Not long ago
Marquis Xuanyi turned away from the lakeside pavilion and led several personal guards westward along the bluestone patrol path.
The defenses of the Western Hills Palace were arranged in three layers, inner and outer. Each day, he had to make a complete circuit of this area. When he reached a fork in the road, he suddenly stopped.
The guards behind him halted as well. The young guard at their head asked in a low voice, “General, what is it?”
Marquis Xuanyi did not answer. He merely shifted slightly, turning his head ever so subtly as his peripheral vision swept over the direction from which they had come.
The person in the lakeside pavilion had not yet left. She was still seated on the stone bench, with a palace maid standing beside her, head bowed.
They were too far apart for him to make out the woman’s expression, but he knew that her gaze had been fixed on him for quite some time.
And it had not begun today.
A month or two earlier, he had vaguely sensed that someone had been watching him in secret. At first, he had thought it was merely his imagination. After all, he was responsible for the palace’s security; it was only natural for people to glance his way from time to time.
But that gaze was unlike an ordinary, casual look. It had made him wary.
It belonged to one of His Majesty’s consorts—Lady Shen.
When he learned who it was, his brow had drawn together slightly. Someone from the Shen family.
The Shen family had little to do with him. Earl Zhongyi was an unremarkable, mediocre nobleman, and as for Lady Shen...
He had exchanged no more than a few words with her. At most, he had seen her from afar once or twice during palace banquets, and could scarcely remember what she looked like.
They had neither old ties nor grievances between them. Why was she watching him in secret?
Darkness flickered in Marquis Xuanyi’s eyes. He raised a hand to rest on the hilt of his sword and said in a deep voice, “Move.”
The guards answered in unison and followed him onto the shaded path to the west, their footsteps gradually fading away.
After about the time it took to burn a stick of incense, Marquis Xuanyi and his men emerged from the western patrol route. Passing through a bamboo grove, they were about to head north when a hurried set of footsteps sounded behind them.
“General!”
A young captain in light armor hurried after them. Upon reaching him, he clasped his fists in salute, his breathing slightly ragged from having run all the way.
Marquis Xuanyi stopped and turned his head toward him. “What is it?”
Lowering his voice, the captain said, “Reporting to the General: Great General Qi has arrived. He is waiting at the General’s residence and says he has business to discuss.”
At those words, Marquis Xuanyi’s expression changed. His handsome face immediately turned cold.
Then he strode toward his quarters, his pace noticeably quicker than before.
The guards exchanged glances for a moment before hastening after him.
*
The Chengxin Hall was tranquil and still in the afternoon.
Shen Yanshui was sleeping soundly. She turned over, her nose brushing against a warm piece of fabric carrying the faint scent of pine. Instinctively, she nestled closer.
When she drowsily opened her eyes, she saw a swath of blue-green cloth. Looking further up, she found the Crown Prince’s sharply defined jaw and... his thick, long lashes.
Cui Yu’s gaze rested on her lower abdomen.
Unable to resist, Shen Yanshui reached out and gently stroked his eyelashes with the pad of her finger. “What is Your Highness looking at?”
Cui Yu lifted a hand and took hold of hers, raising his eyes to meet hers.
“You’re awake?” he asked, his voice low and calm.
Shen Yanshui reclined languidly against the pillows and gave a soft response. Her peach-blossom eyes brimmed with laughter as she reached down to stroke her belly. Through the back of his hand, she said gently, “I think I’ll probably begin to show in another half month or so.”
Cui Yu nodded. He had already questioned the imperial physician in detail and knew roughly when a pregnant woman would begin to show.
“Have you rested enough?” he asked.
Shen Yanshui gave a lazy hum. “I have. Is Your Highness going out? Do you have matters to attend to?”
Cui Yu looked down at her, his voice measured and unhurried. “I have nothing to do today. There is a temple fair in one of the nearby villages. Would A-Yan like to go and have a look?”
Shen Yanshui froze at his words, then abruptly lifted her head from his arms. Her peach-blossom eyes widened round, and the last traces of sleep vanished without a trace.
“A temple fair?” Her voice rose half an octave, unable to conceal her delight and excitement. “Your Highness means... we can go out? We can visit the temple fair?”
Seeing how astonishingly bright her eyes had become, Cui Yu’s own gaze softened with amusement. “Yes. Since there is nothing to do today, we can go out incognito.”
Shen Yanshui gave a small cry. It was as though someone had lit her up all at once; the smile on her face was so radiant it seemed ready to overflow. She sat upright in a rush, cupped Cui Yu’s face in both hands, and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.
“Then what are we waiting for?” she said brightly. “Hurry—we should get there early.”
She had visited the temple fairs in the capital a few times, but the capital was bustling and prosperous every day. Compared with its usual liveliness, a temple fair there hardly seemed particularly special.
