The autumn leaves were withering and yellowing. He stood under the tree, and the sparse sunlight fell upon him.
Amid the mottled light and shadow, the man in a green robe was like a thriving vitality in the desolate autumn scenery. His handsome face added a touch of gentle elegance.
Jiang Qianyu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
She recalled the first time she met the Crown Prince. He was still a young man not yet of age, with gentle and moist eyebrows but also a bit of publicity.
But gradually, the greenness between his eyebrows faded away, and he became more and more profound and solemn, more like an emperor who didn't show his emotions.
The Crown Prince hadn't looked at her with such gentle and appreciative eyes for a long time.
All his tenderness and love had been poured on the Crown Princess.
And the man in front of her actually resembled the Crown Prince in temperament.
Especially his gentle eyebrows and the admiration faintly revealed in his eyes.
Jiang Qianyu was puzzled. They didn't know each other. Why did he have such a look in his eyes?
"Does the young lady also like the autumn scenery here?"
Liang Wentao's voice pulled Jiang Qianyu back from her daze.
She remembered Liang Wentao's disrespect for the Crown Prince, so she didn't look happy.
"Although the scenery is beautiful, when one meets a two - faced person, the mood for enjoying the autumn is gone."
She dropped these cold words and turned away.
Cheng Simian was in a good mood today.
"The autumn scenery in the suburbs of the capital is the most beautiful by the Qingjiang River. It would be great if such a beautiful view could be preserved forever."
Song Wanchu said casually.
"It's not difficult. If you like it, Wanchu, I'll paint it for you."
She always carried the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for painting with her when she went out for a stroll.
It was a habit of many years.
Shuyi and Qiluo fetched the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
The rice paper was spread out on the stone table under the pavilion, and Shuyi skillfully served her with the ink.
Jiang Qianyu rarely got out. The Crown Princess didn't restrict her and let her wander around by herself.
She only brought a maid with her and strolled along the river.
It had been several days since the Queen bestowed the jade ruyi.
The Crown Prince must know about it.
Although he didn't want to go against the Queen's wishes, he had never mentioned the jade ruyi to her.
Of course, he hadn't mentioned conferring her as a side concubine either.
Thinking of these things, her heart was filled with gloom.
Suddenly, something bumped into her arms.
It was a little girl about half a person's height, about five or six years old, with twin buns on her head. Her little face was pink and tender, with a naughty and cute smile on it.
"Oops, which family's child are you? Be careful not to bump into our young lady!"
The maid Fangxiao quickly pulled the little girl away.
In her mind, Miss Jiang was about to be conferred as a side concubine, so her status was noble.
Jiang Qianyu wasn't angry. She bent down and asked, "Why are you running around by the river alone? Where are your parents and family?"
Taking a closer look, the little girl was wearing Luo Yun silk and had a gold lock around her neck. It was obvious that she was from a wealthy family.
The little girl looked at her with a sweet smile.
"Auntie, my daddy is over there. I sneaked out because I was playful. But I'm afraid that if I go back to my daddy, he will scold me. Auntie, will you go with me, okay?"
Jiang Qianyu thought the little girl was really cute and smart.
If an outsider like her sent the little girl back to her father, the father would probably not scold her for the sake of face.
"Auntie, go with me. I'll give you candied fruits!"
The little girl was afraid that Jiang Qianyu would not agree. She took off the small pouch around her waist, grabbed Jiang Qianyu's hand, and poured all the things in the pouch into her palm.
"Here, all for you!"
The little girl was very serious.
There were several kinds of candied fruits, such as candied dates, dried green plums, dried apricots, and rose hips.
No wonder the little girl's smile was so sweet. It turned out that she liked candied fruits.
Jiang Qianyu touched the little girl's pink and chubby little face and said, "Since you've been so generous, if I still don't agree, wouldn't I be heartless?"
The little girl's eyes curved like crescent moons with a smile. She wasn't shy at all. She pulled Jiang Qianyu's hand and was about to leave.
