Seeing that the dragon boat had rounded the bend and disappeared from sight, Secondary Consort Tang leaned back, took a sip of calamus wine, and said with an indifferent expression, “Why are you looking at me like that? I’m not some untouched young maiden.”
Then, in a soft voice, she added, “Besides, my prince is fairly decent.” Although his build and looks could not compare with the Crown Prince’s, he was still much better than the other princes, who looked as though they had no strength at all.
Shen Yanshui: “…………”
Who said the ancients were reserved and restrained?
A procession of palace maids entered, and each table was served with more candied fruits and pastries.
Shen Yanshui had just picked up two pieces to eat when she suddenly heard the Crown Princess retch. She instinctively raised her eyes to look over.
The Empress immediately turned her gaze in that direction. With the Eldest Prince’s Consort at her side, she could not help asking, “What’s the matter with the Crown Princess? Why did she suddenly start retching when she was perfectly fine just now? Could she have eaten something unclean? Or perhaps…”
Consort Shu’s eyes flickered. A moment later, she put on a smile and said with genuine delight, “Could the Crown Princess be… with child?”
Lady Shen glanced at the Crown Princess’s expression and smiled. “It does look that way…” What a pity. It would be gone today.
The Crown Princess covered her mouth and frowned slightly. “I’m not entirely sure myself. I only took a bite of a zongzi filled with fresh meat and felt somewhat unwell…”
The Empress frowned and immediately ordered, “Go and summon the imperial physician.”
The imperial physician arrived very quickly. Everyone’s eyes instantly focused on the Crown Princess, and even Emperor Pingkang sent an attendant over to inquire about the matter.
Shen Yanshui was faintly surprised by how quickly Emperor Pingkang had sent someone over. That fast?
The imperial physician knitted his brows in concentration and soon began taking the Crown Princess’s pulse. Before long, Shen Yanshui saw the tension ease from between his brows. The next moment, he bowed to the Empress and said respectfully with a smile, “Congratulations, Your Majesty. Congratulations, Crown Princess. Her Highness is with child!”
The Empress’s phoenix eyes brightened, and a smile immediately spread across her face. She hurriedly asked, “How many months? Is the Crown Princess in good health? Is the baby in her womb all right?”
The imperial physician replied, “To answer Your Majesty, she is already three months along. The Crown Princess’s health is fairly good. She need only take care not to overexert herself in the coming days. I will prescribe a dose of medicine to prevent miscarriage. She need only take it and rest assured as she nurtures the pregnancy.”
Shen Yanshui was slightly astonished. Three months already?
The Crown Princess was not carrying her first child, and she had so many matrons attending her. Could she truly have had no idea?
Or had she… deliberately kept it hidden? Had she intentionally chosen this moment to reveal it?
But if she had deliberately chosen this moment, was she not afraid that, amid the crowds and confusion, something might go wrong?
The Empress and the others could naturally think of everything Shen Yanshui could think of—and more besides.
The smile in the Empress’s eyes faded slightly, though it was not obvious on her face. She first rewarded the imperial physician, then sent someone to report the news to Emperor Pingkang.
Before long, Shen Yanshui more or less understood why.
Emperor Pingkang had specifically sent Chief Eunuch Cheng over to deliver an oral decree.
From what Shen Yanshui heard, Emperor Pingkang was overjoyed upon learning that the Crown Princess was with child. Not only had he bestowed numerous rewards upon the Crown Princess, he had even granted every palace servant and guard present a month’s salary. Even the commoners watching around Jinming Lake were to receive a share.
At this, a complicated look crossed the Empress’s eyes for an instant. She then smiled and said to Chief Eunuch Cheng, who had come to deliver the decree, “His Majesty’s compassion knows no bounds. However, the common people are gathered thickly along Jinming Lake. If we were to distribute congratulatory coins on the spot, the crowd would surge and chaos might result, which would instead betray His Majesty’s benevolent intentions.”
Chief Eunuch Cheng’s expression did not change. He remained respectful as he asked, “Then what does Your Majesty suggest?”
The Empress smiled. “I do have an idea. The Dragon Boat Festival is a day for warding off evil and praying for blessings. Why not have people prepare mugwort, sachets, five-colored silk threads, and some zongzi, then distribute them to the common people along Jinming Lake?”
