Shen Yanshui smiled as she welcomed the two women into the main hall. After Lady Zhang exchanged greetings with them, she stayed nearby to help receive the guests.
Chunping led the palace maids in serving tea and refreshments. Everyone sat and chatted, each adding a word here and there. Before long, the sun had climbed higher in the sky, and it was nearly time for the midday meal.
Princess Consort of the Second Prince set down her teacup and suddenly said with a smile, “Worthy Lady Shen, there is something I wanted to trouble you with.”
Shen Yanshui smiled faintly. “Please, Princess Consort.”
The Princess Consort covered her lips and smiled, her tone carrying a hint of embarrassment. “Yesterday, His Highness came back and told me that he and the Crown Prince had gone horseback riding together. Great General Qi happened to mention that Worthy Lady Shen had come up with a new way of preparing hot pot—a…red-oil broth, was it? He said it had a flavor unlike ordinary hot pot, and after trying it once, Great General Qi had been craving it ever since. He even asked the Crown Prince about how the broth was made.”
She smiled again before continuing, “His Highness mentioned it when he returned, and it naturally piqued my curiosity. I wonder, would you be willing to let us sisters try this novel dish here today?”
Upon hearing this, Secondary Consort Yun could not help looking up at the Princess Consort. The Sixth Prince had also gone horseback riding with the Crown Prince yesterday, but after returning, he had not mentioned anything about it to her…
Shen Yanshui was rather surprised as well. She had not expected this at all.
She immediately smiled. “Of course.”
She glanced at Quanfu, who was waiting outside the door. Quanfu understood at once and bowed with a nod.
Only then did she turn back to the Princess Consort and say with a smile, “The red-oil broth is indeed rather different from the broth used in ordinary hot pot. You and Secondary Consort Yun can try it later and see whether it suits your tastes. If you like it, I’ll write down the recipe for both of you. Then you can make it in your own residences and enjoy it whenever you wish.”
The Princess Consort’s smile grew even more genuine. “That would be wonderful. Since even Great General Qi praised it so highly, the flavor must be excellent. Then I’ll thank you in advance, Worthy Lady Shen.”
…
Before long, Quanfu led several eunuchs into the courtyard carrying small red-clay braziers. They placed them beneath a large wooden table in the center of the courtyard.
A copper pot was set on top. Once the charcoal fire was lit beneath it, steam soon began to rise as the broth bubbled away.
One side held a milky-white clear broth, floating with a few mushrooms and slices of ginger. The other side was a brilliant red, covered in a glistening layer of chili oil. Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies tumbled in the broth, filling the air with a rich and assertive spicy fragrance.
The sliced ingredients were quickly brought out and arranged across the table until it was piled high with all sorts of dishes.
Shen Yanshui smiled and invited the Princess Consort and Secondary Consort Yun to take their seats.
The Princess Consort sat down and fixed her gaze on the bright-red broth, her eyes filled with curiosity. “This is the red-oil broth Great General Qi mentioned? It smells wonderful.”
Secondary Consort Yun took her seat as well.
Lady Zhang sat down beside Shen Yanshui. She had been visiting the Chengxin Hall frequently these days, and the two had grown quite familiar, so she did not stand on ceremony.
Once the pot began to boil, the Princess Consort tried a piece of food cooked in the red-oil broth for the first time. The instant it entered her mouth, the spice overwhelmed her, and her eyes reddened.
“Ah—it’s so fragrant.” She could not help reaching for another piece with her chopsticks.
Secondary Consort Yun cautiously tasted a little as well. Her brows drew together slightly, and she took a soft breath at the heat. But soon her expression relaxed. “It really is fragrant.”
The Princess Consort said no more, devoting herself entirely to eating.
Seeing this, Shen Yanshui smiled and advised, “Princess Consort, since this is your first time trying the red-oil broth, you should mix it with the clear broth so that your stomach doesn’t become upset later. Otherwise, you may end up suffering once you return.”
The Princess Consort was just about to place a slice of fish into the red-oil broth when she heard this. Her chopsticks paused, and she hesitated visibly.
Seeing that, Shen Yanshui added with a smile, “Besides, if you eat too much spicy food, you may develop little blemishes on your face.”
At once, the Princess Consort withdrew her chopsticks from above the red broth and lowered them into the clear broth instead.
An upset stomach was a minor matter. But if blemishes appeared on her face—and she happened to be left with scars—she would never be able to bear it.
Secondary Consort Yun was far more restrained than the Princess Consort. After hearing Worthy Lady Shen’s warning, she used the clear broth almost exclusively, dipping things into the red-oil broth only once in a while.
