Shen Yanshui opened her eyes slightly. Seeing that he was not joking, she picked up a lychee and began peeling it at an unhurried pace. As she worked, she drawled, “Your Highness, where do you think we are?”
Cui Yu glanced at her. “A question you already know the answer to.”
“This is Lotus Heart Court—my own residence.” Shen Yanshui placed the pearly white flesh of the lychee into her mouth, then looked up at him with a radiant smile. Light shimmered in her peach-blossom eyes.
“What Your Highness says naturally makes sense. But those rules are manners one must observe when receiving outsiders. And in this entire courtyard…”
Her gaze swept over Zheng Yuande, Chunping, and the others standing by with lowered heads before returning to Cui Yu. Her eyes curved with her smile.
“Apart from Eunuch Zheng, Chunping, and the rest, there are only Your Highness and myself. Since there are no outsiders here, surely we should do whatever feels comfortable—whatever puts us at ease.”
“Otherwise, if one had to keep up appearances and observe every rule before everyone, every single day, without even a moment to relax, wouldn’t life become terribly exhausting? What do you think, Your Highness?”
Zheng Yuande thought, as expected, Lady Shen was bold. Not only did she disregard propriety before His Highness herself, she even dared to argue against him like this.
Chunping was even more uneasy. A cold sweat nearly broke out at her temples, for fear that her mistress might provoke His Highness’s anger.
Cui Yu listened, shooting her a sidelong glance. He slowly turned the teacup in his hand before replying in an even tone, “Rules are not for outsiders. They are for one’s own discipline.”
Unruffled, Shen Yanshui continued, “Then let me give Your Highness an example. By Your Highness’s reasoning, in the name of propriety, would I not even be allowed to eat my fill when dining with you? When in your company, must I always remember never to show my teeth when I smile, never to let my skirts sway as I walk?”
She paused, and her voice softened, taking on a faintly aggrieved note.
“Rules are meant for outsiders to see. At home, before Your Highness, naturally things are different. Your Highness… would you want me to treat you that way as well?”
Cui Yu fell silent for a moment.
The evening breeze stirred the courtyard, rustling the grape leaves.
The fading sunlight filtered through the trellis overhead, casting dappled shadows between them.
After a long while, Cui Yu finally cast her a sidelong glance. A trace of amusement lay hidden in his eyes, though his tone remained bland. “Such clever words.”
Yet afterward, he did not mention rules again.
The corners of Shen Yanshui’s lips lifted slightly.
Cui Yu raised his head, his gaze falling on the grape trellis above. Several clusters of grapes still hung there, unpicked.
Sharp-eyed, Quanfu immediately bowed and said with a smile, “Your Highness, there are still plenty of grapes up there. Shall this servant pick some for Your Highness and my lady to try?”
“Go ahead.” Cui Yu gave a slight nod.
Before long, Quanfu returned carrying a plate of washed grapes.
Cui Yu picked one up. It was indeed sweet and bursting with juice—more delicious than any grapes he had eaten before.
Shen Yanshui watched from the side. He had eaten only one lychee that she had peeled for him, yet he had nearly finished the small bunch of grapes.
All at once, she rose with a smile. “Would Your Highness like to come with me and have a look at the garden behind the residence?”
Cui Yu raised a brow, somewhat surprised. “A garden?”
“I had a small plot cleared at the back, and I’ve planted a few things there.” Seeing the obvious disbelief in his eyes, Shen Yanshui gave a soft huff. “Your Highness mustn’t underestimate me. I can grow flowers, grass, and trees—whatever I plant thrives. I’ve always been especially good at it.”
Some time ago, she had specifically asked the Crown Prince’s gardening bureau for a few strawberry plants to cultivate.
The previous day, it had been getting rather late when she went out for a stroll after dinner, so she had not taken the Crown Prince to see them.
Cui Yu considered this for a moment, then rose to his feet.
Shen Yanshui’s eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped forward to lead him toward the rear courtyard.
The courtyard was not large, but it was kept in perfect order.
Along the bed of earth by the wall, dozens of strawberry plants grew lush and green. Most had already begun to bear small, pale green fruits, hidden beneath their emerald leaves. The sight was delightful.
“Your Highness, look,” Shen Yanshui said, pointing at the little fruits, unable to hide her pride. “In a little over half a month, these strawberries will be ready to eat. It’s already the beginning of June, after all—the perfect season for strawberries to ripen.”
Cui Yu studied the thriving plants, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. “You tended to them yourself?”
“Of course!” Shen Yanshui arched her brows, looking quite pleased with herself. “I planted and cared for every one of them personally. From loosening the soil and planting the seedlings to watering and fertilizing them, I didn’t let anyone else do a thing.”
It wasn’t as though there was much else for her to do in the palace. Growing things satisfied one of her interests and gave her something to occupy herself with.
As she spoke, she led him to the other side of the courtyard.
There lay a small plot of sandy soil, where the sunlight was plentiful. Several rows of somewhat unfamiliar, unassuming plants grew there.
Cui Yu examined them carefully for a moment before suddenly saying, “Is this… cumin?”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes brightened. “You recognize it?”