“First, it would suit the festival. Second, it would allow the people to share in the joy of the holiday. Third, mugwort wards off evil, while sachets pray for blessings. This is perfectly suited to the auspicious sign of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy and the imperial family gaining another heir. Letting the people share in this blessing would be far more fitting than scattering coins, would it not?”
After watching Chief Eunuch Cheng acknowledge her words and leave, Shen Yanshui could not help grumbling inwardly.
What was Emperor Pingkang thinking, wanting to scatter money in a place so crowded and lively?
What would happen if a stampede broke out and people were injured or killed?
Fortunately, Her Majesty the Empress had a clear head.
Still… Emperor Pingkang’s attitude toward the Crown Princess’s pregnancy was somewhat beyond her expectations.
Based on the rumors she had heard before, she had always thought that Emperor Pingkang did not much care for the Crown Prince.
Yet now, merely because the Crown Princess was pregnant, he wanted to make such a grand display of his rewards. He truly seemed to value and favor the Crown Prince to some extent.
After the Crown Princess respectfully expressed her gratitude for the imperial favor, her features relaxed considerably, and the corners of her lips kept lifting.
As she listened to the various congratulations and flattering words around her—especially when she saw several of her sisters-in-law forcing smiles as they congratulated her—the smile on the Crown Princess’s face deepened.
Her child was naturally destined to be different.
Moreover, with this news, it would not matter quite so much to her whether the Crown Prince managed to win the race later.
When everyone present heard the emperor’s oral decree, their expressions varied. Some even secretly clenched their handkerchiefs, feeling both sour and jealous at the emperor’s regard for the Eastern Palace and the Crown Prince.
His Majesty had clearly been suppressing the Crown Prince in many ways over the past two years…
Yet outwardly, everyone continued offering their congratulations, and the surroundings remained filled with a festive atmosphere.
Shen Yanshui leisurely ate her fruit, taking in everyone’s expressions. Every now and then, when she saw the look on the Crown Princess’s face as she turned to speak with the Eldest Prince’s Consort, Shen Yanshui could vaguely guess what she was thinking.
Still… she did not quite understand. The child had not even been born yet, and the Crown Princess had already made such a grand spectacle of things. Was she truly not afraid that someone would secretly trip her up?
That said, the faint medicinal scent that had occasionally lingered around the Crown Princess now had a better explanation.
*
“Faster! Faster!” Eighth Prince watched the distance between himself and the Crown Prince grow larger, and his tone became increasingly irritable.
The imperial guards rowing with all their might were driven by his angry urging to exert themselves even harder. Some even abandoned their usual rhythm, while a few, frightened by his shouting, fumbled with their oars. The entire rhythm grew increasingly chaotic.
“Oh? It’s you, Eighth Brother?” Second Prince, who had caught up alongside him, spoke in a teasing, frivolous tone. “You were so eager earlier that your Second Brother thought you had been secretly holding something back, waiting to make a grand entrance. But look at you now… tsk, tsk!”
Eighth Prince’s face instantly flushed with humiliation. “Aren’t you lagging behind too, Second Brother?!”
Second Prince did not care in the slightest. He was merely resting his hands on the oar and was not rowing at all. Raising his brows, he chuckled, “Your Second Brother has no intention of exhausting himself fighting for first place. Besides, someone else is keeping me from coming in last, so there’s no need for me to hurry.”
The Eighth Prince was nearly enraged by his utterly unconcerned, shameless manner. He abruptly turned to look at the Seventh Prince, who was trailing at the very back, and immediately scolded him without mercy.
“Seventh Brother! Did you skip breakfast this morning?”
He could not even beat this useless Second Brother, who spent all his time among women!
Everyone said he was shameless, but in his opinion, Second Brother was clearly the one with the thickest skin!
The Seventh Prince’s expression changed slightly. Even after being rudely shouted at and cursed by the Eighth Prince, who was younger than him, he still said nothing. He glanced forward at the Sixth Prince, then silently continued bringing up the rear.
Seeing his spineless appearance, the Eighth Prince immediately cursed him a few more times, calling him useless!
