Chapter 22

Qi Song crouched to the side, grinding the ink.

Cheng Yun spread out the drawing paper, his gaze fixed steadily on Wen Biesang. After striking a pose, Wen Biesang remained perfectly still, though his eyes soon began to drift, lost in some distant place.

"Ahem." As the brush was moistened in the ink, Wen Biesang collected himself, blinking as his eyes regained their clarity and spirit.

"Change your pose," Cheng Yun said. "Turn a bit more to the side."

Wen Biesang complied, leaning his hand against the chair and tilting his head. His neck looked delicate, the pose slightly bewitching, yet his expression remained calm and detached.

"What kind of pose is that?!" Chen Changfeng interjected. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, this is my niece, not a court entertainer!"

"My apologies." Unexpectedly, Cheng Yun’s attitude was quite accommodating. "You are right. Miss Sang, let us return to the previous pose."

Wen Biesang adjusted himself back.

Half an incense stick later, a painting of green pines in ink and wash leaped to life on the paper. The figure beneath the pines appeared dreamlike and ethereal, possessing an otherworldly quality.

"A pity there is no color," Cheng Yun said, lifting the paper. "Would Miss Sang like to take a look?"

Wen Biesang walked over and glanced at it. He had already experienced Crown Prince Cheng Yun’s artistic talent; he had known the Prince was skilled at color painting, but he hadn't realized his mastery of ink wash was equally profound.

He gave a soft hum, stepped back a few paces, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

Sensing the dismissal, Cheng Yun replied, "Naturally, there is."

"What else could there be?"

"I still have some regrets."

"?"

"Could I wait until tomorrow, when I have brought my pigments, to paint you in full color?"

*Are you addicted to painting now?* Before Chen Changfeng could speak, Wen Biesang cast a suspicious look at Cheng Yun. "That would be improper."

Cheng Yun looked unruffled. "Oh?"

"My husband is coming to pick me up and take me home early tomorrow morning."

Chen Changfeng nearly choked on his own saliva, and Qi Song’s eyes widened in an instant.

After a long silence, Cheng Yun finally spoke: "So… Miss Sang is already married?"

Wen Biesang watched his expression, feeling his suspicions largely confirmed. He nodded, his tone dead serious. "Exactly."

"May I ask, how long have you been married?"

"Half a year."

"…Half a year, I see."

"By March of next year, we will be a family of three."

"Pfft—"

Wen Biesang cast a questioning glance in that direction, and Qi Song immediately lowered his head. Chen Changfeng stood to the side, hands clasped, looking between Cheng Yun and Wen Biesang, unsure of how to respond.

Cheng Yun said, "You are with child, then."

"Yes."

"In that case, I have truly been quite intrusive today."

"It is fine," Wen Biesang said. "It is my honor to be painted by the Crown Prince."

Cheng Yun smiled. "It has been my pleasure to paint you as well… Ah, right, I cannot call you 'Miss' anymore. May I ask for your husband's surname?"

"My husband’s surname is Xie."

"So it is Madam Xie. I apologize for the disturbance."

"Please, feel free."

Leaving the fireworks shop, Qi Song looked at the relaxed Crown Prince and couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, are you not angry?"

"Why should I be angry?"

"Young Master Wen's behavior just now was clearly intended to prevent you from visiting again. I thought—"

"He has only just managed to escape the eyes of the Prime Minister's estate, and my identity is far too sensitive. If I were to frequent the fireworks shop, it would likely ruin his plans."

Qi Song realized this, then added, "Then, Your Highness already knows what his plans are?"

"Hard to say," Cheng Yun replied. "But for him to act in Shengjing, I fear it will not be easy."

In the back courtyard, Wen Biesang watched the Crown Prince’s departing figure with a grave expression.

Chen Changfeng seemed to let out a sigh of relief. "Young Master, you must move immediately."

"Yes." Wen Biesang turned to enter the room. Chen Changfeng sighed, "You scared me to death just now. I thought the Prince was going to drag you back to the estate, and I was already considering whether to bring out the firecrackers..."

Wen Biesang picked up a mortar and poured out the gunpowder inside. "Just because he didn't take me today does not mean he won't tomorrow."

Chen Changfeng watched his movements and retreated to the doorway. "Your composure is truly admirable, Young Master. Even knowing you have been seen through, you can still trade barbs and play-act with the Crown Prince. I don't know what the Prince is thinking, letting you go just like that..."

"He has not seen through me."

Chen Changfeng: "Ah?"

"He has simply taken a fancy to me."

Chen Changfeng: "…Ah?"

Wen Biesang tidied up his metal canisters. "I have never seen him treat anyone with such courtesy. Not only did he paint me, but he even tried to schedule another meeting. He must have seen how well I played the young lady and decided he wanted to take me for himself."

Chen Changfeng: "…"

"Young Master," he said solemnly, "in my opinion, he must have recognized your true identity, which is why he wants to meet again."

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"He told me to get as far away as possible and that he never wanted to see me again. If he knew I was a man disguised as a woman, he would never have painted me or treated me with such kindness."

"So that is why you told him you had a husband and were three months pregnant?"

"Yes." Wen Biesang placed the canisters into an open wooden chest. "Didn't you see the look of disappointment on his face?"

*I think he was just baffled by you...*

Chen Changfeng asked, "So, you are in a rush to leave now, not because you have been exposed?"

"I should not be exposed," Wen Biesang said. "I am a young lady now. I am worried he might forcibly abduct me into his estate."

