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墨書 Inktalez
The three of them chatted happily for a while. From Prince Qin Yan, they learned that Zhen'er was a common girl he had met during a palace outing a year ago. She was smart, beautiful, talented, and very well-behaved. Despite knowing him for so long, she had never once asked the prince for anything. He had planned to bring her back to the palace as Consort Qin when the time was right, but unfortunately, this idea was abruptly halted by the Empress. The reason was simple: Zhen'er was just a commoner and unworthy of becoming the future Empress. As a result, Prince Qin Yan found himself at an impasse with the Empress but ultimately had to comply with royal regulations, maintaining only contact with Zhen'er.
“Seventh Sister, Zhen'er has refused to see me for quite some time,” Qin Yan said, losing his previous playful demeanor and becoming somewhat melancholic, his eyes devoid of focus. “She and I are from two different worlds; it's impossible for us to be together. It’s better to end it quickly than to prolong the pain; we shouldn’t meet again.”
As the conversation progressed, the prince's voice grew heavier and more somber, becoming difficult to hear if one wasn't paying close attention.
“It is indeed painful not to be with someone you like,” Yun Kexin said, gazing intently at the prince and softly comforting him. “But since this has been an unchanging rule of the royal family since ancient times, there’s not much that can be done! What if she were to become a consort?”
“I can't bear to let her become a consort,” the prince said, his gaze fixed on a point on the table, his expression gloomy and irritated. “What ridiculous royal rules! Once I become emperor, the first thing I will do is abolish these oppressive regulations—”
“Prince!” Tong Zhichen interrupted with a frown, tugging at Qin Yan's sleeve forcefully and raising his voice. “Walls have ears; some things should just be kept in your heart and not spoken aloud…” He stopped abruptly.
Before this moment, Yun Kexin had admired Tong Zhichen's vast knowledge; it seemed he had read every book and understood every principle. Whenever she came to Tong Mansion for lessons and encountered something she didn't understand, it was always Tong Zhichen who explained it to her.
Seeing him today made her even more impressed by his calmness and self-restraint. She envied his friendship with the prince; no wonder the prince trusted him so much to keep him company—not just as a study companion but also as someone who could “put out fires” and serve as a “warning bell.” It was rare for someone so young to possess such awareness of protecting their master.
“Alright, you have some guts,” Prince Qin Yan said, appearing impatient and disdainful on the surface but feeling grateful in his heart that Tong Zhichen could remind him at crucial moments to temper his anger. “No need for that; it's pointless.”
Tong Zhichen smiled gently and turned to look at the bright sunshine outside. “The weather is really nice today; staying cooped up inside feels like a waste. Why don’t we go outside and have some fun?”
“Sure, let’s go together,” Yun Kexin replied. Previously, she would return home right after class whenever she visited Tong Mansion, but seeing the prince in such a gloomy mood made her want to keep him company. She propped her chin on her hands and asked, “What shall we play?”
“Kick the shuttlecock!” Tong Zhichen suggested without hesitation.
“Why do you always pick such ‘feminine’ games? Can't you choose something more manly?” Qin Yan scoffed dismissively. “Let’s play cuju; running around would be good.”
“But Yun Kexin is a girl,” Tong Zhichen said with an embarrassed smile. “Cuju might tire her out; let’s stick to something lighter.”
“You really know how to care for others,” the prince teased as he glanced at Tong Zhichen mockingly. “Fine then, we’ll kick the shuttlecock; it’s also Zhen'er’s favorite game… Let’s go.”
Prince Qin Yan was the first to leave his seat and walk out of the door. Yun Kexin and Tong Zhichen exchanged smiles: at least the prince seemed to be feeling better now.
The three of them were playing shuttlecock in the yard, having a great time. Surprisingly, the Crown Prince, who seemed uninterested in the game, turned out to be the best player among them. Tong Zhichen and Yun Kexin both laughed at how well he had been "trained" by Zhen'er. They moved on to various kicking styles: side kicks, back kicks, reverse kicks, and so on. Most of these were demonstrated by Yun Kexin while the Crown Prince and Tong Zhichen watched from the side, occasionally clapping and cheering. This was the most relaxed Yun Kexin had ever felt in her life, and she was thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Crown Prince, Young Master Tong, aren't you going to play?" Yun Kexin paused, holding the shuttlecock as she walked over to them with a smile. "It's no fun if I'm the only one playing."
"We can't keep up with you," Tong Zhichen joked. "Seeing you have fun makes us happy too." Then he recalled how Yun Kexin referred to him and hesitated slightly before saying, "Yun Kexin, can you just call me 'Brother Tong' from now on? It's a bit awkward with all this 'Young Master' business."
"Sure!" Yun Kexin replied cheerfully, showing her cute white teeth. "Brother Tong, as long as Lord Tong doesn't mind."
"I don't mind; it's my own preference." Yun Kexin's straightforwardness made Tong Zhichen feel both pleased and shy.
In the meantime, Yun Kexin had already walked to the center of the courtyard to continue playing shuttlecock. However, she suddenly froze in place when she caught sight of someone standing at the entrance—Feng Yinxiao. He had been watching for quite some time without interrupting because he saw her having so much fun, her smile so sweet, and her kicking style both lively and graceful. He couldn't bear to disturb her and simply kept his dark eyes fixed on her figure as she moved back and forth with the shuttlecock.
But when she suddenly stopped and noticed him, their eyes met for a brief moment. Feng Yinxiao felt a sense of being caught off guard; after a shy smile, he quickly walked over.
