As noon approached, the palace attendants quietly raised the canopies. The Empress sat in the center, with Consort Shu and Consort Liang seated to her left, followed farther down by Lady Shen and the wives of the various officials who had accompanied them.
Shen Yanshui sat to the Empress’s right, a teacup cradled in her hands. She listened as the Empress chatted with Consort Shu and Consort Liang about the marriages of the Fifth Princess and the Seventh Princess.
Shen Yanshui cast a glance at the two princesses. The Fifth Princess resembled Consort Liang by six or seven parts. She had an oval face, willow-leaf brows, and a pair of clear, gentle eyes. Her temperament was serene and refined, and she should be about fifteen this year.
The Seventh Princess was slightly younger, around fourteen, and equally delicate and charming.
As the Empress spoke, she lifted her teacup and took an unhurried sip.
“The imperial resort is especially lively this year. The sons of military families and hereditary nobles need hardly be mentioned; quite a few young men from scholarly and respectable households have come as well.”
As she spoke, she looked at the Fifth and Seventh Princesses with a smile.
“You two sisters ought to take a good look around.”
The Fifth Princess’s face instantly flushed. She lowered her head, even the tips of her ears turning pink.
The Seventh Princess’s face reddened as well, though the corners of her lips curved upward, as if the Empress had touched upon some secret thought of hers. She looked shy and bashful.
The wives of the various households present immediately perked up.
Although a princess’s husband could not hold an actual post, command troops, or participate in court affairs, every family had one or two idle, unambitious sons. Besides, a princess’s husband enjoyed an exalted status. Though he could not hold office himself, he could still use his connection to the princess to lend a hand to the other members of his family. It was, in its own way, a fine path to take.
The noblewomen began discussing whose sons were still unmarried, whose young masters excelled at riding and archery, and whose heirs were gifted with the written word. Quite a few even volunteered their own sons.
Shen Yanshui listened, but her gaze drifted involuntarily back toward the two princesses.
The Fifth Princess still had her head lowered, her cheeks crimson.
The Seventh Princess, meanwhile, quickly lifted her eyes and glanced across the elevated platform before withdrawing her gaze just as swiftly. Yet the shy delight of a girl experiencing her first stirrings of love was impossible to conceal.
Shen Yanshui was rather surprised. Could it be that the Seventh Princess already had someone she liked?
Lady Shen was seated nearby, and her gaze, too, fell upon the two princesses.
She had little impression of the Fifth Princess. She vaguely remembered that the princess’s husband seemed to be a military officer, though she could no longer recall which family he came from. The Fifth Princess’s married life had probably been neither particularly good nor particularly bad. At least, no unpleasant rumors had ever reached her ears.
As for the Seventh Princess... At this point in time, she should have already fallen for Xu Chengwen, shouldn’t she?
The Seventh Princess had even wanted Xu Chengwen to become her husband.
Only...
“I already have a betrothed woman. Though we have yet to wed, we have already pledged ourselves to one another for life. I dare not become a faithless man. I humbly ask Your Majesty to grant us your approval.”
Xu Chengwen had rejected her.
He had spoken with such sincerity and conviction that even Emperor Pingkang had praised him several times for being “loyal and devoted.”
In the dream, after the news spread—and after people learned that Shen Yanshui was Xu Chengwen’s betrothed—countless young women in the capital envied her supposedly lazy half-sister.
Later, Xu Chengwen’s official career flourished. Eventually, after earning credit for helping the Sixth Prince ascend the throne, he rose to the position of Grand Councillor, and her half-sister’s status rose along with his.
More importantly, Xu Chengwen remained devoted to Shen Yanshui. Apart from two personal attendants who served in his chambers, he took no other concubines. Who in the capital did not praise Lord Xu for his deep devotion?
At the thought, Lady Shen unconsciously knitted her brows. She cast a thoughtful glance at the Seventh Princess, then at her half-sister, Shen Yanshui, who was once again eating and eating.
She drew a deep breath and took a sip of tea to calm herself. She truly felt that this half-sister of hers was throwing away every last shred of dignity belonging to the Marquis Xuanyi household!
Shen Yanshui: “...???” Why was she suddenly glaring at her? Was she trying to make her eyes look bigger?
They had needed to come to the hunting grounds early that morning, so Shen Yanshui had woken up late and barely had time to eat any breakfast before leaving.
