After the two of them finished breakfast, Shen Yanshui went inside to change. Cui Yu did not hurry to the front hall to attend to his affairs. Instead, thinking of how Lady Shen had been stirring up trouble, he coldly gave Zheng Yuande a few instructions. Zheng Yuande murmured his assent.
When Shen Yanshui came out of the inner room, she looked at him with a smile shining in her peach-blossom eyes. “Your Highness, are you free today? Will you take a walk with me?”
Cui Yu gave a faint “Mm.”
The imperial villa had been visited by several intermittent showers over the past few days, but today the sky had cleared. It was a brilliant day, with a blue sky washed clean and not a cloud in sight. Clear sunlight spilled over the distant layers of emerald mountains, while the flowers and trees nearby had been washed an especially vivid green.
A breeze brushed across their faces, carrying the unique fragrance of mountain vegetation mingled with the faint dampness of earth. It was refreshing to the heart and soul.
After walking for a while, Shen Yanshui noticed that the willow branches by the roadside hung very low. She reached out and snapped off one, holding it in her hand as she idly played with it.
The willow branch was slender and supple, with several green leaves adorning it. It swayed back and forth in her hand.
As she walked, she gradually found herself moving ahead of Cui Yu. Then she turned around to face him and began walking backward.
Cui Yu’s brows drew together slightly. He was just about to tell her to watch where she was going when he saw her raise the willow branch in her hand.
The soft tip of the willow lightly brushed beneath his chin, carrying with it the fresh, grassy scent of young leaves.
Shen Yanshui smiled at him as she lowered the branch, gently sweeping it over his Adam’s apple.
Cui Yu’s voice dropped lower. “...A-Yan.”
Chunping and Dongyi had been following several paces behind. At first, they had quickened their steps, hoping to catch up, but when they saw the intimate manner of the Crown Prince and their mistress, they exchanged a glance and slowed down in perfect unison. With lowered eyes, they followed at a greater distance, pretending they had seen nothing at all.
Zheng Yuande was even more tactful. He quietly gestured for the several young eunuchs with him to stay well back, then followed from afar with a broad smile on his face.
Shen Yanshui watched him with pressed lips and a smile. The soft tip of the willow moved away from Cui Yu’s throat, slowly tracing upward along his neck. It brushed lightly beneath his chin, then drifted across his cheek before finally coming to rest between his brows and eyes.
Stroke by stroke, she sketched the shape of his features in midair.
The willow tip was fine and soft, like a brush. It followed the rise of his brow from beginning to end, traced the curve of his brow’s tail, and then descended to the outer corner of his eye.
His eyes were exceptionally handsome—long and narrow, with the elegant shape of a phoenix’s eyes. The outer corners tilted slightly upward, and whenever he looked at someone, they seemed to carry a hint of cool detachment that made others afraid to approach him.
But once one became familiar with him, one would discover that the Crown Prince was not truly as aloof and unapproachable as he appeared.
As Shen Yanshui continued tracing his features, she suddenly laughed. She tapped his chest with the willow branch, her eyes shining brightly. “Your Highness, do you think our child will look more like me or more like you?”
Cui Yu paused slightly.
Before he could answer, Shen Yanshui continued on her own, her voice carrying a hint of smugness. “Though whether the child resembles me or you, they’ll certainly be beautiful...”
Ah, now that she mentioned it, she really was beginning to look forward to it. Preferably, they would have a child who looked like the Crown Prince, so she could see what he had looked like as a little boy.
Hearing this, the corners of Cui Yu’s lips curved faintly upward. The edges of his eyes and brows lifted unconsciously, and an image suddenly surfaced in his mind—
A sweet, fair little girl, her brows and eyes bearing seven or eight parts of A-Yan’s resemblance. When she grew older, she would call him in a soft, childish voice, “Father-King.”
His brows and eyes softened at once.
Unable to resist, Shen Yanshui raised the willow branch again and lightly poked him in the chest. “Your Highness, what are you thinking about?”
Cui Yu came back to himself and lowered his eyes to look at her without answering.
Seeing that he remained silent, Shen Yanshui did not press him. Instead, the willow branch in her hand began to move again.
Its soft tip slid down from his chest, all the way to his waist and abdomen... The touch was as light as a feather brushing over him.
Cui Yu’s breathing grew slightly heavier. His gaze fell upon her smiling face, carrying a hint of helpless indulgence.
Suddenly, a warm hand seized the willow branch.
Shen Yanshui froze. Before she could react, she felt a steady force travel along the branch—not strong, but firm—drawing her one step forward.
The next moment, an arm slipped around her waist and held her securely in place.
