Chapter 16
Chapter 16
Jiang Youze looked down at her.
Morning light shone from behind her, making the wisps beside her ears look soft and fuzzy in the backlight.
Her almond-shaped eyes were wide, her lips slightly pressed together. She looked both stubborn and endearing.
She thought she was calling him to account.
But to him, that upturned face glaring at him looked no different from a bid for affection.
His fingers curled inside his sleeve. He resisted the urge to pinch her cheek.
No. Not yet.
She was still angry. If he dared get handsy, she might bristle on the spot.
“What do you think?” Jiang Youze leaned against the doorframe and tilted his head at her.
His gaze paused on her lips, then returned to her eyes.
The hint of a smile still lingered at his mouth, his expression unreadable.
“What do you think I want?”
Si Yan’s heart leaped beneath his gaze. She bit her lip before she could stop herself.
His eyes only grew darker.
In her dream, whenever he looked at her like that, her lips would not be her own for the next hour.
He would descend on her like a starving wolf and kiss her until the world spun.
Si Yan hastily released her lip. Heat burned at the bases of her ears, and even her neck began to redden.
She could not stay here any longer.
If she did, she would lose every scrap of composure before him.
“You must have plenty of official business, Secretary Jiang. I’ll let you see yourself out!”
With that, she caught Linghe’s hand and darted into the courtyard as though fleeing, shutting the gate behind her.
Jiang Youze stood outside, looking at the closed panels, a smile spreading through his eyes.
She had fled so quickly. He had not finished speaking, nor given her what he had brought.
Never mind. He would come back tonight.
She was here, after all. She could not run away.
Linghe pressed herself to the gap in the gate. Only when she was sure he had gone far away did she turn, patting her chest.
“Miss, Secretary Jiang…”
“Don’t mention him!”
Si Yan sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, trying to fan the heat from her face with her handkerchief.
It did no good at all.
She turned it over and pressed the cooler side against her cheek.
From the left cheek to the right, then from the right to her forehead.
The way he had looked at her just now, he had seemed ready to devour her completely.
Who had given him the nerve?
Bastard!
Three years without seeing her, and now he dared tease her so shamelessly!
“Miss!” Linghe called from the inner room, excitement overflowing in her voice.
“Everything in here is new. And it’s all arranged exactly to your taste!”
Si Yan rose from the stone stool, brushed the crabapple petals from her skirt, and went inside.
Her gaze traveled around the room, where every detail showed care. She stopped before the dressing case.
All the rouge and powder on the table came from her usual shop.
Even the lip color was her favorite cherry red.
The bolster on the daybed was covered in cloud brocade, embroidered with the crabapple blossoms she loved best.
Her heart gave a little jolt. Without her noticing, more than half her pent-up anger faded.
No.
She could not be so spineless.
A few gifts, and she was bought? Where were her principles? Her backbone?
If she softened now, would she ever manage to keep a stern face when she saw him in the palace?
Si Yan snapped the dressing case shut, looked into the bronze mirror, and smoothed the loose hair at her temples.
“Come. Let’s look around outside.”
Even the air in this room was full of his care for her. She needed to get out and breathe.
They retraced their route, turned through two covered walkways, and came face-to-face with someone.
Zhao Huaining?
Si Yan stopped. Her name had not been on the list. What was she doing in the palace?
The scent of her cosmetics drifted faintly through the air, rich enough to be a little pungent.
Zhao Huaining saw her too. A meaningful smile curved her lips. “Miss Si. What a coincidence.”
“Indeed.” Si Yan put on a proper smile and glanced at the palace maid behind her.
“You’ve entered the palace today as well, Miss Zhao?”
“That’s right.” Zhao Huaining covered her mouth with her round fan, her eyes curving.
“Sister Mingzhu asked the Fifth Princess on my behalf, so I could be a study companion too. One more friend makes things livelier.”
The Fifth Princess had chosen Shen Mingzhu, and Shen Mingzhu had brought Zhao Huaining along.
Speaking with one voice was not enough. They had to form a clique too. Were they setting up a whole stage for their performance?
“How lovely.”
Si Yan tugged at the corner of her mouth. Unwilling to waste more words, she went around her and continued back.
As she reached the courtyard, she saw a young eunuch standing at the entrance with a food carrier.
His voice still held a childish note, and his round face was full of nerves.
“Miss Si, the Secretary asked me to bring this.”
With that, he raised the carrier above his head in both hands and bent in a deeply respectful bow.
Without even looking at it, Si Yan walked around him and straight into the courtyard. “Take it back.”
The young eunuch hurried two steps after her but dared not enter. He could only fret at the gate.
“Miss Si, if you won’t accept it, I can’t report that I’ve done my duty…”
“Then don’t report.” Si Yan had already crossed the threshold. She waved without turning back.
“Tell him I’m not hungry.”
The young eunuch stood forlornly for a while, looking down at the carrier. At last, he turned back.
His footsteps receded along the blue-brick path and gradually vanished beyond the moon gate.
Once he was out of sight, Linghe shut the courtyard gate and glanced at the sun.
“Miss, are you really not hungry?”
They had been up and busy before dawn. In the carriage, she had eaten only half a piece of osmanthus cake.
Then she had stood in the side hall for nearly an hour. Surely she ought to be hungry by now.
Si Yan did not answer. She turned into the main room and sat on the large carved bed.
The crabapple blossoms on the bolster were beautifully embroidered, but she tugged them out of shape.
Her lips pressed tightly together as she silently cursed the same person over and over.
Even to bring her something, he sent someone else. Couldn’t he come himself?
His legs weren’t broken!
Looking at the crabapple flowers she had pulled askew, she felt most of her anger ebb again.
Never mind.
He was busy on duty. Let him send someone else.
It was not as though she was eager to see him.
After sitting on the bed for a long time, she put the bolster aside and touched her lower belly.
“Linghe, go and fetch our meal.”
She really was hungry.
Whatever else she might quarrel with, she could not quarrel with her own stomach.
Linghe answered and went into the courtyard. The moment she opened the gate, she froze on the threshold.
The young eunuch had returned.
And there was another one with him.
The two stood at the entrance, each holding a food carrier, both looking miserable.
They stared at Linghe, and Linghe stared back. For a moment, it was very awkward.
She opened her mouth, found she had no idea what to say, and finally turned to call inside.
“Miss, um… Could you come out for a moment?”
“What is it?” Si Yan climbed off the bed and shuffled to the doorway in her embroidered shoes.
“Miss Si.”
The first young eunuch hurried two steps forward at the sight of her. His voice was close to tears.
“His Excellency said that if you won’t accept it, I needn’t return to the Directorate of Ceremonial today.”
The other eunuch quickly joined in, his eyes reddening even faster than his companion’s.
“Please have mercy. I have elders and little ones to support…”