Yet she had heard people speak of village temple fairs: opera stages set up at the village entrance, stalls lining the roads, vendors selling snacks and household goods, street performers, fortune-tellers, crowds pressing shoulder to shoulder...
She had long been curious about them, but had never had the chance to see one for herself. Now that the Crown Prince had taken the initiative to offer to bring her, she naturally could not have been more eager.
“Your Highness, hurry and change. Don’t dawdle.”
Cui Yu: “...”
He shook his head helplessly and followed after her.
Once inside the inner room, Shen Yanshui immediately noticed the two sets of clothes hanging there.
One was for a woman, the other for a man.
She looked at them in surprise, then turned to Cui Yu. “Your Highness had these prepared in advance?”
Cui Yu did not answer. He merely gave a quiet “Mm,” then summoned attendants to come in and help them change.
Shen Yanshui looked at him and could not help curving her lips into a smile.
Before long, the two of them had changed under the attendants’ care.
Shen Yanshui examined herself in the bronze mirror. The woman reflected within wore a light-purple ruqun dress, her dark hair arranged in a simple drifting-cloud coiffure, adorned only with a silver hairpin. She looked like the wife of some well-to-do household.
Then she turned to look at the Crown Prince. He wore a moon-white robe, his black hair gathered up and secured with a white jade hairpin. A green jade pendant hung at his waist. Tall and poised, he was refined and noble to the bone.
When they left Chengxin Hall, Shen Yanshui brought only Chunping with them. Since they were traveling incognito, it would not do to take too many attendants.
Zheng Yuande followed behind with a beaming smile. Behind him came Fang Zhengshan, commander of the Eastern Palace guards, dressed in fitted martial attire with a long saber at his waist and a stern, impassive face. He had personally brought four guards along as well.
In addition, plainclothes guards had already left ahead of them.
Even when traveling incognito, the Crown Prince could not afford to take his safety lightly.
The group left the temporary palace and boarded their carriage. It was an ordinary carriage with blue curtains, unremarkable on the outside, but within, it was lined with thick, soft cushions. A small ice chest sat in one corner, its faint chill keeping the summer heat at bay.
Shen Yanshui lifted one corner of the curtain and looked outside. The scenery gradually shifted from the pavilions and towers of the temporary palace to country fields and winding paths. Distant mountains lay dark as ink, while nearby rice paddies gleamed green. Every now and then, a few white egrets rose from the fields and swept across the deep-blue sky.
After traveling for about half an hour, the sounds outside gradually grew louder. Voices, hoofbeats, wheels, and vendors’ cries blended into a bustling din, lively enough to be felt even through the carriage curtains.
Fang Zhengshan’s voice came from outside, low and steady. “Young Master, we’ve arrived.”
Shen Yanshui lifted the curtain and stepped down from the carriage. The moment her feet touched the ground, the lively scene before her rushed to meet her.
Before them stood a rather modest temple. Above its gate hung a plaque bearing the words “Qing’an Temple.” Its paint had faded and chipped with age, making it clear that the temple had stood there for many years.
The temple itself was small, but its incense offerings were flourishing. Pale smoke curled from the incense burner outside the gate, and the scent of sandalwood drifted on the breeze—pleasant rather than overpowering.
Yet the true bustle lay in the open woods before the temple.
The broad clearing was packed with stalls as far as the eye could see. Crowds pressed shoulder to shoulder, with no fewer than a thousand people gathered there: men and women, young and old, people from every walk of life. There were farmers in coarse linen tunics, little girls with twin-bun hairstyles, white-haired elders leaning on walking sticks, and toddlers riding atop their parents’ shoulders. Everyone wore a smile, and the place was as festive as New Year’s.
In the distance, a tall opera stage had been erected. A troupe of performers, dressed in vivid reds and greens, sang in lilting voices upon it, while the area below was packed with spectators. From time to time, a burst of applause and cheers rose from the crowd.
Not far from the stage stood another canopy, where a storyteller performed. With a crack of his wooden clapper, his booming voice carried far and wide:
“Then Zhao Zilong raised his silver spear and charged into Cao Cao’s camp as though no one stood in his way!”
Farther off, an even larger open space was ringed by crowds three layers deep. The cheers rose higher and higher. Standing on tiptoe, Shen Yanshui caught glimpses of acrobats turning somersaults in midair, others tossing bowls and chopsticks skyward, and one performer breathing out a long plume of fire—
But what drew her attention most were the roadside food stalls, lined up one after another. Their fires burned bright, oil sizzled in their pans, and steam billowed upward. All manner of delicious aromas mingled together and drifted toward her on the wind.
Grilled lamb skewers, wontons, roasted chestnuts, and scallion pancakes fresh from the pan—the hot oil sizzled against the chopped scallions, sending their fragrance straight into the nose.
She glanced back at the Crown Prince. Cui Yu stood at her side, while Fang Zhengshan and several guards had unobtrusively positioned themselves around them. Chunping and Zheng Yuande followed behind the pair.