Cui Yu gripped the willow branch with one hand and her waist with the other. Looking down at her, he knitted his brows slightly and said in a low voice, filled with helplessness, “Be careful, or you’ll fall.”
He turned his face slightly and glanced at the ground.
Following his gaze, Shen Yanshui looked down. Not far from her feet lay a stone the size of a fist, resting quietly on the path. If he had not pulled her back just now, there was an excellent chance that her heel would have struck it when she took another two steps backward.
Fine, she had not been watching where she was going. But... there was no way she would have actually tripped over such a small stone.
She lifted her head and met Cui Yu’s helpless gaze. Suddenly, she smiled, sweet and soft.
“Then Your Highness should hold my hand as we walk.” As she spoke, she tossed the willow branch aside, stretched one hand toward him with her palm facing down, and waved it in front of him.
Cui Yu looked at her utterly self-assured expression. Without a word, he merely smiled and reached out to take her hand.
Behind them, Chunping and Dongyi had been startled when they saw the Crown Prince suddenly pull their mistress into his arms by the waist. The two of them had stopped in unison and lowered their heads.
When they raised their eyes again, they saw that the Crown Prince had already taken their mistress’s hand, and the two were walking side by side.
They exchanged a glance, smiles blooming across their faces. Then they followed with light steps, still keeping a distance that was neither too near nor too far.
Zheng Yuande trailed behind them at a distance. When he saw this scene, the smile on his face deepened. The wrinkles on his round face nearly bunched together into a blooming chrysanthemum.
He silently mused to himself that now that the Crown Prince was in a good mood, their days would finally be easier.
After they had walked hand in hand for a while, Shen Yanshui’s thoughts began to turn to something else.
She suddenly glanced at Cui Yu. “Your Highness.”
Cui Yu turned his eyes toward her. “Mm?”
Shen Yanshui asked, “Will you have anything important to attend to over the next few days? Are you free?”
At her question, Cui Yu’s brows and eyes relaxed slightly.
He had been busy with the grain transport these past few days. A-Yan must be...missing him.
His voice remained calm, though it held an extra trace of gentleness. “There is nothing pressing over the next few days. However, in five days, envoys from the Northern Rong will arrive.”
Shen Yanshui froze. “The Northern Rong?”
Cui Yu nodded. In a steady, unhurried voice, he briefly explained the situation.
Half a year earlier, the imperial court had fought a battle against the Northern Rong. The Northern Rong had suffered a crushing defeat and been severely weakened. The tribes across the grasslands had never truly submitted to one another, and after the Northern Rong Khan’s defeat, his prestige had plummeted. Several of the larger tribes beneath him were already restless, showing every sign of rebellion.
With no other choice, the Northern Rong Khan had taken the initiative to seek peace with Great Yong. Not only was he willing to acknowledge its suzerainty and pay tribute, he had also sent his own daughter along to demonstrate his sincerity.
The envoys’ visit this time was to formally negotiate the terms under which the Northern Rong would submit and pay tribute.
“The envoy delegation should arrive at the imperial residence in about five days,” Cui Yu said. “Once they arrive, there’ll be a great deal to keep us busy for some time.”
After hearing this, Shen Yanshui looked at him with sudden curiosity. “Will the Northern Rong bring a princess here for a marriage alliance?”
Cui Yu glanced at her and nodded. “The Northern Rong Khan’s daughter, Princess Ashina, will be coming with the envoys.”
Shen Yanshui nodded thoughtfully, then asked, “Do the ministers and the women of the imperial harem know about this?”
“The important ministers naturally know,” Cui Yu replied. “Among the women of the imperial harem, only Imperial Mother has been informed of the details for now. His Majesty has yet to decide how to arrange the princess’s future. The others should know only that the Northern Rong envoys are coming.”
Shen Yanshui nodded, quietly beginning to make plans in her mind.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at her. Seeing her thoughtful expression, he could not help asking, “Why are you asking about this, A-Yan? Why are you so curious about the people coming from the Northern Rong?”
Shen Yanshui blinked and looked at him as though her question were perfectly reasonable. “I’m only asking because I’m afraid His Majesty might suddenly betroth that princess to Your Highness. Naturally, I have to find out in advance.”
As she spoke, she wrapped both arms around Cui Yu’s and looked up at him, her expression utterly righteous.
Cui Yu gazed at her helplessly.
He knew perfectly well that she was talking nonsense. No matter how much His Majesty disliked him, he would never go so far as to betroth the Northern Rong Khan’s daughter to the Crown Prince. Yet despite himself, a flicker of delight still stirred in his heart at her words.
His expression remained indifferent. He merely glanced at her and said evenly, “She will not be betrothed to me.” He paused, then continued, “Most likely, she will enter His Majesty’s harem or be given to one of my other brothers.”