“Cumin grows in the Western Regions. It prefers dry conditions and dislikes moisture, so it rarely survives in the capital.” Looking at the flourishing plants before him, Cui Yu’s surprise deepened. “You actually managed to grow it?”
Shen Yanshui planted her hands on her hips, lifted her chin, and smiled brightly and proudly. “Your Highness, I told you before that I still owe you a grand feast cooked with my own hands. Please wait a little longer. Once this cumin produces seeds in a month or so, I’ll personally prepare a barbecue for you.”
She had been craving barbecue for a long time. But first, the current situation in the palace was not particularly suitable, and besides, the cumin had yet to produce its seeds. She would have to wait a little longer.
Barbecue without cumin simply had no soul!
As Cui Yu watched her radiant, animated expression, a faint smile had somehow appeared in his eyes—one he himself had not noticed. It softened the stern lines of his usually cold features.
He nodded and replied with a quiet smile, “All right.”
The two of them talked in the garden for quite some time. Before they knew it, dusk had fallen. Only then did Shen Yanshui realize that she was hungry, and she hurriedly ordered them to serve dinner.
Dinner was as lavish as ever. Shen Yanshui ate with great relish, her eyes narrowing happily into crescents. After finishing her meal and having some dessert, she finally remembered Cui Yu beside her and hurriedly peeled another lychee.
This time, she did not hold it directly to his lips. She merely pinched the translucent white flesh between her fingertips and waited for him to take it himself.
After what he had said earlier, she could tell that he did not wish to be overly intimate in front of the servants.
Cui Yu looked at the crystal-clear lychee in her fingers, then raised his eyes to hers. His lips pressed into a faint line as he lifted a hand, accepted it, and ate it.
Twilight deepened, the evening breeze gradually turned cool, and palace lanterns were lit one after another.
After bathing, Shen Yanshui stepped out of the washroom.
Hearing the movement, Cui Yu looked up—and his gaze unconsciously sharpened.
A jade-green bodice loosely embraced her figure, covered by a layer of gauze. Warm lamplight spilled in from the corridor, making her skin gleam like snow, luminous with a faint sheen. Droplets of water still clung here and there to her skin. Her cloudlike hair remained damp, gathered loosely with only a jade hairpin, and her graceful figure resembled an orchid fresh with dew.
She was smiling softly at him now. As her eyes shifted, reflecting the warm golden light, they rippled with a dazzling, liquid brightness.
Seeing him reclining against the pillows, a book in one hand, Shen Yanshui thought that if one looked only at his appearance, he truly resembled a refined young nobleman—pure and elegant as a breeze beneath the moon.
She smiled gently at him. “Your Highness, reading at night is bad for your eyes. Why not continue tomorrow?”
It was time for a little nightly exercise.
Her ability had already reached the threshold of the first rank. All she needed was one final push to advance to the second.
Given her current status, she should not encounter any danger. Still, a second-rank ability would be of greater use in cultivation, and whatever she grew with it would be even more effective.
Besides, whenever she and the Crown Prince engaged in such nighttime exercise, they had never taken any precautions. If she accidentally became pregnant someday, having a stronger ability would give her greater peace of mind during pregnancy and childbirth.
Otherwise, pregnancy was like stepping one foot straight into the gates of death. At present, she would likely have to rack her brains over how to prevent it.
Cui Yu answered with a cool, indifferent “Mm.” Then, after a pause, he added, “Leave the candle by the bed lit.”
Shen Yanshui: “?”
Seeing his aloof expression, she merely said, “Oh,” then removed the gauzy outer layer and climbed onto the bed.
Early summer nights still carried a slight chill. Shen Yanshui had only just lain down beneath the thin quilt when he casually set his book aside. The quilt was lifted, and a strong male body covered hers.
Though it was far from the first time, whenever she saw that cool, noble, handsome face of his, Shen Yanshui could not help but feel her heart tremble.
Her already snug bodice was pried open by his broad palm, roughened with a thin layer of calluses. The scrape of those calluses against her skin drew a breathy sound from Shen Yanshui, enough to stir restless waves in the heart.
Only a thin layer of cloth remained between them, their bodies rubbing together. Cui Yu’s body had long since softened under the friction—save for one place.
“Your Highness...” Her breathing grew uneven.
A fine sheen of sweat had already emerged across Cui Yu’s back.
Shen Yanshui’s undergarment was drawn down, and fragrant nectar flowed.
Jade-soft petals shattered beneath his touch; the beauty was overwhelmed.
A water lily sleeping behind mist, a beauty beneath the lamplight—compared to last night… she possessed a wholly different kind of allure.
Cui Yu’s gaze could not help but fall upon her crimson, dewy lips. Fresh and glistening, they bore an enticing sheen, like a half-blooming bud brimming with nectar.
His Adam’s apple bobbed.
Shen Yanshui had her slender neck tilted back slightly. Her dark hair was in disarray, her cheeks flushed with a lush, intoxicating red. The thin ties at her collar had long since come loose, swaying tremulously.
