Chapter 33: Pouring Wine

Zhao Yan also refused to show weakness, maintaining a smile as she locked eyes with him.

His hand on her waist tightened like a warning, but Zhao Yan subtly shifted and couldn’t break free.

They stood facing each other, seemingly full of affection, but actually secretly competing. Through the gap in their expressions, a warm light flickered, revealing the elegant and cold face of Zhou Wanlan.

The people passing by on the bridge were blurry, and he showed no interest in the worldly hustle and bustle. He nodded slightly with indifference and dignity, bidding farewell and leaving.

Zhao Yan was the first to look away, reminding Wen Renlin softly by holding his arm, “Zhou Wanlan has already left.”

Wen Renlin repeated it with a raised eyebrow, then lightly touched the back of her neck with his hand.

Zhao Yan felt a chill on her neck and instinctively covered the spot where he had touched her. Wen Renlin, on the other hand, concealed his expression and, with eyes darker than the night, turned and walked away.

The wind filled their sleeves, blowing a few red and white peonies and jasmines from the basket. Zhao Yan paused for a moment, then hurried to catch up.

As the city gate was about to close, Cai Tian had ordered the guards to prepare the carriage to continue the journey.

Zhao Yan bent down and climbed into the carriage. As soon as the curtain fell, she eagerly took off her hat to catch her breath.

The mirror on the table in front of Wen Renlin had been removed, replaced by seven or eight plates of freshly steaming dishes.

Having spent time by the Empress Dowager’s side, Zhao Yan had learned how to appreciate fine vegetarian dishes. For example, the seemingly ordinary clear tofu soup by Wen Renlin’s side was actually made from freshly chopped chicken mixed with delicate tofu, and the clear broth was simmered with precious ingredients and pork bones. Just the smell alone was incredibly appetizing.

Zhao Yan was surprised by Wen Renlin’s exquisite and light cuisine. She had thought someone like him would enjoy indulging in meat and blood, even if he wasn’t the monstrous figure portrayed in the stories.

She sat down quietly and set the flower basket aside. Wen Renlin didn’t even glance at her, focusing solely on wiping his hands with a damp cloth. Zhao Yan was indeed hungry. After quickly wiping her hands, she picked up a jade spoon and served herself some soup.

The clinking of the spoon against the bowl was audible, and Wen Renlin finally looked up. After a moment, he asked, “Is it delicious?”

“I never noticed before, Your Highness can be so obedient and submissive.”

Zhao Yan held the small bowl with both hands, tilting her head slightly, realizing he was referring to the joke about serving wine earlier.

“Wasn’t it the Grand Tutor who said I should… play the role of a beautiful concubine?”

She remembered something and looked incredulous, “Doesn’t the Grand Tutor like obedient people?”

Wen Renlin watched as Zhao Yan finished her soup and then went for the delicate fish with her chopsticks. Tugging at his lips, he said, “It’s just that when others are not around, Your Highness doesn’t seem so obedient.”

Following his gaze, Zhao Yan saw the table full of delicacies she had gathered, and her eyelashes trembled. She indeed lacked experience in serving others. Accustomed to putting herself first in eating, drinking, and having fun, she had forgotten that Wen Renlin hadn’t touched his chopsticks yet.

Trying to make up for her mistake, Zhao Yan picked up another clean pair of chopsticks and picked up a few dishes. She gently pushed the bowl with the protruding rim towards him and rested the chopsticks on the jade chopstick rest.

With a hand on his forehead, Wen Renlin watched the less-than-appetizing food in the bowl for a moment before saying, “Wine.”

Zhao Yan poured another cup of wine. This time, she learned from her mistake and held the cup directly to his lips. Unexpectedly, the rough night road caused the carriage to hit a stone. In the sudden jolt, Zhao Yan instinctively reached out and steadied herself on Wen Renlin’s shoulder.

As a result, half of the wine spilled onto her hand, and the other half dripped down his robe, creating a dark wet mark…

Wen Renlin looked at the wine stain on his clothes, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Zhao Yan quickly withdrew her hand, hesitating whether to find a handkerchief to wipe it for him, when she felt a warm touch on the back of her hand. She saw Wen Renlin leaning down calmly, lightly pressing his lips against the few drops of wine residue on her right hand, savoring them leisurely.

