Zhang turned around, but perhaps out of shock, she still hadn’t let go of Li Wanran’s hand. Li Wanran, already teetering, was pulled by the momentum and was about to fall to the ground. To avoid landing face-first, she immediately tried to adjust her direction. She fell straight toward the suddenly appearing Yinzhen.
Seeing this, Yinzhen’s eyelids jumped, and he was about to step back. However, Li Wanran was quick-witted; she reached out with both hands and grabbed the lapels of his robes, pulling him toward her with all her might.
And so…
In the next moment, Li Wanran’s entire upper body was pressed into Yinzhen’s arms. Her senses were instantly enveloped by the deep, heavy fragrance emanating from his body. It was a rare scent. Li Wanran couldn’t help but let her mind wander, wondering what kind of incense it was; she liked it so much she wanted some for herself.
The scene fell into a dead silence. The palace servants looked at the scene before them in disbelief, and not one of them dared to make a sound.
Zhang stood frozen to the side, still not having reacted. When did the Fourth Prince arrive? Had he seen everything that just happened? And… how did that Li woman end up in the Fourth Prince’s arms?!
Finally, Yinzhen broke the silence. With a wooden expression, he looked down at Li Wanran and asked, “How long do you intend to lean there?”
The cold question snapped Li Wanran back to her senses. She hurriedly put some distance between herself and Yinzhen and curtsied. “Thank you, Fourth Prince.”
Banxia took the opportunity to run to Li Wanran’s side to support her.
“Rise. What were you all doing just now?” Yinzhen nodded slightly, acting as if nothing had happened, and continued in a deep voice.
Fearing that Li Wanran would say something disadvantageous to her, Zhang rushed to reply first. “The sky was getting dark, and I was afraid Mistress Li couldn’t see the path clearly, so I thought to help her along. I didn’t expect to run into you, Fourth Prince.” After saying this, she looked up shyly at Yinzhen.
Unfortunately, Yinzhen did not receive her soulful gaze. Instead, he stared at Li Wanran with confusion. “Mistress Li?”
When had a Mistress Li been added to the backyard? He had no impression of her at all.
Su Peisheng, who had been standing behind Yinzhen, stepped forward at the right moment to introduce her. “Reporting to Master, Mistress Li entered through the Small Selection two months ago. You happened to be away from the capital on official business at the time.”
Hearing Su Peisheng’s explanation, Yinzhen remembered that such a thing had indeed occurred. Looking at Li Wanran, who stood with her head bowed in silence, he spoke with an unreadable expression. “Raise your head.”
Li Wanran slowly raised her head, her expression carefully adjusted. Her watery eyes looked timidly at Yinzhen, making one’s heart tremble instinctively.
It was only now that she finally got a clear look at Yinzhen’s appearance. He was tall with a refined face. His phoenix eyes were as deep as ink, seemingly able to pierce through to one’s soul. He had a high bridge to his nose, and his pale lips were pressed together. He looked exceptionally stern and solemn. Although no single feature was perfect on its own, they were all incredibly well-suited to his face.
Oh my god, he’s a hottie! My wish came true!
Li Wanran’s heart was practically setting off a fireworks display. She thanked every deity she could think of; from now on, she would be their most loyal believer!
On the other side, Yinzhen’s reaction was somewhat cold. He simply stared at her face with his clear, sharp eyes. He stared until Li Wanran’s face began to burn, and she momentarily wondered if he was taking the opportunity to retaliate against her. Just as she was about to look down to relieve the soreness in her eyes, she heard Yinzhen’s voice by her ear.
“Fine. It’s getting late. If there’s nothing else, return to your quarters.”
It was rare to see the Fourth Prince, and Zhang didn’t want to leave just like that. However, seeing his face, which was constantly radiating coldness, she immediately shrank back. All the words she wanted to say could only be turned into a reluctant “Yes.”
