Seducing the Heart - Chapter 17

“Your Highness, Princess Xingnan has arrived for a visit.” The young maidservant had searched all over before finally finding Yun Jin in the medicinal garden of the Prince’s manor, hurrying to deliver the report.

“Understood. Please invite her to the front pavilion first.” Yun Jin stopped inspecting the plants in the garden bed and straightened his posture.

“Who? Who did you say just arrived? Princess Xingnan? Why has she returned?”

Xie Lianjing had been focused on fertilizing her carefully cultivated Seven-Fold Union flowers. Upon hearing the name, she immediately brandished her wooden trowel with a trace of excitement. These flowers were her treasures because the roots and leaves could both be used in medicine and were exceptionally effective for crafting detoxification pills. Because of this, she insisted on watering and fertilizing them herself and never allowed anyone else the chance to tend to them.

“Senior Sister Jing, you should move that trowel a bit further away since the smell is still lingering.” Yun Jin, dressed in a moon-white outer robe, quietly stepped back from the trowel, which was still stained with fertilizer.

“Go on, get lost! What smell is there? I remember Princess Xingnan. Wasn’t she a little demon in the past?” Xie Lianjing set the trowel down and gave Yun Jin an unceremonious eye-roll. She shot him a look that suggested if he dared to be disgusted, he should not expect to use any of the medicine she made later.

Yun Jin seemed to recall something as well, and his expression turned somewhat helpless.

Several years ago, Princess Xingnan had willfully remained in the Imperial Capital and refused to follow her father back to their fiefdom. The Prince of Yuan had always been powerless against his overly spoiled daughter, so he had no choice but to let her stay and intended to send someone to fetch her whenever she felt like returning.

Having gotten her way and being free of her father’s control, Princess Xingnan felt physically and mentally liberated. In truth, her excuse of not having had enough fun in the capital was a lie because her real motive was a certain person living there. She went nowhere else in the capital and preferred instead to cling to Yun Jin’s side every single day.

Princess Xingnan had a difficult personality, yet she was singularly fond of this particular Royal Brother. At first, Yun Jin thought it was merely the wilfulness of a spoiled child, but he hadn’t expected her to be so incredibly bold. Taking advantage of a moment when he was off-guard, she had actually secretly drugged him with an aphrodisiac.

“It has been a long time. Has Royal Brother ever missed Xingnan?” Over the years, Xingnan had become much more composed. Her speech and mannerisms now carried the grace of a well-bred lady and were a far cry from the image in his memory.

Seeing her like this, Yun Jin felt a bit unaccustomed to her presence.

“Naturally, I have,” Yun Jin replied as he brewed tea and poured a cup for her. His expression did not seem feigned.

“And I as well.” Xingnan took the tea and drank it with proper etiquette. In the past, tea was the thing she disliked most, yet now she could appreciate it with perfect decorum.

“Xingnan, you seem very different from before.” Yun Jin raised an eyebrow slightly. The person before him felt somewhat like a stranger. While composure is generally a good thing, she lacked even a hint of her former spirited nature, which left him feeling instinctively concerned.

What had she experienced during those years apart? Or was it the events of back then that caused her to change so drastically?

In a few brief words, Xingnan explained that her father and cousins had looked down on her unruly behavior. Consequently, she had spent her days studying calligraphy, painting, and etiquette under highly-paid tutors, which resulted in this transformation of character.

Yun Jin felt a pang of pity. He didn’t doubt her explanation. “I suppose so. I imagine Royal Uncle and the others felt it was better for a daughter to be more composed.”

Xingnan thought it was strange that Royal Brother always chose to believe her. He was like this before and remained the same now, always giving off the illusion of never having any doubts.

“Many years have passed, and the Imperial Capital looks quite different now.” Xingnan spoke tonelessly and lifted her eyes to look at Yun Jin. “Only upon my return did I learn that Royal Brother recently took a wife. It is a pity I could not attend the wedding ceremony in person.”

Yun Jin set down his teacup and smiled warmly. “Since I had reached the age for marriage, it was bound to happen eventually. It just so happened that the Princess of Northern Chu arrived for a political marriage, and thus the Emperor bestowed the union. In these years, has Xingnan also found someone who holds her heart?”

“Back then, Xingnan always thought I would be the one to marry Royal Brother.” She avoided his question. She smiled faintly with a tone that was half-serious and half-joking, which made it impossible to discern her true intent.

Yun Jin raised his brows and wanted to speak, but Xingnan cut him off. “Royal Brother, do not take it seriously. I was only joking.”

When Yun Jin received guests, he usually did not keep servants nearby. Thus, the two of them sat alone, pouring their own tea and chatting freely.

“Royal Brother, does the manor still have Emerald Bamboo Cake? I haven’t had it in years and find myself craving it.”

Only then did Yun Jin realize that due to his temporary oversight, there were no pastries or dried fruits on the table but only the pot of tea. It had been so long since he had hosted a guest that he had forgotten some basic hospitality.

“The kitchen should have some. Wait a moment, Royal Sister, and I will have someone fetch it for you.”

As Yun Jin’s figure receded, Xingnan watched his back with eyes clouding with an unreadable darkness.

The Prince of Yuan was actually a Prince of a different surname who had been bestowed the title by the late Emperor. He had achieved great military honors in the past and performed heroic deeds to help the late Emperor secure half of the realm, which earned him a prestigious status.

Three years after the national mourning for the late Emperor ended, he had traveled from his fief to the Imperial Capital with his only daughter, Xingnan. He personally handed over half of his military power to the new Emperor to demonstrate his continued loyalty.

“Father, when can we finally go back? Staying in the capital every day is so boring. It is not half as good as the fief. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.”

“Nan’er, just endure a bit longer. We can go back in a few days,” the Prince of Yuan coaxed her softly. “Look, the people standing over there are all your Royal Brothers and Sisters. If you truly find it dull, you can pick a few to play with.”

Seeing that Xingnan did not object to the suggestion, the Prince began introducing them one by one.

“That one over there, is he also my Royal Brother?” Xingnan finally spotted a youth with features as beautiful as a painting. Her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly reached out to point at him.

“Xingnan, do not be rude. Put your hand down. That is your Royal Brother Jin,” the Prince of Yuan scolded gently, though his words had little effect.

“Yun Jin? That name sounds much better than Yun Rui or Yun Kang.” Xingnan lowered her hand and walked toward Yun Jin. “Royal Brother Jin also looks much better than those other people.”

“Your Royal Brother Jin is of frail health. Be careful not to startle him.” The Prince of Yuan frowned, but in the end, he could not stop her.

Yun Jin looked at the young girl before him, who was so frank she was almost cute. He covered his mouth and coughed slightly, then offered a faint smile. “Royal Sister Xingnan is also very cute.”

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