The Imperial Guards aboard his dragon boat grew increasingly apprehensive. Was the Eighth Prince cursing them, or was he cursing the Seventh Prince behind them?
The Second Prince let out a mocking laugh but said nothing.
Even if the Seventh Prince could overtake them, would he dare?
He narrowed his eyes at the four dragon boats ahead, which were separated by nearly equal distances, and suddenly said, “Row faster.”
At his command, the dragon boat’s speed increased considerably. The Eighth Prince, whose boat was not far away, stared in astonishment.
When the First Prince realized that the Crown Prince’s dragon boat was nearly running neck and neck with his own, his expression grew increasingly tense. The movements of his arms unconsciously quickened.
The Fourth Prince’s expression darkened further. His composure, which he had barely managed to maintain, crumbled when he saw himself falling farther and farther behind. He turned around and sternly berated the rowers, “Are you all nothing but useless freeloaders?!”
As a result, not only did the Fourth Prince fail to achieve the effect he wanted, but the Imperial Guards on his dragon boat also panicked and fumbled their strokes.
He quickly reined in his emotions and suppressed his displeasure before saying in a deep voice, “Even if you can’t win, you must hold on to third place!”
“Oh! Fourth Brother? What a coincidence!” the Second Prince called with a beaming smile, turning his head to greet him.
The Fourth Prince was startled. He had just opened his mouth to speak when someone suddenly dumped an entire bucket of water over his head!
His hair, his eyes, even his mouth were filled with the fishy smell of river water!
“What do you mean by this, Second Imperial Brother?!” The Fourth Prince flew into a rage.
“Ah, ah! It’s all my fault. I’m still not very practiced, and I didn’t expect the water to splash all over Fourth Brother. I’ll apologize to Fourth Brother at once.”
Though he said he was apologizing, just as the Second Prince was about to stand, the dragon’s head somehow veered slightly and rammed straight into the Fourth Prince’s dragon boat!
The Fourth Prince’s boat happened to be following close beside the Crown Prince’s. The dragon’s head was less than three feet from the Crown Prince’s stern.
“Bang!”
“Bang, bang, bang!”
*
“Boom! Boom-boom-boom!”
The drumbeats rolled across the water, suddenly growing more impassioned. Shen Yanshui heard the shouts of the spectators on both banks. She raised her head and gazed into the distance, only to see two dragon boats racing swiftly beneath Xian Bridge.
They were here!
“Ah! It’s the Crown Prince and the First Prince!”
Shen Yanshui’s eyesight was better than most. From the two nearly neck-and-neck dragon boats, she could tell that the Crown Prince’s boat had emerged from beneath the bridge a step ahead.
A short while later, the two boats arrived almost simultaneously in front of the Waterside Hall.
Oars cleaved the waves like ten thousand flying swords; drums split the breakers like a thousand peals of thunder!
Shen Yanshui found herself growing nervous as she watched.
When she saw the Crown Prince seize the golden marker first, its red-and-gold flag streaming proudly in the wind, Shen Yanshui’s smile instantly blossomed.
She had no attention left to spare for whoever came in behind them. Her eyes were fixed entirely on the Crown Prince’s handsome face, flushed slightly from the sun, and on his muscular arms, their lines smooth and powerful.
*
“Congratulations, Your Highness!”
As soon as Cui Yu stepped down from the dragon boat, several people hurried over to congratulate him with broad smiles.
Cui Yu paid them no mind, his expression as calm as ever.
Only after the last of them, the Seventh Prince, had climbed ashore did Emperor Pingyuan laugh heartily and say, “Today, the Crown Prince has won the race, and we have a double blessing to celebrate! What reward would you like?”
The Crown Prince had too few children, which was disadvantageous to the stability of the state and had always been a source of concern to him.
Cui Yu was puzzled. In an even voice, he asked, “A double blessing? What does Father mean?”
Emperor Pingkang’s gaze grew deep, though his tone remained amused. “The Crown Princess is three months pregnant. Did you not know, Crown Prince?”
A faint heaviness settled in Cui Yu’s heart. Then, for the first time, a trace of delight appeared on his usually impassive face.
“Is what Father says true?”
Emperor Pingkang laughed. “How could such happy news be false? Tell me, what reward would you like?”
