It was not until that cold, austere figure had vanished from sight that the Crown Princess finally collapsed onto the couch.
“Your Highness…”
Zheng Yuande stole a glance at his mistress’s expression, inwardly groaning bitterly. What a life they were leading!
His Highness’s mood had only just begun to improve, and now he had to hear about all the troublesome things the Crown Princess had done. Wasn’t it enough that she had already given him so much to worry about?
Cui Yu strode forward with a grave, composed expression. When he looked up, he realized that he had arrived at Lianxin Court. After pausing for only a moment, he walked in.
Shen Yanshui had heard the sudden commotion outside and hurried out to greet him. “Please forgive my lack of ceremony, Your Highness. I hope you won’t take offense.”
Cui Yu saw that she was dressed in nothing more than a simple sky-blue long skirt. She wore no headdress; her dark hair was tied with a gauze ribbon and arranged in a cloud-like coiffure. Her face was bare of powder and rouge, yet her fair cheeks glowed with a healthy flush, full of vitality. Without realizing it, he looked at her a little longer than he should have.
Shen Yanshui raised her eyes and smiled at him, just about to speak, when a light, quick set of footsteps approached. It was Lady Liu.
Though Lady Liu’s clothes were not especially luxurious, they were immaculate. Her makeup was even more exquisite, and a delicate apricot-blossom crown adorned her head, accented with silver-and-jade hair ornaments that chimed softly as she moved. Every word, gesture, smile, and frown seemed to have been measured against the strictest standards of palace etiquette, leaving not the slightest fault to find.
Even Shen Yanshui had to admire her inwardly. Lady Liu certainly had not studied those rules for nothing; she had clearly put considerable effort into them.
Unlike Shen Yanshui, who had few demands of herself and never made things difficult when she could help it—so long as she was neither outstanding nor disgraceful, that was good enough.
This was Lady Liu’s first time seeing the Crown Prince. At a single glance, she could barely control her racing heart and flushed face. Her heart pounded wildly, and she hurriedly lowered her head to conceal her reaction.
She presented the Crown Prince with her most graceful bearing and her most beautiful angle, her voice as gentle as flowing water. “This concubine, Liu, pays her respects to the Crown Prince. May Your Highness enjoy peace and good health. I arrived late—please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Listening to that melodious, lilting little voice, Shen Yanshui had to admit that its tone was rather pleasant.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at her, said, “Rise,” and then turned back to Shen Yanshui, signaling for her to continue.
Lady Liu immediately bit her lip. A sour twinge rose in her heart, and she was filled with regret and frustration.
Shen Yanshui spoke in a bright, cheerful voice. “Your Highness, the weather is fair and pleasant today. I had nothing else to do, so I rearranged the room. Would Your Highness like to go inside and take a look?”
Cui Yu nodded. When he raised his eyes, he noticed that the courtyard, which had previously been somewhat bare, now contained quite a few new additions.
Outside the window of the eastern heated chamber stood a large, lush banana plant with broad green leaves. In front of it, Shen Yanshui had used stones to build a long, winding pond about the height of a table. Its irregular edges followed the natural shapes of the stones, giving it a charmingly rustic appeal.
Shen Yanshui smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. “Although this courtyard is called Lotus Heart Court, I noticed there wasn’t a single place for growing lotuses anywhere around it. So I had the Office of Palace Affairs build this little pond. Not only have we put several fish in it, but we’ve also planted lotus seeds. Before long, we should be able to enjoy the sight of lotuses in full bloom.”
As she spoke, she saw that he showed no sign of impatience and even seemed somewhat interested, so she ushered him into the room with a smile.
She had always been especially fond of spacious, bright apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows. Back at the Earl of Zhongyi’s residence, she had arranged her own bedchamber according to her preferences from the very beginning. Now that she had moved somewhere new, she naturally intended to redecorate it as well.
The moment they entered, the view brightened.
The room’s original furnishings were no different from those of any ordinary chamber. But the heavy screens that had once separated the main hall from the eastern and western heated chambers had disappeared, leaving the space far more open—and much better ventilated.
Just then, a spring breeze swept through, carrying in the faint, fresh scent of grass and trees from outside. Even her stifled mood seemed to ease a little.
