There was something in his tone that made Ahn Xi narrow her eyes. Her son was clearly planning something, and from the amusement on his face, she suspected the revelation would not be an ordinary one.
She decided not to press him. Instead, she turned her attention to the reason for her visit.
"Since you have already made your choice, I have been thinking about the Flower Day Celebration. We originally planned it so you could meet the eligible young ladies and select an Empress. There is no longer any need for all that trouble. We could cancel it and make other arrangements."
"No."
The answer came so quickly that Ahn Xi raised an eyebrow.
Wu Zheng placed his brush down and leaned back in his chair. "I will choose her at the celebration."
"Why insist on holding it when you already know whom you want?"
"Because I intend to announce my choice in front of everyone."
Ahn Xi studied him, trying to understand why he seemed so determined to make a public declaration. He could bring Lin Xue to the palace and settle the matter without turning the celebration into a spectacle. Yet he appeared to have already decided how he wanted things to unfold.
Then she noticed his expression.
He was smiling again.
Not the cold, calculating smile that often unsettled his ministers, but one filled with anticipation. It was the sort of expression she had rarely seen on his face, and its presence surprised her more than the painting itself.
"Zheng Zheng," she said, her voice softening with curiosity, "you really have fallen for this woman, haven't you?"
Wu Zheng did not answer immediately. His gaze returned to the portrait, and his fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the paper.
"She is interesting," he replied at last.
Ahn Xi almost laughed. Of all the answers he could have given, that was the one he had chosen.
Interesting.
He had painted her for hours, refused to cancel a celebration he no longer needed for its original purpose, and was looking forward to publicly declaring her his choice. Yet he described his feelings with a single, understated word.
She shook her head in amusement. "If this is what you call interesting, I wonder what you would say if you were truly in love."
Wu Zheng merely smiled.
In his mind, he could already picture Lin Xue's reaction when she discovered the truth. The girl who had questioned his intentions, worried about his wealth, and insisted that she would remain unmarried rather than surrender her freedom had no idea that the man she was trying to reject was the ruler of the entire Wu Kingdom.
He wondered how many excuses she would invent once she learned who he was.
The thought was enough to make him reach for his brush again.
Ahn Xi watched him for another moment, her amusement giving way to quiet astonishment. She had wanted an Empress for the kingdom, but she had never expected the search to lead her son to a woman who could make him behave like this.
She rose from her chair and straightened her sleeves.
"Very well. We shall proceed with the Flower Day Celebration as planned. But when the time comes, I expect you to introduce me to the woman who has managed to capture your attention so completely."
"You will meet her, Mother."
Ahn Xi glanced at the portrait one final time before heading towards the door. She had arrived intending to discuss a ceremony, only to discover that her son had already given the woman he intended to marry a place in his heart that no imperial decree could command.
As the doors closed behind her, Wu Zheng returned to his painting. His brush moved carefully across the paper, and the faint smile remained on his face.
The Flower Day Celebration would come soon enough.
And he could hardly wait to see what Lin Xue would do when she discovered that her troublesome soulmate was none other than the Emperor himself.