The other princes, who had already lost the race, felt even worse when they heard that the Crown Princess was pregnant.
As long as the Eastern Palace had no healthy imperial grandson, they still had a chance to contend for that position. But if the Crown Prince had a healthy heir…
The Fourth Prince glared viciously at the Second Prince, who was smiling as though nothing at all had happened.
If the Second Prince had not deliberately rammed his dragon boat, causing him nearly to fall into the water, the Imperial Guards aboard his boat would not have panicked while rescuing him. He would not have lost even to the Sixth Prince in the end!
It was utterly humiliating!
And now the Crown Prince was about to have a legitimate son—one who might very well be healthy…
He suddenly stepped forward and said, “Father, why not withdraw the order for Great General Qi to remain at home and reflect on his mistakes? Great General Qi has risked his life time and again over the past several years and rendered outstanding service to Great Yong. Yet on such a grand occasion, he is unable to attend. Would that not chill the hearts of the soldiers?”
Cui Yu’s gaze turned icy.
Many of the court officials heard the Fourth Prince’s words clearly. Though he appeared to be speaking up for the general, how could he not know that His Majesty was wary of Great General Qi? He was plainly trying to sow discord and provoke the Emperor.
Emperor Pingkang’s gaze deepened. “Oh? Is that also the Crown Prince’s opinion?”
The Crown Prince said solemnly, “Father has already reached a decision on this matter. Father is benevolent. Ordering General Qi to remain at home and reflect on his actions allows him to examine himself, while also showing consideration for the years he has spent campaigning on behalf of the nation. Resting at home and cultivating himself will allow him to serve Father even better in the future. How could I misunderstand Father’s painstaking intentions or harbor resentment toward him?”
The old Duke Fengguo, who had been drinking with his eyes narrowed and looking utterly untroubled, slowly rose to his feet. With tears in his eyes, he bowed respectfully and said gratefully, “His Highness the Crown Prince is absolutely right. Moreover, to be able to serve His Majesty and Great Yong is my son’s good fortune. There are countless soldiers who risk life and limb; my son is merely one among them and not worth mentioning.”
A look of satisfaction appeared on Emperor Pingkang’s face. He saw the Fourth Prince’s intentions perfectly clearly and did not take them to heart. What pleased him was the attitude of the Crown Prince and the old Duke Fengguo.
He wanted to know whether the Crown Prince and the old Duke Fengguo harbored any resentment toward him over his punishment of Qi Mingchuan.
Although the Crown Prince had not deliberately treated coldly the woman of humble noble birth whom the Emperor had bestowed on him after the selection, and had instead shown her considerable favor, appearing as obedient as ever, the Emperor still could not entirely set his mind at ease. The Crown Prince had opposed him several times over Qi Mingchuan, after all.
Now, having heard the Crown Prince’s words, he was finally able to let go of his earlier suspicions. With a satisfied expression and tone, he said, “It is good that the Crown Prince and Minister Qi understand My intentions. Great General Qi has rendered meritorious service to the nation. I naturally will not mistreat a meritorious subject.”
The Crown Prince and the old Duke Fengguo once again offered their thanks.
Only then did Emperor Pingkang turn his gaze toward the Fourth Prince, his expression displeased. “Fourth Son, are you seeking justice for Great General Qi?”
Although he knew perfectly well that the Fourth Prince had been employing a ploy, those words about chilling the hearts of the soldiers—did the Fourth Prince truly think that way as well? Was that why he had blurted them out so readily?
The Fourth Prince’s heart gave a violent jolt, and he was momentarily stunned.
Seeking justice for Qi Mingchuan?
But when he saw the faint anger already rising in his father’s expression, he instantly gathered his wits and said, “This son would not dare! I merely felt that His Highness the Crown Prince and Great General Qi have been close since childhood. As his younger brother, I wished only to help the Crown Prince bear his burdens.”
Cui Yu’s tone remained mild. “You’re relieving my worries? Just now, I thought it was Fourth Prince who had come in first and won the gold token.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Fourth Prince’s face flushed red, then turned green.
