Shen Yanshui slept wonderfully, without a single dream, until dawn.
When Chunping, Xia’an, and the others attending her helped her rise, they saw her bare, unpowdered face glowing with health, its fair skin flushed with color. Smiles appeared on their faces as well.
While she was having breakfast, Shen Yanshui saw Dongyi hurrying in with a smile. She first offered her respects. “This servant greets Mistress.”
From Dongyi’s expression, Shen Yanshui could tell that she had learned some new news from outside. She asked, “What is it?”
Dongyi’s eyes shone brightly. “A moment ago, this servant heard from the little eunuch guarding Haoyue Residence that Lady Chu won’t be attending the Jinming Lake gathering for the Duanyang Festival this time. On my way back, I already saw quite a few of the young ladies heading to the Crown Princess’s residence.”
“Oh?” Shen Yanshui arched a brow. She was not surprised. Lady Chu did not seem like a foolish woman, and now that she appeared to be seven months pregnant, naturally she would put the child first.
Qiuyi, standing to the side, covered her lips and smiled. “With His Highness’s word, Mistress will certainly be able to go. There’s no need for her to rack her brains trying to curry favor with Her Highness the Crown Princess like the others.”
Dongyi lifted her chin and beamed. “Exactly. Our Mistress is the one His Highness favors.”
Chunping glanced at her, but she merely smiled without saying anything to dampen her spirits. She knew that Dongyi was quite composed in front of outsiders. It was only among their own people that she acted this way.
Not counting today, there were only two days left until the Duanyang Festival. But being able to accompany the Crown Prince and Crown Princess to the Jinming Lake gathering meant more than simply watching the festivities—it was also an excellent opportunity to make an appearance.
The Crown Princess would certainly be seated beside the Empress then, while the people of the Eastern Palace would naturally sit together with her.
If they could make themselves known before the Empress and win Her Majesty’s favor, His Highness the Crown Prince would presumably regard them with greater favor as well.
Not to mention that appearing at such an occasion would bring honor to their parents, sisters, and brothers back home. Their families would value them even more.
Therefore, during this period, while the list of those accompanying them had yet to be announced, everyone who wanted to go was using every means at their disposal.
Now that it had been confirmed Lady Chu would not be attending, their chances of going had clearly increased. Naturally, they became even more eager to curry favor.
Shen Yanshui merely treated it as a bit of gossip. After all, there had never been a shortage of people trying to ingratiate themselves with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess. Dongyi had said that the various residences had been sending the Crown Prince soups, snacks, and all sorts of food without pause.
At first, Chunping and the others had urged her to send something as well. She had indeed sent someone to inquire at the kitchen, but after learning how expensive it was to prepare food that would be served to the Crown Prince, she immediately abandoned the idea.
Besides, considering the Crown Prince’s appetite, he probably couldn’t finish everything anyway. What a waste…
*
It was nearing noon. The sky was clear from horizon to horizon, and the sun shone brightly.
“Godfather, Lady Wu from Haitang Court sent another soup just now. Should I take it in to His Highness?”
Zheng Yuande kicked him in the butt. “You’re foolish, and you truly live up to it. If His Highness had to eat everything people sent over, wouldn’t he be stuffed to death? Besides, you’ve been here for several days now. When have you ever seen His Highness touch any of this?”
Aside from the food the Crown Princess had sent in the past, which the Crown Prince would occasionally sample, he had never touched anything sent by the other women. After inadvertently drinking a bowl of deer-antler soup, His Highness had never again consumed any food sent by another woman.
That day, as was customary, when the Crown Prince finished handling official matters and left the study, she softly reported, “Your Highness, Qiefang Hall, Haitang Court, Zhuxiang Residence, and Lianxin Residence have all sent over soup, fruit, and pastries. Would Your Highness care to try some?”
If the Crown Princess had not sent something today, there would have been no need to ask. The food would simply have gone into his belly later.
“You can have it all.”
Cui Yu flicked his robe aside and tucked its hem into the leather belt around his waist. He was just about to practice his martial arts and loosen up in the courtyard when he suddenly glanced to the side and asked, “What did Lianxin Residence send?”
Zheng Yuande paused for a moment, then quickly understood. Smiling broadly, he reported, “In reply to Your Highness, Lianxin Residence sent a Chinese yam and goji berry soup. This servant has someone keeping it warm over a stove. Would Your Highness like to try it?”
Cui Yu nodded indifferently. “I’ll drink it later.”
After practicing as usual until a thin sheen of sweat covered him, he bathed and changed clothes. Zheng Yuande promptly brought him the soup at just the right temperature.
Cui Yu drank half a bowl and showed no intention of having another. But after meeting with several Eastern Palace officials to discuss matters, he glanced at the sky outside, rose, and ordered, “Go to Lianxin Residence.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Before Cui Yu had even stepped onto the corridor leading to the rear chambers, a little eunuch was already peering around near Moonlight Gate. From afar, he spotted the Crown Prince approaching. Delighted, the little eunuch hurried back toward Lianxin Residence.
He nearly collided with Quanshou upon entering.
Quanshou was startled and quickly tightened his hold on the things in his arms. These were grapevines and strawberry plants that Mistress had just obtained from the Directorate of Palace Servants!
“What are you running so fast for?” he asked with a frown.
