Chapter 219
Chapter 219
When Jiang Xuan entered, Ji Hanyi was still lost in thought. Only after Rongchun murmured a reminder beside her did she come back to herself.
Looking up, she saw the Crown Prince enter in his bright yellow robes.
Ji Hanyi hurried to rise and curtsy, but Jiang Xuan waved with a smile and told her to remain seated. There was no need for ceremony.
He walked to her side and looked down at the painting on the table. “I saw this yesterday. I came today especially to speak about it.”
“It is very well done. Not only is the likeness exact, but you have captured its spirit. There is only one thing I wondered about.”
Jiang Xuan pointed to a butterfly at the side of the composition. “What made Aunt think to add this butterfly?”
Following his finger, Ji Hanyi replied, “I heard that this flower has an unusually rich fragrance and is especially attractive to blue butterflies from the Western Regions, so I took the liberty of adding one.”
Jiang Xuan studied the lifelike blue butterfly and smiled. “An inspired touch indeed. With this butterfly, the whole painting has even more life. I am sure Father will be pleased this time.”
He cupped his hands to Ji Hanyi. “I have put Aunt to a great deal of trouble.”
Ji Hanyi was still somewhat embarrassed. The butterfly had been a last-minute idea, and she was not even certain that she remembered the detail correctly. It also reflected a little of her own interpretation. Now that the Crown Prince was pleased and had even saluted her, she felt she could hardly accept such courtesy from someone of his rank. She quickly stepped back, curtsied, and demurred.
Jiang Xuan looked at her face. Standing so close and hearing the faint diffidence in her voice, he found her nothing like the dull, solemn woman he had imagined. She truly did look young. Even he found it rather strange to call her Aunt.
There was also an indefinable grace about Ji Hanyi that belonged to a newly married woman. One glance was enough to tell that her husband cherished her. His uncle truly was very fond of her.
It seemed the rumors whispered about her could not be trusted.
After meeting her several times, Jiang Xuan felt that her talent did, in fact, make her worthy of his uncle’s regard.
He watched her stand respectfully before him, eyes lowered and expression modest, then turned toward the painting on the table.
She had captured a vitality that even the court painters had failed to achieve. He had only asked her to try, never expecting that she would truly succeed.
He told Ji Hanyi that she need not stand on ceremony whenever she saw him, then entrusted the remaining coloring to her. He did not linger long before taking his leave.
Ji Hanyi relaxed as soon as the Crown Prince was gone.
Although he called her Aunt, he was older than she was. He had also been named heir from childhood, and the commanding air around him was scarcely less imposing than Shen Si’s. Whatever he called her, the Crown Prince was still her sovereign. Ji Hanyi could not help feeling pressured in his presence.
Now that he had left, the tension in her chest eased, and she turned her attention to coloring the painting.
More than two hours later, she had completed nearly half of it. The sun was sinking. As Ji Hanyi watched the light fade beyond the window, she remembered that this was around the time Shen Si had arrived on previous days.
All at once, she felt a little afraid of seeing him.
She had never experienced pleasure like that before. Yet afterward, for all the pleasure, her entire body had gone weak and sore. Even now, a dull ache lingered in her lower abdomen.
If only she could avoid Shen Si for one day. Otherwise, her body truly might not endure it.
She looked at the painting again. Another two or three days should be enough to finish it, and she would certainly be able to complete it before leaving the palace. She set down her brush and first went to visit Her Majesty the Empress. She kept the Empress company for a while, reporting on the painting’s progress and the Crown Prince’s visit. After returning to her room, she instructed Rongchun to say that she was unwell if Shen Si came later.
Then she bathed and retired early.
Shen Si arrived somewhat later than usual that day. The moment he came, he heard that Ji Hanyi was unwell. When he entered, he found her in a thin sleeping robe, reclining against a large silver-threaded pillow embroidered with lilies and eating cherries in cream from a bowl, one small bite at a time.
She seemed to be enjoying them immensely.
Ji Hanyi saw him approach and froze, spoon in hand.
Shen Si sat beside her and immediately placed a hand against her forehead. “Where do you feel unwell?” he asked, concern in his voice.
Ji Hanyi opened her mouth. Meeting his worried gaze, she suddenly felt guilty and answered softly, “My head aches a little. I must have painted for too long. It should be better tomorrow.”
Still frowning, Shen Si took her fair, delicate face between his long fingers and turned it from side to side. Her almond eyes were clear as water, a faint flush colored her cheeks, and her lips looked moist. Her complexion seemed healthy enough.
Then he glanced at the cherries in cream in her hands and raised a brow. Even with a headache, she had not forgotten about food.
He had been told upon arriving that she had already eaten dinner, so her appetite appeared perfectly sound as well.
He released her face but said, “I already sent word to Her Majesty the Empress and asked for an Imperial Physician. You should still be examined.”
Ji Hanyi blinked. It seemed too late now to say there was no need for an Imperial Physician, and she secretly regretted her little scheme.
The Imperial Physician soon arrived, and the Empress came with him to check on her. On hearing that Ji Hanyi’s head ached because she had spent too long painting, the Empress said, “You needn’t fret so much over this. Even if you finish it slowly after returning home, it will be no great matter.”
Ji Hanyi hastened to agree.
After taking her pulse, the Imperial Physician also said that nothing was wrong. He merely advised her not to overexert herself and did not even prescribe medicine.
When the Imperial Physician and the Empress had left, Shen Si stood before the bed and gazed down at Ji Hanyi for a long moment.
Under that stare, her guilty heart tightened. She lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
She had the distinct feeling that Shen Si had seen through her.
The guilt written across her face told Shen Si nearly everything. Seeing her clutch the corner of the quilt at a loss, he ultimately chose not to expose her.
He sat beside her again and tipped up her chin, making her look at him. Ji Hanyi’s eyes still darted guiltily aside, her unadorned hair spilling over her shoulders and setting off her lovely little face.
“Do you want any more?” Shen Si asked.
Ji Hanyi did not dare eat another bite in front of him and quickly shook her head.
Shen Si picked up the remaining cherries in cream and pinched her cheek. “There is still half a bowl. Are you certain?”
Ji Hanyi studied his expression but could discern neither pleasure nor anger. He wore the same habitual sternness as always, and she could not tell whether he was upset.
At last, unable to withstand it, she lowered her eyes beneath the faint, elder-like authority in his gaze, clenched her cuff, and confessed her lie.
Ji Hanyi had never expected matters to go this far. She had only planned to claim a harmless headache when Shen Si arrived so that she could go to sleep early. She had not imagined that he would summon an Imperial Physician before he even came in, much less that the Empress would come too.
Shen Si raised a brow, not expecting her to confess on her own. He let go of her face and slipped an arm behind her back, drawing her onto his lap. Looking down at her, he asked, “Why did you lie to me?”