She watched Shen Yanshui and noticed that Worthy Lady Shen herself showed no reservations at all. She continued eating food cooked in the red-oil broth, one piece after another.
Secondary Consort Yun pressed her lips together. At last, she could not help asking softly, “Worthy Lady Shen, aren’t you afraid of developing blemishes after eating so much?” Or of displeasing the Crown Prince?
Shen Yanshui looked up at her. Although Secondary Consort Yun had not voiced the second half of her thought, Shen Yanshui somehow read the unspoken words in her expression.
She smiled. “Whether one develops blemishes has more to do with one’s constitution. Some people get heatiness and break out after eating only a little spicy food, while others can eat as much as they like without any trouble. I may simply be the sort of person who doesn’t break out easily. I suppose we’ll know after I’ve eaten it a few more times.”
Secondary Consort Yun nodded thoughtfully. She pursed her lips in a smile and said nothing more.
The Princess Consort, however, brightened at once, and her thoughts began to turn…
Still, after a moment of hesitation, she did not dare eat as freely as Shen Yanshui.
Lady Zhang, sitting nearby, did not say much. She simply ate quietly, occasionally adding a word or two at an appropriate moment. She neither stole the limelight nor gave anyone the impression that she was incapable of handling herself in company.
By the end of the hot-pot meal, host and guests were all thoroughly delighted.
They sat together drinking tea to aid digestion and chatted for a while longer.
The Princess Consort held her teacup, smiling warmly at Shen Yanshui. Suddenly, she said, “Speaking of which, I truly have you to thank for my good fortune, Worthy Lady Shen.”
Shen Yanshui turned her head, surprise showing on her face.
The Princess Consort set down her teacup and smiled. “You may not know this, but I had been suffering from a toothache for quite some time. I took countless medicines and consulted goodness knows how many imperial physicians, yet it simply would not improve. The pain was so bad that I could hardly sleep at night. But the last time, you gave me a jar of those candied peaches. I ate them for two or three days, and the toothache actually improved considerably. Now it has healed completely. I’m certain it was because I benefited from your good fortune.”
Shen Yanshui was momentarily stunned, then could not help wanting to laugh. The Princess Consort’s words… What did this have to do with good fortune? It sounded as if she were deliberately trying to draw closer, but then again, she might not have been entirely wrong.
After all, she had taken meticulous care of the peaches growing in her courtyard. Eating a few more of them really could resolve a minor problem like a toothache.
She smiled and replied, “How could that be attributed to my good fortune? Your toothache simply happened to be ready to improve, and the timing was a coincidence. Please don’t praise me any further…”
Secondary Consort Yun watched the exchange from the side, her hand holding the teacup pausing slightly.
When the Princess Consort spoke with her, she was never this warm and familiar.
Secondary Consort Yun pressed her lips together and lowered her lashes.
After sitting for a little while longer, the Princess Consort and Secondary Consort Yun glanced at the sky and rose to take their leave. Shen Yanshui and Lady Zhang stood to see them off, accompanying them all the way to the entrance of Chengxin Hall.
Shen Yanshui stood at the entrance, watching the two palanquins recede into the distance. Only then did she let out a small sigh of relief. Socializing—especially with people she was not yet familiar with—was truly exhausting.
The two women turned back. After walking with her for a short while, Lady Zhang smiled and said, “You must be tired today, Sister. I’ll take my leave now and come visit you another day.”
Shen Yanshui turned to look at her and nodded with a smile. “We’ll speak again next time, Sister. Take care.”
She had Dongyi see Lady Zhang out, then turned and went back into the inner room.
The moment she stepped inside, all her energy left her. She collapsed onto the soft couch, sprawling on her back with her arms and legs spread wide, unwilling to move another inch.
Chunping followed her in and hurriedly fetched a thin blanket to cover her.
Shen Yanshui slept deeply.
Half awake, she seemed to hear Sister Xu’s voice drifting faintly into her ears…
After a while, she finally woke completely.
When she opened her eyes, the gauze curtain before the soft couch had already been lowered. The slanting afternoon sunlight filtered through it, softened into a warm glow that fell across the floor.
She propped herself up and sat. The moment she moved, Chunping, who had been keeping watch outside, heard the sound and quickly lifted the curtain to come in.
“My lady is awake?” Chunping said as she deftly gathered up the gauze curtain. She then handed Shen Yanshui a cup of warm honey water. “Have a little to soothe your throat.”
Shen Yanshui took the cup and drank two sips, feeling her throat grow more comfortable. Chunping smiled and said, “My lady, Miss Xu has arrived and has been waiting outside for quite some time. I said I should come in and wake you, but Miss Xu wouldn’t let me. She said you should sleep well and that she would simply wait outside. She’s been sitting there all this time.”
