Over the next few days, Shen Qingwu indeed spent every day preparing medicine in the kitchen. The medicinal smell permeated not only the entire kitchen but even found its way into the food Shen Wencong and others ate during this period.
“How outrageous!” Shen Wencong slammed his chopsticks down heavily, his face livid. “I think she’s doing this on purpose! How can medicinal dregs get mixed into our food?”
“My lord, please calm your anger.” Shen Wushi poured him tea, her hands wrapped in bandages trembling from the unhealed pain of her fractured bones. “She needs to make this medicine. Have you forgotten what Xi’er said? Please bear with it a little longer, my lord.”
Shen Wencong had no choice but to swallow his anger. He frowned at Shen Wushi: “I really don’t know how you managed this. Falling during a nighttime toilet visit and getting injured like this—so careless.”
There wasn’t a trace of concern in his eyes.
Shen Wushi forced a smile: “I was drowsy and momentarily inattentive.”
Shen Wencong picked up his chopsticks and spotted the medicinal dregs in the dishes, completely losing his appetite.
He sighed, his tone softening slightly: “Madam, you should rest properly.”
“Until you recover, I’ll stay in the concubine’s quarters.”
“I’d better eat out.” With that, he stood up and left immediately.
The moment he stepped out, the dignified smile maintained on Shen Wushi’s face instantly collapsed. The bamboo chopsticks in her hand snapped in two with a sharp crack!
There had never been much affection in her union with Shen Wencong, but no woman could calmly accept her husband preferring to linger in the concubine’s chambers.
The only consolation was that every time Shen Wencong stayed with others, he would personally make the serving maid drink the contraceptive medicine.
Shen Wencong had promised that only she could bear his children, ensuring her unshakable position in the Marquis Estate.
Five days passed in the blink of an eye.
On the day of the Empress’s birthday celebration, two carriages stood side by side in front of Yongyi Marquis Manor.
Since they were entering the palace, those from outside couldn’t bring maids or guards inside. Therefore, Shen Qingwu had to go alone.
Just as she stepped out of the manor gate, the curtain of the other carriage was lifted, revealing Shen Qingxi’s meticulously made-up face.
Adorned with a crown full of pearls and jade, her eyebrows and eyes brimmed with pride: “Cousin, didn’t expect I could attend the banquet, did you?”
“Her Majesty the Empress specially pleaded with the Grand Princess, granting me an exception to lift my house arrest today to enter the palace and offer birthday congratulations.”
She deliberately examined Shen Qingwu’s simple attire—a light pink dress with just a single pearl hairpin—and said in an exaggerated tone: “Cousin, are you entering the palace like this? Isn’t it too shabby? Would you like me to lend you some clothes and jewelry?”
“Alright.” Shen Qingwu smiled faintly.
This instead took Shen Qingxi by surprise. She had intended to humiliate Shen Qingwu, not actually lend her clothes and jewelry. She would prefer Shen Qingwu to enter the palace exactly as she was.
Shen Qingwu blinked, pretending to be expectant: “There’s still time. Shall I go to your room to choose now? Cousin, you’re so considerate.”
Seeing her preparing to turn back, Shen Qingxi nearly jumped out of the carriage: “Stop!”
“Are you a beggar, needing to wear others’ clothes?” she said through gritted teeth.
Shen Qingwu shook her head calmly: “Not at all. I simply have no clothes to wear.”
“You—” Shen Qingxi felt like she had punched cotton, furiously dropping the carriage curtain. “Let’s go!”
The coachman whipped the horses, and the carriage carrying Shen Qingxi sped away.
Shen Qingwu shrugged lightly. This cousin was indeed like a firecracker, exploding at the slightest spark.
She did not go to change her clothes, calmly stepped into the carriage, and softly instructed the coachman, “Let’s go, no need to rush.”
She had to give Shen Qingxi the opportunity to shine.
Undoubtedly, to seize this chance to lift her confinement, Shen Qingxi would spare no effort…
The banquet was set for the evening. By the time Shen Qingwu arrived at the palace gates, the sky had already darkened completely.
Yet inside the palace gates, it was as bright as day. Layers of glazed lanterns, silk gauze lanterns, and polished horn lanterns illuminated the vermilion palace walls and gilded eaves, making them shimmer with dazzling colors.
A “Lantern Corridor” composed of countless brilliant palace lanterns wound its way from the palace gates inward, leading directly to the Qionglin Courtyard where the banquet was held. The flowing light resembled a silver river.
