Her features were close enough to see, and in truth, her appearance hadn't changed much; she still bore traces of her childhood self.
Yet, he hadn't recognized her.
Just as he hadn't realized she was a girl before.
No one had discovered she was a girl.
It wasn't that her disguise was so convincing as a man.
At least, looking at her now, he felt she was undeniably a girl.
It was her exceptional beauty that blurred the lines of gender.
Such a delicate and refined youth, to those unaware, seemed to have no flaws.
"Your Highness, your eyes are practically glued to my face." Xie Jiang looked up at him, thinking, even now, he wouldn't admit he was smitten.
Either he was bewitched by some forest spirit, or that monk Pu Xuan had said something.
Chen Chan felt a bit embarrassed for his Highness. The way His Highness was looking at Marquis Xie...
It was far too intense.
Xia Rongyu replied with an unruffled expression, "I've just discovered that Marquis Xie is a humorous and interesting person."
Xie Jiang retorted, "I never expected Your Highness to be this kind of person."
Xia Rongyu's smile faltered slightly. "What kind of person does Marquis Xie think I am?"
"Woof, woof, woof..."
As they spoke, the dog bounded in from outside, happily circling Xie Jiang and Xia Rongyu before stopping at Xie Jiang's feet to nuzzle her leg.
"Where did you run off to so early this morning? Is there anything fun in the temple?" Xie Jiang was immediately distracted from Xia Rongyu, bending down to cup the dog's chubby face and rub it.
The dog was exceptionally docile under Xie Jiang's hands, allowing her to mold and shape it as she pleased.
Chen Chan hesitated, wanting to ask Marquis Xie to be gentler, not so rough...
But His Highness seemed not to notice, remaining indifferent to Marquis Xie's rough handling. His fox-like eyes, brimming with amusement, seemed to hold a rare tenderness and indulgence.
His Highness's silent indulgence suggested that as long as Marquis Xie was happy, the little ancestor's well-being was secondary.
Was this still his Highness? He had always doted on the little ancestor so much!
Chen Chan felt a sense of disorientation.
He felt his Highness was not himself.
Very much not himself.
Xie Jiang, intending to take the dog out to play, said goodbye to Xia Rongyu and was about to leave when Xia Rongyu called her back.
Xie Jiang assumed he was worried and reassured him, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will take good care of Xiao Bao."
Xia Rongyu's eyes no longer held the dog; he simply looked at her with amusement. "Marquis Xie still hasn't answered the question from earlier."
Xie Jiang recalled their previous conversation, glanced at Xia Rongyu, and almost burst out laughing. "Does Your Highness really want to know the answer?"
Xia Rongyu had a premonition that Xie Jiang's answer wouldn't be pleasant, but he still wanted to hear it.
Xie Jiang crouched down, cupped the dog's head, and turned its somewhat foolish face towards Xia Rongyu's gaze.
The dog looked up at its owner, "Awooo..."
Xia Rongyu looked puzzled. "Hmm?"
Xie Jiang shook the dog's head. "Does Your Highness see?"
Xia Rongyu: "What does Marquis Xie mean?"
Xia Rongyu looked at Xiao Bao, with its silly expression, not even struggling.
Did Xiao Bao also know that she was his concern?
"I was going to get a mirror for Your Highness, but since Xiao Bao is back, there's no need for such trouble. Looking at it is like looking in a mirror."
"Hahahaha..."
Xie Jiang couldn't hold back her laughter after speaking, and with Xiao Bao, she vanished in a flash.
Chen Chan's eyes widened. "What does Marquis Xie mean?"
He thought he understood, yet he also didn't.
Xia Rongyu said, "She means I'm like Xiao Bao, like a silly dog."
Chen Chan gasped. How could Marquis Xie say such a thing!
But Chen Chan couldn't refute it. His Highness's gaze had been fixed on Marquis Xie all day, and the smile hadn't left his face. He didn't seem like the Highness he knew.
Listening to the receding laughter, the softest part of Xia Rongyu's heart seemed to be touched, and a surge of bittersweet emotion filled his chest.
