Standing right beside Shen Huaixu, Nanzhi listened to Liang Bingyue’s utterly unreasonable outburst without a single flicker of anger. Instead, she offered Liang Bingyue a faint, poised smile—a sight that left Liang Bingyue briefly dazed and shaken to her core.
She was the Crown Prince’s woman; sharing a degree of intimacy with him was entirely natural and justified. Where on earth did an outsider like Liang Bingyue get the right to pass judgment?
More importantly, those words were precisely what the Crown Prince wanted to hear. They weren’t overly brazen or vulgar; Liang Bingyue simply couldn’t stand her and was manufacturing conflict out of sheer malice, meaning there was zero reason to lower herself to a petty argument with her.
Before Nanzhi could even issue a response, Shen Huaixu’s face hardened into a sheet of frost. Radiating a crushing, authoritative aura, he lashed out in a voice as cold as glacial ice: “Bingyue, do not be insolent! She is Gu’s person—how is it your place to make irresponsible remarks?”
“Still haven’t apologized to her?”
Hearing this, the corners of Nanzhi’s lips twitched upward in quiet amusement. Look at that. Without her even needing to open her mouth, Shen Huaixu had taken it upon himself to put the girl in her place. Of course, after this stunt, Liang Bingyue was bound to detest her even more.
Nanzhi didn’t care in the least. Liang Bingyue already disliked her; even without this incident, her attitude wouldn’t have improved by a fraction.
As for the apology, it would likely amount to nothing more than empty theater. If only she possessed a lofty, aristocratic background, she wouldn’t be subjected to such casual disrespect. Predictably, she guessed that the third young miss of the Lu family standing nearby was about to step in and play peacemaker.
Startled by Shen Huaixu’s grim, piercing glare, Liang Bingyue flinched and took a few steps backward, staring at him in sheer disbelief.
Although Crown Prince Brother had always kept her at arm’s length, he had never once addressed her with such harsh severity. To think he was actually dressing her down like this over some insignificant woman—the overwhelming sense of grievance welled up in her chest, instantly flushing her eyes red.
Noticing the state she was in, Lu Wanyan immediately stepped forward to plead for her: “Your Highness, Bingyue is simply a creature of straightforward impulse; she harbors no malicious intent. Please do not hold it against her. This subject’s daughter will offer an apology to Miss Nan on Bingyue’s behalf.”
“Miss Nan, do forgive us. Bingyue didn’t mean it that way. You are a magnanimous person, so surely you won’t stoop to bickering with her, right?” Lu Wanyan gazed pleadingly at Nanzhi, playing the part of the devoted, self-sacrificing friend to absolute perfection—a performance that promptly left Liang Bingyue deeply moved.
Lowering her chin in a resentful pout, Liang Bingyue shot Nanzhi a look dripping with venomous hatred. It’s all her fault! I merely made a passing remark, yet not only did Crown Prince Brother shield her, but Lu Sister is actually lowering herself to apologize to this shameless woman! Boiling over with churning rage, she felt suffocated. Why should she ever apologize to her? Does she even fucking deserve it?
Even though those thoughts screamed inside her head, the Crown Prince was still standing right there, and Liang Bingyue didn’t dare push her luck; she had always harbored a deep-seated fear of Shen Huaixu.
Lu Wanyan had naturally anticipated Liang Bingyue’s prickly reaction. Noticing the girl was still fuming, she offered a soothing, gentle pat to calm her down, though a fleeting shadow of displeasure crossed her own heart when she caught the Crown Prince still holding Nanzhi’s hand.
Feigning mild astonishment, Nanzhi turned her gaze toward Lu Wanyan, her light, melodic voice drifting clearly to everyone present: “I am hardly as magnanimous as Miss Lu. Since you have stepped up to apologize on Miss Liang’s behalf, of course I won’t lower myself to bickering with her.”
Pausing for just a second—right as a triumphant, polite smile began to bloom across Lu Wanyan’s face—Nanzhi abruptly flipped the script. With a look of genuine, unfeigned shock written across her features, she continued: “I simply assumed that a noble young lady from the capital like Miss Liang would naturally lead by example in her every word and action. Seeing it in person today, however, proved somewhat… unexpected.”
“What is that supposed to mean?!” Snapping her head up, Liang Bingyue glared daggers at Nanzhi, her face twisted in fury as her eyes remained rimmed with angry red tears.
Shen Huaixu swept an icy, knife-like gaze over her, demanding in a low, rumbling register: “Bingyue, is that your way of expressing dissatisfaction with Gu’s person?”
The sheer pressure of his tone made Liang Bingyue’s pupils contract in terror. Hastily waving her hands, she stammered out an explanation: “Crown Prince Brother, I didn’t mean that at all! It’s clearly her who harbors malicious intentions—!”