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment. So it had not been a dream—Sister Xu really had come.
She had no time to say more. After hastily smoothing her hair, she walked toward the outer room.
Xu Qingle was sitting in a chair in the main reception room. Several plates of pastries and fruit had been set out on the tea table before her, and her tea had already been refilled twice. Hearing the movement, she turned her head—and saw Shen Yanshui approaching with rosy cheeks from sleep. Xu Qingle hurriedly rose and greeted her with a smile.
“Sister Shen.”
Shen Yanshui smiled at her. “How long have you been waiting?”
“Not long, not long at all.” Xu Qingle took Shen Yanshui’s hand and looked her over from head to toe before smiling with pursed lips. “I was the one who told them not to wake you. I had originally planned to come in the morning, but I thought the Princess Consort of the Second Prince and the others might come by, and it would be awkward to run into them, so I… I decided to come at this hour instead. Besides, I have nothing else to do at the imperial residence, so I thought I’d come sit with you, Sister Shen. I hope you don’t mind.”
Shen Yanshui held her hand and led her to sit beside her in the main reception room. She glanced at the pastries and fruit on the tea table; Chunping had clearly already entertained Xu Qingle.
“How could I ever mind? I’d be delighted as long as you’re willing to come.”
Xu Qingle’s eyes curved into a smile, and two faint dimples appeared on her round cheeks.
After chatting for a few moments, Xu Qingle’s gaze instinctively fell to Shen Yanshui’s belly. “I never would have guessed you were carrying twins this time.” She lifted her head, her round eyes filled with sincere delight. “Congratulations, Sister Shen. It’s just that… I heard the news so suddenly that I didn’t have time to prepare a gift. I’ll make it up to you once we return to the capital.”
Shen Yanshui smiled and accepted her congratulations. The two of them were close enough that there was no need for empty formalities. She asked Chunping to bring out a few more pastries and a bowl of lotus-seed soup, and Xu Qingle kept her company as they ate and chatted.
But as they talked, Shen Yanshui gradually sensed that something was amiss.
Xu Qingle looked no different from usual, yet if one observed her carefully, her reactions were occasionally half a beat slow. Whenever Shen Yanshui asked her a question, she would pause for a moment before answering… as though her mind were elsewhere.
Shen Yanshui studied her for a moment. “Sister Xu, today you…”
She was just about to ask what was wrong when a commotion suddenly came from outside—
“Greetings to the Crown Prince.”
The voices belonged to the eunuchs and palace maids.
Xu Qingle immediately stood up, placed the half-eaten osmanthus cake back on the plate, and hurriedly brushed the crumbs from her hands. She straightened her robe and turned to Shen Yanshui, speaking softly. “Sister Shen, the Crown Prince is here. I’ll take my leave.”
When the Crown Prince strode into the room, she quickly lowered her head and curtsied in greeting before leaving.
…
Cui Yu sat down in the outer room. Chunping was just bringing over a cup of tea.
He was dressed in a black robe, his hair secured with a white jade hairpin. He had probably just returned from discussing affairs before the Emperor, and there was still a trace of fatigue between his brows.
Shen Yanshui sat down beside him and rested her chin in her hand. Thinking of Xu Qingle’s behavior just now, she unconsciously furrowed her brows.
She held the teacup Chunping had handed her but did not drink. Instead, she rubbed her fingers along the rim, looking thoughtful.
Cui Yu set down his teacup and glanced sideways at her. “What are you thinking about?”
Shen Yanshui came back to herself and did not hide it from him. “Sister Xu seemed a little distracted today. Although she looked no different from usual, I had the feeling that something was troubling her. But when I asked, she wouldn’t say.”
She paused. “I wonder if something happened.”
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm as he held his teacup. “I heard that Miss Xu has gone to visit the Seventh Prince twice recently.”
Shen Yanshui looked up in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. “Sister Xu went to see the Seventh Prince?”
Cui Yu glanced at her. “What’s so strange about that? She is the Seventh Prince’s betrothed secondary consort. Since she is here at the imperial residence and the Seventh Prince has been injured, it is only natural that she should visit him.”
Shen Yanshui was stunned for a moment, then felt that it did make sense.
The Seventh Prince had injured his leg and had been recuperating at the imperial residence these past few days. Although Xu Qingle had not officially married into the household yet, her position had already been decided. As the Seventh Prince’s secondary consort, she was scheduled to enter his residence at the end of the year, on a date selected by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
Now that the Seventh Prince was injured, it was only proper for her to visit him.
