章 415: Chapter 413 Xue Ke, Blossoming Feelings_1
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Along the way, Xu Ran saw many of Emperor Xue Ye's beautiful imperial concubines.
Truth be told, their beauty was only passable, and not a single one could compare to the women by his side. Xu Ran wondered if perhaps Emperor Xue Ye was blind to have chosen such women; indeed, few of those Xu Ran saw along the way were good-looking.
However, upon reflection, it was understandable.
After all, many an emperor's concubines were politically married off to powerful factions or even ministers. Beauty was irrelevant; as long as political goals were achieved, it was normal to see a mix in quality.
That's not to say Emperor Xue Ye had no beautiful wives. If he hadn't, how would Xue Ke have been born?
Xu Ran sneakily slipped into the "Harem".
This area was unguarded; to be precise, there was not a single normal man around, only eunuchs and maidservants.
Inside the palace.
Xue Ke was still admiring the painting Xu Ran had made for her last time, increasingly fascinated, and couldn't help but feel amazed at Xu Ran's artistic achievement.
Being a princess, unless one was truly suitable for "Cultivation", they generally wouldn't focus on it much. Having a little bit of "Cultivation Level" was enough. What mattered more was learning imperial etiquette, as well as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
A princess would eventually marry out, representing the face of the Imperial family, so from a young age, she began learning all kinds of etiquette and the arts, studying with Tang Yuehua at Yue Xuan to become a true aristocrat.
It was precisely because of this that she understood just how exquisite Xu Ran's paintings were.
Last time, she couldn't help but show this painting to her teacher Tang Yuehua. Her teacher, even more surprised than she, marveled at the artist, declaring Xu Ran's achievement in this field far surpassed hers, telling her to bring Xu Ran to meet her.
Regrettably, Xu Ran's whereabouts were erratic, and it was extremely difficult for her just to get a glimpse of him.
Now, her engagement to the Great Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire was almost a done deal.
To better counter the threats from Martial Soul Hall and forge an alliance, the marriage could not be changed no matter what. In the face of national interests, everything else seemed so insignificant. Her relationship with Xu Ran...
"Princess, are you still looking?" a sprightly looking maidservant asked. Although she also marveled at the ingenious work of the painting, the princess was perhaps too obsessed with it, constantly gazing at the painting, or embroidering something alone.
Could the man in the painting be the Great Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire?
She felt something was not quite right.
When had Princess ever met the Great Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire?
And the man in the painting, with his imposing and perfect appearance, did not seem like a member of the Star Luo Imperial family.
Could it be the Princess had fallen for someone else?
She suddenly panicked, closed her mouth, and dared not to say or ask anything more. She pretended to know nothing.
"What do you understand? You will never grasp the essence of this painting," Xue Ke said, her palm caressing the painting, particularly the handsome features of Xu Ran, her mind drifting into a daze.
It was unclear whether her infatuation lay with the painting, the person, or both.
Suddenly, just as Xue Ke was admiring Xu Ran's work, a melancholic tune from a White Jade Flute reached her ears, the sound mournful and plaintive, immediately transporting her to a unique state of mind.
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The enchanting sound of the flute, with its beautiful melody and rhythm, utterly intoxicated Xue Ke.
She had never experienced such wonderful music before; just a few notes could immerse someone in them, conjuring up a misty and rainy scene. It was truly amazing, incredibly amazing.
"Could this be Xu Ran?" Xue Ke's heart pounded erratically, and for some reason, the image of Xu Ran's face surfaced in her mind. Such beautiful flute music, even surpassing Teacher Tang Yuehua in musical skill.
And who else could achieve this, if not Xu Ran?
Xue Ke quickly slipped on a pair of sandals, not caring about her ladylike demeanor, and ran straight out. A pale golden dress lent her an air of noble elegance.
"Xu Ran?"
She headed outside, following the direction of the sound.
On the roof of a nearby palace, Xu Ran sat with a White Jade Flute in hand, from which streamed the melodious notes.
He was dressed in a black robe, hair like spilled ink tied up and hanging down his back, and those deep, pitch-black eyes shone like black gems, filled with endless magic, as if ready to tear someone into his being.
Just by beholding Xu Ran's unparalleled visage, Xue Ke was mesmerized.
The maids serving with Xue Ke followed her out and were just as enthralled upon seeing Xu Ran. It was their first time seeing such a unique man, with his handsome features, talented flair, and noble air... every aspect at the pinnacle of excellence.
For Xue Ke, it was even more so, for only she knew the extent of Xu Ran's "Cultivation Level" talent, which was incredibly exceptional.
Thinking of this, her eyes sparkled with marvel, and she slowly climbed up to the lofty ridge of the roof as well, feeling the special sensation of looking down upon everything rise from within her heart.
All along, because of the etiquette she had learned and the image of a lady she needed to maintain, she would never have imagined climbing up to such a place to look at the scenery—that would've been far too presumptuous.
But now, this different perspective brought her a new feeling.
Perhaps, in the past, she wouldn't have enjoyed looking at the scenery this way, but now she found joy in it. The view wasn't important; the company was what mattered most.
If she could be with the one she loved, watching the sunrise and sunset each day, as well as all the beautiful things in the world, it would be a blissful enjoyment.
Listening to the flute music played by Xu Ran, Xue Ke felt a bit nervous, her small steps brought her beside Xu Ran, and then she too sat down, her beautiful legs swaying gently along the edge of the roof.
That relaxed feeling made her very comfortable.
After a while, the music slowly faded, and Xue Ke's heart grew tense.
"Xu Ran, did you come specially to see me?"
The fluttering heart of a maiden often brings shyness, like a fruit not yet fully ripe, still slightly green. Compared to the bold hints she gave the last time she saw Xu Ran, the current Xue Ke was clearly more panicked.
"It's not just to see you. This piece was also played specifically for you," Xu Ran revealed a gentle smile. He was not clueless; even if it wasn't this moment, he would say it was, otherwise it would ruin the atmosphere.
Creating such a romantic atmosphere was hard-won; in such an ambiance, feelings could warm up exponentially faster. Missing this chance would mean waiting a long time to recreate such feelings.
After all, a trick used once can be stunning, used twice is still good, but when overused it becomes mundane.
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