bestfiction Chapter 197 A Moment of Tenderness
Chapter 197 A Moment of Tenderness
As the sky darkened and the palace lanterns began to light, Mo Yunchen was reviewing memorials in the imperial study, while the Third Miss sat quietly watching. This had become an unspoken habit between the two.
"What do you think of this memorial?" Mo Yunchen suddenly asked.
The Third Young Lady leaned over to take a look. It was a report about flooding in the south. She analyzed it carefully and said, "According to the records, this year's rainfall is 30% more than in previous years. If we don't prepare soon, I'm afraid there will be a major disaster."
"Well," Mo Yunchen nodded, "Go on."
"I believe that there are three urgent tasks: first, repair the dikes and reinforce the dangerous places; second, store food and grass in advance for emergencies; third, deploy manpower and make preparations for evacuation." The third lady analyzed one by one.
The candlelight reflected on her serious profile, and Mo Yunchen couldn't help but look at her a few more times. When did this girl become so steady?
"Well said," he put the memorial aside, "you are much better than those ministers."
"Your Highness, I am too kind," the Third Miss said with a smile, "I am only speaking the truth."
"Tell me the truth?" Mo Yunchen raised his eyebrows. "Then tell me, why do those ministers always beat around the bush?"
The third young lady blinked. "Well..." She paused deliberately. "Maybe it's because they think telling the truth is easy to offend people."
"Then you are not afraid of offending people?"
"I'm afraid," the Third Miss said confidently, "but I'm even more afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of His Highness."
Mo Yunchen was amused by her: "Slippery tongue."
"How can this be called smooth talk?" Miss San pretended to be aggrieved. "What this subject said is from the heart."
Just then, the sound of the night watchman was heard outside.
"Is it so late already?" The Third Miss stood up and said, "I will take my leave."
"Wait," Mo Yunchen stopped her, "I heard that you have been researching a new formation recently?"
"That's true," the Third Miss nodded, "but it's still in the deduction stage."
"Tell me about it."
The third young lady was a little embarrassed: "This..."
"What?" Mo Yunchen said with a half-smile, "Are you still hiding it from me?"
"No," the Third Miss explained, "I'm really immature. I'm afraid I'll be laughed at if I tell you."
"It's okay," Mo Yunchen said, "I won't laugh at you."
The third young lady looked at him suspiciously: "Really?"
"You are not joking."
"Well then," the Third Miss walked to the desk, "Your Highness, please take a look."
She picked up a pen and began to draw on the paper: "The key to this formation is..."
Mo Yunchen listened attentively, nodding from time to time. This girl really has some insights.
"So," the Third Miss concluded, "although this formation may seem simple, it has infinite variations. As long as it's used properly, it can defeat the enemy with fewer troops."
"Not bad," Mo Yunchen praised, "Your idea is very interesting."
"Really?" Miss San's eyes lit up. "Your Highness, don't you think that's a bit childish?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Because..." Miss San was a little embarrassed, "This formation was actually inspired by playing chess."
"Oh?" Mo Yunchen became interested. "Tell me about it."
"A few days ago, I saw two veterans playing chess," the Third Miss explained. "One of them had fewer pieces, but their layout was clever, trapping the other. I was thinking, if I could use this layout in a military formation..."
At this point, she suddenly stopped and said: "Isn't it ridiculous?"
"That's not ridiculous," Mo Yunchen said seriously, "This just shows that you are good at thinking. The art of war is about learning and applying it flexibly. It's rare that you can get inspiration from the chess game."
The third young lady's eyes sparkled: "Really?"
"Well," Mo Yunchen nodded, "but this formation still needs improvement. For example, here..."
In this way, the two of them studied by candlelight. Before they knew it, another hour had passed.
"It's getting late," Mo Yunchen finally stopped, "Come back tomorrow to discuss this."
"I'll take my leave," Miss San was about to leave when she suddenly remembered something, "Oh, Your Highness..."
"Um?"
"You just said that a gentleman never jokes," the Third Miss said with a sly smile, "so you really won't laugh at me?"
Mo Yunchen: ... "Get lost."
"As you command," the Third Miss bowed with a smile, "I'll come back to bother you tomorrow."