Now she was hungry again. After finishing the pastries on the small table before her, she took a peach candy from the large sachet she carried with her and popped it into her mouth.
Lady Shen: “...”
She immediately turned her head away. What a glutton!
Out of sight, out of mind!
She let out a long breath.
In the dream, the Seventh Princess had failed to marry Xu Chengwen. Instead, she married the top graduate of the metropolitan examination that same year.
The man was handsome enough, and at first he treated the Seventh Princess with considerable devotion. It was said that they enjoyed a period of blissful married life together, like an immortal couple descended to the mortal world. But old habits were difficult to change. As time passed, he could no longer keep his true nature hidden.
The reason was that the Seventh Princess had never conceived a child.
Her husband did not dare openly take a concubine, and he never voiced any complaints, but he kept mistresses outside and had quite a few of them.
Lady Shen had not known about these matters at first. It was only after the Sixth Prince ascended the throne that she gradually heard the rumors.
In the end, the Seventh Princess divorced her husband.
But even after the divorce, she remained hopelessly attached to Xu Chengwen.
By then, however, Xu Chengwen had already become one of the court’s most important ministers. Even though the Seventh Princess was the new emperor’s own sister, she did not dare force him into anything. She merely spent that period of time making things difficult for Shen Yanshui in every way she could.
Later...
For some unknown reason, several young men suddenly appeared by the Seventh Princess’s side. They were all remarkably talented, handsome, gentle, and attentive. Before long, the matter caused a considerable stir in the capital, prompting a host of censors to submit memorials impeaching her.
The Seventh Princess was reprimanded and behaved herself for a while. But before long, she returned to her old ways. In fact, the number of male favorites in her princess’s residence continued to increase.
Lady Shen could not help glancing at the Seventh Princess again.
The fourteen-year-old girl sat there with almond-shaped eyes curved into smiles and shallow dimples in her cheeks. She tilted her head as she listened to a palace maid beside her, looking utterly innocent and carefree.
Lady Shen could not help feeling disdainful. How could a princess of such noble birth keep male favorites—and more than one at that?
Yet, for some reason, she also felt a faint, indescribable trace of envy.
Inside the hunting grounds, the forest was lush and dense. Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the branches, casting mottled shadows across the ground.
Cui Yu rode slowly through the woods. His dark blue riding attire was barely noticeable among the trees, and he continued following behind the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince at an unhurried pace.
Xiao Zhengshan, commander of the Eastern Palace Imperial Guards, rode at his side. Every so often, he glanced ahead, then looked at His Highness the Crown Prince’s expression. After hesitating for quite some time, he finally could not hold back and asked in a low voice, “Your Highness, shall we head west? The forest is denser in that direction, and there should be more game.”
Cui Yu replied, “No need.”
Xiao Zhengshan fell silent.
He had followed the Crown Prince for many years and knew perfectly well that His Highness actually enjoyed riding and hunting. In recent years, however, because of the emperor, the Crown Prince merely hunted a few animals during each outing. Sometimes, even when he did catch something, he would not bother having it brought back, simply giving it away to the people below him.
Yet whenever they came out here, Xiao Zhengshan could see the relaxed look in the Crown Prince’s eyes and brows.
But today... why had His Highness been following the Seventh Prince and the Eighth Prince the entire time?
Puzzled, he did not dare ask too many questions and simply followed in silence.
After they had gone a little farther, Cui Yu suddenly reined in his horse. He turned his head and ordered, “Xiao Zhengshan, take a squad of men westward and do some hunting. Don’t make too much of a show of it.”
Xiao Zhengshan was briefly taken aback, but immediately understood. His Highness truly had no intention of making a move today.
He promptly clasped his fists. “Your subordinate obeys!”
He then selected a squad of men and rode west.
Cui Yu watched him leave before turning his gaze back to the road ahead.
The autumn wind swept through the woods, stirring a rustling sound. He recalled the news he had received two days earlier: Consort Li of Jingfu Palace had been ill for quite some time.
They said it was a chill that had settled deep in her body. She had been bedridden for days, and although the imperial physicians had visited twice and prescribed and prepared medicine for her, her condition had not improved. Instead, she grew weaker with each passing day.
Cui Yu’s expression darkened slightly.
