“As long as you don’t mind the light gift,” Weilin Xia replied. These were her treasured childhood items. Xi Linxuan lacked nothing, but she hoped to give him these illness-dispelling items.
“Come to think of it, these are ultimately Master Xu Zhen’s things, and you’re just using them to curry favor,” Xi Linxuan remarked.
“If Your Highness doesn’t like them, you can return them,” she countered.
“How can you take back something already given?” Xi Linxuan glared at her.
I won’t argue with you; you’ll leave, and we’ll probably never meet again.
As Xi Linxuan carefully shook the bells, Weilin Xia felt he might not be so hateful after all.”
He spoke unpleasantly, likely due to his current dependence on others.
She pondered what Xi Linxuan would look like in five or ten years, realizing these little toys would probably be lost by then. The thought of the items she had preserved for over a decade being discarded made her reluctant to give them away.
“Weilin Xia, it’s just a few bells. Do you have to look so regretful?” Xi Linxuan sneered.
“Yes, I regret it. Your Highness, please return them to me,” Weilin Xia replied.
“No. What’s given to me is mine,” Xi Linxuan said, looking pleased.
Feng Shou knocked on the door and brought in the dishes. The two paused their conversation and placed the bells back into the purse.
Xi Linxuan raised his chopsticks but couldn’t use them. “It’s all vegetable leaves. Are you feeding goats?”
“Didn’t Your Highness just say to order something to fill the stomach? The weather is dry, and greasy food would be uncomfortable,” Weilin Xia countered.
“Stingy. It’s just a meal, and you’re calculating like this,” Xi Linxuan replied.
“Your Highness should try it; the taste isn’t bad,” Weilin Xia said, ignoring his sarcasm.
When they both put down their bowls and chopsticks, the dishes were barely touched.
Weilin Xia had no appetite, not because the food was unpalatable, but because she simply wasn’t hungry.
“I heard there are many brilliant cherry blossoms in the countryside outside Huo City in spring. I’ve never been. Weilin Xia, come with me,” Xi Linxuan said.
“Cherry blossoms? Spring outing?” Weilin Xia frowned. The spring outing season had passed half a month ago, and the mountain cherry blossoms had already fallen. What was there to see?
“Yes, let’s go,” Xi Linxuan insisted.
This was Weilin Xia’s first time sharing a carriage with him, and she felt uncomfortable, repeatedly lifting a corner of the curtain to look outside. Xi Linxuan played with the small bells, examining them carefully.
The carriage left the city, and there were few people around. Looking at the direction, it seemed somewhat familiar.
“Your Highness, where are we going?” Weilin Xia asked.
“You’ll know when we get there,” Xi Linxuan replied.
When they were far from the foot of Huo Mountain and saw the villa area, Weilin Xia suddenly realized there might still be some unfallen cherry blossoms on the mountain. However, the carriage did not go up the mountain but stopped in front of a courtyard.
This courtyard was not as large as Willow Garden but was more exquisite.
Pink walls, black tiles, vermilion railings, and jade foundations surrounded Weilin Xia. In the far corner, lush green bamboos caught her attention, but upon touching them, she realized they were handmade. She had never seen bamboo in Huo, and if it existed, it wouldn’t appear so vibrant. A small pond lay along the bamboo path, with reeds swaying in the wind and white cranes preening on the stones by the water. Nearby was a bamboo pavilion with three hanging bamboo pieces inscribed with “Crane Release Pavilion.”
“What is this?” Weilin Xia questioned, confused as they had come to see cherry blossoms but found themselves in this courtyard.
“This villa is a gift to you as thanks for curing my illness. Please accept it,” Xi Linxuan said.
“How can this be? Not to mention the valuable gift, the medical treatment was personally administered by Your Highness. I dare not take credit,” Weilin Xia replied. Although she liked the estate, accepting such a gift felt inappropriate.
Xi Linxuan, distracted as he played with a bell, looked up and said with amusement, “Are you serious? This garden was given to me by the King of Huo when I first arrived. Now that I’m about to leave, I probably won’t return to Huo. If no one manages this garden, it would surely be a pity.”
Since you’ve done me a favor, I’ll return one to you. Don’t refuse. If you don’t like it, just sell it.”
“If Your Highness no longer wants it, you can return it to the King,” Wei Linxia said.
“In Huo City, the large courtyard granted by the Emperor has already been given to him. Wei Linxia, you’ve been tricked. This isn’t for you. I told the King of Huo that I’ve been living in the Wei family for years, and I’m very grateful to the Grand Tutor and Madam Wei for their care. So, this garden is a gift to the Grand Tutor. Your family doesn’t have an estate here, right? When summer comes and the city is hot, you can come here to cool off,” Xi Linxuan said, unable to suppress his laughter.
Wei Linxia looked down at herself. Was he mocking her for being fat? She had already lost weight!
“Then thank you, Your Highness,” Wei Linxia replied with a slight smile, then turned to look for flowers. “Didn’t Your Highness say we were going to appreciate the cherry blossoms?”
“I suddenly don’t want to anymore,” Xi Linxuan said.
She knew it. The Thirteenth Prince was best at changing his mind.
“However, there are many flowers in the west courtyard. We can take a look. Let’s go,” Xi Linxuan said.
The west courtyard surprised Wei Linxia. It was a bamboo gate covered in colorful flower vines, making her hesitant to push it open.
Xi Linxuan said, “What are you dawdling for? Hurry up.”
Pushing the door, Wei Linxia was stunned. Flowers were everywhere—flower vines, flower walls, flower gates, flower swings. Even the pavilion was wrapped in flowers, like a dream.
“So many!” she exclaimed, afraid that each step would bring her back to reality. Lowering her head to smell, she found it was real and fragrant.
“I knew you would like it,” Xi Linxuan said.
Wei Linxia looked back at him, joy radiating from her smile. She loved this courtyard filled with flowers.
Her smile made Xi Linxuan feel as if he saw a flower blooming—perfectly timed, not flashy.
“These flowers suit you very well,” Xi Linxuan remarked.
Wei Linxia raised an eyebrow, slightly suspicious. “What do you mean, Your Highness?”
“These large flowers would balance out your face nicely,” he replied, unable to hold back his laughter.
Wei Linxia narrowed her eyes. “If Your Highness were a woman, you’d probably wear a sunflower.”
Xi Linxuan’s smile froze, staring at her in apparent displeasure.
He reached out again, but Wei Linxia instinctively dodged. His hand missed, and as he pressed down on her shoulder, he pulled away a large red flower, muttering, “This flower is not as big as Miss Wei’s face.”
It seems that only the peonies of Luoyang can compare.”
Wei Lindong’s face turned red with suppressed anger, deciding not to engage, finding Xi Linxuan more annoying than the Crown Prince.
In silence, the carriage entered the city and soon stopped. Wei Lindong reached for the curtain to get off but was called back by Xi Linxuan: “Wei Lindong, do you know that in the capital…”
“What?” The blush had faded, but her lips were tightly pursed, showing her displeasure.
“In the capital, girls wear hibiscus and peony flowers in their hair,” Xi Linxuan continued.
“Ah?” She was taken aback by his nonsensical comment.
“Ah what? Hurry and get off. The Wei family’s carriage is waiting outside. Go back,” he urged.