With a smile, Shen Yanshui took the Crown Prince’s hand and headed for the nearest stall...
At the grilled lamb stall, a sturdy man stood behind the brazier, clutching a large bundle of bamboo skewers. The lamb threaded onto them was nicely marbled with fat and lean meat, sizzling as it roasted over the coals. The heat drew out the rich aroma of chili powder, so intense it was almost choking—yet so enticing that it made it impossible to walk away.
Shen Yanshui ordered twenty skewers. Taking them from the vendor, she bit into one. The lamb was grilled to perfection, crisp on the outside and tender within.
“Your High—husband?” Shen Yanshui tried out the form of address as she held the skewer to his lips, her face bright with smiles. “Would you like a taste?”
Cui Yu’s gaze deepened slightly. He gave a quiet “Mm,” though it was impossible to tell whether he was responding to her calling him “husband,” or to something else.
Lowering his eyes, he bent his head and took a bite from her hand.
“Well?” Shen Yanshui asked, watching him with an amused smile.
Cui Yu swallowed the mouthful of meat and considered for a moment before saying blandly, “It isn’t as good as A-Yan’s grilling.”
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, sparkling brightly. “I think it tastes quite good too. It may not be quite the same as what I make... but each has its own flavor.”
“If Your Highness wants to eat what I grill, then once we return, we can roast some ourselves.”
Cui Yu nodded.
Seeing him agree, Shen Yanshui turned and continued down the street. Whenever she found something tasty, she would offer the Crown Prince a bite, and Cui Yu simply let her feed him...
Whenever she bought too much and no longer wanted to eat it, she handed it to the Crown Prince to carry. Cui Yu accepted everything with a smile. Zheng Yuande tried to take some of it from him, but he would not allow it.
Zheng Yuande: “...???”
Fang Zhengshan and the guards stationed around them could not help exchanging glances.
Their eyes drifted toward the growing pile of snacks in the Crown Prince’s hands, then silently shifted away again. Inwardly, they sighed: the rumors of the Crown Prince’s affection for Worthy Lady Shen truly were no exaggeration...
The two of them were so naturally intimate that they looked just like an ordinary newlywed couple...
Shen Yanshui had no idea what they were thinking.
She was idly nibbling on a candied hawthorn skewer. To be honest, it was not as though all these street snacks were exceptionally delicious.
Two or three of them were indeed quite distinctive, and it was obvious that their vendors possessed genuine skill. But most were fairly ordinary; some were not particularly tasty at all, and could not compare with the imperial kitchen’s fare.
But sometimes, food was not really about the taste. It was about the atmosphere—the bustle and liveliness of it all.
She turned to look at the Crown Prince again. The pile in his hands seemed to have grown by several more items, and she could not help laughing. Reaching over, she took a few things from him and passed them to Chunping and Eunuch Zheng to carry before taking his hand.
“Come on, let’s go listen to the opera over there.” She pointed toward the stage in the distance.
Cui Yu let her lead him along, following behind her as his gaze rested on her buoyant figure.
The opera stage had been set up at the eastern end of the grove—a temporary wooden platform supported by thick timber posts and laid with heavy planks. Tall flagpoles stood on either side of the stage, from which hung two strings of red lanterns that swayed gently in the wind.
A performance was underway onstage.
A young female opera performer flicked her flowing sleeves as she sang in a lilting, warbling voice. The lyrics came quick and dense; Shen Yanshui listened intently for quite some time, yet failed to understand a single word...
The audience below, however, was utterly enthralled. Quite a few elderly men and women swayed their heads in time with the music, humming along as their fingers tapped out the rhythm on their knees. They looked even more absorbed than the performers onstage.
Shen Yanshui watched for a while, but once the novelty wore off, she tugged lightly at the Crown Prince’s sleeve and leaned close to whisper in his ear, “Husband, shall we go watch the acrobats?”
Cui Yu’s ear tingled faintly. He glanced at her and gave a quiet hum of assent. Naturally, he would indulge whatever she wished.
The variety show and acrobatics area was even livelier than the opera stage.
The crowd was packed three layers deep, then three more beyond that. Cheers, applause, and cries of praise rose and fell in waves, loud enough to make one’s ears buzz.
Fang Zhengshan made a hand signal, and several guards dressed as ordinary townsfolk silently squeezed into the crowd, clearing out a small space for them.
Standing on tiptoe, Shen Yanshui peered inside. Stone-breaking feats, fire-breathing, bowl balancing... all sorts of tricks were on display. It was not as though she had never seen such things before, but she still enjoyed watching them.
Cui Yu stood at her side, one arm around her waist to keep the excited crowd from jostling her, while his other hand hovered protectively by her side.
When the show ended and the crowd gradually dispersed, Cui Yu lowered his head to look at her. “Shall we find somewhere to sit for a while?”
