Volume 1 Chapter 27

  The maid was startled and withdrew her hand, looking at Baili Yongjin in surprise. But she only saw the young master staring steadily at the painting that had fallen to the ground.

  Baili Rongjin stared blankly at the woman in the portrait, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

  Only saw the woman in the painting with a beautiful appearance and a lovely face, her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, her pupils shone brightly, and her red lips reflected the sunlight.

  It was indeed Xia Ting who had been listening in without a doubt.

  He couldn't help but bend down and pick up the painting, gently wiping away the dust that had fallen on it. It was actually her, the woman who had met him at 'Drunken Fragrance Pavilion' and treated his illness.

  Qing Yu was also shocked when he saw the woman in the painting, and it turned out that this woman was also among the selected candidates.

  Baili Rongjin quietly gazed at the portrait of a woman with a faint, gentle smile. She would be among those selected, which was something he had not anticipated. Such an unexpected turn of events, however, could not help but bring him a few moments of joy from the bottom of his heart.

  The inscription at the bottom of the painting is written in small script as 'Xia Tingning'.

  Xia Ting, Xia Ting. Bai Li Rongjin whispered softly in her heart, so she was surnamed Xia, was this really her name?

  That day she bid him a hasty farewell, without leaving behind even a single word or sentence. He was left with no way of knowing anything about her at all.

  "Jing'er?" The quiet queen called out to Baili Yongjing with a hint of puzzlement, and seeing her son staring blankly at the portrait in his hand, she felt extremely shocked.

  But then he suddenly smiled with joy, Jin'er was probably taken with the woman in the painting. Earlier, when he sat on the stone bench, he had a completely indifferent attitude towards those women in the paintings. She also worried that Jin'er would not find any of them to his liking and would refuse to choose one after all.

  Baili Rongjin didn't come back to her senses until she heard Jing Wangfei's call, and when she saw her mother's expectant face, she realized that her previous actions were somewhat improper.

  He stood there, holding the portrait and staring at it for a long time. Baili Rongyin suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable, her eyes flashing slightly.

  The queen dowager looked very happy "Ji'er, is it the woman in the painting on your hand that you have taken a fancy to? Which young lady from which mansion is she? Quickly bring it over for me to take a look."

  She was indeed curious, what kind of woman she was, that she had so easily entered Jin'er's eyes. Her son's temperament he knew better than anyone, and he was really indifferent to women. In the Qinglan Garden, there were only two maidservants in total, the rest were either guards or young servants, or some rough-serving old women.

  If she hadn't known that her son had been indifferent to everyone since he was a child, regardless of gender. She's worried about his orientation for a long time.

  Baili Rongjin reflexively rolled up the painting and hid it in his wide sleeves, with a hint of evasiveness. "I think I'll go back to my room to rest first, and talk to Mother about the painting in a few days."

  After finishing speaking, she turned around and walked into the house, her pace noticeably faster than usual. Her snow-white face seemed to be carrying a hint of embarrassment at having her thoughts exposed, and the departing figure appeared somewhat disheveled.

  Qing Yu stared blankly at the receding figure of Bai Li Rong Jin, his eyes widening slightly. This was still his first time seeing the young master in such a state, was it because of that Miss Xia?

  It wasn't until Baili Yongjia entered the house that he came to his senses, silently scolding himself. Even if it was because of Miss Xia, it was still a good thing. It's rare for the young master to finally put a woman in his heart, and Miss Xia also has excellent medical skills. Isn't this a match made in heaven?

  Thinking of this, Qingyu hastily bowed to Jing Wangfei and retreated, returning to the house to continue guarding Baili Yungui.

  The queen watched her son turn and enter the house, only to feel a little amused. She was hiding something, but even if she didn't look at the painting, she could still find out who it was.

  The Queen gently shook her head and beckoned to the maid who was picking up the painting, indicating for her to come over. "Did you just see clearly who the woman in the painting is?"

  The maid held up the few scrolls she had just picked up and said, "I've taken a closer look, it's Miss Xia of the Xia Manor, Xia Tingying."

  The queen nodded in satisfaction and turned her head to Li Mama "Leave her invitation behind."

  Madam Li nodded repeatedly, knowing that Princess Wang had chosen the young lady from the Xia family, and entering the mansion was already a done deal.

  A chilly night, with a fierce cold wind blowing. In the night sky, the moonlight is somewhat dim.

  Inside Qinglan Garden's house, there was no invasion of the cold night wind from outside. The spacious and bright room made people feel warm everywhere.

  Baoli Rongjin, who had just finished bathing, wore a white brocade dress, with her raven-black long hair softly scattered, the ends slightly damp. Her eyes held a hint of mistiness.

  So beautiful it's breathtaking.

  Inside the snow-white mosquito net, a goose-down mattress was laid out, on top of which was stacked a soft and fluffy duvet made of silkworm silk with a faint pearl sheen.

  Baili Rongjin leaned gently against the soft pillow on the bed, reached out to take the painting scroll placed at the head of the bed, untied the ribbon, and slowly unfolded it.

  Looking at Xia Ting's gentle smile in the photo, she couldn't help but slightly curve up her lips and reveal a faint smile.

  He lightly brushed past the portrait. The painter who painted it was not highly skilled and could not bring out all of her beauty, which was far less than one tenth of what she looked like in real life.

  Today, I unexpectedly saw her picture, and it's undeniable that he had a few parts of joy in his heart.

  That encounter was like throwing a small stone into his calm heart lake, causing a faint ripple.

  In the past few days, he went to 'Drunken Fragrance Pavilion' several times again, subconsciously hoping to see her there, but unfortunately, heaven did not grant his wish, and every time he waited for a long time without meeting her.

  Qing Yu also inquired about her from the shopkeeper, but was told that she had never seen her before and was a new customer. Since then, she has not gone to 'Drunken Fragrance Building' for dinner again.

  He couldn't help but feel a little disappointed upon hearing this news.

  But unexpectedly, she would appear before him in such a way today. It made him feel somewhat delighted, yet also somewhat worried.

  Would she agree if he proposed to her? Although they had only met briefly, from that day on, he knew she was not a woman who would simply follow her parents' orders and act according to rules.

  In his opinion, she must be a very strong-willed person. Would such a woman agree to marry him?

  Almost all the young ladies from wealthy families in Kyoto have determined that he is short-lived and will not live past 25 years old. If it weren't for the empress's decree, probably no lady would be willing to marry him.

  And these birth eight characters sent to the palace of various government ladies, are also forced to disobey the imperial decree, under the helpless circumstances they went to participate in the selection. Most of them were unfavored concubine daughters, only a few officials who really did not have suitable age concubine daughters would painfully send their legitimate daughter to participate in the selection.

  These people are secretly praying that they won't be chosen, so they won't have to marry him, a man who is likely to die soon.

  Apart from Qing Yu, no one else knew that his body was slowly recovering. Although it was only a slight change, he could feel it, and with the medicine recipe she had left behind, he was indeed getting better every day.

  This realization undoubtedly surprised him and made him even more curious about what kind of unusual woman she was.

  When he came up with the idea of marrying her, he didn't feel repulsed at all. On the contrary, he had a few likings for it.

  Every time he thinks of her, he always unconsciously recalls the intimate movements when she fed him honey that day. Even now, his lips still seem to have the warm touch of her fingertips.

  Will she agree to marry him? Baili Yuyan couldn't give herself an answer.

  The desolation she felt in her heart when she left that day seemed to have returned.

  In the quiet of the night, he alone stood in front of the portrait deep in thought

  Digression

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