Zhao Yan was stunned, feeling as if her hand was burning where his lips had touched.

Zhao Yan cleared her throat.

Whether it was a misconception or not, whenever she thought she had a small victory, Wen Renlin always found a way to turn the tables, making her unable to resist with his righteous demeanor.

Feeling somewhat stiff, Zhao Yan sat back in her seat and slammed her cup onto the table, determined to ignore this cunning fellow and focus on eating from her own bowl.

A ripple of emotion flashed in Wen Renlin’s eyes as he also picked up his chopsticks and picked out a piece of tender tofu from the pile of protruding jade bowls, then sent it into his mouth.

Fresh, fragrant.

…

The carriage rushed out of the city gate just before it closed, and after nearly an hour on the mountain road, they arrived at Yuquan Palace.

At that time, the palace was still in disarray, with palace servants coming and going, moving chests and boxes. Even the lanterns hadn’t been fully prepared, so there weren’t many people paying attention to Zhao Yan’s return in the dim light.

Before the carriage had even come to a stop, Liu Ying waiting anxiously outside the gate came forward to greet them. With a bow, they said, “Your Highness, Miss He is here to offer condolences by order. Taking into account Your Highness’s fatigue, I temporarily settled her in the Guanyun Hall.”

Zhao Yan hadn’t expected the people sent by her father and the Empress to monitor her to arrive so quickly. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Entering through the main gate might cause too much commotion. Is there another entrance we can use?”

The Liu Ying replied, “The north corner gate is close to the Guanyun Hall.”

Zhao Yan nodded and ordered, “Dismiss any irrelevant attendants and prepare a wet cloth and clean clothes for wiping the face. I’ll go.”

After the Liu Ying left, Zhao Yan turned to the guards accompanying the carriage and said, “Go to the corner gate, and be quiet.”

The guards seemed hesitant and didn’t move. It dawned on Zhao Yan that these guards were all under Wen Renlin’s command and naturally wouldn’t listen to her.

She leaned against the carriage window and glanced back at Wen Renlin with a pleading look.

“Didn’t you hear what His Highness said?” Wen Renlin finally spoke.

The carriage immediately started moving, smooth and swift. His casually spoken words had more effect than Zhao Yan’s urgent orders.

Entering through the corner gate, there was indeed only the Liu Ying waiting there with towels and clothes.

Without bidding farewell to Wen Renlin, Zhao Yan jumped off the carriage. As she passed through the corridors, she casually removed her hat and hairpins, then took the towel silently handed to her by the Liu Ying to wipe off the makeup on her face. She let down her hair and tied it up with a jade hairpin.

Entering through the back door of the Guanyun Hall, she had just taken off her outer garments when she heard the voice of Miss He approaching: “…No need to wake His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Let the imperial physician take his pulse first to confirm His Highness’s safety before I report back to the palace.”

There was no time to change into proper attire. With the help of the Liu Ying, Zhao Yan hastily wrapped her chest, put on a simple garment, and without even taking off her skirt completely, she slipped into the inner room. Only her head peeped out from behind the tightly drawn curtains.

Almost at the same time, the female official and the imperial physician entered the hall one after another.

“Miss He, physician Zhang.”

Zhao Yan nodded to the female official and Zhang Xu, then, hidden behind the curtains, discreetly kicked off the hem of her skirt that had piled up around her ankles.

“Has His Highness awakened?”

Miss He was surprised and bowed. Seeing the little crown prince with rosy cheeks, his hair and clothes slightly disheveled, he indeed looked like he had just woken up from a nap, which eased her worries.

“Just woke up.”

Zhao Yan pretended to scold Liu Ying, “Miss He is the most trusted person by the Empress. Why didn’t you wake me up when she arrived?”

Miss He hurriedly said, “It took half a day to travel from the imperial city to here, and His Highness must have been tired. I dared not disturb him. However, the Empress and His Majesty are concerned about His Highness and instructed me to make sure the imperial physician checks his pulse before reporting back to the palace.”