Looking at her departing back, Mo Yunchen shook his head and laughed: This girl is really a worry.
As soon as the third young lady came out of the imperial study, she saw her niece standing outside the door.
"Why aren't you going home so late?" the niece laughed.
"We have something important to discuss," the Third Miss said seriously, "so it will take some time."
"Yes, yes, yes," the niece said mischievously, "it was so important that I even forgot to listen to the night watch."
The third young lady rolled her eyes at her and said, "Aren't you waiting here too?"
"I'm just worried about you," the niece said with a smile, "I'm afraid you'll get too involved and forget about time."
“Smooth talk.”
"Huh?" The niece blinked. "Why does this sound so familiar?"
The Third Miss then realized that she had unknowingly adopted the prince's tone. She coughed lightly, feeling somewhat uneasy. "Let's go back."
"Oh, by the way," my niece suddenly said, "I got news this afternoon that there's movement in the North again."
The third lady immediately said seriously: "What's going on?"
"The details are still unclear," the niece said in a low voice, "but it doesn't look simple."
"Yes," the Third Miss nodded, "I understand. You go back and rest first, and we will discuss it tomorrow morning."
"Okay," the niece replied, but she couldn't help teasing, "But don't get so carried away by discussions tomorrow that you forget the time again."
Third Miss: ... "If you say anything more, I'll send you to the North to learn about the people's sentiments."
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more," the niece smiled and stepped back, "Take care."
After returning to her residence, the third young lady sat in front of the dressing table in a daze.
The figure in the mirror had beautiful features, yet a hint of fatigue. These days had indeed been incredibly busy, dealing with the infighting at court and guarding against unusual activity on the border.
But... thinking about the time she could spend alone with the prince every night, she felt that it was all worth it.
"Miss," the maid brought hot tea, "you should rest now."
"Well," the third lady took the teacup, "you should go and rest too."
Sitting alone by the window, she reflected on tonight's events. Although the prince always appeared aloof, he actually cared deeply. For example, tonight, even though it was already late, he still patiently listened to her explain the immature formation.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but laugh: This seemingly high and mighty Crown Prince actually has a side that ordinary people can't see.
Just then, the sound of a piano came from outside the window.
The third young lady was stunned for a moment: Who would be playing the piano at this time?
The sound of the piano was melodious and graceful, sometimes like the gurgling of a stream, sometimes like the wind blowing through the branches of flowers. As she listened, she suddenly remembered: Isn't this one of her favorite songs?
But... this piece of music is not common, and I have only mentioned it once to the prince. Could it be...
She walked gently to the window and saw a dark figure playing the piano in the pavilion not far away.
The moonlight is like water, and the sound of the piano is lingering. At this moment, it seems as if this person and this piano are the only ones left in the world.
The Third Miss stood by the window, listening motionlessly. She knew that this was the prince expressing some unspeakable emotion in his own way.
The sound of the piano gradually died down, and the figure looked particularly cold and lonely under the moonlight.
The third young lady sighed softly: This person, obviously has so much tenderness in his heart, but he always pretends to be cold.
But it doesn't matter, she is willing to wait patiently, waiting for him to release all the tenderness in his heart.
As the night deepened, she reluctantly closed the window. Everything tonight seemed like a beautiful dream.
But she knew this was not a dream, because the tenderness the prince showed her was so real.
Lying in bed, a smile still lingered on her lips. Tomorrow was another new day. She looked forward to creating more tender moments like this with the Crown Prince.
The sound of a piano drifted in from afar, like a gentle goodnight song. The third young lady fell asleep with a sweet smile on her face.
The prince stood in the pavilion, looking at the window where the lights were turned off, his eyes full of tenderness.
When did this girl break into his heart?
He himself couldn't explain it clearly. He just knew that what he looked forward to most every day was the time he could be alone with her.
Even just watching her reading quietly and listening to her talking nonsense would make him feel unprecedented peace.
This feeling was something he had never experienced before.
"Your Majesty," a guard emerged from the shadows, "it's getting late."
"Well," the prince withdrew his gaze, "let's go back."
When he turned around, there was still a faint smile on the corner of his mouth.
Maybe this is happiness.