But—
Shen Yanshui recalled the scene she had accidentally witnessed last time and felt somewhat worried.
She had assumed that Sister Xu would not dare appear before the Seventh Prince. She had never expected that Xu Qingle had already gone to see him twice.
Suddenly, she glanced at the Crown Prince, edged closer to him, and lowered her voice. “Your Highness, about what happened last time… Didn’t I tell you that Sister Xu and I accidentally caught the Eighth Prince and He Wan together?”
Cui Yu held his teacup, his expression unchanged. He merely hummed in acknowledgment.
Shen Yanshui leaned a little closer and lowered her voice even further. “The Seventh Prince saw Sister Xu then too. Do you think… given his temperament, he might hold it against her?”
She did not know the Seventh Prince well. Rumors were only rumors, and to find out what he was truly like, she could only ask the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at her and fell silent for a moment. After a while, he said flatly, “The Seventh Prince… probably won’t mind.”
Hearing the certainty in his voice, Shen Yanshui finally relaxed. She nodded and did not press him for an explanation.
If the Seventh Prince truly held no grudge in his heart, then Sister Xu’s life would not be too difficult after she married him.
To the west of the imperial retreat, at Bamboo-Clear Pavilion.
The courtyard was not far from the Crown Prince’s Chengxin Hall, but it was secluded and peaceful. It was not large, consisting of two sections, front and back, with numerous green bamboo stalks planted throughout. Whenever the wind blew, they rustled softly.
There were no overly elaborate furnishings in the courtyard. Beneath the covered walkway stood only two neatly trimmed potted evergreens, giving the place a stern, austere air.
Inside, the Seventh Prince was reclining on the bed.
A sudden burst of footsteps sounded outside. A moment later, the eunuch He Qun entered quietly.
He Qun was carrying a food box. He stopped beside the bed and lowered his voice. “Your Highness, Second Miss Xu has sent you food again.”
The Seventh Prince was leaning against a bolster. At those words, his eyelids moved slightly, but he did not open them.
He Qun continued softly, “She left as soon as she delivered it… This servant couldn’t even stop her.”
Second Miss Xu had already come twice before. This made the third time. Every time, she said nothing, simply set down the food and left, as though… she were completing some sort of assignment.
Only then did the Seventh Prince slowly open his eyes.
He glanced at the food box in He Qun’s hands but said nothing, merely staring at it with a heavy, unreadable gaze.
After a long while, he finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse. “Take it out.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” He Qun hurriedly placed the food box on a nearby table and removed the dishes one by one.
There was a bowl of lotus-leaf porridge, thick and creamy, its base a pale green. It carried the distinctive fragrance of lotus leaves, with a few goji berries scattered on top, looking fresh and appetizing.
A plate of steamed lotus-root slices filled with minced shrimp. The slices were thin, and the filling had been steamed until soft and tender, melting in the mouth—perfect for someone recovering from an injury.
There was also a plate of wood-ear mushrooms dressed with vinegar and sesame oil, pleasantly tart and fragrant, as well as a small dish of candied peaches cut into neat little pieces.
As he arranged the dishes, He Qun could not help taking another look. Everything was light, neither greasy nor difficult to digest—exactly the sort of food His Highness needed while recuperating.
The Seventh Prince looked at the dishes, picked up a spoon, and took a mouthful of lotus-leaf porridge.
It had been cooked to perfection. The rice grains had completely broken down, and the lotus-leaf fragrance had seeped into the porridge—faint, neither too strong nor too weak, just right…
With his eyes lowered, the Seventh Prince ate slowly, his thoughts impossible to read.
Before he knew it, the scene from the last time he had seen Second Miss Xu rose in his mind.
He had not paid much attention to her then. He only remembered that she had been standing behind Worthy Lady Shen, staring at him with a pair of large, round eyes, like a startled rabbit. Her mouth had been slightly open, and her face was filled with alarm.
That image had remained in his mind only as a hazy impression…
The candied peaches had been cut into small pieces for easy eating, and their sweetness had been adjusted perfectly. Unlike some of the candied fruits in the palace, which were cloyingly sweet, they still retained the peaches’ natural fragrance. After being preserved in sugar, they had gained an additional layer of mellow sweetness.
Still, he ate only one piece and did not touch another.
After finishing the meal, he was silent for a moment before saying, “If she comes again, don’t accept anything from her.”
He Qun froze for a moment and answered obediently. Inwardly, he sighed. He actually thought Miss Xu was quite a good match for His Highness. It was obvious that she cared about him… Just as he was feeling a little regretful, he heard the Seventh Prince continue—
“Have her bring it in herself.”
