The capital city is bright and wide, with criss-crossing streets, outlining countless liveliness and prosperity.
It is precisely because of the size of the capital that it is difficult to find any clues about a person.
Zhu Xuxing was anxious to see the person he was longing for again. After receiving the news, he immediately put on his casual clothes and left the palace. The carriage and horse went straight out of the city gate to Panyun Mountain in the southern suburbs.
The terrain of Panyun Mountain is so winding that the carriage cannot go up halfway up the mountain, so it can only be changed to horses. Zhu Xiuxing did not complain, and went up all the way in the bright sun, and the horses began to pant.
At the foot of a small hillside, there is a medium-sized open space, just enough to build a small fenced yard.
Thatched cottage, bamboo curtain, simple and elegant.
Yue Yichuan raised his hand to signal his subordinates to surround the place. He turned to look at Zhu Xuxing, who was sweating on his face, and saluted respectfully: "Master, this is where it is."
Zhu Xuxing looked around and sighed softly: "He is indeed a person who has come out of the world, living in seclusion in the mountains and away from the world of mortals." As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the room responded, with a very soft voice.
"I'm overly praised by those who came here. I live here in seclusion just for the sake of purity."
The wonderful voiceless voice immediately reminded Zhu Xiuxing of everything that happened that day.
In his surprised and expectant eyes, Xu Zhihuai walked out slowly, dressed in lake green clothes, with long ink-dyed hair tied up with a plain white ribbon, looking delicate and graceful.
Zhu Xuxing stared at her, entranced for a moment.
Last time she was a little far away, he only thought she was petite, exquisite, fresh and refined. Today, when he saw her up close, she was even more stunning.
With her lovely muscles and weak bones, and her leisurely and delicate eyebrows, she must be a fairy in the forest...
He couldn't help but think this, and his face became a little hotter.
Xu Zhihuai suppressed the turmoil in his heart and looked at the people outside the courtyard with a calm expression. Then he looked at Zhu Xuxing again and asked coldly: "...this young master, have I seen you before?"
Seeing that she remembered him, Zhu Xuxing smiled brightly and said warmly: "That day, the girl was boating in the middle of the lake. We met before. I even gave the girl a painting."
"ah……"
Xu Zhihuai deliberately prolonged his voice, and there was an invisible hook hidden in his soft voice: "Young Master is not here to hold a grudge, is he?"
The corners of Zhu Xuxing's mouth curled up slightly, and he shook his head and said, "No, I'm here specifically to ask the girl for advice today." After saying that, he raised his hand to signal his subordinates to give the scroll they had prepared in advance to Xu Zhihuai.
"This is a collection of one of my friends..."
Xu Zhihuai didn't wait for him to finish speaking, shook his head and lowered his eyes: "Young Master has found the wrong person. I am not a connoisseur, just an ordinary person. This place is remote and the road is far away. It is not suitable for a gracefully dressed nobleman like the Young Master. You still should Please come back."
When she turned around, Zhu Xuxing was completely confused, fearing that she would disappear into the dust and smoke again.
"girl!"
The suddenly raised pitch revealed an urgency that was totally inconsistent with his identity.
Xu Zhihuai turned around again.
Zhu Xiuxing's face turned red.
"I'm here to see you."
He suddenly became honest: "Although I am reckless and abrupt, I am actually here for the girl today."
Xu Zhihuai stared silently.
Is he really the prince?
The difference between superiority and inferiority is as great as the difference between heaven and earth. He obviously holds a high position in the world, but at this moment, he is as nervous and reserved as a young boy, without any arrogance. It is so unreal.
Xu Zhihuai pondered for a moment, then turned around and opened the useless fence door, and stepped aside: "If you don't mind the shabby place here, please come in and have a cup of crude tea to quench your thirst."
Boil the water in the pottery pot, pour a palm full of freshly roasted tea buds, and then fill it up with a large porcelain bowl from Haikou. It is simple and direct.
Zhu Xuxing was used to using exquisite and beautiful utensils, and he had never been treated in such a simple way. Yue Yichuan couldn't help but remind him softly: "My lord, it's better not to drink."
How could Zhu Xuxing dislike it? He steadily picked up the porcelain bowl and took a sip of hot tea.
The texture is rough, naturally mellow, and has a unique flavor.
Through the thin mist, Zhu Xuxing stared at Xu Zhihuai intently. After being noticed by her, he quickly shifted his gaze. As a result, he happened to see the painting spread out on the table next to him. His eyes trembled with unbelievable joy. .
"That painting is..."
Xu Zhihuai responded calmly: "Wang Chuyu's "Smoke on the Huaihe River"."