“His Highness the Fourth Prince was merely carried away by excitement and lost his sense of propriety. He ought to punish himself with three cups of wine to apologize to His Highness the Crown Prince. Today is a doubly joyous occasion for the Crown Prince, yet he has not even told His Majesty what reward he would like.” He Yixun rose, cupped his hands, and smiled as he tried to smooth things over.
He Yixun was the Vice Chancellor of the court, as well as Fourth Prince’s maternal uncle. He was highly trusted and favored by Emperor Pingyuan.
With him stepping in, Emperor Pingyuan did not pursue the matter any further.
Fourth Prince gratefully took the offered escape route. His face was flushed—whether from anger or humiliation, it was hard to say—and he raised his cup to the Crown Prince, drinking three cups in succession.
The matter was thus put to rest.
*
The women’s side still had no idea what had happened at the Waterside Hall.
Lady Shen smiled at Consort Shu. “The Sixth Prince and Fourth Prince did quite well too.”
Consort Shu smiled. She was not surprised that her son had come in third, but Lady Shen’s attitude lately was truly rather strange…
Noble Consort Lan wore the ugliest expression of all. The Eighth Prince was one thing, but she had never expected her own Fourth Prince to rank behind the Sixth Prince as well!
Consort De was somewhat disappointed that her son had failed to win first place, but she could accept the result. She now began offering her congratulations. “Congratulations, Your Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince was indeed valiant…”
Shen Yanshui found herself surrounded by compliments for the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Crown Princess. In high spirits, she continued sipping her wine.
The Empress smiled, her brows and eyes full of warmth. “It was merely a game between brothers. Go and distribute the prizes among everyone.”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes lit up at once!
In the end, not only did she reclaim her original pearl hairpin, she also picked out a heavy yet exquisite gold bracelet, along with two gold-and-jade hairpins.
Hehe, what a profit!
Compared with those beautiful but impractical pieces of jewelry, she much preferred solid gold!
Secondary Consort Tang glanced at her, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. At last, she said, “Lady Shen is certainly… straightforward.”
Shen Yanshui smiled brightly. “Thank you for the compliment, Your Highness.”
Secondary Consort Tang and Lady Zhang, who had also heard the exchange, were speechless.
Secondary Consort Liao immediately rolled her eyes in disdain. “Vulgar!”
Shen Yanshui smiled until her eyes curved into crescents, treating the remark as nothing more than a fart.
After a while, she rose and left to freshen up. She had drunk a little too much.
Matron Zhou, who served at the Crown Princess’s side, seemed to notice something. She suddenly leaned close and whispered a few words into the Crown Princess’s ear. The Crown Princess glanced sideways at Lady Shen, who had just risen from her seat, and the corners of her lips lifted in a smile.
“Send someone to follow her and see what she’s up to,” she ordered in a low voice.
“Yes.”
*
Shen Yanshui had just finished relieving herself and stepped out of the hall when she saw Lady Shen walking toward her. She was faintly surprised. After giving her a formal salute, she was about to leave, but someone blocked her path.
Shen Yanshui raised her eyes. “What does Lady Shen want?”
Lady Shen glanced around and instructed the palace attendants accompanying her to wait at a distance. She then frowned and looked at Chunping, the maidservant beside Shen Yanshui, who seemed to have no sense of propriety at all.
“Go stand farther away.”
Chunping did not move. She merely raised her eyes slightly toward her own mistress.
Shen Yanshui found Lady Shen’s behavior suddenly rather intriguing.
“If you have something to say, Lady Shen, then say it. If not, I should return. If I stay away too long, the Crown Princess may send someone to look for me, and that would be troublesome.”
Lady Shen frowned unhappily. She stared at the maidservant for a few more moments before turning her gaze back to her fourth younger sister.
“No matter what, we are still sisters of the same family. Do you really think I would deliberately harm you?”
Shen Yanshui lifted her eyelids and gave her a glance. Unhurriedly, she waved the round fan in her hand without saying a word.
Lady Shen’s expression grew even more unpleasant. “You don’t know how to appreciate kindness!” Then she quickly added, “When you go back, you’d better keep your distance from the Crown Princess.”
Otherwise, one careless misstep might implicate her as well.
With that, perhaps because she could not bear to look at Shen Yanshui’s face any longer, she turned and walked away.
