Chapter 31: Little Schemes
Xuan Qiao was already exceptionally tall to begin with, and now that he was mounted upon a towering steed, Yuan Jiabai had to tilt his head all the way back just to look up at him. "Your Highness," he called out.
Not expecting the Crown Prince to approach them personally, Lord Yuan quickly bowed in greeting, while Madam Yun and Yuan Yingzhao gracefully dipped into curtsies.
"At ease," Xuan Qiao replied evenly.
Yuan Yingzhao stealthily peeked up to size the Crown Prince up. After yesterday's highly unpleasant encounter, and operating strictly on the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the young girl now found the Crown Prince incredibly agreeable.
He was vastly more handsome than the Second Prince, and instead of demanding that people "kneel and kowtow," he actually told them to stand at ease. Hmph!
Xuan Qiao’s gaze fixed entirely on Yuan Jiabai.
Under the bright sky and gentle, pleasant breeze, the boy was dressed in a vibrant crimson riding outfit today. The tightly bound cuffs and cinched belt accentuated his slender waist. Dappled sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting shifting shadows across his figure as the wind rustled the trees.
His fair, clean face was upturned, watching Xuan Qiao with complete focus. Xuan Qiao especially loved it when those beautiful eyes held nothing but his own reflection.
The Crown Prince smiled with genuine pleasure. "Jiabai, mount your horse. I shall take you hunting."
Huh? Did Xiao Xiangzi not pass along his message just now? Yuan Jiabai shot a glance at Xiao Xiangzi. Just as the eunuch opened his mouth to explain, Xuan Qiao beat him to the punch, instantly drawing Jiabai's attention back.
"I am aware you wish to keep your sister company," Xuan Qiao said smoothly. "No matter. She may simply join us."
Yuan Jiabai pondered the offer. If nothing else, staying by the Crown Prince’s side guaranteed absolute safety. One only had to look at the cohort of fierce, imposing imperial guards trailing behind His Highness. even if they ran into wild beasts, there would be absolutely nothing to fear. Not that Jiabai had any intention of venturing deep into the forest anyway.
Even so, Yuan Jiabai didn't agree immediately. Instead, he turned his head and asked in a low voice, "Zhaozhao, would you like to ride with His Highness?"
Xuan Qiao’s brow twitched slightly, his eyes finally deigning to shift to the side. Jiabai certainly is fiercely protective of his sister.
Yuan Yingzhao peeked up at the Crown Prince once more. Xuan Qiao was undeniably stunning, though his features leaned toward sharp and aloof. He looked down at the little girl, who bore only a passing resemblance to her brother, yet her clever, spirited demeanor was a carbon copy of Yuan Jiabai's.
Out of affection for the brother, Xuan Qiao offered Yuan Yingzhao a small smile. This gesture instantly dissolved much of his icy aura. However, the moment the smile faded, his eyes rolled right back to fixate on Yuan Jiabai.
It seems the Crown Prince really, really wants to go hunting with Second Brother.
Yuan Yingzhao nodded obligingly. "That's fine, Second Brother."
The guards brought over two horses. Taking the young girl into consideration, they had thoughtfully assigned a female guard to help support Yuan Yingzhao into her saddle.
Once she was securely seated, Yuan Yingzhao sweetly offered her thanks, "Thank you, Sister."
The female guard, named Ding Fuqu, was pleasant-looking but entirely solemn, offering only a curt nod in response.
Yuan Jiabai also swung himself onto his horse, gave a light tap with his heels, and followed the Crown Prince into the hunting grounds. The enclosure was phenomenally vast, and since they had entered late, they rode for quite some time without crossing paths with another soul.
Yuan Jiabai called out to his sister, "Zhao'er, what kind of prey would you like? Second Brother will hunt it for you."
Yuan Yingzhao replied with characteristic sweetness, "I'll love whatever Second Brother catches."
Yuan Jiabai burst into delighted laughter. His little sister truly was the most adorable person in the entire world!
Since their mood had been ruined by the Second Prince yesterday, Yuan Jiabai poured all his energy into cheering her up. He promised to hunt rabbits, foxes, and deer for her. essentially coddling and pampering her non-stop. In doing so, he inevitably ended up ignoring the Crown Prince.
Yet, the sibling intimacy was entirely beyond reproach. as an outsider, Xuan Qiao had absolutely no right to complain.
