Chapter 331: Surging (2)

The winter in Qiongyue's capital wasn't considered cold, but compared to Haoyue, where it was spring all year round, it was indeed much colder. The sun finally came out at noon today, and Qingfeng planned to bathe the little one. Fearing the child would get cold, a house full of people busied themselves, lighting fire basins and heating water. After a flurry of chaos, the little one was finally bathed and nestled comfortably in Qingfeng's arms, his little eyes rolling around. Seeing Ruyi looking at him, the little one didn't hesitate to show her a smile.

Ruyi was overjoyed and laughed, "My lady, look, the little prince is smiling!"

Looking at the water splashed all over the floor and the several diapers that had been changed, Qingfeng laughed and scolded indulgently, "Of course he's smiling, after turning everyone upside down."

Qingfeng said this while poking the little one's nose. He twisted his head to the side, dodging his mother's hand, which made Qingfeng laugh out loud. Qingfeng was in a good mood, and Ruyi spoke more freely. She squatted by the bed and smiled, "In two more days, it will be the little prince's one-month celebration. At that time, the Emperor will bestow a name. I wonder what name the Emperor will choose for the little prince. It would be best if..."

Ruyi was speaking excitedly when a light rebuke came from behind: "Ruyi!"

Ruyi looked up and saw Fuling lifting the curtain and walking into the inner chamber. Her expression wasn't exactly cold, but her brows were tightly furrowed. Ruyi finally realized she had overstepped and hurriedly lowered her head. "This servant spoke too much."

Although Qingfeng felt that what Ruyi said was harmless, she wouldn't say anything since Fuling rebuked her. For one, it was to give Fuling absolute authority among them, and for another, palace maids still needed some discipline to avoid them talking nonsense later and causing trouble for her.

Qingfeng looked amusedly at Fuling, who still had a serious expression, and asked, "You've been busy all morning; what are you doing?"

"My lady, the study is empty and not being used. Why don't you let this servant tidy it up and put a small bed in the study? It's getting colder, and it's better to have someone in the room at night to take care of you and the little master." Taking care of the child was truly exhausting. Since the mistress gave birth, although she was rounder than before, her complexion was getting worse.

She hadn't let them serve by her side at night before because she didn't want to be watched every moment. Now, it was indeed necessary to have someone nearby to take care of them. Qingfeng nodded and replied, "That's fine. Do as you see fit."

"Should those paintings be put away? Or should I leave some on the bookshelf?"

Most of the paintings in the study were her practice pieces, and there were also works by famous masters she liked. Qingfeng thought for a moment and said, "I'll go take a look with you."

Qingfeng handed the child to Shen Yao and walked into the small study next to the flower hall with Fuling. Fuling had already tidied it once in the morning, and the scrolls and books were neatly placed on the bookshelf. Qingfeng said, "You tidy up the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk, and I'll look at these paintings."

"Yes." Qingfeng had the habit of painting whenever she felt like it, so the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk were arranged very neatly. Fuling was tidying up the inkstone when she discovered the ink stains hadn't been washed clean, so she poured some clear water to wash it. Just then, Qingfeng behind her suddenly said, "Fuling, bring me the green bamboo painting on the desk that hasn't been mounted yet."

"Yes." Fuling looked up and saw a rolled-up painting on the other side of the desk. Perhaps because her hands were wet and she was distracted for a moment, the inkstone slipped from her hand, overturned onto a piece of rice paper to the side, and left a trail of deep and light ink stains. Fuling cried out, "Oh no!"

Qingfeng turned back to look. Fuling was busy tidying up, and the overturned inkstone had already been picked up by Fuling, but a trail of natural ink marks remained clearly on the rice paper. Qingfeng's bright eyes lit up, and she said with slight excitement, "Fuling, grind the ink."

The mistress suddenly had the interest to paint? Accustomed to Qingfeng's passion for painting, Fuling shook her head and focused on grinding the ink.