Her hands rose unconsciously to clasp the back of his neck. Then, as they suddenly joined, her entire body shuddered. Her rosy lips parted. “Your Highness… mm—”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. Cui Yu did not speak; instead, he kissed her, letting his actions convey what was in his heart.
There was no discomfort at all…
At first, it was merely their lips pressing together awkwardly.
Shen Yanshui had no idea why he had suddenly kissed her. He had never done such a thing before.
Had he not always found her distasteful before?
And besides, the last time she had cried out too loudly, he had covered her mouth with his hand.
Cui Yu found that her lips were softer than he had imagined, carrying the faint fragrance of clear tea. Her breath brushed the corner of his mouth, making it tingle.
Without instruction, he tilted his head slightly and gently traced the shape of her lips. When he felt her tremble and part them by the slightest slit, he instinctively pressed past them, drawing in her fragrant tongue and tangling with her completely, tasting the sweet flavor hidden deeper within.
His movements became increasingly urgent, and the bedding grew ever wetter.
At some point, her hands had climbed to his shoulders, her nails unconsciously digging into his flesh. That faint sting only made a certain restlessness more vivid…
That night, Lotus Heart Court had water brought in three more times.
At last, Shen Yanshui lay down beneath her own covers. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she sensed an arm drawing her over, their bodies pressed tightly together…
Hearing him let out a satisfied sigh, Shen Yanshui: “…”
Was he treating her like a human warming stove?
Oh, well. It was not as though she was hot. She wrapped an arm around his waist and nestled in his embrace, soon falling asleep.
Yet, in a hazy state—who knew how long she had slept?—her mind still submerged in a chaos of lingering dreams, her eyelids heavy and stuck fast, impossible to open. Then, at that moment, the skin along her leg met the cool air, and her legs were parted.
Immediately afterward came the sensation of something foreign.
Shen Yanshui, now fully awake: “…”
Watching the bed curtains sway ceaselessly before her, she turned onto her side and slowly lifted one leg, draping it over his broad shoulder. Then she cast him a coy, bashful glance—seeming to resist while welcoming him all the same—and enjoyed the early-morning service of the Crown Prince himself.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at her audaciously pale, slender, straight leg and remained silent, though his movements grew all the more fierce.
Outside the room, Qiuru heard sounds from within that differed from the usual noises of her mistress getting up. She froze for a moment, then her cheeks burned, and she hurriedly lowered her head.
Her mistress’s voice—her voice sounded far too, far too embarrassing.
But had it not always been said that His Highness the Crown Prince cared little for women?
How was it that he had made such a fuss with her mistress three times last night, and now, with dawn barely breaking, he was already…
A quarter of an hour later, their morning “wake-up exercise” came to an end.
Shen Yanshui’s eyes flew wide open. Hm? Her ability... was about to break through?
She was only a tiny step away—just one last push from breaking through that final barrier!
But if she relied on cultivation alone, it would take more than a month.
Cui Yu had just called for water and was about to rise when Shen Yanshui sat directly atop him, her fair, slender legs tightly wrapped around his firm, powerful waist.
Her jade-like arms circled his neck. Her cheeks were flushed, and she looked at him with eyes so seductive they seemed to hook into his very soul. “Your Highness, this concubine wants more...” Her voice was soft, sweet, and utterly beguiling.
Cui Yu: “...”
His body stiffened slightly. The fingers resting at her waist tightened for a moment before relaxing again. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and though his voice retained a faint post-coital rasp, he deliberately kept his tone even. “...Do not make mischief.”
Shen Yanshui dearly wanted to press him back down, but when she shifted against him, there was no response below. Clearly, he was unable to continue.
Disappointment rose in her heart.
Ah, although His Highness the Crown Prince had improved considerably by now, it still was not enough.
Of course, she was not foolish enough to show it. Before the Crown Prince left, she could only gaze at him with her lovely, affection-filled peach-blossom eyes, reluctant to part. “Then Your Highness must remember to come see this concubine. This concubine will miss Your Highness...”
At her shameless words, Cui Yu immediately swept a glance around the room. Zheng Yuande kept his head lowered, not daring to look up, and the others naturally did the same.
Having listened to the sounds all morning, Zheng Yuande could not help but begin to wonder: Could Lady Shen have... secretly done something?
Otherwise... His Highness had never been like this before!
No, he had to find an opportunity to summon an imperial physician to examine His Highness.
When Cui Yu finally departed, there was even a hint of haste in his retreating figure.
His thoughts were complicated as well.
He had always valued martial training and caring for his health above all else. He had never had much interest in women, much less any particular passion for them.
Yet as the heir to the throne, he needed to produce offspring—more importantly, a healthy successor.
But he had never imagined that there would come a day when he would become so indulged in the desires between man and woman.
And yet he still could not satisfy A-Yan...
Thinking of the fleeting disappointment he had glimpsed in Shen Yanshui’s eyes as she sat astride him that morning, his expression darkened, and a deep sense of frustration welled up in his heart.
Back in the study of Dunben Hall, Cui Yu sat at his desk in silence for a long while. Then, suddenly pressing the memorial in his hand down onto the table, he said in a low voice, “Zheng Yuande, send for Grand Physician Lu.”
