Gu Yun was also wondering why he had taken those portraits.
That day, he spent his time idly. Toward evening, after dinner, he remembered several books on Great Xuan agriculture that he had seen earlier in Chao Yan’s study. Since he had nothing better to do, he thought he might as well read through them again. If he needed the information later, he would not have to go back and look everything up.
He selected the books and had people carry them back to his room. As he passed the writing desk, he noticed the stack of portraits neatly arranged on top.
He stood before the desk for only a moment when Zhang Zhangshe asked whether he wanted to take them back and have a look. Perhaps he had been possessed by a moment of foolishness. In any case, he agreed.
The winter night was quiet. Candles burned silently. Wrapped in an outer robe, Gu Yun sat on the floor of the heated chamber with his chin resting in his hand, looking at the portraits.
Zhang Zhangshe came in. Picking up a pair of scissors, she trimmed the overlong candlewick. With a sharp hiss, the flame leapt higher. She then walked lightly over to Gu Yun, sat cross-legged in front of him, glanced at the pile of portraits on the floor, and asked with a smile, “Your Highness, have you finished looking through them?”
In truth, Gu Yun had not looked at a single one.
He did not understand his own motives. That was why he had brought them back, yet never opened them.
When he did not answer, Zhang Zhangshe reached out, grabbed one portrait, unfolded it, examined it, then looked at him and said, “She’s prettier than you.”
Gu Yun: “?”
Zhang Zhangshe picked up another portrait. “A heavenly maiden descended to earth. His Highness will definitely be captivated the moment he sees her.”
Gu Yun: “??”
She picked up a third portrait. “Wow, this one is even prettier. Even I’m tempted just looking at her. I only regret not being born a man.”
Gu Yun: “???”
Do you even hear yourself?
Gu Yun leaned forward to look at the portrait. The woman in the painting was indeed attractive, but not nearly beautiful enough to make someone wish they had been born the opposite sex.
Secretly, he compared himself to her and decided she was not even as good-looking as he was.
He then glanced at the two earlier portraits. The women depicted there looked more or less the same as the woman in this one.
What kind of eyesight did Zhang Zhangshe have?
Gu Yun looked at her. Her expression twisted twice before she could no longer hold it in and burst out laughing.
Gu Yun: “…”
Zhang Zhangshe gathered several portraits into her arms and rose to her feet. “I’m going to tell His Highness that you’re jealous.”
Gu Yun immediately stood up and reached for the portraits. “Who’s jealous?!”
He tried to snatch them back from her.
Though Zhang Zhangshe was not tall, she was astonishingly agile. Like an eel, she slipped past his grasp and ran outside.
Gu Yun hurried after her. “I’m going to punish you by making you sweep floors!”
“Hehehe.” Zhang Zhangshe laughed. “Then I’ll sweep. I’ve been worrying about not having enough to do every day.”
“I’ll ask His Highness to marry you off!”
“Please do, please do. I’ve been wanting a husband. The nights are long. At least then I won’t be sitting here lonely like you, counting bricks.”
Gu Yun felt as though a huge black cauldron had been dropped onto his back. “Who’s lonely and counting bricks? Just because you do that doesn’t mean I do. That’s slander… Wait, His Highness!”
“What?” Zhang Zhangshe turned toward the doorway.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Gu Yun snatched the portraits back and flashed her a sly grin. “You still need a few more years before you can compete with me.”
Zhang Zhangshe: “…”
After a brief pause, she pointed toward the entrance. “His Highness really did come.”
Drunk on his victory, Gu Yun waved the portraits triumphantly. “I won’t fall for your tri…”
Before he could finish speaking, the portraits bumped into something. He had no time to react before they were smoothly pulled from his hands.
Gu Yun froze.
Leaning backward, he looked up and met a pair of pitch-black eyes.
Chao Yan said, “Zhao He told me the portraits were missing. I was wondering where they had gone. So you secretly took them away to play around with. Is this something to play around with?”
Gu Yun: “…”
Zhang Zhangshe: “…”
Zhang Zhangshe thought to herself: That idiot Zhao He. At this hour he still hasn’t realised that Her Highness took the portraits because she was jealous? His Highness’s misunderstanding is entirely Zhao He’s fault.
She decided she would settle accounts with Zhao He later. For now, she needed to calm His Highness and make sure he did not misunderstand Her Highness.
Her mind spun rapidly as she prepared to speak.
Chao Yan gestured for her to leave.
Zhang Zhangshe opened her mouth, but then noticed his fingers lightly tapping the surface of the portrait. Understanding immediately, she withdrew and thoughtfully closed the palace doors behind her.
Gu Yun: “…”
Wait a minute. Didn’t you forget something? I’m still here!
Chao Yan placed the portrait on the table and walked into the heated chamber. Looking at the other portraits scattered across the floor, he said flatly, “Explain.”
Gu Yun fiddled with the edge of his sleeve. “Well…”
Come on, brain. Think of an excuse.
Perhaps dinner had been too delicious and the aroma had muddled his thoughts, because he genuinely could not come up with a reason.
After hesitating for a long time, he finally forced himself to say, “I was curious what sort of women His Majesty selected for Your Highness, so I brought them back to have a look.”
Chao Yan turned around and examined him from head to toe, as though trying to see through him completely. “That’s all?”
Even that explanation had been cobbled together with difficulty. What other reason could there possibly be?
Gu Yun raised his head and looked at him blankly.
The embroidery on Chao Yan’s robes glimmered under the soft light. He walked over and bent down. The distance between them shrank until they were so close they could almost hear each other’s breathing.
Gu Yun turned his face away.
Chao Yan smiled. “I thought you didn’t want me to take concubines.”
Gu Yun replied, “Not at all.”
“Good.”
Gu Yun thought: What does that mean? Does this damned Crown Prince actually want concubines?
His mouth twitched. The words, “Didn’t you say you only wanted me?” almost escaped.
At the last moment, he swallowed them back.
Why would he say something like that? Had he gone crazy? The sooner this damned Crown Prince shifted his attention elsewhere, the better.
Gu Yun gave two absent-minded hums in response.
Chao Yan ordered the portraits returned to the study. “Get some rest early.”
That night, as usual, Chao Yan slept on the couch while Gu Yun slept in the bed. Only a single dim lamp remained lit.
After sleeping for a while, Gu Yun opened his eyes and looked toward Chao Yan. In the darkness, he could only make out the vague outline of his body.
Tall. Broad. Strong.
The couch barely accommodated him, making him look somewhat cramped.
…
After reading the agricultural books of Great Xuan several times and committing their contents to memory, Gu Yun heard that Yan Zhao finally had some free time. He left the Eastern Palace and went to study disguise techniques under him.
However, despite all his success elsewhere, he repeatedly ran into walls when it came to this subject.
After several days of lessons, Yan Zhao had begun looking at him the same way a teacher looks at a hardworking but hopelessly slow student.
Yan Zhao said tactfully, “If Your Highness wishes to use this skill, there is really no need to learn it personally with such effort. You could simply have a trusted subordinate learn it instead. The result would be the same.”
Gu Yun: “…”
