vrcanaries Chapter 1421 Wood Carving
Chapter 1421 Wood Carving
Madam Li smiled gently, her gaze falling on Ziyu. "Your Highness, what are you saying? This must be your young master, right? He is indeed a lovely and adorable child."
Xiao Rongrong, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, ran to Ziyu's side and stood on tiptoe to look at the wooden carving in his hand: "This is so beautiful, who carved it?"
Ziyu glanced at her, her voice clear and melodious, like a mountain stream: "It was given to me by my best friend!"
Xiao Rongrong's eyes instantly lit up as if they were filled with starlight. She reached out her chubby little hand, carefully wanting to touch the wood carving, but afraid of displeasing it.
Her fingertips hovered in mid-air, and she said with a hint of flattery, "This little horse is so well carved, even more exquisite than the one I bought in the shop. Can I touch it? Just for a moment."
Ziyu shifted slightly to the side, holding the wooden carving even tighter. His brows furrowed slightly, and his tone was serious and unquestionable: "No, Xueyi spent several days carving this. We can't just touch it."
This wood carving was personally carved by Tang Xueyi. It depicts a small horse with its head held high and hooves raised, its eyebrows and eyes lively, and even the patterns on its body are clearly visible. It was Ziyu's favorite gift when he received it for his birthday.
These days, he carries it in his bosom during the day and places it by his pillow at night. Even Princess Youyi has to ask for his permission before she can wipe it. He would never allow anyone else to touch it.
Xiao Rongrong was met with a rebuff, but she wasn't annoyed at all. Instead, she found the wood carving even more rare.
She grew up in the Dongping Prince's Mansion, where she could have whatever she wanted. The mansion was filled with treasures and trinkets, but she had never seen such a vivid and interesting wood carving.
Her eyes lit up, and she immediately came up with an idea. She turned around and ran towards the nearby pavilion, shouting as she ran, "Wait for me, I'll go get my treasure and trade it with you!"
In no time, Xiao Rongrong came running back carrying a small brocade box embroidered with lotus patterns. She stopped in front of Ziyu, panting, and stuffed the box into his arms: "Look, look, this is my treasure. I'll trade this for the little horse wood carving."
Princess Youyi and Madam Li stood not far away, watching the interaction between the two children, and couldn't help but laugh. Madam Li shook her head helplessly and said to Princess Youyi, "Rongrong is just spoiled by the Prince and Princess. She has to get her hands on whatever she likes."
Princess Youyi smiled and replied, "Childlike innocence, indeed."
Over here, Ziyu had already opened the brocade box.
The box was lined with a layer of soft brocade, on which sat a small hairpin inlaid with red gold and gemstones. The hairpin head was a lifelike hibiscus flower, with several tiny rubies embedded in the petals, which shone brightly in the snow.
Even without looking, you can tell this hairpin is quite valuable.
Xiao Rongrong tilted her little face up and said proudly, "This was a gift from my grandmother. It was made by a craftsman in the palace, and it's very valuable! I've never even worn it myself, but I'm giving it to you in exchange for that little horse. How about that? Isn't it a good deal?"
In her opinion, this hairpin was a priceless treasure, and if she offered it in exchange for a small wooden horse, the other party would surely agree immediately.
Ke Ziyu glanced at the hairpin and pushed the brocade box back, her tone still indifferent: "I don't want this, I only want my little horse."
His world was simple. The wood carving that Tang Xueyi gave him was unique and could not be bought with any gold or silver jewelry.
Xiao Rongrong's smug expression froze instantly.
She had never been rejected so decisively in her entire life. She bit her lip, then ran back to the warm pavilion, this time carrying an even bigger box.
"What about this? You'll definitely like this!" She opened the box, revealing a set of nine interlocking rings carved from white jade. The jade was warm, smooth, and translucent, clearly top-quality Hetian jade.
She spoke up eagerly, "This is a birthday gift from my grandfather, and it's said to be an artifact from the previous dynasty! How about I trade it with you?"
Ziyu didn't even glance at it a second time, and shook his head: "No trade."
"Then...then I'll give you my little rabbit lantern!"
"No change."
"I'll give you my white parrot; it can talk!"
"No change."
Xiao Rongrong brought out all her most treasured possessions and laid them out in front of Ziyu, like a small mountain.
Ke Ziyu is like a stone; no matter what she says, it always comes down to two words: "I won't trade."
The snow was still falling softly, landing on Xiao Rongrong's hair and melting into cool water droplets.
Looking at the stubborn little boy in front of her, and seeing her treasured possessions being discarded like trash, a wave of grievance washed over her.
Her nose tingled, and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.
At first, she held back, not wanting to cry in front of strangers.
Seeing Ziyu holding the little wooden horse carving, looking completely indifferent, her grievances grew heavier and heavier, and finally she couldn't hold back and burst into tears.
The loud, plaintive crying instantly shattered the tranquility of the back garden.
Princess Youyi and Madam Li quickly came over. Madam Li squatted down and gently patted Xiao Rongrong's back: "Rongrong, what's wrong? Why are you crying?"
Xiao Rongrong pointed at Ziyu, sobbing, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls: "He won't give me my little horse! I offered him so many treasures in exchange, but he still wouldn't trade! Waaah, he's so mean!"
As she spoke, she cried even harder, running out of the garden between sobs: "I'm going to find my grandfather, I'm going to tell him that someone bullied me!"
Her small figure stumbled through the plum grove, the silver fox fur on her cloak glistening with snow, making her look like a rolling snowball. The maidservant guarding the garden gate, seeing this, quickly followed after her.
Li sighed helplessly and said apologetically to Princess Youyi, "Your Highness, I'm so sorry, Rongrong is spoiled. I'm sorry you had to see this."
Princess Youyi quickly waved her hand: "It's just a child being stubborn, it's nothing."
She turned to look at Ziyu, and saw him still holding the little wooden horse carving, standing in the snow, his features handsome and his expression calm, as if he wasn't the one who had just made a little girl cry.
Princess Youyi stepped forward, squatted down, and ruffled his hair: "Ziyu, why won't you trade with Princess Rongrong? Her treasures are all very rare."
Ziyu raised her head and looked at Princess Youyi with a serious expression: "The gift that Sister Xueyi gave me is the best, and it cannot be exchanged."
Princess Youyi was taken aback, then burst into laughter.
She looked at the child in front of her, who was so young yet so opinionated. This child, like his father, was stubborn and unwavering in his convictions. Once he made up his mind about someone or something, no one could sway him.
Li listened from the side and couldn't help but laugh.
She looked at the wooden carving in Ziyu's arms, then at the direction her daughter had run off in, and shook her head, saying, "These two children are quite interesting."