The ordinary potted plants that had stood on the narrow-waisted tall stands on either side of the entrance had been replaced with exquisitely woven bamboo baskets, each filled with flowers.
Unlike the extravagant, rare, and costly peonies, peony-like flowers, tuberoses, and begonias commonly used in the other palace chambers, these were simply an assortment of flowers and plants.
There were the most ordinary pink and white primroses, hyacinths, daffodils, and two little flowers whose names he did not know. They were not particularly precious, but they were fresh and elegant all the same, pleasing to the eye.
Incense burned within the room. Its fragrance was gentle and unhurried rather than overpowering, carrying a hint of the fresh scent of sweet orange. He could not help showing a trace of surprise and turned to ask, “What incense are you burning?”
It was not the dragon’s-breath incense, sandalwood, or pinewood scents commonly used in the palace, nor was it like the various floral fragrances favored by women. It seemed to have a faintly invigorating effect as well.
Shen Yanshui replied with a smile, “Your Highness, it’s an incense blend I made myself. I added orange peel and a little mint.”
Seeing her smiling so brightly as she spoke, Cui Yu unconsciously smiled as well. “Acceptable.”
Having received his praise, Shen Yanshui was in a good mood too.
The furnishings in the eastern heated chamber had not changed much from before. It still contained all the necessary furniture, but several soft cushions of various shapes had been added to the couch. The lattice window beside it stood wide open, with a layer of gauzy, fragrant cloud-silk curtains hanging inside that could be drawn from side to side.
At present, the curtains were half open. On the windowsill sat a delicately carved bamboo tube holding two fresh, verdant bamboo sprigs.
At another corner of the open lattice window hung a little wind chime strung with beautiful shells and pearls of various colors. Sunlight spilled across it as a gentle breeze stirred the air, sending the delicate, pleasant chimes tinkling into the room. In an instant, an atmosphere of tranquil serenity arose.
“Not bad.” Cui Yu stepped forward and sat down on the couch. His previously troubled thoughts inexplicably settled, replaced by a faint sense of calm and drowsiness.
Shen Yanshui watched the languid look that had emerged between his brows, staring at him intently for several moments.
As expected, when a man was handsome, even his lazy, relaxed expression looked exceptionally good.
Cui Yu lazily lifted his eyes and glanced at her.
Shen Yanshui blinked at once, her gaze clear and bright, her expression utterly innocent and natural. Then, with her eyes shifting coquettishly, she suddenly turned the tables on him. “Your Highness, why are you looking at me like that? You’re making me blush.”
Cui Yu: “……”
Zheng Yuande, who was waiting nearby: “???”
Although Lady Shen’s delicate, coquettish tone seemed perfectly fitting, there was somehow something a little strange about it.
Cui Yu gazed at her lively expression. He was startled at first, but then, for some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt like laughing.
And he did let out a soft laugh.
Zheng Yuande was secretly astonished.
He turned his eyes toward the exceptionally beautiful Lady Shen, whose face always seemed to be lit by a cheerful smile, and thought to himself that it was no wonder. Anyone looking at such a pleasing smile would naturally feel a little happier as well.
This Lady Shen… seemed rather extraordinary.
“Gurgle~”
A faint sound suddenly reached both their ears. Cui Yu’s gaze instinctively dropped downward.
Shen Yanshui immediately covered her stomach.
Cui Yu looked up at her, one brow raised. “Hungry?”
Shen Yanshui nodded without hesitation. With a smile pressing at the corners of her lips, she replied, “Your Highness, I’ve been busy all day. It’s just about time for dinner now. Shall we have the meal brought in first?”
Seeing how naturally she changed expressions, Cui Yu raised a brow. Her stomach was growling loudly—something that ought to have been embarrassing—but her manner and tone were so candid that it somehow wasn’t.
“Bring in the meal.”
With the Crown Prince present, dinner was considerably more lavish than when Shen Yanshui ordered food for herself. Most importantly, she could eat as much as she wanted for free!
As a result, the smile never left her face.
