Upon learning that the Crown Prince had come to the Marquis’ residence, Jinshu waited outside the courtyard in advance.
Seeing Xiao Chengyu emerge from Fangfei Courtyard, Jinshu immediately knelt at the entrance.
Xiao Chengyu gestured for Jinshu to follow him a few steps toward the rockery, instructing the guards to keep watch around them.
Jinshu knelt again, speaking respectfully: “Your humble servant pays respects to the Crown Prince.”
Xiao Chengyu gave her a cold glance. “Why weren’t you attending to Tangtang today?”
Jinshu quickly explained: “Yesterday, the young miss’s cousin gave our young lady a scented sachet. Wanting to return the gift with another sachet, the young lady had me embroidering in the room. That’s why Huaping is attending to the young lady today.”
Xiao Chengyu let out a cold sneer.
He felt somewhat displeased: Tangtang is truly good to that cousin of hers.
Setting this matter aside, he asked in a deep voice: “Have you investigated the matter? Why exactly has Tangtang started distancing herself from me?”
Jinshu replied: “I’m usually always by the young lady’s side, and after returning to the residence yesterday, I inquired with other maidservants. They all said the young lady has been completely normal, with nothing unusual happening.”
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn’t mention Shen Qingtang encountering Lu Rongyu on the way back to the residence yesterday.
After all, they only exchanged a few words. But if she reported this now, she feared the Crown Prince would tighten his control over the young lady’s movements even further.
Xiao Chengyu looked down at her condescendingly, his voice icy: “Are you certain nothing else happened? Then why would Tangtang distance herself from me for no reason?”
Jinshu said quietly: “Perhaps… the young lady has grown up and understands the distinction between men and women, hence she’s paying more attention to maintaining proper boundaries with the Crown Prince?”
Xiao Chengyu’s gaze darkened.
He had always instilled in Shen Qingtang the idea that they were the closest people in this world – that no matter when or where, no matter what happened, she could rely on him completely.
Could it really be that coming of age has made her understand that men and women should maintain proper distance?
Xiao Chengyu glanced at Jinshu. “Did anything else happen yesterday?”
Jinshu nervously swallowed: “Nothing particularly…”
Before she could finish, Xiao Chengyu suddenly narrowed his eyes sharply: “Xuanying!”
Xuanying immediately drew his ornamental sword, placing it against Jinshu’s neck!
Jinshu instantly turned deathly pale with fear. “Y-Your Highness?”
Xiao Chengyu said coldly: “Yesterday, Tangtang clearly met with Lu Rongyu. Why didn’t you report this?”
He narrowed his eyes examining Jinshu. “Do you dare betray me?”
Jinshu hurriedly said: “This servant wouldn’t dare! I just thought Young Master Lu and the young lady merely happened to meet and exchanged greetings. The young lady didn’t even get down from the carriage, and they didn’t say anything particularly meaningful.”
“So I thought… this matter shouldn’t be important…”
Xiao Chengyu’s gaze held no warmth whatsoever: “I’ve told you – regarding matters about Tangtang, you must report every detail to me! As for what’s important, I will determine that myself.”
“If there’s a next time, you won’t need to remain by her side anymore.”
In just those few sentences, Jinshu’s back had already become soaked with cold sweat.
She quickly said respectfully: “This servant acknowledges her mistake! This servant won’t dare do it again!”
Only then did Xiao Chengyu have Xuanying sheathe his sword. Before leaving, he coldly reminded: “Having worn the mask for too long, don’t forget what your true identity really is.”
Watching the Crown Prince’s retreating figure, Jinshu’s legs gave way, and she collapsed sitting on the ground…
Fangfei Courtyard.
Though Shen Qingtang frequently entered the palace and had long grown accustomed to the Imperial Kitchen’s dishes, this was Ding Ru Shan’s first time tasting imperial cuisine.
She turned to Shen Qingtang, her eyes sparkling with excitement, “Tang Meimei, what impression do you think the Crown Prince has of me? Did he think the piece I just played was acceptable?”