Seeing that he did not press her about her earlier questions, Shen Yanshui secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
She had asked those things because she wanted an opportunity to sound out Lady Shen.
The Northern Rong envoys’ visit was a major event. If Lady Shen truly had been reborn, she would certainly react to it. Shen Yanshui could then use the opportunity to test her.
She curved her eyes into a smile and said brightly, “That’s good. I certainly wouldn’t want another beautiful princess appearing at Your Highness’s side.”
Then she suddenly looked up at him. Lowering her head with an aggrieved expression, she pressed her fingertips to the corners of her eyes, and her voice turned mournful.
“When the time comes, Your Highness will grow tired of me and take a liking to that princess instead. You’ll only see the new bride’s smiles and never hear the old one’s cries. How could I possibly compare with a beauty from the grasslands… Sob, sob, sob…”
As she spoke, she even tugged at his sleeve and dabbed at the corners of her eyes, pretending as though tears were truly about to fall.
Cui Yu: “……”
He lowered his eyes to look at her antics, the corner of his eye twitching faintly.
Suddenly, he reached out and pinched her soft cheek, applying a little force. His deep voice held a trace of helplessness. “Stop talking nonsense.”
He had no interest in any other beauty, nor did he want one.
With her cheek caught between his fingers, Shen Yanshui could no longer keep up the act. She hurriedly grasped his wrist and begged for mercy. “Your Highness, Your Highness, let go. I know I was wrong…”
Cui Yu looked down at her pitiful expression and finally released her.
Shen Yanshui quickly rubbed her cheek and muttered, “Your Highness has no tenderness for women at all…”
Cui Yu shot her a glance. “Will you still talk nonsense next time?”
Shen Yanshui looked at him and blinked innocently.
Of course she would. Of course she would.
Cui Yu: “……”
*
In the northwest corner of the imperial residence stood a secluded courtyard called Listening Pines Pavilion.
The grounds sat somewhat higher than the surrounding area and were thickly planted with green pines. Their dense canopies blocked out the summer heat completely. The rustling of the pines mingled with the gentle mountain breeze, giving the place a cool, tranquil air unlike anywhere else. Pavilions and towers stood in graceful disarray throughout the courtyard, while winding paths disappeared into the depths of the grounds. From time to time, the call of a bird drifted out from the woods, making the surroundings seem even more peaceful.
At that moment, a woman sat beside the window of a room on the pavilion’s second floor.
She appeared to be around twenty years old. Her looks were above average, with an oval face and delicate features. Her black hair had been arranged in an elaborate falling-horse bun, with a red-gold hairpin tipped by a dangling pearl tucked beside her temple. Two South Sea pearls swayed gently from her earrings, setting off the slender whiteness of her neck.
She wore a moon-white outer robe over a lotus-colored bodice. The fabrics were light and airy, making her look especially cool and refreshing in the summer heat.
One hand held a round silk fan, which she waved listlessly from time to time. Yet her brows were faintly furrowed, and she kept glancing toward the door.
This was Lady Shen.
She had already been waiting there for a quarter of an hour.
The previous day, someone from the Sixth Prince’s household had delivered a message inviting her to meet him at Listening Pines Pavilion today.
After receiving the message, she had been both surprised and delighted. She had carefully prepared herself early that morning. From her hair and makeup to her clothing, jewelry, and perfume, she had considered every detail with painstaking care. She had arrived at the pavilion long before the appointed time to wait.
In her eyes, the Sixth Prince was destined to ascend the throne in the future. He was young, gentle, and exceptionally handsome, so naturally he deserved her utmost consideration.
But…
She had already been sitting there for a quarter of an hour, and the person she was waiting for still had not arrived.
Her impatience gradually began to rise.
Lady Shen frowned and stood up to pace around the room. Then she sat down again. After repeating this twice, she finally rose and went to the window to glance at the sun outside.
She would wait another quarter of an hour.
If he still did not come, she would leave.
She returned to her chair, waving the round fan a little faster.
Could something have happened? Or had the Sixth Prince been delayed by some unexpected matter? If he could not come, he should at least have sent someone to inform her. Making her wait here without a word…
Time passed by bit by bit. The sunlight outside slowly shifted, and the shadows cast across the floor moved inch by inch.
Lady Shen’s patience was nearly exhausted.
Just as she was about to rise and leave, she suddenly heard the unhurried sound of footsteps outside.
They were steady and calm, falling upon the wooden floor as they drew nearer.
Relief washed through Lady Shen’s heart. She quickly straightened her back, adjusted the hair at her temples, and took up her fan again, arranging her features into an elegant, composed expression.
The door curtain was lifted, and the Sixth Prince entered.
