"Hey." Hua Rongjian poked her with his finger.
A flash of white light—the dagger was already pressed against Hua Rongjian's neck. Unfazed, he complained, "You're so antisocial."
Living in a group was something An Jiu couldn't even remember from which lifetime ago. It'd be strange if she could fit in.
Unperturbed, she withdrew the dagger and continued whittling the wood.
An Jiu wore thin clothes that clung to her slender frame. Her head was bowed, revealing a section of her snow-white, graceful neck. With lowered brows and downcast eyes, she seemed to live solely in her own world. Sunlight reflected off the dagger as curled wood shavings fell layer by layer onto the pebble-strewn ground.
Something seemed to stir within Hua Rongjian, softening his voice. "Mei Shisi, let's go out for a stroll."
Young ladies from noble families usually couldn't venture out alone unless their households lacked male members and required women to earn a living. While not strictly forbidden, outings typically required elder supervision.
An Jiu paused briefly before setting down her tools. "Let's go."
"I also—"
Mo Sigui's words were cut short by Hua Rongjian. "If the Miracle Doctor doesn't wish to go out, that's fine too. My father plans to visit you this afternoon."
Hua, the Chief Grand Secretary, had long wanted to meet Mo Sigui—after all, it concerned his eldest son's life. However, Mo Sigui had been recovering from poisoning and declined all visitors until now.
As the saying goes, "He who eats another's food is beholden; he who takes another's gifts is softened." Even someone as shameless as Mo Sigui couldn't refuse the Chief Grand Secretary's visit just to go out and play.
Watching the two walk away without a backward glance, Mo Sigui turned to the maid beside him. "Bring me ink and paper!"
The maids in the Chief Grand Secretary's household were well-trained. Soon, a desk was brought out, rice paper laid flat, and a goat-hair brush dipped in ink handed to him.
Mo Sigui began painting with bold strokes.
The painting depicted two small turtles in a white porcelain jar adorned with floral patterns. Above them, vines drooped, laden with love peas. The jar and the ground were sprinkled with specks of crimson, creating an exceptionally beautiful scene.
Dressed in a russet robe with half his black hair loosely cascading down his back, his slightly lowered peach-blossom eyes seemed to hold a pool of spring water, mesmerizing the maid beside him.
His eyes curved slightly as he turned to ask, "What do you think?"
The maid, momentarily dazed, blushed and whispered shyly, "The Miracle Doctor's painting skills are extraordinary, and the content is uniquely charming."
"This one's male, and this one's female." Mo Sigui was essentially painting portraits of Hua Rongjian and An Jiu. After scrutinizing his work with satisfaction, he added a few elegantly flowing characters in the blank space: "Playing with Love."
Beside it, he inscribed another line: "No green mountains stand between, just sharing a single jar. When time grows lazy, why not play with love?"
On the surface, these playful lines seemed humorous: without towering mountains to separate them, the two existed within the same jar. With nothing better to do, why not amuse themselves with love peas?
Mo Sigui's true intent, however, was to mock Hua Rongjian and An Jiu—though incompatible in temperament, they had no other turtles to choose from and thus had to make do with each other.
Yet, delving deeper, "Playing with Love" and "Binding Love" carried a poignant sense of mutual dependence.
Mo Sigui added the date of creation and even the inspiration behind the painting—such as how he was moved by the sight of two turtles—before signing his name."Frame it, put it in a box, and send it to your Second Young Master." Mo Sigui sat down on the stone stool, leaning casually against the table as he flicked open the fan with a swift motion. "Tell him if he dares not hang it in the most prominent place, don't expect me to treat his elder brother."
Dare to play tricks with me! Hmph!
The sunlight was splendid, exceptionally pleasant.
Inside the carriage, Hua Rongjian raised a hand to his right eye. "I have a feeling today won't be peaceful." (To be continued...)
PS: Today was spent at the hospital for check-ups and collecting reports. After a whole day of running around, I don't know if it's from lack of sleep or having too much blood drawn this morning, but I've been dizzy all day. So I... crawled away. Will make up for it tomorrow—really can't hold on any longer.
OpenNovel