Shen Yanshui narrowed her eyes slightly. What did she mean? Why had she told her to keep her distance from the Crown Princess?
Was something about to happen to the Crown Princess? Had Lady Shen learned of it in advance? Was she afraid of being implicated by Shen Yanshui, and so had come specifically to warn her?
Chunping could not help frowning. In a low voice, she said, “Mistress, about this…”
She wanted to ask whether they should inform the Crown Princess. It certainly did not sound like anything good, but then she remembered the relationship between her mistress and Lady Shen. For a moment, she was caught between hesitation and indecision.
Shen Yanshui said softly, “For now, let’s pretend we know nothing.”
Although she only wanted to live peacefully in the Eastern Palace and had no desire to become entangled with Lady Shen, Noble Consort Lan, or any of the others, if she hurried to tell the Crown Princess what had happened, would the Crown Princess really believe her so easily?
Not only did she have no evidence, she was relying entirely on personal speculation. It would be better to wait and see.
Not long after Shen Yanshui returned to her seat, she began paying special attention to everything around the Crown Princess, keeping watch over her movements.
While the women watched the aquatic performance, chatted, and quietly nursed their own schemes, everyone suddenly saw an extravagantly magnificent dragon boat sailing toward the Waterside Hall.
The vessel was more than forty zhang long and four or five zhang wide. Its dragon head and tail fins were inlaid and intricately carved with gold, stone, and jade. It was exquisitely imposing, radiating the dignity and majesty of the imperial family from every angle.
Watching it from afar, Shen Yanshui saw that the three-storied dragon boat was not only fitted with pavilions and terraces, but even contained an artificial garden filled with countless rare flowers and exotic plants. Her eyes widened slightly in amazement.
When she saw the Emperor lead the civil and military officials onto the dragon boat from the Waterside Hall, the vessel was divided among them.
The dragon boat had three levels. The Emperor and Empress led the imperial clan, the senior court officials, and their families onto the top level. Everyone else was assigned to the middle level, while the lowest level was filled entirely with guards, palace maids, and eunuchs, ready to carry out the Emperor and Empress’s orders at any moment.
Shen Yanshui was naturally assigned to the top level.
However, just as she was about to step onto the dragon boat, the vessel’s astonishing splendor captured some of her attention. Then, from the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw Lady Zhang, who was walking beside her, stumble forward!
And walking directly in front of Lady Zhang was the pregnant Crown Princess!
Shen Yanshui reacted with lightning speed, almost instantly reaching out and catching Lady Zhang as she lost her balance and fell forward.
To those behind them, it probably looked as though Lady Zhang had simply stumbled, only to have Lady Shen promptly and steadily catch her by the arm.
Thus, no commotion arose.
But Lady Zhang’s face had gone pale with terror. In the briefest instant, a layer of cold sweat had formed on her forehead. Her legs had gone so weak that she nearly collapsed, and she leaned almost entirely against Shen Yanshui, gripping her arm tightly as she whispered with a trembling voice, “Someone pushed me just now…”
If Lady Shen had not caught her in time, she would have crashed into the Crown Princess. Just imagining the consequences made her body tremble uncontrollably.
“What’s wrong with Lady Zhang? Why does she look so pale?” Secondary Consort Tang asked in surprise and concern.
Hearing this, the Crown Princess turned around and looked over with a slight furrow between her brows. “What happened?”
Lady Zhang’s face turned pale. “I—I…” For a moment, she did not know whether she should say that someone had pushed her.
Lady Shen put on a solemn expression and said with a frown, “Your Highness, Lady Zhang was frightened. Someone pushed her just now, and she nearly fell.”
It was the perfect opportunity to make sure the Crown Princess understood the situation and kept her guard up.
Now that she had given the warning, she would not need to keep dividing her attention afterward and could simply focus on protecting herself.
The moment her words fell, the area around them fell completely silent.
No one could afford to bear the charge of attempting to harm the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess’s expression darkened. The Empress, who was not far ahead, had also heard her words, and her face suddenly grew grim.
Her voice turned cold. “Lady Shen, is that true?”
Lady Zhang nodded, her face still pale. Trembling, she replied, “Your Majesty, I did not see who pushed me, but the person pushed me from behind.”
