Xie Chenghui's long-dormant heart once again fluttered like a deer in spring.
He forced himself not to indulge in wild thoughts, but emotions are not sothing one can control.
Painting a background for the Empress based on the Fourth Prince's artistic style wasn't a difficult task for him.
However, the Fourth Prince would tell the Empress that he had collaborated on the painting.
This ant that whenever the Empress saw the painting, she would think of him.
"Master Xie, what's wrong?"
The Fourth Prince nudged him. "If you don't want to do it, just say so! Why are you getting so red-faced and worked up?"
Rumors had it that renowned artists in the industry all had their quirks. The Fourth Prince assud Xie Chenghui found his painting style too ugly and felt insulted by the request.
Honestly, this style was taught to him by his mother, the Empress. How could it possibly be ugly? It was beautiful!
The Third Princess had even used this style to win the heart of this year's Top Scholar...
The Top Scholar had been captivated by the Third Princess's divine painting skills and was utterly chard.
Xie Chenghui was practically sweating buckets. This wasn't anger—it was sheer embarrassnt.
Luckily, the Fourth Prince didn't notice. Xie Chenghui sighed with feigned reluctance. "It is a bit challenging, but since Your Highness is so filial, I will do my best to create a fitting background."
The Fourth Prince nodded in satisfaction, gave a few more instructions, and then swaggered out of the painting studio.
"Crash!"
Xie Chenghui closed his eyes and then reopened them. The Fourth Prince's attendant, San Bao, was already blocking his path, fuming. "How dare you, insolent servant! Do you have a death wish, bumping into the Fourth Prince like that?"
"I... I'm sorry... Your Highness, please forgive . I didn't an to."
The young servant had rosy lips, clear eyes, and a slender fra. A faint, delicate fragrance wafted from her—only a eunuch like San Bao would mistake her for a boy.
She was clearly a girl.
Xie Chenghui quickly stepped forward. "Your Highness, please forgive her. This is my incompetent nephew, assisting with minor tasks. She's also responsible for mixing colors for the Empress's birthday painting. Please be rciful and spare her."
The girl, dressed in male attire, revealed a slender, snow-white arm with a red string tied around her wrist, making her skin appear even paler.
Her features bore so resemblance to Xie Chenghui's, so it wasn't a complete lie—she was indeed from the Xie family.
The Fourth Prince waved his hand. "I'm fine. San Bao, stop making a fuss, or I'll make you clean the chamber pots."
San Bao imdiately covered his mouth, not daring to scold the young painter anymore.
"Hey!"
The Fourth Prince glared at Xie Chenghui. "I'll allow her to help you, and she can stay to gain so experience in the palace. But keep an eye on her. If she shows up in front of my father, I won't spare her."
His cold, piercing eyes, devoid of any warmth, were identical to the Emperor's in his younger days, sending shivers down one's spine.
He was serious.
Over the years, countless won had tried to approach the Emperor, believing that the Empress, having aged, was no longer favored.
They all chose to blind themselves to the truth—that the Empress's beauty had not been diminished by ti. Instead, her long reign had imbued her with an aura of nobility and grace.
Yet, these won persisted in their misguided attempts.
The Fourth Prince feared that the Xie family might also try to introduce a young, beautiful woman to warm the Emperor's bed.
After all, Grand Secretary Xie had been one of the main opponents when the Empress was being crowned.
Now that the Emperor had largely withdrawn from governance, leaving state affairs to the Crown Prince, the Fourth Prince worried that soone might sche to drive a wedge between his parents.
Xie Jinxiu's face was pale with anger, but she held back her frustration to avoid causing trouble for her uncle.
The Emperor was old enough to be her father. Who would want to seduce him?
What a snob.
The girl was so furious that her face turned red, her chest heaved, and her eyes seed to spit fire.
The Fourth Prince suspected that if he didn't leave soon, he might get hit.
"Ahem..."
It was indeed rude to assu the worst of others, but in these tis, it was hard to tell friend from foe. He had to make his stance clear.
"Your servant..."
"I understand, Your Highness. If you have other matters to attend to, please leave soon. It's getting late."
She was practically shooing him away.
The atmosphere grew tense, and Xie Jinxiu was on the verge of tears.
She had been walking normally when the Fourth Prince bumped into her. She had already apologized, yet he accused her of having ulterior motives for entering the palace.
She admitted that her purpose for coming to the palace wasn't pure, but her target wasn't the Emperor!
The third prince was gentle, kind, and indifferent to fa and fortune. She had co for him.
Rumors said the Emperor was about to confer titles on his sons and select their brides. She wanted to get close to the third prince while she had the chance.
But before she could even et him, she had been scolded by this rude Fourth Prince.
"Jinxiu, perhaps you should stay ho tomorrow. The masters in the palace can be quite temperantal. I don't want you to get hurt."
Xie Chenghui said this to scare her.
Aside from the Fourth Prince and the cold-faced Fifth Prince, everyone else in the palace was quite amiable.
But he didn't want Xie Jinxiu to clash with the Fourth Prince.
Truth be told, his niece was bold and daring.
If she crossed paths with the Fourth Prince again, who knew what trouble she might stir up?
Xie Jinxiu frowned in frustration. "But I haven't even t the third prince yet!"
"What if you run into the Emperor first?"
The Fourth Prince wasn't one to joke. He truly might kill Xie Jinxiu.
Xie Jinxiu sighed. "What a setback. If I see the Fourth Prince again, I swear I'll..."
"Hmm?"
Xie Chenghui gave her a warning look as she clenched her fists. The girl quickly put on a sweet smile. "I'll treat him with the utmost respect and never play any tricks on him."
Yeah, right!
Revenge was a dish best served cold.
Xie Chenghui watched Xie Jinxiu's retreating figure with a mix of helplessness and affection.
The children had all grown up. He still rembered when little Jinxiu was a soft, tiny bundle in his arms. Now, she was of marriageable age.
He could only hope that true love would prevail and that Jinxiu's feelings weren't one-sided.
"Heh."
He chuckled softly to himself.
He had spent his entire life pining for soone he couldn't have. Who was he to advise Jinxiu?
Let her be.
Everyone has their own path to follow. There's no need to ddle in others' affairs.
Maybe the third prince would appreciate a bold and ambitious girl like Jinxiu.
At least she still had a chance to fight for her love.
Unlike him...
When he t the woman he loved, she was already married.
He never even had the chance to be brave.
His love remained hidden, forever in the shadows.
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