Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 19

Zi Jin took a breath, her face solemn and thoughtful. After a long period of contemplation, she finally put down her pen and finished writing.

Xi Bao hesitated for a moment, her face ashen, then looked at Zi Jin with difficulty, and then at Jun Lin's livid face, not daring to say a word.

Jun Lin's face turned pale, and he gritted his teeth, uttering a single word: "Read it!"

With a calm and resolute air as she faced her death, happy Bao loudly proclaimed, "Heartbreaking!"

For a moment, the whole classroom erupted in snickers, and some people's shoulders trembled.

Jun Lin's forehead veins throbbed, his face alternating between pale and ashen: "Guards..."

“Your Highness, Zi Jin is still young and does not understand music. Your Highness need not be angry about this,” Jun An said urgently, bowing.

Jun Lin didn't even glance at Jun An before shouting, "Guards!"

"Your Highness... Your Highness, I wish to... I wish to play a piece of music to apologize to Zi Jin."

Crown Prince Jun Lin snorted with a stiff face.

Jun Chi plucked the strings with his still trembling hands.

The clear, crisp sound of the zither began with a hint of hesitation, its notes rising and falling until the hesitation lessened considerably, revealing a scene of spring warmth, blooming flowers, shimmering water, and verdant mountains.

Jun Chi's delicate face shone with seriousness, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly with confidence, and a hint of joy flashed in the corners of his eyes.

When the music ended, everyone was captivated.

Zi Jin suddenly stood up, clapped her hands loudly, and gave the Crown Prince a defiant sidelong glance.

Jun Lin's face flushed red, then turned green, then pale, then flushed again. He glanced angrily at Jun Chi, then turned and strode away in a huff.

Behind me came Zi Jin's arrogant laughter...

Inside the Imperial Study in the Golden Palace.

"How did he write it?" Emperor Xuanlong asked with a smile that reached his eyes.

"Your Majesty, he wrote it with heartbreaking intensity."

"Hahaha...hahaha..." Emperor Xuanlong finally couldn't suppress his laughter.

"His Highness the Crown Prince was extremely angry. The Second Prince pleaded for him, but the Crown Prince did not budge. Later, the Third Prince personally played a piece on his behalf, and only then did the Crown Prince relent."

"Oh? How was Jun Chi's performance?"

"Your Majesty, Xiao Lan speaks highly of him."

"Has Jun Chi settled into his stay at Taiping Pavilion these past few days?"

"The Third Prince ate and slept with Zi Jin in Taiping Pavilion. Zi Jin treated him like a brother. The Second Prince also frequently visited Taiping Pavilion."

"Is that so?" Emperor Xuanlong raised an eyebrow slightly and asked thoughtfully.

"The Zi family twins are also completely devoted to the Second Prince."

"Okay, you can go now..."

Zi Jin returned to Taiping Pavilion with Jun Chi, her mood still high and excited.

Upon entering the study, Zi Jin immediately took out all the pastries she had stolen from the inner kitchen on Mid-Autumn Festival that she hadn't yet eaten from her secret little storehouse and placed them in front of Jun Chi.

Jun Chi was dumbfounded when he saw Zi Jin take out all sorts of pastries from the bookcase.

Zi Jin squinted her crescent-shaped eyes and placed a piece of hibiscus cake, which she disliked the most, near Jun Chi's mouth.

Jun Chi opened his mouth blankly and took a bite. It's no wonder Jun Chi was slow to react; he probably just couldn't accept the fact that there were snacks inside the bookshelf.

happy Bao fawned, "Third Prince, you've really vented my anger today. I've brought out some snacks that I usually don't want to eat and will share them with you."

Zi Jin nodded in satisfaction, looking at Xi Bao with approval, thinking to herself: You're getting more and more of a sycophant. If you could tone down that gleaming look in your eyes when you look at the snacks, you'd be even more perfect.

Zi Jin generously gave a piece of mung bean cake to happy Bao.

happy Bao accepted it with a beaming smile.

Under Zi Jin's expectant gaze, Jun Chi hurriedly took the hibiscus cake from Zi Jin's hand, his little face sparkling as he took a small bite and said, "It's...it's...it's delicious." Before he could finish speaking, his eyes were already slightly red.

An unfavored concubine and a prince deliberately ignored by everyone were worse off than even slightly favored palace maids and eunuchs. Although they weren't starving or freezing, who in this cannibalistic palace ever showed any kindness to this mother and son?

Jun Chi and his mother suffered greatly from the coldness and indifference of the world, which made him unwilling to believe that there was still true love and sincerity in this world.

Zi Jin put down the pastry she was enjoying, carefully wiped away the tears from Jun Chi's eyes, and smiled reassuringly.

What an obedient and considerate child! Jun Chi reminded her of Zi Jin when she was still a ghost, and she secretly resolved that this time she would never let this child repeat Zi Jin's mistakes. She carefully hugged Jun Chi, gently patted his thin back, and secretly gave happy Bao a look.

"Third Prince, the master said that Taiping Pavilion will be your home from now on, and the master will never let you be bullied again."

Zi Jin nodded quickly in agreement: I will never let you be bullied again.

Jun Chi looked up at Zi Jin, a flicker of emotion crossing his eyes, and his eyes reddened again.

"Master! I heard you offended His Highness the Crown Prince again today?" Yu Luo's annoyed voice broke the warmth of the moment as she placed a bowl of soup in front of Zi Jin.

Zi Jin glanced fearfully at the bowl of soup in front of her, then looked at Yu Luo's ashen face, pouted in grievance, and looked at the bowl of soup with resentment, feeling utterly miserable.

"Although your cold is cured, the imperial physician said that you are a picky eater and have been lacking in proper care for a long time, so you must take medicine to supplement your diet!" Yu Luo's voice showed no sign of compromise.

Zi Jin picked up the soup dejectedly, took a spoonful, and stuck out her tongue in discomfort: This medicinal soup is truly not fit for human consumption!