Gift for the Emperor

After they visited the temple, the prince made it his goal to scour the land for valuable herbs, a book of recipes, and ancient texts about poisons, symptoms, and antidotes.

He also made sure that no one would dare visit Ying Yue no matter the reason. The past days he spent with her, intensified his feelings to the point that he was very hesitant to let Ying Yue show her real face to the world. He used to have thoughts of clearing the rumors but then decided against it as he thought of the possibility that she would be snatched away from him.

This crazy possessiveness of the prince would probably shock the whole world but to Ying Yue who was receiving it, wasn't bothered by it. She even went as far as to voluntarily proclaim that she will not step out of her place unnecessarily.

The prince was happy seeing that she would do everything to assure him but at the same time, he also felt bad. As much as he didn't want anyone to see her and take her away, he also wanted to show the world that they belonged to each other. Alas, people who are in love are very confusing.

One afternoon, Ying Yue and Xiao Hua planted all the seeds the prince had gotten for her. Shasha was napping on the side like a giant cat. This surprised the fourth prince at first but instead of asking how she took the tiger in without alerting anyone, he took it as her being special. Yes, only his Yue'er would do things silently and brilliantly without anyone knowing.

As they busied along, the prince who just got back from his meeting with the emperor made his way towards the woman who had never left his mind.

Ying Yue who smelled his scent, turned back to smile at him. Seeing that unblemished and ethereal face, the prince's heart shook. Dismissing Xiao Hua, he scooped up the woman then sat down on the chaise, settling her on his lap.

"Wei'er, why do I not see your servants with you anymore?" Every time the prince visited her, he always came by himself. Thinking that he was just independent and didn't want to be bothered by needless servitude every time, she dismissed the thought. But he just came from the palace right? Did he go by himself and left his closest subordinates to do something else?

Clearing his throat, he made a bullshit excuse. "I sent them to do something somewhere else. Don't mind it. This prince can do things by himself." He would never admit that he purposefully dismissed them every time he came over because he didn't want people staring at her. Nope. Never admitting.

"Then how did your meeting with the emperor go?"

"He is trying to get me to attend his birthday feast since I have always been at the border and never participated in it for the past years."

"Why don't you go? Your father is getting old already, you should spend more time with him as you can." Ying Yue knew how regretful he would be if he lost his father without having a chance to spend time together.

"Alright then, I will listen to you but you have to accompany me." Since she already said so, there would be no point if he disagreed with her.

"Okay, have you thought about the gift you will be giving him?" Ying Yue inquired, knowing fully well that this prince would probably look for something on the day of. If there was something the prince was consistent about, it would be his disregard for everything else that wasn't Ying Yue.

As expected the prince shook his head, "No, not yet. It doesn't matter, I will ask Li Bo to find one later."

Ying Yue glared at the prince then ruthlessly pinched his cheeks, "My prince, you are quite carefree!"

Catching those naughty hands, the prince teased her by softly biting her palms then licking it. The soft and wet touch made Ying Yue shudder.

"Stop that… You! Don't be too perverted in the broad daylight!" Ying Yue reprimanded as she pulled her hands away from that sinful mouth and tongue.

"Yue'er that's unfair. I'm only kissing your hand. This prince hasn't been perverted with you yet." His words dripping with innuendos.

They haven't consummated yet since the prince was trying to make everything special. Everything comes with the right timing and atmosphere.

Ying Yue blushed so she retaliated by pinching his side. "Anyway, we are talking about the gift!" Clearing her throat and mind she continued to ask, "Do you trust me?"

The prince stopped teasing as he heard the out of the blue question. He then answered resolutely, "With all my life."

Ying Yue smiled at this then she laid her head on his chest, "Then I will make the gift myself."

The prince's face suddenly crumpled, "Why would you have to do it yourself? If you really want to, then shouldn't you make it for me?"

"You! It's your father who we are giving it to." It was unbelievable how this prince gets jealous at a drop of a hat.

"Even if its for the gods you're not allowed to do anything for them. You should only focus on this husband of yours!" The prince who was over-spilling with vinegar made a straight and resolute face. He would never allow this.

"..." Ying Yue's head suddenly hurt.

After that day, the prince made another goal; to make Ying Yue think of nothing else but him. Although the resolution and effort were there, the result was not to his liking.

Ying Yue was someone who doesn't get dissuaded once she decided on something. So despite the prince's threats, coercion, and acting pitiful, she never listened. The prince, being as helpless as he was when it came to her, compromised.

So she started on the gift she planned to give to the emperor. The herbs she planted on her garden was now matured and ready to use. Plucking all those herbs she needed, she then pounded them into a paste.

What she wanted was to take the extract and use them as a pigment for the painting. The emperor was getting old so she decided on making something that could soothe the emperor when he was stressed or tired.

This painting of hers was quite ingenious, with an ensemble of herbs to soothe the nerves, it would also look so pretty that hanging it in a bedroom or the receiving room would help complement the space without any hint of dissonance.

The days passed by with her finishing this gift which made the prince very gloomy. He spent all his time giving other people a hard time. His subordinates nearly killed themselves with all the stress and heaviness looming around.

On the fifth day, the prince who finally had enough grudgingly went to the remote courtyard. There were only two days left before the feast so she must have finished it already, right?

With this in mind, he strode forth towards his beloved. As he got there, he saw Ying Yue staring at her masterpiece. Ying Yue forbade him to see the painting as she made it which only added to his irritability. It was just his father, was there a need to be this secretive?

Ying Yue who detected him the moment he arrived, lifted her head to give the prince a warm smile. She then made her way towards him, giving him a kiss on the cheek and a hug.

The prince who received the warm greeting suddenly forgot his moping. "Yue'er are you done with it?"

"Yes, would you like to see it?"

"Of course!" He answered as he allowed the woman to pull him along towards the painting.

The moment he saw it, his eyes were set ablaze as he stared at it then the room suddenly became so cold. Ying Yue, who was right beside him shivered, "You don't like it?" She asked in a tiny voice.

The prince reigned back his aura then kissed the girl torridly. "You should make one for this prince too!"

Yes, the dear prince once again swallowed a tank full of vinegar.

Ying Yue who was bothered until she agreed, had to promise to make one for her beloved. A much prettier and bigger one was what the jealous prince demanded.