Song Ning spend her evening after school with the Third Prince. He brings her everywhere he goes. As promise, she shower him with adoration from her eyes and the way she talks. He knows that it is fake but it is a taste of what he wants from her. They walk through the streets in the city. Sometimes they visit events that will have interesting paintings or pottery on display. Sometimes, Song Ning will get to meet Song Qin in a debate event. It is boring for her. She try to stay awake for her brother but soon in the carriage, she falls asleep on the arms of The Third Prince.
Days pass quickly and soon the Lunar New Year is approaching. Song Qin have return home. The two siblings help to clean up the house and paste red decorations. They clean up the courtyard that is fill with snow. Song Ning have save enough for two sets of new clothes for both of them. So they welcome the Lunar New Year in their own way since they don't have parents nor ancestors to pray to. They decided to give offerings to the moon who accompany them on their long lonely times. Before they start to prepare to cook, someone come walking into their courtyard. Song Ning look up and recognise he is Bing Ming. The man bow to the siblings and inform them that The Third Prince have invited them to his mansion for a meal with his family. At that moment it is temping to go there as Song Ning will save the trouble for washing all the bowls and chopsticks. She pretend that she did not want to go and Song Qin who is eager to go accepted the invitation. He push his sister into the house and ask her to change. While he grab his new outfit and put on hastily. Song Ning goes behind the folded screen and change.
They all arrive at the mansion with the butler waiting at the doorway. He is shivering for the cold wind is blowing. Song Ning feels sorry for him and hurry him to show them the way. Inside the floor is warm up with built in furnace. Thus it is not that cold after all. Much warmer compare to the sibling's home. They walk to the dining hall. The Third Prince and his wives are all sitting on their own table. They all smile when the guest arrives. Song Ning and Song Qin bow to them and the maid show them to their table. The Their Prince look at Song Ning with interest as it is the first time she is wearing a red dress. Her hairpins are red flowers with silver beads running down. Her makeup is natural and she is smiling as usual that shows her dimples. The dinner proceed with laughter all round. Song Qin for the first time drink Chinese wine with the permission from Song Ning. Soon the young man is drunk and Bing Ming lift him to the side room to rest. Song Ning did not fuss with her little brother and she is enjoying her time talking to the three ladies. Soon one by one, the ladies leave the hall. Only the Their Prince and Song Ning is left to drink.
"Tell me how did you learn how to paint?"
"I used to draw a lot. When i was very very young. My mother knows and she teach me how to paint."
"She paint like you?"
"NO. She and my sister only paint Chinese style. I paint different."
"Where did you learn that."
"I learn it from a foreigner who came by a ship many many many years ago. I watch him mix all the gouache paint. They are so beautiful. The colors that the Chinese ink cannot capture is all in a plate. So i ask him to teach me. He stayed at our residence for two years and i learn everything from him. Before he leave, he gave me his own gouache paints and plate and brushes and box. He told me to use them well and hope one day he will see my art work in his world. I want to show him my art work!"
"He teach you to draw human bodies?"
"No! He teach me to draw human faces, expressions! So important! Without those feelings, there is nothing on the paper. Do you understand?"
At this point her face is near his face. He look into her bright eyes which is now pink and unfocused. He reach out to touch her face, she is slightly warm and soft. He smile and lean forward so close to her. Their nose touch and Song Ning stare at him with a tilt. He look at her lips and kiss her lightly. When he pull back, she smile.
"Do you know that i like you."
"Of course! Which man don't like me? But i have to do my duty as an older sister! Duty first! Others later! Take a queue!"
"What if i can help to lighten your duty, will you consider me?"
She stare at his face with her eyebrows knitted. She pat his face.
"You are married! Three wives not enough?!"
"I consider them as my sisters and they consider me as their little brother. "
"Brother… brother… a bother… taels are the best now."
He sigh and realised that he cannot talk to her while she is drunk. So her scoop her up and carry her to a room. After laying her down, Consort Ling walk in.
"You like her don't you?"
"You know very well i do."
"Wait till she is awake then tell her that."
"I am afraid that she will fly away if i tell her that."
"Then trap her in a net."
"She is hard to trap. I need a lot of taels."
"Yes you need a lot of taels. So does the other … is it going smoothly as plan?"
"Yes mostly. As long as there is no hiccups, everything is going as plan."
"Then i will live to see the day that the crown prince is deposed."
"Yes. Sooner. He prove to be useless. The scholars are unhappy. There will be an uproar soon."
Consort Ling bow and leave the room. She look at The Third Prince who is tucking in the blanket for the young girl. She close the door gently and walk away with her maid. While The Third Prince is tired, he lay down beside her and hold her hand.