"Yingxue?"
The wooden door creaked open gently.
Contrary to Xu Xi's expectation of finding the girl diligently practicing calligraphy, the scene that greeted him was one of serene quietness.
A broad desk stood in the room, flanked by bronze candle holders on either side, their twin flas casting faint light into the chilly space.
The night breeze rushed in as Xu Xi pushed the door open.
The candle flas flickered wildly—now leaping high, now dipping low—dancing erratically.
Their wavering glow illuminated the sleeping face of the girl sprawled across the desk.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her expression peaceful, lost in sweet slumber.
"Asleep, huh…"
Xu Xi paused, then softened his expression, treading lightly as he approached the desk to avoid disturbing her.
Soon, as he drew closer, Wu Yingxue's sleeping form ca fully into view.
She lay face-down on the dark brown desk, her head resting on her arm, which in turn pressed against a calligraphy practice sheet. A brush lay carelessly at the edge.
In one corner, several crumpled, discarded sheets were piled up.
Xu Xi picked one up and examined it briefly.
Each sheet was densely covered with her practice strokes.
"Not bad at all," Xu Xi chuckled, his praise genuine rather than polite.
Though Wu Yingxue had trained in martial arts since childhood, she had also received royal education in her younger years.
Her handwriting could never be called poor.
Xu Xi thought it was more than adequate, but the girl herself seed dissatisfied, insisting she must master more elegant calligraphy to impress him.
"Hehe…"
"Hehe…"
"I’m not that amazing, Master…"
"~~~"
Her eyes lightly shut, her nose twitching slightly, the slumbering princess murmured incoherent dreams.
Xu Xi couldn’t help but smile.
This side of the princess was undeniably adorable.
Whoosh—
The night wind howled, making the wooden door sway faintly, its hinges creaking intermittently.
Xu Xi closed the door and draped a thin blanket over Wu Yingxue.
"This should keep her from catching a cold."
Standing beside the desk, he gazed at her peaceful face before turning his attention to the stack of calligraphy sheets. He picked up the topmost one—the one she had been working on before falling asleep.
The ink had long dried.
Mistakes were evident.
Two lines of identical characters were written side by side—one in Wu Yingxue’s original hand, the other her attempt to mimic a calligraphy master’s style.
"You’ve really been working hard…"
Xu Xi set the sheet down and picked up another, reviewing each of her practice sheets from the night.
So had glaring errors.
Others were hastily scribbled.
Through these sheets, he could easily picture Wu Yingxue straining under the lamplight, exhausted yet persistent.
After a mont’s thought, Xu Xi picked up the brush lying scattered on the desk.
One by one, he corrected and annotated her mistakes, grading each sheet.
[Top Grade]
[Top Grade]
[Top Grade]
Not an evaluation of her calligraphy.
But of the girl herself.
Regardless of the elegance of her strokes, in Xu Xi’s eyes, Wu Yingxue had long since proven herself worthy.
He trusted and affird her growth.
"Sleep well."
Finally, he set down the brush and paper.
Ensuring the blanket wouldn’t slip, he retreated from the room as silently as he had entered.
The candle flas flickered gently, casting a soft glow.
The girl remained deep in sleep, murmuring words Xu Xi could no longer hear:
"Master… even if you scream… no one will co, hehe…"
"Co ho with , hehe…"
Before leaving, Xu Xi carefully shut the windows.
He didn’t want the harsh night wind to disturb his princess’s sweet dreams.
Yet a stray breeze slipped through the gap beneath the door, lifting a few strands of hair from her forehead.
Her sleeping face, caught in a silly, happy grin, was revealed.
Mumbling to herself, her hands flailed lightly across the desk as if grasping at sothing.
Only as ti passed and she sank deeper into sleep did her movents still, leaving only the whisper of the wind.
The next morning.
The blazing sun rose from the horizon.
Wu Yingxue awoke slumped over the desk, rubbing her eyes and yawning.
"Fell asleep again?"
"No, no—if I keep this up, how will I ever impress Master?"
"Wu Yingxue, you can’t slack off anymore!"
Pumping herself up, she reached for the calligraphy sheets, ready to resu her efforts.
But soon, she noticed sothing amiss.
"This handwriting… Master’s?"
Wu Yingxue froze.
Before her eyes, sheet after sheet bore the sa mark:
[Top Grade]
The ink was still slightly damp, the strokes gentle.
Like a silent embrace.
Speaking volus without words.
"Does Master an… I’ve already passed?"
Her hand brushed against the thin blanket draped over her shoulders—warm, tender.
In that mont, realization dawned on her.
She had sought Xu Xi’s approval through calligraphy, through the refined grace of a noble lady.
But that had been unnecessary.
Because all along, Xu Xi had been supporting her, affirming her, encouraging her to move forward—never once denying her.
"I’ve been such a fool…"
Leaning back in the wooden chair, Wu Yingxue stared at the ceiling, realizing how much ti she had wasted—and how much she had worried Xu Xi.
The moon had always been there.
Unmoving.
It was the restless waters that had disturbed its reflection.
"Master, I’m sorry for making you worry."
At breakfast, before Xu Xi could speak, Wu Yingxue bowed her head in apology, guilt written across her face.
"It was my own matter, yet I kept you from resting."
"It’s alright, Yingxue."
"Eat up," Xu Xi replied gently, ruffling her hair reassuringly.
As for whether she would continue calligraphy, Xu Xi left the decision to her.
"Yingxue, whatever you choose to pursue, I’ll support you."
His voice was soft.
The choice was hers.
In the end, Wu Yingxue abandoned her calligraphy practice.
She had accepted that she lacked talent in this art. Rather than waste ti, she would focus on what truly mattered.
"What truly matters?"
"Yes, Master."
Her answer carried a double aning.
The morning breeze brushed her cheeks—ticklish, cool—its delicate touch grazing the corners of her eyes, making her instinctively tuck her hair behind her ear.
She looked up at the sky.
The spring sun was gentle, far from scorching.
"Master, will you leave this place with ?"
"I want to go to where the stars are closest in this world."
With that, Wu Yingxue turned a radiant smile toward Xu Xi.
Her eyes were the only stars in the daylight.
"Of course."
The moon accepted her invitation.
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