After Yinzhen spoke, he flicked his sleeve to leave. To his surprise, as soon as he turned, he felt a resistance pulling at his sleeve. Looking back, he saw Li Wanran’s hand unceremoniously tugging at his clothes. Her fair, well-proportioned fingers looked particularly striking against the grayish-blue fabric.
Yinzhen’s brow furrowed. The word “improper” was on the tip of his tongue, but it was blocked in his throat by Li Wanran’s words.
“Fourth Prince… I… your servant has twisted her ankle.”
“Twisted it?” Yinzhen looked suspiciously at Li Wanran’s feet. Well… they were hidden completely by her skirt; he couldn’t see a thing. Hadn’t she been fine just now? Why the sudden injury?
Yinzhen felt suspicious. He saw Li Wanran looking at him with bright eyes as she whispered, “I accidentally twisted it just now when I almost fell. I can’t move it at all now. Could I trouble you to take me back?”
Seeing this, Yinzhen suddenly had a flash of realization. He raised an eyebrow knowingly. This was exactly the kind of little trick favored by the harem concubines—pretending to be injured so the master would escort them back. He had seen plenty of this as a child.
After waiting for a while without a response, Li Wanran doubled down. She gently shook Yinzhen’s sleeve and said pitifully, “Master, it hurts so much…”
Li Wanran’s tearful appearance made Yinzhen hesitate for a moment. He looked around, intending to have her servants take her back. But as soon as he saw the thin, small figure beside her, Yinzhen fell silent.
Right then, sensing the cold air radiating from Yinzhen increasing, Li Wanran decided to switch tactics. Since neither soft nor hard approaches work, I’ll retreat today and fight another day. Leaving a good impression is most important!
Like a little flower wilted by frost, she let go of the sleeve she had been holding with a look of disappointment. “If Master does not have the time, then your servant will go back her—ah!”
Before she could finish, she was swept up in Yinzhen’s arms. Li Wanran gave a cry of surprise, her hands instinctively wrapping around Yinzhen’s neck. Then, suppressing the smile at the corners of her mouth, she marveled to herself: I didn’t expect to actually experience a bridal carry. I guess he does fall for this after all!
Ignoring the astonished looks of the onlookers, Yinzhen looked at Banxia. “Lead the way.” After speaking, he instructed Su Peisheng to go to the Imperial Academy of Medicine and request a physician.
After Su Peisheng left, Banxia suppressed her inner joy and worry, hurriedly answering and leading the way for Yinzhen.
Watching Yinzhen stride away carrying Li Wanran, Zhang was unable to snap out of it for a long time. Why hadn’t she thought of that trick? This Mistress Li was too cunning! The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Finally, she grabbed a perfectly blooming flower by the path, crushed it, threw it on the ground, and trampled it several times before she felt slightly appeased. The maids serving her kept their heads down, not daring to make a sound for fear of drawing the furious Zhang’s ire.
In Li Wanran’s courtyard, not long after Yinzhen carried her back, Su Peisheng arrived with the physician. Because Li Wanran’s injury was at her ankle, it was inconvenient for the physician to examine it directly. He simply felt her pulse and left a prescription for a sedative along with several jars of medicinal wine for bruises. After explaining the usage and dosage, he left with his medical bag.
Li Wanran sat on the daybed while Banxia carefully removed the platform shoes to apply a cold compress. After slowly rolling down her silk socks, the red and swollen bump on her foot was revealed.
Yinzhen, sitting nearby, found the swelling an eyesore. “Why did you keep enduring it when we were in the garden?” At the time, she had stood there without a word as if nothing were wrong, making him think she was using a petty trick to compete for favor. He hadn’t expected it to be a real injury, and such a severe one at that.
Li Wanran felt the coolness from the injury and whispered after a moment, “That was the first time your servant had seen you. My mind was a bit of a mess, so I couldn’t care about anything else. It took quite a while for me to notice the problem with my foot.”
In reality, it was because there had only been a slight sting at first, so she hadn’t taken it to heart. Who knew it would get more painful later? So, when she had cried out in pain in the garden, it was entirely genuine emotion without a hint of artifice!