Zheng Yuande froze for a moment, then hurriedly acknowledged the order. He did not dare delay, and before long he had brought Grand Physician Lu over.
“This humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince and wishes Your Highness good health.”
Cui Yu told him to dispense with the formalities.
Once Grand Physician Lu had risen, he asked, “May this humble servant ask what discomfort Your Highness is experiencing?”
Cui Yu pressed his lips together and said only, “Trouble yourself to examine me first.”
Grand Physician Lu was somewhat puzzled, but he did not ask further. He followed the order and began taking the Crown Prince’s pulse.
At the side, Zheng Yuande stared intently at the physician, anxiety churning in his heart.
By all rights, the Crown Prince was in excellent health, and it was not yet time for his routine pulse examination. There should have been no need to urgently summon Grand Physician Lu... Could it be that his suspicions had been right?
His heart leapt into his throat at once.
If His Highness had truly been given something unwholesome, never mind what might become of Lady Shen. Should His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress find out, he would be lucky to escape with his life intact.
After a moment, Grand Physician Lu slowly withdrew his hand. He pondered for a while before saying, “Compared with one or two months ago, Your Highness’s pulse has indeed changed somewhat.”
“In years past, Your Highness’s pulse was often fine, weak, and slightly rough. This indicated an insufficiency in the source of essence and blood; above, it could not adequately nourish the clear orifices, hence the frequent mental fatigue and pulling pains at the temples. Below, it could not warm and secure the body, and thus…”
Grand Physician Lu spoke slowly, his phrasing tactful. He stopped at that point and shifted the subject.
“Yet today, upon examination, Your Highness’s chi pulse is somewhat slower and stronger under deep pressure than before. Though it has not yet reached a state of full abundance and vigor, that sense of congenital frailty and instability has begun to settle. This is a sign that the foundation is gradually strengthening.”
Cui Yu’s gaze shifted faintly. “In Imperial Physician Lu’s view, what is the cause of this change?”
“This is a sign that Your Highness has cultivated your health properly and that your primordial yang is gradually recovering,” Grand Physician Lu replied evenly. “Your Highness has always been diligent in self-discipline, never ceasing your breathing exercises and physical cultivation.”
“The harmonizing of yin and yang is likewise a means of stirring vitality. The kidneys govern the storage of essence and are also the official in charge of strength. When one’s vital essence is nourished, this official gradually regains its proper function. It is only natural. If Your Highness persists and takes due care in regulating yourself, then given time, not only may your old ailments be relieved, but…”
He raised his eyes, his tone becoming all the more gentle and deferential.
“In the matter of securing an heir for the ancestral line, Your Highness should also find matters more favorable than before, gradually becoming no different from an ordinary man.”
By this point, he had made himself quite clear. Seeing that the Crown Prince’s expression remained composed and gave away nothing, Grand Physician Lu stroked his beard and added the most important sentence of all.
“Now that the foundation has only begun to be laid, Your Highness must be especially mindful to conserve your essence and nurture your spirit. That is the path to lasting health and well-being.”
The Crown Prince’s pulse had plainly shown that, lately… ahem, he had been somewhat lacking in restraint.
Still, considering the palace selection held last month, it was hardly surprising.
It was only human nature, after all.
Cui Yu gave no sign of emotion. “I understand.”
Standing at one side, Zheng Yuande quietly let out half a breath. At last, the cold sweat on his back began to subside.
Observing the Crown Prince’s expression, Grand Physician Lu knew he had understood and said no more, merely waiting for further instructions.
Cui Yu was silent for a moment. The air in the study seemed to grow several degrees heavier.
“…In that case, I will trouble Imperial Physician Lu to prepare a prescription to replenish qi, fortify the foundation, and warm the lower source. It may be taken regularly.”
Grand Physician Lu immediately understood. Bowing, he replied, “This servant obeys. Your Highness may rest assured: this is a mild restorative prescription, intended to help Your Highness consolidate your foundation. It will do no harm to Your Highness’s health.”
“Mm.” Cui Yu answered once and spoke no further.
Only after Grand Physician Lu and Zheng Yuande had both withdrawn from the study, and the doors had softly closed behind them, did Cui Yu let out a nearly inaudible breath. His gaze fell upon the memorials spread before him, but for the moment, the inked words would not enter his mind.
He raised a hand and pressed his fingers to his temple, where the dull ache from his old affliction had indeed lessened considerably of late.
*
Meanwhile, throughout the Eastern Palace, upon learning that the Crown Prince had not only visited Lotus Heart Court again yesterday and dined there, but had also stayed the night once more, all manner of thoughts began to stir.
In Brightmoon Studio, Lady Chu stared at the plate of lychees on the table, saying nothing for a long while.
She had felt short of breath and unbearably stifled in the chest, and even the lychees tasted so tart that she could barely swallow them.
Lady Shen… What a Lady Shen.
She had actually managed to captivate His Highness to such an extent… Lady Chu had truly underestimated her.
*
At Begonia Court, Lady Wu had been so furious after learning yesterday that the Crown Prince had gone to Lianxin Court again that her chest felt tight, and she had found it difficult to sleep that night.