Before Shen Qingtang could speak, Ding Ru Shan chuckled to herself again, her tone carrying a hint of certainty. “His Highness specifically asked me to stay for the Imperial Cuisine—it must be because he thought my zither playing was excellent and wanted to reward me, right?”
Shen Qingtang’s hand, holding the chopsticks, paused briefly.
She had just overheard Xiao Chengyu’s inner thoughts, which were filled with impatience toward Ding Ru Shan—there wasn’t a trace of approval in them.
But seeing her cousin’s eager expression, she couldn’t bear to dampen her spirits.
She simply picked up an abalone and placed it in Ding Ru Shan’s bowl, gently steering the conversation elsewhere. “Cousin, try this. The Imperial Chef’s abalone tastes different from what we have at the mansion—it’s incredibly fresh.”
However, Ding Ru Shan’s mind was entirely focused on the Crown Prince. She only took a small bite of the abalone before setting it down, her gaze lingering on the exquisite dishes spread across the table. She couldn’t help but sigh with admiration, “Tang Meimei, the Crown Prince is truly good to you. It’s really enviable.”
Shen Qingtang forced a slight smile but couldn’t quite manage to look cheerful.
She knew her Crown Prince Cousin treated her well, but… if only he saw her as just a younger sister, how wonderful that would be…
For the rest of the meal, Ding Ru Shan chattered incessantly.
At one moment, she remarked that the Crown Prince truly lived up to being part of the heavenly aristocracy, with such a noble aura; the next, she commented on how the Crown Prince doted on his cousin Shen Qingtang, showing not a hint of the heir apparent’s usual airs in front of her.
“Tang Meimei, having a cousin like the Crown Prince is such a blessing for you.”
Shen Qingtang’s heart felt as if something were clogging it, a mix of complicated emotions swirling inside.
She couldn’t deny that her Crown Prince Cousin treated her exceptionally well.
On ordinary days, if there were any exotic treasures that she could use, he would send them to her. Every year on her birthday, no matter how busy he was, he would make time to personally visit the Marquis’s residence to celebrate with her…
Because of this, even though she was only an adopted daughter, few in the capital dared to look down on her.
Of course, she felt grateful for all of this. But whenever she recalled those frightening inner thoughts of her cousin and the hidden spies around her, she couldn’t help but tense up all over.
Now, whenever she saw her cousin, she only felt nervous and could no longer relax…
After a moment of silence, Shen Qingtang couldn’t resist probing further. “Cousin, if your cousin were to… meddle in all your affairs, even controlling where you go and whom you meet, would you… feel happy about it?”
Ding Ru Shan was taken aback for a second, then burst out laughing. “Of course I’d be happy! If my cousin cared about me that much and looked out for me in everything, I’d be overjoyed! It shows he cherishes and values me—something others wish they had but don’t.”
Shen Qingtang frowned. “But…”
“Tang Meimei, what’s really going on with you?” Ding Ru Shan leaned in closer. “You’ve seemed a bit off since we met this time. Is something bothering you?”
Shen Qingtang shook her head, swallowing the words on the tip of her tongue, and forced a faint smile. “It’s nothing. Let’s hurry and eat…”
But Ding Ru Shan didn’t drop the subject. Her voice tinged with a hint of shyness, she said, “Speaking of which, I have to thank you, Tang Meimei, for giving me the chance to play the zither in front of His Highness today. He must have shown me special attention because of you.”
Lowering her voice slightly, a flicker of anticipation shone in her eyes. “To be honest with you, during this trip to the capital, my mother is definitely going to arrange a marriage for me.”
“She hopes I can stay in the capital. If… if I were fortunate enough to become His Highness’s Liangdi, that would naturally be the best outcome. If not, I would have no choice but to meet with other sons of officials.”
Shen Qingtang advised, “Cousin, with your family background, talent, and beauty, plus the support of the Marquis’s household, you are certain to marry a suitable gentleman of equal standing. Wouldn’t it be better to be the principal wife?”