Shen Yanshui nodded, smiling as she replied, “All right.”
The two of them strolled slowly along a woodland path. Before long, scattered stalls began to appear by the roadside—selling scented sachets, clay figurines, woven grass crickets, rouge and cosmetics... all manner of goods.
Unable to resist, Shen Yanshui bought quite a few odds and ends. Just as they were about to find a place to sit, her attention was suddenly caught by an inconspicuous stall at the roadside.
It was a fortune-teller’s stall.
A worn, weathered table was covered with a dingy gray cloth bearing a taiji and Eight Trigrams design. A bamboo cylinder stood at one corner, filled with dozens of fortune sticks. Behind the table sat a middle-aged man of around forty, thin-faced and high-cheekboned, with particularly bright eyes. He wore three wisps of a long beard and a faded blue cotton robe, giving him something of an immortal, sage-like air.
Beside the table, a bamboo pole held up a banner bearing four bold characters:
“Divine Calculations.”
Shen Yanshui looked at it a little longer.
The fortune-teller had been lazily fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. Noticing someone looking his way, he lifted his head and glanced over. The instant he saw them, his eyes lit up.
“Sir, Madam—” The fortune-teller rose to his feet and clasped his hands in greeting. His voice was neither loud nor soft, yet it carried with solid force. “Please wait a moment.”
Shen Yanshui paused and looked around, making sure that he was addressing her and the Crown Prince. Curiosity stirred within her.
“Are you calling to us, sir?” she asked.
The fortune-teller nodded with a beaming smile. His gaze swept over the pair, assessing them for a moment before he stroked his beard and said in a sage-like tone, “You are both honored guests. Your foreheads shine brightly—truly, you possess the features of those blessed with both wealth and rank!”
Shen Yanshui lifted a brow. Was that not obvious? Anyone with eyes could see it.
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm and unmoved.
Fang Zhengshan and Zheng Yuande exchanged a glance, both looking equally unimpressed.
What was so remarkable about that? With their young master and madam’s bearing, looks, and attire, anyone could tell at a glance that they were no ordinary people.
Calling them “fated for wealth and rank” was hardly anything more than a platitude.
Shen Yanshui had not intended to have her fortune told. Yet just as she was about to leave, something suddenly stirred in her heart.
She thought of Lady Shen.
Almost instinctively, she glanced at the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu happened to be looking at her. Seeing that she had abruptly stopped walking, he raised his brows slightly. “A-Yan?”
Shen Yanshui suddenly pulled him down onto the little stools before the stall. Smiling at the fortune-teller, she said, “Then perhaps you could read my husband’s fortune?”
Cui Yu turned to glance at her, but did not object.
Shen Yanshui offered no explanation. She merely gave his hand a squeeze, then turned to the fortune-teller and asked, “Sir, I would like to ask on my husband’s behalf—will he remain safe and well in the years to come? As for his health... will there be any serious trouble?”
Cui Yu frowned. He thought he was in excellent health at present. Why had A-Yan suddenly asked such a question?
The fortune-teller did not answer at once. Instead, he studied Cui Yu’s features closely.
He examined him for quite some time. Gradually, his expression grew solemn, his brow drawing together slightly. “Could the young master write a character for me?”
Cui Yu did not move. He did not believe in such things.
Shen Yanshui immediately picked up the somewhat worn brush from the table and placed it in his hand. With a soft smile, she coaxed, “Husband, just write any character.”
That single word—“husband”—was spoken so sweetly and softly, its final note rising ever so slightly. Cui Yu shot her a glance before taking the brush.
He raised it and wrote a single character on the yellow paper spread across the table.
“Peace.”
The handwriting was upright and vigorous, its strokes restrained yet faintly sharp—like a treasured sword concealed in its scabbard. It did not flaunt its edge, yet no one could overlook it.
The fortune-teller lowered his head to inspect the character, then looked up at Cui Yu. His eyes brightened somewhat as he stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly. “Excellent handwriting, excellent! Your brushwork is superb—powerful, vigorous, with its sharpness held in reserve. Only a man with great ambitions and depth of mind could write such a hand.”
Cui Yu’s expression remained placid.
The fortune-teller stared at the character for a while longer. Then he suddenly let out a long sigh. Raising his head, he looked at Cui Yu with a complicated expression.
“Young master...” His voice lowered, carrying an indescribable undertone. “Your fate is already exalted beyond measure...”
The moment he said this, Zheng Yuande and Fang Zhengshan exchanged a glance, and the expressions on both their faces shifted slightly.
Could this fortune-teller... truly have seen something?
Ignoring everyone else’s reaction, the fortune-teller merely fixed his gaze on Cui Yu. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke, his voice low and deliberate.
“However... in a few years’ time, my lord is destined to face a great calamity.”
Shen Yanshui frowned.
“This calamity... should you fail to overcome it, I fear... it may mean death and the dispersal of your soul.”
