Shen Yanshui suddenly remembered something. She jerked her head up, her eyes shining as she gazed at him.
“Your Highness,” she said, her voice brimming with unmistakable delight, “now that I’ve been promoted to Chenghui, can I move into the main house of Lianxin Court?”
Cui Yu looked at her bright, peach-blossom eyes and lifted a brow.
Shen Yanshui glanced at him, her eyes glimmering. She tugged lightly at his sleeve and swayed it back and forth, coaxing in a sweet, lilting voice, “Your Highness~ I want to live in a bigger room, and I want to eat a big watermelon. Please grant my wish, Your Highness?”
Although she had been promoted, she could not move rooms of her own accord without the Crown Prince’s or the Crown Princess’s approval.
Of course, the Crown Prince would certainly agree to such a small request of hers. Her coy act was merely a little flirtation between them.
Besides, once she moved into the main house, she would have every right to use the empty patch of land behind it. She would no longer have to consult anyone else and could plant whatever she pleased.
At the thought, her eyes curved into two crescent moons, and the corners of her lips refused to stop rising.
Cui Yu gazed at her, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.
“Very well.”
After receiving his permission, Shen Yanshui smiled even more brightly. Unable to restrain herself, she cupped his handsome face in both hands and kissed him.
“Your Highness is truly wonderful!”
Cui Yu froze for a moment. Though his expression remained unchanged, a trace of warmth crept up the tips of his ears. Only after a long while did he press his lips together and say coolly, “…You’re becoming more and more unruly.”
Shen Yanshui: “…”
Wasn’t His Highness’s reaction a little too slow? She had already kissed him ages ago.
She blinked, looking like someone who had just gotten away with a mischievous deed. “Since I’ve already kissed you, perhaps… I should let Your Highness kiss me back.” As she spoke, she puckered her lips at him.
Cui Yu: “…”
His lowered gaze lingered on her small, rosy lips. Watching her blink her large, bright eyes, he swallowed softly. His expression remained calm as he picked up a small piece of pastry and stuffed it into her mouth.
With the peach blossom pastry blocking her lips, Shen Yanshui blinked her sparkling eyes at him. Then, without the slightest hesitation, she bit down on the piece in his hand.
Cui Yu lowered his eyes to the pastry, now missing a bite, and lifted it to his mouth.
Shen Yanshui, who had just been about to finish the rest herself, stared at him. “…Your Highness, I’ve already eaten that one. There are plenty more here.”
Letting the Crown Prince eat something she had already bitten into… If anyone else saw it, wouldn’t there be trouble?
Cui Yu raised his eyelids slightly. The corners of his eyes lifted as he slowly surveyed her, his gaze finally settling on her moist, rosy lips. He said nothing.
Yet Shen Yanshui somehow understood the meaning in his eyes, and her cheeks suddenly grew warm.
That look in the Crown Prince’s eyes… It was as though he wanted to strip her bare and devour her whole. Cough! It was rather embarrassing.
She hurriedly picked up her teacup and took a sip of cool tea.
Wait… Even if that were what he intended, wouldn’t she be the one devouring him whole?
Cui Yu calmed the thoughts she had stirred up in him. Recalling what she had said earlier, he wondered: What was a “big watermelon”?
Still, seeing how delighted she was simply because she could move into a larger room, he realized that he had misunderstood her before.
A-Yan was actually… very well-behaved. It was only because she dared to say anything in front of him that she had given him the wrong impression.
Around outsiders, she was always proper and obedient—so well-behaved and sensible that there was hardly anything to criticize.
He had always assumed that the half-plot of empty land behind Lianxin Court had remained unused because she had not yet decided what to plant there.
Only now did he realize that A-Yan had probably thought the land belonged to Lady Liu on the opposite side.
So, even after receiving a higher rank and winning his favor, she had never considered taking it for herself.
