RPAGF Chapter 459 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 1)
Chapter 459 Zhiyan's Sweet Story (Part 1)
The carriage returned to the East Palace, and Dou Xiaoxiao strode into the bedchamber, his sleeves fluttering.
The exquisite decorations throughout the room were simply an eyesore.
The phrase "just what I wanted" kept swirling in his mind, and his anger consumed him, making him lose all reason.
"Throw them all out!"
He pointed to the shelves on the west side, his roar causing the eunuchs in the hall to kneel down, "Throw out everything that Princess Jinning sent! Don't keep a single thing!"
The eunuchs dared not delay and hurriedly moved the cabinet door open.
The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all made of Huizhou ink and Xuan paper; there was also a brocade purse, a crescent-shaped inkstone, and wrist guards…
Each and every one of them was a treasured item of his in the past.
But at this moment, he only felt the glare.
Before long, the open space outside the hall was piled high with silks and satins mixed with scholar's objects, a sight that was particularly jarring.
"Throw it away! Throw it all away!"
Dou Xiaoxiao stood under the eaves with his hands behind his back, his eyes filled with hostility, showing no trace of his usual gentleness.
Just as the eunuch was about to make his move, a voice suddenly came from the moon gate: "Wait!"
Lin Zhiyan strode in, his gaze sweeping over the objects scattered on the floor: lotus-patterned purses, Huizhou ink brushes, and inkstones polished to a warm luster...
Every single item was made and selected by Mu Tiantian herself.
A hint of anger flashed in his eyes, but he suppressed it and quickly stepped forward to stop the eunuch who was about to attack.
"Your Highness, why do this? Isn't it a waste to throw away so many good things?"
As he spoke, he bent down to pick up the most exquisitely embroidered purse, his fingertips brushing over the fine stitches.
This was embroidered for Tian Tian's fifteenth birthday. He stayed up for three nights in a row, and he had been envious for a long time.
Dou Xiaoxiao's anger subsided somewhat when he saw it was Lin Zhiyan, but his brows furrowed: "Zhiyan, this is my business, it has nothing to do with you, don't interfere!"
Lin Zhiyan straightened up, holding the purse in her hand, and tied it around her waist. "These were all carefully chosen by Tiantian, stitch by stitch. If you don't cherish them, someone else will."
He shouted to the servants following behind him, "Keep them safe, don't let them get bumped or knocked!"
The servants immediately stepped forward and carefully put away the items scattered on the ground.
The writing implements were wrapped in brocade handkerchiefs, and the purse and wrist guards were folded into wooden boxes, with no room for negligence.
Seeing his cautious demeanor, Dou Xiaoxiao was furious: "You actually care?"
"They're just ordinary trinkets. Take them if you want, so I don't get annoyed by them!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyan looked up at him, a faint smile playing on her lips.
But his tone was serious: "Of course it's rare."
“You, me, and Tian Tian grew up together as childhood sweethearts, so her feelings are very precious.”
"You can throw yours away, I'll keep it, you don't need to worry about it!"
These words were like a needle, gently pricking Shawn Dou.
He watched as Lin Zhiyan carefully tucked the inkstone into his robes, muttering, "This one is mine, that one is mine too, and this one too!"
His cherished demeanor made his earlier outburst of rage and abandonment seem like a joke.
A surge of anger welled up inside him, but he couldn't vent it. He clenched his fist and refused to look at it again: "Take it if you want, but don't leave it in front of me!"
"Don't worry, it won't be an eyesore to Your Highness."
Lin Zhiyan smiled and readily agreed, directing the servants to move the things.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Dou Xiaoxiao, whose face was ashen, and added, "By the way, what His Highness discarded like trash today was a sentiment that others would beg for."
"If you regret it later, don't come looking for me again, I won't give it to you!"
After saying that, he turned and left with light steps.
Dou Xiaoxiao waved his hand, "Don't worry, I won't come after you."
Little did he know that Lin Zhiyan was referring to a person.
Inside the carriage, Lin Zhiyan touched the lotus-patterned purse at his waist, his eyes filled with tenderness, and a smile he couldn't hide playing on his lips.
Upon arriving at his doorstep, he casually instructed, "Take these things back to my residence and keep them safe. Choose a fine box to store them in, and make sure they don't get damaged."
"Yes, young master!" the servant replied and withdrew.
