frightfiction Chapter 757 It’s Clearly Xi’er’s Wrong
Chapter 757 It’s Clearly Xi’er’s Wrong
The two of them were so close that Xu Zize suddenly felt the girl's faint body fragrance lingering around his nose, and the warmth from her chest made his ears burn red in an instant.
He took a half step back as if he was scalded, and the touch of the other person's sleeve still lingered on his fingertips.
"Hurry up and take the things out," he turned his face away, his Adam's apple rolled unnaturally, trying to cover up his gaffe.
"Don't keep father waiting too long." There was a hint of haste in his voice.
Jing Chunxi took out the couplet, the yellowed blueprint he had copied, the gilded iron box, and the secret wax letter sent by Prince Hong later from the space one by one and placed them neatly on the brocade mattress.
Each object made a different sound as it landed on the satin—the rustle of rice paper, the tapping of metal, the rustle of letter paper.
Xu Zize's eyes followed her flying fingertips closely, watching the silver bracelet on her wrist reflect different shades of light in the sunlight as she moved.
Until the very end, the girl took out two sets of green jade inkstones and wolf-hair brushes. After hesitating for a moment, she took out a gold butterfly hairpin. The filigree patterns on the butterfly's wings seemed as if it was about to flap its wings and fly in the light and shadow.
"Brother Xiaokang," Jing Chunxi said, holding up a golden hairpin. The pearl tassel dangling from the end swayed gently, casting tiny specks of light on her face. When she raised her eyes, her eyelashes cast a shadow under her eyes, and there was a questioning look in her eyes.
"Xier, don't you know how to cherish the things given to you by others?" Xu Zize suddenly clenched the bedpost, his knuckles turning white from the force.
When he gave her this hairpin, he deliberately chose one with lace workmanship because the butterfly wings would flutter with her steps, just like the way her eyes moved when she smiled.
At this moment, his anger was mixed with an indescribable sense of loss, which made his chest feel tight.
Jing Chunxi shrank back at his sudden gloom, the hairpin trembling in her hand. "Xi'er just feels she's grown up and can't wear it anymore," she trailed off, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the fine lines on the hairpin.
Thinking of the smile that might appear on Xue Cheng's face when she receives the gift, her originally self-righteous explanation seemed to lack confidence under the boy's burning gaze.
"The things sent by Brother Xiaokang are not allowed to be given to others!" Xu Zize's voice returned to the coldness it had when he just left the conference room, like a blade tempered with ice.
When he turned around, the jade ornaments on the belt around his waist collided with each other, making a crisp sound.
"Don't waste time, get another piece of cloth for your wrapping." These words fell harshly on the ground, making anyone who heard them feel uncomfortable.
Jing Chunxi silently put the hairpin back into the space, and took out an exquisite cloisonné enamel box. When he opened it, the hinge made a slight "click" sound.
On the red velvet lining in the box lay a gold bracelet inlaid with a pigeon blood ruby. The ruby looked like a drop of coagulated blood in the sunlight, and the inner wall of the gold bracelet was engraved with the seal script "peace and joy".
Seeing Jing Chunxi pursed her lips and remained silent, Xu Zize lowered his voice, reaching out to touch her sleeve but then retracting his hand. "This time," he said, his voice softening with a hint of flattery, "Brother Xiaokang didn't expect to return to Chancheng, so he forgot to prepare gifts for his younger siblings. Can you lend Xi'er to me first?"
Jing Chunxi packed her things with her back to him, her lilac sleeves brushing against the mattress, making a rustling sound. "What does Brother Xiaokang want? It's so good, I don't have it," she said sullenly, deliberately slamming the lid of the box shut.
"You're already angry. It's obviously Xier's fault." Xu Zize stepped forward to help tie the bundle, but as soon as his fingers touched the edge of the cloth, she pushed him away.
He smiled wryly and shook his head, a wisp of hair falling down to hide the helplessness in his eyes. "Two small crossbows, and preferably a ruby hairpin to match this bracelet." He suddenly leaned in close, his warm breath, with a hint of ambergris, brushing against her ear.
Jing Chunxi stepped back in a hurry, and her embroidered shoes made a sudden sound when they stepped on the floor.
The small crossbow and hairpin in the space instantly appeared in her palm - the crossbow was only the size of a palm, and the nanmu crossbow was carved with twined flower patterns; the ruby on the hairpin and the bracelet complemented each other beautifully, emitting an intoxicating luster in the sunlight.
"The crossbow was originally given by Brother Xiaokang, so you don't have to return it." She said awkwardly, and her fingertips gently plucked the taut string of the crossbow, making a soft "clang" sound.
Last year in Shibaao, she was so worried about preparing gifts for the children of Qingshan Villa that she couldn't eat.
At that time, the gum experiment had just been successful. Xu Zize discussed with the general and mobilized more than a dozen of his soldiers to personally adjust the tension of each crossbow under candlelight.
She remembered the red marks on his fingertips caused by the gum, and the fire in his eyes when he smiled and said, "Every child should be able to shoot down an eagle from the sky."
The handles of those crossbows were engraved with small auspicious cloud patterns - exactly the same as the patterns on the dagger she gave him.
……
When he returned to the conference room, Prince Yan had been waiting for a long time. He poured himself a few cups of tea.
The emerald green tea in the celadon teacup on the rosewood table reflected his slightly tired face. His slender fingers gently stroked the rim of the cup, his eyes wandering between the two people who had entered.
At this moment, his eyes were no longer as inquiring as before, but instead carried an indescribable complexity, as if he was examining something unexpected.
Finally, his eyes fell on the bundle that Xu Zize had placed on the table. The bundle was wrapped in ordinary cotton cloth and was being carefully unwrapped by the two men.
The Prince of Yan had a sharp face, a powerful presence between his brows, and a jawline as firm and resolute as a knife. Sitting across from him, Jing Chunxi felt his gaze had substance, causing her to unconsciously straighten her back.
"Your Highness Prince of Yan, it's like this." Jing Chunxi spoke faster unconsciously, but his voice remained respectful and steady.
Xu Zize stood up tacitly, and the scroll in his hand shook slightly with his movement, making a slight rustling sound.
The moment the couplet unfolded, the familiar handwriting caused the Prince of Yan's pupils to shrink suddenly. He stood up suddenly, and his wide sleeves stirred up a gust of wind, shaking the teacup on the table slightly.