Suddenly, the Eighth Prince’s spirited shout rang out ahead, interrupting his thoughts.
“Seventh Prince! What are you dawdling for? Hurry up!”
Cui Yu raised his eyes. He saw the Eighth Prince riding ahead, turning back to shout at the Seventh Prince. He looked impatient to the point of restlessness.
“I saw a white fox in the woods up ahead! Its fur is magnificent—not a single speck of another color!” The Eighth Prince’s voice carried through the trees. “If you hunt it and present it to Father, he might be so pleased that he’ll let you ask him to summon a few more imperial physicians for your mother consort.”
The Seventh Prince, who had been silently following behind, finally showed a change in his usually wooden expression. He lifted his head and glanced in the direction the Eighth Prince had indicated. After pressing his lips together, he kicked his horse into motion and followed.
The two of them rode faster and faster. The sound of hooves grew increasingly hurried before soon disappearing along the forest path ahead.
Cui Yu swept a glance over the surrounding terrain, his brows drawing together slightly. He had not come to this area often. There were mostly small game here; in previous years, he had always hunted farther west, where the forests were deeper and the prey more numerous and ferocious. However, on one occasion, he had chased a fox and happened to come this way...
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”
Cui Yu reined in his horse and turned back.
The Sixth Prince rode out from a forest path, followed by several guards. Upon seeing Cui Yu, he clasped his fists and bowed.
“This younger brother greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”
Cui Yu drew in the reins and gave a faint nod. “There is no need for such ceremony, Sixth Brother.”
The Sixth Prince’s gaze swept over the Crown Prince’s horse. There was no game—not even some token quarry to put on appearances. A flicker passed through his eyes before he looked at the guards following behind Cui Yu and asked with a smile, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince... where have you come from?”
“Just wandering around.” Cui Yu’s tone was indifferent, and he had no desire to elaborate.
The Sixth Prince did not mind. He pointed westward and smiled. “I came from that direction just now. I saw Great General Qi and Second Imperial Brother over there, along with several other generals. Will Your Highness not go take a look?”
Cui Yu glanced at him, his expression unchanged. “There is no need. I have something to attend to. I shall take my leave first.”
With that, he did not wait for the Sixth Prince to respond before spurring his horse onward.
He had ridden only a few dozen paces when a terrified neigh suddenly rang out from the forest ahead!
Cui Yu’s expression changed. He dug his heels into his horse’s sides, and the steed let out a long cry before racing toward the source of the sound. The imperial guards behind him did not dare delay for even a moment and hurriedly followed.
The Sixth Prince had originally been making his way in that direction at an unhurried pace. After glancing toward the source of the cry, he narrowed his eyes as though he had thought of something. He then spurred his horse as well and led his men after them.
In no time, the group arrived at the scene.
Cui Yu reined in his horse and dismounted. At a glance, he saw the Eighth Prince.
The Eighth Prince was standing at the edge of a raised cliff. When he saw the Crown Prince, his entire body stiffened. His fingers clenched tightly around the reins, and his lips trembled faintly.
In the distance, a rapid thunder of hooves drew nearer. The imperial guards responsible for securing the hunting grounds had heard the commotion and were rushing over at full speed.
“What happened?” Cui Yu’s voice was deep and cold.
The imperial guard responsible for the Eighth Prince’s safety looked pale. He glanced at the even paler Eighth Prince before gritting his teeth and reporting, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this subordinate and the others were thrown some distance behind by Their Highnesses. From afar, we saw the Seventh Prince’s horse... suddenly lose control and charge straight toward the edge of the cliff! The Seventh Prince had no time to rein it in. He fell over the cliff together with the horse!”
After hearing this, Cui Yu’s expression turned as cold as ice. He immediately ordered the guards behind him, “Bring the ropes. Go down and rescue him.”
The guards obeyed at once. They untied ropes from their horses. Since they needed to bind their quarry while hunting, every hunting party was equipped with ropes; at this moment, they proved exactly what was needed.
Several men quickly secured one end of a rope to a large tree at the cliff’s edge and threw the other end down. The most agile imperial guards immediately began climbing down to search.
Just then, another rapid succession of hoofbeats approached.
The newcomer dismounted in one smooth motion and strode up to Cui Yu. He dropped to one knee before him.
“I have failed in my duty. I beg Your Highness, the Crown Prince, to punish me!”
