Chapter 254: Your Highness, You Are... (First Update)

“This pattern was drawn by this Prince personally and embroidered by a specialized master; it is indeed unique to this house alone.”

Chu Liuyue let out a long “Oh,” her expression subtle.

She had heard the conversation between Rong Xiu and Situ Xingchen clearly and knew there was nothing between the two of them.

Situ Xingchen had secretly harbored feelings for Rong Xiu, and those patterns on the clothes were likely patterns she had secretly made samples of herself.

But whenever she thought about this matter, she couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable.

The corners of Rong Xiu's lips curled up slightly in a smile

“Get in the carriage first. We will talk on the way.”

Chu Liuyue thought that since the competition had ended, the people inside should be coming out soon. If they were seen in this scene, it might cause unnecessary misunderstandings again.

She gave a soft huff and stepped into the carriage.

Rong Xiu followed closely behind, and only after entering the carriage did he lower the curtain.

Yan Qing flicked his long whip

“Giddy up—”

The horses reared and began to gallop, quickly departing.

Inside the carriage, Chu Liuyue and Rong Xiu sat facing each other.

“With your Highness's noble status, what kind of matter could there possibly be that requires my help?”

Chu Liuyue asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rong Xiu, however, gave a low laugh.

“Are you angry?”

Chu Liuyue did not admit it, but she did not deny it either, her clear eyes staring fixedly at him.

“Aside from you, I have never felt anything for any other woman, let alone any—”

“I believe you.”

Chu Liuyue interrupted Rong Xiu.

Rong Xiu was somewhat surprised.

Chu Liuyue’s expression, however, was natural and firm.

“Since we are already together, then naturally, I believe you.”

Seeing the determined look on the young girl's face, a trace of a smile gradually spread across the corners of Rong Xiu's eyes.

He gently took Chu Liuyue's hand.

“It is wonderful that you trust me, but since these matters have made you unhappy, then I shall explain them to you.”

Chu Liuyue was startled. Seeing Rong Xiu's serious and gentle expression, her heart suddenly felt a warmth.

He lowered himself and explained so much, simply because she... was unhappy?

Rong Xiu naturally enjoyed seeing Chu Liuyue being jealous over him, but he preferred her to be joyful.

Therefore, even a tiny bit of grievance was something he would not let her endure.

He turned his cuff inside out

“Look closely.”

Chu Liuyue looked down, only then noticing that inside his cuff, there were actually exquisitely embroidered, strange patterns.

They looked like... vines?

On the outside were peach blossoms similar to cloud patterns, and on the inside were lifelike vines. This...

Of course, those vines were also embroidered with gold thread, giving them an even more ethereal, celestial quality.

It was just that if one didn't flip it over to look closely, it would truly be difficult to notice.

“I like this pattern extremely much; most of my clothes have such patterns. Anyone who has seen me a few times and pays a little attention could draw it themselves to make a copy. However, in the end, they only learn about thirty percent of it—the form is similar, but the spirit is not.”

Rong Xiu's tone was indifferent; he didn't even bother to mention Situ Xingchen's name.

A person not worth looking at naturally wasn't worth mentioning.

If she hadn't provoked Chu Liuyue into being unhappy, he wouldn't have wanted to bother with her so much.

But now, it was different.

By the time Chu Liuyue saw the vine patterns inside the sleeve, most of the anger in her heart had already dissipated.

Hearing Rong Xiu's explanation now, her mood settled even further.

This wasn't really something worth being angry about in the first place.

After all, Situ Xingchen had her own hands and feet; if she wanted to do something, no one could stop her.

“Actually, looking closely, these patterns aren't quite similar...”

The cloud patterns on Rong Xiu's clothes were extremely precise, stitch by stitch; even the faint textures on the peach blossom petals were vaguely visible, looking as if they were being blown by the wind, drifting into clouds in a lingering, melancholic way.

Situ Xingchen's version only had a somewhat similar outline, but upon recollection, it lacked any sense of beauty; it didn't look like peach blossoms nor clouds, appearing somewhat half-baked.

Chu Liuyue stared at his sleeve for a moment, then suddenly couldn't help but chuckle.

“It seems I was being petty.”

A smile spread across Rong Xiu's thin lips, bringing with it a hint of tenderness in his eyes and brows that was rarely seen by others.

“I wouldn't mind this pettiness at all; no one else is allowed to have it.”

Hearing this, Chu Liuyue gave him a reproachful glare, though it lacked any intimidation.

Rong Xiu stared at her beautiful face for a while, feeling as though he couldn't look away.

Whether she was smiling or angry, everything about her could easily stir his heart.

After watching her like this for a long while, he finally turned his gaze away and leaned back slightly.

Chu Liuyue was wondering why when she saw him unfasten his cloak, set it aside, and lean back.

He was already tall, more than a head taller than Chu Liuyue. Now that the two were sitting level, Chu Liuyue could clearly see his protruding Adam's apple and his smooth, jade-carved jawline.

As the noble Prince of Li, he naturally wore fine silks and magnificent robes.

Chu Liuyue recognized that it was made from high-quality flowing light brocade.

At a first glance, one would only think the plain white fabric was ordinary, merely exceptionally clean and soft.

But if one looked closely, one could see a faint shimmer upon it, as pure and clear as moonlight in the dark night.

His collar was fastened very tightly, with exquisite embroidery and fine stitching, secured by a bead polished from a rounded crescent moonstone.

And at this moment, his fair and slender hand moved slightly; with a stretch of his long arm, he took off that magnificent outer robe embroidered with cloud patterns and tossed it casually to the side.

His inner garment was also tailored from extremely exquisite brocade, and it was actually three parts whiter than snow.

Chu Liuyue froze

“Your Highness, you are—”

(End of Chapter)