Today, too, if Lady Wu had not been so aggressive and maliciously tried to pin the charge of “attempting to harm the imperial heir” on her, Shen Yanshui probably would not have taken the bullying to heart. Just as with the incident at the Peony Terrace when she had kicked the ball—she would have turned around and cheerfully moved on.
Her retaliation now was merely meant to anger the other woman. She had never intended to frame anyone or take anyone’s life.
Nor had she ever tried to sow discord against anyone in front of him.
In fact… aside from matters related to food, she had never once taken the initiative to ask him for rewards or request anything from him.
As Cui Yu thought about this, an indescribable emotion suddenly welled up in his heart.
A-Yan… seemed almost too well-behaved.
He lifted a hand and tucked a loose strand of hair from her temple behind her ear.
Shen Yanshui had just finished her cup of cool tea when she suddenly noticed that his gaze had turned rather strange. It seemed almost excessively gentle.
She blinked and was about to ask him what was wrong when, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the scroll of the imperial edict on the table and remembered something.
“Your Highness.” She straightened, her expression turning more serious. “I’ve just thought of something.”
Cui Yu watched her eyes and indicated that she should continue.
Shen Yanshui organized her thoughts before saying, “I suddenly realized that although a loose-leaf ledger can have pages added, removed, or replaced at any time, wouldn’t it be very easy for someone to exploit that? They could remove a page from the middle of the book or replace it with a forged one.”
Cui Yu raised a brow when he heard this. “Naturally, I’ve already considered that.”
“A loose-leaf ledger has its uses, and a bound ledger has its uses.” His voice was low and unhurried. “Those officials in court will know what should be recorded in a loose-leaf ledger and what should not. If I have to think everything through for them, then what use are they?”
Shen Yanshui nodded thoughtfully.
That was true. How many of the men who had risen to become officials could really be fools?
They would naturally know where loose-leaf ledgers were appropriate and where they were not.
Since the Crown Prince had already taken it into consideration, she decided not to dwell on it. She had only worried that something might go wrong because of the loose-leaf ledgers in the future and somehow implicate him.
After all, the loose-leaf ledger had been submitted by the Crown Prince.
She was just about to say something when Zheng Yuande’s voice came from outside the door.
“Your Highness.”
Cui Yu said, “Come in.”
Zheng Yuande pushed open the door, bowed, and kept his eyes lowered, not daring to look around.
“Reporting to Your Highness, the imperial physician has already examined Lady Wu.”
Cui Yu’s expression remained indifferent. “How is she?”
The imperial attendant respectfully replied, “The physician said that Lady Wu is unharmed. She only needs to take a few more doses of medicine to prevent miscarriage, remain calm, and focus on recuperating.”
Cui Yu nodded, his voice turning slightly cold. “Have Nanny Ling keep a closer eye on her over the next few days.”
Zheng Yuande answered, “Yes,” then bowed and withdrew.
In truth, Lady Wu had indeed been shaken and had shown some signs of strain on her pregnancy.
But… since the imperial physician had said that a few more doses of medicine would suffice and that there was no serious danger, he naturally would not say anything unnecessary and invite trouble for himself.
He could see perfectly clearly who occupied the most favored place in the Crown Prince’s heart.
If he went over now and reported that Lady Wu had been affected by the incident, wouldn’t he simply offend Lady Shen for no reason?
He was not that foolish.
Inside the room, Shen Yanshui felt relieved after hearing Zheng Yuande’s report as well.
Although she disliked Lady Wu, she did not wish for anything truly serious to happen to her because of herself.
She glanced up at Cui Yu. His expression was calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.
She did not ask anything further. Instead, her eyes lit up as she said eagerly, “Your Highness, would you like to come with me and take a look at the main house? I still haven’t decided how to arrange the room. You can help me figure it out.”
Cui Yu lowered his eyes to look at her, a hint of amusement rising in them. “All right.”
