Although I couldn’t find a reason to refute him, I still felt something was off. If the Eastern Palace truly wanted revenge, he had ample opportunity—why go to such lengths to obstruct An Jin, create chance encounters, just to talk to me and have me paint a portrait of his dancing girl? More importantly, I had already promised to paint for the Eastern Palace. If I didn’t go, I began to worry. If he was as unscrupulous as An Jin suggested, and I broke my word, he would certainly reveal my identity as the Lantern Festival’s Thirteenth Young Master to An Jin. If An Jin found out I was the one who stole his painting, we had worked so hard to restore our harmonious relationship.
It’s not that I’m being difficult; it’s just that the world is too complicated.
An Jin, who always believed in communicating through physical intimacy rather than words, thus our small misunderstanding was ultimately resolved through our passionate “heart-to-heart” after he locked the Lantern Festival outside and shared our bed.
After their “heart-to-heart,” we whispered in bed. I imagined its language would translate to: My master is busy, leaving me locked outside. Alas! Unfortunate fate!
He climbed onto the bed with difficulty, hugging me and saying he was hungry. I then remembered he had been in his mother-in-law’s room without eating dinner, and had previously exhausted himself with their “heart-to-heart” talk, so with the mood of a virtuous wife, I proposed making him a bowl of noodles. He shook his head, saying it was cold outside and he was worried I might freeze, and requested another “heart-to-heart” to alleviate his hunger.
Finally, he settled down, helplessly and carefully hugging me from behind, singing a lullaby to coax me to sleep. I found it familiar and quickly fell asleep, holding his arm in a daze.
In a half-dream, half-awake state, I heard him whispering in my ear.
“…I can do anything… Don’t blame me… Okay…
I smacked my lips and bit his finger. “Won’t blame you… Go to sleep, be good.”
Chapter Twelve: The Eastern Palace’s Infatuation
The Eastern Palace’s efficiency was indeed extraordinary. After a few days, the daughter of the Libretto Official suddenly came to me, saying she was willing to look at my elder brother.
