You Rong's bedchamber.
With a creak, the door was pushed open.
Lin Qinghe cautiously peeked her head inside. You Rong was discussing matters with Wang Gongyang. Hearing the sound, both of them turned their heads.
Upon seeing Lin Qinghe, Wang Gongyang immediately became agitated, like a fox whose tail had been stepped on, and blurted out, "Audacious servant! This is the Crown Prince's bedchamber! How dare you enter without permission! Guards, drag her out and give her fifty lashes..."
Wang Gongyang's words were interrupted by You Rong's cold command, "Wang Gongyang, be silent!"
Wang Gongyang shivered in fear, looking at You Rong with a mixture of apprehension and grievance, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, it's this servant Lin Qinghe..." Receiving You Rong's icy stare, his voice instantly lowered, "She is too ill-mannered. I wanted to discipline her so that she wouldn't be lawless in the Eastern Palace later on..."
You Rong said coldly, "Withdraw."
Wang Gongyang was about to say more, but You Rong narrowed his eyes warningly. He immediately got scared and quickly said, "Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Wang Gongyang bowed and retreated to stand behind You Rong.
Seeing this, Lin Qinghe knew very well why Wang Gongyang hated her so much. She shrugged helplessly.
How could she explain that the person who poisoned You Rong and treated him with utmost humiliation was not the same soul? If she said it, no one would believe her.
Little did she know, her demeanor appeared as smugness and provocation to Wang Gongyang, which infuriated him greatly.
This wicked servant is truly not a good person!
Lin Qinghe was preoccupied with important matters and had no time to deal with Wang Gongyang. She walked up to You Rong, curtsied, and paid her respects, "Your humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
You Rong gave a faint "Hmm" and subtly appraised Lin Qinghe from head to toe, saying, "I told you, you don't need to be on duty these two days."
Lin Qinghe wore a fawning smile, "Your humble servant knows. Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince, for your thoughtfulness. However, your humble servant is here to ask if you are free tomorrow afternoon?"
You Rong raised an eyebrow slightly, "What for?"
Lin Qinghe naturally couldn't directly say, "To take you to find your wife."
Her dark eyes rolled around, and she said, "Your humble servant heard that the plum blossoms outside Moon Pavilion have bloomed. Your humble servant wants to pick a few branches to place in Your Highness the Crown Prince's bedchamber. Can Your Highness accompany your humble servant there tomorrow?"
Before You Rong could speak, Wang Gongyang on the side couldn't help but exclaim, "Audacious! Such trivial matters should not trouble the Crown Prince! If you want to go, you can go by yourself. His Highness the Crown Prince has no time for you!"
Lin Qinghe was so angry her teeth itched, but she refrained from acting out in front of You Rong.
She said to Wang Gongyang with a strained smile, "Eunuch Wang, your humble servant is thinking for Your Highness the Crown Prince. Lately, Your Highness has been studying tirelessly in the study. Your humble servant is afraid that Your Highness will overwork himself, so I thought a little relaxation would be beneficial."
Wang Gongyang: "Nonsense! You clearly want to go yourself! Moreover, His Majesty ordered the Crown Prince to be in the Eastern Palace tomorrow..."
You Rong let out a displeased "Hmm?" Wang Gongyang's words abruptly stopped, and he retreated to the side dejectedly.
You Rong's gaze returned to Lin Qinghe, and after a moment of thought, he said, "You want to go?"
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously, "Yes, your humble servant wants to go!"
You Rong pursed his lips and said lightly, "It just so happens that I have nothing to do tomorrow. I will take you."
Lin Qinghe: "Really?"
You Rong: "Mm."
Lin Qinghe was overjoyed, her eyes curved into crescents, and she smiled, "Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your humble servant will come find you again tomorrow. For now, I will not disturb your conversation with Eunuch Wang. Your humble servant will withdraw first."
After Lin Qinghe left, You Rong, without even realizing it, curved his lips into a doting smile, "It's just going to pick a few plum blossoms, and she's so happy..."
Wang Gongyang stood by, both astonished and worried.
He was astonished that You Rong was so doting towards a woman!
He was worried that the woman was Lin Qinghe!
Wang Gongyang felt that their Crown Prince had been completely infatuated with Lin Qinghe, and was afraid he would be deceived by her.
Wang Gongyang intended to advise You Rong, but before he could speak, You Rong saw through his thoughts. Without a word, You Rong sent him off to attend to some business.
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The following afternoon.
Lin Qinghe arrived at You Rong's bedchamber punctually and asked eagerly and excitedly, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, shall we depart now to pick plum blossoms at Moon Pavilion? Are you ready?"
You Rong put down his book and stood up from his desk. He was dressed in white, with a handsome face and an elegant and noble demeanor. At first glance, Lin Qinghe was captivated and lost in thought.
You Rong said in a low voice, "Mm, let's go. Aren't we going to Moon Pavilion to pick plum blossoms? Why are you standing there blankly?"
Lin Qinghe snapped back to attention, quickly lowered her head, concealing a flicker of strangeness in her heart, and said, "Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Let's go now, let's go now..."
You Rong nodded slightly and walked ahead, with Lin Qinghe following closely behind. Xiao Yuzi and Zhu Hong, seeing this, also hurried to catch up.
Lin Qinghe followed behind You Rong, secretly scolding herself.
You Rong's face is indeed handsome! But do you have to be so stunned!
Don't forget, he's your arch-enemy! Fortunately, you are currently in the system, and You Rong has lost his self-awareness. Otherwise, if he knew you were staring at his face, he would definitely mock you to death!
Lin Qinghe shook the chaotic thoughts out of her mind, took a deep breath, and brought her thoughts back to the main issue.
She lowered her gaze slightly, her expression thoughtful.
It takes about fifteen minutes to walk from the Eastern Palace to Moon Pavilion. The reason she asked You Rong to accompany her to Moon Pavilion to pick plum blossoms was, naturally, for a purpose.
The plum trees outside Moon Pavilion were blooming beautifully. Everyone in the palace knew that Xu Ling'er, who loved plum blossoms, would definitely want to see them. Secondly, Xu Ling'er, who had been recuperating in Jiangnan due to illness, had recently returned to the capital and entered the palace. Logically, she should visit her aunt, Consort Shu.
And to go to the palace where Consort Shu resided, one had to pass by Moon Pavilion. Therefore, Lin Qinghe calculated the timing, using picking plum blossoms as an excuse to bring You Rong here, with the intention of letting him "accidentally" meet Xu Ling'er.
Upon arriving at Moon Pavilion, as expected, the plum blossoms were blooming brilliantly, their pink petals dotting the branches, looking exceptionally beautiful.
You Rong stopped and said in a deep voice, "We're here."
Lin Qinghe, her mind focused on matchmaking You Rong and Xu Ling'er, had no intention of admiring the plum blossoms. However, upon looking up, she couldn't help but be amazed by the beautiful scenery before her.
Just then, small white snowflakes began to fall from the sky.
The snowflakes fluttered down, landing on the vibrant and delicate plum blossoms. At this moment, it was like a scene from a fairy land.
Lin Qinghe couldn't help but sigh, "So beautiful..."
You Rong lowered his gaze. The woman was wearing a light pink dress, her face delicate and beautiful, her skin as white as snow, her eyes bright and teeth white, her brows slightly curved, and a faint smile on her lips.
You Rong's heart skipped a beat, and a saying involuntarily came to his mind.
A woman more beautiful than flowers could not be more so.