The two of them were just about to get up when a commotion sounded outside. The rewards from Emperor Pingkang had arrived.
The visitor was an eunuch from Chongzheng Hall, wearing an exceedingly courteous smile.
Shen Yanshui hurriedly accepted the gifts and offered her thanks.
There were quite a few things: two bolts of patterned brocade, two bolts of gold-woven satin, two palace-made folding fans, and a box each of gold and silver ingots.
The gold and silver ingots were heavy in the hand, engraved with auspicious designs symbolizing blessings and longevity. They were a delight to look at.
Shen Yanshui had just finished giving her thanks and had not yet had time to rise when the Crown Princess’s gifts arrived as well.
The visitor was Aunt Qing from Kunning Palace, whose smile was even warmer than that of the eunuch from Chongzheng Hall.
The Crown Princess’s gifts were more substantial: a set of red-gold filigree jewelry, a pair of jadeite bracelets, four pairs of fashionable palace flowers, four bolts of shidi gauze, two bolts of zhidi gauze, two bolts of patterned brocade, a pair of celadon lotus pods, a string of summer-cooling fragrant beads, and several boxes of palace-made pastries.
The lotus pods had been exquisitely carved, each seed plump and full. They were a delight to look at.
The string of fragrant beads had been newly made by the Directorate of Palace Affairs. It was said to be blended from agarwood and sandalwood, along with mint and borneol. Worn around the wrist, it carried a faintly cool sensation and was especially pleasant in summer.
Shen Yanshui’s eyes and brows were full of smiles. After accepting both waves of gifts, she looked at the things piled high before her and could not have been happier.
Hehe, so this was the joy of a promotion and a raise?!
She forcibly suppressed the corners of her mouth, sending both groups away with decorum and grace. Only after they had gone far did she turn back toward Chunping, Quanfu, and the others waiting in the courtyard.
With a grand wave of her hand, she rewarded everyone serving in the courtyard with a month’s wages.
Chunping smiled and said, “This servant thanks you for the reward, Mistress.”
Quanfu followed close behind, and Xia’an, Qiuru, Dongyi, Eunuch Lin, Quanshou, Shouzhong, and Shouyi all dropped to their knees in a flurry. Their voices of thanks rose one after another, and every face was filled with genuine joy.
“Up, all of you, up.” Shen Yanshui beamed. She then turned around and instructed Chunping and Quanfu to sort everything and record it before placing it in the storeroom.
Cui Yu was reclining beneath a grape trellis nearby, watching her bright-eyed, delighted excitement. He could not help thinking that it was only a few things—how could they make her this happy?
Yet the longer he watched, the more the corners of his lips curved upward without his realizing it.
Lotusheart Court was filled with joy and bustle.
But throughout the rest of the Eastern Palace, quite a few people were so shocked that they knocked over their teacups!
Wisteria Court
When Lady Song learned that Lady Shen had been promoted, the handkerchief in her hand was torn to shreds.
Even the news that Lady Wu, who had grown increasingly arrogant since becoming pregnant, had been punished by His Highness the Crown Prince could not cheer her up.
She refused to believe it. “Impossible! Did you hear wrong?”
Only after the Emperor’s and the Crown Princess’s gifts had arrived one after another and then departed did she have no choice but to admit it, however unwillingly—the Crown Prince really had raised Lady Shen’s rank!
Lady Song sat there in a daze, unable to say a word for a long while.
How was this possible?
She had only entered the Eastern Palace three months ago! She had not even borne the Crown Prince a child, yet she had already… been promoted?
Lady Song had been in the Eastern Palace for three years.
Three years.
She had been waiting for the day she might conceive His Highness’s child, so that she too could be like Lady Wang and have someone to depend on, something to hope for.
But now…
She suddenly felt a bitter taste in her mouth.
It seemed that not everything had to follow the rules after all. It simply depended on whether someone was willing to make an exception for you.
She slowly rose and walked to the bronze mirror, looking at her own reflection.