He Qun froze again. Once he understood, he hurriedly bowed and replied, “Yes, Your Highness. This servant will remember.”
*
The sky gradually darkened.
On a summer evening, a faint smear of orange-red still lingered along the horizon.
Shen Yanshui and Cui Yu had just finished dinner when the palace maids quietly cleared away the dishes.
Cui Yu lifted his teacup for a sip and brought up the matter of the hot-pot recipe.
Shen Yanshui raised her head and smiled. “The Second Prince’s Princess Consort mentioned it to me today. The recipe has already been written down. Your Highness can take it to my uncle tomorrow.”
Cui Yu nodded slightly and set down his teacup. Then he rose and held out a hand to her.
Shen Yanshui stared at him in surprise.
“Let’s take a walk,” Cui Yu said.
She smiled and placed her hand in his palm, allowing him to pull her to her feet. Cui Yu closed his fingers around hers, their fingers interlacing. His palm was warm and dry as he led her outside at an unhurried pace.
The two of them walked slowly along the covered corridor behind Chengxin Hall. The gentle summer evening breeze brushed past them, lifting the stray hairs at Shen Yanshui’s temples.
She drew in a deep breath, feeling the refreshing coolness fill her chest. It was so comfortable that she narrowed her eyes in contentment.
“So comfortable,” she murmured.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at her. Seeing the satisfied look on her face, the corners of his lips curved faintly. He said nothing, merely tightened his hold on her hand.
Shen Yanshui looked up at the darkening sky. She felt they had walked long enough and was just thinking of returning inside when she suddenly noticed the Crown Prince stop.
Puzzled, she turned to him. “Your Highness?”
Cui Yu remained where he was, still holding her hand. His gaze rested on her face. After a moment of silence, he said, “I still have some affairs of state to deal with. I’ll sleep in the front hall tonight.”
These past few days, A-Yan had been far too clingy. He felt that sleeping apart for a while would be better for both of them.
But if A-Yan refused… if she acted coquettishly and tried to persuade him to stay, how could he refuse without hurting her feelings?
“Oh,” Shen Yanshui said. She nodded quickly, showing that she understood. After all, he was the Crown Prince. Wasn’t it perfectly normal for him to have government affairs to attend to?
She looked up at him with a bright smile. “Then Your Highness should go ahead. But don’t work too late. It isn’t good for your eyes.”
Cui Yu looked at the smile on her face and pressed his lips together. “…Mm.”
Seeing that he still had no intention of leaving, Shen Yanshui looked at him again and said, “Then I’ll go back first?” As she spoke, she glanced down at their joined hands.
“…”
Cui Yu slowly released her hand and nodded.
Shen Yanshui turned and walked toward the inner room. After a few steps, she looked back.
The Crown Prince was still standing where she had left him. Lantern light illuminated his face, making his features unusually clear. His gaze remained fixed on her…
Hm? Why did something seem strange?
Shen Yanshui decided that the light must have been too dim and that she had seen incorrectly. She smiled and waved at him before turning around and skipping into the room.
The curtain fell behind her, hiding her figure from view.
Cui Yu stood where he was, his expression calm. His heart was filled with a complicated mixture of disappointment and regret, along with a trace of relief…
It was extraordinarily complicated.
Late that night, Shen Yanshui finished bathing, changed into her nightclothes, and slipped comfortably beneath the covers. Chunping lowered the gauze curtains around the bed and turned the candle down, leaving only a dim yellow lamp burning in the corner.
“Rest early, Mistress,” Chunping said softly.
“Mm,” Shen Yanshui murmured, closing her eyes.
Chunping quietly slipped out and pulled the door shut behind her.
The inner chamber fell quiet, save for the occasional chirp of crickets drifting in through the window, the soft sound was hardly jarring at all.
Shen Yanshui rolled over, and reached out habitually to the side—only to feel empty space.
Oh, right. The Crown Prince was spending the night in the front hall tonight.
She drew her hand back, curling around the blanket. The empty spot beside her felt strangely hollow, as if something was missing. For all the days they had stayed at the temporary imperial palace, the Crown Prince had slept right next to her every night, and she had long grown used to the warmth of his body beside her.
Now that he was gone all of a sudden, it felt oddly unsettling.
She opened her eyes, glanced at the empty space beside her, and sighed.
But—she was always a heavy sleeper. After thinking for a little while, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and all those scattered thoughts in her head gradually blurred away.
In the front hall of the Chengxin Hall
On the bed in the study, the figure on the mattress had tossed and turned for who knew how long...
