Ye Nanyuan's ears remained red even after the meal was finished.She kept her head lowered the whole time, her face hidden behind a veil, which made those two crimson ears all the more conspicuous.Yinzhen sat directly across from her, naturally taking in every detail. Seeing the young lady so shy and bashful, his eyelids drooped, and his dark pupils pressed downward.What he had just done was indeed rather forward.Just as he was thinking this, Ye Nanyuan in front of him suddenly asked: "Are the buns good?""What?" Yinzhen couldn't help but look up."Our young lady is asking whether the buns are good or not." With her mistress present, Banxia's confidence was greatly bolstered, and she even dared to speak with a sharp tongue: "These donkey meat buns were made by our young lady's own hands early this morning.""The last time our young lady cooked was half a year ago. I don't know what she sees in you, but she treats you this well." The last sentence was muttered by Banxia in a lowered voice, soft but still audible to him.Yinzhen instinctively glanced across at her.The young lady had lowered her head again, casually picking up a book beside her and pretending to read, yet her gaze wasn't on the book at all—her eyes were secretly stealing glances in his direction.A laugh welled up in Yinzhen's heart, but he didn't expose her.His chopsticks, which had been reaching toward the hibiscus rolls, suddenly changed course mid-way and picked up a bun instead.The moment he took the first bite, his brow relaxed.He had always been sensitive to heat, and every summer his appetite would wane. He could manage vegetables, but he rarely touched meat dishes during the hot season.On top of that, he had just eaten a pork bun, so he hadn't touched this one when it was first served. Yet the moment he bit into it, the flavor was surprisingly excellent.The bun was filled with donkey meat, mixed with vegetable juice and diced mushrooms. The donkey meat was minced finely, and when bitten into, it was juicy with broth.Fresh, fragrant, tender, and smooth.The aftertaste lingered even after swallowing. Most importantly, this donkey meat bun wasn't greasy—instead, it exuded an unusual sweetness.The young lady was sitting there holding her book, waiting for him. Seeing his reaction, she stopped pretending and asked eagerly: "It's good, isn't it?" Her brows arched, and her eyes shone with undisguised pride.Her black-and-white eyes were as clear and transparent as a lake, filled entirely with expectation.They plainly begged for his praise.Her nature was too lively, too straightforward—her joys and sorrows, her likes and dislikes were all written plainly on her face, as clean as a blank sheet of paper.Faced with such a pair of eyes, how could he bear to refuse?"It's good." He raised the bun in his hand. Besides, the bun truly was delicious."Really good?" The young lady faced him, asking as if in doubt.But those beautiful eyes darted left and right, lively and cunning.Her long, slender eyelashes trembled slightly. She lowered her eyelids and murmured: "Better than the one you just had?"Yinzhen's hand paused for a moment, then he looked over with a pair of amused, half-smiling eyes.The young lady hung her head low, looking as if she were shy and embarrassed. If he hadn't just caught the flash of cunning in her eyes, she might have actually fooled him.Since the young lady had the nerve to tease him.Then he didn't mind teasing her back. A low chuckle escaped his throat, and he raised his head, holding out the half-eaten bun to her: "If you really want to know so badly, why not take a bite yourself and find out."The young lady's eyes instantly went wide as saucers.They were filled with utter disbelief, as if she couldn't believe those words had come from his mouth: "I… I…" Her face, which had been so proud just moments ago, instantly flushed crimson with embarrassment."Hm?" He deliberately raised an eyebrow, staring at her: "Don't you want to know? Come over and take a taste."Even her eyes turned red, and the red mole at the corner of her eye shimmered with a watery sheen: "I-I-I… Well, I can't outtalk you anyway." She stood up in a huff, the book on her lap falling to the ground.The young lady was too flustered to pick it up, rushing toward the door: "I've already eaten. These are all yours—enjoy them slowly by yourself."She hurried out with quick, flustered steps.Behind her, Yinzhen watched her fleeing figure and couldn't help but lower his head with a soft laugh.