“How dare you!”
Zheng Yuande’s voice abruptly rose. The smile vanished at once from his round face as he glared at the fortune-teller.
How dare he curse the Crown Prince?!
“Esteemed sir, there is no need to be anxious. I have not finished speaking...”
As he spoke, the fortune-teller quietly drew a breath. His voice dropped a little lower than before, though it now carried a note of relief.
“Though my lord is fated to face this trial, fortunately, he has encountered a benefactor.”
“In the future, he will surely turn misfortune into fortune and emerge safely from every danger.”
At these words, everyone present was stunned.
Zheng Yuande was the first to recover. The corner of his mouth twitched.
“Hah.”
Fang Zhengshan also relaxed slightly.
A benefactor? In this world, other than His Majesty, who could be more “noble” than the Crown Prince? And who could possibly be the Crown Prince’s benefactor?
This fortune-teller had just claimed that the Crown Prince faced disaster. Had he not simply sensed that the tide was turning against him, changed his tune on the spot, and found himself a way out?
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment upon hearing the words “benefactor.”
Cui Yu’s brows shifted faintly as well, and he glanced at her.
He lifted his eyes to the fortune-teller, his deep, steady voice betraying no emotion.
“The benefactor you speak of... is my wife?”
With a grave and knowing air, the fortune-teller nodded, stroking his beard. “Precisely. With your honored wife by your side, my lord will naturally avert disaster and turn danger into safety.”
After a pause, he added, “Madam and my lord are a match made in heaven. You complement one another; neither can do without the other.”
Shen Yanshui was utterly dumbfounded. If she did not know better herself, anyone listening might have thought this man was a plant she had hired.
She blinked, looking blankly from the fortune-teller to the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu’s expression remained calm. “The gentleman is correct.” As he spoke, he removed the jade pendant from his waist and set it on the table.
Shen Yanshui: “...”
What a spendthrift. There was no need to pay him that much...
Behind them, Zheng Yuande curled his lip. This swindler certainly knew how to give himself an exit. He must have noticed how affectionate the Crown Prince and his lady were, then used her as the subject of his little speech—claiming that “Madam is his benefactor”—to please the Crown Prince. Well... the money was sure to follow.
...
Cui Yu led Shen Yanshui away from the fortune-teller’s stall. After they had gone a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked toward the temple in the distance, wreathed in curling incense smoke.
“Today is the annual temple fair at Qing’an Temple,” Cui Yu said, his voice low and even. “People from all the villages within ten miles have come to offer incense and pray for blessings. Since we are here, shall we go light a stick of incense?”
Shen Yanshui nodded at his words, though her mind was still lingering on what the fortune-teller had said earlier.
The Crown Prince would face a calamity in a few years' time...?
As they entered Qing'an Temple, they were greeted by a smiling statue of Maitreya Buddha. Its golden form gleamed brilliantly beneath the candlelight. Behind it stood the Mahavira Hall, where the Buddhas of the Three Ages were enshrined in solemn dignity amid curling incense smoke.
The bronze censer before the hall was filled with incense sticks and candles. Wisps of bluish smoke drifted upward, mingling with the scent of sandalwood and quietly calming the heart.
Chunping took six sticks of incense from a nearby offering table. After lighting them, she respectfully handed them to her mistress and the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu glanced sideways at Shen Yanshui. For the first time, he offered a prayer with complete sincerity.
May A-Yan be safe when she gives birth in the future...
Shen Yanshui knelt on a prayer cushion before the Buddha.
Cui Yu rose and stood at her side, looking down at her.
Holding the incense in both hands, Shen Yanshui raised it to her forehead, closed her eyes, and began to murmur, “Bodhisattva, please bless us, please bless us... Bless the Crown Prince and me with good health, long lives, freedom from illness and disaster, and peace and safety...”
Standing beside her, Cui Yu could not help the faint curve of a smile as he listened to her muttering.
Zheng Yuande and Fang Zhengshan, standing nearby: “...?”
Could their lady master be doing this on purpose?
Cui Yu gave a light cough, his voice carrying a trace of helpless amusement. “A-Yan, aren’t prayers supposed to be said silently in one’s heart? Why are you saying yours aloud?”
Shen Yanshui blinked. “I said it aloud?”
But after realizing what had happened, she hurriedly said, “The Bodhisattva is compassionate and saves all living beings. How could they treat a silent prayer differently from one spoken aloud? What matters is sincerity. What matters is sincerity.”
Even so, she silently repeated the prayer once more.
Then she bowed three times with utmost reverence, placed the incense in the bronze censer, and finally rose to her feet.
She glanced at the Crown Prince beside her. Perhaps it was only psychological, but she suddenly felt much more at ease.
The moment the two of them stepped out of the main hall, a young novice monk came forward. Pressing his palms together, he bowed respectfully. “Benefactors, the vegetarian meal has been prepared. Please follow this humble monk.”