Finally, Cui Yu opened his eyes, stared at the beam overhead for a long while, and suddenly called out, "Zheng Yuande."
Zheng Yuande, who had been leaning against a pillar dozing off while on night watch, jolted awake at the sound. All traces of drowsiness vanished in an instant. He scrambled to his feet, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
Cui Yu asked, "How is your Worthy Lady doing over there?"
Zheng Yuande was thoroughly confused.
Worthy Lady Shen over there? What about her?
He replied instinctively, "Your Highness, the Worthy Lady blew out her lights half an hour ago."
Cui Yu fell silent for a moment after hearing that.
"Hmm," Cui Yu responded faintly. "Step back."
Zheng Yuande scratched the back of his head in confusion, answered "Yes, Your Highness," and stepped back. He yawned and leaned against the pillar to doze off again.
He had drifted off into a hazy sleep after who knew how long, when he jolted awake once more—
"Zheng Yuande."
Zheng Yuande was so startled he nearly tumbled off the steps. He scrambled to his feet immediately, "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
There was a brief silence inside, before a soft cough came. "Go... send someone to check on your Worthy Lady."
Zheng Yuande froze for a second.
Check on her? Check on what?
He carefully lifted his head, snuck a peek at the Crown Prince's expression, and slowly caught on to what was going on.
He quickly bowed in acknowledgment, "Yes, this servant will send someone to check on her right away."
Cui Yu gave a plain sound of assent.
Before long, Zheng Yuande stood with hands respectfully at his sides in front of the bed, and reported softly, "Your Highness, this servant sent someone to inquire. Chunping said that though the Worthy Lady retired early, she seemed to have had a dream just now, and was murmuring something in her sleep..."
"Chunping said she listened closely, and the Worthy Lady seemed to have called 'Your Highness' twice... It must be that with Your Highness not by her side all of a sudden, the Worthy Lady is not used to it, and has Your Highness on her mind."
Right after he finished speaking, rustling sounds came from the bed.
Cui Yu was getting up.
His expression was calm, but his movements were quick and neat. He bent down to put on his socks and shoes, reached for his outer robe from the clothes rack and slipped it on, then grabbed a cape and tied it in a few swift motions. The whole sequence was smooth and unhurried.
Zheng Yuande hurried forward to offer help, only to find there was no room for him to step in—His Highness had already gotten himself fully ready.
Cui Yu tied the sash of his cape, turned around, his face composed and perfectly solemn, his voice so steady you could not hear a single ripple of emotion, "Your Worthy Lady is carrying a child, if she does not sleep well at night, it will be bad for her health."
Zheng Yuande nodded hurriedly, looking completely in agreement. "Your Highness is absolutely right. The Worthy Lady is carrying twins, which is already so hard on her. If she cannot sleep soundly at night, that would truly be..."
"I am going to go check on her," Cui Yu said in a casual tone. Before the words even finished leaving his mouth, he had already walked around the screen, pushed the door open, and strode out in long, quick steps.
"..." Zheng Yuande quickly shut his mouth, and trotted after him.
*
Back at the rear hall of the Chengxin Hall
Chunping was keeping watch for the night when she suddenly heard footsteps coming down the corridor. She jolted awake, and saw the Crown Prince walking over in big strides. She froze for a moment, then stood up hurriedly, full of confusion. Her mistress had said before bed that His Highness had official affairs to attend to, and would be resting in the front hall tonight, didn't she?
Before she could even curtsy, the Crown Prince had already come right up to her. He glanced at her, his face calm. "I heard your mistress is not sleeping well. I have come to check on her."
Chunping opened her mouth, completely bewildered.
Her mistress not sleeping well? Who said that? Her mistress was sleeping so deeply, even thunder outside would not wake her up...
But seeing that the Crown Prince had already pushed the door and stepped inside, she wisely held her tongue.
Cui Yu lightened his steps as he walked into the inner chamber, and gently lifted the gauze bed curtain.
Shen Yanshui was sleeping soundly.
Cui Yu watched her for a while, then took off his cape and outer robe, untied his shoes and socks, and climbed onto the bed quietly. He then pulled her into his arms.
The moment that familiar body pressed against his, he let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief. All the restlessness that had made him toss and turn endlessly earlier settled completely.
He pulled her closer into his embrace, rested his chin on the top of her head.
Shen Yanshui, half-asleep, seemed to feel that familiar warmth and scent. She nuzzled dazedly into his chest, rubbed her nose against his clothing, then went still, curling up in his arms even more snugly than before.
Cui Yu looked down at her, pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, then closed his eyes.
This time, he fell asleep almost immediately.