“Vixen! Seductress!”
“Your Ladyship, breakfast…” The palace maid beside her spoke somewhat nervously.
Lady Wu stared at the fish soup before her. It had gone completely cold and begun to smell fishy, turning her stomach upside down.
“What is this? Take it away at once!”
“Urgh—”
She bent over abruptly and vomited.
“Your Ladyship! What’s wrong?” Her personal maid turned pale with fright.
Begonia Court descended into chaos, causing quite a commotion before finally quieting down. The disturbance prompted the palace maid serving Lady Lu in the west wing of the same courtyard to curl her lip in secret.
“She’s already been punished by His Highness, yet she can still make such a racket. Lady Wu really is…”
Lady Lu frowned. “Mind your tongue.” She was of little consequence in the Eastern Palace and could not afford to offend even Lady Wu. Besides, she gently touched her own face—which could at best be called merely pretty—and pressed her lips together.
Men were often drawn to a woman’s beauty, and the Crown Prince was no exception. With Lady Wu’s exceptional looks, it was not impossible that she might still have her chance to rise.
The maid hurriedly fell silent and apologized for speaking out of turn.
The commotion at Begonia Court continued for several days. Whenever Lady Wu caught the scent of certain dishes, she would feel that something was wrong with them; eating them always made her nauseated, and each time, she would throw a furious fit in the courtyard. The servants attending her grew increasingly fearful.
Qiaoyun, who had originally been her personal maid, watched her mistress retch and vomit and began to wonder whether Lady Wu might be pregnant.
But then she remembered that the Crown Prince had only visited Lady Wu once, when she had first entered the Eastern Palace. It seemed unlikely that she could have conceived…
Moreover, Qiaoyun could not help recalling Cuiyun, who had misspoken before and been punished by their mistress to kneel for two whole days and nights, nearly ruining her knees. After hesitating for a moment, she ultimately kept her mouth shut.
Several more days passed. Lady Wu vomited so violently that she was more ill than ever before. Afterward, her face was as pale as paper. A few maids hurriedly helped her lie down, but in the end, it was Lady Lu who took one look at her abdomen and sent her own palace maid to inform Nanny Ling.
Nanny Ling quickly summoned an imperial physician. After examining Lady Wu’s pulse, the physician’s face lit up with joy. Rising, he clasped his hands and said, “Congratulations, Lady Wu. This is a happy pulse. You are already two months pregnant.”
Lady Wu’s eyes widened at once, her face filled with ecstatic delight. “I—I’m pregnant? Physician, are you certain?!”
The physician smiled. “Your pulse is smooth and flowing, like pearls rolling across a jade plate. It is indeed the sign of a slippery pulse. However, the pregnancy is still in its early stages, and the pulse has yet to stabilize completely. You must rest and take good care of yourself.”
Matron Rong was already beaming. She quickly ordered someone to help the trembling, excited Lady Wu sit down, urging her repeatedly, “Please sit firmly, Lady Wu. Take care of yourself—the imperial heir in your womb is what matters most.”
She immediately turned and delivered a stern warning to the palace attendants inside, ordering them to serve with the utmost care and not allow the slightest mistake. Only then did she ask the imperial physician to carefully prescribe a warming, nourishing remedy to stabilize the pregnancy.
Once the physician had left, she methodically dispatched trusted servants to bring the happy news to the Crown Princess’s main courtyard and the Empress’s palace.
As for the Crown Prince, Matron Rong did not dare entrust the matter to anyone else. She went personally to report it to the study in the Hall of Diligent Foundations.
Upon hearing the news, Cui Yu’s brush paused ever so slightly in midair. Then, as if nothing had happened, he calmly finished writing the last character before lifting his eyes.
“I know,” he said evenly.
Setting down his brush, he looked to Zheng Yuande, who stood waiting at his side, and instructed, “Select some suitable rewards according to precedent and send them to Lady Wu.”
The Crown Prince’s and Crown Princess’s rewards arrived at Begonia Court one after another. News of Lady Wu’s pregnancy seemed to sprout wings; in less than half an hour, it had spread throughout the Eastern Palace.
*
“Lady Wu truly is fortunate,” Lady Song said, her face full of sour resentment. “His Highness only visited her quarters once, and she actually got pregnant…”
Beside her, Lady Wang held her daughter, who was smiling up at her, and curved her lips in a faint smile. “She certainly is fortunate.”
Lady Song flicked her handkerchief. “Isn’t that so? Sister Wu conceived after just one visit, while certain people in Lotus Heart Court must be too ashamed to show their faces by now.”
She dearly wished to see what Lady Shen looked like at this very moment.
*
In the rear courtyard of Lotus Heart Court, Shen Yanshui was crouched in a patch of freshly turned soil, carefully tending the anise plants she had planted not long ago.
His Highness the Crown Prince had sent her several more anise plants. Nourished by her ability, they were growing exceptionally well, their leaves a lush, glossy green beneath the early-summer sun.
In another half month, the plants would set seed. Once the seeds were dried and ground, she would finally have the cumin she had been longing for.
