Chapter 77 (1/2)

Chapter 77: Lovelier than a Flower

”What – what are you doing here?” Jun Huang stuttered, her face flushed. ”Don't you know what boundaries are?”

Nan Xun raised an eyebrow at her. ”Oh? What boundaries?”

Nan Xun's infuriating smile only stoked the frustration in her heart. ”You know I'm a woman, and yet you've snuck into my room again and again…”

Nan Xun was even more amused, but he didn't want to go overboard with his teasing. Jun Huang realized that she had been acting like a little girl and had lost her composure. Gradually, the blush on her face faded. She was again her usual aloof self.

She wondered if this was how women were when they were in love.

She is still young, Nan Xun thought. Why does she appear to be so mature? She smiles even less when she is dressed in men's clothes, and her demeanor loses all its femininity.

They were both lost in thought. After the time to finish a cup of tea, Nan Xun cleared his throat and reverted back to his usual cold att.i.tude. ”I heard that you've been trying to find a place to live. With your unique taste, it must be difficult for you to find a house you're satisfied with in this imperial city. I'm worried that you might have a bad impression of the city because nothing has caught your fancy. I happen to know a house that you might like. That's why I came. I'll take you there.”

Jun Huang nodded. ”Then I'll be in your care.”

”Good. I'll wait for you outside. You should leave through the front gate. Or Qi Chen may get suspicious.” With that, he turned to leave without hesitation.

Jun Huang watched him go. The light-hearted teasing and easy smile seemed unreal all of a sudden. She tried to smile, but she couldn't quite do it. She suddenly felt an emptiness in her heart. It was not a pleasant feeling.

She picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a sip. It was so bitter it made her frown. The tea had been cooling there for a while. There was no sweetness in its aftertaste. She felt the great sense of disappointment one felt when reality fell short of one's expectations.

She soon sorted through her messy thoughts. She snorted. What had happened to her? She was a woman driven solely by revenge. She could never walk the same path with Nan Xun. Why would she have such unnecessary thoughts? If Nan Xun had known, he would have teased her for it.

She had a change of clothes before leaving the room. A maid stationed at the side building bowed at her and asked where she was going. Jun Huang knew she was an informant of Qi Chen's. She gave the maid a polite smile and said she was going to check out a house. The maid didn't say anything in response. She waited until Jun Huang had left before reporting back to Qi Chen.

Outside Prince Chen Manor, Jun Huang pretended to wander around aimlessly before she went up to Nan Xun, who had been waiting for some time. They exchanged a smile.

”What took you so long?” he asked, moving to her side.

”I had a change of clothes,” Jun Huang said openly. ”I have kept Your Highness waiting.” Her expression was distant. She didn't look sorry in the slightest.

Nan Xun shook his head in resignation and walked shoulder to shoulder with Jun Huang towards the house he had mentioned. They watched the never-ending stream of people as they walked.

Jun Huang never liked crowds. Even with Nan Xun at her side, she couldn't help but frown when she b.u.mped shoulders with pedestrians. She could never get used to the feeling.

She used to live in the palace surrounded by servants, Nan Xun mused. It's only natural that she would dislike crowds. In order to make her feel better, Nan Xun – the well-respected prince extraordinaire of Northern Qi – acted like her personal bodyguard and s.h.i.+elded her from the traffic.

When they finally made their way off the main street, both their caps were knocked awry. Jun Huang smoothed the wrinkles on her robe and looked up at Nan Xun. He looked even more like a mess than she did. She covered up a smile and coughed before looking away.

After making themselves presentable, Nan Xun led Jun Huang into a narrow street and arrived at an area that was relatively tranquil, but not completely devoid of human activities.

Appreciation flashed through Jun Huang's eyes. The compound was surrounded by pristine white walls decorated with green tiles. The dark red gate was shut, but she could see branches sneaking out from behind the wall. Her eyes were drawn.

A hunchbacked old man came up to them with a t.i.tle deed in his hand. He gave them a friendly smile. ”Your Highness has finally arrived. This peasant has been waiting for you.”

Nan Xun gestured at the old man. ”He's the broker in charge of selling the house. A good and honest man.”

Jun Huang greeted him with a small smile. The old man waved a hand in the air and grinned. ”Your Highness is too kind. Come, let's not stand idly here. I'll give you a tour inside.” He entered the house. Jun Huang and Nan Xun followed him in.

The view inside surprised her. There was a front room for welcoming guest, and a back building for residence. The back building was split into the south wing, east wing, and west wing, connected by winding hallways. At the center was a peaceful garden surrounded by fake mountains.

The south wing was on the opposite side of the front room. There was a little garden next to it, where flowers could be planted. There was even a pond where she could keep koi fish. At the center was a pavilion. It was perfect for relaxing at a summer night.

The east wing and the west wing were closer in distance. The bigger garden sat between them. She could cross the garden to get to the other wing in addition to going through the hallway. The three wings were all composed of one main bedroom and two smaller rooms for servants.

The hallway was even more delicately designed. The pillars were etched with complicated patterns of lifelike flowers. It must have been the work of a master. The hallway itself was dark red, which contrasted well with the green leaves in the garden. There were also some octagonal lamps hanging from the ceiling. The screens of the lamps were decorated with paintings featuring beautiful women. It would be a wonderful sight when the lamps were lit.