It was Marquis Xuanyi.
He was neither particularly tall nor powerfully built—in fact, he could even be called slender. His features were handsome enough to be described as beautiful. Yet his eyes were exceptionally bright, his gaze sharp as a blade. Though he knelt on the ground to plead for forgiveness, his back remained ramrod straight. His entire person resembled a drawn sword.
Cui Yu glanced at him and spoke in a brief, stern voice. “Rescue the Seventh Prince first.”
Marquis Xuanyi immediately rose. Knowing what mattered most, he turned and ordered the men behind him, “Go down and rescue him. Not only must the Seventh Prince be brought up, that runaway horse must be brought up as well.”
The imperial guards answered in unison and immediately sent another squad down the cliff on the ropes.
Only then did Cui Yu walk a few steps forward and look over the edge.
The sight caused his brows to knit even more tightly.
This was not an ordinary steep slope. The entire cliff face jutted outward, leaving the space beneath it suspended in midair. Below lay a dense forest, its branches thick and luxuriant, layered one over another.
If someone fell from this spot, no one above could see them at all. Had no one witnessed the fall and rushed to help immediately, the victim would have been utterly beyond help, no matter how loudly they cried out.
Cui Yu’s gaze darkened.
Before long, shouts rose from below.
“Your Highness, the Crown Prince! We’ve found the Seventh Prince! His leg is caught on a tree, and he’s still conscious! His left leg is injured!”
A small measure of tension eased in Cui Yu’s heart. An injury to the leg meant... the Seventh Prince was not in immediate danger of losing his life.
Only then did he withdraw his gaze and slowly turn it toward the Eighth Prince.
Meeting his eyes, the Eighth Prince instinctively took half a step back. His face grew even paler.
Cui Yu’s gaze was icy.
“Eighth Brother, you and the Seventh Prince were together the entire time. Why did his horse suddenly lose control and charge over the cliff?”
“R-Reporting to Your Highness, I... I don’t know either!” The Eighth Prince’s voice was taut, and he spoke at great speed. “Just now, Seventh Brother and I were chasing a white fox. It was a fine specimen, so we wanted to hunt it down and offer it to Father. We chased it all the way here... When we reached this spot and saw that there was nowhere else to go, I stopped. But Old Seventh... I don’t know why he didn’t stop. He charged straight over the edge!”
As he spoke, his face went pale. He glanced down into the ravine, his voice carrying a hint of relief at having escaped disaster himself. “It nearly scared me to death! Thank goodness Old Seventh is all right...”
Cui Yu gave him a cold, expressionless look. His icy gaze made the Eighth Prince’s legs tremble so badly that he nearly lost his balance.
“Have the surrounding woods searched thoroughly. See whether there is anything suspicious—such as drugs capable of driving horses mad.” Cui Yu turned to the Marquis Xuanyi and ordered him coldly.
The Marquis Xuanyi immediately cupped his fists. “Your subject will obey!”
Such a serious lapse had occurred under his watch. Even without the Crown Prince’s command, he would have searched the area.
The Eighth Prince’s lips moved faintly, and he cursed inwardly.
How had the Crown Prince heard the commotion so quickly? He had clearly investigated this area beforehand. Very few people came here; most went to the hunting grounds in the west or north.
Even if the Imperial Guards stationed nearby were alerted, so long as he acted as though nothing had happened, no one would discover anything.
He had deliberately sent away the guards accompanying the Seventh Prince. As for the guards assigned to him... To avoid being implicated in this matter, it was naturally best that they knew nothing.
He had not wanted to kill Old Seventh either, but his cousin had pressured him far too hard. He had been left with no choice but to...
Fortunately, he had not acted personally. The Seventh Prince should think it was merely an accident...
With that thought, the anxiety that had gripped him ever since the Crown Prince’s sudden arrival finally eased a little.
Not far away, the Sixth Prince wore an expression of concern. From time to time, he called down into the ravine, asking, “How is Seventh Brother?” and “How badly is his leg injured?”
His concern was plain for all to see.
Yet his thoughts had darkened.
What Lady Shen had said was actually true.
Old Seventh really had been injured today—and it was his leg...
The Sixth Prince cast an inconspicuous glance at the Eighth Prince’s back, a deep look flashing through his eyes.