Her features were proper, her skin fair, and she could be considered a delicate-looking woman.
But compared with Lady Shen…
She bit her lip, her heart sour with envy. She wished she could take Lady Shen’s place. Why had her parents not given her such a beautiful face?!
*
When Lady Wang, who lived in the main residence, heard the news, she was sitting on a soft couch by the window with her daughter in her arms, playing with her.
The little girl was just over a year old, thin and tiny, with a pointed chin and features that resembled Lady Wang’s by seven or eight parts. Her eyes, however, were round and especially lovely.
Because of her frail constitution, she looked smaller than other children her age, but she was still as adorable as a little jade figurine.
Lady Wang held up a piece of pine-nut candy and waved it before her daughter’s eyes.
The little girl reached out with a babble, mumbling something indistinctly, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not reach the candy.
Lady Wang was just about to laugh and give it to her when a burst of footsteps suddenly came from outside.
Her personal maid lifted the curtain and entered. Lowering her voice, she reported that Lady Wu had quarreled with Lady Shen at Begonia Court, and that Lady Shen of Lotusheart Court had subsequently been promoted.
Lady Wang was startled when she heard this, then frowned.
Her personal maid could not help asking in a low voice, “Mistress… should we go to Fragrant Gathering Hall to pay our respects to the Crown Princess?”
Lady Wang raised her eyes and pressed her lips together. “...Of course we should.”
In truth, the reason for their quarrel and the conflict between them had little to do with her, and she did not particularly care that Lady Shen had been promoted.
But… given the Crown Princess’s temperament, she certainly would not see it that way.
She lowered her head and smiled as she kissed her daughter’s cheek. After handing the child to the wet nurse, she rose, straightened her clothes, and left the courtyard.
*
At that moment, however, the atmosphere in Fragrant Gathering Hall was exceedingly oppressive.
Lady Wang had only just reached the entrance when she heard a sharp crack from inside—the sound of a teacup hitting the floor.
Immediately afterward came Matron Zhou’s suppressed scolding. “Clumsy fool! You nearly scalded Her Highness! Someone, drag her out and give her a few strokes to teach her a lesson!”
“Please spare me, Your Highness—” The maid’s plea had barely begun when it abruptly cut off, as though someone had clapped a hand over her mouth.
Then came the rustling sounds of something being dragged away. Soon, there was no further noise.
Lady Wang paused for a moment, then smiled amiably at the maids standing by the entrance. “I have come especially to attend Her Highness. Please inform her that I am here.”
The maid at the door glanced at her and gave her a perfunctory bow before turning to announce her arrival.
Seeing such discourtesy, Lady Wang’s smile did not change in the slightest.
A moment later, the Crown Princess’s impatient voice came from inside. “I’m not seeing her! Tell her to leave!”
The corners of Lady Wang’s lips stiffened slightly. She could feel the eyes of the palace attendants and eunuchs around her, and the hand gripping her fan handle gradually turned white.
After a while, Matron Zhou seemed to say something to the Crown Princess. Only then did Matron Zhou say, “Let her in.”
A maid lifted the curtain. With her eyes lowered, Lady Wang bowed properly. “This concubine pays her respects to the Crown Princess.”
The Crown Princess was reclining on the bed, her complexion less than pleasant.
Her originally dignified face was now marked by unmistakable fatigue and gloom.
She looked at Lady Wang kneeling on the floor and frowned. “Rise.”
Lady Wang rose carefully and glanced at the Crown Princess. Only after a moment did she choose her words and speak in a soft voice. “Your Highness, please calm down and take care of yourself. The imperial physician reminded you only yesterday that now that your pregnancy has stabilized, you must avoid emotional upheaval above all else.”
The Crown Princess let out a cold laugh. “Calm down?”
The Crown Prince had directly raised Lady Shen’s rank without ever consulting her—not even bothering to inform her beforehand!
