Chapter 52: Makeup Lesson

But since teaching was mentioned, Zhao Yan keenly caught the underlying meaning.

“So, will the Grand Preceptor still come to Chongwen Hall to teach?” she asked, her eyes reflecting the bright lamplight.

Before going to Yuquan Palace, Wen Renlin’s visits to Chongwen Hall for teaching became increasingly rare, and in recent days, he was nowhere to be seen. Zhao Yan felt somewhat uneasy. Publicly and privately, there was no one more suitable for the position of Grand Tutor than Wen Renlin.

Wen Renlin’s lips twitched slightly, and his frost-white fingers rested on the armrest.

Having just suppressed the cold venom, he didn’t want to get close to anyone tonight, so most of the playful words just now were deliberately said.

According to the usual temperament of the this cold prince, he would have left in annoyance, but today he didn’t. Standing in the lamplight, his slender figure exuded a calm tranquility.

Wen Renlin found it rare and asked in response, “Is Your Highness looking forward to it, or not?”

There was a hint of playful mockery in his eyes, as if regardless of whether the answer was “yes” or “no”, it would still fall into the trap he had set in advance.

Naturally, Zhao Yan wouldn’t fall for it again, so she raised her eyes and showed some distress, saying, “Assistant Minister Jin’s lectures are lengthy and obscure, really hard to understand. Since I’m already in this position, I still want to learn something.”

Wen Renlin looked into her eyes and said neither yes nor no, “Your Highness has become more diligent since returning from Yuquan Palace. I just don’t know if you’ll be equally enthusiastic about learning other things.”

“It depends on who’s teaching,” Zhao Yan bravely retorted.

Wen Renlin smiled and walked up to Zhao Yan, looking at her.

“Has Your Highness gotten rid of your leisurely days?” he asked softly, his eyes clear and moist.

Why suddenly ask this?

Caught off guard, Zhao Yan opened her mouth, unsure whether to tell the truth or pretend she hadn’t heard.

“If your health improves, I’ll teach Your Highness horse riding at the training ground tomorrow. In case of danger in the future, riding a horse is faster than running on two legs…”

As he said this, Wen Renlin subtly paused, smiling as he gazed into Zhao Yan’s evasive eyes. “Your Highness, where is your mind wandering off to?”

Zhao Yan was taken aback, a blush slowly creeping up her cheeks.

As if understanding something, Wen Renlin resumed his serious tone after a moment, “Your Highness is still weak, it’s better to wait for a couple more days.”

Zhao Yan blinked, understanding this time: Wen Renlin’s mention of “waiting a couple more days” referred to the horse riding matter.

Her thoughts wouldn’t be led astray twice, so she nodded, saying, “Alright.”

Wen Renlin’s eyes raised slightly at the corners, the smile in his eyes deepening. He reached out and adjusted Zhao Yan’s slightly askew hairpin on the carriage, “Your Highness, go back to the Eastern Palace for tonight, no need to stay over.”

Zhao Yan nodded unconsciously, but as she snapped back to reality, surprise flickered in her eyes.

Stay over? She hadn’t even thought about spending the night with him in the first place!

She wanted to explain, but whatever she said would seem like she was trying to cover up, so she could only sullenly seal her lips. Wen Renlin, with his pursed lips and bright eyes, exuded a more mature and calculating demeanor even compared to usual. He didn’t seem like someone who was sick at all.

“Seeing that the Prince Regent still has some strength left, I can rest assured.”

Zhao Yan turned away, took a few steps, then slowly stopped.

As if making a big decision, she lightly clenched her fingers and turned back, reaching out with her slender white fingers to tug at Wen Renlin’s sleeve, leaning against his shoulder. The warmth in her embrace dissipated as she quickly pulled away before Wen Renlin could react, lifting her ink-lined eyes and quickly leaving.

It was a light and reserved “embrace” of a young girl, just a fleeting touch, landing on Wen Renlin’s broad shoulders with a hint of dampness.

Wen Renlin understood that she was responding to his earlier remark, “Perhaps if Your Highness gives me a hug, I’ll feel better,” not coquettishly, but somewhat perfunctorily, yet it was genuine.

Knowing this, the slight restless irritation in his chest dissipated into nothing.

After a while, he squinted his eyes as if savoring the moment, letting out a very low laugh from his throat.

Zhao Yan returned to the carriage.

The curtain was drawn, and a flickering small lamp illuminated her delicate cheeks.

The touch on Wen Renlin just now was impulsive, even she couldn’t tell if it was personal or perfunctory. When she came back to her senses, she hadn’t even seen his expression clearly and fled in confusion.