Fangxiao quickly stopped them. "Miss, now that your status is noble, why do you need to do such a small thing by yourself? Let this servant take her there."
Hearing this, the little girl got nervous and hugged Jiang Qianyu's thigh tightly.
"Auntie, I want you to take me to see my daddy. She's so fierce. I'm scared!"
Fangxiao looked at the little girl speechlessly.
Where was she fierce?
Jiang Qianyu had been a maid in the palace for six years. She naturally knew that serving others was never an easy thing.
Fangxiao meant well, but after all, she was a maid with some seniority in the Eastern Palace.
She had to serve her, advise her, and protect her.
Although Jiang Qianyu didn't agree with Fangxiao's words, she didn't refute Fangxiao's face either.
"This elder sister wants to replace me because she likes you. Since you've chosen me, then I'll listen to you. Who told you that you're young and can say whatever you want confidently?"
It was the first time for Fangxiao to see her coax a child, and she coaxed the child so well.
The little girl was smiling sweetly, and she lost her temper.
Fine, just go.
In the autumn afternoon, the coolness was dispelled by the warm sun.
The gentle breeze blew on them, making them feel very comfortable.
The little girl held Jiang Qianyu's hand and bounced forward.
"Auntie, look, the one in the green robe is my daddy!"
Under the ancient locust tree with falling leaves, there was a small table with candied fruits, dried fruits, and tea on it.
A man in a green robe held a scroll in one hand and had the other hand behind his back. His elegant and slender shadow fell on the ground covered with yellow leaves.
"Daddy!"
The little girl shouted cheerfully and ran over.
But she still didn't let go of Jiang Qianyu's hand. Jiang Qianyu was afraid that she would fall, so she had to trot along with her.
Hearing the shout, the man turned around.
Jiang Qianyu looked up.
Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still for a moment.
It was him, Liang Wentao?
Jiang Qianyu didn't know why she was so unlucky to meet him twice in a row.
She averted her gaze, and her face turned a bit cold.
"Ruir, where did you run off to?"
Liang Wentao lowered his voice. It was obvious that he was angry.
Ruir was the daughter he had with his late wife and was the apple of everyone's eye in the family.
"I saw a beautiful auntie by the river and wanted to get closer to take a look!"
The little girl hid behind Jiang Qianyu, but her tone was confident.
Jiang Qianyu realized that the beautiful auntie the little girl was talking about was herself.
She couldn't help but feel a bit shy.
This little girl had such a sweet mouth.
But Liang Wentao didn't buy it. He raised his eyebrows and exposed Ruir's lie. "Since you knew the auntie was beautiful from afar, why did you need to run in front of her to take a look?"
The word "beautiful" sounded like innocence and praise when it came from the little girl's mouth.
But when it came from his mouth, it inexplicably added a bit of ambiguity.
A blush crept onto Jiang Qianyu's face seemingly inadvertently.
Ruir pouted her little mouth and was about to cry out of grievance.
"Children are playful and may run too far. Since she's back safely, there's no need to scold her anymore."
For Ruir's sake, Jiang Qianyu finally gave Liang Wentao a direct look.
The sternness in Liang Wentao's eyes faded away, and he gave her a gentle smile.
"Since the young lady is pleading for her, I'll forgive her this time."
He said it as if he was doing her a great favor.
Jiang Qianyu couldn't keep a cold face anymore, but she didn't want to easily forgive his rudeness to the Crown Prince. She slightly curled her lips as a response to his words.
"Miss, it's time for us to go. The Crown Princess and Princess Yuening are in the pavilion. It's not good for us to be away for too long."
Fangxiao reminded her in a low voice.
When she turned around, Ruir still waved goodbye to her reluctantly. "Goodbye, auntie!"
After they walked a little further away, the little girl proudly raised her face, looking rather show - offy.
"Daddy, did I act well?"