"There are some things that are highly inconvenient given my status."
That was true. After all, she was the future Crown Princess, and the entire capital was watching her conduct, especially the Liu family, who were likely just waiting to catch Tang Qingwan making a mistake.
Cui Yunchu had no objections to this. "Then do you want to go together?"
Tang Qingwan stepped out from behind the desk. "I won't go, but my people are yours to use."
...
On Hua'an Street, by the window of a private room on the second floor of a restaurant, two men stood with their hands behind their backs. The man in the raven-blue brocade robe looked sideways at the carriages coming and going on the long street, his gaze earnest.
"Did His Highness the Prince of An invite me here just to admire the bustling scenery of the imperial city?" the man in the dark brocade robe beside him asked calmly.
Xiao Yi withdrew his gaze and looked at the man beside him. "Isn't it boring to stay in the government office every day? Isn't it nice to come out and have some fun?"
"It's because the Second Miss of the Cui family doesn't have time to play with Your Highness that you dragged me here to make up the numbers, right?"
Shen Xiabai left the window lattice, walked to the long table, and sat down. There was an abundance of fine food and wine. He picked up his wine cup and took a slow sip.
"Inferior quality."
The Prince of An smiled. "Naturally, it cannot compare to the tribute wine in my Imperial Father's palace. Brother Shen will just have to make do."
Xiao Yi smiled faintly.
Shen Xiabai was now someone who could sit in the imperial study and drink with the Emperor. Even the Crown Prince had to show him some respect.
The former head of the Shen family was seen by the Emperor as a thorn in his side, and it took the combined efforts of the Cui and Tang clans to dismantle him. Yet, fifteen years later, the eldest son of the Shen family, Shen Xiabai, relying solely on his own abilities, had become a new prominent figure in the imperial court and the Emperor's favorite.
"Brother Shen's abilities are truly breathtaking."
To make the Emperor let go of his grudges and reuse him, and to entrust him with such heavy responsibilities, even with a silver tongue, it would be very difficult to achieve.
"The Emperor is a wise ruler. When the ruler and his ministers are of one mind, no great abilities are needed."
Xiao Yi chuckled. "If that were the case, how could the Cui and Tang clans be where they are today?"
Restrained and suppressed everywhere.
Shen Xiabai's smiling eyes faded slightly, and the corners of his lips pressed into a sharp, cold line.
"I misspoke." Xiao Yi raised his cup.
Shen Xiabai also raised his. "Doesn't Your Highness feel that the situation today is exactly the same as it was fifteen years ago?"
The only thing that had changed were the situations and stances of the three families.
Xiao Yi's expression froze slightly, then he smiled and said nothing.
The feud between the Shen family and the Cui and Tang clans had been accumulating for a long time, and now they had formed a tripartite balance of power in the court. His Imperial Father's intention in supporting Shen Xiabai was exactly the same as when he supported the Cui and Tang clans to check the Shen family back then.
A peaceful resolution was highly unlikely.
"Rest assured, Your Highness." Shen Xiabai put down his wine cup, his eyes distant. "I have always been clear about gratitude and grudges. Every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt has its debtor. I will not implicate the innocent people of the Cui family."
Xiao Yi smiled and raised his cup again.
Unfortunately, the Cui family was fiercely protective of their own. Even if Yunfeng was unharmed, she would not sit idly by if Prime Minister Cui faced the slightest mishap.
"Previously, the Crown Prince also sought me out," Shen Xiabai said. "Probably with the same thoughts as Your Highness."
For Tang Qingwan.
"The daughters of the Tang and Cui families are quite capable, able to make both Your Highnesses fall for them." Shen Xiabai's smile was mixed with sarcasm.
Xiao Yi was noncommittal. "It's just a pity that the Cui and Tang clans have produced so few daughters. Otherwise, perhaps they could have made Brother Shen bow down as well. That would truly be a great joy."
Shen Xiabai's distant expression immediately turned heavy and cold, his eyes filled with undisguised displeasure and disgust. "His Highness the Prince of An jests. Even if I cannot marry a wife in this lifetime, I will absolutely never take a daughter of the Cui or Tang clans."
"Just a joke." Xiao Yi smiled. "The Cui family actually has another one. It's just a pity..."
He shook his head as if he couldn't continue, as if it was hard to describe. If he spoke lightly, it wouldn't fully express his disgust for her; if he spoke harshly, he feared he might indirectly insult Cui Yunfeng.
Shen Xiabai only sneered coldly.
"If Your Highness has no other matters, I will take my leave first." Saying so, he stood up, bowed, and left.
