The Crown prince’s expression had returned to calmness. “Played chess with the physician from the village. After winning a few games, I borrowed them.”

Qin Zheng didn’t understand why the prince needed brush and ink, but she had already started to form a plan in her mind.

She would take the opportunity to draw a detailed design of the trestle bridge and separately sketch the plan of the support frame assembled with mortise and tenon joints.

Then, she would have Lin Zhao explain it to the leader responsible for the bridge construction in the Eastern Village.

With the design in hand, he should be able to understand.

Seeing Qin Zheng’s eyes light up as she looked at the brush and ink, the prince raised an eyebrow and asked, “Do you need them?”

Qin Zheng thought to herself if she had been too obvious.

However, she would never dare to write in front of the prince.

If he saw the original handwriting of the previous owner and noticed that her handwriting was different, it would be a dead giveaway.

Qin Zheng hurriedly said, “Ink is precious, I won’t waste it. If my lord wants to write, I can help grind the ink.”

The Crown prince seemed to be slightly interested in her words and nodded slightly. “Go ahead.”

Qin Zheng then took the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone and began grinding the ink slowly.

The dark inkstone accentuated her fair, almost translucent fingers, making them look like jade, smooth and delicate to the point of obscuring her knuckles.

The prince unfolded a piece of rough paper with frayed edges.

Although the conditions were simple, the scene of “you write, I grind ink” was somewhat romantic, just like those scenes in novels and dramas.

However, Qin Zheng was probably immune to romance.

The brush that the prince held had bristles like a rooster’s crest, so loose that even with water, they couldn’t stick together.

It would be a miracle if it could still write.

Even with the prince’s excellent upbringing, he was speechless for a while when he saw the brush.

Qin Zheng cleared the remnants, took away the inkstone and the remaining ink on the inkstone, as well as the paper.

She made an excuse to clean the inkstone but instead, she lay on the kitchen table, dipped a bamboo stick in ink, and sketched a simple bridge design.

She also drew a disassemble-able triangular wooden frame, marking all the joints.

Once the ink dried, she carefully folded the paper and tucked it into her clothes.

Just as she finished tidying up like a thief, there was a loud knock on the courtyard door.

Qin Zheng went to open it, surprised when she saw the visitor: “Miss He?”

He Yunjing wore a goose-yellow jacket today, looking somewhat charming.

Despite Qin Zheng’s unfriendly gaze, she put on a warm expression:

“My foster brother’s men are unruly. They clashed with you two last night, and now my brother is bedridden from severe injuries. I’ve come to apologize on his behalf.”

The maids following her looked proud and arrogant, like a flock of ducks strutting with their chests puffed out.

Rather than an apology, it seemed more like they came to intimidate.

Although Qin Zheng had only briefly met this girl in the kitchen, she had already heard about her involvement with Lin Yao from Magpie.

He Yunjing seemed either too sheltered by the second master or naive; she hadn’t seemed to figure out the situation yet, thinking the second master and Lin Yao just had a simple disagreement, with her constantly revolving around Lin Yao.

Qin Zheng had no desire to deal with this inexperienced girl.

Standing at the door, she showed no intention of inviting them in, politely saying, “The master and Miss have already resolved the matter for us. We dare not trouble Miss He further.”

“We still need an apology,” He Yunjing persisted.

She stepped aside to peek into the courtyard, “I’ve been standing at the gate for half a day. Won’t Madam Cheng let me in for a cup of tea?”

Qin Zheng couldn’t fathom why she insisted on entering the courtyard and glanced at her, saying flatly, “Is Miss He thirsty? Then wait.”

With that, she closed the courtyard door expressionlessly.

He Yunjing stood very close, nearly getting her nose hit by the door panel.

Her face darkened instantly: “She’s actually giving this lady the cold shoulder?”

As soon as she finished speaking, the courtyard door opened again from inside. Qin Zheng handed her a ladle filled with water: “Drink.”

Drink up and leave quickly.

He Yunjing widened her beautiful eyes, her chest heaving with anger, unable to articulate her words properly as she pointed at Qin Zheng: “You…”

Qin Zheng replied calmly, “There’s no tea in the courtyard, only cold water.”

Feeling like she might be driven to madness if she stayed any longer, He Yunjing abandoned her earlier plan and raised her voice, “I’m concerned about Madam Cheng’s husband’s injuries. I heard they’re severe, and he needs proper care.”

Qin Zheng had tested her IQ before, which showed she was quite intelligent, but at the moment, she couldn’t understand what He Yunjing was up to.

Seeing Qin Zheng’s expressionless stare, He Yunjing thought she had caught her off guard, feeling even more pleased with herself.

She continued loudly, “I heard Madam Cheng went to bring lunch to Big Brother Lin at noon. We have plenty of people to deliver food in our village, so Madam Cheng should take care of her husband properly.”

Her voice was so loud as if she was afraid the people inside couldn’t hear her.

Qin Zheng was at a loss.

She finally realized that this rustic young lady had been trying to provoke crown prince by interfering with her plans.

Loving someone was not scary, but constantly feeling like everyone was competing for the same man was.

Qin Zheng’s hand holding the ladle shook, spilling half of the water and wetting He Yunjing’s dress and shoes.

She said, “Sorry, the ladle was too heavy, and I didn’t hold it steady.”

“You… my dress!” He Yunjing was furious, her dress soaked.

She didn’t dare to demand to enter the courtyard to sit anymore.

She realized that she had been speaking loudly earlier, and the people inside must have heard her.

She glared at Qin Zheng fiercely, “Your husband isn’t someone with a good temper. Wait until he deals with you!”

After last night, the reputation of the Crown Prince’s ferocity should have spread throughout the village.

When she heard about Qin Zheng and Lin Zhao going to deliver food to Lin Yao, she couldn’t sit still, fearing that the Crown Prince didn’t know about her actions.

So she deliberately came over to expose Qin Zheng.

However, Qin Zheng didn’t let her in, so she couldn’t display her tea skills.

She could only shout those words.

Anyway, her goal had been achieved.

Now, He Yunjing was just waiting for Qin Zheng to be disciplined by her fierce and brutal husband.

This girl didn’t know that Qin Zheng just wanted to roll her eyes at the sky.

Forget it, there’s no point in arguing with fools!

As Qin Zheng was about to close the door, she noticed that He Yunjing and her maids had changed their expressions, half fearful and half astonished, staring behind her.

Qin Zheng turned around and saw that the Crown Prince had appeared from somewhere, standing under the eaves with his hands behind his back.

His slender figure was wrapped in black clothes, his face cold as jade, his eyes icy, exuding a powerful aura.

Qin Zheng hadn’t expected the Crown Prince to come out.

She called out, “Husband.”

He Yunjing was stunned. This elegant and extraordinary young man was her husband?

She had thought he would be a rough and rude country bumpkin!

After all, it was rumored that he had killed most of a boatload of bandits.

Thinking of how she had repeatedly troubled Qin Zheng, warning her not to have any improper thoughts about Lin Yao, He Yunjing felt her face burning hot.

With a dry “Excuse me,” she fled with her maids.

Qin Zheng watched the fleeing figures with a sudden sense of amusement, shaking her head with a smile.

As she closed the door and turned around, the Crown Prince asked her, “What are you laughing at?”

Qin Zheng’s eyes curved into a charming crescent shape as she teased, “My husband is mighty, scaring people away.”

The Crown Prince: “…”