The Mute Wife Who Brings Prosperity-Chapter 483 - 450: How About Not Treating Young Master Yuanbao as an Outsider from Now On? (First Update)
At this moment in the Minister’s Mansion garden, Xue Yinhuan was reclining against a rock cleaned by the servants, with spring begonias hanging overhead.
Ye Ling was painting a "Beauty Spring Sleep" painting for her.
"Sister Huan never liked being painted before, why the sudden interest today?" The young girl painted for a while and curiously asked.
Xue Yinhuan didn’t open her eyes, replying with four words, "Bored and idle."
Ye Ling giggled, "Then you should sleep well, if you truly fall asleep, my painting might look even more natural. Sister Huan is already beautiful, if this painting spreads, you’ll surely be remembered as the top beauty."
This comment made Xue Yinhuan laugh, "What top beauty, you little girl, such nonsense!"
Ye Ling’s brows and eyes curved, then she quieted down and continued painting.
Xue Yinhuan had tricked Ye Ling to her house because of a request from Zhao Xi ten days ago, holding a matter in her heart, so she couldn’t sleep. After a moment of silence, she asked Ye Ling, "Ah Yao, if you were chosen to enter the palace and become a Prince Consort, would you be willing?"
Ah Yao was Ye Ling’s childhood name.
"Ah?" The young girl was evidently stumped by the sudden question, her hand halted, unsure how to respond.
Xue Yinhuan looked at her, and surprisingly felt that if she continued asking, the young girl might start crying.
Looking so delicate and soft, always easily arouses a protective instinct in those around her.
Even though Xue Yinhuan was also a girl, she inexplicably felt soft-hearted when facing this close friend, a frequent occurrence that often led her to question if something was wrong with herself.
The atmosphere became stagnant and awkward.
Xue Yinhuan was pondering how to recover from her previous question when she saw maid Qiuci hurrying over.
Xue Yinhuan breathed a temporary sigh of relief and asked her, "What’s the matter?"
Qiuci whispered, "Miss, His Highness and Young Master Song have arrived."
As she said this, Qiuci’s expression was not very pleasant.
Xue Yinhuan detected a hint of gritted teeth and knew the young maid held a bit of grievance towards this future brother-in-law. She chuckled, "Escort them to the Waterside Pavilion, the scenery there is nice, we’ll be over shortly."
After Qiuci left, Xue Yinhuan got up, no longer pretending to sleep.
Ye Ling asked, "Are we still painting?"
Xue Yinhuan said, "With esteemed guests visiting, we should go meet them first."
Ye Ling had no choice but to put down her brush, moving the easel to the pavilion before following Xue Yinhuan to the Waterside Pavilion.
Along the way, Xue Yinhuan didn’t speak, nor did she ask many questions.
The young girl was naturally quiet, not one who spoke much.
She wasn’t the type of confidante who could help you unburden your troubles, but there was an indescribable calm about her that always soothed an agitated heart.
Because of her family background, Xue Yinhuan often felt vexed, but whenever she sought out Ye Ling, it wasn’t to disclose her feelings. Even if they didn’t speak a word, simply sitting quietly together was much better than crying.
The two had not yet left the garden when Xue Yinhuan’s stepmother, Mrs. Xie, led Zhao Xi and Song Yuanbao towards them.
As they walked, Mrs. Xie laughed and said to Xue Yinhuan, "The railing by the Waterside Pavilion is broken and hasn’t been repaired yet, how could you let His Highness go there?"
Xue Yinhuan barely noticeably frowned. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
The railing by the Waterside Pavilion wasn’t broken.
Earlier, she had personally gone to check for selecting a painting location; Mrs. Xie probably heard that Ye Ling was doing a "Beauty Spring Sleep" painting for her and wanted to create an "amazing encounter" between her and Zhao Xi.
In order to attach herself to noble connections and become part of the royal family, she wouldn’t hesitate to worry herself sick over her stepdaughter’s marriage.
Xue Yinhuan thought it quite interesting for a stepmother to behave this way.
"You all take your time chatting, I have some errands to run," Mrs. Xie delivered them, then made a swift exit.
To avoid an awkward atmosphere, Xue Yinhuan promptly curtsied to the two gentlemen.
Zhao Xi hadn’t looked at Ye Ling since he appeared, merely saying mildly to Xue Yinhuan, "Come with me."
Xue Yinhuan didn’t quite understand what Zhao Xi was planning, hesitating slightly before following him.
She initially thought Zhao Xi had something to say to her alone, yet unexpectedly, he took her to a place bustling with people in the front courtyard.
Apparently, every time he visited the Minister’s Mansion, he wouldn’t seek her company alone. Even if he wanted to speak, it would always be in the presence of others.