The Crown Princess’s displeased gaze immediately fell on the wives of the First, Second, and Fourth Princes, who were standing behind her.
The three princesses-in-law dropped to their knees almost at once. “Your Majesty, please see that we are innocent.”
Their expressions were all somewhat strained, and the others naturally did not dare involve themselves.
The Empress swept an expressionless gaze over the three women and those beside and behind them. Seeing that the Emperor had already turned his attention toward them, she decisively ordered, “The Crown Princess and Lady Zhang are unwell. Send people to escort the Crown Princess to Waterheart Pavilion to rest for the time being.”
“All the matrons and palace maids within ten feet of the Crown Princess are to remain here for questioning. Have them watched.”
Nanny Fan’s expression was stern. She immediately acknowledged the order and efficiently had the palace attendants taken away. Even the Crown Princess’s own people who had been walking behind her were not spared.
The wives of the First, Second, and Fourth Princes went slightly pale and did not dare say a word.
Noble Consort Lan and the other high-ranking consorts had originally intended to say something, but when they saw that even the people from the Eastern Palace beside the Crown Princess had been taken away, they had nothing more to say despite their displeasure.
Chunping was taken away as well. Having been frightened by what had happened, her lips were already pale before she left. Seeing this, Shen Yanshui gave her arm a reassuring pat.
The Crown Princess knitted her brows, feeling somewhat displeased. She had yet to see the Crown Prince. Although she knew that the Empress’s decision was meant to protect both her and the child in her womb, she still felt unwilling to miss the occasion under such circumstances.
Besides, she did not believe that after failing once, the culprit would have the nerve to try to harm her again under the Emperor’s very eyes.
That was what she thought, and it was exactly what she said.
Shen Yanshui: “…”
One could not refuse to eat for fear of choking, but clearly, the Crown Princess currently had no way of ensuring her own safety without fail.
The Empress looked at her with a frown, her voice slightly heavy. “The Crown Princess must put her health first.”
The Crown Princess respectfully lowered her head. With a gentle, grateful smile, she said, “Thank you for your concern, Mother. However, I feel perfectly well and do not have the slightest discomfort.”
Just then, a eunuch serving at the Emperor’s side came over to inquire about the situation.
Seeing that the Crown Princess was stubborn and cared nothing for her own health, the Empress grew even more displeased. Keeping her expression calm, she said to the eunuch, “A minor matter delayed us. Let us go.”
The Crown Princess straightened her back and followed without slowing her steps.
As for Lady Zhang, after hearing the Empress’s words, she quietly breathed a sigh of relief and did not board the dragon boat again.
Everyone else became even more cautious.
Shen Yanshui felt that she had given the warning sufficiently and had put one matter weighing on her mind to rest, so she quickly cast the incident out of her thoughts.
After entering the dragon boat, she discovered that it contained more than a dozen rooms. The largest was naturally the main hall where the Emperor was staying. Next was the Qixu Hall, where the Empress, the women of the imperial clan, and the wives of high-ranking officials were gathered.
A small garden separated the two areas. The lattice windows on either side were open, with only a thin layer of gauze curtains hanging to screen them. Tables, chairs, tea, and refreshments had all been prepared inside, and the space was remarkably broad.
After paying their respects to the Emperor with the Empress, Shen Yanshui saw the Crown Prince standing at the Emperor’s side.
He wore a dark crimson official robe, a leather belt fastened around his waist, and had a calm, composed bearing. His handsome features were gentle and refined.
She had assumed that the Crown Prince would be delighted upon learning that the Crown Princess was pregnant. Yet, judging from his current expression… Perhaps it was only her imagination, but she felt that he did not seem entirely happy.
Still…the Crown Princess’s pregnancy should have been good news for both the Crown Prince and the Eastern Palace. Unable to help herself, she stole another glance at him. His expression remained tranquil, as though nothing could stir him.
The Crown Prince, whose mood was indeed less than pleasant, noticed her gaze and glanced at her.
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment, then gave him a radiant smile.
Cui Yu looked at her bright, peach-blossom smile. Ever since he had learned that the Crown Princess was already three months pregnant, his mood had been faintly gloomy. Yet now, it seemed as though the skies within him had suddenly cleared a little.
