With the anger in her heart subsiding, Cui Yunchu only felt a sharp gaze from behind, making her feel as if she had thorns on her back.
"Where is my cousin?"
"The young lady is inside the cabin," the little maid said, leading Cui Yunchu inside.
On the other side, the young eunuch suppressed the fear in his heart and whispered a reminder, "Lord Shen, His Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for a long time. Please go ahead."
"Mm." Shen Xiabai withdrew his gaze and stepped onto the boat.
The young eunuch to the side immediately wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Having followed the Crown Prince for several years, he naturally had some understanding of this Lord Shen's character and style. Just now on the boat, he was terrified that this lord would fly into a rage and kick Eldest Miss Cui into the lake.
However... the scene from just now floated before his eyes again: the woman looking imposing and fierce, glaring down from a higher vantage point.
And Shen Xiabai was sitting upright. Just the act of one standing and one sitting, one high and one low, created a difference in aura. Especially the moment when Lord Shen seemed startled, furrowing his brows and looking up at Eldest Miss Cui...
It actually made him look somewhat dumbfounded.
The young eunuch's lips curled up, inexplicably feeling that the two of them looked very well-matched and harmonious.
"What is Eunuch Zhang smiling about?" Suddenly, a voice drifted into his ears.
Eunuch Zhang shuddered. He looked up and met Shen Xiabai's aloof and cold dark eyes. Touching his nose, he said, "This old servant got distracted for a moment. Please forgive me, Lord Shen. This way, please."
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes, the lines of his face becoming a bit colder and harder.
Inside the cabin, layers of gauze curtains hung, and various precious potted plants were piled on both sides, leaving only a small path empty.
Peonies, herbaceous peonies, and magnolias bloomed in a riot of brilliant colors.
In the very center was a square table for eight, completely covered with a feast of delicacies. Tang Qingwan and the Crown Prince sat facing each other.
One didn't even need to think to know that such a grand scene must have been arranged by the Crown Prince to coax Tang Qingwan.
To be able to collect so many precious potted plants, Xiao Yi had indeed put thought into it. But romantic feelings, in the end, could not compare to the great cause of the Crown Prince and the Emperor's favor; this was also true.
Being affectionate with Tang Qingwan at night did not delay him from parading around town with Liu Wanting during the day.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince." After respectfully bowing, she looked at Tang Qingwan and broke into a smile. "Cousin."
Tang Qingwan lowered her head to smooth her dress first. When she looked up again, there was only a faint smile in her eyes. "Come sit."
The square table was not small, but sitting between Tang Qingwan and the Crown Prince was inappropriate. Yet if she didn't sit there, she would have to sit next to Shen Xiabai.
Cui Yunchu felt a bit conflicted for a moment.
But it was only for a moment. As footsteps sounded behind her, she immediately walked over and sat down between Tang Qingwan and the Crown Prince.
Tang Qingwan asked her a few questions about where she went to play today and how she got along with the young man of the Chen family.
Cui Yunchu answered them one by one.
The Crown Prince beside her suddenly coughed lightly. Cui Yunchu looked up at him.
"The young men of the Chen family have gentle tempers. I imagine he must be a very good match for Eldest Miss Cui."
"..."
The Crown Prince was afraid she would tell Tang Qingwan about what happened this afternoon.
Cui Yunchu twitched the corners of her lips without leaving a trace.
Since he already did it, why was he afraid?
How astute was Tang Qingwan? She immediately noticed something. "What is it? Did something happen?"
Cui Yunchu cast a sidelong glance at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was also looking at her. Beneath his gentle facade, there seemed to be a faint warning.
"Nothing, I'm just a little tired." She wasn't a fool. Even if she wanted to complain, she would have a thousand opportunities once they returned to the manor.
"Is that so?" Tang Qingwan remained suspicious.
Cui Yunchu nodded. "Miss Chen and I also visited a rouge shop together. I picked out a few boxes for you, Cousin. Take a look later and see if they suit your taste."
Hearing this, Tang Qingwan immediately smiled and nodded.
Cui Yunchu watched the Crown Prince's relaxed face suddenly become a bit heavy again, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
Behind closed doors, no matter how things were between her and Tang Qingwan, on the outside, they were blood-related cousins. Naturally, she had to side with her own family.