She lifted her finger and touched her nose, as if it still carried the scent of Wen Renlin after his bath, a faint cold fragrance, almost identical to the aroma of the black-red pill she saw in the lacquered medicine box that day.

What exactly was that pill?

If Wen Renlin wasn’t truly ill, then what happened during these days he used as an excuse to avoid the palace?

The fog thickened gradually, and Zhao Yan, holding her slightly warm cheeks, felt as if the truth was within reach, furrowing her brows involuntarily.

…

Returning from the Chongwen Hall the next day, the Ministry of Rites drafted the arrangements for the Empress’s birthday banquet and handed them to Zhao Yan for review.

To say “for review” was merely a formality, as it was done under the Emperor’s order for the Crown Prince to handle, just informing her.

With the rebellion and the recent widespread concern over the disappearance of “young boys and girls,” the court believed that especially during such times, it was essential to have peace and joy, to be in harmony with the people.

The birthday celebration was trivial; the ultimate goal was to demonstrate the prosperity and stability of the country. Therefore, the documents submitted by the Ministry of Rites were extremely lengthy and tedious.

“At that time, all the royal relatives and nobles from the fiefdoms will come to the capital to celebrate. There are nearly a hundred princes and heirs to be accommodated. According to the specifications of the Ministry of Rites, just the accommodation alone has already overspent. His Majesty also followed the advice of the sage Realist Lao Shizi and insisted on the reconstruction of the Zhai Xing Pavilion in the Northern Park to pray for the unborn imperial heir of Lady Xu Wanyi…”

Sitting on the couch, Zhao Yan threw aside the document, which was more than four feet long, and complained, “This is eating tomorrow’s food today and emptying the treasury for the next three years.”

Corruption was rampant, and the kingdom of Da Xuan was being gnawed away to the point where there was no daylight. No wonder Zhao Yan was determined to be the moth that extinguished the lamp.

“It is said that Princess Shoukang and her family are on their way back to the capital and will arrive in about a fortnight.”

Liu Ying brought over some freshly chilled grapes and fanned Zhao Yan, saying, “At that time, Princess Changle will stay in the palace for a while. Her Majesty hopes that Your Highness can take care of her more.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan supported her forehead languidly. The two wrinkles of worry on her forehead deepened.

Princess Changle, Huo Zhenzhen the only daughter of Princess Shoukang and General Huo Feng, was spoiled and willful since childhood. She used to argue with Zhao Yan a lot in order to attract the attention of the Crown Prince.

Although they hadn’t seen each other for more than seven years, Zhao Yan could still remember Huo Zhenzhen’s arrogant demeanor, raising her chin and glaring at her.

Her mother asked her to take care of Princess Changle simply because General Huo had some prestige in the military and was on good terms with the father of Pei Sa, the Marquis of Jinping. Princess Shoukang, her mother, was the younger sister of the Emperor. Back then, the Emperor’s ascension to the throne couldn’t have happened without the help of her husband, General Huo Feng, and the support of the Wenren family.

Princess Changle, originally the chosen bride for the Crown Prince, was supposed to be closer to the Crown Prince than anyone else.

Now that Zhao Yan’s brother was in trouble, lady Xuanyi was pregnant, and the Huo family, this big tree, needed to be cultivated. It could strengthen the precarious Eastern Palace. To take care of the future Crown Princess for her brother, and this girl used to be her childhood nemesis, Zhao Yan felt a mixture of emotions for a moment.

But there were more pressing issues at the moment.

“For Mother’s birthday, what kind of gift did the Eastern Palace usually send in previous years?” Zhao Yan asked.

“For Princess Changfeng, it’s easy. Huayang produces jade, so pick some exquisite jade ornaments from there, and then handwrite a letter stating that you will always accompany the Empress Mother and fulfill filial piety, and it will be settled.”

It had been done like this in previous years anyway, and Mother didn’t care what she sent. But now, she was still “Crown Prince Zhao Yan,” so naturally, she had to be more careful.

Liu Ying replied, “In previous years, the birthday gift for the Empress Mother was personally prepared by the Crown Prince.”

Zhao Yan’s eyes flickered, leaning closer and whispering, “Should I mimic the Crown Prince’s handwriting and compose an article?”

Liu Ying thought for a moment and said, “Last year, the Crown Prince presented a birthday ode. This year, it cannot be the same.”

“Then what about calligraphy and painting?”

“I heard that this year, Marquis Ningyang is also preparing a longevity painting to present to the Empress. As for calligraphy and painting skills…”

Zhao Yan understood Liu Ying’s implicit meaning: her uncle, Marquis Ningyang, Wei Yan, was always skilled in calligraphy and painting. With her limited skills in this area, she couldn’t compare.

The last option was also blocked. Zhao Yan lay on the couch, tilting her head against the edge, looking up at the crisscrossing beams on the ceiling, sighing deeply.

