The Cannon Fodder in Quick Transmigration Refuses the Usual Path

Chapter 606: The Arrogant Noble Consort Who Failed to Seize the Throne 18

"Why the sudden urge to practice this?"

Though she had a guess in her heart, An Ning's face still held a trace of curiosity. She even deliberately ran over from under the eaves and circled around him several times with keen interest.

From the red plum blossoms on the branch, occasional clumps of snow, not too big, fell rustling down.

Having just stepped out of the room, she wasn't wearing much at the moment. A sweet apricot-colored silk and squirrel fur-lined short jacket, her little face flushed pink from the warmth inside, looked even more vivid nestled within the silver-white fox fur collar of her cloak.

His gaze lingered on her sparkling apricot-shaped eyes for a moment. Xiao Qi straightened his posture even more, swelling with pride, and didn't forget to reach out and pull her by the hand, leading her back into the house.

As they walked, he didn't forget to explain gently:

"Ahem, it's nothing much. It's just that a few days ago, I saw your father come over. Seeing him often in the past, I never thought much of it. But now, seeing him again suddenly, I realized Minister Shen's physique is truly remarkable!"

In fact, it was more than just remarkable!

Especially that face, that dashing elegance when he practiced swordplay... Xiao Qi couldn't help but secretly mull it over. Forget fifty years old, some might even believe he was thirty.

No wonder his beloved consort maintained herself so well. Aside from not worrying much and the imperial physicians doing a great job, his father-in-law's innate advantages probably played no small part.Don't think he didn't notice—glancing at his excited consort beside him—earlier when Minister Shen was practicing swordplay, how brightly Lady Yang and Yue'er's eyes had shone.

He heard it was Yue'er who first suggested the swordplay earlier...

Pretending not to catch the deeper meaning in his words, she let herself be led by his pull into the inner room. Letting the attending palace servant hand over the hot tea, An Ning raised her chin with an air of utter naturalness, not hiding her proud expression in the slightest:

"Of course! Father has always been in excellent health. He rarely even catches a cold or fever. Practicing for an hour every day is just a minor matter for him."

No wonder her mother, Madam Yang, could love him so much. Even back when he was teaching the three of them siblings, it nearly drove him bald. But if she just took a good look at her husband's face at night, pulled him back to bed for some... exertion, the next day he'd be right back up, full of vigor and glowing with health.

Even now, believe it or not, in An Ning's view, if Madam Yang had to choose again, she would still choose Shen's Old Man without hesitation.

Seize the day and enjoy life, nothing shameful about that. Even if their offspring were a bit of a handful, at least she hadn't wasted these thirty years of blessings, right?

As she spoke, she even cast a somewhat regretful glance at the man beside her.

She didn't say anything, but it felt like she'd said everything.

Xiao Qi: "..."

Alright then. For the sake of health, this sword practice is something I absolutely must do. But practicing alone in the early morning is so boring. If only someone could...

And the forbidden army tokens are one thing, but if something unexpected were to happen to him in the future, it would be good if Yue'er had some ability to protect herself.

Pulling her closer into his embrace, taking a deep breath of her familiar fragrance, the Emperor spoke again:

"How about Yue'er practices with me?"

Practice swordplay? That would mean getting up early. Impossible, absolutely impossible. An Ning, accustomed to sleeping in, hastily wanted to shake her head, but the next second, she saw someone sneakily lean close to her ear, enticingly saying:

"Doesn't Yue'er want to be like your father, with both appearance and figure excellent, looking as beautiful as ever even after decades, as if time hasn't passed..."

The trouble with familiar people is this—one sentence can immediately and firmly hit the fatal spot.

As for whether there's a causal relationship between the two, well, as long as someone believes it, that's enough.

Sure enough, as soon as the words fell, the look of disdain on the face of the person before him instantly vanished. She raised her hand and pinched his waist hard several times, only letting go when she heard his slightly exaggerated cries of pain and pleas for mercy. Then, with a light humph, she nodded, somewhat reluctantly.

System: "Tsk!"

Smooth talk, all smooth talk!

But very soon, Xiao Qi regretted it.

Gazing somewhat mesmerized at the moon-red figure dancing freely under the plum tree, even the Emperor couldn't help but sigh.

This thing called bloodline talent truly defies logic.

Aside from some initial clumsiness, Yue'er's swordplay was just like the person herself—unrestrained, flamboyant, at first glance full of an indescribable vitality and vigor.

And those moves she came up with earlier, just for aesthetics... now they seemed to complement each other perfectly.

In terms of pure talent, she might even surpass Marquis Shen.

Just watching her like this made one feel relaxed and carefree. Perhaps it was precisely because of Yue'er's decades-long purity, sincerity, and straightforward nature that she could achieve this...

Unfortunately, before Emperor Xuanming could finish his lament, the next second, under the red plum tree not far away, he saw a beauty in red robes, eyes filled with indignation, stomping towards him angrily:

An Ning: "..."

"Your Majesty, where's the person?"

Where's the beautiful painting you promised? Weren't you supposed to record her most beautiful, most gorgeous side in its entirety?

Xiao Qi, who had been watching too entranced and momentarily forgotten the main point: "..."

After a bout of commotion, by the time this painting of a beauty practicing swordplay was completely finished, over half an hour had passed.

As the emperor, the culmination of royal education, and a disciple of a renowned master, Xiao Qi's painting skills were naturally exceptional. Especially since he painted with full appreciation—the snowy ground, red plum blossoms, the beauty's figure graceful as a rainbow, with red plum blossoms occasionally rustling down from above...

In short, not only was Xiao Qi himself satisfied, An Ning also forgot her anger for the moment. She immediately picked up the painting with great interest and began admiring it.

Finally, she couldn't help but raise her chin slightly, her already radiant face showing not a hint of modesty as she declared confidently:

"See, I learn everything quickly, and I'm the most beautiful at everything I do..."

Heh, how is she so clever?

Emperor Xuanming: "..."

Ahem, he admitted the last part. As for the first part... thinking of the few previous times she attempted to assist with painting, and the earlier mention by the Marchioness about teaching her with a twisted expression... Xiao Qi couldn't help but fall silent for a moment.

His gaze lingered on the other's unrestrained and flamboyant, yet as bright and brilliant as the morning sun, smiling face.

Time passed slowly. Outside was the rustling fall of cold wind and sudden snow, but inside the hot spring retreat palace, amidst the constantly rising steam from the pools, a warm and cozy atmosphere remained.

Happy days always pass extremely quickly. Perhaps some switch had been flipped. While busy handling court affairs, Xiao Qi, over the course of more than half a month, produced over a dozen such paintings.

Snow-covered trees and red plum blossoms, the morning sun and bright day, silver pines under the setting moon... In short, as An Ning's skills improved day by day, the two of them practically played their way through every scenic spot within the retreat palace.

And that's not even mentioning what happened in private, ahem...

As the saying goes, there are no walls the wind cannot pass through.

Especially for someone who had been secretly paying attention. Learning that his Imperial Father was living a carefree, happy life at the retreat palace, and that his health had visibly improved a great deal...

The Crown Prince, who diligently handled official duties every day and had to brave the wind and snow every few days to go report on court affairs: "..."

And just then, a palace servant came to report not far away: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Bea... the Beauty asks that you go see her when you have time..."

Xiao Ye: "..."

Sigh, when will this life ever end!

Watching his Highness's departing figure, the young attendant beside him couldn't help but sigh.