Ever since experiencing Qin Xianyue's exquisite painting skills that day, Xie Jinyuan seemed to have found a new amusement, seeking her out to paint for him every few days.
The reasons were always bizarre.
One day he'd say a blank wall in a side hall needed decoration, the next he'd claim an old portrait was damaged and needed a new one.
The day after, he'd complain that the palace painters lacked the skill to capture even "one ten-thousandth of his divine charm."
Qin Xianyue found it amusing but complied with his requests.
Firstly, she genuinely enjoyed painting, and secondly... she was happy to do anything for her elder brother.
Consequently, all sorts of xuan paper, pigments, and paintbrushes were sent to the Eastern Palace in batches, filling her desk.
And on the walls, shelves, and even the empty spaces of the display cabinets, portraits of the Crown Prince, either completed or still being retouched, gradually appeared.
Some showed him seated, others standing; some depicted him formally attending to official duties, others lounging lazily with a book, or standing with hands behind his back gazing out the window. His handsome features and elegant demeanor created the impression that the entire side hall was becoming a gallery of his personal portraits.
And Xie Jinyuan truly lived up to his words of "no avoidance."
Whenever Qin Xianyue was painting his portrait, he would bring case files from the Zhencha Division, or some less confidential memorials, to the side hall to review.
At first, palace servants like Bi Wu and Dan Zhu held their breath, afraid Qin Xianyue might glimpse something she shouldn't.
But seeing that the Crown Prince was completely unconcerned, even occasionally asking Qin Xianyue about certain situations in the case files, "What do you think of this part?", the palace servants gradually grew accustomed to it, simply assuming that His Highness doted on this "younger sister" and acted unusually.
One afternoon, warm sunlight streamed through the sparse window panes, casting a cozy glow throughout the room.
Qin Xianyue had just finished sketching a profile of Xie Jinyuan deep in thought, holding a scroll. She put down her brush and let out a soft sigh.
Looking up, she saw that the person who should have been reviewing documents behind the purple sandalwood desk opposite her had, at some point, propped his head on his hand and closed his eyes.
His thick eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes, and his breathing was even and deep; he had fallen asleep.
Bi Wu, who was bringing in freshly brewed tea, paused upon seeing this, intending to gently wake him.
Qin Xianyue quickly waved her to stop, signaling her to just place the tea down gently.
She didn't immediately pack away her painting tools. Instead, she picked up the recently completed painting, its ink not yet fully dry, and her gaze flickered between the person in the painting and the man sleeping opposite her.
The person in the painting had a face like a painting and an extraordinary bearing, capturing the essence she had striven to portray with all her might.
Yet, looking at the real person now, Qin Xianyue felt that his words, "the painting cannot capture even one ten-thousandth of his divine charm," were not entirely false.
It wasn't just his flawless handsome appearance, but also a nobility and freedom ingrained in his bones that lingered even in his sleep.
And the faint weariness that occasionally flickered between his eyebrows, perhaps unnoticed even by himself.
Just as she was lost in contemplation, a deep, chuckling voice suddenly sounded.
"Have you seen enough?"
Those phoenix eyes, which should have been closed, opened a sliver without warning.
Their gaze was clear and bright, showing no hint of sleepiness.
Realizing he had been feigning sleep to tease her, Qin Xianyue's face instantly flushed crimson, a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
"Who, who's looking at you!" she said, feigning composure, and thrust the scroll in her hand into his arms without explanation, turning her head away. "I was looking at the case file in your hand... it's not drawn correctly!"
"Oh?"
Xie Jinyuan raised an eyebrow.
"Where is it incorrect? Tell me."
Qin Xianyue had blurted out an excuse in her haste, but under his questioning, she actually recalled the details of a sketch she had inadvertently glimpsed earlier.
She steadied herself, turned back, and her gaze fell on the unrolled case file beside him. Pointing to an accompanying illustration depicting the corpse's condition, her tone became serious:
"The case file states that the deceased suffered from a rash in the summer and had been soaking in medicinal baths for days. If that's the case, the corpse, especially on the chest, back, and limbs, should show traces of the medicinal bath residue, or spots and roughness from scratching due to the unhealed rash.
But the depiction here shows the corpse's skin as smooth and flawless. This is not logical."
Xie Jinyuan's eyes shifted slightly, and the playful expression on his face gradually faded. He picked up the case file, carefully examined the area Qin Xianyue pointed to, and then looked up at her, his eyes holding a newfound depth.
"Continue," he said, pushing the entire case file towards her, his tone encouraging and inquisitive. "See what else is 'incorrect'?"
Seeing his serious expression, not like he was joking, Qin Xianyue cast aside her shyness and leaned closer to the case file again, examining it carefully.
She looked very slowly, very meticulously, her gaze sweeping over every detail of the scene's layout, every posture of the corpse, and comparing it with the accompanying written records.
In the end, she found three more errors.
Xie Jinyuan listened to each point quietly, a look of admiration flashing in his phoenix eyes, along with a complex understanding.
"Elder Brother, is there something wrong with this case?"
Qin Xianyue asked.
"The case itself, the murderer, motive, and process have all been investigated and are not in serious doubt,"
Xie Jinyuan said slowly, his voice steady.
"However, what Jiao Jiao has observed is also very important."
With that, he summoned Xiao Lin and commanded coldly:
"Immediately dismiss the painter who drew this scene illustration and forbid them from ever working for the Zhencha Division again."
After Xiao Lin acknowledged the order and left, Qin Xianyue felt a little uneasy.
"Elder Brother, since this matter did not significantly affect the case, I believe this painter most likely acted out of respect for the deceased, not malice, wishing to protect their posthumous reputation and dignity. Wouldn't dismissal be too harsh a punishment?"
"If it were you, would you act this way?"
Xie Jinyuan countered with a question.
Qin Xianyue pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
"A painter's brush should aim for fairness, not be a tool to beautify power."
Xie Jinyuan curved his lips slightly and reached out to pinch Qin Xianyue's cheek.
"Our Jiao Jiao truly understands her elder brother's heart best."
Qin Xianyue stiffened at his sudden affectionate gesture. The blush that had faded after discussing the case instantly returned to her cheeks, and she instinctively turned her head away.
"Elder Brother, don't do that..."
"Don't do what?" Xie Jinyuan not only didn't stop but deliberately pressed, his phoenix eyes narrowing as he watched her embarrassed expression, finding it quite amusing. "We're siblings, what's wrong with pinching your cheek? Didn't I do it often when you were little?"
Qin Xianyue lifted her small face, her eyes clear but firm.
"I know Elder Brother treats me well, but the separation between men and women must not be disregarded. We will eventually marry, and if this were to spread, it might harm Elder Brother's reputation."
Xie Jinyuan's smile didn't change, but his phoenix eyes, which held a natural three parts charm, fixed intently on her face, meticulously tracing its features.
After a pause, he spoke slowly, his tone even, revealing neither pleasure nor displeasure.
"Oh? Jiao Jiao has grown up now and wants to get married?"
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