Xie Lang felt as if his mind had never worked so frantically. Meeting Shen Mingzhu's meaningful gaze, he felt a chill run down his spine. Subconsciously, he picked up the teacup and took a sip with her, only to be suddenly choked and cough awkwardly. Shen Mingzhu: "..."
Was she really that scary?
With a helpless sigh, Shen Mingzhu took out a handkerchief and reached out to wipe Xie Lang's mouth. But when he looked up at her, his ears flushed with embarrassment. So she put the handkerchief on the table and watched him leisurely.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Xie Lang coughed so hard that he could hardly catch his breath. Especially when Shen Mingzhu wiped his mouth, the warm touch of her fingertips across his lips made him hold his breath instinctively. As a result, he was choked even more, his eyes turning red and tears streaming down his cheeks.
He looked up at Shen Mingzhu, intending to deny her answer. But when their eyes met, all his words of defense turned into one cough after another.
Xie Lang was used to being a dissolute playboy. Lies always came naturally to him.
But this time was different. Looking into Shen Mingzhu's gentle eyes, he suddenly found himself unable to continue weaving lies. So he could only keep coughing awkwardly to cover his uneasiness.
"You..."
Unable to bear it any longer, Shen Mingzhu sighed and said, "Forget it. I'm just curious. I'm not trying to take your life."
"If you keep coughing like this, I'll probably have to call the imperial doctor in the middle of the night."
Saying this, Shen Mingzhu seemed a bit listless. Then she got up and was about to leave.
But at this moment, Xie Lang felt a pang in his heart. Instinctively, he grabbed Shen Mingzhu's sleeve, still coughing non - stop and unable to speak.
[Don't go!]
[I'll tell you! I'll tell you! I always feel that if I don't, Shen Mingzhu will definitely get angry. Well, let's just say it.]
Xie Lang took a deep breath. With his other hand, he picked up the handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes. Then he looked at Shen Mingzhu and said, "Your Highness is so perceptive. I won't hide it from you."
Shen Mingzhu was slightly stunned. She didn't expect that the man in front of her would suddenly want to reveal his trump card.
Looking into Xie Lang's bright eyes like stars, she suddenly burst into laughter and said to him, "Then, my lord consort, please tell me."
"You may not believe me when I say it."
Xie Lang looked at Shen Mingzhu seriously and continued, "I painted those two paintings today. I am Mr. Wensong."
After saying that, Xie Lang realized that he was actually looking forward to seeing the surprised look in the eyes of the person in front of him. But unexpectedly, Shen Mingzhu just nodded calmly, indicating that she knew.
[? Does Shen Mingzhu think I'm lying to her?]
Seeing that there was not even a trace of surprise on Shen Mingzhu's face, Xie Lang said unhappily, "Tsk. If I had known you wouldn't believe me, I wouldn't have said it."
Saying this, Xie Lang dejectedly let go of Shen Mingzhu's sleeve.
He was well - known as a dissolute playboy outside. It was understandable that Shen Mingzhu didn't believe that he was a great calligrapher and painter.
But...
Although Xie Lang had found reasons for Shen Mingzhu's disbelief in his heart, he still felt uncomfortable for no reason.
Shen Mingzhu didn't believe him.
"Xie Lang." Looking at the disappointment in Xie Lang's eyes, Shen Mingzhu turned around and sat down. Looking directly into his eyes, she continued, "I believe you."
"You are Mr. Wensong."
Before Xie Lang could be surprised, Chun Tao, who pushed the door open and entered, was shocked when she heard this. She almost dropped her jaw in surprise.
This! This! This! Your Highness was going too far just to cheer up Young Master Xie! How could she say such a thing...
Chun Tao gave Xie Lang a look as if he were a disaster, then felt heart - broken. But thinking that the person in front of her was Shen Mingzhu, she finally put down the things in her hand, sighed, and left.
Looking at Chun Tao's back as she left, Shen Mingzhu suddenly burst into laughter.
Xie Lang suddenly became a bit angry and impatient. His tone was also quite unhappy. He gave a cold snort.
Shen Mingzhu laughed silently in her heart, but on the surface, she still calmly looked at Xie Lang and said, "I believe you."
"I've been studying calligraphy and paintings for so many years. I'm not so blind as not to see this." As she said this, Shen Mingzhu put her index finger on her forehead and said, "Huh?"
Xie Lang paused for a moment and looked up at her. Seeing that there was not a trace of ridicule in Shen Mingzhu's eyes, he pouted and said, "That's good."
But he still didn't quite believe that Shen Mingzhu really believed him.
Seeing this, Shen Mingzhu pointed to the two bowls of food on the tray brought by Chun Tao and said, "Go and have a bite. I saw that you didn't eat much tonight."
After saying that, Shen Mingzhu picked up a bowl first.
Shen Mingzhu had guessed early on that neither of them would be able to have a good dinner tonight. So she asked Chun Tao to prepare some chicken soup simmered over a low fire. Eating it at night wouldn't make them feel bloated, and they wouldn't feel uncomfortable at night.
Xie Lang walked over silently, picked up the soup, and drank it mouthful by mouthful.
Sure enough.
Xie Lang thought that Shen Mingzhu was truly different from others. No wonder he had taken a fancy to her.
Thinking this way, Xie Lang didn't realize that he couldn't hide the smile on his face, and the corners of his lips curled up.
...
The next morning, before Shen Mingzhu got up, she heard footsteps outside. So she subconsciously asked sleepily, "Xie Lang, what's going on?"
It wasn't Xie Lang who answered.
Chun Tao was waiting on one side. Seeing Shen Mingzhu open her eyes, she quickly said, "Your Highness, Young Master Xie has gone out. Before leaving, he said not to disturb you."
"Huh?"
Shen Mingzhu became a bit more awake. She propped herself up and turned to Chun Tao and asked, "What did he go for?"
"He said that General Xie called him to the military camp. His cousin also went with him."
All of Shen Mingzhu's sleepiness disappeared. She frowned, trying to figure out General Xie's intention.
While thinking, she let Chun Tao help her get dressed. Before Shen Mingzhu had breakfast, she heard a knock on the door. Then the guard at the door pushed the door open and entered. Bowing to her, he said, "Your Highness, the cousin of the Xie family is asking to see you."
Huh?
What was going on now?
Shen Mingzhu instinctively wanted to refuse. But then she remembered the cousin who had left with Xie Lang. So she said, "Let her in."
"Yes."
As soon as the woman entered, Shen Mingzhu saw her bowing to her and saying coquettishly, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Shen Mingzhu couldn't even remember her name. So she just nodded and left the woman standing there.
A look of embarrassment flashed across the woman's face. She said to Shen Mingzhu, "Your Highness, do you not like me?"
"Your Highness, please listen to me." The cousin was so coquettish, looking a bit mysterious. "I and my cousin..."
Growing up in the palace, Shen Mingzhu could immediately see through the woman's tricks. So she pretended to be confused and said, "Wait!"
The cousin thought that she had stirred up Shen Mingzhu's emotions. So a flash of pride passed through her eyes. She tried hard to squeeze out a few tears and lowered her head pretending to be pitiful, looking as if she had a lot of grievances.
Shen Mingzhu frowned at her. Finally, she hesitated and said, "What's your name again?"
Chun Tao: "..." Pfft.