning Wan'in's compliment... made him feel a strange sense of pleasure.
Her praise wasn't just empty flattery. She sincerely believed that he was extraordinary.
He felt inexplicably happy, a sentiment he hadn't experienced in a long while.
Wang De Gui quickly returned with the painting albums.
Ning Wan'in reverently took them in both hands, feeling as though she held a precious treasure. "Thank you, Your Majesty. May I try?"
"Mm," Herlian Qi nodded slightly, settling onto a nearby soft couch.
Ning Wan'in rolled up her sleeves and began to copy a plum blossom with great concentration. She truly didn't know much about painting, having once learned without focus.
But with the Emperor's guidance, she was determined to put in the effort now.
This situation, she had engineered. She needed to deepen the connection with the Emperor, for love alone was too fleeting. A bond could be severed at any time.
Beyond being lovers, they should be something more.
Chess partners, for one.
Teacher and student, for another.
The deeper her bond with him, the greater her significance in his eyes, and the harder it would be for him to cast her aside.
Ning Wan'in painted slowly and carefully.
When she finally finished and was about to offer the painting for His Majesty's feedback, she saw that the Emperor had unknowingly closed his eyes, his hand resting on his forehead.
She froze, then gently withdrew. She made a gesture to Wang De Gui to leave.
Wang De Gui glanced at the Emperor and quietly exited.
The Emperor had spent the previous night playing chess with Ning Wan'in, and had been reviewing memorials all day. A brief nap had followed, and he seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
Lian Rui and the other servants quietly withdrew.
Ning Wan'in walked lightly toward Herlian Qi and draped his cloak over his shoulders, dimming most of the palace's lights, leaving only a faint glow from the golden lamp beside the bed.
She did not climb into the bed.
Since the Emperor had not yet lain down, she naturally would not.
Ning Wan'in rested her head on the tea table, closing her eyes.
The sounds of construction from earlier had kept her from resting properly.
She barely lay there a moment before falling into a peaceful slumber.
She didn't know how much time passed...
Herlian Qi awoke from his nap.
The room was dim, lit only by the faint glow of a single palace lamp, enough to see that she was lying before him, her hair in disarray, her hairpin askew.
A faint fragrance of ink clung to her, and she had yet to change into her nightgown.
She lay curled up beside the tea table, like a little kitten.
Herlian Qi raised an eyebrow and called her name. "Wake up..."
The Emperor's voice was like a bolt from the blue, causing Ning Wan'in to stir from her light sleep, her body instantly alert and her senses sharp.
She stood up abruptly, then performed a curtsy. "I have failed in my manners! I saw that Your Majesty was resting and dared not disturb you."
"What if I hadn't woken up?" Herlian Qi's gaze on her was odd. Most would've made a sound to announce their presence and seize the chance to serve, yet she had simply slept peacefully beside him.
Ning Wan'in hesitated for a moment, then glanced at him. "Your Majesty will still summon me again, won't you?"
Their eyes met.
Herlian Qi raised an eyebrow. "Why are you so sure that I will come for you again?"
This question was difficult to answer.
She couldn't reveal that her plan had been to tug at his heart with chess and painting. Nor could she expose the fact that she was merely his pawn, and that he would inevitably come back.
In the bedroom, in such intimate moments, discussing calculations and strategies was a mood killer.
When love is at stake, let there be flirting, not strategies.
"Your Majesty has gifted me precious jewelry and clothes, and even ordered the digging of a lotus pond. With such regard for me, I believe that Your Majesty harbors affection for me!" Ning Wan'in raised her eyes to look at him, her gaze playful.
Herlian Qi was momentarily stunned by her insinuation, his heart stirred.
This little woman always surprised him.
Indeed, she was... interesting.