Shen Yanshui paused slightly and turned to look at the Crown Prince.
Cui Yu’s expression remained unchanged. He gave a small nod, indicating that she should follow.
Without asking further, Shen Yanshui obediently followed the novice monk. They crossed a flagstone path, passed around a cluster of emerald bamboo, and arrived at a row of dining rooms behind the temple.
The novice stopped before the innermost room, pushed open the door, and stepped aside. “Please enter, benefactors.”
Shen Yanshui was indeed rather hungry. She stepped over the threshold—and froze.
Inside sat a young man in an indigo robe, around twenty years old. He was tall and handsome, with features that bore a two- or three-part resemblance to Shen Yanshui’s. His eyes in particular were the same beautiful peach-blossom shape, though unlike Shen Yanshui’s alluring gaze, his carried a touch more spirit and strength.
At the sound of the door opening, the young man lifted his head.
Their eyes met.
Shen Yanshui’s eyes immediately lit up. “Second Brother?”
Shen Shimao hurried forward two steps, swept back the hem of his robe, and dropped to his knees in salute. “This commoner pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince, and to Worthy Lady Shen.”
Cui Yu raised a hand slightly. “No need for such formalities.”
Still holding Shen Yanshui’s hand, he walked to the luohan daybed, lifted his robes, and sat down. He glanced at Shen Shimao and gave a slight nod. “Sit.”
Shen Shimao took a seat on a stool. When he had received the message at home, he could scarcely believe his ears. The Crown Prince wanted to see him? Why would the Crown Prince suddenly wish to see him?
After much thought, he decided that the only possible reason was his fourth sister.
Otherwise, with the Crown Prince occupied by affairs of state every day, how could he possibly know who Shen Shimao was?
Even so, he was terribly nervous. From the moment he received the summons until coming here today, he had barely slept. Again and again, he rehearsed what he ought to say and what he ought not say when he met the Crown Prince, turning it over endlessly in his mind, terrified that he might make a mistake.
Shen Yanshui glanced at him, then turned her gaze toward the Crown Prince. For a moment, she said nothing.
She had not known that the Crown Prince had secretly summoned her second brother as well.
Remembering the questions he had asked her last time, a hint of amusement flickered in her eyes.
Cui Yu lifted his teacup and took an unhurried sip. Setting it down again, he looked at Shen Shimao.
His gaze was calm and steady. “Second Young Master Shen.”
Shen Shimao immediately straightened his back and rose to his feet, his voice slightly tight. “This commoner is here.”
Cui Yu made a slight downward gesture with his hand, indicating that he need not be so tense. “A-Yan has spoken of you to me. She said that while you are not particularly gifted in scholarship, you are clever and quick-witted, with a considerable talent for business.”
Shen Shimao froze for a moment and instinctively glanced at his fourth sister.
Shen Yanshui winked at him.
Warmth rose in Shen Shimao’s heart. He quickly withdrew his gaze and replied respectfully, “This commoner... this commoner has merely helped manage a few household affairs and knows a little of such matters. I do not deserve Worthy Lady Shen’s praise.”
Cui Yu did not press the matter. He merely fell silent in thought for a moment before saying, “In that case, you will first take up a post at the Ministry of Revenue for a time.”
The moment those words fell, Shen Shimao was utterly stunned.
The Ministry of Revenue?
His heart began to pound, and his ears rang. For a moment, he thought he had misheard.
The Ministry of Revenue oversaw the realm’s finances, grain supplies, taxation, and the imperial treasury’s income and expenditures. Countless people struggled desperately for a chance to enter it. Yet he was merely the illegitimate son of an earl’s household, with no scholarly credentials to his name, and he could actually... actually enter the Ministry of Revenue?
His lips parted as he tried to speak, but it felt as though something had lodged in his throat. Not a single word came out.
Cui Yu glanced at him, his voice as even as before. “Once you are at the Ministry of Revenue, work diligently. Do not bring shame upon A-Yan, nor upon me.”
Only then did Shen Shimao come back to himself. With a thud, he dropped to his knees, his voice trembling with excitement. “Many thanks to Your Highness the Crown Prince—many thanks for Your Highness’s favor! This commoner... this commoner will certainly work hard and do his duty. I will never bring shame upon Worthy Lady Shen or Your Highness!”
He kowtowed three times, each blow of his forehead against the tiled floor ringing out with a heavy thud.
Shen Yanshui watched from the side, a measure of pleasure rising in her heart as well.
Cui Yu lifted a hand slightly. “Get up.”
Giving someone an opportunity was one thing. Whether they could seize it—and whether they could do the job well—was another matter entirely.
Whether Shen Shimao was worth employing, and how he ought to be employed, would depend on his performance after entering the Ministry of Revenue.
If he proved to be promising, Cui Yu would naturally not hesitate to promote him.
