Shen Qingtang had mentally prepared herself for “the coachman’s refusal.”
To her surprise, upon learning she wished to go to the Hanlin Academy, the coachman merely paused briefly before deftly hitching the horses and skillfully lifting the carriage curtain to invite her inside.
Only when the carriage wheels began turning and Shen Qingtang peeked through the curtain to confirm they were indeed heading toward the Hanlin Academy did her anxious heart settle slightly.
Leaning against the carriage wall, her emotions were in turmoil.
While relieved, an undercurrent of unease remained: Was I overthinking?
Did her cousin actually have no intention of restricting her meetings with Lu Rongyu?
Half an hour later, the carriage came to a smooth stop outside the vermilion gates of the Hanlin Academy.
Throughout the journey, Shen Qingtang had been on edge, fearing interception at any moment, yet they had arrived without incident.
She couldn’t help but entertain optimistic thoughts: Perhaps those frightening inner thoughts of her cousin’s were merely momentary confusion. He likely never truly intended to act against her, while she had been seeing enemies everywhere, exaggerating the situation.
After all, as the saying goes, “Judge by actions, not thoughts.” Her cousin had always treated her so well—how could she presume ill intent based solely on unspoken thoughts?
With these reflections, the tension in Shen Qingtang’s shoulders gradually eased. Supported by Huaping, she alighted from the carriage and slowly ascended the bluestone steps to the academy’s entrance.
The elderly gatekeeper, noticing the Hou residence emblem on her carriage and her noble young lady’s attire, hurried forward with respectful inquiry: “Might I ask which official you seek, young mistress?”
“Would you kindly announce me? I’m looking for Official Lu Rongyu,” Shen Qingtang replied gently.
The old guard’s expression turned troubled at this. Shaking his head, he said: “You’ve just missed him, young lady. A quarter-hour ago, a palace eunuch arrived summoning Official Lu to the palace immediately regarding some urgent matter.”
“To the palace?” Shen Qingtang’s smile froze instantly, her heart drenched as if by cold water.
All her earlier relief and luck now felt like cruel jokes.
After all her trepidation during the journey, finally reaching the Hanlin Academy’s gates only to find her trip wasted.
What “coincidence”? This was clearly the Crown Prince’s deliberate planning—purposely sending someone to summon Lu Rongyu away, making her journey futile!
A stifling anger welled in her chest. Clenching her handkerchief, she maintained a calm tone: “I understand. Thank you for your assistance.”
As she turned to leave, she failed to notice someone approaching from behind.
“Young lady, if I might have a moment—”
Shen Qingtang turned to see a young official in blue robes who looked somewhat familiar.
The man bowed with a smile: “Might you be Miss Shen from Chengan Hou’s residence? I am Su Wenyan, a compiler at the Hanlin Academy and Rongyu’s colleague. I had the pleasure of meeting you at the flower-viewing banquet two years ago.”
Shen Qingtang paused briefly before quickly returning the courtesy: “You flatter me, Official Su.”
Noting her despondent expression and following her gaze toward the academy gates, Su Wenyan surmised the situation. He asked kindly: “Were you looking for Rongyu? Unfortunately, he was just summoned to the palace and likely won’t return for some time.”
“I know.”
Shen Qingtang bit her lip, glancing toward where the coachman stood.
At this distance, if she kept her voice low, the coachman likely wouldn’t overhear.
She lowered her voice and said, “Lord Su, could I trouble you to pass a message to Lord Lu for me? Please tell him I’ll be waiting for him tomorrow morning at Qingfeng Tea House on Jingque Avenue. I have urgent matters to discuss and would appreciate it if he could make time to come.”
Su Wenyan readily agreed: “Miss Shen, rest assured. Once Rongyu returns from the palace, I will deliver your message word for word.”
“Thank you, Lord Su.” Shen Qingtang whispered her gratitude before leading Huaping toward the carriage.
Shen Qingtang remained troubled even after boarding the carriage.
Although Su Wenyan had agreed to relay her message, making this trip not entirely fruitless…
The biggest problem now was… how could she go out to meet him tomorrow?
While the Crown Prince hadn’t directly forbidden her from leaving the mansion, if he were to transfer Lu Rongyu away again like today, wouldn’t she be making another wasted trip?
Preoccupied with these thoughts, Shen Qingtang returned to the Marquis residence. Shortly after arriving at Fangfei Courtyard, Yang Shi and Madam Ding came to visit.
Since learning their true intentions, Shen Qingtang had lost all favorable impressions of them.
However, Yang Shi was after all the Marquess’ wife and nominally her stepmother. As an adopted daughter, she couldn’t refuse to see them.
After the two women entered and sat down, Madam Ding quickly revealed her purpose without much small talk.
“Tangtang! Yesterday when your cousin met with His Highness the Crown Prince, he even bestowed Imperial Cuisine upon her! Such an extraordinary honor!”
“This is all thanks to your good fortune, Tangtang. Your aunt came specifically to thank you.”
As she spoke, she had her maid place several plates of exquisite pastries on the table.
Following the saying “one doesn’t strike a smiling face,” Shen Qingtang smiled faintly. “Aunt Ding, you needn’t be so polite. Tangtang hasn’t done anything.”
Yang Shi chimed in with a smile, “This child is always so modest. If His Highness hadn’t specifically come to see you, where would your cousin have gotten the opportunity to display her talents before him?”
Shen Qingtang took a sip of tea without responding.
Madam Ding lowered her voice, her eyes gleaming shrewdly. “Your aunt believes His Highness must have taken a liking to your cousin! Otherwise, why would he specially take precious time to stay and listen to her play the qin?”
“So, your aunt thinks we should seize this opportunity to let your cousin meet His Highness a few more times!”
She grasped Shen Qingtang’s hand eagerly. “Tangtang, as long as you help your aunt and cousin with this, your aunt will be grateful to you for life!”
Yang Shi added from the side, “Yes, Tangtang, it will benefit you too when your cousin enters the Eastern Palace later.”
Shen Qingtang quietly withdrew her hand, her eyes flickering as she deliberately showed a somewhat troubled expression. “But…”
A flash of displeasure crossed Madam Ding’s eyes as she thought to herself: [I previously thought this girl was unwilling to bring Rushan to see the Crown Prince because she wanted to seduce him herself, hence all the excuses.]
[But according to what Rushan said yesterday, Shen Qingtang actually spoke quite favorably of her before the Crown Prince.]
[Is this girl making excuses again because she’s eager for rewards?]
Gritting her teeth, she decisively pulled off the high-quality jade bracelet from her wrist and pressed it into Shen Qingtang’s hand.
“Tangtang, take this bracelet for now! As long as you find a way for them to meet again, regardless of the outcome, your aunt will reward you handsomely!”
“Aunt Ding, you’re being too formal.” Shen Qingtang quickly pushed the bracelet back, her tone softening slightly. “Cousin and I have known each other since childhood. How could we measure our relationship with such vulgar things?”
Madam Ding’s hand holding the bracelet paused as she studied Shen Qingtang suspiciously. Seeing that she didn’t seem to be pretending, she finally relaxed.
It was then that Shen Qingtang seemed to “remember something” and slowly said, “However… I heard Cousin mention yesterday that tomorrow morning, he seems to be going to ‘Lanting Pavilion’ to meet with a court official, apparently to discuss some matters.”
Lanting Tower was the largest restaurant on Jingque Avenue. Just a few shops away from its back door was Qingfeng Tea House, where she had arranged to meet Lu Rongyu!