Do not speak when eating, do not talk when sleeping.
Throughout the al, there were only the quiet sounds of picking up food and eating.
After Grand Tutor Qin put down his chopsticks, Xiao Pingfeng also set his chopsticks down, and the others stopped eating as well.
The servants beside them imdiately brought basins for them to wash their hands and rinse their mouths.
"It truly brings honor to this humble abode to have the Crown Prince visit today," said Grand Tutor Qin with a chuckle.
Xiao Pingfeng gave a slight nod, "Teacher’s words are a bit hurtful to his student. Upon returning to the Capital City this ti, I visited the teacher’s residence. I hope my teacher won’t make fun of his student any longer."
"I did not prepare anything special for your sudden visit today, and the cook who makes delicious dishes has gone ho. It’s fortunate that Erya is here today, otherwise, I truly wouldn’t have known what to serve the Crown Prince with," said Grand Tutor Qin as he looked at his eldest granddaughter.
Qin Erya smiled, her head bowed slightly, "They were just so simple ho-cooked dishes. I’m embarrassed to have offered them to the Crown Prince."
"Not at all, the food was delicious. The young miss’s cooking skills are quite impressive," replied Xiao Pingfeng, continuing the conversation. His visit today was to seek sothing from Grand Tutor Qin, so he naturally went along with all topics.
Complinted on her culinary skills, a blush crept onto Qin Erya’s cheeks.
The brief interlude soon passed.
The Qin family had always prized integrity, so there were not many servants in the house. Qin Erya and the ladies naturally stood up and, along with the maidservants, began to clear the table, then removed the dishes and plates.
Leaving a clean table for the n.
Only then did Grand Tutor Qin broach the subject of Xiao Pingfeng’s visit.
"Teacher must have heard about the envoy from Chu Kingdom coming to Dawei," Xiao Pingfeng said earnestly.
Grand Tutor Qin nodded, "Such matters are of significance to Dawei Kingdom. The Crown Prince could have simply sent soone to inform , there was no need for a personal visit during such busy tis."
"..."
Qin Erya stepped out from the door and gradually moved away, her fading steps mingling with the sound of discussion still audible from inside.
With Chu Kingdom’s visit harboring hidden troubles, the Crown Prince was bound to worry for a while.
It was when the moon shone bright and the stars were sparse that Xiao Pingfeng returned to the palace, exhausted from his visit to the Qin Residence.
"Erya," called the elder Mr. Qin, standing at Qin Erya’s doorway and knocking.
Qin Erya opened the door, "Father."
Mr. Qin did not enter; he stood at the door and said, "Taking advantage of this opportunity, you’ve had the chance to et the Crown Prince ahead of ti. Do you have any other thoughts about what father ntioned? If you are unwilling, it can still be negotiated on father’s side."
"The matter concerns the whole Qin family. As a mber of the Qin family, having enjoyed the protection it provides, I should naturally bear this responsibility. Moreover, the Crown Prince is the cream of the crop, and I am more concerned about whether I am worthy of him..." Qin Erya spoke gently.
Mr. Qin then felt at ease.
"As long as you don’t feel repulsed by the idea, this matter should be easy to handle. Father indeed guessed right; he said you would definitely agree."
Qin Erya listened attentively, her eyes full of compliance.
She wanted to ask her father about the Crown Prince’s beloved, but she never did ask before he left.
If it was grandfather’s wish, she would honor it.
That evening,
Xiao Pingfeng returned to the palace, weary from the journey. He carefully washed off the day’s slls before going to Yan Wanqing’s quarters.
He thought she would have gone to bed early.
However, upon entering, Cong Ge said she had not yet slept.
In the inner chamber, the candlelight flickered. She held a book in her hands, leaning against the bed, her fair fingers flipping through the yellowed pages—quiet and beautiful.
"Stop reading; it’s bad for your eyes at night," Xiao Pingfeng went up to take the book from her hands, placed it to one side, and then naturally pulled her into his embrace.
Slling the dampness on him, she asked, "Have you had a bath?"
"Mm." Xiao Pingfeng nodded, "Afraid that the outside scents might bother you."
He inhaled the faint fragrance from her hair. At this mont, all the outside scheming, complexity, and noise seed to be shut out. As long as she was in his arms, he felt his heart was very calm.
"Has the Grand Tutor agreed to help?" Yan Wanqing asked softly.
Xiao Pingfeng nodded.
"Even so, it still can’t compare to Chu Kingdom." There was weariness in his eyes.
"The Pine Crane Hall I ntioned to you before, if you don’t mind, I will have soone send you the list tomorrow." Yan Wanqing snuggled her head into his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, slowly being overtaken by sleep.
It was indeed strange.
When he wasn’t beside her, she always had difficulty falling asleep.
But as long as Xiao Pingfeng held her, sleep would quickly co to her.
Xiao Pingfeng kissed her on the forehead, "Don’t tire yourself with these matters. Look how tired you are. Go to sleep quickly. I will hold you as we sleep."
The candlelight was extinguished, and the room quickly fell into darkness.
A night without dreams.
When Yan Wanqing woke up, Xiao Pingfeng had already left.
It had been like this for several days.
Only the quilt still warm in the early morning proved that he had truly been there with her.
Even so, Yan Wanqing still had to make thorough preparations for him.
She had soone send the Pine Crane Hall list to his study.
Ti flew, and soon the day arrived for the King of Chu Kingdom and Princess Wuyang’s visit.
Even the Dawei Kingdom’s whole court, from inside out, had been made anew, which showed just how many capable people Xiao Pingfeng had inspected during this ti.
It certainly wouldn’t do for the guests to arrive and find only old n—Oh no, Dawei has no one to use, not a single young person, only old n in their sixties.
That would be a great loss of face.
"Miss, which hairpin shall we pick for today?" Cong Ge asked.
Yan Wanqing looked at the row of dazzling, gleaming jewelry and sighed softly, "Wear the expensive ones."
"Ah?"
"In dealings between two nations, one must not lose in grandeur. Choose the most expensive and most imposing to wear." As the only mistress of this harem, it isn’t proper for her not to show up.
And Xiao Pingfeng also does not allow her to be absent.
Days ago, people had been sent to deliver boxes of jewelry here, and rows of maids lined up with lavish garnts, swaying before her every day, for her to choose, all for today.
She was dressed very grandly, originally thinking that all this gold and silver jewelry would make her look gaudy.
But it didn’t.
The beauty of the woman was nation-toppling, the jewelry only made her more radiant, extrely noble.
Wherever she stood, no one could take their eyes off her.
"Miss, you are so beautiful!" Cong Ge had never seen Yan Wanqing dressed up so splendidly.
Yan Wanqing extended her hand toward her, "Stay with later, don’t go anywhere. Help , this jewelry is so heavy."
Cong Ge covered her mouth and laughed lightly, "I won’t go anywhere."
They say that Princess Wuyang is a beauty that could topple nations; it remains to be seen if she can compare with her miss.
Cong Ge had lived for many years, and every morning when she saw Yan Wanqing, she would still be amazed by her beauty.
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