As the door to the private room closed, the young eunuch frowned and said, "This Lord Shen is truly arrogant."
Xiao Yi waved his hand. "Ah, after all, he is someone who can sit at the same table as my Imperial Father. It's only right for him to have a bit of a temper."
"Has the young lady of the Li family arrived?"
The young eunuch nodded. "According to the time of the message, she should be here soon. Your Highness, the Tang family's young lady will definitely not stand by and do nothing about this matter. Why must we get our hands dirty? Letting the Tang young lady do it will not only provoke a struggle between the Liu family and the Tang and Cui clans, but also alienate the Crown Prince and Miss Tang. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone?"
Xiao Yi glanced at the young eunuch, and the speaker immediately shut his mouth and sheepishly lowered his head.
Xiao Yi pulled out a chair, lazily leaned back into it, picked up a crystal-clear grape, and popped it into his mouth. "Your brain isn't bad, and the calculation is very good."
"Your Highness overpraises me," the young eunuch said in a panic.
"But there are some people who cannot be lumped together with schemes and calculations. If even she were to be mixed into those things, then the only light I have would be extinguished." He slightly closed his eyes.
...
"Miss." Xing'er helped Cui Yunchu down from the carriage.
In front of the restaurant, Xing'er gave the waiter a silver ingot and asked for a private room on the second floor.
"This servant has arranged everything. Miss just needs to wait and watch the show."
Cui Yunchu nodded. Holding up her skirt, she was about to go upstairs when she froze upon catching a glimpse of a dark figure slowly walking down.
Coincidentally, the man looked up at her, a barely noticeable trace of surprise flashing across his handsome features.
Shen Xiaobai.
Cui Yunchu's habit of getting weak in the knees struck instantly.
"Xing... Xing'er."
Xing'er immediately stepped forward to support her. Cui Yunchu felt both her legs trembling violently. "Change... let's change to another place."
She turned around and hurried out, walking briskly, looking just as she had when she fled in a panic by the rockery at the Chen family's residence earlier.
Shen Xiabai watched the young girl's swiftly retreating figure. He hadn't cared at first, but now a hint of suspicion arose. He turned his head and looked at the servant beside him.
"My lord's appearance is outstanding. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it."
Shen Xiabai frowned and withdrew his gaze. He looked up at the carriage not far away, just in time to meet the eyes of the girl who had lifted a corner of the carriage curtain to peek at him.
After meeting his gaze, she immediately pulled the curtain tight to hide.
"...Which family's daughter is that?" he asked the servant beside him after getting into his carriage.
"This servant noticed that the young lady's carriage doesn't have a plaque hanging on it."
Families of officials would generally hang a plaque on their carriages, which made traveling in the capital much more convenient.
"Mhm." Shen Xiabai responded faintly, no longer taking it to heart. "Where is Zilan? Has he been behaving lately?"
"The young master is doing very well. He studies in the study every day. It's just that... he is dissatisfied with the marriage arranged by the old madam with the young lady of the Chen family, so he is causing a bit of a fuss."
Shen Xiabai frowned slightly. "If he is dissatisfied, then let him marry that little childhood sweetheart of his."
The servant immediately stopped talking. Marrying that girl would be worse than just killing the young master outright.
On the other side, Cui Yunchu tightly gripped the carriage curtain, not daring to let go, her voice trembling. "Xing'er, has Shen Xiaobai left yet?"
"Miss, who is Shen Xiaobai?"
Cui Yunchu frowned and lifted a small slit. Seeing nothing, she tentatively lifted it slowly until it was completely empty in front of her. Only then did she completely breathe a sigh of relief and throw the curtain open.
She leaned against the carriage wall, panting heavily, thoroughly frightened.
She could not help it. Whenever she saw Shen Xiabai, she felt as if a blade was pressed against her neck, ready to pierce right through her chest.
"Miss, are you afraid of that gentleman from just now?"
Cui Yunchu gave Xing'er a listless glance and said nothing.
"Oh, right, Miss. That gentleman asked me to pass along a message to you earlier, but I was so busy that I completely forgot."
"A message? What message?"
"He said he begs you to keep the events of that day an absolute secret, so as not to ruin the reputations of that man and woman."
Cui Yunchu curled her lip. "They were already getting all handsy with each other in someone else's home. What reputation is even left to protect?"
Although she had done much worse things herself in the past, it certainly did not stop her from criticizing others.
Still, she was not one to gossip anyway, especially not after Shen Xiaobai had already warned her.