In the Crown Prince’s eyes, did she even exist as his Crown Princess?
Seeing how furious she was, Lady Wang lowered her head and did not dare say another word.
The Crown Princess shot her a cold glance and scolded, “You’re just as useless as ever. You gave birth to a worthless girl and now think having a daughter is all that matters. Yet you never know how to find an opportunity to serve His Highness, allowing someone else to win his favor instead. And to think I even promoted you to Lady Wang!”
“It is this servant’s fault for being useless and unable to assist Your Highness. Please, take care of your health…” Lady Wang kept her head bowed tightly, not daring to let anyone see her expression. The eloquent, capable woman she usually was in front of others seemed to have vanished without a trace.
The Crown Princess was already in a foul mood, and seeing her pitiful appearance only made her angrier. “Get out!” Just like Lady Wu—both of them were utterly useless good-for-nothings!
Lady Wang lowered her head and slowly withdrew.
*
At Haitang Court, the news had reached them early, and the residence was strangely quiet.
Every so often, the crisp sound of a teacup shattering could be heard from the main room.
“Useless servants! You worthless wretches! All of you, kneel!”
A chorus of pleas for mercy followed. But before long, the residence fell silent once more.
Qiaoyun stood with her head bowed, afraid to move, yet she could not help feeling somewhat bitter.
When the two processions bearing gifts had passed by the entrance to Haitang Court earlier, she had secretly taken a look. The spectacle had been truly impressive—enough to make anyone envious.
Then she thought of the shattered teacups in her mistress’s room and could not help sighing inwardly.
Back then, she and Chunping had shared a fair amount of camaraderie. In fact, she had once been even more favored than Chunping, which was why she had been assigned to serve under Lady Wu. But now…
If Lady Wu had not already been with child, leaving them at least some hope for the future, she would have found a way to transfer elsewhere.
*
In Zhuxiang Residence, the place farthest from Lianxin Court, Lady Zhang was putting the finishing touches on a garment.
She lowered her head, scissors poised to cut the final thread, when she suddenly heard a burst of hurried footsteps outside.
It was Huixin.
The girl was usually quite composed and walked so quietly that she made hardly a sound. Today, however, she sounded as though she had wheels of fire beneath her feet. Her footsteps pounded loudly, and the sound of her panting could be heard before she even entered.
Lady Zhang shook out the garment to inspect it. The stitches were neat and even, which satisfied her. She turned her head and asked curiously, “What was that commotion just now? Has something happened?”
She had taken a short nap earlier and then resumed working on her garment after waking, so she was still unclear about what was happening outside.
In the past, she would not have been so out of touch. When her health had been better, she would sometimes chat with Lady Wang, Lady Song, and the others when she had nothing to do. Occasionally, she would invite Lady Zhao from her residence over for tea and idle conversation.
But ever since the Dragon Boat Festival, when she had fallen seriously ill, she had lost the inclination to associate with them.
During the days she had been sick, everyone had kept well away, afraid of catching her illness. She understood that such caution was only natural and could not blame them for it.
But there had been Sister Shen. With the two situations side by side, she had inevitably developed a few reservations in her heart.
After that, she simply stopped going out and stayed in her room, quietly sewing garments.
Whenever anyone else came to visit, she would exchange a few perfunctory words with them. After coming a few times and finding her company dull, they naturally stopped coming. She, in turn, gained a rare bit of peace and freedom.
The downside was that news from the various parts of the Eastern Palace sometimes reached her rather late.
She had originally had more attendants serving her than the few who remained now.
Two of them were especially quick-witted and ambitious. Seeing that she had not won His Highness’s favor and had even fallen ill so seriously, they had apparently found some connections and a way out during those days.
She had not stopped them. They were free to go.
Of those who remained, apart from Huixin, the rest were all honest and dutiful. At this point, she no longer cared whether they were clever or not. People who were too clever tended to have too many thoughts of their own.