Chen Chan was about to ask His Highness if he should follow and keep an eye on them, to prevent Marquis Xie from being too rough.
But then he saw His Highness gazing in the direction of the courtyard gate, his eyes red and shimmering with a layer of moisture.
Chen Chan was astonished.
Xie Jiang, with the dog, frolicked through the mountains and fields. Passing by a tea garden, she saw monks picking autumn tea and curiously went in to play for a while.
Mimicking them, she picked a few handfuls of leaves and put them into a monk's bamboo basket. Then, she and the dog, unable to resist, ran off to the neighboring Jialan Temple.
Seeing that it was almost noon and there was still no sign of them, Chen Chan muttered a few words to himself and was about to ask His Highness for permission to go out and look for them.
Xia Rongyu, however, put down his book and went out himself.
Xia Rongyu spotted Xie Jiang on a persimmon tree in the back mountain.
Xie Jiang stood lightly on a branch, the wind rustling the swaying branches. Yet, Xie Jiang's posture was relaxed and at ease, as stable as if she were glued to the branch.
Xia Rongyu gazed at the figure on the tree and pursed his lips.
The young girl who was once so pampered and fragile, crying and refusing to practice martial arts, always needing coaxing, now possessed such skill.
Xia Rongyu walked over. "Is Marquis Xie picking persimmons?"
There were many wild persimmon trees in the back mountain, but the season was almost over, and most of the persimmons had already been picked.
Only a few late-ripening ones remained scattered on the highest branches.
"Does Your Highness want to try one?" Xie Jiang glanced down.
The persimmons at the top of the tree were fully ripe, plump and bright, red and translucent, emitting a faint, alluring sweet fragrance.
"Yes, please," Xia Rongyu said.
Xie Jiang threw a picked persimmon to Xia Rongyu, then tossed another to Chen Chan. She picked the last one and wiped it with the hem of her clothes.
"Woof..."
The dog looked at Xie Jiang expectantly.
Xie Jiang landed gracefully. "Can dogs eat persimmons?"
"Woof..."
The dog stared at the persimmon in her hand, looking greedy.
Xia Rongyu said, "Ripe ones can be eaten in moderation."
Chen Chan took out a handkerchief, wiped the persimmon in his hand again, and offered it to the dog's mouth.
The dog took a bite, and honey-like juice overflowed, smearing the dog's mouth.
The persimmon was fully ripe. Xie Jiang bit a small opening and gently sucked, drawing the sweet, honey-like juice into her mouth.
Xie Jiang said with satisfaction, "Surprisingly delicious."
Seeing her eat with such relish, Xia Rongyu also took small bites. The sweet juice flowed down his throat, sweetening his heart.
"Is it not bad?"
"I'm benefiting from following Marquis Xie. Does Marquis Xie like persimmons?"
"Who can resist delicious things? The generous gifts of nature are precious. Wouldn't it be a shame for them to rot like this?" Xie Jiang looked at the trees nearby.
There were over a dozen wild persimmon trees in this area. Most of the persimmons had been picked, and some had fallen from the branches and rotted on the ground.
Xia Rongyu said, "Are you going to pick all the remaining ones?"
Xie Jiang looked at him. "I want to eat more, but I'm a bit tired."
Saying this, she sat down on the ground, her eyes shining as she looked at Xia Rongyu. The persimmons she had just eaten were not eaten in vain; they were considered her wages.
Xia Rongyu: "..."
This spoiled demeanor was surprisingly familiar.
Seeing this, Chen Chan quickly rolled up his sleeves. "Your Highness and Marquis Xie, please rest for a moment. I'll go pick them." How could Marquis Xie be like this!
Xie Jiang: "You can't reach them."
Chen Chan: "I'll try climbing up."
Xie Jiang: "When I say you can't reach them, you can't reach them. Does my word mean nothing?"
Chen Chan dared not speak further. Marquis Xie's smile was too unnerving.
Xia Rongyu had already calmly rolled up his sleeves. "Then please, Marquis Xie, catch them from below. Ripe persimmons can easily break if dropped."