Qingfeng tidied up the rice paper that had been splashed with ink, placed a clean sheet in the middle of the desk, and as if thinking of something, suddenly called out toward the inner room: "Ruyi, bring a fire basin to the study."

"Yes." Ruyi's voice came from the inner room.

Fuling took the ground ink to Qingfeng's side where it was convenient to reach and said, "My lady, it's ground."

Qingfeng took a look and replied, "Not enough ink. Grind more."

Not enough? Fuling was puzzled. On ordinary days, this amount of ink was more than enough for painting. Curious in her heart, Fuling didn't ask in detail and continued to grind the ink.

The inner room originally had charcoal fire prepared because the little prince needed a bath. Hearing Qingfeng's instruction, Ruyi quickly carried a fire basin into the study. "My lady, the fire basin is here. Where should I put it?"

Qingfeng pointed in front of the desk and replied, "Put it here."

"Yes." Ruyi placed the fire basin down and stoked the charcoal fire until it was burning vigorously. In a moment, the entire study was warm and cozy.

Seeing that the ink was ground and the paper and brushes were ready, Qingfeng called out toward the inner room again: "Shen Yao, bring the child over."

"Yes." Shen Yao held the child and came to the study. Rare for the little one, he hadn't fallen asleep after his bath. Arriving in a new room, his eyes darted everywhere.

Ruyi finally guessed what the mistress was going to do—she must be going to paint a picture for the little prince! Guessing the mistress's intent, Ruyi immediately moved the wooden chair next to the desk to the front of the desk, wanting to let Shen Yao sit with the prince so the mistress could focus on painting. Who knew that just after Ruyi finished moving the chair, Qingfeng said, "Shen Yao, bring the child to the side of the desk. Ruyi, help expose his hands and feet."

Ruyi was confused, and Fuling also had a puzzled expression. Shen Yao was as quiet as usual, but they could all see Qingfeng's excited appearance.

Ruyi had just pulled the child's little hands out of his thick padded jacket when Qingfeng picked up the largest brush on the desk, dipped it in plenty of ink, and smeared it onto the child's tender little hands. Ruyi cried out, "My lady, you are..."

The cool, soft sensation made the little one pull his hand back while giggling. After finally getting all the ink onto that little hand, Qingfeng called out, "Fuling, get the paper."

Fuling finally came to her senses, took a sheet of plain rice paper, and spread it on the desk. Qingfeng gently grabbed the child's ink-stained little hand and pressed it onto the paper. A tiny palm print remained on the paper.

On the large sheet of rice paper, that little palm print looked so small. Ruyi couldn't help but sigh, "This little handprint is so cute!"

Having his hand held the whole time, the little one wasn't happy and started struggling, getting ink all over Qingfeng's hands. Painting slowly with a brush, the little one's patience would run out, and he would likely cry, so Qingfeng simply pinched the child's little feet and pressed them lightly into the inkstone. His feet were covered in black ink, and the little one was stunned for a moment. Qingfeng took the opportunity to press his feet onto the rice paper. Perhaps the ink made him feel very fresh; he didn't just press one footprint, he also shook his feet, resulting in a perfect footprint surrounded by a black, blurry mess.

After a group of people busied themselves for a good while, they got a sheet of "ghost drawings," and several of them laughed out loud.

Qingfeng was both angry and amused. "You little brat, you're not well-behaved!"

Looking at the rice paper stained with ink and in a mess, Qingfeng was somewhat unwilling to give up and said, "Press another one."

There was still some ink on the child's hands and feet. Qingfeng didn't dare to put his feet into the inkstone again this time. She changed to a new sheet of rice paper, looked at her own ink-stained hands, and could only say to Ruyi, "Ruyi, grab his hands and feet, and press another one..."

"Yes."

With his hands and feet held firmly, the little one couldn't cause trouble this time. Two handprints and two footprints were neatly printed on the rice paper.

Ruyi released the child's little feet and let out a long sigh, smiling, "This one is printed perfectly!"