This was Little Xing, an attendant who served Lady Liu. Usually, he was unfailingly respectful and eager to please the people in their eastern side hall. Why was he being so careless today?
Little Xing hurriedly apologized several times, but he did not even wait for Quanshou to say anything before quickly entering the western side hall.
Quanshou was not the sort to press his advantage. Seeing that Little Xing really was in a hurry, he did not hold it against him.
Dongyi happened to witness the scene. She had just begun to frown when, a moment later, the door opposite opened. Lady Liu emerged, elegantly and meticulously dressed, leaning on the arm of Yinping. Her expression even held a hint of excitement.
Dongyi was somewhat puzzled. It was already nearly time for the evening meal. Where was Lady Liu going at this hour?
She watched as Lady Liu slowly made her way toward the entrance, then scratched her forehead. Since she couldn’t figure it out, she decided not to think about it.
Just then, Quanshou suddenly ran over and said, “The Crown Prince is here!”
Dongyi had only just brightened at the news when she heard Eunuch Zheng’s voice beside the Crown Prince. But in the next instant, she saw Lady Liu nearly throw herself into the Crown Prince’s arms.
Dongyi immediately cursed inwardly: Cunning woman! So that was what Lady Liu had been planning.
“Your Highness?”
Lady Liu wore a light garment made from the fabric bestowed upon her by Her Majesty the Empress. Turning her most beautiful angle toward the Crown Prince, she spoke in a soft, delicate voice, feigning surprise and timidly saying, “This concubine has offended Your Highness. I beg Your Highness’s forgiveness.”
She could not contain her excitement.
Earlier that afternoon, she had learned from the eunuch she had recently spent a great deal of silver bribing that the Crown Prince had been the only one to drink the soup she sent. Ever since then, she had been quietly anticipating this moment.
That was why she had sent Little Xing, who served in her residence, to keep watch and find out what was happening. Even then, she had not been entirely certain that the Crown Prince was coming to Lianxin Residence.
His Highness had finally remembered her. He had truly come to see her at Lianxin Residence.
This time, she had to make him stay.
Cui Yu disliked strangers coming too close to him.
Glancing at the woman who had thrown herself straight into his arms, his voice turned icy cold. "You have lost all sense of decorum. Tomorrow, the Crown Princess will send a senior palace maid to re-teach you the proper rules of conduct."
Lady Liu's face instantly drained of all color. Her slender frame swayed unsteadily, and the gaze she lifted to him was brimming with utter shame, fury, and disbelief.
Then, trembling all over and her face flushed bright red, she begged through tears, "Your Highness, I know my wrongs now. I beg for Your Highness's mercy and forgiveness. I will never dare to do such a thing again!"
Cui Yu's expression remained impassive, his voice even colder. "Two months of confinement." With that, he turned on his heel and left, paying her no more heed.
"Tha- thank you for Your Highness's mercy."
Zheng Yuande frowned and waved a hand in slight displeasure. Immediately, a pair of inner eunuchs stepped forward to lead the terrified, pale-faced Lady Liu, who had gone limp with shock, quickly into the side west hall. The entire Lotus Heart Garden fell silent at once.
Such a cheap little trick, and she dared to pull it in front of His Highness the Crown Prince? It was simply laughable. If that sort of thing ever worked, His Highness would never be able to walk a single step unimpeded. There would be hordes of fawning women throwing themselves into his arms every day.
Shen Yanshui had witnessed nearly the entire scene from start to finish, but the situation was clearly not one where it was appropriate for her to step forward. So she had stayed right where she was by the doorway, holding her respectful bow the whole time. After all, she had just seen the consequences play out right in front of her.
From what she had observed of the Crown Prince over the past while, she suspected Lady Liu had deliberately orchestrated the whole incident. If it had truly been an accident, he would never have punished her so severely.
Cui Yu climbed the stone steps, and when he saw Shen Yanshui still half-crouching there, holding her respectful greeting to him perfectly and unwaveringly, the slight displeasure he had been feeling softened into helpless amusement. He chuckled to himself, what a truly earnest, no-nonsense girl she was.
He lifted his hand to give her arm a light, supporting gesture to help her rise, but just as he was about to pull his hand back, his palm was gently wrapped by a soft little hand. His movement froze right there.
Shen Yanshui stood up naturally following the light pressure from his hand, and did not let go of him. She thought his hand was very nice to look at, and she loved the feeling of holding it.
The Crown Prince's hand was large, dry and firm, with long, well-defined knuckles. It was a strikingly handsome hand, the sort you would expect to see on a refined scholar, yet the palm bore a faint layer of calluses, and it always carried a subtle, pleasant scent of ink.
"Your Highness has such a beautiful hand," she said to him with a sincere bright smile, as she met his downward gaze.
Cui Yu: "... You are such a smooth talker." Even so, he did not pull his hand away.
Shen Yanshui murmured quietly under her breath, "That's not being smooth-tongued, that's giving a sweet compliment." She did not believe there was anyone in the world who did not enjoy being praised.
Cui Yu glanced at her, his tone light as he said, "Silver-tongued, that's what you are."
Shen Yanshui: ... She studied his expression carefully, and once she was certain he was in a good mood, she could not help but feel a little amused. She had never expected this man, who always looked so dignified and cold on the outside, to have a little tsundere side to him.