The Seventh Prince was usually the Eighth Prince’s shadow, following him around like a lackey. The Eighth Prince had him go east, and he would never go west. What reason could the Eighth Prince have to act against him?
Even if he had wanted to torment him, he would at most have humiliated him a little or beaten him a few times. Why would he suddenly try to take his life?
More importantly...
Lady Shen lived deep within the palace. As a woman of the inner court, how had she learned of this in advance?
The Sixth Prince lowered his eyes, concealing the doubt within them.
Why had she chosen to come and warn him?
What, exactly... was she plotting?
A commotion from below the cliff interrupted his thoughts.
Several Imperial Guards worked together to haul the Seventh Prince up from the ravine. His face was as pale as paper, and cold sweat covered his forehead. Several parts of his robes had been torn by branches, and there were several bloody scratches on his face.
Most horrifying of all was his left leg. A branch as thick as a thumb had pierced straight through his calf. Blood streamed from the wound, soaking half of his trouser leg.
Cui Yu’s expression changed. He hurried forward and crouched beside him, then pulled a porcelain bottle from his robes and poured all the wound powder over the injury.
The powder clotted when it met the blood and managed to slow the bleeding somewhat, but blood still seeped from the wound. Frowning tightly, Cui Yu tore off a strip from the hem of his inner robe and swiftly bound the injury, temporarily stemming the frightening flow of blood.
“Crown Prince...” The Seventh Prince looked up at him, his lips moving faintly and his voice weak.
“Don’t speak.” Cui Yu pressed down on his shoulder, then turned and ordered, “Take the Seventh Prince back for treatment at once!”
The guards acknowledged the order. They immediately brought over a makeshift stretcher and carefully lifted the Seventh Prince onto it.
Cui Yu rose and looked toward the Marquis Xuanyi. “Send a group to escort Seventh Brother back. You will remain here personally and finish searching this area.”
The Marquis Xuanyi shook his head and cupped his fists. “Your Highness, I have already ordered my deputy general to stay behind and conduct the search. He will turn this entire area upside down if necessary. I will personally escort the three princes back.”
Cui Yu glanced at him but said nothing more. He simply nodded.
The party did not delay any further. They mounted their horses and galloped away, escorting the Seventh Prince on his stretcher.
*
Shen Yanshui was chatting and laughing with the Second Prince’s principal wife.
It was the latter who had initiated the conversation. She knew that her husband, the Second Prince, had no desire to compete for the throne and only wanted to live as a wealthy and carefree prince. Although her mother-in-law, Consort De, still held out some hope for the First Prince, in her opinion, the First Prince might be brave and formidable, but he was not suited to become the heir—or the Crown Prince.
She had once wanted to establish a good relationship with the Eastern Palace. However, with her mother-in-law watching over her, she had not dared to be too obvious. Besides, the Crown Princess was far too aloof and conceited, and had never thought much of her. After repeatedly being met with cold indifference, she had grown tired of offering warmth to someone who did not return it.
But the Eastern Palace had seen quite a bit of activity over the past two months. She had heard that the Crown Princess had shut the palace gates to focus on her pregnancy, while the Crown Prince had become especially fond of this new Worthy Lady Shen, who had only recently entered the Eastern Palace.
Since that was the case, she did not mind having a conversation with her.
And after speaking with her, she found that Worthy Lady Shen was exceptionally pleasant to listen to. She praised her beauty, complimented how well her makeup matched her hair ornaments and clothing that day... Even her voice sounded sweet.
Shen Yanshui looked at her with a bright smile and said softly, “I made these candied fruits myself when I had some free time. Would the Second Prince’s Consort like to try one?”
“Worthy Lady Shen, you are truly talented and clever.” The Second Prince’s Consort accepted them with a smile and popped one directly into her mouth.
She was not worried that they had been tampered with. Considering the Second Prince’s character, he was unlikely to attract the Crown Prince’s attention in the first place. Besides...
She had already caught the faint scent of peaches drifting from Shen Yanshui’s direction. She had also seen Shen Yanshui chewing discreetly twice, one cheek puffed out. She had been craving some for quite a while.
She had barely eaten anything at breakfast. Although she had sampled some of the fruit and pastries on the table, she had been mindful of her manners and could hardly empty the plates in front of everyone.