The kitchen had prepared such dishes as Boiled Gold and Jade, Red-Silk Boiled Cakes—the noodles kneaded together with shrimp meat, giving them a pinkish hue, with a light yet wonderfully fresh flavor—as well as braised perch, chicken-and-vermicelli soup, three-colored shredded tripe, mutton bones, roasted venison, and several portions of seasonal greens and fruit.
At a glance, everything looked light and delicate. There was not a single chili pepper in sight, nor even the hint of a spicy aroma.
Still, she had never tried the Eastern Palace’s cooking before, so she was full of anticipation and ate with her usual enthusiasm and delight.
She sampled every dish without missing a single one. She even ate quite a lot of the mutton and mutton bones, despite never having been particularly fond of them. The only thing she managed to restrain was the urge to pick up a bone and gnaw on it directly with her hands.
She ate until she was thoroughly satisfied, putting away four hearty bowls of rice in succession. Zheng Yuande, who was serving nearby, was left dumbfounded, while Chunping’s eyes nearly twitched themselves out of their sockets from all the frantic hints she was giving.
Unfortunately, those hints were being sent to a blind woman. Shen Yanshui did not notice them at all—and even if she had, she would never have starved herself for the sake of appearances or dignity.
Cui Yu was naturally surprised as well. People of the time esteemed refined elegance, and women in particular often pursued slender figures as delicate as willow branches swaying in the breeze. As a result, they generally ate very little. Watching them eat had always ruined his appetite, leaving him feeling as though everything he consumed was bland and tasteless.
Lady Shen, on the other hand, could make an ordinary meal seem like a rare delicacy. Her expressions were so vivid and amusing that merely watching her was enough to whet one’s appetite. The only trouble was that… before one knew it, one ended up eating a little more than usual.
Once the two of them had rinsed their mouths and washed their hands, the palace attendants quickly cleared the table.
Taking a walk after a meal to aid digestion was Shen Yanshui’s habit, and today was no exception. But with the two of them together, they ought to find something to talk about. Just as she was racking her brains for a topic, a faint, plaintive melody suddenly drifted into her ears.
She instinctively asked softly, “Where is that qin music coming from?”
There was no need for anyone else to answer. After listening for only a moment, she recognized its source: the courtyard next door.
She had a pretty good idea who it was and could not help smiling.
Catching the smile on her face, Cui Yu glanced at her. “What are you smiling about?”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes curved with amusement. “I was just thinking that taking a walk while listening to this music is rather pleasant.”
Cui Yu said, “Pleasant?”
As if on cue, the melody suddenly changed. A winding, sorrowful quality filled the air, and the space between his brows twitched uncontrollably. He frowned and cast a cold glance at Zheng Yuande.
Zheng Yuande’s plump body immediately moved forward. Reacting with great speed, he turned around and ordered, “Go see who is playing the qin. How dare they disturb His Highness’s ears for no reason?”
An eunuch hurriedly acknowledged the order and rushed out. Before long, the music stopped.
Seeing the glance the Crown Prince had given him, Shen Yanshui could not help feeling a little sheepish. She had not expected the Crown Prince to have such exacting standards when it came to music. She genuinely thought Lady Wu’s playing had sounded quite lovely.
Back when she had been in the Palace of Gathering Elegance, even the palace matron had praised her qin skills.
After their walk, the sky gradually darkened, and the two of them returned to their chambers.
The western side hall opposite them kept a close watch on the Crown Prince’s every move. Seeing them return, Yinping entered the room and reported the matter in a low voice.
Lady Liu closed the window beside the couch with controlled force, her expression unpleasant.
No matter how envious she felt, she had just been given a warning by what had happened earlier. She had naturally heard the commotion from Lady Wu’s chambers next door, separated by only a single wall, but she did not dare do anything.
Hearing the sound of water being summoned from the eastern side hall, she felt a surge of resentment. Secretly gritting her teeth, she thought, “She is relying on nothing but her looks. His Highness is hardly such a shallow man. This freshness will only last a few days. Once the novelty wears off, His Highness will surely recognize my virtues…”
Whether the Crown Prince was shallow or not, Shen Yanshui did not know. But she felt that she certainly was—greedy for both food and beauty.
And there was one more thing she wanted to confirm.