At this moment, Shen Xiabai also entered the cabin. After bowing, he sat down in the seat opposite Cui Yunchu.
The cabin was large, but it only accommodated four people sitting opposite each other, making the atmosphere feel somewhat strange no matter how one looked at it.
"Brother Shen arrived late today. You should be penalized with three cups of wine," the Crown Prince spoke, and a maid immediately came in to pour wine for the two of them.
Shen Xiabai's gaze was indifferent. "On the way, I ran into a fox spirit trying to suck away my vital essence, which indeed delayed me for a while. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
After speaking, he actually raised his cup and downed it in one gulp.
Xiao Chen smiled gently. "Since when does Lord Shen make jokes?"
Shen Xiabai pursed his lips and remained silent.
Beside them, Cui Yunchu's palms broke out in a thin layer of sweat. She slightly raised her eyes and sneaked a peek at the man.
Now that her anger had dissipated, she also felt that she had been unusually reckless and bold on the small wooden boat just now.
It was just that hearing these words from the cold-faced Shen Xiabai carried an indescribably ambiguous meaning.
"Yunchu, why are you sweating?" Tang Qingwan handed over a handkerchief.
The Crown Prince and Shen Xiabai also looked over. Cui Yunchu took it and immediately wiped the sweat from her forehead, saying, "Perhaps it's a bit too stuffy in the cabin."
"Then let's go out and sit for a while. It's lively today; maybe we'll run into an acquaintance." Tang Qingwan took Cui Yunchu's hand, said a word to Xiao Chen, and left the cabin.
On the deck, Eunuch Zhang was waiting there. Seeing the two come out, he immediately ordered someone to bring chairs and serve tea.
"Weren't you at the manor, Cousin? Why are you suddenly boating on the lake with the Crown Prince here?"
Tang Qingwan took a sip of tea before saying, "The palace banquet is the day after tomorrow. There are some matters we need to discuss in advance."
"It's about Liu Wanting, isn't it?" Cui Yunchu was very certain.
Even though the Emperor and Empress had not issued an edict, everyone in the imperial city knew that Liu Wanting was going to become the Crown Prince's secondary consort. This definitely involved the Emperor's tacit consent and the Empress's instruction.
At the palace banquet the day after tomorrow, it would likely be made official and announced to the world.
"Cousin, are you truly willing to let Liu Wanting marry into the Eastern Palace?"
"There is one way to refuse." Tang Qingwan handed her teacup to Eunuch Zhang beside her and said directly, "The Crown Prince and I break off our engagement."
"Oh my, my dear lady, you can't just say such things casually." Eunuch Zhang's face turned pale with fright.
Tang Qingwan leaned back lazily in her chair. "If you are not used to hearing this, Eunuch, stand further away. If that still doesn't work, have your Crown Prince come and listen to it instead."
"..."
Eunuch Zhang immediately wilted and stopped talking.
The Crown Prince's favor and indulgence toward her were absolutely beyond compare to ordinary people. Just as Miss Tang said, even if the Crown Prince were standing here, he would only have the right to listen.
"It was this old servant who spoke out of turn. I will slap my own mouth."
If even the Crown Prince could only listen, where did he get the courage to utter a word?
Tang Qingwan did not say anything.
Cui Yunchu, however, understood what she meant. Tang Qingwan could refuse to accept Liu Wanting and break off her engagement with the Crown Prince, but at the same time, this would mean defying the imperial will. Madam Tang, née Cui would completely tear off all face with the royal family.
It would also shatter the current balance of power in the imperial court, and Madam Tang, née Cui would be thoroughly placed in a precarious position, losing all her bargaining chips for a struggle.
Neither of them spoke again. They just looked at the boats coming and going on the lake, the swaying decorative lanterns illuminating the water with sparkling ripples, looking exceptionally beautiful.
"What kind of rouge did you pick out today?" Tang Qingwan suddenly asked with a smile.
Cui Yunchu collected herself slightly. "There are quite a few. I will bring them over later for you to choose from, Cousin."
"Which ones did the Miss of the Liu family pick? I refuse to use anything she uses."
Tang Qingwan's voice was light and indifferent, though if one listened closely, a faint trace of sarcasm could be heard woven into her words.