Delighted by the thought, she moved on to the neighboring plot.
The strawberry plants growing there had already produced many pale greenish-white fruits. Some were even beginning to ripen, their red skins peeking out from beneath the emerald leaves, tender and enticing.
Shen Yanshui examined each plant carefully.
As a wood-element ability user, she was exceptionally sensitive to plants.
She first plucked away several yellowing, diseased leaves. Then she lightly touched the roots of a weaker strawberry plant, channeling a small amount of her power into it. At once, its leaves seemed to perk up.
She did not stint on the healthier plants either, nurturing each of them with her ability.
After two consecutive days of “diligent practice” with the Crown Prince, she had originally thought that if His Highness came again for another night, she could make one final push and break through in a single stroke.
But unexpectedly, the Crown Prince seemed to have become busy. Since that day, he had not entered the rear court again.
What a terrible pity.
Her ability was only a thin pane of window paper away from reaching the second rank.
Yet that thin pane of paper was not so easily pierced by relying solely on her own painstaking cultivation.
“My lady…”
Dongyi came hurrying over, slightly out of breath, hesitation coloring her voice.
Shen Yanshui was wholly absorbed in giving a strawberry plant laden with several berries an extra dose of nourishment. She did not even look up. “Hmm?”
“My lady, Begonia Courtyard… Lady Wu’s residence…” Dongyi faltered, unsure how to bring it up.
Only then did Shen Yanshui notice the odd note in her voice. She seemed to have vaguely heard some commotion from next door again, but after hearing it several times recently, she had paid it little attention.
She lifted her head and brushed the soil from her hands. “What happened to Lady Wu?”
Seeing how calm her mistress looked, Dongyi bit her lip and stammered, “Lady Wu summoned the imperial physician just now. They said… they said she’s pregnant.”
After saying this, she lowered her head nervously, afraid to look at Shen Yanshui’s expression.
Shen Yanshui was indeed taken aback.
Pregnant?
She blinked, then gave a quiet “Oh.” Her expression remained unchanged as she bent down and returned to tending her little strawberries.
Compared with grapes, she actually preferred strawberries and peaches.
However… because of what the Crown Prince had said before, she had been unable to look peaches in the eye these past few days. For now, she would take care of her beloved strawberries instead.
Having fresh, delicious fruit all year round in ancient times was no easy matter.
Only the imperial family and a handful of the most distinguished noble households had access to such things, and even they could not necessarily guarantee a supply of tasty seasonal fruit every month.
What was more, most of the fruit available in this era still grew wild. The majority was sour and astringent, while truly sweet and delicious varieties were exceedingly rare.
But anything nourished by her supernatural ability was leagues beyond ordinary fruit in flavor. Not only was it pleasantly sweet and tart, with abundant juice, but eating it regularly also brought considerable benefits to one’s health.
Dongyi, along with Chunping, Xia’an, Qiuru, Quanfu, and Quanshou, who had hurried over after hearing the news, all let out a quiet sigh of relief when they saw that their mistress had not taken the matter to heart and seemed to have eyes only for her strawberries.
Shen Yanshui gently lifted a small, pale green strawberry with one finger. Catching sight of their worried expressions from the corner of her eye, she rose and smiled. “What are you all so concerned about? Your mistress hasn’t fallen out of favor yet.”
“All right, bring me a basin of water. I’ll wash my hands. As for lunch… I’m in the mood for something light and refreshing today. Have the kitchen make cold noodles with shredded chicken, and tell them to add plenty of cucumber strips and sesame sauce.”
Seeing that she truly did not care in the slightest, Chunping finally relaxed a little and hurried off to carry out her instructions.
The cold noodles with shredded chicken served at lunch were light and refreshing, and Shen Yanshui ate to her heart’s content.
Chunping and the others stood nearby. Seeing that their mistress’s appetite had not diminished at all—and that she had even mixed the specially requested sesame sauce into the noodles until the dish was completely clean—their anxious hearts finally settled back into place.
Although their mistress’s carefree, almost heedless attitude could sometimes leave them at a loss, when they thought about it, being broad-minded had its advantages.
At the very least, she would not spend her days weighed down by worry and gloom, wearing down her spirit.
After lunch, Shen Yanshui vanished as usual. She spent some time swinging on the swing, then returned to her room for an afternoon nap before beginning her cultivation.
She had been cultivating for only a short while when faint sounds of activity drifted in from outside.
Chunping entered quietly. Seeing that her mistress was not resting, she reported, “My lady, Lady Zhang has arrived.”
Shen Yanshui paused at the words.
Lady Zhang?
She rose, smoothed her clothes, and went out to greet her visitor.
As she stepped through the courtyard gate, she caught sight of a pale-blue figure standing beneath the covered walkway, with a palace maid carrying a basket of embroidery supplies behind her.
Lady Zhang was dressed today in a pale-blue, front-opening jacket, paired with a light-green pleated skirt. The outfit was simple and understated, lending her an air of quiet elegance as the hem swayed gently with each step.
She was slender to begin with, and dressed in such plain colors, she looked even more delicate—like a willow swaying in the breeze.
