Xiao Ce was slightly taken aback. He had heard of Meng Yanzhi’s background, but didn’t expect it to be a keepsake from her adoptive mother. Though she had been searching with red-rimmed eyes, she told him it was unimportant.
Was she afraid of troubling him?
Xiao Ce couldn’t quite describe the feeling, only that his heart softened with pity. “Miss Meng needn’t worry about troubling me. The main banquet won’t start for a while yet – let me help you search.”
The young woman lifted her face slightly, her eyes showing surprise at the unexpected kindness. She looked like a little rabbit with reddened eyes, offering a profoundly grateful smile that nearly brought tears. “Thank you, Your Highness. It’s a piece of jade essence with characters carved on it…”
Her voice was like heavenly music.
Like a goose feather gently brushing against his heart.
His throat suddenly felt somewhat itchy, and he quickly averted his improper gaze. “All of you, help Miss Meng search.”
After a while, a young eunuch exclaimed, “Found it! Found it!”
Xiao Ce breathed a slight sigh of relief, taking the jade essence. Carved on it were the characters “Qing Qing” – could this be her childhood name?
“Is this it?” Xiao Ce asked.
The woman’s previously melancholy eyes now cleared of gloom, gaining a sparkling quality. Her tone became more vivid and uplifted. “Exactly!”
Looking at the characters “Qing Qing,” Xiao Ce curved his lips slightly and extended the jade essence.
Unexpectedly, Miss Meng demonstrated perfect etiquette, merely giving her maid a glance. The maid stepped forward to retrieve the jade essence, clearly avoiding physical contact.
Xiao Ce felt momentarily dazed.
“Thank you, Crown Prince…”
“Your Highness should proceed to the main banquet first. I will follow shortly.”
These words were obviously meant to maintain propriety.
For some reason, Xiao Ce didn’t want to comply with her wishes. “It’s fine, we can go together.”
Meng Yanzhi was speechless.
“What, you’re unwilling?” he pressed with a retreating advance, smiling as he watched her.
Meng Yanzhi widened her rabbit-like eyes and quickly shook her head. “Of course not…”
“Then let’s go together.”
A faint blush colored Meng Yanzhi’s cheeks as she had no choice but to follow.
Xiao Ce hadn’t had much impression of this woman before. After all, in that previous situation, he had only caught a glimpse of her figure, and every other time he saw her, she was keeping her head down and eyes lowered, devoid of vitality.
So when he heard she couldn’t marry without being pregnant, he hadn’t reacted much – bestowing this favor upon the Meng family would serve the same purpose.
But now, he inexplicably felt some regret.
The two walked side by side.
High atop the tower, a figure in bright yellow stood with particular nobility. His features weren’t as refined as the Crown Prince’s – they were intense and strikingly handsome.
The chessboard before him had just concluded its game – the Crown Prince had departed from here earlier.
And all the scenes below had been completely observed by this man.
“Should we remind the Crown Prince? That woman seems to have ill intentions,” a shadow guard spoke.
The shadow guard had immediately recognized her as the woman who escaped from the Emperor’s chambers last night.
Having just climbed into His Majesty’s bed, she was now flirting with the Crown Prince – could she be a spy?
Yuan Jingdi recalled how the woman had appeared pitiable and delicate just moments before, quite skilled at playing cute and obedient. Though in bed she had been stubborn, unwilling to even soften her posture.
He said, “If he can’t even see through such low-level tactics, then everything I’ve taught him over the years has been wasted.”
The shadow guard fell silent at these words.
“Keep watching for now,” Yuan Jingdi said coldly.
The shadow guard acknowledged the order.
“Also, prepare for our return to the palace in three days.”
The shadow guard paused slightly before responding, “Yes.”
No sooner had the words been spoken than the two retreating figures were seen—the woman seemingly tripped over her own feet, and the ever-composed Crown Prince immediately reached out to steady her, nearly pulling her into an embrace.
Tsk…
The shadow guard stole a glance at the Emperor beside him, noticing the man’s thin lips curling upward—not in a smile, but in mockery.
Her methods were rather crude.
