Madam Ding’s eyes instantly lit up, and she beamed with delight. “Auntie knew it—you’re the most sensible child! So if Tangtang takes Rushan to ‘Lanting Pavilion’ tomorrow, wouldn’t that be…”
“Don’t rush, Auntie.”
Shen Qingtang interrupted her, deliberately lowering her voice. “Cousin has never liked ‘deliberate arrangements,’ and he has important business tomorrow. If I take Cousin directly to see him and disturb him, he might get upset.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if Cousin ‘accidentally’ ran into him at Lanting Pavilion? Wouldn’t that be more suitable?”
Madam Ding quickly nodded. “Yes, yes, yes! An accidental meeting is perfect! Absolutely perfect! That would even make it seem like there’s fate between your cousin and the Crown Prince!”
Shen Qingtang added, “Since it’s an accidental meeting, we can’t make it too obvious. How about we all go out together? We’ll say we’re ‘going to the rouge shop to pick out rouge.’ After walking until tired, we’ll stop by ‘Lanting Pavilion’ to rest.”
Madam Ding grinned from ear to ear. “Tangtang, you think of everything! Let’s do it! We’ll set out first thing tomorrow morning. I’ll go back now and tell Rushan to prepare properly!”
Watching Madam Ding’s overjoyed expression, Shen Qingtang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Tomorrow, when she went out with several female relatives to buy rouge, surely the Crown Prince wouldn’t send someone to watch her again, right?
Eastern Palace.
Xiao Chengyu had just learned from Xuanying about “Su Wenyan speaking with Shen Qingtang at the gate of the Hanlin Academy and agreeing to help deliver a letter to Lu Rongyu.”
He sneered coldly. “Su Wenyan? How dare he!”
Doesn’t he know his place? How dare he speak to Tangtang, and even agree to pass a letter!
And Tangtang…
He treated her so well, wanting to give her all the finest things, yet her heart only yearned for Lu Rongyu, going to great lengths just to see him!
Xuanying bowed and asked, “How does Your Highness wish to handle this?”
A dark shadow grew in Xiao Chengyu’s eyes. “The Hanlin Academy is a place of refined scholars. Since that Su Wenyan enjoys meddling in others’ affairs, he shouldn’t remain in the capital to offend the eye.”
“By my order, transfer Su Wenyan to Yun Province, appoint him as a Rank 7b Judge. He is to leave the capital immediately without delay.”
Xuanying was taken aback.
Yun Province was remote, and although the Judge position was a substantive post, it was two ranks lower than Su Wenyan’s previous “Rank 6b Hanlin Academy Compiler” position. Superficially, it was a “transfer,” but in reality, it was a demotion.
Furthermore, the “immediate departure” order served two purposes: first, it prevented Su Wenyan from having the chance to deliver the message to Lu Rongyu tomorrow; second, it cut off any possibility of Su Wenyan seeking help through connections.
After reporting the whereabouts of Shen Qingtang relayed by the secret guards, Xuanying bowed and withdrew. The Deputy Director of the Palace Service Department, who had been waiting respectfully outside the hall, immediately went to the Hanlin Academy to deliver the decree. The other palace attendants remained stationed outside the hall, and the room fell into silence.
Xiao Chengyu raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, then leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes, restraining the urge in his heart to immediately lock Shen Qingtang away in the Eastern Palace.
Originally, he had always believed that Shen Qingtang and Lu Rongyu had no real feelings between them; it was merely a marriage contract arranged by Wen Shi before her passing.
Tangtang relies on me the most. She just hasn’t realized it yet, doesn’t know who she truly belongs to.
Once she understands who in this world treats her the best, who can protect her the most, she will naturally come to my side willingly.
But lately, Tangtang didn’t know what was wrong; she had suddenly become much more distant from him and was always preoccupied with seeing Lu Rongyu.
Otherwise, he might as well demote Lu Rongyu to a remote region…
But this thought was quickly dismissed by Xiao Chengyu. Unless absolutely necessary, he didn’t want to make Tangtang angry with him.
Tangtang was merely temporarily bewitched by Lu Rongyu. Given some time, she would come to understand.
But he couldn’t let Tangtang be this willful, testing his limits!
He had to make Tangtang behave…
Just then, a snow-white figure leaped up with a “swish.”
Xiao Chengyu slowly opened his eyes to see Tuantuan jumping onto the desk.
In the entire Eastern Palace, only this cat dared to bounce around in front of him.
Unaware of the tense atmosphere in the hall, Tuantuan extended a pink paw under Xiao Chengyu’s gaze, reaching for the wolf hair brush hanging on the brush stand.
After a few attempts, it managed to knock a brush down. First, it landed with a “thud” on the inkstone, soaking the bristles in thick ink, then rolled right into the center of the prepared xuan paper. The black ink instantly bled, completely ruining the document Xiao Chengyu had just written.
Xiao Chengyu was almost amused by this troublesome act and remarked coolly, “Truly as ungrateful as your owner!”
Tuantuan let out a “meow,” as if refuting Xiao Chengyu’s words.
Xiao Chengyu glanced down at Tuantuan and suddenly shifted his anger, saying, “Tangtang hasn’t come to see you for so long—it must be because you’re not cute enough and don’t cling to her, so she’s abandoned you!”
“I’ve raised you all this time, fed you well, and yet you can’t even help me keep Tangtang here! You might as well be stewed into soup!”
Tuantuan’s innocent feline face met Xiao Chengyu’s gaze for a moment before it provocatively shook its snow-white fur, swiped its paw, and sent the remaining brushes on the desk tumbling to the floor one by one.
After finishing this, it leisurely raised its tail, hopped down from the desk, and strode gracefully toward the corner cat bed, not sparing another glance at the gloomy-faced Xiao Chengyu.
Early the next morning.
Huaping was again assisting Shen Qingtang with washing and dressing. When Shen Qingtang asked Su Wenyan to pass on a message, Huaping was by her side.
She asked in confusion, “Miss, aren’t you meeting Young Master Lu today? Why did you agree to go choose rouge with Madam Ding and the others?”
Shen Qingtang whispered, “I am meeting Brother Rongyu. Just follow my cues then, and don’t ask anything else.”
Huaping nodded, only half-understanding, and turned to fetch Shen Qingtang’s outdoor clothes from the wardrobe.
She suggested cheerfully, “How about wearing the scarlet dress you wore when you entered the palace, Miss?”
Shen Qingtang immediately refused, “Not that dress!”
The thought that the dress, along with the undergarment inside, had been personally chosen by the Crown Prince—how could she possibly wear it again?
Huaping turned around, puzzled, “Why not? That dress looks absolutely stunning on you, Miss. Young Master Lu would surely love it too!”
Shen Qingtang paused briefly and made up an excuse, “That outfit is too extravagant for everyday wear. Let’s just store it away in the vault from now on.”
Huaping felt it was a shame to tuck away such a beautiful dress after only wearing it once.
But her greatest virtue was obedience; she never questioned Shen Qingtang’s decisions.
Huaping put the scarlet dress back and took out a brand-new set, saying, “You haven’t worn this outfit since it was made, Miss. How about wearing this today?”
Shen Qingtang looked at the peony red embroidered Ruqun and recalled the Crown Prince’s frivolous inner thoughts—“Tangtang’s skin is fairer than snow; scarlet suits her best.”
Frowning, Shen Qingtang said, “I don’t feel like wearing red lately.”
She casually pointed to a light blue long dress, “This one will do.”
Huaping nodded, took out the dress, and while helping Shen Qingtang change her clothes, she praised, “Miss, your skin is fairer than snow, and you look beautiful in any color!”
Shen Qingtang: “…”