Yet on closer inspection, although her complexion still retained a faint pallor from her recent illness, the panic and drawn, haggard look of earlier days had vanished from her brows and eyes. She seemed far more relaxed now.
Shen Yanshui hurried forward a few steps and curtsied. “Sister Zhang.”
“Please, Sister Shen, there’s no need for such formality.” Lady Zhang reached out to help her up. After studying her complexion and seeing that she looked no different from usual, she relaxed slightly and said gently, “I was bored sitting around in my courtyard, so I thought I’d come over and have a chat with you.”
Shen Yanshui glanced at the embroidery frame and sewing basket carried by the maid behind her. Lady Zhang looked very much as though she had come over for a leisurely visit and a bit of idle conversation, which left Shen Yanshui somewhat surprised.
She smiled. “I’m naturally delighted that you came.”
The two of them went inside and sat down on the daybed. Shen Yanshui also remembered to instruct someone to fetch some pastries and snacks from the kitchen.
Chunping served the tea, then quietly withdrew to one side.
Lady Zhang did not hurry to speak. Instead, her gaze wandered around the room. Whether it was the spacious, comfortable interior, the lotus flowers at the entrance just beginning to bloom, or the wind chimes hanging by the window and chiming from time to time, everything drew her eyes more than once. When she looked out at the lush green leaves of the grapevines, she felt that the whole place was filled with vibrant life.
“What do you usually do in your courtyard?” she asked. As she spoke, she casually picked up the embroidery frame beside her and handed it to Shen Yanshui. “Take a look. I embroidered this handkerchief recently. What do you think of the water lily?”
Shen Yanshui accepted the embroidery frame and lowered her head to look. Her eyes lit up at once.
It was a square of moon-white silk, embroidered with a fully blossomed water lily in exceedingly fine, multicolored thread. The petals shifted gradually from pale pink at their tips to moon white at their bases, the colors blending with remarkable naturalness. The stitches were so fine and even that the threads were almost invisible.
The water lily looked as though it had just risen above the surface of the water, droplets of dew still glistening on its petals. Those droplets had been stitched with transparent gauze thread, and when the light struck them, they truly seemed to sparkle with crystalline clarity.
“It’s beautiful!” Shen Yanshui praised sincerely. “Your lotus looks just like the real thing, especially the dewdrops. How clever of you.”
Lady Zhang pressed her lips together and smiled, a hint of shy pleasure showing in her eyes at the compliment. “You flatter me. I only did it to pass the time while I had nothing else to do.”
“Do you enjoy embroidery as well?”
The smile on Shen Yanshui’s face stiffened slightly.
Embroidery?
When she was little, her stepmother had indeed arranged for someone to teach her—running stitches, backstitches, and all sorts of other things. The woman had taught her quite seriously.
Unfortunately, Shen Yanshui had possessed neither the talent nor the patience for it. She had learned only a rough smattering of the basics, barely enough to sew on a button or patch a tear. When faced with work this delicate, all she could do was stare blankly.
She pursed her lips and smiled, seeming a little embarrassed. “To be honest, Sister, I’m not very skilled at needlework. I can appreciate it well enough, but the moment I try doing it myself, my shortcomings show.”
Lady Zhang did not laugh at her. She merely smiled gently. “Everyone has their own strengths. You needn’t take it to heart, Sister.”
Just then, Dongyi entered carrying a tray.
She set it on the small table and began laying out its contents one by one: two steaming cups of milk tea; a plate of golden, crisp egg tarts; lotus-seed pastries; fried chicken bites; and a dish of freshly washed grapes.
Shen Yanshui smiled softly. “Sister Zhang, have a taste. See whether it suits your palate.”
Lady Zhang looked with some surprise at the unfamiliar golden pastries and the fried pieces of meat fragrant with oil and spices.
Could these be the snacks Sister Shen had personally made in the kitchen for His Highness the Crown Prince that time?
She had heard that His Highness had been quite fond of them...
The pastry crust was baked into flaky layers, golden and glossy with butter. Within was a pale-yellow filling, gently puffed up, giving off a warm, sweet fragrance of milk mingled with egg.
Lady Zhang took a delicate bite.
The crust shattered at once, scattering crisp flakes across her lips and teeth. Then came the smooth, sweet filling, with just the right hint of milk—not too rich, not too bland.
Lady Zhang’s eyes widened slightly.
She lifted the cup of milk tea and took a sip. The tea was fragrant and full-bodied, the milk smooth and rich, with a gentle sweetness. It seemed to have been chilled as well; after drinking it, she felt noticeably cooler all over.
“It is truly delicious.” She set down her cup, a faint smile spreading across her lips as she spoke in her soft voice. “Sweet on the tongue, yet not cloying. To have a cup in this summer heat is simply delightful.”
By then, Shen Yanshui had already eaten three or four pieces of fried chicken. Smiling brightly, she urged, “Sister, try this too. It’s just come out of the fryer.”
