Chapter 443: Chapter 441: When Have I Ever Been Stingy with You?
A night of indulgence.
Because Penglai Island was a distance from the Political Discussion Hall, Lu Ying woke up just past the fourth watch to wash and prepare for court.
Fearing that he might wake Shen Yinning, the bedchamber was lit only by a few dim candles. Shadows swirled faintly in the darkness, and the palace maids and eunuchs moved with utmost care, carrying basins of hot water and other items behind the bead curtain without making a sound.
Gui Quan fastened Lu Ying’s sash and couldn’t help but steal a glance at the dark circles beneath his master’s eyes.
He couldn’t understand what his master sought. These days, he was constantly traveling between the front court and Wu’an Lake, sleeping only two hours a night. Occasionally, he would steal a short nap during lunch. Continuing like this, even a body of iron could not endure.
Lu Ying smoothed his wide sleeves.
The large bronze mirror reflected the figure of a young man dressed in imperial black robes and the Emperor’s Crown. The dark black dragon-pattern ceremonial attire spread an aura of shadow within the boudoir. Reaching out, he toyed with the beads hanging before his forehead. The chill in his narrow eyes made Gui Quan and De Sun tremble in fear.
Lu Ying walked over to the canopy bed and reached out to pull back the bed curtains.
A dense, sweet fragrance filled the space within.
She slept deeply, her dark, flowy hair scattered messily, concealing the damp tear stains on the pillow beneath.
Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, a grievance carved into her sleeping visage.
Lu Ying gently tucked the silk quilt snugly around her, leaned down, and placed a kiss on her forehead before turning to leave.
Passing her dressing table, he paused again.
He and she always had their meetings at night.
It had been a long time since he last saw her sitting before the window, adorning herself.
Lu Ying lowered his gaze to examine the exquisite array of powders and cosmetics on the table. In his mind, he pictured Shen Yinning seated before the bronze mirror, gently applying rouge to her lips.
Suddenly, he reached out and picked up a stick of jet-black eyebrow pigment.
In ancient times, it was said Zhang Chang painted his wife’s eyebrows as a gesture of romantic tenderness.
However, if she were awake, she would adamantly refuse to let him paint her brows or do her makeup.
Lu Ying returned to the canopy bed, pulling back the curtains under the faint candlelight. Leaning close, he began to paint Shen Yinning’s brows.
Gui Quan and De Sun exchanged glances over the horsetail whisk.
Painting the brows of a sleeping Commandery Princess...
Their master had completely lost it!
Lu Ying was well aware that Shen Yinning had a particular fondness for crescent moon-shaped brows this year.
He resolved to personally draw for her an unrivaled pair of crescent moon brows, so that when she looked into the mirror this morning, her mood might be brightened—and perhaps her attitude toward him might soften just a little.
Recalling the shape of her brows, he carefully sketched and painted them, but no matter how he tried, they always seemed to lack a certain spirit. Crescent-shaped brows were far harder to draw than a usual pair of willow-leaf brows. Though he prided himself on his artistry, no matter how he applied or adjusted, he still couldn’t capture the right essence.
After working on them for fifteen minutes, Lu Ying silently let down the bed curtain, placed the jet-black pigment back on the dressing table, and departed.
...
Shen Yinning slept soundly and didn’t wake until the afternoon.
Since the painting was done by Lu Ying himself, Haitang, while assisting her with cleansing during her morning routine, didn’t dare wipe away the marks on her face.
The palace maids serving in the room each kept their heads lowered, holding their breaths while focusing exclusively on their tasks, as if afraid to accidentally meet her gaze.
Shen Yinning leaned against the bedpost, satisfied and allowing them to attend to her hands.
Noticing the maids’ peculiar behavior today, she asked, "What’s wrong? Has Lu Ying been withholding your monthly wages?"
Cuicui couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter, but then quickly covered her mouth. "No... no, not at all..."
Shen Yinning frowned slightly and hurriedly rose to approach the dressing mirror.
In the bronze mirror, she saw two thick, black, and long eyebrows, their tips practically joined together!
Shen Yinning’s face darkened. She raised her hand and overturned an entire box of jet-black pigment, shouting, "Lu Ying!"
She ought to kill him!
Perhaps as an attempt to compensate, by dusk, Lu Ying visited her in haste.
