Lin Qinghe truly had the thought of picking plum blossoms at this moment. She pulled a branch and turned back, smiling and calling out, "Zhu Hong, hurry over and help me hold this branch. It's hard for me to pick them alone."
"Yes, Sister Qinghe."
Zhu Hong stepped forward to help Lin Qinghe hold the branch. Lin Qinghe, quite pleased, picked several plum blossoms in one go.
Everyone has a love for beauty; Lin Qinghe was no exception. Looking at the plum blossoms she had picked, she thought that Xu Ling'er hadn't arrived yet. Since she had nothing else to do, she might as well climb the tree and pick more.
Besides, Xu Ling'er loved plum blossoms. Picking more and presenting them to Xu Ling'er in You Rong's name later might increase Xu Ling'er's favor towards You Rong.
Lin Qinghe stretched her limbs, stuffed the picked plum blossoms into Zhu Hong's arms, and said excitedly, "Wait for me below. I'm going up the tree to pick more."
Lin Qinghe lifted her skirt, eager to climb the tree.
Seeing this, You Rong frowned and stopped her, saying, "If you want them, let Xiao Yuzi go up and pick them for you."
Lin Qinghe was taken aback and replied in a muffled voice, "But I prefer to pick them myself. That way, I can truly experience the joy of being a 'flower thief'."
You Rong said with a hint of helplessness, "The plum tree on the right is shorter. You can reach it. If it's still too difficult, let Xiao Yuzi pull the branch down for you to pick."
The implication was that she couldn't climb the tree.
Lin Qinghe looked up at the plum blossoms on the tree and reluctantly gave up her idea of climbing. She said to Xiao Yuzi in a subdued voice, "Let's go. You go and pull the branches down for me, and I'll pick them."
Xiao Yuzi quickly responded, "Yes, Sister Qinghe."
Lin Qinghe followed Xiao Yuzi to another plum tree. Xiao Yuzi forcefully pulled a branch down, and with a slight tiptoe, she could reach it.
Although she couldn't climb the tree, she still felt she had fully experienced the joy of being a 'flower thief'.
Lin Qinghe was happily picking flowers, while the snow continued to fall heavier. Snowflakes began to land on her dark hair.
You Rong watched for a moment, then his gaze suddenly shifted to Zhu Hong.
Zhu Hong met You Rong's dark eyes and subconsciously lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze. After a moment of hesitation, she walked up to You Rong, curtsied, and asked, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, do you have any instructions for this servant?"
You Rong nodded, "Put on the cloak you brought with you."
Zhu Hong was secretly surprised that You Rong cared so much for Lin Qinghe.
Zhu Hong quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Zhu Hong went behind Lin Qinghe, shook out a red cloak, and draped it over Lin Qinghe's shoulders. Lin Qinghe froze, turned her head, and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
Zhu Hong explained, "It's snowing, and the weather is cold. His Highness the Crown Prince asked this servant to give this cloak to Sister Qinghe."
Lin Qinghe looked up at You Rong. His expression was indifferent, and he stood with his hands behind his back not far away, his thoughts unreadable.
Why would he have someone give her a cloak?
Lin Qinghe thought and thought but couldn't come up with a reason. She decided to stop thinking about it and continued picking her plum blossoms. When she had picked to her heart's content, she asked Xiao Yuzi and Zhu Hong to help tidy them up. Holding one plum blossom, she returned to You Rong's side.
You Rong looked down at her and said calmly, "Finished picking?"
"Mhm! I picked quite a lot. I'll take them back to the Eastern Palace later and put them in your study and sleeping quarters. They'll surely look beautiful!" Lin Qinghe thought to herself, *When your wife appears, you can give some to her to win her favor.*
You Rong remained silent, implicitly agreeing with Lin Qinghe's words.
Lin Qinghe suddenly noticed quite a few snowflakes clinging to You Rong's hair. Without thinking, she instinctively tugged at his sleeve and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please lower your head. This servant will help you brush off the snow from your hair."
As if compelled by some unseen force, You Rong's mind hadn't caught up before his body moved. He actually bent down and lowered his head, allowing Lin Qinghe to gently pat away the snow from his hair.
They were very close. He could smell the faint, delicate fragrance emanating from her. In that instant, his heart pounded violently, and his hands involuntarily clenched slightly.
Lin Qinghe lightly brushed the snow from You Rong's hair and didn't notice his unusual reaction. She took a step back, her eyes smiling, and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, all done!"
You Rong gazed at Lin Qinghe, his thin lips tightening slightly, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if something was churning his heart into disarray.
Lin Qinghe blinked her clear, bright eyes in confusion, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, what's wrong? Why aren't you speaking?"
"I..."
He had only spoken half a sentence when a voice from afar interrupted him, "Sister, you walk too fast. I can barely keep up with you."
A gentle female voice followed, "Xu Yi, it's you who are walking too slowly. How can you blame me for walking fast? You're a grown man, eight feet tall, yet you can't even keep up with a weak woman like me. And you have the nerve to say that? I don't care about you anymore. I heard the plum blossoms in front of Yue Xuan Hall are blooming beautifully. I must go see them first!"
Following the sound, a woman in a light green dress, holding an umbrella, walked quickly towards them, with a handsome young man following behind.
Lin Qinghe's eyes lit up when she saw her.
It was Xu Ling'er!
She had finally arrived!
After teasing her younger brother Xu Yi, Xu Ling'er looked back and saw You Rong and Lin Qinghe and the others. She was startled, seemingly not expecting to encounter anyone here.
It was Xu Yi who caught up and recognized You Rong. He quickly pulled Xu Ling'er forward to bow before You Rong.
"Your subject Xu Yi pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" Xu Yi said, "This is my elder sister, Xu Ling'er. She has lived in Jiangnan for a long time and has only recently returned to the capital. She is unfamiliar with Your Highness the Crown Prince and has been remiss in her manners. I beg Your Highness the Crown Prince to forgive her."
Reminded by Xu Yi, Xu Ling'er snapped back to reality and quickly curtsied, "This humble woman pays her respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."
You Rong's expression was indifferent. He nodded slightly, "Lord Xu, Miss Xu, there is no need for such formalities."
"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Xu Yi pulled Xu Ling'er, feeling a bit awkward and unsure of what to do. Xu Yi then said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, my sister and I still need to pay our respects to our aunt. We will take our leave now."
You Rong nodded.
As Xu Yi pulled Xu Ling'er to leave, Lin Qinghe naturally wouldn't let Xu Ling'er and You Rong simply pass each other by.
She quickly stepped forward and said, "This servant just overheard that Miss Xu likes plum blossoms. By coincidence, His Highness the Crown Prince is also here to pick plum blossoms to take back to the Eastern Palace to adorn his sleeping quarters. I didn't expect to pick so many. If Miss Xu doesn't mind, perhaps you would like to take a few branches? Otherwise, such delicate and beautiful plum blossoms would be wasted."
Mentioning plum blossoms, Xu Ling'er's demeanor clearly changed. Looking at You Rong, a hint of happiness appeared on her face, "His Highness the Crown Prince also likes plum blossoms?"
Before You Rong could answer, Lin Qinghe eagerly spoke for him, "Plum blossoms bloom proudly in the snow, they are the gentlemen among flowers. Our Crown Prince, naturally, is fond of them."
Xu Ling'er's gaze towards You Rong was filled with unconcealed joy.
She was naturally happy to have found a kindred spirit.
Xu Ling'er curtsied again and said, "Then this humble woman will respectfully accept your kind offer. Many thanks to Your Highness the Crown Prince for the flowers."