Lady Zhang had long been tempted by the savory aroma. At Shen Yanshui’s invitation, she did not decline. The moment she bit into one, the crisp coating cracked open with a crunch. The fragrance of fried batter blended with the scent of meat and rushed straight to her nose, filling her mouth with warmth and savory richness. Yet the meat inside remained tender rather than dry, brimming with juices.
“It is savory and full of flavor—the more one chews, the more fragrant it becomes.”
Seeing Lady Zhang’s eyes brighten more and more, Shen Yanshui knew she liked it. Hearing her praise, she could not help feeling pleased herself. She casually picked up an egg tart and took a bite, her cheeks puffing out slightly as she chewed. With a smiling gaze, she said, “I’m glad you like it.”
Still, what exactly had she come here for today? Surely she had not simply come to chat because she was bored?
Over milk tea and egg tarts, the two of them made idle conversation.
Lady Zhang usually had a very small appetite. At meals, she would stop eating when she was only three-tenths full. Yet today, she did not know why, but as she ate and drank, she somehow finished an entire cup of milk tea, two egg tarts, quite a few pieces of fried chicken, and, without realizing it, all the grapes as well.
When she finally came back to herself, a trace of embarrassment appeared on her face. Her stomach was already rather full.
Blushing faintly, she said, “I’ve made a spectacle of myself before you, Sister...”
Shen Yanshui looked at Lady Zhang’s flushed cheeks and said with a warm smile, “You’re too polite, Sister. I’m delighted that you enjoy the food here.”
Lady Zhang felt a weight lift from her heart at Shen Yanshui’s response, and she smiled as well. The two chatted and laughed together, and before they knew it, the sun had begun to set.
Lady Zhang glanced at the sky outside the window and rose to take her leave.
Shen Yanshui walked her to the door, only to see Lady Zhang pause. She turned back, her expression hesitant, as though she had something she wished to say but could not quite bring herself to say it.
“Sister Zhang?” Shen Yanshui looked at her in puzzlement.
Lady Zhang gently took her hand, cast a glance toward the begonia courtyard next door, and said quietly, “Sister Shen, don’t take Lady Wu’s matter too much to heart. His Highness the Crown Prince... he does care for you.”
Otherwise, after Sister Shen had gone to visit her, he would not have remembered that she was still in the Eastern Palace and specifically summoned an imperial physician for her.
At the time, Lady Zhang had been distraught, filled with fear and panic. Yet when she learned that the Crown Prince had personally arranged for an imperial physician to attend her, the dread and helplessness in her heart had suddenly eased by more than half.
Once the knot in her heart had been untied, her health recovered quickly.
Moreover, she had not wasted the grapes Shen Yanshui sent over, nor the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician. She had eaten and taken everything, and a few days earlier, she had already been able to get out of bed.
“...???” Shen Yanshui was stunned for a moment before she finally understood. So Lady Zhang had come today and talked with her for half the day because... she was afraid Shen Yanshui would be upset over Lady Wu’s pregnancy?
Warmth rose in her heart.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she gave Lady Zhang a sweet, gentle smile. “Thank you for your concern, Sister.”
There was not the slightest hint of forced cheer in her voice. “But don’t worry, Sister. I’m truly fine. Lady Wu’s pregnancy is a good thing. The Eastern Palace will be welcoming a new child. If His Highness is happy, then I am happy too.”
She would eat, drink, and live as she always had. She was perfectly happy.
Lady Zhang had not expected her to be so innocent, so wholly devoted to thinking only of the Crown Prince...
Though she admired His Highness the Crown Prince, she knew she could not achieve the point of rejoicing simply because he rejoiced.
At least, regarding Lady Wu’s pregnancy, all she could think of was that Lady Wu would likely become even more overbearing from now on.
Seeing the surprise on Lady Zhang’s face, Shen Yanshui could not help clearing her throat inwardly.
Well... the Crown Prince might not be here in person, but her professional standards were impeccable.
Besides, who knew whether any of the Crown Prince’s people might be lurking nearby?
Whether there were or not, what she had said was not exactly a lie. There was nothing wrong with it at all.
Lady Zhang looked at Shen Yanshui’s bright, smiling face, and a faint smile rose to her own lips.
“That’s good, then.” All at once, she seemed to understand why the Crown Prince liked visiting Sister Shen’s residence.
Someone like Sister Shen—beautiful, charmingly naïve, and adorable—was simply pleasant to look at.
In the future, if there were someone in the Eastern Palace with whom she could talk, drink tea, embroider, and exchange bits of idle gossip, that would be nice too.
Lady Zhang patted Shen Yanshui’s hand and said with a soft smile, “Rest well, Sister. I’ll come visit you another day.”
Shen Yanshui smiled and nodded, watching as Lady Zhang and her maidservants disappeared into the distance. Only then did she turn and head back inside, humming a little tune in high spirits.
*
In the Hall of Devoted Roots, Cui Yu’s hand paused ever so slightly as he held his brush.
A small blot of ink spread across the rice paper, yet he seemed entirely unaware of it. He merely lifted his gaze toward Wang Chun, who stood below the steps delivering his report.
“Lady Shen… did she truly say such a thing?” His deep voice carried a trace of bewildered complexity—and something else, an emotion even he himself could not discern.
