Qi Tianming, seeing Qi Zhenzhen enter, beamed with a smile, "Come, come, Zhenzhen, sit with your father."
Qi Zhenzhen calmly performed the customary greetings to Qi Tianming and Gu Sinian before sitting down beside Qi Tianming.
"Zhenzhen, the Crown Prince has come specifically to see you today," Qi Tianming said loudly. After speaking, Qi Tianming stood up, his brows furrowed, and clutched his abdomen. "Oh dear, I'm feeling a bit unwell. Zhenzhen, please entertain the Crown Prince on behalf of your father." Da Feng Novel Network
He then hurried away.
His acting was quite clumsy, making one want to laugh.
Was this to give them some private time? Had her dear father forgotten they had only just returned from Xinghua Village? They had spent days together, only returned yesterday, and were meeting again today?
"Since the Crown Prince has come specially, is there an urgent matter?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"I've acquired a new set of white jade chessboards. Knowing the Marquis's excellent chess skills, I brought them over for his appreciation. Of course, I also wanted to see you," Gu Sinian said slowly.
His expression was calm, his voice clear and cool, revealing no discernible emotion.
If anyone else were like this, Qi Zhenzhen's assessment would definitely be that they were putting on an act.
But this was not just anyone; this was Gu Sinian, a person for whom Qi Zhenzhen found no adequate words to describe his handsomeness.
Someone so impossibly handsome could do no wrong in her eyes.
She was a visual person; she wouldn't deny it.
Secretly swallowing, Qi Zhenzhen tried to maintain her composure. "Why does the Crown Prince wish to see me?"
"Little Niu will be bringing his wife to the capital in five days. After they arrive, the next day we will depart for the border. The journey is long, and the conditions at the border are harsh and cold. The food, clothing, and daily necessities are vastly inferior to those in the capital," Gu Sinian said.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "Indeed. I've seen it in books about geography and landscapes."
"The food is made very coarsely, and the clothes are not comfortable either," Gu Sinian glanced at Qi Zhenzhen and emphasized again.
"I heard the furs there are quite good. Most of the furs circulated in the capital come from the border. Once you arrive, Crown Prince, find someone to sew you a fur robe, and you certainly won't freeze," Qi Zhenzhen said after some thought.
Gu Sinian fell silent, looking at Qi Zhenzhen with a hint of grievance.
Qi Zhenzhen was bewildered. Had she said something wrong? No, she hadn't said anything out of line.
Gu Qing, standing nearby, felt a bit anxious for his Crown Prince. Why was this grown man acting so coy? If he wanted something, he should just say it directly. Wasn't it just that he wanted the Marquis's daughter to make him a couple of outfits? And perhaps some food would be even better. He also didn't understand why the Crown Prince never even glanced at the needlework, clothes, or carefully made pastries and food that the young lady from their mansion sent from time to time, yet now he wanted something from Miss Qi and couldn't even state it clearly.
"Miss Qi, in our capital, there is a custom that when a man travels far, his closest relations will make clothes and shoes for him. By rights, since our Crown Prince is not yet married, these clothes and shoes should be prepared by our madam. However, our madam has not been in good health for the past half-year... Besides our madam, the woman closest to our Crown Prince is you, Miss," Gu Qing cleared his throat.
Qi Zhenzhen finally understood. He had come specifically to ask for her needlework.
But...
Qi Zhenzhen felt a little shy. Her needlework was fine for simple mending, and perhaps she could sew a pair of socks, but clothes and shoes...
Gu Sinian looked at Qi Zhenzhen with full expectation, waiting for her to nod in agreement.
Qi Zhenzhen felt embarrassed by his gaze and turned her head away. "Crown Prince, my needlework isn't very good."