He wore a set of sapphire-blue robes, with a fine piece of white jade hanging from his waist. His face was handsome and gentle, his features open and relaxed, and a faint smile curved his lips. At a glance, he gave off the comforting warmth of a spring breeze.
The Sixth Prince, Cui Jin.
Lady Shen slowly rose to her feet. Before she could speak, the Sixth Prince approached and gave her a half-bow, his manner warm and courteous.
“Lady Shen.”
Lady Shen came back to herself and hurriedly stepped aside, refusing to accept his salute. “Your Highness is too courteous. I wouldn’t dare accept such a gesture.”
Cui Jin straightened and looked at her, a gentle smile still resting on his face. His voice was calm and unhurried.
“You said earlier that there was something you wished to discuss with me. May I ask what it is?”
Lady Shen did not answer immediately. Instead, she first swept her gaze around the room, lingering on the doors and windows.
Seeing her hesitation, Cui Jin’s eyes flickered. In a gentle voice, he said, “Lady Shen, rest assured. No one will leak a word of our conversation today.”
Hearing this, the weight in Lady Shen’s heart finally lifted.
She knew she and the Sixth Prince could not remain here talking for too long, so she stopped beating around the bush and spoke directly.
“Is Your Highness not curious how I came to know that the Seventh Prince might meet with trouble?”
Cui Jin’s eyes darkened slightly. He looked at her but did not answer at once.
Seeing his silence, Lady Shen gave a soft laugh and continued, “Not only do I know that something may happen to the Seventh Prince, I also know many other things.”
As she spoke, she took two steps forward, drawing a little closer to him. The smile on her face deepened. “For instance… before long, the Northern Rong will bring their princess here for a marriage alliance. There will be a martial competition at that time, and the First Prince will distinguish himself brilliantly…”
With each sentence she uttered, Cui Jin’s gaze grew deeper and heavier. The gentle smile on his face gradually faded as well.
He stared intently at Lady Shen, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
After a moment, he spoke. His voice remained gentle, but held a probing undertone. “Lady Shen has spent so long within the palace. I never imagined your sources of information would be so reliable.”
“The Northern Rong’s plan to send their princess here for a marriage alliance, as well as the envoys’ visit, is naturally known to me. But as for the martial competition… how did Lady Shen learn of that?”
“Could it be that you have an informant among the Northern Rong envoys?”
The words had barely left his mouth before he himself felt the guess was absurd.
Lady Shen was a palace consort living deep within the inner court. Where could she possibly have found the ability to plant an informant among the Northern Rong envoys? Yet aside from that, he truly could not think of any other reasonable explanation.
Ever since the Seventh Prince’s accident, he had sent people to investigate Lady Shen’s background. But after looking into it again and again, they had found nothing suspicious.
They had only concluded that there was something rather strange about her. It would have been understandable if she had sided with Noble Consort Lan at Noble Consort Lan’s palace before, but Noble Consort Lan was no longer as powerful as she once had been. The Eastern Palace now had Worthy Lady Shen as well, yet Lady Shen had not tried to curry favor with the Crown Prince. Instead…
At his words, Lady Shen looked at him and smiled faintly. She stepped forward once more. As she moved, a delicate fragrance quietly drifted from her sleeves and collar, winding through the air in wisps. It was neither too strong nor too faint, but perfectly measured, slipping into Cui Jin’s nose.
The fragrance was sweet and rich—the result of carefully blended incense.
Cui Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Lady Shen raised her hand and placed it lightly on his shoulder. Her fingertips slowly slid along his shoulder to his chest. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could feel the faint rise and fall of his chest.
Cui Jin frowned slightly and took half a step back. “Lady Shen, what are you doing?”
Her expression stiffened for an instant, but she quickly returned to normal and lowered her hand naturally. “The Sixth Prince need not concern himself with how I came to know these things. You only need to know that what I know goes far beyond this.”
She lifted her eyes to look at him. “And I stand on the Sixth Prince’s side.” As she spoke, she extended a fingertip and lightly tapped his chest. “I will only help Your Highness—help you obtain that position.”
Cui Jin’s brows and eyes turned cold. He glanced at the hand resting against his chest, then at her calm, confident expression. “What does Lady Shen want?”
Lady Shen gazed at his refined, handsome face and smiled. “Naturally, I seek a stable life and wealth and honor for the rest of my days. However, I have also admired the Sixth Prince for a long time…”
The Sixth Prince, Cui Jin, looked at her and slowly smiled, though the smile did not reach his eyes.
*
Not long after breakfast that day, Shen Yanshui arrived at an empty patch of land behind the main hall of Chengxin Hall.
It was a small plot she had ordered people to clear when she first arrived at the imperial residence. It was not large, but it had been neatly tended.
