Chapter 1131: The Princess Consort Whose Memories Were Altered (6)

Then there was even less reason for him to avoid her. As long as she remained obedient and knew her place, he could simply keep her around.

“What is the Princess Consort doing here?”

“Replying to Your Highness, this concubine is painting.”

“Painting?”

Shangguan Jing was somewhat surprised. Hadn't the eldest daughter of the Tang family been famous for her embroidery? Who would have thought she could paint as well?

With both curiosity and disdain in his heart, he stepped closer. “Then this prince would like to see what the Princess Consort has painted.”

As his eyes landed on the painting, they remained fixed there for quite some time.

The steward also leaned in to look and was equally amazed.

“This prince originally thought the Princess Consort would merely be painting flowers. I never expected you to paint kites and clouds.”

The clouds floated at the horizon, the kite soared high in the sky, while the flowers at the bottom merely served as embellishments.

The painting gave off a feeling of freedom and ethereality, something entirely incompatible with the gentle woman before him.

He felt that someone capable of creating such a painting shouldn't be her.

Yet the ink was still wet, and when he arrived, she had indeed been painting. None of it could be fake.

“The Princess Consort paints well.”

“Your Highness praises me too much.”

Shangguan Jing noticed the chessboard nearby and asked, “The Princess Consort also knows chess?”

“A little.”

His interest was piqued. “Then accompany this prince for a few rounds.”

“Yes.”

Tang Guo set down her brush, a faint smile hanging on her lips, and followed Shangguan Jing in small measured steps to the chess table.

Watching her dignified and restrained manner, Shangguan Jing let out a soft snort.

Truthfully, he disliked people like this—those who bound themselves within rigid rules and conventions.

Even if she painted extraordinary pictures, that didn't mean he would regard her differently.

He had assumed that when Tang Guo said she knew “a little,” she truly meant just a little.

Who would have thought that after half a shichen, the “little” she spoke of would leave him nearly defeated?

This time, he had no choice but to look at his Princess Consort in a new light.

“The Princess Consort's skill at chess is exceptional. I never imagined you would be someone hiding your talents so deeply.”

“Your Highness flatters me. It is only because Your Highness showed mercy.”

Mercy?

Shangguan Jing nearly laughed.

He had not yielded a single move.

Nor was he a fool. It was clearly she who had been yielding to him, and she had done so with such exquisite subtlety that had he not paid close attention, he might never have noticed.

He found himself becoming somewhat curious about this Princess Consort.

The system silently sneered.

Curiosity, huh? That meant the distance between him and complete ruin wasn't far anymore. If he turned back now, perhaps there was still hope. But if he remained stubborn, he would descend into eternal damnation.

“Again.”

Shangguan Jing was genuinely interested now.

Tang Guo accompanied him through an entire afternoon of chess. Her superb skill caused Shangguan Jing to forget everything else.

Although every match ended in a draw, he could clearly sense that she had never revealed her full strength.

As the sky gradually darkened, he still couldn't force her to play seriously. At last, he had to admit that this Princess Consort of his was no simple woman.

“Your Highness, shall we have dinner? It's getting dark.”

Shangguan Jing raised his head and indeed saw the setting sun sinking below the horizon. Glancing at the woman who had sat properly across from him the entire time, he said, “Then we'll eat at your place.”

It wasn't because he had developed any interest in this woman.

He was merely curious about what else she could do.

The system snorted.

Wasn't that all the same? Curiosity would eventually become interest.

When dinner was served, Shangguan Jing frowned.

Tang Guo immediately asked with concern, “What's wrong, Your Highness? Is something not to your liking?”