These candied fruits, however, were bite-sized, both elegant and delicious. They were even better than any candied fruit she had eaten before.
The more she ate, the more surprised she became.
She had never expected to find herself craving someone else’s little snacks so badly. She even wanted to ask how they had been made and why they were so fragrant and sweet, with such a wonderful texture.
Shen Yanshui only glanced at her eyes, which had suddenly lit up, before smiling and considerately saying, “If the Second Prince’s Consort does not find them distasteful, I brought quite a bit more with me. Once we return, shall I have someone send some over to you?”
The Second Prince’s Consort’s eyes immediately lit up, though the next moment she grew a little embarrassed. “How could I possibly accept this...?”
“What’s the harm?” Shen Yanshui said with a bright, smiling gaze. “They’re only some snacks I made myself. I’d be delighted if the Second Prince’s Consort enjoys them.”
She could also send a couple of jars to the Empress later. The Empress’s tastes seemed rather similar to the Crown Prince’s, so she would probably enjoy them as well.
The smile on the Second Prince’s Consort’s face became noticeably more genuine. She was just about to speak when a noise suddenly came from the distance. She instinctively turned to look.
Shen Yanshui heard it too. From the direction of the hunting grounds came the rapid thunder of hooves, dense as a sudden rainstorm. Clearly, this was no ordinary return.
She turned her head and immediately saw the Crown Prince riding at the very front.
Cui Yu wore a dark blue riding outfit, his figure still ramrod straight. But with one sweep of her gaze, Shen Yanshui saw several dark stains seeping into his sleeve. His hand was... stained with blood!
Her heart leaped into her throat. She nearly rose from her seat, her fingers clutching the armrest tightly.
The next moment, she heard the Empress order, “Go and see what happened.”
At once, a palace servant descended from the viewing platform and hurried over.
Before long, Shen Yanshui could make out the imperial guards carrying someone on a stretcher and rushing toward the tent that had been set up nearby.
The others on the platform gradually noticed the commotion as well, and several noblewomen began whispering among themselves.
“Who was injured?”
“Could something have gone wrong during the hunt?”
Shen Yanshui paid no attention to their murmurs. Her gaze remained fixed on the Crown Prince until she saw him dismount with ease and walk without difficulty. Only then did she relax, concluding that even if he had been injured, it could only be a minor wound.
Then she recalled the side of the face she had glimpsed on the stretcher moments earlier...
It was the Seventh Prince.
Shen Yanshui furrowed her brows.
What a coincidence...
As she was thinking this, the corner of her eye caught sight of Lady Shen.
Lady Shen wore much the same expression of surprise and confusion as everyone else.
But just as Shen Yanshui looked over, she happened to catch the shock in Lady Shen’s eyes—and even a trace of barely concealed panic and fear.
She frowned in puzzlement. Surprise would have been understandable, but why was Lady Shen so flustered, even frightened, by the Seventh Prince’s injury?
Lady Shen clenched her palm tightly and murmured uncontrollably, “How is that possible...?”
How was it possible that the Crown Prince had been the one to save him?!
In her dream, the Crown Prince had clearly not been there. The only person present had been Marquis Xuanyi!
That was it! Marquis Xuanyi had been there earlier as well. Perhaps... perhaps he had simply happened to encounter the Crown Prince’s party on the way back, and the two groups had returned together...
Even so, her expression remained rather grim, and her fingertips trembled faintly.
If the Seventh Prince had been rescued in time, would he still end up crippled, just as he had in the dream?
Would the matter between the Eighth Prince and He Wanzhi still be exposed at tonight’s banquet?
Would everything that followed... change?
Until now, she had never given the matter much thought. She wanted to change the fate that awaited her, but would the Sixth Prince’s ascension to the throne also... change because of her influence?
Her face suddenly went deathly pale.
Shen Yanshui watched the expressions flicker across her face, her brows drawing together as she recalled the words Lady Shen had murmured so softly they had nearly been inaudible.
How is that possible?
What did she mean?
What was this “How is that possible”?
Why did it sound so strange?
It was almost as though... she had known all along what was going to happen, and things had simply unfolded beyond her expectations.
Was that why she was so shocked?
But Lady Shen lived deep within the palace. How could she have known in advance what would happen at the hunting grounds?
Shen Yanshui puzzled over it and could not help scratching her cheek.