Hearing her explanation, a smile that even he didn’t notice flickered in the depths of Yinzhen’s eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but he was suddenly interrupted by Caiwei entering with tea.
Caiwei, having heard the news from somewhere, burst in abruptly. She didn’t even curtsy; instead, she stole a quick glance at Yinzhen and then put on a look of extreme distress for Li Wanran, exclaiming loudly, “Heavens! Mistress only went out once, how did you get injured like this? I don’t know how Banxia was serving you. If I had been there, I would have stayed by your side every step of the way! Does it still hurt, Mistress? It’s such a large swelling; I’m heartbroken just looking at it.”
With that, tears streamed down her face. To an outsider, it would look like an incredibly deep bond between master and servant.
Banxia, who had long ago seen through her little schemes, rolled her eyes imperceptibly and said with annoyance, “You talk a good game. I don’t see you being this way normally.”
Caiwei wiped her tears and gave a sheepish smile, intending to continue making excuses for her previous behavior. Then she heard Li Wanran’s voice. “Fine, Caiwei, you may go down.”
Caiwei’s movements stiffened. She wanted to say more, but she was wary of the Fourth Prince’s presence and didn’t dare disobey Li Wanran’s words in front of him. She could only grit her teeth inwardly. Reluctantly, she curtsied to Li Wanran and turned to leave. However, the moment she turned around, her expression immediately darkened.
“What were you going to say earlier, Master?” After Caiwei left, Li Wanran turned and asked curiously.
Yinzhen shook his head. “It’s nothing.” He glanced at her ankle, which was still being cold-compressed, and teased, “They say it takes a hundred days to heal a bone or tendon injury. Among the common people, there is a saying that you should eat whatever part you want to mend. To make your ankle heal faster, when we have dinner later, I’ll have someone stew a bowl of pig’s trotter soup for you.”
Hearing this, Li Wanran took it as a joke. She lowered her head and gave a shy, shallow smile without replying. In her heart, she was considering her previously decided “conquest plan.” Since she heard Yinzhen liked light meals, then perhaps…
Thinking this, when the kitchen staff came to ask for the dinner menu, she casually ordered a dish of Jade Rabbit Mallow Tips.
Perhaps because Yinzhen was dining in her courtyard, the kitchen staff was very efficient this time. Within half an hour of her ordering, over a dozen servants entered her courtyard gate in single file with food boxes, placing the dishes on the table in an orderly fashion. Among them, the pig’s trotter soup placed right in the center was particularly conspicuous.
Li Wanran was stunned. She… she didn’t like pig’s trotter soup! More accurately, she actually hated any food made from animal feet. So… could she actually send it away? She complained gloomily in her heart.
Yinzhen did not know what she was thinking. Seeing the meal was set, he came out from the inner room and washed his hands with the servants’ help. After drying them, he adjusted his robes and sat down. Seeing her still dazed, he couldn’t help but be confused. “What is it?” At the same time, his peripheral vision caught the pig’s trotter soup he had specially ordered, and he felt he understood. She must be moved by my concern.
Thus, in a very good mood, Yinzhen personally served a bowl of the soup and placed it in front of Li Wanran. “Drink more of this so your foot can heal quickly.”
Li Wanran: “…”
She wanted to scream “Help!”
Li Wanran sat down with a stiff face and a fake smile. “Thank you for your concern, Fourth Prince. However, your servant thinks it’s better if I drink it in a little while. If I drink it now, I’m afraid I won’t be able to eat anything else.” She would stall as long as she could. If all else failed, she would just say she was too full to drink it. He couldn’t exactly force her, right?
Hearing this, Yinzhen nodded and didn’t press her further.
Li Wanran breathed a huge sigh of relief and finally picked up her chopsticks to eat. After the afternoon’s commotion, she was truly famished. Everything seemed delicious… except for the pig’s trotter soup. Get it out of here!!
