Just now, Liang Wentao had been wearing a stern face. But now, beaming with joy, he picked up his daughter and planted a kiss on her chubby cheek.
"With Ruier's help, I'm already halfway to success," he said.
Liang Wentao had witnessed the interaction between Ruier and Jiang Qianyu. Although Jiang Qianyu had never had a child of her own, there was a certain maternal glow about her when she looked at Ruier. A person who liked children was bound to be kind - hearted and magnanimous.
Jiang Qianyu returned to the pavilion.
"Qian'er's back. Perfect timing! The Crown Princess has just finished her painting," Song Wanchu said, pulling Jiang Qianyu by the hand and inviting her to take a look.
Jiang Qianyu had long heard of Cheng Simian's talent. The moment she laid eyes on the painting, she was more than just stunned.
In the painting, the Qingjiang River meandered, outlining the broad riverbank. Under an ancient locust tree on the bank, golden leaves carpeted the ground. Beneath the tree, a woman in ink - blue clothes was holding the hand of a five - or six - year - old child. The child tilted her head up, her eyes twinkling like stars. The look in her eyes when she gazed at the woman was as if she were looking at her mother. And standing beside them was a gentle and tall man, his soft gaze fixed on the woman. The look was tender but not overly intimate, a pure admiration. The colors of the whole painting were soft and subdued, as if bathed in a faint light, exuding warmth and tranquility. It looked so much like a happy family...
Jiang Qianyu glanced down at her own ink - blue dress. A blush crept up her face.
"Crown Princess, why are you teasing me?" she said.
There was a hint of mystery in Cheng Simian's smile. "When I paint, I'm very picky about the scenery. I couldn't find anything satisfactory around. But then I suddenly saw a heart - warming scene over there, so I painted it down."
Song Wanchu let out a sigh as if in regret. "Mianmian said she was painting for me, but after half a day, she painted someone else. It seems I'm just not lucky enough to take this painting away."
Jiang Qianyu's face grew even redder.
Suddenly, a clear male voice came from outside the pavilion.
"Greetings to the Crown Princess and to Princess Yuening."
Liang Wentao, with Ruier in tow, knelt down.
Cheng Simian gave him a nonchalant look. "Get up."
True to her childlike nature, as soon as Ruier got up, she grinned and threw herself into Jiang Qianyu's arms.
"Auntie!"
The little girl's voice was sweet, and her affection for Jiang Qianyu was genuine.
Jiang Qianyu was a bit annoyed by Liang Wentao's repeated appearances. But she wouldn't take this annoyance out on Ruier. Ruier was a good girl. Her father's misdeeds had nothing to do with her.
Liang Wentao hung his head, a far cry from the swaggering man who had walked away boldly in front of the Crown Prince's carriage that day.
Jiang Qianyu thought to herself, Why has he become so polite today?
Cheng Simian put down her painting brush. Her brows furrowed, showing a hint of displeasure.
"Aren't you the proud and mighty Lord Liang? You didn't even bow when you saw the Crown Prince's carriage. How humble and cautious of you!"
Such a blatant rebuke made the atmosphere inside and outside the pavilion turn cold instantly.
Jiang Qianyu instinctively tightened her hold on Ruier. At this moment, she was a bit conflicted. Liang Wentao's disrespect for the Crown Prince deserved to be scolded. But she didn't want to see the Crown Princess punish his father in front of Ruier.
Years ago, her father had bravely exposed Yu Jingnian's embezzlement of the funds for river - embankment repair. He should have been a hero of the court, but instead, he was suppressed and demoted by the princess. That day, it was pouring rain. A group of yamen runners from the Ministry of Justice came and forced her father to kneel in the rain. They roughly stripped him of his official robe. She, her mother, and her younger brother were so scared that they huddled together, crying. The yamen runners threatened them. They put shackles on her father. Her proud and upright father was bent under the heavy shackles, looking so pitiful. That scene had become an indelible nightmare for her. If the Crown Prince hadn't arrived in time, the Jiang family would have been ransacked and exiled. The Crown Prince had been like a savior from the sky. His tall and imposing figure had torn a hole in the stormy weather. It was as if a ray of light had shone on her face.
Jiang Qianyu stole a glance at Liang Wentao from the corner of her eye. She really didn't want Ruier to be left with a psychological shadow.
Liang Wentao knelt down again. "Please forgive me, Crown Princess. I didn't mean to disrespect the Crown Prince. There was someone in the carriage whom I admire deeply. I was afraid that if I stopped, my feelings would be exposed and it would ruin her reputation, so I dared not stay."
Jiang Qianyu's pupils dilated as if she had just experienced a major earthquake. Her mouth fell open slightly in surprise as she stared blankly at Liang Wentao. Since he dared to say this in front of the Crown Princess, the person he admired couldn't be the Crown Princess. But on that day, there had only been her and the Crown Princess in the carriage. She and Liang Wentao were strangers. When had he started to admire her?
Both Cheng Simian and Song Wanchu knew that exposing such feelings on the spot would be most embarrassing for Jiang Qianyu. So neither of them looked at her, afraid of making her even more uncomfortable.
"How dare you, Liang Wentao! Do you know that the person you admire is a woman who has received a jade ruyi from the queen and is to be the Crown Prince's concubine in the future?"
Cheng Simian's words implied that he was coveting the Crown Prince's woman, which was a very serious crime.
But Liang Wentao remained calm. "I just speak my mind. I have a clear conscience. If the Crown Princess wants to punish me, I have nothing to say."
Now Jiang Qianyu knew where Ruier had learned her self - assured attitude from.
"Fine. I admire your courage to take responsibility!"
There seemed to be a cold glint in the corner of Cheng Simian's eyes. "Lord Liang, just wait to be punished by the Crown Prince!"
Her tone was harsh. Ruier seemed to be frightened. She clung to Jiang Qianyu, her small body trembling slightly, her clear eyes filled with tears.
Back at the Eastern Palace, Jiang Qianyu was still worried about Ruier, wondering if she had been scared. She didn't want a five - year - old child to go through the pain and horror she had experienced. Although Liang Wentao had disrespected the Crown Prince, there was a reason behind it. Although his reason shocked and confused her, it wasn't really a heinous crime.
The Crown Princess was very angry. And the Crown Prince always valued the Crown Princess's opinion the most. Liang Wentao's disrespect was caused by her. She began to have a faint thought of pleading for him.
In the evening, the Crown Prince returned from the Hall of Mental Cultivation. The emperor's health was fluctuating, and he had to attend to him often.
At night, Fang Xiao, whom Jiang Qianyu had sent to gather information, returned to the Star - Gathering Pavilion.
"Miss, the Crown Prince has been in a bad mood these days because of the emperor's illness. After hearing from the Crown Princess about Liang Wentao's great disrespect, he flew into a rage and said he would punish Liang Wentao tomorrow!"
Jiang Qianyu didn't sleep well that night. Sometimes she dreamt that Liang Wentao was punished and his family ransacked, and Ruier was crying miserably. Sometimes she dreamt of the three of them in the painting, happy and harmonious. Then, it seemed as if the Crown Prince was standing under the ancient locust tree, waving to her cheerfully. She rushed over. The blurry face became clear. It was a handsome and gentle face, as pure as the wind and the moon.
She woke up with a start, covering her pounding heart. Why had she dreamt of Liang Wentao?