As soon as these words came out, Yue Yichuan's expression changed slightly.
Wang Chuyu...
That was Her Royal Highness the Princess’s favorite painting saint from the previous dynasty.
This desolate and simple hut actually contains a rare masterpiece!
Zhu Xuxing was thinking about his eldest sister, so he stood up and said, "Miss, can you let me take a closer look?"
Xu Zhihuai still said calmly: "Master, please excuse me."
Zhu Xuxing came to the bamboo table, followed closely by Yue Yichuan. Their eyes were locked on the painting, concentrating on it.
Zhu Xuxing had seen several authentic works of Wang Chuyu and knew that they were definitely authentic.
"Girl, can you sell this painting to me?"
Xu Zhihuai frowned silently and raised his eyes to look at him, as if he was offended.
Zhu Xuxing saw her dissatisfaction and quickly explained: "This painting is very important to me. Please give me your love."
After the eldest sister returned to the palace, she had been living in seclusion and was unhappy. If I could get this painting and give it to the eldest sister, it would definitely make her happy.
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhihuai immediately put away the tea bowl and stood up to see the guests off: "I saw that the young master was so busy that I kindly invited you. I didn't expect you to be so unreasonable... I will not sell this painting, not for any money."
For the first time in his life, Zhu Xuxing ran into a wall and couldn't get what he asked for. He was pondering the words in his heart when the attendant behind him lost his composure and yelled at Xu Zhihuai: "Bold! You are guilty of this! You are punishable by death!"
This talkative shouting made Yue Yichuan look like a knife, wishing he could just kill the unsatisfied subordinate.
Zhu Xuxing didn't want to scare Xu Zhihuai, so he immediately retreated from everyone, leaving him alone in the room talking to her.
He stared at Xu Zhihuai for a long time, his eyes twinkling and full of hesitation.
Xu Zhihuai felt uncomfortable being stared at by him and backed away repeatedly. His watery eyes were half timid and half doubtful, and his voice became nervous and trembled slightly: "You want to steal my painting..."
"No! No way! Don't be afraid, girl, don't be afraid."
When Zhu Xuxing saw her scared look, Wen Wen explained: "I have no evil intentions. My eldest sister likes to see copies of Wang Chuyu's masterpieces. I want to give this painting to my eldest sister to comfort her after losing her child. Sadness and melancholy”
Xu Zhihuai took a deep breath: "Your eldest sister's child is dead?"
Zhu Xingxing's phoenix eyes were faint: "He was less than seven years old... he died of illness half a year ago."
"Then she must be very sad."
Zhu Xuxing's eyes were forbearing and restrained: "She is the saddest person in the world..."
Xu Zhihuai was stunned for a moment when he heard this.
Wei Li only told her that the prince liked Wang Chuyu's painting talent, and he could enter the palace smoothly with this painting. But he didn't mention anything about the eldest princess.
It turns out that the person who likes Wang Chuyu is not the prince, but the eldest princess.
Xu Zhihuai clearly saw the hidden sadness in Zhu Xuxing's eyes. His clenched hands were so hard that the knuckles turned white.
The play is almost over, it’s time to stop when it’s done.
Xu Zhihuai then carefully rolled up "Picture of Yan Bo Huai" and placed it in front of Zhu Xiuxing. His tone was full of melancholy and reluctance: "This painting was left to me by my father before his death. Later it fell into the hands of others. I finally managed to save it." Get it back. It is my only concern in the world. I have no relatives and no reason, I only use this painting as a thought for my relatives. But the young master is different from me. The young master cares about his dearest sister, sincerely and sincerely, which moves the world. Therefore, instead of letting it stay with me indifferently, it is better to give it to the young master’s sister, so that there will be one less sad person in this world..."
As she spoke, her watery eyes lowered slightly, and a crystal teardrop fell. The teardrop hit Zhu Xuxing's heart hard, making his heart ache.
She is so pure and beautiful, helping others like a god.
This heartbeat came fiercely, Zhu Xuxing suddenly grasped her pale and helpless little hand, and his voice was particularly clear: "No, I will not let the girl be alone, I will take you away."
He wants her!
Sincere and urgent.
Xu Zhihuai murmured in confusion: "Take me away?"
Zhu Xuxing had a serious look on his face, not a child's play: "I want to take you home, back to my home."
Lang Lang's gentle tone was like coaxing a child.
The corners of Xu Zhihuai's eyes turned red, and he neither answered nor refused.
After countless days and nights of suffering and patience, when she finally heard these words, the big stone in her heart suddenly fell, allowing her to breathe freely.