*
The next day, at the Chengxin Hall
Shen Yanshui did not see the Crown Prince at all. When she found out that he had already left for the Emperor Pingkang's residence after finishing his breakfast, she did not ask about him anymore.
Outside, the sky was clear and cloudless, the sun was bright, spilling golden light all over the ground.
On such a lovely day, why stay cooped up inside the room?
She set down her tea cup, propped up her cheek and thought for a little while. The last time she had wandered by the lake, she had seen a vast stretch of lotus flowers in the Moon Reflection Lake from afar, and had only stood on the bank for a short while with Sister Xu back then...
She suddenly said, "Let's go pick lotus seed pods today."
Chunping was taken aback. "Pick lotus seed pods?"
"That's right," Shen Yanshui stood up. "Last time I saw a huge patch of lotus flowers by the Moon Reflection Lake, and there are plenty of seed pods growing there. I wanted to pick them then, but never got the chance. The weather is so nice today, it would be a waste not to go boating and pick lotus seed pods, wouldn't it?"
Chunping hesitated a little. "If Your Mistress wants lotus seed pods, this servant can have people go pick them and bring them back. There is no need for you to go there in person..."
"That would be no fun at all," she had been wanting to go for a boat ride for ages, it had been so long since she last got on a boat.
Shen Yanshui also told Nanny Wang about her plan.
Nanny Wang sighed to herself when she heard that. Her mistress was someone who could never stay idle. These past days, she had gone out to pick wild vegetables, then to pick fruits, and now she wanted to pick lotus seed pods.
But then again, even though her mistress loved going out and about, she had never caused any trouble.
With those thoughts in mind, she smiled warmly. "Your Mistress is with child, wouldn't it be better to bring a couple more water-capable servants along to wait on you? That way this old servant can rest easy."
Shen Yanshui smiled and nodded upon hearing this. "Fine, then bring Quanfu and Quanshou along too."
The Moon-Gazing Lake in the imperial retreat stretched out over a vast area, its surface carpeted with lotus flowers and leaves that stretched as far as the eye could see, a truly magnificent sight.
A soft breeze blew past, carrying the delicate, crisp fragrance of lotuses that seeped refreshingly into the senses.
Before long, Shen Yanshui and her party arrived. Her gaze swept across the lake, and she soon spotted several black awning boats moored at the shore, clearly prepared especially for the imperial masters staying at the retreat.
Just as expected, two young eunuchs were standing guard nearby. Seeing Shen Yanshui's group approach, they hurried forward to pay their respects.
"Greetings, Worthy Lady," the older of the two eunuchs said, bowing. "These boats are for the masters to take pleasure trips on the lake. We have already prepared tea sets and chess pieces inside. If Worthy Lady wishes to use one, this servant will untie the rope for you right away."
Quanfu nodded with a smile. "We appreciate the trouble."
The two young eunuchs quickly got to work, untying the boat rope, then laid a wooden board between the bow and the shore to make it easier for Shen Yanshui to step onto the boat.
Shen Yanshui lifted the hem of her skirt and stepped onto the board, with Chunping and Dongyi supporting her arms from behind, afraid she might slip.
Quanfu and Quanshou boarded the boat right after them. Quanshou carried the large bamboo basket in his hands, while Quanfu stood at the stern, picked up the oar, and steadily pushed the boat away from the shore.
The small boat drifted slowly deep into the lotus pond.
Shen Yanshui sat under the boat's awning, so close to the lotuses on both sides that she could reach out and touch the green leaves. Her fingertips brushed over a vibrant green lotus leaf, and dewdrops rolled off it, falling onto the water and rippling out in tiny circles.
The further the boat went, the denser the lotus flowers grew.
She stretched out her hand to grab a nearby lotus seed pod, pinched its stem and gave it a gentle twist. With a crisp "crack", the pod was in her hand.
She turned it over to examine it, then held it up to her nose for a sniff, and a faint, bitter-sweet scent drifted to her.
She smiled and placed the lotus seed pod into the basket Chunping was carrying, then started scanning the area for her next target.
For the next two quarters of an hour, the boat wove back and forth through the lotus pond. She reached out to pluck every plump lotus seed pod she saw, and could not resist picking several fully bloomed lotus flowers too.
Pink and white, some were in full bloom with layers of delicate, dewy petals that looked almost too tender to touch, while others had only opened three or four parts of the way...
Quanfu and Quanshou did not idle either. One of them steered the boat while the other helped pick lotus seed pods, and soon the large bamboo basket was half full, every pod plump and firm.