Several watermelon vines grew there. Their tendrils had already spread far and wide, their lush green leaves carpeting the ground. Hidden among them were several round little watermelons, each one a delight to behold.
She had planted them soon after arriving at the imperial residence. Nearly two months had passed since then, and she came to inspect them every day, secretly using her ability to accelerate their growth. By now, the watermelons were almost ready. In a few more days, they would be ripe enough to pick.
They had matured a little faster than ordinary watermelons, but not to an outrageous degree. At most, people would think the soil was particularly fertile and the plants had grown vigorously. No one would suspect anything else.
Shen Yanshui squatted at the edge of the plot, examining the growth of each melon one by one. Suddenly, Chunping hurried over from the side and crouched down beside her. Lowering her voice, she said, “Mistress, you previously instructed us to keep an eye on Lady Shen’s movements. Someone below just reported that Lady Shen left her quarters a short while ago and went toward the lakeside pavilion.”
Shen Yanshui’s hands paused.
She immediately rose to her feet and brushed the soil from her palms. Quanfu, ever quick to notice what was needed, brought over water. She hurriedly washed her hands, dried them with a handkerchief, and straightened her clothes.
“Come on. Let’s take a stroll by the lakeside pavilion.”
As it happened, the Crown Prince was in the front hall handling affairs.
She also had them bring a small basket, making it appear as though they were going out to pick fruit.
The lakeside pavilion was some distance from Chengxin Hall.
The sun was unusually fierce that day. Its bright rays poured down, warming her skin until it tingled faintly.
After walking for a while, Shen Yanshui suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Chunping, “Did she go alone, or was she with someone?”
Chunping quickly replied, “When the report came in, they said Lady Shen went with only one maidservant by her side. No one else accompanied her.”
Shen Yanshui nodded, already forming an idea of the situation.
Before long, the lakeside pavilion came into view.
It was one of the finest sights in the imperial residence. An octagonal pavilion stood in the middle of the lake, connected to the shore by a winding stone bridge.
Lotuses grew all around the pavilion. They were in full bloom now, pink and white blossoms appearing and disappearing among the emerald leaves. When the breeze passed over them, the fragrance of lotus flowers filled the lake.
Shen Yanshui stepped onto the winding stone bridge and spotted the people seated in the pavilion from a distance.
Lady Shen wore a lotus-pink jacket and sat properly on a stone bench in the pavilion. Only one personal maid stood beside her. It was Xiangmo, who had followed her from the Shen residence and had served her elder sister ever since. At present, Xiangmo stood to the side with her eyes lowered, quiet and obedient.
Thanks to her keen eyesight, Shen Yanshui could see from afar that Lady Shen was gazing toward something in a particular direction. She followed her line of sight—
The Marquis Xuanyi?
Shen Yanshui did not hurry forward. Instead, she remained in the shadows and observed for a while longer. It was then that she realized her elder sister had been staring continuously at the remarkably handsome Marquis Xuanyi.
What was she doing?
Surely she could not simply be admiring his looks…
Only when Xiangmo seemed about to look in her direction did Shen Yanshui finally step forward. She replaced her expression with one of pleasant surprise and called out from afar, “I never expected to run into you here, Elder Sister. What a coincidence.”
Lady Shen was watching the Marquis Xuanyi patrolling the riverbank in the distance. At the sound of her voice, the hand holding her round fan paused for a moment. She looked up and saw the smiling face before her.
Her already pleasant mood instantly soured.
After approaching, Shen Yanshui greeted her with a curtsy.
Lady Shen raised a hand, then let her gaze fall upon Shen Yanshui’s still relatively flat belly. After lingering there for a moment, her eyes slowly shifted to Shen Yanshui’s face. Her expression was cool and indifferent as she asked, “What brings you here?”
Shen Yanshui acted as though she had not heard the chill in her voice. With a bright smile, she lifted the basket in her hand and said lightly, “I heard there are jujube trees ahead, so I was just about to pick some sweet jujubes.”
Lady Shen glanced at the baskets carried by Shen Yanshui and her attendants, then at Shen Yanshui’s completely carefree smile. The corners of her lips twitched faintly.
This half-sister of hers had done nothing but pick fruit here and there ever since arriving at the imperial residence. She truly had no sense of propriety.
A few days ago, she had even heard that Shen Yanshui encountered the Seventh Princess while picking lotus pods at Moonreflecting Lake. No one knew what had happened afterward, but the Seventh Princess had been sent back by the Crown Prince’s people and confined to her quarters. She had yet to be released.
Lady Shen had originally wondered whether the Seventh Princess had exposed the matter between Shen Yanshui and Xu Chengwen. She had even looked forward to it.
