The Empress nodded slowly, a trace of weariness flashing in her eyes.
The selection of the Crown Princess should indeed have been decided long ago, but her son, though respectful and filial toward her, was more strong-willed than anyone deep down. Even she, as his mother, couldn’t sway his thoughts in the slightest when she personally tried to persuade him.
She let out a soft sigh, her tone full of helplessness: “If the Crown Prince were even half as considerate and sensible as Tangtang, your Aunt wouldn’t have to worry so much about his marriage.”
Shen Qingtang’s heart tightened abruptly, her fingertips clutching the handkerchet instantly turning white.
From Aunt’s meaning, even she couldn’t persuade Cousin?
Then who else could she count on?
She suddenly recalled the inner thoughts she had unintentionally overheard before—Aunt actually hoped she would enter the palace, but cherished her too much and couldn’t bear to see her trapped in the deep palace.
If one day, Xiao Chengyu insisted on forcibly keeping her by his side, would Aunt stand by her, her niece, or by her own biological son?
This question pricked her like a thorn, making her heart flutter with panic.
She didn’t dare to gamble, nor could she afford to.
Just as Shen Qingtang was thinking of an excuse to rise and take her leave, to avoid encountering Xiao Chengyu later, respectful greetings from the palace attendants already sounded from outside the hall: “Your Highness, the Crown Prince—”
Footsteps approached from afar, and soon, Xiao Chengyu walked in.
He had just returned from court, still wearing the Crown Prince’s court dress embroidered with the sun, moon, and stars, which made his posture appear even more upright. Between his brows, there was an added air of authority and pressure befitting the heir apparent.
Shen Qingtang quickly stood up and curtsied: “Cousin, I hope you are well.”
Xiao Chengyu’s gaze fell on her face, the corners of his lips curling into a faint smile as he said gently: “Tangtang, you look much better than a few days ago. Please sit. We’re all family here; there’s no need for such formality.”
How dare Shen Qingtang sit?
She felt the very air in the hall grow tense because of Xiao Chengyu’s arrival.
Suppressing the panic in her heart, Shen Qingtang said to the Empress: “Aunt, Cousin, it’s getting late. Tangtang will take her leave from the palace now.”
The Empress was taken aback and quickly tried to persuade her to stay: “Why are you leaving so soon? It’s rare for you to visit. Stay and have lunch with your Aunt before returning.”
Xiao Chengyu sat down in the empty seat beside the Empress, then turned to look at Shen Qingtang. His tone, half-serious and half-joking, carried a hint of grievance as if “tattling.”
“Mother, your son recently doesn’t know where he has offended my cousin. Tangtang has suddenly become much more distant toward me these days than before.”
His gaze locked firmly on Shen Qingtang, as if trying to discern something from her face: “Now that Mother is here too, why doesn’t Tangtang speak for herself? If Cousin has done anything wrong, Cousin will apologize to you.”
Shen Qingtang’s fingers secretly curled, her nails digging into her palms.
“Cousin, you jest. Tangtang only feels that, since we are no longer children, we naturally shouldn’t cling to Cousin as recklessly as we did when we were young. It’s only right to know how to avoid impropriety.”
The Empress glanced at the Crown Prince, then looked at Shen Qingtang, following the conversation: “You’re one to talk! With your Crown Princess position left undecided for so long, how many people out there are watching? Now, some are even setting their sights on Tangtang, hoping to use her as a connection.”
“Tangtang is troubled by your affairs; it’s not that she’s angry with you, is it?”
She paused, then advised with heartfelt concern: “If you truly want to apologize to Tangtang, why not settle your marriage sooner? That would save your Mother and your cousin from worrying about you day after day.”
Xiao Chengyu’s smile faded slightly as he lifted his gaze to Shen Qingtang, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint of probing, even a touch of chill: “Oh? So you mean, Tangtang has been distancing herself from me because of my marriage?”
Shen Qingtang’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly shook her head. “Tangtang only thinks that Cousin will reach the age of twenty next year, so it’s indeed time to discuss marriage. Settling on a Crown Princess early will also reassure the court and the public.”
Xiao Chengyu stared intently at Shen Qingtang, his eyes hiding an unfathomable depth of emotion.
His slender fingers lightly tapped the table as he suddenly spoke. “Regarding the selection of the Crown Princess, I do have a suitable person in mind.”
These words struck Shen Qingtang’s heart like a stone.
Her gaze trembled slightly, and a wave of unease surged within her.
The Empress, however, immediately perked up, asking eagerly, “Really? Which family’s daughter is she? What is her appearance and character like?”
Xiao Chengyu curled his lips, but his gaze remained fixed on Shen Qingtang. His tone carried a deliberate vagueness. “Speaking of which, Mother, you’ve seen her recently.”
The Empress immediately frowned in recollection. “Recently seen… Could it be at the last flower appreciation banquet? Many court officials brought their female family members then. The daughter of the Minister of Personnel, the youngest daughter of the Grand Tutor—there were indeed a few with outstanding talent and beauty.”
“However,” Xiao Chengyu’s tone shifted, adding a hint of “hesitation,” though his eyes remained locked on Shen Qingtang’s reaction, “I don’t know what she thinks in her heart—whether she would be willing to become my Crown Princess.”
Hearing this, the Empress laughed, her tone confident. “Why would she be unwilling? The position of Crown Princess is something many long for but cannot attain. Any girl from a respectable family would be overjoyed to hear such words.”
Xiao Chengyu did not respond. Instead, he turned to Shen Qingtang and asked leisurely, “What does Tangtang think?”
Shen Qingtang’s heart felt as if it were being squeezed, and her breathing slowed.
She forced a smile, her voice slightly strained. “The person Cousin has taken a liking to must be an exceptional young lady in terms of family background, appearance, and character. As long as the girl is not yet betrothed, given Cousin’s status, talent, and appearance, she would certainly be willing.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “betrothed.”
The Empress, enlightened by her words, quickly added, “Tangtang is right! This is a serious matter. If the girl is already betrothed, no matter how excellent she is, we cannot take someone else’s beloved.”
Turning to the Crown Prince, her tone carried a hint of reproach, she continued, “This is also your fault for delaying for so long. Most eligible young ladies from prominent families in the capital are betrothed early. If the one you fancy is already spoken for, let’s see how composed you remain!”
Xiao Chengyu picked up the celadon teacup that a palace attendant had just brought, his fingertips rubbing the rim as he took a leisurely sip of tea.
His nonchalant tone carried an undeniable authority. “If I have taken a liking to a woman, what does it matter if she is betrothed?”
Shen Qingtang’s breath hitched, and her fingertips turned pale from clenching.
The Empress’s brow furrowed instantly, her tone turning stern. “What kind of talk is that? Could it be that the girl is truly already betrothed?”
Her son, who had shown no interest in women for so many years, had finally found someone he fancied, only for her to be already promised to another.
What a mess!
The Empress grew anxious. “If the girl is already betrothed, even if you are the Crown Prince, you cannot forcibly break another’s marriage! If this gets out, it will harm your reputation and the dignity of the royal family.”
She patiently advised again, “Listen to your mother, don’t be so stubborn. If this girl is truly engaged, then look at others. There’s more than one good young lady in the capital.”
“Hurry and settle the marriage to avoid someone else taking the lead. By then, you’ll regret it but it’ll be too late!”
Shen Qingtang cautiously chimed in along with the Empress’s words, “Indeed, Cousin, as the saying goes, a forced melon is not sweet…”