CH 115

The Painted Lotus – An Ink-Colored Lotus (2)

He held one of her hands and led her to pick up the ink ingots on the side and sharpen them in a circle in the inkstone.

“What is Your Majesty going to do?”

Chu Ning couldn’t help but cower as the cold bookcase was all under her body.

He pressed her tightly and seemed to be very focused on grinding the ink, and only when it was done did he lift his pen and say, “I want to mark you first.”

After saying that, without waiting for her reaction, the soft, cold tip of the pen licked the ink and then drew from the white shoulder, one stroke at a time, slowly and methodically.

“Your Majesty, don’t!” She fiercely pinched the corner of the bookcase and tried to get up to avoid it, but was firmly restrained by him.

“Good girl, don’t move, if I draw it crooked, I will have to redraw it later.” He drew without distraction, not in a hurry, as if he wanted to draw something rare and precious.

Chu Ning could not move, and could only endure the cold shelf under her and the soft feeling of the brush.

He finally finished painting, did not let go, and bent down, gently blowing the undried ink.

He came very close, as if to blow the ink dry, blew the lotus petals trembling, dew rustling down before he stopped.

He turned her to face him and twisted her head to look at the side of the bronze mirror.

In the bronze mirror, the beauty was softly clinging to his arms. Her bare back was clearly painted with an ink lotus, leaves to the left waist below, the petals were open under the right shoulder blade, in the white skin of the backdrop, both simple and elegant.

“The painting is done.” He pinched her cheeks, kissed her temples again, and took the thin gauze dress for her to put on.

The lotus was covered, leaving only a hazy shadow.

Through the gauze, he lowered his head and kissed the outline of the lotus flower. The ink fragrance was light and penetrated the tip of his nose, causing his heart and soul to swell.

“Your Majesty, A’Ning is uncomfortable…”

He stopped moving, and brought the other clothes over one by one to help her put them on. His actions were clumsy but very patient, and until the clothes buttoned without a trace of chaos, he kissed her ear and instructed, “I have to check the Imperial brush painting of the lotus after the lanterns. Do not ruin it.”

Chu Ning trembled, a layer of goose bumps quietly rose on her body, and she could only nod with a red face.

He took out a bright mask from a side box that the dancers in the Department of Education would occasionally use and put it on for her, then stood to the side to take a look.

The slightly tightened clothing set off her soft, willow-like waist, and the bright, jewel-encrusted mask blocked her features.

No one could tell who she was, only that she was a beautiful young woman.

“Let’s go.”

He was so satisfied in his heart that he directly took her hand and unapologetically pushed the door out and marched in the direction of the lantern fair.

……

The lantern fair was still crowded with people, with songs and laughter intertwined.

Guo’er and her parents had been walking in the lantern fair for half an hour, and although she was still excited, her eyelids were drooping a bit.

In the end, she was still a little girl who had just turned ten years old. She had been in high spirits in the daytime but was sleepy now.

Duke Lu patted his daughter’s head and asked with a smile, “Guo’er is tired? Do you want to go back to sleep first?”

Guo’er froze for a moment before reacting to what her father had said and nodded in confusion.

“This child, she’s been playing a lot lately, so she’s tired now.” Madam Xu patted her shoulder helplessly and took her hand to send her back, but she drew back her hand and shook her head.

The maid at the side understood her meaning and said, “Madam should stay and see more with the master. It is rare to have such a grand event in the palace. The servant girl will send the young lady back for madam.”

Guo’er nodded. “Guo’er will go back, mother and father should stay.”

Madam Xu was not at ease, but Duke Lu sighed. “Guo’er has grown up after all and understands her mother now. Madam can stay, we both rarely have an opportunity to walk together. It is in the palace, there is someone to watch her. Nothing will happen.”

After thinking about it, she simply nodded her head and said to the maid, “Please send Guo’er back properly, and remember to tuck the coverlet tighter for her.

After bowing, the maid took Guo’er through the crowd and went to her residence.

The bamboo shadows swayed in the moonlight, rustling, which sounded like a hypnotic chant in Guo’er’s ears.

Her eyelids drooped more and more, and her steps became smaller and slower.

The maid took her hand, feeling her sleepiness and weakness, and could not help but stop and ask, “Little maiden, the road is still far, so the maidservant is going to piggyback you, alright?”

Guo’er looked at her in a daze, only to nod a little. Then, she quickly shook her head: “It’s too far.”

The maid was a bit moved, although this little lady was shy, she was really gentle and delicate, very kind to the subordinates.

She thought about it and carried Guo’er to a rock under a tree, then whispered, “This maid will ask someone to bring a palanquin for the young lady. Young lady, please wait here for a second, alright?”

Sleepiness struck her, and she reached out to hug the trunk of the tree. Just before she was about to drift off to sleep, there was a sudden sound of fast footsteps in her ears.

By the side of the promenade, a familiar woman stopped on one side and looked around, as if waiting for someone.

A short while later, on the other side, a young and elegant gentleman approached with quick steps.

The two of them looked around together and darted under the shadow of the trees by the corridor.