“If Liu Ji were here, that would be great…” She unconsciously sighed.

Liu Baiwei was knowledgeable and regarded Zhao Yan as a kindred spirit. If he were by her side to advise her, he would surely come up with many good ideas. Just as she was thinking, a familiar figure appeared in her inverted field of vision.

Accompanied by the cautious announcement of the eunuch, the figure approached closer and closer until it stopped in front of Zhao Yan’s couch.

Shrouded in shadow, Wen Renlin stood with his hands behind his back, leaning over, his deep and heavy beautiful eyes gazing at Zhao Yan, asking, “Your Highness, just now, whom were you calling for?”

When he asked this question, his voice was soft and low, and there was even a faint smile on his lips.

Zhao Yan blinked and hurriedly sat up straight, turning her head to look at him.

“Today’s martial arts class has ended,” Zhao Yan said, glancing at the sky outside.

As dusk fell, it was the time when everything was settling down.

Wen Renlin sat in the chair opposite, taking the tea cup handed over by Liu Ying and rotating it between his fingers. He spoke calmly, “I promised to bring two books to the Eastern Palace and personally teach Your Highness.”

Those contents couldn’t be taught in the Chongwen Hall.

Zhao Yan was reminded by him and then noticed that there was a blue cloth-wrapped object beside Wen Renlin, which indeed contained several books…

Judging by their size and shape, they seemed quite thick.

Seeing Wen Renlin take the cloth package, Zhao Yan felt somewhat nervous for no reason. She hurriedly said, “I remember now, there is indeed this matter!”

She feared that Wen Renlin would unwrap something inappropriate in public, so she sat up straight and instructed Liu Ying, who was beside her, “You all can leave. I want to have a private lesson with the Grand Tutor.”

Liu Ying glanced at Zhao Yan, moved the lamp on the table closer, and then led the attendants to respectfully withdraw.

After the palace doors closed, Wen Renlin began to unwrap the cloth package. He took out a stack of books and illustrated volumes from a rectangular brocade box.

Glancing at them, Zhao Yan vaguely saw titles like “*Classics of** Yin” and “*Nourishing Yin*”… 

These were obviously related to the “*Classic of the Mysterious Female*”, so she knew what they were about.

Clearing her throat, Zhao Yan averted her gaze and said, “Actually, I don’t need to read these…”

“Your Highness doesn’t understand the balance of Yin and Yang, only focusing on exercising your body. When you grow older, you will understand the bitterness,” Wen Renlin leaned forward and placed the books on the bedside table, raising his eyes. “If you don’t learn now, who will you cry to in the future?”

Zhao Yan could only compromise, “Then I’ll study them in my spare time.”

Wen Renlin seemed to see through her intentions and said calmly, “The prince will also need to learn these when he grows older. Your Highness, shouldn’t feel embarrassed just because you think you’re not inferior to men.”

He casually rested his forearm on the armrest, the excellent texture of his dark-colored robe flowing. He gestured, “Pick one to start with, and if there’s anything you don’t understand, ask me.”

This was his way of supervising her studies, not allowing her to be lazy or slip away.

With no other choice, Zhao Yan reluctantly picked up a book from the pile. As she flipped through the pages, she was immediately struck by the suggestive illustrations and text, hastily closing the book and blinking rapidly.

Seeing her restless expression, Wen Renlin couldn’t help but chuckle. Despite having been intimate with her, the way she reacted was still so naive and different from her seductive appearance.

Books had to be read, and he didn’t want Zhao Yan to always be clueless and confused, making mistakes afterwards.

“If Your Highness feels embarrassed, I can explain it to you,” he reached out and took the book from Zhao Yan’s hand, half-closing his eyes as he began to read in a deep, melodious voice, “‘The Yellow Emperor said: How can one know when a woman experiences pleasure?’… It means, from which signs can one tell that a woman has experienced pleasure…”

Zhao Yan recalled some absurd scenes from the Prince Su’s residence, all of which seemed to correspond to this low, mellow voice, bringing vivid images to mind.

Yet Wen Renlin, dressed neatly and seriously, was teaching without any teasing intent.

Blushing, Zhao Yan hastily said, “I can read it myself.”

With that, she snatched the book back from Wen Renlin’s hand and pretended to read it attentively. Her eyes darted quickly, her mind in chaos, and she swallowed the words without really understanding anything.

Wen Renlin seemed to see through her facade. He plucked a grape from the fruit tray, its frosty skin glistening, and slowly peeled it before placing it into Zhao Yan’s mouth.

His fingertips, moist with juice, brushed against Zhao Yan’s lips as he said in a low voice, “Read it out loud.”

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