Just as Shen Yanshui was happily picking lotus seed pods and lotus flowers, not far away, an ornately decorated pleasure barge with carved railings and painted beams had its windows wide open, with faint figures visible moving inside.
Zhou Huiyuan's eyes suddenly focused, and she pointed toward the distance, whispering, "Your Highness, the Seventh Princess, look over there on that small boat—isn't that Worthy Lady Shen?"
The Seventh Princess, who had been sulking just moments before, immediately turned her head to look. Sure enough, the figure on the small boat in the middle of the lake, holding a lotus flower, was none other than Worthy Lady Shen.
The Seventh Princess gritted her teeth at once.
Yesterday, she had summoned all her courage to go find Lord Xu, but from a distance she saw him looking down at a pomegranate in his hands with a focused gaze...
She knew that pomegranate—Worthy Lady Shen had given them out to everyone around her, but she never expected she would even give one to Lord Xu?
What if that pomegranate wasn't from her?
If it wasn't from her, why did Lord Xu look at it with such a complicated expression?
It was just a pomegranate. She could have as many as she wanted, no trouble at all.
Thinking of this, the Seventh Princess felt a sour ache rise in her chest, and anger bubbled up alongside it.
She had already entered the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince doted on her so deeply, yet she still had the heart to set her sights on Lord Xu. She was simply, simply shameless!
Zhou Huiyuan, who was watching the Seventh Princess's expression from beside her, asked softly, "Your Highness, which direction shall we head? Do you want to go over and greet Worthy Lady Shen?"
The Seventh Princess was just about to speak when she saw the small boat turn its bow, as if preparing to head back to shore.
She immediately ordered, "Head for the shore!"
...
Shen Yanshui stepped off the boat, and handed all the lotus seed pods she had picked over to Quanfu, Chunping and the others to carry. She herself held the freshly picked lotuses in her arms, thinking that she would find a beautiful vase to put them in as soon as she got back.
All of a sudden, she heard rather chaotic noises coming from behind her.
"Worthy Lady Shen, wait a moment!"
Shen Yanshui turned around and saw the Seventh Princess and the young lady from the Duke Wen's estate walking over. She looked a little surprised, slightly bowed her head and curtsied properly, saying, "Greetings, Seventh Princess."
Zhou Huiyuan glanced at her, lowered her eyes, and gave a slight curtsy in return.
The Seventh Princess saw her holding an armful of lotuses, looking bright-eyed and full of energy, and the memory of that pomegranate came back to her—she had heard that Worthy Lady Shen had picked those pomegranates with her own two hands too... The more she thought about it, the more sour her heart felt.
"Worthy Lady Shen, Crown Prince treats you so well and dotes on you so much, you should behave with propriety and do your duty, instead of acting in such an improper, thoughtless manner."
Shen Yanshui was first taken aback, then frowned slightly, confused as she asked, "Your Highness, where do these words come from? Ever since I entered the Eastern Palace, I have conducted myself with all propriety, and have not done a single thing out of line. I do not understand what these 'thoughtless acts' you speak of could possibly be."
The Seventh Princess was just about to blurt it out, but then she noticed the people standing around them. After all, she did not want to damage the Crown Prince's reputation, or Lord Xu's either, so she did not say it directly. But her face stayed dark and displeased. "You know very well what you have done. If you keep acting this way, being so undisciplined and improper, I will definitely tell the Crown Prince!"
Shen Yanshui: "......?"
Wait a minute, what on earth had she done? Why wouldn't the princess just say it out loud?
She was just about to speak when she heard familiar footsteps coming from behind her...
Right then, the Crown Prince's deep, cold voice rang out—
"Improper?"
Everyone froze in unison, and dropped to their knees to pay their respects.
Cui Yu strode over, his gaze heavy and sharp. "Zhaoning, did you just call Worthy Lady Shen improper?"
The Seventh Princess paled in fright at his expression, and unconsciously took half a step back. "C-Crown Prince brother..."
Cui Yu looked at her with piercing eyes, his voice icy cold. "Ever since Worthy Lady Shen entered the Eastern Palace, she has been nothing but well-behaved and dutiful. Where does this 'impropriety' you speak of come from?"
His tone turned even sharper as he continued, "I think you have grown far too unbridled these past days, that you dare to run your mouth so recklessly out in public."
The Seventh Princess, publicly reprimanded, flushed bright red in an instant. She felt her face burn, and her eyes stung with tears. She said hurriedly, "Crown Prince brother! I am not talking nonsense! It's her! She is already your Worthy Lady, you dote on her so much, but she is still greedy, she is still, still shameless—she has been secretly carrying on with Lord Xu!"
