It wasn’t until her arm was released that Wen Shuyu sat back in her seat and averted her gaze.
She fumbled slightly with the tea set, answering without really answering: “It… it’s this year’s new tea.”
Xiao Jingchen glanced at her like that, and a low, soft laugh escaped his throat.
Wen Shuyu felt a sudden, inexplicable flush of embarrassment. Wait… She had been the one teasing and provoking him—shouldn’t he be the one flustered, cheeks red, panicked? Why was it reversed?
She cleared her throat, trying to regain her composure, and arched an eyebrow: “Seems like Prince Brother enjoys this flavor quite a bit.”
“The aroma of tea lingers, making it hard for me to distinguish the taste,” Xiao Jingchen said, pausing slightly. Though his expression remained calm, his gaze subtly drifted across her lips. “Perhaps…”
Wen Shuyu felt her heart skip a beat, yet on the surface, she smiled lightly, her fingers tracing the edge of the teacup.
“Who would have thought there could be something even Prince Brother finds hard to discern? I thought you saw everything clearly.”
His gaze followed her fingers, then lifted to meet her eyes. “All things in the world can be analyzed. Only what lies close… requires careful tasting.”
Wen Shuyu: !!!???
What… is happening? Did Xiao Jingchen’s mouth just get blessed by the heavens today?
Her heart raced, but she kept her expression casual. “Shall I prepare another cup, Prince Brother, so you can taste it more carefully?”
Xiao Jingchen’s eyes fell on the teacup with the lip mark, and he shook his head, voice calm and unhurried: “A mere sip is sufficient. But if you insist on offering it, I would be impolite to refuse.”
Her eyes lifted at the corners, mischievous. “Oh? Then Prince Brother, do you prefer the ‘tea’ just now, or are you looking forward to the next cup?”
He leaned forward almost imperceptibly, closing the distance between them.
“I’m thinking… perhaps the question was never about the tea.”
He paused, his gaze settling on her slightly parted lips, smiling gently. “It’s about the one who brewed it.”
The words fell like a stone into a still lake, sending ripples across her mind.
For the first time, Wen Shuyu didn’t know how to respond. Her ears burned, surely just an illusion.
Xiao Jingchen, still as refined and gentle as ever, adjusted the sleeve of his robe as if those earth-shattering words hadn’t come from him.
“This tea has cooled,” he said, elegantly pouring a fresh cup, placing it before her. The rim was clear and precise. “Try this—its flavor is unmistakable.”
Wen Shuyu took the cup without hesitation and drank it in one go.
Before Xiao Jingchen could ask her again about the taste, she set down her chopsticks and glided toward the inner chambers.
“I’ve eaten enough, I’ll go rest now. Prince Brother, enjoy your meal.”
Xiao Jingchen watched her retreating figure, his eyebrows lifting, a smile like spring wind brushing his face.
The maids and eunuchs hadn’t yet recovered from the scene of him drinking that tea.
The chief eunuch, who had watched the prince grow up, could only shake his head in astonishment. “The princess has grown bolder.”
“Has she?” Xiao Jingchen’s lips curved, gaze still fixed on her departing figure, voice slow and indulgent. “She’s just a little paper tiger.”
On the Plum Garden’s beauty couch, Wen Shuyu tossed and turned.
“Xiao Liu, do you think Xiao Jingchen went somewhere to learn new tricks? He’s teasing me in reverse now.”
“This isn’t right… According to my story plan, he should have flushed red after drinking the tea, then I’d secretly tease him again, and he’d be so flustered he’d run away. Why did it turn out this way?”
“Why am I the one retreating?”
“No, why should I retreat? I can’t lose! Xiao Liu, Xiao Liu…”
Listening to her master grumble, Xiao Liu tilted its little head. “Master, although Xiao Jingchen always seems gentle and calm, I’ve never seen him flustered or embarrassed. Everything he does seems effortless.”
It scratched its head. “And… his profile looks so familiar. Haven’t I seen him somewhere before…?”
During the Great War of Gods and Demons, it had suffered heavy damage and lost some memories. Which parts had gone missing…?
Wen Shuyu looked at it. “What are you thinking about, Xiao Liu?”
“Nothing, Master,” it returned to reality, shaking its head. “But, Master… seeing how he reacted today proves your recent pursuit has been quite effective. Perhaps soon, you’ll successfully have him.”
Wen Shuyu patted Xiao Liu’s head, the icy light in her eyes melting, leaving tiny specks of starlight. “You’re right. Tomorrow, we continue.”
One person, one beast, shared a quiet smile.
……
The next morning, soft sunlight filtered through gilded windows, birds chirped on the crabapple branches outside, gently waking Wen Shuyu and Xiao Liu from their light slumber.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace study, Xiao Jingchen had already returned from the morning court, seated at his desk, perusing ancient texts.
The palace door creaked open just a crack.
Wen Shuyu peeked in, her beautiful eyes curved in a smile. “Prince Brother, what are you doing? Busy?”
Xiao Jingchen glanced up, his eyes warm in the sunlight. “Speak. What brings you here?”
Wen Shuyu stepped in, holding a painting from the previous dynasty, her jade hairpin swaying. “Prince Brother, I invite you to enjoy the painting with me.”
Xiao Jingchen reached out to take it, his gaze moving from her sunlit white jade hairpin, shimmering as though imbued with light, to the painting. Softly, he said:
“Beautiful.”
“What’s beautiful?” Wen Shuyu blinked…