And when they had too many thoughts, they were liable to conceive other plans, making them unreliable instead.
Just as she was thinking this, Huixin steadied her breathing. When she spoke, her voice still carried a trace of breathlessness, as well as unmistakable shock.
“Master, Lady Shen has been promoted. She is now Lady Shen!”
Lady Zhang failed to react for a moment. “What?”
Huixin said, “The news just arrived. His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress’s gifts have already been delivered. Lady Shen has now been promoted to Lady Shen.”
The hand holding the garment suddenly stilled. Lady Zhang’s fingers tightened slightly, and she remained motionless for a long while.
“Sister Shen…” Her eyes held surprise, as well as an envy she could not quite conceal. “…She truly is favored by His Highness the Crown Prince.”
Huixin lowered her voice as she reported, “Master, there is one more matter. Today, at Haitang Court, Lady Wu and Lady Shen somehow got into an argument. By coincidence, His Highness came upon them. Afterward, Lady Shen was immediately promoted.”
“I heard that a physician from the palace was even summoned to Haitang Court.” Huixin paused, then lowered her voice further. “I also heard that Lady Wu threw a terrible fit in the residence.”
Lady Zhang frowned. “They got into an argument?”
She had just begun to rise, intending to visit Sister Shen, when she suddenly remembered that His Highness the Crown Prince was probably still with Sister Shen at that very moment.
She hesitated for a while, then sat down again.
Forget it. The outcome was a good one, so there was no need to hurry.
If she went over now, Sister Shen might misunderstand and think she was deliberately taking advantage of the opportunity to get close to His Highness the Crown Prince.
Although… she did indeed have that thought in mind, she had never intended to do anything in front of Sister Shen. Otherwise, what sort of person would that make her?
She would wait a little longer…
*
Lianxin Court
Shen Yanshui took the Crown Prince’s hand and led him toward the main room, brimming with enthusiasm.
The main room had been vacant for a long time. Its furnishings were simple, though all the basic furniture and decorations were in place. It was not exactly shabby, but it lacked a sense of life.
“Chunping, clear out this windowsill later. I want to plant a few chili peppers here. Once they bear fruit, the bright red peppers will hang in clusters. They’ll be such a cheerful sight.”
For some reason, her mouth had felt bland these past few days, and she had found herself craving something sour or spicy to whet her appetite.
Chunping smiled and agreed.
Shen Yanshui pointed beneath the window. “And put two banana plants here.”
Cui Yu stood with his hands behind his back, watching her point here and there as she made arrangements. A smile surfaced in his eyes.
“Remove all these screens…”
As she spoke, she looked up at the painting hanging on the wall.
It was a landscape. The brushwork was fairly precise, but the painting appeared ordinary and unremarkable, lacking any real charm.
After looking at it for a moment, she suddenly turned around and gazed at the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness~”
Cui Yu raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”
Shen Yanshui took a few quick steps toward him, tilted up her face, and smiled.
“Your Highness, might you reward me with a painting in your own hand?”
He lowered his eyes to look at her, his voice tinged with amusement. “What would you like me to paint?”
Her eyes immediately curved into a smile. “Anything painted by Your Highness will do. Even a stone or a blade of grass would be something I treasured.”
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm, but the corners of his lips lifted involuntarily.
Watching his expression, Shen Yanshui could not help laughing inwardly. His Highness the Crown Prince was truly easy to please.
She even suspected that when he had been young, he could probably have been coaxed home with nothing more than a candied hawthorn skewer.
Shen Yanshui tugged him toward the western side room.
“Your Highness, I want to turn this place into a small study.”
“That way, whenever Your Highness comes here, you’ll have a spacious place to handle affairs, read, or practice your calligraphy.”
The eastern wing where she now lived consisted of only three rooms, not counting the side rooms on either end. The western secondary room had been converted into a storeroom, while she used the eastern secondary room for everything—living, resting, and sleeping. It had been rather cramped, but now it was considerably more spacious.
