Shen Qingtang had just changed her clothes and sat down at the dressing table when Jinshu lifted the curtain and entered.
She held a lotus-root-color soft satin purse in her hands, walked up to Shen Qingtang, curtsied slightly, and gently placed the purse on the rosewood dressing table.
“Young lady, the embroidered pouch you asked me to make is finally finished today.”
Huaping leaned over to take a look and immediately widened her eyes, unable to hold back an exclamation: “Jinshu, your embroidery skills are incredible! It’s so lifelike!”
Shen Qingtang picked up the purse and examined it briefly. Her fingertips brushed over the fine, even stitches, and then she noticed the faint dark circles under Jinshu’s eyes. Her brow furrowed slightly: “Jinshu, these past couple of days… you haven’t been staying up late just to finish this, have you?”
Jinshu smiled and took the peachwood comb from Huaping’s hand, stepping behind Shen Qingtang: “For a task you specifically assigned, I naturally had to give it my all.”
As she spoke, her fingers gathered Shen Qingtang’s long hair, and the comb glided gently through the strands with practiced ease.
Jinshu was skilled with her hands, and it was usually she who attended to Shen Qingtang’s grooming and hairstyling.
“Cousin isn’t leaving right away, why the rush?” Shen Qingtang sighed at her reflection in the mirror, her fingers toying with the tassels on the purse. “It’s not worth straining your eyes over this.”
While styling her hair, Jinshu teased: “Huaping is a bit careless—I feel more at ease attending to you myself.”
Huaping immediately pouted and retorted: “Young lady, just listen to her! I’m actually very meticulous—how am I careless? Tell me, haven’t I always served you well?”
The three of them had grown up together since childhood, and Shen Qingtang had always been gentle-natured. In private, they didn’t stand on ceremony, and with Huaping’s playful protest, the atmosphere in the room lightened at once.
Jinshu gathered half of Shen Qingtang’s dark hair at the back of her head and, to match the color of the dress she was wearing that day, selected an amethyst butterfly tassel swaying hairpin from the jewelry box. Once pinned in place, it added a touch of liveliness to her appearance.
Just then, a maid from Madam Ding’s household arrived and said with a smile: “Young lady, our Madam and Miss are waiting at the entrance. Are you ready?”
Shen Qingtang nodded and said to Jinshu: “Huaping will accompany me today. You should go back to your room and catch up on some sleep.”
Jinshu quickly replied: “I’m not tired. Perhaps it would be better if I accompanied you instead?”
Shen Qingtang shook her head. “Today, I’m going out with Aunt Ding and Cousin Ru Shan. They’ll each bring their own maids, and with Huaping and me, the carriage will be too crowded if there are any more.”
“Go back and rest. I’ll call for you when I need you.”
Jinshu opened her mouth as if to say something but ultimately nodded and instructed Huaping: “Then take good care of the young lady.”
Shen Qingtang and Huaping arrived at the entrance, where Madam Ding and Ding Ru Shan were indeed waiting by the carriage.
Madam Ding was especially warm upon seeing Shen Qingtang and praised: “Tangtang, you look absolutely lovely today!”
Shen Qingtang smiled faintly and replied politely: “You flatter me, Aunt Ding. Cousin is the one who truly shines today.”
Ding Ru Shan instantly beamed and reached up to touch the delicate beaded flower in her hair. “Really?”
She had clearly taken great care with her appearance, wearing a coral embroidered long dress with a pale yellow sash at the waist. In this mid-spring season, she looked particularly charming.
In contrast, Shen Qingtang was dressed quite elegantly and simply today.
Madam Ding looked at Shen Qingtang’s plain attire, a trace of satisfaction flickering in her eyes.
Although Shen Qingtang was nominally the Crown Prince’s cousin, had an existing marriage arrangement with him, and was even willing to help facilitate connections, Madam Ding still felt uneasy. She couldn’t shake the fear that Shen Qingtang might overshadow her own daughter.
Listening to Madam Ding’s internal calculations, Shen Qingtang remained completely unruffled.
After all, she had no intention of helping today, and the Crown Prince wouldn’t be going to Lanting Pavilion at all. She was merely using this excuse as a convenient pretext to visit Qingfeng Tea House.
…
Two quarters of an hour later, the carriage stopped on Jingque Avenue.
Lu Rongyu was currently serving at the Hanlin Academy, and Shen Qingtang wasn’t sure when he would be available. Therefore, when she asked Su Wenyan to relay the message yesterday, she only mentioned that she would be waiting for him at Qingfeng Tea House in the morning.
Jingque Avenue wasn’t far from the Hanlin Academy. Surely he could spare some time during the entire morning? At the latest, he should be able to come by noon.
She had only told Madam Ding that the Crown Prince had mentioned meeting someone at Lanting Pavilion in the morning, but her cousin had merely mentioned it casually without specifying a time.
She had reminded Madam Ding that since her cousin “mentioned it casually,” their “chance encounter” today wasn’t guaranteed to succeed.
However, Madam Ding had no other avenues and certainly wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
Fearing her daughter might miss the chance to meet the Crown Prince, Madam Ding only browsed in the Rouge Shop briefly before claiming fatigue and suggesting they rest at Lanting Pavilion.
Shen Qingtang naturally had no objections.
The group arrived at Lanting Pavilion together. Instead of taking a private room, they chose a quiet table on the second floor, conveniently positioned facing the staircase where they could easily spot anyone coming up or going down.
After sitting down, Madam Ding couldn’t help but glance repeatedly toward the entrance. Before long, she whispered to Shen Qingtang, “Tangtang, do you think His Highness the Crown Prince might have already arrived? What if he came early and went to a private room? Wouldn’t we be waiting in vain? Should I bribe a waiter to find out?”
Shen Qingtang shook her head and replied softly, “Absolutely not. Aunt Ding, please remain calm. We should act as naturally as possible. If my cousin senses anything amiss, it could backfire.”
Ding Ru Shan chimed in, “Yes, Mother, Cousin Tang is right. I don’t want His Highness to mistakenly think I’m that kind of scheming woman.”
Madam Ding sighed, “I’m just anxious…”
At that moment, Shen Qingtang casually tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and discreetly signaled to Huaping.
Huaping immediately exclaimed, “Oh dear! Why is the young lady missing an earring?”
Hearing this, Madam Ding and Ding Ru Shan simultaneously looked at Shen Qingtang and noticed she indeed had only one earring left.
Shen Qingtang reached up to touch her earlobe, her expression growing anxious. “This pair of earrings was bestowed upon me by Her Majesty the Empress. I mustn’t lose them.”
“I wonder if I dropped it just now at the Rouge Shop or on the way here…”
She stood up. “Aunt Ding and Cousin can continue waiting here. Huaping and I will go look for it.”
Seeing her so distressed, Ding Ru Shan hesitated. “Perhaps I should go back with Cousin Tang to help search?”
Madam Ding quickly pressed her hand down and whispered urgently, “That won’t do! What if His Highness the Crown Prince arrives any moment?”
She turned to Shen Qingtang. “Tangtang, why don’t you stay here with your cousin? I’ll take some people and go back to search.”