Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 31: A Small Gift Can Never Hurt (2)

Among the things that Qiu Ling had taken out were not just statues but even some jewelry.

Jing He carefully held a bracelet made of jade and couldn't help but stare. "I didn't know Longjun was able to make something like this as well."

Qiu Ling raised his brows at him, and then looked at the bracelet that was actually quite simple. He had liked the way he managed to cut the jade, making a faint pattern appear, so he had still kept it. "So? Didn't you like the mask and robe I made for you for the Jiyi Festival?

"This isn't that much more difficult. In fact, I'd say it's easier because it didn't need to fit a specific person." Saying so, he couldn't help but reach out and take Jing He's arm, pushing up his sleeve a few inches and looking at his slender wrist.

Giving a hum, his gaze seemed to become deeper. "Actually, if you like it, I really want to make one for you. You have really beautiful wrists. In fact, I can already imagine what would look good on them. If you don't mind, I'll give them to you as a gift for a special occasion. How does that sound?"

Jing He's mind was reeling. There were just too many things in these few sentences that he had trouble keeping up. "The mask and the robe ..." He had thought that Qiu Ling had somebody make them but now it seemed that that hadn't been the case. "Longjun made both of those ... on his own?"

His hand trembled which Qiu Ling naturally noticed since he was still holding one of them. He gently cradled it and then nodded.

"I did. This kind of thing, I also learned it over time while outside. Although I have to admit that it is something I have never done to this degree. It's probably my proudest creation but just thinking of you is more than enough inspiration to come up with something beautiful."

Jing He didn't know what to think. Something like that robe and mask couldn't have been made easily. Especially since he had not just made one for him each but two sets complementing each other. The time that should have needed ... Well, he knew how long it could take if you wanted a special robe for a certain occasion.

What surprised him even more though was how smooth things had worked out. He had thought about this before: Usually, it would take several fittings to get a robe's fit just right. As the crown prince of the Nine Heavens, he knew that. In fact, he preferred simpler robes in part because he didn't want to have to go in several times to expose himself to others.

Thankfully, with how slow the gods aged, as long as you had several robes made at the same time using the same pattern and just with different fabrics and colors, you were able to cut the number of fittings down considerably.

But Longjun ... he had made a robe for him that had hugged his body tightly, and that without having him try it even once. He could have maybe understood if the one sewing the robe had been an experienced seamstress but the dragon king who had only done things like this as a means of passing time? The implications of that ... Jing He didn't know what to make of them.

Qiu Ling saw that he was stunned and figured that it probably wasn't about what he had just said. He thought for a moment and then realized that most likely, Jing He hadn't quite understood his meaning before when he gave him the mask and robe even though he felt that he had tried to imply that he had made them himself. "I hope you're not embarrassed at having worn them after you've come to know of this."

Jing He was pulled out of his thoughts and hurriedly shook his head. "But no! Why would that be?"

Qiu Ling raised his brows and tilted his head. "Well, certainly, as your admirer, I had some ulterior motives when I made them."

Jing He stared at him, spellbound. This was ... This had really been admitted too easily, hadn't it?

Qiu Ling just laughed though. "What? Do you want me to pretend that it was different? Believe me, when I planned that, I was thinking a lot about you. I was wondering what I would like to see on you, what would look good on you.