But that face of hers was indeed captivating.
…
When Meng Yanzhi stumbled and was caught by Xiao Ce, his palm enveloped her delicate hand.
She hadn’t intended to use such a clumsy trick to seduce him.
A few days prior, she had considered climbing into his bed—a method both swift and decisive—but that had clearly failed. Thus, she now planned to proceed gradually.
So the stumble just now had genuinely been an accident.
She quickly withdrew her hand. “Thank you, Your Highness. Yanzhi will take her leave now.”
Before Xiao Ce could react, his palm was left empty.
His eyes shifted slightly. “Very well.”
Meng Yanzhi hurried away.
Xiao Ce glanced at his now-empty hand. The woman’s hand had been remarkably coarse—unlike that of a pampered noble lady, but rather like someone accustomed to hard labor.
A flicker of suspicion arose in his gaze.
As Meng Yanzhi approached the banquet hall, a wave of scornful whispers erupted around her.
“So the Eldest Miss of the Meng family hails from the countryside—utterly uncouth and plain-looking. No wonder the Second Miss was chosen as Crown Princess Consort…”
“Indeed. Not only is the Eldest Miss barren, but she’s also some rustic village girl. Thank heavens the position of Crown Princess Consort didn’t fall to her, or our dynasty would’ve been shamed! In comparison, the Second Miss seems far more suitable.”
“I thought she was some phoenix who saved the Crown Prince, but it turns out she’s just a mud-legged commoner. She got lucky, I suppose—saving the Crown Prince’s life reversed her fortunes. I used to think the Second Miss was unworthy, but now she seems far more fitting than the Eldest Miss.”
“…”
The voices swirled around her.
A trace of derision flickered across Meng Yanzhi’s beautiful face.
Xiao Ce, who had followed behind her, overheard every word. He didn’t approach, merely watching from a distance.
From his vantage point, Meng Yanzhi appeared to stiffen initially, standing in silence for a long moment before quietly wiping tears from her eyes. Then, straightening her posture, she strode into the banquet hall.
Xiao Ce frowned slightly, recalling the gossip he’d just heard.
“Find out who started these rumors,” he ordered.
The eunuch beside him bowed. “At once.”
Meanwhile, Meng Yanzhi had already entered the banquet hall. She had known the Crown Prince was following her, so she deliberately pretended to wipe away tears and feign resilience.
A man’s affection for a woman typically stemmed from one of three sources: the desire to conquer, curiosity, or pity.
Thus, she had chosen the third.
Eventually, when he investigated the rumors, he would discover the hardships she endured in the Meng household.
He would learn how she toiled at washing and chores for the family, how she bowed and scraped—and then he would understand why her hands were so rough.
Coupled with her status as his savior…
How could he not pity her?
Elsewhere, Meng Anxian was eagerly awaiting Meng Yanzhi’s entrance. Once her elder sister appeared, all the rumors criticizing her would be confirmed as fact.
Then no one would ever again mock her for having “stumbled into” the position of Crown Princess Consort.
“Your idea today was excellent. I’ll reward you later,” Meng Anxian said.
Xu Yunrou lowered her gaze. “This younger sister only did what was expected.”
Meng Anxian studied her. “By blood, she is your true cousin, is she not?”
Xu Yunrou smiled gently, “But Uncle and Aunt only regard you as their daughter. I’ve been by Anxian sister’s side since childhood. She has only been in the mansion for a few years—how could she compare to my dear cousin Anxian?”
Hearing this answer, Meng Anxian smiled faintly.
“The Eldest Miss of the Meng family has arrived—”
A voice suddenly announced.
Everyone eagerly turned to look at the rumored coarse and homely Eldest Miss of the Meng family.
Then, a graceful figure entered. Dressed in a gown that seemed to cascade like moonlight, her enchanting and expressive face was framed by a fur collar. Her posture was upright, her steps delicate and light, each movement as if flowers bloomed beneath her feet, leaving the audience breathless. She maintained a gentle smile throughout, her gaze tender, appearing exceptionally poised and proper.
And you call this homely?
Call this a rustic country woman?