Chen Changfeng: "I still feel that the possibility of him having discovered your identity is higher than the possibility of him abducting you..."

"You don't understand him," Wen Biesang shook his head. "He has always been arrogant, prone to highway robbery and pursuing 'dream demons,' and he acts with complete tyranny in his own estate. No one dares to defy him. If he truly sets his sights on someone, he is certainly capable of snatching a commoner’s wife."

"But you aren't a commoner's wife."

"I have to be a commoner's wife for now." Wen Biesang said, "If I were to change into men's clothing, the Prime Minister's estate would surely come looking for trouble."

As he spoke, he suddenly squeezed something hard, and the object immediately let out a crackling spark. Chen Changfeng trembled at the sight.

Wen Biesang frowned, tossed the object into a pile of bottles and jars, and pressed his lips together tightly. He looked as though he wanted to throw one of those firecrackers at the Crown Prince’s estate immediately.

Although Chen Changfeng still thought it more likely that the Prince had recognized him, the idea of moving to hide suited his own preferences, so he immediately began to prepare.

The carriage left the fireworks shop and headed toward the outer streets. Wen Biesang alighted in front of a clean, tidy courtyard.

This time, the shadow guards were efficient, quickly relaying the news to the Crown Prince’s estate.

Cheng Yun was very surprised: "He went to Dingdong Lane?"

"Exactly."

"Was he picked up by his husband?"

The shadow paused before replying, "He went by himself."

Qi Song asked, "Did he realize he had been seen through by you?"

"Running away so quickly, it seems so." Cheng Yun’s tone sounded somewhat regretful. "I had intended to play with him for a few more days; I didn't expect him to suddenly grow smart."

"Then, Your Highness's intent is..."

"Since he no longer wishes to play the role of a young lady, there is no need to beat around the bush anymore." Cheng Yun held the drawings that were too painful to look at. "Let him finish his own business; eventually, he will have to settle down and do some real work for me."

In the courtyard of the small house in Dingdong Lane, the scholar tree was covered in white, with birds occasionally stopping by and shaking down a drift of snow upon their departure. Wen Biesang had the blueprints of the Prime Minister's estate spread out before him, carefully sketching and marking them.

The Crown Prince and the "dream demon" affair had completely disrupted his original plan. Now that his face was known to everyone, he would have to re-strategize his infiltration of the Prime Minister's estate.

Wen Biesang touched the veil lying to the side.

*What kind of person would need to wear a veil to enter the Prime Minister's estate?*

He furrowed his brow in thought for a while, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and his gaze landed on a letter nearby. He opened it, looking at the familiar handwriting.

Song Qianfan… Drunken Immortal Pavilion…

Come to think of it, on the day of Zhou Lianqiong and Zhou Lianjing’s birthdays, the Prime Minister's estate would surely be short-staffed and would likely hire people from outside...

*I shall go to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion tomorrow to assess the situation.*

Having made his decision, Wen Biesang picked up the candlestick and walked toward the bed.

Suddenly, a pair of dragon-patterned boots swept across the branches of the scholar tree in the courtyard, without even causing the branches to tremble. Cheng Yun landed lightly beneath the eaves.

The windows were tightly shut, and the room was lit. Cheng Yun tapped lightly on the window. The sound was not loud, but certainly enough to warrant attention; yet, the person inside showed no reaction at all.

*Sometimes, I really doubt if this little monster is deaf.*

Cheng Yun pondered, then knocked twice more, heavily.

Wen Biesang immediately sat up in bed, grabbed his small crossbow, and loaded a fire-bomb. The window was pushed open slowly, revealing the familiar, annoying face. Wen Biesang reacted instantly, grabbing his quilt to shield his body and burying half his face into it, leaving only his eyes visible.

Cheng Yun stepped through the window and said deliberately, "Miss Sang, where is your husband?"

Wen Biesang’s eyelashes flickered. "My husband... after bringing me here, he went off to attend to some business."

Cheng Yun: "..."

*Still playing the part?*

He blinked and said, "Then, is it not inappropriate for me to visit at such a late hour?"

Wen Biesang replied, "It is naturally inappropriate. How could you... how could you sneak into a lady's chamber at night? If this were to become known, what would become of my reputation?"

Cheng Yun pondered. He seemed to have overestimated the monster's intelligence; this foolish creature did not seem to have moved here because he had seen through his disguise.

*Then why did he move?*

He took a step forward, and Wen Biesang curled his body, eyes wide, looking exactly like a rabbit. He was far cuter than when he was cold and indifferent, constantly trying to kill people with fire-bombs.

Cheng Yun pulled a chair to the table and sat down not far from him. "I truly admire you, Madam, and thus came to disturb you late at night. I hope you will not take offense."

Wen Biesang hesitated: *Should I fire the crossbow at him?* If he fired, he would certainly expose himself as Wen Biesang; but if he didn't... what if the Prince truly attempted to force himself upon a commoner's wife?

"You... I am a married woman now. How can you be so disrespectful to me?"

Cheng Yun’s lips twitched; he lowered his head to hide his crumbling expression before looking up again. "Madam Xie, you worry too much. I have absolutely no disrespectful intentions; I simply truly wished to paint another portrait of you."

"You..." Wen Biesang thought for a moment and said, "You scoundrel, if you do not leave, I shall call for help."

"Don't," Cheng Yun said. "I truly have no other intentions toward you. Look, you are already a Madam Xie, and you are carrying a child of the Xie family. I don't even have a wife or concubines in my estate, and I have never even touched a woman's hand, so how could I do such a thing to a married woman..."