Zhao Yan expressed understanding and obediently extended a hand from behind the curtains, looking at Zhang Xu, “Thank you for your trouble, physician Zhang.”

Zhang Xu bowed and then paused.

Following his gaze, Zhao Yan was surprised to find that in her haste, she had forgotten to remove the small handcrafted bracelet of fresh jasmine flowers. Fortunately, Zhang Xu was on her side. He took out a soft and thin silk cloth, gently covering Zhao Yan’s wrist to hide the wilted jasmine bracelet.

After examining the pulse, he withdrew his hand and said, “His Highness should soak in the hot spring for fifteen minutes every day to gradually expel internal toxins. As the hot springs are quite warm in summer, I will prescribe some cooling remedies as well.”

Zhao Yan immediately pulled back her hand. Zhang Xu swiftly wrote down the prescriptions, which included plum soup and sweet iced drinks like Su Mountain Ice.

Miss He was completely relieved, bid farewell, and hurried back to the palace to report.

With the danger averted, Zhao Yan breathed a sigh of relief and tugged at her sticky clothes, saying, “Liu Ying, where is the hot spring pool?”

Liu Ying replied, “There are Dragon and Phoenix pools. Which one does Your Highness want to use?”

Zhao Yan wasn’t accustomed to bathing with others. Thinking of the troublesome miss He who used to stick to the Crown Prince, she immediately replied, “The men’s side. Leave the Phoenix pool to you all. Since we’re leaving the palace, there’s no need to be so formal. You and miss He can relax.”

Miss He was indeed a difficult person. She used to cling to the Crown Prince. It was inevitable that she would do something inappropriate.

Liu Ying nodded, “I’ll go make arrangements.”

“Wait a moment.”

Zhao Yan turned around and took out a bunch of pink and white roses and a sachet from the basket she had brought back earlier, handing them over.

“I bought these from the market. Wishing you good health on the Dragon Boat Festival.” She smiled lightly.

Liu Ying was stunned for a moment, then solemnly accepted the bouquet and sachet with both hands, holding the blessing carefully in her palms and said softly, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Zhao Yan waved her hand. Once she relaxed, she felt sleepy. Rubbing her eyes, she said, “I should thank you. Liu Ying, you should smile more. It must be tiring to keep a straight face all the time.”

Liu Ying nodded obediently, “Yes.”

Then she realized that her reaction was too distant and formal. She wanted to be as friendly as Liu Ji, but couldn’t cross the line of “master and servant.” She felt at a loss for what to do.

She simply bowed and almost fled.

Under the bright moonlight, Liu Ying looked at the vibrant bouquet in her hand, letting the cool night breeze blow away the heat on her face.

“Smile more, Liu Ying.”

Once, a gentle and fragile young boy had said this to her.

He had also stood on the veranda of the summer resort, counting Liu Ying in the courtyard and telling her, “Don’t envy Liu Ji, and don’t feel inferior because you can’t fight alongside me. Look, Liu Ying doesn’t compete with the stars and moon, yet, small as it is, it can still illuminate an inch of the night sky.”

But later, her moon fell.

There was no more gentle moonlight in the world, nurturing the lonely and humble Liu Ying. She thought she would be lost in the darkness, silently dying with regret and resentment, until she welcomed another proud and resilient little sun…

Liu Ying tucked the sachet into her chest, her solemn expression gradually firming.

She might not have Liu Ji’s talent for strategy, to stand proudly by the side of the prince. But at least now, she had found her own place.

…

The Dragon Pool hot spring was located behind the Guanyun Hall. Zhao Yan yawned lightly and dismissed the palace maids holding lanterns, saying, “You can all leave. Leave the clothes outside the room.”

The eunuch took the order, placed the clothes on the couch outside, and then exited, closing the door. Zhao Yan lifted the curtain under the carved moon gate and continued to walk inside, where warm yellow lights mixed with humid steam wafted towards her. 

By the sparkling Dragon Pool hot spring, Wen Renlin was lighting the last flower-shaped copper lamp.

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