Watching her bustling about with evident delight, Cui Yu glanced around.
“Let’s put the writing desk here. The light is good.”
Shen Yanshui took a look and smiled as she nodded. “We’ll arrange it just as Your Highness says.”
“I’ll have the Imperial Workshops send a few more bookshelves for this room.”
“Wonderful!” Shen Yanshui said, then immediately added, “Could Your Highness have the Imperial Workshops make the bookshelves cover an entire wall…?” She briefly described what she had in mind before concluding, “A bookshelf like that would look stately and distinguished at a glance. It would suit Your Highness’s bearing perfectly.”
Cui Yu lowered his eyes to look at her. For a long while, he said nothing.
What a little flatterer.
He did not respond, merely giving a vague “Mm” in an indifferent tone.
Nearby, Zheng Yuande could not help clicking his tongue inwardly. No wonder Lady Shen was so favored by His Highness. Her mouth was practically coated in honey.
For the next two or three days, the entire Lianxin Residence was bustling with activity. Servants came and went, carrying things, cleaning, and arranging the rooms. Smiles appeared on every face.
Meanwhile, in the western wing of Lianxin Residence, Lady Liu sat by the window these past few days, listening to the faint laughter drifting in from outside. Her eyes grew red once more, and she could not help crying again.
Outside, a little eunuch listening to the sounds from the room could not help curling his lip. Lowering his voice, he complained to the palace maid beside him, “Crying again and again. All she knows how to do is cry. What dreadful luck!”
The palace maid sighed and grumbled softly as well. “Exactly. These days, whenever anyone from Lianxin Residence goes out, who doesn’t look at them with respect? And what about us? Whenever we go out to carry out an assignment, we have to bow and scrape to everyone.”
“Following a mistress like this, even we have to suffer the humiliation.”
“Keep your voice down, or she’ll hear you.”
“What if she does? It’s the truth…”
Inside the room, Lady Liu’s weeping came to a stop.
Her hand tightened around her handkerchief, her nails nearly digging into her flesh.
She raised her head and looked at her own reflection in the mirror—her swollen eyes and haggard face. Once again, tears welled up uncontrollably.
*
With the Crown Prince’s personal order, the servants below naturally did not dare delay. They used only the finest materials and worked swiftly. Three days later, the main room had been completely arranged.
After returning from court, Cui Yu went straight to Lianxin Residence.
When Shen Yanshui saw him, she approached with a bright smile and curtsied. “May Your Highness be blessed with peace.”
Cui Yu raised a hand to help her up, his gaze passing over her and settling on the main room behind her.
The sunlight was warm and clear. It filtered through the newly replaced moon-white gauze curtains, filling the room with a gentle, luminous glow.
Several pots of bright red chili peppers sat on the windowsill, lending the room a festive and charming air.
Beneath the window, the plantains were lush and green, their broad leaves spreading gracefully. When the breeze passed through, they swayed gently.
The heavy folding screen had been removed, making the room look especially open and airy.
Shen Yanshui took his hand and led him into the eastern secondary room. His gaze fell upon the soft couch by the window.
Everything else was ordinary enough, except for the particularly conspicuous oversized cushion placed against the wall. Its shape seemed to be…
“A chili pepper?” The corner of his mouth twitched.
Shen Yanshui gave a sheepish little laugh and immediately picked up her bright red chili-pepper cushion.
“Your Highness, isn’t it adorable?”
Cui Yu: “…”
There were even eyes and a mouth on the chili pepper. It looked truly… strange.
But then he saw the delighted, expectant look on her face. After a moment of silence, he nodded with some difficulty.
“Mm. It has… a certain charm.”
Shen Yanshui’s eyes lit up, and she was just about to say something when the Crown Prince suddenly turned and walked toward the western secondary room.
Huh???