Banxia had no idea what kind of riddle the two were playing, looking back and forth between them without understanding a thing.But seeing her young lady's state, anyone could tell something was going on between those two. She shot a fierce glare at the Fourth Prince's face, then stormed out after her mistress.After they had gone, Yinzhen finished the last bite of his donkey meat bun and set down his chopsticks.He had already eaten quite a bit and wasn't very hungry anymore. After taking a sip of digestive tea, his gaze fell once again on the area behind the bookshelf.He was certainly determined to obtain Zhu Song's "Snow Beach Double Eagle Painting"—but the question was… how to get that painting from the young lady.Simply offer to buy it with money?He turned and glanced around the room—every object in it was a treasure. Though he couldn't tell the young girl's identity, she didn't seem like someone short on money.Should he reveal his identity and give a direct order?The thought flashed through his mind, and he instinctively dismissed it. Setting aside the fact that this young girl had saved his life, even in his private heart, he didn't want her to know who he was.She was far too lively and spirited now. If she learned his identity, she would grow fearful, become bound by propriety, and grow distant.Whether or not their paths crossed again, he still didn't want the light in those beautiful eyes to fade.He turned the jade thumb ring on his finger. He needed to think of another way.Just as he was pondering, a gust of wind suddenly sounded from outside the window. With a whoosh, a man in black knelt on the ground: "Your servant is late in arriving—please forgive me, Beile."It was someone who had come looking for him, this time bringing guards.Fourth Prince instinctively glanced outside. The room was empty—the young girl had been too shy and had run off somewhere. He let out a half-breath of relief.Only then did he ask the kneeling man: "Were you discovered when you came?"The guard was startled, perhaps not expecting Fourth Prince to ask this first. After a moment, he replied: "Your servant found this place by chance and wasn't certain if you were inside, so I came cautiously without alerting anyone.""That's good, then."Yinzhen sat in the armchair, his back to the window: "Has anything major happened in the capital these past two days?""Still the same as usual, but… news of your disappearance has reached the Crown Prince. That night, the Crown Prince's men came looking for you, and your servants couldn't keep it hidden…""The Crown Prince is looking for me?"Yinzhen's hand, which had been stroking his jade thumb ring, paused. His Imperial Father had always harbored some wariness toward Soctu, but ever since the Emperor left the capital, the Crown Prince had repeatedly held secret talks with Soctu and visited the homes of various ministers.Previously, the Emperor had said that princes must not form factions for personal gain.He had come to this Sanqing Temple to avoid the storm. Before he left, the Crown Prince had clearly been very welcoming—so what had happened now that he was coming to find him?His grip on the armrest tightened. He absolutely could not wade into Soctu's muddy waters.But as for the Crown Prince…His hand stroking the jade thumb ring gradually quickened. Just as he was about to speak, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the window.His gaze immediately dropped to the ground. The guard quickly hid in the shadows, and only then did he turn to look out the window.The pear blossoms outside were blooming especially brilliantly, pink and white petals drifting in the wind. Ye Nanyuan stood beneath the pear tree, a snow-blue gauze skirt swaying with the breeze.At that moment, she bent down to play with the white fox at her feet.The fox was tiny—roughly the size of two men's palms—pure white all over, with a patch of fiery red marking on its forehead.The guard behind him also caught sight of it and said in disbelief: "My lord, isn't that the Spirit Fox we were sent to capture?" That fox was extremely cunning—a whole squad had been wounded trying to catch it without success.Yet here it was now, and judging by its manner… it seemed to be acting coquettishly toward that woman?The guard's hand, which had been raising his sword, paused: "Shall I go capture that fox now?"Fourth Prince, however, closed his eyes with a faint smile. "No need," he said. "I've found something better."He sent the man back: "Do not let news of finding me leak out—keep it from the Crown Prince." The guard was startled and looked up at him: "Then what about you, my lord?"Yinzhen's gaze lingered outside the window for a long while before he finally turned to look toward the bookshelf.He lowered his eyelids, his voice inexplicably deepening by two degrees, yet carrying a hint of something that might have been joy."I need to stay here for a couple of days."