Yet so many days had passed, and there had been not the slightest stir from Chengxin Hall. The Crown Prince spent his days buried in government affairs, while her half-sister seemed to be living quite comfortably. There was not even the faintest shadow of worry on her face.
That Seventh Princess was truly useless.
Lady Shen responded perfunctorily.
Shen Yanshui did not mind her indifference. She seated herself, placed the basket on the stone table, and gently smoothed the hair at her temple. Then she sighed and said in a soft, coquettish voice, “Ah, it’s been so long since I last saw you, Elder Sister.”
As she spoke, a blush spread across her face, as though she were embarrassed. “It’s all because of the Crown Prince. As soon as we arrived at the imperial residence, he had me stay with him. I had intended to come find you and have a chat whenever I had the chance, but the Crown Prince cannot do without someone by his side. I have to look after every aspect of his daily life, from his food and clothing to everything else…”
She lifted her chin slightly, looking rather smug. “The Crown Prince also likes eating the fruit I pick myself, so I truly haven’t been able to find the time. I never expected to run into you today.”
When she finished, she raised her head and glanced at Lady Shen. Her peach-shaped eyes held undisguised triumph, and the corners of her lips curved upward. She looked exactly like a petty person who had suddenly risen to power.
Lady Shen’s expression shifted as she looked at that smug, boastful face, her own countenance turning rather ugly.
Still, the Crown Prince did not have many years left to live…
At that thought, the knot in her chest finally loosened a little.
She would like to see what her half-sister could still be so pleased about then.
Then she remembered her meeting with the Sixth Prince at Listening Pines Pavilion a few days earlier. Their conversation had gone quite smoothly, and the Sixth Prince had shown her considerably more warmth than before.
Her expression softened at once, the displeasure vanishing without a trace. When she looked at Shen Yanshui again, there was even a hint of pity in her eyes.
Shen Yanshui continued to wear that coy, smug expression, but the corner of her eye never left Lady Shen’s face.
She saw the change in Lady Shen’s eyes with perfect clarity.
At first, there had been anger and jealousy, as though she had been thoroughly provoked. Then… her expression suddenly eased, and she even showed a trace of pity.
Pity…?
Shen Yanshui’s heart gave an abrupt thump.
People only showed pity when they believed the other person’s future would be miserable.
Did Lady Shen think that her future would be very bleak?
Would she be abandoned by the Crown Prince?
Or… would something go wrong during childbirth?
Shen Yanshui considered the possibilities, then silently dismissed both guesses. She possessed a supernatural ability. Even if the delivery did not go smoothly, it would not endanger her life.
As for being abandoned by the Crown Prince… Even if that day truly came, her life would not become unbearably difficult. It was not as though she could not live without a man.
Then what could it be?
A thought suddenly flashed through her mind, and her heart jolted violently.
Apart from herself, the only people deeply entangled with Lady Shen were the Zhongyi Earl’s residence and the Crown Prince. Her useless father was incapable of causing any great disaster, so that left only—
The Crown Prince.
Shen Yanshui secretly drew in a breath. Her face still wore that smug, triumphant expression, as though she had not noticed the change in Lady Shen’s eyes at all.
She smiled and said lightly, “By the way, Elder Sister, have you heard that the envoys from Northern Rong will be arriving in a few days?”
Lady Shen paused slightly, her brows shifting. “What have you heard?”
Shen Yanshui furrowed her brows and sighed, concern appearing on her face. “I heard that they’re bringing along a princess of extraordinary beauty to marry into our dynasty. I wonder which member of the imperial clan—or which prince—she will ultimately be given to…”
She frowned, as though genuinely troubled. “Hopefully, it won’t be the Crown Prince.”
Lady Shen looked at her worried expression with undisguised disdain.
Her half-sister truly had nothing but romantic matters in her eyes.
Still… a beautiful princess?
Where had her half-sister heard that?
Lady Shen had met that princess in her previous life. The woman’s appearance… truly had nothing to do with the word “beautiful.”
If the princess really was attractive, Lady Shen would not mind making a few arrangements to get her into the Crown Prince’s residence and let her half-sister suffer a setback.
But with a face like that…
Even if Emperor Pingkang disliked the Crown Prince as much as he possibly could, he would never assign such a princess to him. The Crown Prince was, after all, the heir to the Great Yong throne.
As she thought this, the disdain in Lady Shen’s eyes deepened.
“Beautiful?” she asked coolly. “Where did you hear that?”
Shen Yanshui blinked and said uncertainly, “I’ve forgotten where I heard it… I think Secondary Consort Yun mentioned it in passing before. I don’t know whether it’s true.”
At the words “Secondary Consort Yun,” a look of contempt appeared in Lady Shen’s eyes.