"Greetings to the Crown Prince," Feng Yinxiao knelt on one knee, supporting himself with one hand on the ground before bowing to Qin Yan. "I saw everyone enjoying themselves and didn't dare to interrupt, so I stood at the gate for a while without approaching to pay my respects. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"Commander need not be overly polite," the Crown Prince said as he gestured for him to rise.
"Prince Xie," Feng Yinxiao stood up.
"Greetings to Young Lord!" Tong Zhichen greeted him politely with a cupped fist.
"Young Master Tong is too courteous," Feng Yinxiao humbly returned the gesture while explaining to the three of them, "I originally came to find Seventh Sister at Duke of E State Mansion for something, but I learned from someone at Third House that she was attending class at Tong Mansion, so I came here instead. I hope I haven't disturbed your enjoyment."
"What does Young Lord need Seventh Sister for?" the Crown Prince asked.
Yun Kexin knew why Feng Yinxiao was looking for her but didn't want him to say it in front of the Crown Prince and Tong Zhichen. Just as she was about to interject, Feng Yinxiao seemed to understand her thoughts and smiled as he said:
"It's just a small matter, nothing significant... The Crown Prince has been out of the palace for quite some time; I should escort you back to avoid worrying His Majesty and the Empress."
"Alright, let's head back to the palace," the Crown Prince said helplessly, shrugging his shoulders as he glanced at Tong Zhichen and Yun Kexin, smiling, "Don't forget our agreement."
"Your Highness, don't forget what you promised me," Yun Kexin reminded him with a smile, "Hmm?"
Without thinking, Qin Yan reached out to pat Yun Kexin's head a few times, laughing, "Don't worry, girl."
That kind of "intimacy" made Feng Yinxiao's heart skip a beat: Does the Crown Prince like Yun Kexin?
"Seventh Sister, wait for a moment at Tong Mansion. I'll send the Crown Prince back to the palace and then come find you," Feng Yinxiao said.
"Yes, Young Lord," Yun Kexin replied with a gentle smile.
An hour later, Feng Yinxiao returned to Tong Mansion from the Palace and saw Yun Kexin and Tong Zhichen already back inside, both chatting while reading, looking quite comfortable with each other.
This was one of the few times since he met her that he didn't have to be on edge around people or matters. He wanted her to have some peace before facing the scheming and hidden dangers back at home. However, upon glancing up, he realized it was getting late and there were important matters at hand that couldn't be delayed.
"Yun Kexin," Feng Yinxiao called lightly as he stood straight at the door, "Ready to go back?"
Yun Kexin looked up and smiled, "Let's head back now." She stood up and said to Tong Zhichen, "Brother Tong, it's getting late. I need to go back. Let's discuss this together next time in class, okay?"
Tong Zhichen smiled gracefully, "Sure... Also, if you want to read any books, don't hesitate to ask me. The collection at Tong Mansion is enough for you."
"I know, Brother Tong. Yun Kexin bids farewell for now."
Feng Yinxiao, who had previously hoped that Yun Kexin would stay a little longer, now wished she would hurry back with him. Hearing her call out "Brother Tong" made him feel quite uncomfortable and even a bit sour: Why can't she be as natural with him as she is with the Crown Prince and Tong Zhichen? It always gave him a sense of "self-restraint." He considered himself not a serious person.
The two shared a carriage driven by Attendant Ma Minghao. On the way back home, Feng Yinxiao couldn't help but ask how Yun Kexin met the Crown Prince since she was going to pay her respects.
Yun Kexin playfully shrank her head and laughed as she explained the story of the Seven-Colored Glass Beads to Feng Yinxiao. He also laughed along; the longer he knew her, the more he discovered that beneath her cold exterior was a kind and passionate heart. The deeper their relationship grew, the more he found himself captivated by her innocent charm and her clever yet bold personality.
“Yun Kexin, are you very close to His Highness and Tong Zhichen?” Just thinking about the various experiences at Tong Mansion made Feng Yinxiao's heart feel like it was being scratched by a cat.
“What about it?” Yun Kexin frowned and stared out the car window. “The Crown Prince and Brother Tong have been my best friends and playmates since I was little. I'm very happy when I'm with them.”
“What about me?” Feng Yinxiao turned around, staring at Yun Kexin, nervously asking.
“Young Lord is the same.” Yun Kexin suddenly became shy, her eyes looking down at the car seat, her voice expressing, “Since we met in Fan City, you've always been by my side.”
Especially when she thought of Feng Yinxiao's deep feelings for her in her past life, Yun Kexin felt even more nervous and shy.
Her bashful profile, her reserved tone, and the way she carried herself were completely different from how she acted in front of the Crown Prince and Tong Zhichen, making Feng Yinxiao's heart race.
“Yun Kexin, look at me,” Feng Yinxiao gently commanded. “Why can't you call me 'Brother Feng' as naturally as you do with Tong Zhichen? Even privately, you rarely call me that.”
“I…” Yun Kexin was at a loss for words, racking her brain for an answer. “Because you are Young Lord.”
“Then don't treat me as Young Lord, just think of me as a friend,” he gazed at her, looking deeply into her clear eyes. His steady voice carried a slight tremor, along with a childlike coaxing that he only showed when facing her. “A friend you can share your thoughts with, okay?”
“Okay.” Yun Kexin realized she simply couldn't handle a usually decisive man suddenly becoming as gentle as a cat; it would make any girl’s heart flutter and daydream.
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