The matrons and palace maids who knew the truth had already been silenced by his order, so for the moment, Lu Huan couldn't determine whether it was Jiang Henian who was lying or those servants.
Jiang Henian looked at the man before her with suspicion, a hint of fear shimmering in her eyes.
"Your Highness, I heard that yesterday you lost an extremely precious jade pendant… Your Highness, I truly did not go to the Donggong yesterday, nor did I see your jade pendant."
Lu Huan stared intently at the woman before him, desperately trying to discern whether this remarkably beautiful and talented woman was lying.
So, before Jiang Henian could react, Lu Huan suddenly stepped closer.
Jiang Henian was like a startled bird, wanting to retreat, but there was no path behind her.
"Your Highness, what are you doing? I truly have not seen your jade pendant…"
Lu Huan had no patience to continue this roundabout dance. He moved closer to Jiang Henian, the distance between them now quite ambiguous.
"Miss Jiang has always been gentle and serene. Of course I believe you haven't seen the pendant. I simply have something I wish to say to you."
Jiang Henian kept her thick lashes lowered, not raising her eyes to look at him.
"Miss Jiang, I fell for you at first sight."
"If you are willing, Miss Jiang, I can grant you the position of Side Consort."
Jiang Henian only felt a wave of nausea churning in her stomach.
She clenched her palms tightly, forcing herself to resist the urge to raise her hand and slap this face she wished she could tear apart right now!
"Your Highness, please don't jest. Just yesterday I saw Miss Su happily entering the Donggong…"
"As you just witnessed, Miss Su and I are as close as sisters. So anything that Sister Su likes, I naturally know to keep my proper distance."
The moment Jiang Henian finished speaking, she merely lifted her eyelids slightly and caught sight of the ever-changing expression on Lu Huan's face.
With that expression on his face, it meant he had already begun to suspect Su Ruo.
"Your Highness, have I said something wrong?"
Jiang Henian's flustered appearance only further confirmed the suspicion in Lu Huan's mind.
So the person who had come to the Donggong yesterday was not Jiang Henian, but Su Ruo.
Was it Su Ruo who had orchestrated this charade behind his back?
Seeing the flash of murderous intent in Lu Huan's eyes, Jiang Henian knew that after today, an insurmountable chasm would exist between Su Ruo and Lu Heng.
In the blink of an eye, Lu Heng had once again resumed his refined and gentle demeanor.
"Miss Jiang, rest assured. There is only a sibling bond between Miss Su and me, nothing more. You need not overthink. You only need to answer me—are you willing or not?"
Nothing more?
Jiang Henian nearly laughed out loud.
She hadn't forgotten that it was Su Ruo who ultimately climbed to the position of Crown Princess.
"Your Highness, I…"
"With so many guests in the front courtyard, the Crown Prince certainly seems at leisure."
From not far behind Lu Huan, Lu Huai's voice suddenly appeared.
At the garden entrance, Lu Huai stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
Beneath the autumn sunlight, Lu Huai's already extraordinary features were now gilded with a layer of golden light, lending him an air of celestial grace.
Jiang Henian immediately lowered her gaze, trying not to look at him, and simply performed a proper bow.
"Your subject pays respects to Huaiyang Wang."
She was afraid that if she raised her head, she might recall images she shouldn't be remembering.
Lu Huai glanced at Jiang Henian, then pretended not to know her well: "This young lady looks somewhat familiar."
Familiar?
Jiang Henian was rolling her eyes internally, but on the surface she had no choice but to play along with Lu Huai's act.
"To answer Your Highness, my grandfather is the Jijiu of the Guozijian, Jiang Bai."
"Oh, now I remember. Sacrificial Official Jiang has a most beloved granddaughter, said to be gifted in both looks and talent. That's you?"
"From today's meeting, your appearance is passable. I wonder if your literary accomplishments truly match the rumors—that you have few rivals among women?"
As he spoke, Lu Huai even looked her over quite seriously a few times.
He had only meant to show that he wasn't familiar with Jiang Henian, which was why he did this. But the moment his gaze landed on her, Lu Huai regretted it.
He considered his self-restraint to be quite solid, yet for some reason, seeing Jiang Henian with her peach-blossom complexion today, his mind was flooded with the crystal-clear images from last night.
Frame after frame…
In that instant, his breath caught.
Jiang Henian initially thought that Lu Huai had perhaps stepped in out of a momentary sense of injustice.
But as things stood now, he was purely here to stir up trouble.
"To answer Your Highness, I am dull by nature. The rumors circulating in the streets should not be fully trusted."
Jiang Henian felt that with her words said to this extent, this cold and noble Huaiyang Wang should let her go.
But Lu Huai clearly thought otherwise.
"Not fully trusted? That means there is some truth to them. Sacrificial Official Jiang has students far and wide; one he has personally nurtured with such care surely cannot be lacking."
Although Lu Huai's gaze was as indifferent as ever, his tone carried two parts less of his usual arrogance.
Lu Heng had always been wary of his young imperial uncle. After all, Lu Huai held command over hundreds of thousands of troops, his power overshadowing the entire court, and even His Majesty yielded to him by three parts.
Reason told him that his best course of action now was to remain silent. Yet an odd feeling stirred in his heart, compelling him to speak.
"Young Imperial Uncle, Miss Jiang is still young and thin-skinned. Please don't tease her."
Lu Huai looked from Jiang Henian to Lu Huan, then suddenly let out a soft "hiss."
"Your Highness, I notice you seem rather familiar with this young lady of the Jiang family?"
Jiang Henian spoke up before Lu Huan could respond: "Your Highness misunderstands. This humble woman is not acquainted with the Crown Prince. We merely happened to cross paths just now."
"Since Your Highness and the Crown Prince have important matters to discuss, this humble woman will not intrude further."
With that, Jiang Henian bowed to each of them in turn, seizing the opportunity to hurry away.
As she passed Lu Huai, she clearly heard him say: "Your acting is far too poor."
Jiang Henian's steps faltered slightly, and she heard him continue: "The hatred in your eyes is far too obvious. If you cannot strike with a single decisive blow, you had best learn to conceal all your emotions."
His low, warm voice was right at her ear, and in an instant, Jiang Henian's mind flashed back to the image of him gently coaxing her by her ear the night before.
She knew full well that Lu Huai was reminding her in a roundabout way, yet her blood still surged uncontrollably to her cheeks.
Jiang Henian lifted her skirts, climbed the steps, and crossed the corridor, striving to keep herself calm.
Behind her, Bai Zhi quickened her pace to catch up, testing the waters: "Miss, this servant noticed that the Crown Prince seems to treat you differently from others."
Jiang Henian sneered inwardly: "Oh? How did you come to that conclusion?"
Bai Zhi seemed somewhat excited: "Think about it, miss. Everyone in the capital knows the Crown Prince is the most virtuous and reserved of men. Add to that his unmatched status, and the number of young ladies hoping to enter the Donggong is beyond counting."
"By all rights, our Grand Master only holds a rank of the third grade. Yet the Crown Prince was willing to offer you the position of Side Consort—it must be because he holds you in such great esteem!"
Jiang Henian suddenly stopped in her tracks, then turned around to face Bai Zhi.