Sensing that the Crown Prince was moments away from losing his temper entirely, Lu Wanyan tugged urgently on Liang Bingyue’s sleeve to shut her up before dropping into a submissive bow: “Please calm your wrath, Your Highness. Bingyue did not mean it that way.”
“So noisy. Take your leave.” Glancing indifferently at the pair of them, Shen Huaixu wore a mask of absolute coldness.
He had never possessed any patience for this cousin of his, finding her voice gratingly shrill and utterly intolerable.
“Your Highness, this subject’s daughter will withdraw at once.” Always knowing how to read the room, Lu Wanyan dragged a still-dazed and sputtering Liang Bingyue away without a second hesitation upon hearing the Crown Prince’s dismissal.
Recovering her senses, Liang Bingyue muttered under her breath with a sullen pout, “Crown Prince Brother actually scolded me over some woman… Lu Sister, I hate her.”
Lu Wanyan lowered her voice, gently soothing her, “Bingyue, hush for now. Be careful or His Highness might overhear.”
Watching the pair retreat into the distance, Nanzhi’s expression remained utterly placid. This outcome fell well within her expectations; after all, Liang Bingyue was the Crown Prince’s own cousin, so the fact that he had put on a show of authority to back her up was already a rare concession.
In this feudal dynastic era where imperial power reigned supreme, rigid hierarchies governed every facet of life. A high-born status granted the privilege of unbridled recklessness, while those lower down the totem pole had no choice but to swallow their grievances—fairness simply did not exist here.
She wondered how long she would have to wait before she could finally escape this nest of vipers. She was utterly exhausted by these pointless, endless squabbles.
As long as she remained by the Crown Prince’s side, the smoke of silent warfare would never cease to hound her steps.
Tilting her head back, Nanzhi lost herself in contemplation as she stared up at the vast, clear sky. A sudden wave of absurdity washed over her when a bird soared overhead; how wonderful it would be if she were only a bird, able to spread her wings and fly clean out of this gilded cage.
“What is Zhizhi thinking about?” Finding her zoning out, a flicker of displeasure rippled through Shen Huaixu.
Snapped back to reality by his voice, Nanzhi reined in her wandering thoughts and turned a warm, practiced smile toward him: “This concubine was just thinking of Your Highness. Thank you for protecting me today, Your Highness.”
Her tone was dripping with gentle consideration: “Since Your Highness surely still has matters to attend to, I won’t hold up your time any longer.”
Playing with her wrist between his fingers, Shen Huaixu shot her a look that was half-amused, half-knowing. Little liar. She’s practically dying to bolt—she wasn’t thinking of me at all.
Deliberately leaning in close until his lips brushed against the shell of her ear, his crisp, clear voice carried a heavy undercurrent of teasing intent: “Since you were thinking of Gu, wait for Gu tonight.”
Right at that moment, an attendant standing outside Changxin Palace’s entrance spotted the Crown Prince and scurried inside to make a frantic report.
Glancing casually at the eunuch rushing past, Shen Huaixu pulled back his gaze, fixing an intensely entertained look right on Nanzhi.
Nanzhi caught the unmistakable subtext of his words instantly. While absolute reluctance screamed inside her chest, her exterior had to remain sheepishly demure: “This concubine will await your return.”
With any luck, Your Highness will be buried under work and too swamped to ever come back.
“I won’t tease you any longer.” Giving her a deeply meaningful look, Shen Huaixu finally stepped away and released her wrist, turning to issue a command to Qingyu standing behind him: “Escort her back.”
“This subordinate obeys.” Qingyu bowed respectfully.
Not wanting to waste a single microsecond longer in his presence now that the order was given, Nanzhi turned on her heel and departed without looking back.
Watching her retreating figure vanish into the distance, Shen Huaixu retracted his eyes and strode straight into the interior of Changxin Palace.
The moment Yunshuang spotted the Crown Prince crossing the threshold, a bright, delighted smile broke across her face: “Your Highness, you’ve arrived! Please, step inside—Her Majesty was just speaking of you!”
Seated inside the main hall, Empress Liang watched her son enter and subjected him to a swift, meticulous inspection. Noting that the Crown Prince wore his usual unreadable expression, a heavy stone finally dropped from her chest.
“Xuer is here. Come, take a seat.”
“This son pays his respects to Maternal Mother.” Offering a standard, perfunctory bow, Shen Huaixu walked over to a chair and seated himself with practiced ease.
A pleasant, maternal smile gracing her lips, Empress Liang cut straight to the chase: “Did Xuer come all this way on account of that young lady?”