Xiao Zhi was tall, and even standing, Wan Tang was not much taller than him when he was seated.
When Xiao Zhi heard her speak, he turned his head to look. Seizing the moment, Wan Tang stretched her neck almost simultaneously to glance at his expression, and their gazes unexpectedly collided.
Their breaths mingled, with Xiao Zhi’s forehead less than a palm’s distance from Wan Tang’s chin.
Xiao Zhi lifted his clear, piercing eyes, his gaze settling on Wan Tang’s red lips.
Her lips were beautifully shaped, slightly full, and even when she wasn’t smiling, the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned. Their color was exquisite, like crabapple blossoms soaked in morning dew—both moist and vibrant.
Xiao Zhi’s eyes darkened, and he hastily shifted his gaze upward.
Wan Tang was staring at him blankly, her long eyelashes fluttering like tiny fans.
As their eyes met, Wan Tang gasped, took a step back, and bent forward in a bow. In her haste, her forehead bumped against Xiao Zhi’s shoulder.
Xiao Zhi remained unmoved, but Wan Tang let out a muffled groan. After straightening up, she took a few more steps back and bowed again in apology. “This servant is foolish. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness. I will fetch fresh tea for you immediately!”
With that, she took the pot of green tea and left.
Xiao Zhi watched her retreating figure, his lips curling faintly as he subconsciously rubbed his right shoulder with his left hand.
A moment later, Wan Tang returned to the main room, calm and composed, carrying a tray with an elegant purple clay teapot.
She poured a cup of tea for Xiao Zhi and offered it to him. “The weather has turned cooler, and the Marquis’s shoulder discomfort has returned. You may drink warm black tea. Green tea is cooling, and drinking too much may affect your sleep, perhaps worsening the discomfort in your shoulder.”
Xiao Zhi frowned. “This Marquis does not like black tea.”
Wan Tang kept her head lowered, her hands still presenting the cup of tea, her little finger curling nervously.
This scene unfolded right before Xiao Zhi’s eyes, impossible to miss.
“Forgive me, Marquis. This servant should not have changed the tea without permission.”
Hearing the unease in her voice, Xiao Zhi finally accepted the cup of tea. This time, Wan Tang was careful not to touch his fingers.
“This Marquis is not reprimanding you. Continue with the shoulder massage,” he said, taking a sip. The rich, mellow aroma of black tea spread in his mouth.
It didn’t seem so unpleasant after all.
Xiao Zhi took two sips and set the cup aside, lifting the lid to let the tea cool faster, as he was accustomed to drinking it cool.
For a while, neither of them spoke. Xiao Zhi glanced inadvertently at the teacup, where he could faintly see Wan Tang’s reflection. Though not entirely clear, her slender, flawless neck was visible.
Suddenly, she let out a silent sigh, her brows slightly furrowed as if weary.
Xiao Zhi closed his eyes, no longer looking at the tea.
After a moment, his clear voice broke the silence. “That’s enough. You may leave.”
Wan Tang was taken aback. She had been pondering how to proceed further but couldn’t quite gather her thoughts.
Not daring to disobey Xiao Zhi, she walked around to stand before him, bowed respectfully, and quietly withdrew.
Zhao Fu entered to attend to Xiao Zhi only after she had left. Seeing the black tea on the table, his expression changed slightly. “Who was so careless as to brew black tea? I’ll fetch a fresh pot for you right away, Master.”
Xiao Zhi glanced sideways but did not stop him.
For two consecutive days, Xiao Zhi did not go to Songhe Tang to pay his respects. To show his filial piety, Xiao Yujue personally brought Wan Tang to Meiyuan each day to massage Xiao Zhi’s shoulders, and Xiao Zhi did not refuse.
By the third day, Xiao Yujue allowed Wan Tang to go to Meiyuan on her own.
Wan Tang counted the days every day—fifty-three days remained, yet there was no progress. Anxiety gnawed at her, but she could only force herself to take things one step at a time.