Xue Yinhuan glanced at the servants bustling back and forth at the end of the corridor, paused her steps, and stared at Zhao Xi’s back, "Ten days ago, His Highness asked me to invite Miss Ye over. Now that I’ve brought her here, why doesn’t His Highness speak to her? What is your intention?"
Zhao Xi turned back, asking in return, "When did I say I wanted to find her?"
Xue Yinhuan was rendered speechless, then muttered softly, "If you didn’t want to find her, why did you sound so serious at the time?"
Zhao Xi heard her, but didn’t respond, merely sitting on a bench, seeming to wait for something.
As the other party stayed silent, Xue Yinhuan didn’t deliberately search for topics either. She casually called a young maid over to serve tea to His Highness.
...
In the garden, Song Yuanbao had already seen the painting Ye Ling was doing for Xue Yinhuan, and even though it wasn’t finished, it was evident the young girl’s painting skills were remarkable at a glance.
Seeing Song Yuanbao staring blankly at the painting, Ye Ling spoke up beside him, "Young Master Yuanbao, do you think there’s something wrong with it?"
Song Yuanbao nodded, "Indeed there is something wrong."
Ye Ling had always been confident in her painting, but didn’t mind criticism, "I’d be grateful if Young Master Yuanbao would provide guidance."
The sincere tone of the young girl made Song Yuanbao look at her differently. He noticed her head slightly bowed, with a faint blush staining her delicate, pale earlobes, perhaps due to embarrassment from having her flaws pointed out.
Song Yuanbao said, "This painting isn’t complete, so pointing out the issues isn’t possible. How about you help me paint one, and I’ll tell you where the flaws are?"
"Wouldn’t that be inappropriate?" The young girl felt something was off, "After all, Young Master Yuanbao is an outsider."
"Aren’t I your apprentice?" Song Yuanbao smirked, "That day at the polo field, you promised to teach me to play polo, have you forgotten?"
"Ah... I haven’t, haven’t forgotten." In truth, she completely forgot.
"If you haven’t forgotten, then you’re still my master. It wouldn’t be inappropriate for a master to paint for an apprentice, would it?"
While the logic was sound, they had only met twice, and yet from his words, there was a sense of "old friends".
Ye Ling shook her head, "What kind of picture does Young Master Yuanbao have in mind?"
Song Yuanbao noticed wine in the pavilion, hooked the wine jug with his forefinger, and raised an eyebrow at her, "The previous painting was a ’Beauty Spring Sleep’, so how about this one be ’Drunk Amidst Flowers’?"
After he spoke, he brought the jug to his lips, tipped his head back and took a sip, then lazily walked towards the flowers.
In the middle of the flowerbed, there was a rock feature, which he climbed onto and lounged there languidly, one leg bent, one hand supporting his chin, and his other hand’s forefinger hooked around the silver wine jug.
The youth was already handsome and dashing, but his current posture gave him an indescribable mix of devilishness and laziness.
Ye Ling adjusted her drawing paper, lifted her eyes, and met the young man’s gaze, along with the faint smile at the corner of his lips.
Her eyelid twitched and she averted her gaze, asking him, "Are you ready? I’m about to start."
Song Yuanbao chuckled, "I’m fine; you can start anytime."
The sound, tinged with the haze of intoxication, slightly hoarse, stirred one’s imagination.
Ye Ling steadied her thoughts and began to sketch "Drunk Amidst Flowers" with her pen.
Having been taught by reputable masters, her artistic skills were undoubtedly exquisite. Unfortunately, she could paint the flourishing flowers of the garden, and his languid posture beneath them, but not the expression on his face.
The paintbrush in the young girl’s hand hadn’t moved for quite some time.
Song Yuanbao noticed the oddity, asking her, "What’s wrong?"
Ye Ling, looking frustrated, said softly, "Sorry, I can’t paint it well."
Song Yuanbao tossed aside the wine jug and quickly walked over, seeing that Ye Ling had completed more than half of it. While the other areas were unassailable, the facial area was entirely blank.
"I can’t capture Young Master Yuanbao’s expression," Ye Ling bit her lip, clearly facing such a situation for the first time, and felt very guilty.
Song Yuanbao, however, wasn’t bothered, "Then why not look at me a bit longer? The more you look, the more likely you are to find inspiration."
Ye Ling blushed and turned her head aside.
Song Yuanbao chuckled lightly and then seriously critiqued the painting, "I actually think that not painting a face makes the painting more intriguing. This way, whenever you look at the painting, whatever expression you recall of me, it becomes the expression in the painting."
Ye Ling hurriedly said, "I can’t keep this painting, Young Master Yuanbao should take it with you."
"Why?"
"You’re an outsider, and I have not yet been married. Keeping your painting isn’t proper."
Song Yuanbao leaned closer to her, his tone slightly tipsy, "Then accept this painting and consider no longer treating Young Master Yuanbao as an outsider in the future, agreed?"