What could a secondary consort possibly know? And why would the Sixth Prince discuss important political matters with one of his secondary consorts?
That thought crossed her mind as she once again studied Shen Yanshui’s face. Looking at that not particularly clever expression, she suddenly felt that… perhaps this half-sister of hers was not entirely useless after all.
In any case, Shen Yanshui now belonged to the Crown Prince and was favored by him. Perhaps one day… there really would be a use for her.
With that thought, Lady Shen’s expression softened somewhat.
“You needn’t worry too much,” she said, her tone warmer than before. “That princess will not be given to the Crown Prince.”
At Shen Yanshui’s words, a look of surprise immediately appeared on her face, followed by what seemed like relief. Her voice was filled with astonishment and delight. “Elder Sister, did you receive some news from His Majesty?”
Lady Shen looked at her. “You needn’t concern yourself with that. We are family, after all. As your elder sister, I naturally hope things go well for you. If anything happens in the future, just send word to me. As sisters, we ought to support one another.”
Shen Yanshui immediately patted her chest, looking as though a great weight had been lifted from her heart. “I’ve been worried these past few days. I was afraid that princess might truly be betrothed to the Crown Prince. Hearing you say this, Elder Sister, I can finally set my mind at ease.”
After saying that, she looked at Lady Shen with considerable agreement. “Elder Sister is right. It was only after entering the palace that I came to understand this principle. No one is closer than our own flesh and blood.”
Lady Shen watched her, the corners of her lips curving faintly upward, but she said nothing. The pity in her eyes, however, deepened.
Her younger half-sister was as foolish as ever. Other than that pretty face, she really couldn’t understand what the Crown Prince saw in her.
As she spoke, Lady Shen glanced toward the opposite shore and saw that Marquis Xuanyi was no longer there. He had probably gone elsewhere to conduct his inspection...
Rather than directly telling the Sixth Prince that Marquis Xuanyi was a woman in disguise and allowing him to approach her, it would be better for her to find a way to make contact first. If she could use this matter to gain leverage over Marquis Xuanyi and make her obey her every command, then she would have more bargaining power with the Sixth Prince.
She wanted to approach her first, and then gradually win her trust...
Unfortunately, Marquis Xuanyi was responsible for the safety of the imperial residence. The deployment of the Imperial Guards and the patrol routes changed every few days. She had observed for a long time, yet had never found a suitable opportunity. Marquis Xuanyi was always accompanied by her personal guards, and whenever she happened to encounter her in public, there were people all around.
She had tried to arrange a “chance encounter,” but had failed every time. She also didn’t dare make things too obvious and arouse suspicion.
At the thought of this, her mood sank again. She rose to her feet and glanced at Shen Yanshui. “It’s getting late. I’ll return and rest now. You should go back early as well.”
She paused, her gaze falling to Shen Yanshui’s abdomen. “You’re carrying a child, so be careful. Don’t let anyone with ill intentions jostle into you.”
Her tone was full of concern, truly sounding like an elder sister looking out for her younger sister.
Shen Yanshui nodded, deeply moved. “I understand. Thank you for your concern, Elder Sister.”
Lady Shen nodded and turned to leave with Xiangmo.
Shen Yanshui watched her back gradually disappear into the distance. She no longer felt like picking any dates. She had only brought the basket as a pretext in the first place. Thus, she turned around and returned to Chengxin Hall with Chunping and Dongyi.
Upon entering the main hall of the rear palace, she turned her head and immediately saw the Crown Prince seated at the writing desk, his eyes lowered as he read a book.
He was wearing a moon-white informal robe today, which set off his refined and noble bearing. Sunlight streamed in through the window and fell across his profile, accentuating his sharply defined features and making him look exceptionally handsome.
Cui Yu raised his head when he heard the commotion. Setting down the book in his hand, he rose and walked toward her.
“You’re back?” His gaze swept over the empty baskets in Chunping and Dongyi’s hands, but he did not ask about them. Instead, he simply took her hand and led her toward the cushioned couch.
Only after the two of them had sat down did Cui Yu ask, “Nanny Wang said you went to the grove by the Heart of the Lake Pavilion to pick sweet dates. Why did you return empty-handed?”
Shen Yanshui did not answer at once. Instead, she suddenly reached out with both hands and cupped his face.
Cui Yu froze.
His noble, handsome, exquisitely featured face was squished between her palms, making his cheeks puff out slightly.
???
Shen Yanshui turned his face to the left, then to the right, inspecting him from top to bottom, carefully and thoroughly.
Cui Yu finally came back to himself. He raised a hand and caught her wrist, then paused for a moment before turning his eyes toward the attendants in the room.
