Mei Yuanchen lived in Prince Jaw's Mansion and studied and ate with the crown prince Xia Chengxuan every day, becoming like young friends. As the heir apparent, Xia Chengxuan occupies a distinguished position and possesses a noble demeanor. However, in daily interactions, he loves Mei Yuanchen very much and thinks about her at all times. It is no wonder that Mei Yuanchen is by his side every day, like a shadow.
"Yuanchen, we have four days to say goodbye to the New Year. Do you know what gift I have prepared for you?" The morning class was over, the master had returned from teaching, and only he and Mei Yuanchen were left in the study. Xia Chengxuan asked with a smile.
"Ah? I don't know about that." Mei Yuanchen was stunned for a while, because he didn't prepare a New Year's gift for Xia Chengxuan. When he suddenly thought about it, he couldn't help but feel ashamed.
"Haha, just take a guess!" Xia Chengxuan seemed to be in the right mood and said without caring.
"Oh, it's hard to guess. I guess it's a rare and ingenious object! Could it be the black jade unicorn inkstone you told me about before?" Mei Yuanchen thought for a while, remembering that Xia Chengxuan mentioned that he got a black jade inkstone a few days ago. The Qilin Inkstone is very delicate and meticulous, and it came out right away.
"Haha, you Yuanchen, you actually want my Qilin Inkstone! My second uncle specially sent someone from Shanghe County to give it to me as a New Year's gift!" Xia Chengxuan laughed. Xia Chengxuan's second uncle was Ran Jiangong, the second-rank military general of the current dynasty, White Horse General. He led more than 20,000 White Horse troops and was stationed in Baoguo County.
Mei Yuanchen regretted what Xia Chengxuan said. He was so embarrassed that his face turned red. He quickly waved his hands and argued, "No, no! I just don't know what to guess. It's a wild guess! Don't take it seriously!" After finishing, he looked at Xia Chengxuan nervously, hoping to confess something.
"Haha, what are you in a hurry for? I don't know how to tease you! Not to mention it was given by my second uncle, it was given by my imperial grandfather. As long as you ask, I am willing to give it to you! What's so important about these things?" Seeing Mei Yuanchen's embarrassment, Xia Chengxuan couldn't bear to play with it anymore, so he comforted him and said, "This New Year's gift I prepared for you is much more important than the Qilin Inkstone. I don't think you can guess it even if you try hard. You'll find out on New Year's Eve!"
Hearing Xia Chengxuan's words, Mei Yuanchen felt warm in her heart and was very touched for a moment, "The prince treats me very well. Apart from my parents and Grandpa Yun, he treats me the best. Alas, I forgot to give him I really shouldn’t be preparing New Year’s gifts!” Thinking of this, I felt a little more guilty.
Xia Chengxuan watched the expressions on Mei Yuanchen's face change several times and found it interesting. He put his head close to Mei Yuanchen and asked, "Yuanchen, have you prepared a New Year's gift for me?"
"Ah?...Not yet...Not yet." I thought that the matter was over, but Xia Chengxuan suddenly asked again. Mei Yuanchen really wanted to get to the bottom of the case at this moment.
"Haha..." Xia Chengxuan laughed heartily, his laughter was so satisfying.
"What happy thing makes you laugh so happily?" A voice like a silver bell came from the study courtyard.
"It's tragic, Cheng Yu is here! You deal with it first, I have to hide." Xia Chengxuan stood on tiptoe and took a look outside. His aura suddenly became sluggish, with a bitter look on his face, without any of his previous enthusiasm. While whispering in his mouth, he didn't stop walking. He hurriedly walked towards the back and gave Mei Yuanchen a "shh" signal. There was no other exit from the study, and he couldn't go out through the window, so Xia Chengxuan had no choice but to hide against the screen.
Mei Yuanchen received the confidentiality instruction, but for a moment he didn't know who it was. His voice seemed to have no malicious intent, so why did Xia Chengxuan dodge like this?
The footsteps gradually approached, and soon, a beautiful girl wearing a yellow and mink fur came from the door. This girl has fair skin and thin eyebrows, eyes as bright as water, her eyelashes and hair are hung with scattered snowflakes, her lips are curved like a smile, she stands tall, and her form naturally has a sense of nobility.
The girl approached Mei Yuanchen, looked around, tilted her head and asked continuously, "Who are you? Why are you here? Where is the prince? I clearly heard his voice just now."
I don't know whether it was because he still hadn't recovered from Xia Chengxuan's previous teasing, but Mei Yuanchen looked at the girl, her cheeks flushed, and she was in a daze without answering.
Seeing Mei Yuanchen's reaction, the girl was naturally angry and shouted softly, "Hey, I'm asking you! Why don't you say a word?"
Only then did Mei Yuanchen come to his senses. He remembered the three questions asked by the girl and replied calmly, "My name is Mei Yuanchen. His Highness the King of Jaws asked me to come here to study."
Xia Chengxuan was hiding behind the screen, no more than ten feet away from the two of them. He could clearly hear this reply, and he was afraid that he would be noticed if he made any noise, so it was very hard for him to laugh.
The girl didn't take it seriously. She looked around again and asked, "Where is my brother? Where has he been? I heard his voice just now."
"Ah? Your brother?" Although Mei Yuanchen stayed in the Prince's Palace for more than twenty days, he only met the princess and the crown prince among the family members of the palace. Now I remember that Xia Chengxuan said "Chengyu is here". This girl must be Xia Chengxuan's younger sister, Xia Chengyi. "Oh, the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince... the Crown Prince" Mei Yuanchen was taught by his parents not to lie since he was a child. When the words came to his lips, he hesitated for a long time but still couldn't say them out.
Xia Chengyi looked at Mei Yuanchen and was about to ask again. A figure came out from behind the screen, it was Xia Chengxuan.
Without waiting for Xia Chengyi to say anything, he complained to Mei Yuanchen first, "Oh, Yuanchen, you are too honest, so you just said that I was gone. Everyone can see your hesitation! You are boring."
Mei Yuanchen was scolded and knew that he was incompetent, so he could only smile.
"Yiyi, what do you want from me?"
"Huh, I'm your sister. Can't I come to you if you have nothing to do? Let's go. Mom said that grandpa and grandma will be here later. They are making arrangements, so I came to call you." Xia Chengyi was obviously very concerned about Xia Chengxuan's words. Dissatisfied, he replied angrily.
"Ah, grandpa and grandma are coming? That's great, I was thinking about the two elders!" Xia Chengxuan beamed with joy, "Let's go!" After saying that, he was about to walk out. After taking only two steps, he stopped, turned to Mei Yuanchen and said with a smile, "Yuanchen, I can't accompany you today! Just go shopping in the palace by yourself!" Then he approached Xia Chengyi and said, "Hurry up, good sister. !”
The two brothers and sister walked quickly towards the courtyard, answering Xixi's calls all the way until they disappeared and silenced.
Mei Yuanchen stood there in a daze, his heart pounding, and he said to himself for a long time, "It's so beautiful!"