Lin Zhiyan dismissed his attendants, carrying only a small food box, and gently knocked on the gate of the Mu residence.
It was Zhu'er who opened the door. When she saw him, she was taken aback for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief and quickly stepped aside to let him in: "Young Master, you've finally come. My young lady hasn't said a word since she went back to her room. She's been sitting by the window in a daze."
Lin Zhiyan slowed her pace and asked in a low voice, "You haven't eaten anything, have you?"
"He didn't touch a single bite, and I couldn't persuade him otherwise." Zhu'er sighed and led him toward Mu Tiantian's courtyard.
The courtyard used to be full of crabapple trees, but now the crabapple trees are gone, leaving behind many unfilled pits.
Mu Tiantian was sitting by the window, her chin resting on her hand, staring blankly at the sky.
Lin Zhiyan dismissed Zhu'er, tiptoed to her side, placed the food box on the table, and opened the lid.
Inside were Mu Tiantian's favorite osmanthus sugar cake and lotus seed soup, still steaming slightly.
"If you don't eat it now, the sweet cake will get cold. It's your favorite osmanthus flavor, made by my dad himself!"
Mu Tiantian snapped out of her daze, looked up and saw him. The loneliness in her eyes faded a little, and the corners of her mouth turned up. "Brother Zhiyan, what brings you here?!"
"Let's come and see that silly little fool who's sulking and won't even eat."
Lin Zhiyan smiled and scooped a spoonful of lotus seed soup and handed it to her, "Drink some first to warm yourself up. It's not worth getting angry."
However, the movement was as slow as possible, after all, the point was to show off the wristbands!
Before the hand offering the spoon reached her lips, the other hand hanging at her side gently swayed, causing the lotus-patterned purse at her waist to sway lightly.
The jade buckle tied with a red string brushed against the fabric, making a soft rustling sound, and its bright appearance caught Mu Tiantian's eye as she looked over.
Seeing his deliberately ostentatious manner, Mu Tiantian's gloom dissipated considerably.
She couldn't help but smile, reaching out to take the spoon, but deliberately raising her eyes to tease him: "Brother Zhiyan is being unusually meticulous today, with wristbands and purses, much more refined than usual."
She made this herself; how could she not know?
But none of that matters anymore!
It's a happy occasion, so there's no need to be sad!
The soup was sweet and smooth, and a warm feeling spread through the throat.
Looking at the faint smile on her lips, Lin Zhiyan suddenly couldn't suppress the feelings he had kept hidden for ten years.
He looked up, his gaze fixed on her face, gentle yet firm, without the slightest hesitation: "It's better to be exquisite; we can't let down the people who make these things."
Mu Tiantian's smile froze on her lips, her heart trembled slightly, and her fingers gripped the spoon tightly.
She knew perfectly well that he had said it so bluntly.
Lin Zhiyan leaned forward, speaking softly but clearly.
The words reached her ears and touched her heart: "Sweetie, the three of us grew up together since we were little. From now on... will you look at me more often?"
Mu Tiantian lowered her eyes, the spoon gently tapping against the rim of the bowl, her eyes shimmering with tiny sparkles.
There was panic, emotion, and a hint of barely concealed fear.
“I…I just broke off all ties with His Highness the Crown Prince. Given this situation, I’m afraid Aunt Gao and Uncle Lin…won’t agree.”
She wasn't unmoved; she knew how good Yan-ge was, and that his kindness was hidden in the little things over the past ten years.
I tolerated her little temper, remembered her little preferences, and today I accepted those misplaced sentiments for her.
But now that she has broken ties with the Crown Prince, she is afraid that her situation will wrong him, and even more afraid of displeasing Uncle Lin and Aunt Gao.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyan was taken aback at first, then her eyes lit up with bright joy, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but turn up.
Mu Tiantian wasn't refusing; she was considering her parents' attitude!
This means she took his words to heart and has given in!
He leaned forward slightly and gently placed his hand on hers.
The warmth of my palm seeped through the thin handkerchief, steady and reassuring.
"Just keep an eye on me, leave the matter of our parents to me!"
As she spoke, she immediately stood up, turning back every few steps, and then happily ran out.
Sweetie glanced at it and couldn't help but laugh out loud, muttering softly, "Brother Zhiyan, you can't believe you can be so headstrong!"