Shen Shimao rose to his feet. His eyes reddened slightly, but he quickly lowered his lashes, suppressing his excitement.
At this moment, he felt as if he were dreaming.
Sitting at home when a windfall dropped from the heavens—wasn’t that exactly what had happened to him?
The Ministry of Revenue—the Ministry of Revenue! Even if he were only a low-ranking clerk there, it would be a thousand times, a hundred times better than managing the family’s shops and estates at home.
Not to mention the salary and the extra perks at the Ministry of Revenue, simply having the chance to work there and build connections with those people was an opportunity countless others could only beg for.
He knew perfectly well that the Crown Prince had given him this opportunity solely because of his fourth sister.
Seeing that the two had finished discussing business, Shen Yanshui shifted a little closer to the Crown Prince. She reached out and nudged the arm he had resting on the low table, smiling sweetly.
“Your Highness, could you wait outside for a moment? I’d like to speak with Second Brother alone.”
Shen Shimao: “???!!!”
Good heavens! How could his fourth sister still be so bold? She had actually told the Crown Prince to leave?!
His knees nearly gave way beneath him, and he was about to drop to them and beg forgiveness—when he saw...
The Crown Prince gave a faint “Mm,” then rose to his feet and... and went outside.
Shen Shimao: “???”
With a creak, the door closed.
Shen Shimao stood in the room, staring at the closed door, utterly dazed.
Slowly, he turned back to look at his fourth sister. His mouth opened and closed, then opened again; the blank look on his face transformed into one of complete disbelief.
Shen Yanshui looked at him curiously. “Second Brother?”
Shen Shimao took a deep breath and lowered his voice. “Fourth Sister, how can you... how can you order the Crown Prince around? What if His Highness becomes angry?”
Shen Yanshui looked at him as though he were being absurd. “When did I order the Crown Prince around?”
Shen Shimao: “...”
If that hadn’t been ordering him around, what was?
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. There probably were only a handful of people in the world who would dare tell the Crown Prince to “go wait outside.”
Shen Shimao’s thoughts churned wildly. It was unbelievable—utterly inconceivable...
That was the Crown Prince!
“Fourth Sister,” he said after steadying himself and finally recovering his voice, “what was it you wanted to ask me?”
Shen Yanshui patted his arm, signaling for him to sit. The two of them sat facing each other on the kang couch, and only then did Shen Yanshui speak. Her tone was several degrees more serious than before.
“Second Brother, isn’t the family currently arranging a marriage for Sixth Sister? Which family are they considering?”
Shen Shimao paused, not expecting her to ask about that.
“Why are you suddenly asking about this?” he asked, surprised.
“Just tell me,” Shen Yanshui said.
Shen Shimao hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “There is such a matter. Mother has recently been looking for suitable matches for Fifth Sister and Sixth Sister.”
“For Sixth Sister... she has in mind a wealthy merchant surnamed Qian. He deals in tea and has a very substantial fortune.”
At the words “wealthy merchant,” Shen Yanshui was not overly surprised.
There were quite a few families in the capital with nothing but an empty title to their name, their descendants incapable of amounting to anything. This was how they operated: either they took a wealthy merchant’s daughter as a concubine or a second wife, or they married off one of their own concubine-born daughters to such a family. Each side got what it wanted, and everyone was satisfied.
After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Which merchant family is it? Is he a provincial graduate? Or a jinshi from some examination year? What is his full name? Where is he from? What sort of man is he? Have you met him, Second Brother?”
Shen Shimao fell silent for a moment before answering at last. “That merchant... his surname is Qian, and his name is Qian Wanquan. He is from Huizhou and made his fortune in the tea trade. He is already past thirty.”
Shen Yanshui immediately frowned. “Past thirty?”
Shen Shimao lowered his voice even further. “Mother means... for Sixth Sister to marry him as his second wife.”
Shen Yanshui’s expression changed completely. “Sixth Sister is only fifteen. That Qian Wanquan is already in his thirties—he is not much younger than Father. Is this marrying off a daughter, or selling one?”
Shen Shimao shuddered and hurriedly lowered his voice. Raising a hand, he moved to cover her mouth. “My little ancestor, keep your voice down...”
The Crown Prince was still outside.
Cui Yu had been gazing at the matchmaking tree in the distance, its branches tied with countless strips of red silk. Then, from the meditation room behind him, came a clear voice filled with outrage...
A-Yan?
The door to the room opened.
Cui Yu’s gaze fell upon Shen Shimao’s hand, which was just about to cover Shen Yanshui’s mouth.
Shen Shimao’s hand froze in midair before he hastily withdrew it.
Cui Yu looked away, stepped over the threshold, and came to stand beside her. Looking down at her, he asked in a low, even voice, “What happened?”
When Shen Yanshui saw him enter, the anger on her face subsided somewhat. She glanced outside again. Dusk was settling in, and the bustle of the temple fair had gradually begun to fade.
