The scenery of the Plum Garden was not particularly remarkable, but a new variety had been planted there last year.
The elderly lady of Shouning Palace had mentioned it many times, and Pei Jinyan, who had visited Shouning Palace last time, had kept it in mind.
It was not, as his attendants assumed, to “fulfill his filial duty.”
For him, filial piety was merely a superficial performance.
In the imperial palace, interests came first, but the girl he encountered last time at Shouning Palace had truly surprised him.
Even Pei Jinyan himself did not realize that his initiative in taking on this matter might have been driven by a desire to see her again.
The esteemed Crown Prince did not need to pick the plums himself, but as the Crown Prince’s personal eunuch, Li Fuquan wore a miserable expression, allowing his hands to turn bright red from the cold.
Nianyao, standing outside the Plum Garden, witnessed this scene.
She glanced up at the sunlight.
If she were to find another place now, the snowmelt would likely have completely thawed.
Nianyao lowered her long lashes, bit her lip, and decided to avoid the master and servant pair.
She moved with extreme caution.
Fifteen steps away stood a nobleman in a moon-white robe embroidered with golden python patterns.
She carefully made her way to the other side.
Fortunately, the Plum Garden was relatively spacious. Although it lacked the many stone paths of the Imperial Garden, the advantage was that the maids in the Plum Garden had little to do, so they had cleared away the withered branches and kept the place tidy.
Once she had moved farther away and could no longer see the two figures, Nianyao breathed a sigh of relief.
Now that she had seen Xu Mo, her mind was preoccupied with other matters. Even when her hands were chilled by the snowmelt, she quickly forgot about it.
Her fair fingers gradually turned bright red, but Nianyao seemed unaware.
With her head bowed and eyes lowered, she went about her tasks, no different from any other palace maid.
Just as she was about to fill her container, her fingers grew numb from the cold.
Suddenly, a cough sounded behind her.
Nianyao’s heart tightened, and she nearly dropped what she was holding.
Suppressing her nervousness, she quickly closed the small porcelain bottle and turned around.
Nianyao’s face paled inch by inch.
She hurriedly knelt on the ground, but with the small porcelain bottle in her hands, she was momentarily unsure where to place her limbs.
Her voice trembled slightly as she said, “This servant greets Your Highness.”
Nianyao regretted not leaving immediately when she saw the Crown Prince’s figure earlier, instead choosing to stay in the Plum Garden out of foolish hope.
Pei Jinyan’s gaze fell on Nianyao.
She felt as if she were enveloped by an endless shadow, the overwhelming sense of confinement making it almost impossible for her to breathe.
Pei Jinyan watched as the skin on her neck turned from white to pink, resembling clusters of begonia flowers blooming in full splendor.
A thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes.
In just a few days, he had encountered this palace maid several times.
If it were not by design, it would be far too coincidental.
Pei Jinyan understood—it seemed she admired him but was too timid, only daring to watch him from afar.
That explained today’s scene.
Recalling that his grandmother had once suggested making her his chamber maid, a trace of indifference flickered in Pei Jinyan’s eyes as his gaze fell on her slender waist, which seemed as if his large hand could easily encircle it.
“Rise.”
Pei Jinyan’s voice was like cold spring water, especially in the winter, causing Nianyao to shiver involuntarily.
Yet, given the vast difference in their statuses, even if Nianyao wished to flee immediately, she could only wait for the Crown Prince to speak first.
The surroundings were utterly silent, even Nianyao was somewhat lost in thought.
Could it be that the Crown Prince, unlike the aloof and haughty demeanor he displayed, actually loved winter plum blossoms as much as a woman would?
Otherwise, why would he personally appear here?
Nianyao dared not ask. She only lowered her gaze, staring at the tips of her shoes.
But even if she remained silent, someone forced her to speak.
The eunuch beside Pei Jinyan glanced at the Crown Prince, then at the exceptionally beautiful young palace maid.
Based on his years by the Crown Prince’s side, His Highness must have taken a liking to this little palace maid. Otherwise, they had already finished picking the plums—there was no need for His Highness to come here again.
However, their Crown Prince had spent his childhood studying and practicing martial arts. Once he grew older, he was thrown into the company of men, fighting battles everywhere.
Let alone concubines or maidservants for intimate service, he didn’t even have a personal maidservant.
Those around him were either young eunuchs like himself or elderly matrons.
For a Crown Prince who had never interacted with women, it naturally fell to Li Fuquan to take action.
Li Fuquan cleared his throat softly, breaking the stalemate.
His gaze fell on Nianyao as he asked, “Aren’t you a palace maid from Shouning Palace? Why are you here now?”
The personal eunuch by the Crown Prince’s side was not someone a palace maid like her, who had fallen out of favor with her mistress, could afford to offend.
Nianyao did not hide anything and replied softly, “This servant was originally a palace maid under Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, but I made a mistake earlier and was punished by being sent to the Buddhist hall. Now, I am here to collect snow water.”
Collecting snow water was a common task in many palaces.
However, Pei Jinyan’s gaze lingered on her fingertips, reddened from the cold, and he seemed momentarily lost in thought.
Li Fuquan glanced at Nianyao, then looked back at His Highness.
Since His Highness did not reprimand her, it meant he could ask a few more questions.
Perhaps this little palace maid also had feelings for His Highness. If so, it would be good for His Highness to request her for the Eastern Palace—not as a maidservant for intimate service, but simply as a personal maid.
Li Fuquan asked again, “Have you finished collecting?”
Nianyao didn’t understand why he was asking this but nodded and replied, “This servant has already collected enough. However, disturbing His Highness’s enjoyment is this servant’s fault.”
She didn’t know why the Crown Prince and his eunuch were fixated on her.
In any case, admitting fault was the best course of action.
As the sun rose higher, she wanted to return to the Buddhist hall quickly to complete her task.
However, Pei Jinyan’s gaze remained fixed on her, refusing to shift.
Nianyao felt as if needles were pricking her back, extremely uncomfortable. Out of fear, even the tips of her ears flushed crimson.
“Enjoyment?” Pei Jinyan chuckled softly.
He could tell that this palace maid seemed extremely uneasy. She probably hadn’t expected him to speak to her earlier and was now so flustered that even the redness on her ears betrayed her.
Pei Jinyan withdrew his gaze, mercifully letting her off.
“Li Fuquan, let’s go.”
Li Fuquan responded, “Yes.”
Pei Jinyan turned around. His tall figure, broad shoulders, and narrow waist made anyone say that the current Crown Prince was a rare beauty among men.
Yet he was too aloof, making others afraid to meet his eyes directly.
Li Fuquan followed behind Pei Jinyan but couldn’t help turning his head to glance at Nianyao kneeling on the ground.
Surrounded by blooming, enchanting red plum blossoms and patches of pristine white snow that had yet to fully melt.
Nianyao kept her head lowered, but the side of her face that was visible resembled a flower fairy who had mistakenly wandered into the forest.
Li Fuquan muttered to himself, no wonder His Highness, who has always been aloof and abstinent, would take a liking to her. With such looks, if His Highness still didn’t fancy her, he would have to worry.
As if sensing the wandering thoughts of the person behind him.
A cold voice rang out.
“What are you thinking?”
Li Fuquan shivered from head to toe and hurried to catch up.
“This servant was thinking that palace maid truly doesn’t know her place.”
Pei Jinyan’s steps came to an abrupt halt.
Li Fuquan nearly crashed into his back.
Stopping just a fist’s distance away.
He swallowed hard. “Your Highness?”
“Tonight, I want to see her in my room.”
Li Fuquan: ??