Catching sight of Xuan Qiao out of the corner of his eye, Yuan Jiabai noticed the prince's brow was knitted tightly. He immediately guided his horse alongside Xuan Qiao's and asked with concern, "Your Highness, is something troubling you?"
Jarred from his thoughts, Xuan Qiao was about to shake his head when he abruptly paused, a subtle gleam flashing across his eyes. In that split second, a thousand calculated schemes raced through his mind.
He forced a faint, slightly troubled smile. "It is nothing much."
Yuan Jiabai's worry flared; that look certainly didn't scream "nothing." This was the very first time he had ever seen such a vulnerable, bittersweet smile on the Crown Prince's face.
Seeing the boy staring at him unblinkingly, a fleeting wave of amusement danced deep within Xuan Qiao's eyes. He pushed further, murmuring evasively, "It is merely matters regarding the imperial court."
Ah, well, then there's absolutely nothing I can do about it. Yuan Jiabai wrinkled his nose. "Is it very difficult to handle?"
"Not particularly. It merely crossed my mind out of nowhere." Not wishing to overstretch the boy's anxiety, Xuan Qiao swiftly changed the subject. "Do you and your sister always interact in this manner?"
Yuan Jiabai was utterly bewildered. What exactly did "this manner" mean?
"It seems to me that you are constantly coddling her to make her smile?" At this point, Xuan Qiao’s brow pinched again, a wave of profound displeasure washing over him.
Yuan Jiabai was his slated future vassal prince; to bend so low just to placate someone was entirely unbefitting. Even if the person was his own sister, Xuan Qiao deemed it entirely unacceptable.
Had Yuan Jiabai been privy to this thought, his head would have been overflowing with question marks. When on earth did I 'lower my posture'? Why didn't anyone notify me?
"Your Highness is incredibly perceptive to notice that!" Yuan Jiabai was genuinely blown away. He had only been speaking to Yuan Yingzhao exactly as he always did. there was practically no difference from their daily routine. The Crown Prince had never even seen them interact before, yet he had picked up on it instantly.
Xuan Qiao pressed his lips thin. He truly could not comprehend it. He had imperial sisters of his own, Emperor Xiande had fathered four sons and three daughters. As the eldest son of the Empress, the rest were his juniors, but their ties were as thin as reed husks. their relationships were entirely lukewarm. Even if they had been born of the same womb, was there truly a need for such clingy affection?
Yuan Jiabai let out a soft sigh. "Actually, there's a reason for it..." He proceeded to recount yesterday's incident to Xuan Qiao.
The exact millisecond he heard that Xuan Wen had demanded Yuan Jiabai kneel and kowtow, the Crown Prince's face went completely grim, coated in a layer of absolute permafrost.
A terrifyingly glacial aura radiated from his entire being, had anyone dared to cross him at this moment, blood would have painted the grass instantly.
Xuan Qiao turned his eyes back to Yuan Jiabai, a profound wave of protective heartache shimmering within them. "You have suffered an injustice. I have marked this down, and I will personally see to it that he pays you back in full."
Yuan Jiabai’s first instinct was to decline, not wanting the Crown Prince to make unnecessary enemies. But on second thought. wait, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were already bitter archenemies anyway!
He immediately nodded like a chick pecking at rice. "Mhm! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Xuan Qiao then beckoned to Yuan Yingzhao, who had been secretly spying on them from the rear. Once the young girl nudged her horse forward, he said, "You were also wronged yesterday. I understand you possess a passion for painting. I happen to have a few rare mineral pigments in my possession. once we return, I shall have your second brother deliver them to you."
Pigments were Yuan Yingzhao's ultimate weakness. Hearing this, her little face illuminated with pure joy, though she still instinctively checked with her second brother first. Yuan Jiabai thought about it and gave her a slight nod.
Yuan Yingzhao beamed, bowing slightly from her saddle. "Thank you so much, Your Highness!"
The Crown Prince truly is worthy of his title, the Second Prince couldn't even touch the dust beneath his horse's hooves!
Yuan Yingzhao’s mood was so soaring she felt like she could fly. Eager to return the favor, she piped up, "Your Highness, if you ever require a portrait in the future, you can always ask me! My second brother said that I am the modern-day Wu Daozi!"
Yuan Jiabai choked violently on his own spit.
Thank goodness there were no outsiders around. If anyone from the art world caught wind of this, the two of them would likely be pelted with rotten vegetable leaves.
How thick can your skin be to dare call yourself the modern Painting Saint? Where does that leave the true masters? Stone these two shameless fools to death!
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