Su Peisheng, who was serving nearby, looked at Mistress Li eating with great relish and occasionally pointing out which dish was tasty to Yinzhen, and was truly speechless. He thought this Mistress Li was quite the character; he didn’t know if she truly didn’t understand or was just pretending. In any other Mistress’s courtyard, who would dare to look after themselves like this? Wouldn’t they all carefully serve the Fourth Prince before eating themselves?
However… he stole a glance at the Fourth Prince, who was eating heartily alongside Mistress Li, and suddenly felt there was nothing left to say. After all, whether rules were to be followed had always depended entirely on the Master’s whim. Judging by the Master’s attitude, since he was willing to indulge her, even the Primary Consort who would enter the household later probably wouldn’t be able to say much about Mistress Li.
The meal went by quickly. When they were almost finished, Li Wanran made a show of picking up the pig’s trotter soup and taking a few sips. Then, taking advantage of Yinzhen going to wash his hands, she hurriedly waved her hand for the servants to take the soup away.
Yinzhen was completely unaware of her little maneuvers. After returning, he reached out and pinched Li Wanran’s cheek, which still had some baby fat, and said with a smile, “Rest well. I will come to see you again next time.”
Lady Li’s ankle was injured, so it was inconvenient for her to serve him in bed. Furthermore, he had just returned from out of town and had been running to several places consecutively; his body was quite fatigued. There were also many official documents waiting for him in the study that needed timely handling. No matter how he looked at it, today was not a good day to stay in the backyard.
Li Wanran gave a smiling “Mhm” and nodded obediently. In truth, she hadn’t expected him to stay tonight either. After all, her ankle was swollen like that; if Yinzhen still didn’t let her off, he would be a total beast.
Leaning on Banxia’s arm, Li Wanran managed to stand up, intending to see him off and perform a bit of her reluctance to see him go. To her surprise, she was soon pressed back into her chair by Yinzhen. “Your foot is injured, so just stay there. I don’t need you to see me off.” After speaking, he turned to leave, then suddenly paused.
He turned back and instructed Li Wanran, “If the servants by your side are not serving you diligently, you can send someone to find Su Peisheng and have him pick a better one for you.”
“Mhm, I will. Thank you, Fourth Prince. You are so kind.” Li Wanran’s eyes immediately lit up, and she blinked at Yinzhen with a gaze that was both intense and sincere.
Yinzhen felt a bit embarrassed by her gaze and quickly looked away. Leaving only the words “As long as you know,” he hurried away without looking back.
After Yinzhen left, Banxia curtsied to Li Wanran with excitement. “Congratulations, Mistress! Hearty congratulations!” She had seen it clearly just now; the Master was definitely not indifferent toward their Mistress! He carried her all the way back, called the physician, and even specifically ordered the kitchen to stew pig’s trotter soup out of concern for her injury. Although… she didn’t know why the Mistress had only taken a few sips before hurriedly having it taken away. Moreover, the Master said before leaving that he would come to see the Mistress again next time! In short, every single thing showed the Master’s affection for her. Now, let’s see what those people in the backyard have to be arrogant about.
At this thought, Banxia looked at Li Wanran’s face, which looked even more peerless in the flickering candlelight, and sighed again. “I said before, once the Master sees you, he will definitely keep you in his heart and never forget you.” How could anyone see such a divine beauty and not like her? Unless… he was Liu Xia Hui! Or unless he was impotent! And could their Fourth Prince be that kind of man? Definitely not! Banxia thought happily.
Li Wanran was quite pleased with her sighs, her face covered in smiles. She raised an eyebrow and was about to say something when her gaze suddenly swept to that plate of Jade Rabbit Mallow Tips on the table, which had barely been touched. Her heart was suddenly filled with doubt. Wasn’t it said that Yinzhen often ordered this dish and liked it very much? Why was it that during the meal just now, she didn’t see him move his chopsticks toward it more than a couple of times?
Could it be… that all the investigations she had done regarding Yinzhen’s preferences were wrong? Li Wanran felt a massive shock in her heart.