Suppressing the fire in her heart, she shook her head and said softly, “It is getting late. I will tell Your Highness once we return.”
After a pause, she turned to Shen Shimao. “Second Brother, it is late. You should head back as well. Work diligently when you report to the Ministry of Revenue. And as for Sixth Sister’s marriage, think of a way first—do not let it go through.”
Shen Shimao: “...”
He secretly glanced at the Crown Prince. Was it really appropriate for His Highness to hear about this sort of thing?
When Shen Yanshui saw that he had suddenly fallen silent, she called, “Second Brother?”
Cui Yu also cast him a glance, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Shen Shimao jolted and immediately replied, “Rest assured, Fourth Sister. I understand.”
Only then did Shen Yanshui feel somewhat relieved. Whatever else might be said of him, her second brother had no shortage of crafty ideas. If he truly meant to interfere, he would surely find a way to ruin the match.
With that thought, she tugged lightly at the Crown Prince’s sleeve. “Your Highness, let us go back.”
Cui Yu nodded and slipped an arm around her waist before turning and leading her out.
Shen Shimao respectfully bowed from behind and watched as the Crown Prince and his party passed through the mountain gate, gradually vanishing into the dusk. Only then did he let out a long breath and raise a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his brow.
This was unbelievable...
The rumors in the capital that the Crown Prince doted on his fourth sister had not been exaggerated in the slightest. If anything, they had understated the truth...
By the time the group returned to the imperial villa, night had begun to fall.
Lights glimmered throughout the Western Hills residence in the twilight, like pearls scattered among the mountains. Their carriage did not stop along the way, proceeding straight to Chengxin Hall.
Nanny Wang, Dongyi, and the others had long since arranged hot water and fresh clothes.
After bathing and changing, the two emerged from the washroom in light sleeping robes and finally settled onto the bed.
Shen Yanshui had held back her thoughts all the way home. At last, she could speak.
She lifted her head from the Crown Prince’s arms and recounted, word for word, everything her second brother had told her in the meditation room earlier.
Cui Yu listened quietly, his expression unchanged. Only the faint crease between his brows deepened as he lowered his gaze to her.
When Shen Yanshui finished, she looked up at him. Her peach-blossom eyes were earnest, yet touched with hesitation and a trace of embarrassment.
“Your Highness,” she said softly, “are there... any suitable young men among your subordinates? Their family background need not matter. So long as they are decent in appearance and character.”
Seeing the slight furrow between her brows and the concern still lingering on her face, Cui Yu said, “I’ll keep an eye out.”
He had already formed an idea.
There were many unmarried men in the Imperial Guard. At the very least, they all came from respectable, well-vetted families, and some were even of quite distinguished birth.
Their character was harder to judge, but their looks and bearing had certainly been screened. At minimum, they were presentable. He could have Fang Zhengshan compile a list with portraits, then let A-Yan choose for herself.
Now that the Crown Prince had agreed, much of Shen Yanshui’s worry and indignation eased. Yet... she glanced at him and felt a little embarrassed again.
“Your Highness,” she said in a small voice, lying against his chest, “do you think... it’s bothersome of me to bring all these trivial family matters to you?”
Cui Yu gave her a calm look. “No.”
His voice was low and steady, carrying an unquestionable certainty.
“A woman’s marriage is one of the most important matters of her life.” He paused, lowering his eyes to look at her. “There is no such thing as being too careful.”
Shen Yanshui froze for a moment, then nodded firmly. Her peach-blossom eyes curved into crescents, sparkling with laughter.
“That’s exactly what I think, too.”
Otherwise, she would not have thought to trouble him with helping her look.
As she thought this, she suddenly leaned forward with a smile and kissed him on the lips.
A bright, crisp *smack*.
After kissing his mouth, she kissed the tip of his nose. Then, after kissing his nose, she kissed his eyelids, before nuzzling over to peck his cheek as well. Like a little puppy, she could not stop kissing him everywhere.
Hehe... she simply suddenly wanted to kiss him...
Cui Yu grew a little ticklish from all her kisses. A low laugh escaped his throat as he reached out, pressed a hand to the back of her head, and tucked her soft, fluffy head into the hollow of his shoulder.
“All right,” he said in a low voice tinged with helpless amusement. “Go to sleep, now.” He would be busy again early the next morning and would not have much time to spend with her.
Pinned beneath him and unable to move, Shen Yanshui could only obediently lie against his chest. She gave a soft “Mm” and stopped fidgeting.
Tilting her face up to look at him, she wrapped her arms around one of his and suddenly said with a smile, “Your Highness is so good to me~”
Cui Yu glanced down at her, his eyes brimming with warmth. “Sleep.”
“Mm...”
After a while, seeing her lying quietly in his arms as her breathing gradually evened out, Cui Yu closed his eyes as well.
The Northern Rong envoys would arrive the day after tomorrow.