Chunping, Dongyi, Zheng Yuande, and the others had already lowered their heads the moment Worthy Lady Shen reached out to cup the Crown Prince’s face. Now that they felt the Crown Prince’s gaze sweep over them, they quietly and swiftly withdrew.
Only after everyone had left did Cui Yu pull one of her hands down. Looking at her, he asked in a low voice, “Why are you staring at me like that?”
For a moment, Shen Yanshui said nothing. She merely looked at him, while countless thoughts turned over in her mind.
Looking at the Crown Prince’s face, she thought of the pity in Lady Shen’s eyes earlier, and felt inexplicably confused... and irritated.
No matter how she looked at it, the Sixth Prince seemed inferior to the Crown Prince in every way.
Leaving aside their looks, she had occasionally seen the Crown Prince handling official matters. He was methodical, steady, and composed. No matter how complicated the affairs were, everything became orderly in his hands. He knew what required urgency and what could be handled slowly.
He had also dealt with the matter of the grain transport canals very appropriately this time and had even earned Emperor Pingkang’s praise.
As for the Sixth Prince... she had never heard anyone praise him for his virtue, much less heard him put forward any particularly remarkable opinions.
However she looked at it, he was still inferior to the Crown Prince...
But if Lady Shen truly had been reborn, then judging by her current actions, the one most likely to ascend the throne in the end would be... the Sixth Prince.
The more she thought about it, the more tightly her brows knitted together.
“A-Yan?” Seeing her frown in silence, Cui Yu called her again.
Shen Yanshui came back to herself. Looking at his phoenix eyes, which held a hint of concern, she hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“Your Highness, I actually didn’t go to pick dates today.” She paused. “I went specifically to find Lady Shen, my elder sister.”
Cui Yu raised his brows slightly. “Why did you seek her out?”
Shen Yanshui said, “Your Highness, do you remember what happened when the Seventh Prince was injured that day?... It seemed as though she had known in advance that something would happen to the Seventh Prince. It was just that things appeared to have gone beyond her expectations. I found it rather strange when I heard her speak of it at the time.”
Cui Yu said nothing, merely listening quietly.
“And do you remember the Dragon Boat Festival?” Shen Yanshui continued. “Elder Sister also warned me in advance to keep my distance from the Crown Princess. I suspect that she may have known beforehand that something would happen then as well.”
“I was curious, so these past few days I had people keep an eye on her movements. Today, I found an excuse to go to the Heart of the Lake Pavilion and speak with her.” She paused briefly. “But when I arrived, I saw that Elder Sister seemed to be staring at Marquis Xuanyi as she conducted her patrol. I don’t know what she was looking at. After speaking with her for a while, I returned.”
Naturally, it was impossible for her to tell the Crown Prince directly that she suspected Lady Shen had been reborn. Something so bizarre and supernatural was simply too outrageous. Saying it aloud would only frighten him.
But as long as she presented him with these suspicions, the Crown Prince could remain vigilant on his own.
If the Sixth Prince ultimately ascended the throne, then the Crown Prince... must have met with some kind of misfortune.
Now, it seemed that Lady Shen had chosen to draw close to Consort Shu and ally herself with the Sixth Prince. Later on, she would certainly help the Sixth Prince deal with the Crown Prince.
She could not be of much help, but at the very least, she could draw the Crown Prince’s attention to these suspicious details.
After hearing her out, Cui Yu’s brows lifted slightly.
He looked at her and suddenly said, “A-Yan is surprisingly clever. I imagine our children won’t be foolish either.”
Shen Yanshui took a moment to process his words before finally understanding what he meant. Her eyes widened, and she reached out to pinch his arm. “I’ve always been clever. Does that mean Your Highness has always thought I was foolish?”
Seeing her puffed-up, indignant expression, a hint of amusement rose in Cui Yu’s eyes. He took her hand and pulled her into his arms, his voice low and gentle. “Of course A-Yan is clever.”
Only then did Shen Yanshui huff and turn her gaze away, no longer glaring at him.
Seeing her like this, Cui Yu’s eyes held a smile. “A-Yan, rest assured. I’ll keep an eye on it.”
He had already instructed Zheng Yuande to investigate Lady Shen several days ago.
At first, he had merely wanted to make her suffer a little and teach her a lesson. Anyone who dared to sow discord had to pay some price.
Who would have thought that the investigation would uncover something unexpected?
He had never paid much attention to Lady Shen before, but now that he had looked into her, he discovered that not only had she grown increasingly close to Consort Shu, she had even met with... the Sixth Prince in secret.
One was a concubine of the inner palace, while the other was a prince who was nearly of age. What could they possibly need to discuss in a private meeting?
He had ordered his people to continue watching them. For now, he would remain still and wait to see exactly what they were planning.