"Water is here." Fuling didn't know when she had gone outside, but she was now leading two palace maids carrying two basins of hot water. This mother and son had played happily, not looking at what the weather was like now. Fuling didn't say anything. Qingfeng looked at her own and her son's ink-stained claws, shrugged her shoulders, and smiled flatteringly, "Fuling is still the most thoughtful."

Sure enough, mother and son were of one heart. As soon as Qingfeng finished speaking, the little one shook his two little hands and giggled twice. Fuling couldn't laugh or cry. "Alright, hurry and wash him, don't let him catch a cold."

Ruyi and Shen Yao were busy washing the child's hands and feet. Fuling retreated to the side and looked back. Qingfeng had already washed her hands clean and was staring intently at the two sheets of rice paper with handprints and footprints. Fuling walked over, pointed to the perfectly printed sheet of rice paper, and whispered in her ear, "Why not... send this one to the Emperor."

Her thoughts being seen through and spoken aloud, even though it was someone by her side, Qingfeng's face still flushed red. She coughed lightly, glared at Fuling, and feigned nonchalance. "That's fine."

Fuling couldn't help but laugh. She was already a mother, yet she was still so awkward. Hearing Fuling's laughter, Qingfeng's face turned even redder. Fuling rolled up the painting and hurried out, lest someone become angry from embarrassment.

Fuling had just walked into the courtyard when a cold wind suddenly blew. The soft rice paper in her hand instantly changed shape. Fuling protected the painting in her arms and called out loudly, "Lan'er, bring a painting tube."

"Yes."

The wind kept blowing, and the painting had long changed shape. It couldn't be stuffed into the painting tube in this twisted state. Fuling walked to the corner of the wall at the courtyard gate, where the wind was much smaller. Fuling unfolded the painting paper, wanting to roll it up again. Although the wind was smaller, the thin rice paper still kept shaking, and the painting had already become somewhat wrinkled from being blown, making it very difficult to roll it up flat.

Just as Fuling was thinking about whether to call someone for help, a large hand reached over and helped her hold the end of the rice paper. Fuling looked up and saw that the owner of the hand was the man who had been deliberately avoiding her for these days.

He still had a cold face and didn't look at her, his eyes only fixed on the handprints and footprints on the painting paper. Fuling, however, felt her heart pounding uncontrollably. After a long while, she finally managed to blurt out, "Thank you."

Ming Ze didn't reply to her. After she finished rolling up the painting, he silently withdrew his hand and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

He... did he count as helping her this time?

But why was he still so cold?

Was his temperament like this? Or... was she thinking too much?

To press the child's handprints, Qingfeng's clothes were also stained with ink. Just after changing her clothes, Ruyi entered and said softly, "My lady, Beauty Yu is here."

Why was she here? She and she shouldn't have any dealings. Qingfeng let Shen Yao carry the child into the inner chamber and ordered Ruyi to lead her in.

"May Consort Qing live for ten thousand years." Beauty Yu was dressed in light yellow palace attire, and her soft voice sounded somewhat timid. The women who could enter the harem naturally weren't bad-looking, but unfortunately, her words and actions were petty. Qingfeng smiled slightly and replied, "No need for formalities, sit."

Beauty Yu sat down on a chair to the side. The palace maids served tea and snacks, and Qingfeng drank on her own without speaking. Beauty Yu nervously took a wooden box from her maid's hand and opened it gently, revealing a bright red satin pouch inside. Rising and stepping forward, Beauty Yu said softly, "This is a ruyi sachet I embroidered myself. I give it to the little prince, wishing the heavens to protect the prince with peace and good fortune."

Ruyi stepped forward to take the wooden box and sent it to Qingfeng. Qingfeng took a look. The fabric was the most precious red satin, and the embroidery was of the highest quality. The embroidered Qilin was not only lifelike but also possessed an extra touch of spirit. This pouch was lucky enough to catch Qingfeng's eye. She nodded slightly. "Thank you." Although it was also a pouch/sachet, this one didn't have the same luck to be looked at differently by Qingfeng. She just waved her hand slightly, and Ruyi had already closed the wooden box and retreated.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 332 =====