While giving Laofuren a massage, she seized the opportunity to praise Song Zhiyun again, then headed straight for Meiyuan.
In the courtyard, the head of the Embroidery Workshop was glaring at Zhao Fu in annoyance. “How can you not even measure properly?”
The Wu’an Marquisate kept a group of seamstresses, who crafted all the clothing, handkerchiefs, and bedding for the masters.
Zhao Fu scratched his head, torn between laughter and tears. “I really measured exactly as you said.”
“This shoulder width is clearly wrong, and this chest measurement… The measurements you gave me after the Marquis returned to the estate were off, and we ended up having to buy clothes from a ready-made clothing shop outside the estate. If there’s another mistake this time, how can I keep my position as head of the Embroidery Workshop?” As the head seamstress complained, she caught sight of Wan Tang and her eyes immediately lit up.
She walked over with a smile. “Are you here to serve the Marquis, miss?”
Wan Tang nodded blankly.
The seamstress smiled and pressed the tailor’s measuring tape into Wan Tang’s hands, urging her to go measure Xiao Zhi.
Wan Tang asked doubtfully, “Why don’t you measure him yourself, auntie?”
“If only I could. Everyone in the Houfu knows the Marquis dislikes women getting close to him,” the seamstress said with a worried frown.
Zhao Fu was also eager to pass off this hot potato and chimed in, “Please help us out, Miss Wan Tang. I’m truly too clumsy—I’ve measured twice and still got it wrong. If I disturb the Marquis again, I’ll surely get scolded.”
Wan Tang declined a few times before reluctantly agreeing.
She hesitantly entered the main room. When Xiao Zhi saw the measuring tape in her hand, he said sternly, “Where’s Zhao Fu? Did you grow a head just to look taller? Can’t even get a measurement right.”
Zhao Fu, who had followed her in, lowered his eyes dejectedly. “This servant is too foolish.”
He had tried his best to measure properly, but as a man, having to measure the Marquis’s chest, waist, and hips… was truly difficult for him. Every time the Marquis raised an eyebrow, he grew nervous, fearing the Marquis might kick him in a fit of anger.
It wasn’t as if it hadn’t happened before. The Marquis had served in the military for years, and his kicks were painfully strong. Zhao Fu had no desire to experience that again.
Xiao Zhi shot him a glare and stood up from his chair, his meaning clear.
Wan Tang quickly stepped forward. After measuring his shoulder width, she softly asked Xiao Zhi to spread his arms. The measuring tape wrapped from his back to his chest, tightening slowly.
Wan Tang stood in front of him, carefully noting the measurements. Compared to his imposing stature, she appeared delicate and small.
No, not small.
As Wan Tang pressed the measuring tape against Xiao Zhi’s waist and wrapped it around him, her ample chest inadvertently brushed against his embrace, soft and gentle.
Xiao Zhi’s throat tightened, and he lowered his head with displeasure. “Are you done yet?”
Wan Tang stood a head shorter than him, and his cold, stern voice made her tremble slightly. She quickly stepped back a few paces. “It should be done.”
She didn’t dare measure his hips. If she provoked him further, all her efforts might be wasted again.
When the head seamstress saw the measurements Wan Tang had taken, she nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you, miss. I can estimate the other measurements.”
Wan Tang let out a long sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead.
Zhao Fu guiltily handed her two pieces of candy. “You’ve really saved me from a tight spot, miss. These candies were brought back by the Marquis from the borderlands. Please try them.”
Wan Tang smiled and accepted them. “You’re too kind.”
Xiao Zhi witnessed this scene.
He stood by the window, from his angle only seeing the two of them standing in the courtyard whispering, their heads close together.
Zhao Fu was laughing, and she was laughing too, though no one knew what they were laughing about.
Xiao Zhi closed the window unhappily, the movement a bit loud.
Zhao Fu and Wan Tang both turned to look, exchanged a glance, and dared not say another word, entering the main room one after the other.