Chapter 217: One More Update
The height of summer finally swept in with an ever more ferocious vigor following a torrential downpour, the parched leaves drooped languidly, and the crisp grass, nourished by the rain, spread wildly, a green so sharp it hurt the eyes.
The gauze curtains on the eaves of Qishun Building hung low, casting shadowy light on the Artemisia japonica green brocade pillows as Nian Xia absentmindedly ground ink, her technique unpracticed and punctuated with sneaky yawns, the incessant buzz of cicadas unbearable by her ear.
Zheng Nianru sat at the desk, equally unfocused, while Xue Liu cautiously fanned with her fan, staring at the few blotchy ink stains on the paper without daring to speak out. Was the Commandery Princess really going to send this to the Prince? Even though Xue Liu could probably decipher all the characters her mistress had written, it still felt inappropriate to send something so sloppily smeared, didn’t it?
Zheng Nianru finally put down the brush as Zheng Haoyuan stepped in under the scorching sun, his forehead glistening. Cang Er hurried along with small steps, holding a parasol that still couldn’t shield Zheng Haoyuan’s head from the sun.
"Cousin, let’s go out and play today—" As Zheng Haoyuan spoke, he embraced the ice chest on the porch.
"Fourth Prince, you mustn’t do that, you’ll catch a cold," Cang Er immediately came to stop him, but backed down after a glance from Zheng Haoyuan.
"I won’t go, the heat will melt me," Zheng Nianru folded the letter neatly, sealed it, and handed it to Xue Liu, "Send it over now."
"Yes." The Commandery Princess didn’t seem inclined to rewrite the letter. Actually, it wasn’t too hot now, and there was still time to rewrite a cleaner version.
Xue Liu left, and Zheng Haoyuan watched her retreating figure, wanting to ask a question, but after a thought, he chose to stay silent. His cousin wouldn’t tell him everything, and he didn’t want to displease her.
Cang Er looked at Nian Xia with a pleading gaze.
"Fourth Prince, please get up. Ice isn’t used like that," Nian Xia said bluntly, prompting Zheng Haoyuan to awkwardly find a seat on the cool bed.