He came carrying a towering stack of memorials. Gui Quan directed the small eunuchs to arrange the documents on the desk, then placed the National Seal, vermillion pen, inkstone, and other items on the table as well.
Lu Ying announced, "Tonight, I will dine with Zhaozhao."
The Poisonous Insect in Shen Yinning’s body hadn’t flared up yet.
She reclined against the window-side chaise, her expression indifferent as she gazed at the fiery clouds on the horizon. "I don’t want to dine with you."
But her words accomplished nothing.
Gui Quan and the others proceeded to set up a table of splendid dishes.
Lu Ying dismissed the attending palace servants and selected two pieces of pastry on a small plate, saying, "I remember you used to especially enjoy the golden hibiscus rolls and cherry cakes from the Imperial Kitchen. I transferred the most skilled chef in making these treats to Penglai Island; from now on, you can always have them whenever you wish."
He walked over to the window, presenting her the plate.
Shen Yinning didn’t glance at them—her eyes remained fixed on the view outside.
Lu Ying stared at her alabaster profile. "Zhaozhao."
Shen Yinning raised her hand and pushed the plate away.
The gesture caught Lu Ying off guard, and the pastries fell to the ground, shattering into numerous pieces.
Unperturbed, Shen Yinning rose, walked to the table, and, her expression cold, tugged off the tablecloth.
The exquisite golden-sandalwood carved table was instantly emptied, dishes clattering to the floor. The white jade wine vessel spilled its prized contents onto the expensive Persian carpet, filling the room with the rich and mellow fragrance of fine liquor.
She knew this wouldn’t truly harm Lu Ying, but she relished causing him this frustration.
Reclining lazily against the round table, she tilted her head with a mocking smirk. "I told you—I don’t want to dine with you."
Lu Ying looked at her.
The young woman was arrogant and unruly, her eyes full of mockery and derision, as if certain he would be powerless against her.
He set down the plate and slowly seated himself on the chaise. "Why punish yourself just to defy me? At the end of it all, you’ll only end up hungry and harming your health. If you insist on behaving this way, I’ll make sure Haitang and the others don’t eat. Even Shen Jin’an won’t be allowed to dine."
Shen Yinning’s expression shifted. "Lu Ying!"
Lu Ying tapped gently on the low table with his fingers, the cold determination in his narrow gaze revealing an unyielding obsession.
Shen Yinning took a deep breath, amending her words: "I didn’t mean I didn’t want to eat. I just don’t want to sit at the same table with you!"
Even as she spoke, she didn’t see any sign of concession from Lu Ying.
After their tense standoff dragged on, Shen Yinning finally flung her sleeves in frustration and said icily, "Tell the small kitchen to prepare another table of dishes. I’ll dine with you, then."
Cuicui led the palace maids to clean up the mess, laying out a fresh wool carpet before setting out a new table of food and drink.
Shen Yinning reluctantly took her seat, only to hear Lu Ying rebuke her, "You mustn’t waste food like this again in the future."
Shen Yinning sneered lightly, "Frugal and stingy... Truly a perfect match for Huo Mingyan."
Lu Ying choked on his breath, his chest tightening in anger.
His narrow eyes turned crimson as he demanded, "When have I ever been stingy toward you?!"
In his days as the Crown Prince, his lifestyle in the Eastern Palace was modest, save for the occasional indulgence for her. Whatever she desired, he always ensured she received it.
Now that he had ascended the throne, his own living conditions were even simpler than his father’s. His sleeping chamber lacked lavish decorations, filled only with ancient books and towering stacks of memorials. Yet her Penglai Palace was extravagant to the extreme, gilded and resplendent, each item within worth a fortune.
He questioned himself deeply, believing he had never mistreated her!
He only... He simply couldn’t bear to see her wasting food for no reason!
Knowing she was in the wrong, Shen Yinning ignored him.
Just as she was about to eat, her bowl was given a serving of chicken soup with mountain mushrooms and ham by Lu Ying.
Suppressing the anger from earlier, Lu Ying tried his best to keep his voice calm. "I tasted this soup yesterday and found the flavor extraordinarily fresh. I thought you should also try it today."
Shen Yinning pushed the bowl aside. "I don’t like it."
Lu Ying fell silent.
She didn’t dislike it.
She just didn’t want to drink something he had served her.