As it was her first time entering the palace, Shen Qingwu didn’t need to follow the guiding palace maid—she could simply follow this silver river to the Qionglin Courtyard where the banquet was being held.
She obediently lowered her head and followed behind the guiding eunuch, keeping her eyes straight ahead, but inwardly sneering: This night’s illumination must have burned through countless resources squeezed from the common people.
“Eldest Miss Shen, we’ve arrived,” the eunuch said respectfully, though his gaze swept over her attire, carrying a hint of barely noticeable disdain.
Shen Qingwu pretended not to see it and stepped into the Qionglin Courtyard.
Before the palace hall with its soaring eaves and interlocking brackets, dozens of banquet tables were set up on the white marble-paved square.
Each rosewood table was adorned with golden plates and jade bowls, amber wine, and glazed cups. Under the illumination of the massive coiling dragon candlesticks and hanging colored lanterns, they refracted a mesmerizing and dazzling glow.
The air was filled with a rich fragrance blending the aromas of wine, fruit, and expensive aloeswood.
The lavishly dressed imperial relatives, nobles, civil and military officials, and their families had nearly all arrived. They gathered in small groups, chatting and laughing merrily. The tinkling of jade pendants intertwined with the melodies of strings and pipes, creating an atmosphere of ultimate imperial luxury and elegance.
By the time she arrived, the guests were almost all present, conversing with one another at the banquet. At a glance, she spotted Shen Qingxi laughing and chatting animatedly with several noble young ladies.
“The gift I prepared for Mother Empress this time is definitely the best!”
A familiar voice reached her ears. Shen Qingwu followed the sound and saw the Seventh Princess surrounded by several peers.
Hearing them address each other as sisters and brothers, she knew they were a group of princes and princesses.
Watching this cluster of golden branches and jade leaves heading in her direction, Shen Qingwu had no desire to attract trouble. She quietly lowered her gaze and stepped back to make way.
Just as she took her second step backward… Huh?
Shen Qingwu paused, looking down behind her. What met her eyes was a pair of exquisitely crafted black brocade boots embroidered with subtle cloud patterns.
Her heart skipped a beat. She raised her head and met a pair of deep, smiling eyes that held a trace of understanding and amusement, watching her with keen interest.
She quickly turned around, straightened her clothes, and bowed in apology. “My apologies.”
But as she turned and stepped back, she unexpectedly bumped into someone else. Shen Qingwu almost instantly jumped aside. Turning her head, she saw the Fourth Prince frowning as he raised a hand to rub his chest.
The moment she lifted her face, a flicker passed through his gaze, and a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes.
The pink gown lent a touch of delicate color to her pale complexion, like fine jade gaining a soft glow.
His chest-rubbing movement slowed. The corners of his eyes lifted slightly, and his lips curved into a smile. “Does Eldest Miss Shen need to resort to such methods to attract this prince’s attention?”
Although Shen Qingwu had made him lose face that day, at the sight of this face, he truly couldn’t stay angry.
Shen Qingwu pressed her lips slightly, her expression cool and detached. “Are the paths in the imperial palace really this narrow?”
The Fourth Prince chuckled lowly: “Do you dare claim you just happened to bump into me? Hah… if so, that too is a kind of fate.”
? Shen Qingwu frowned. How could she feel full without having eaten yet?
“Ahem.” A light cough came from behind. From the shadows of the trees emerged a man in dark robes and jade crown, appearing completely at ease. “Ye Hong, such words couldn’t even deceive the girls in Rouge Alley.”
The Fourth Prince paused momentarily, then cupped his hands in salute: “Imperial Uncle. I didn’t notice you were here earlier.”
Ye Hong was the Fourth Prince’s personal name.
Shen Qingwu pretended to have just learned his identity, showing alarm as she quickly curtsied: “Your Highness.”
She had just stepped on Prince He’s foot.
She could feel that gaze still fixed upon her, yet he delayed telling her to rise.
“Have we… met somewhere before?”
As Prince He spoke these words, Shen Qingwu’s figure trembled, her half-crouched position becoming unstable as she nearly fell.
The Fourth Prince moved to reach out, but Prince He, being closer, was first to support her arm.
After steadying herself, Shen Qingwu quickly retreated several steps, covering her mouth as she coughed.
It couldn’t be… even after changing her voice, could he still recognize her?
“Imperial Uncle, your approach is even more cliché.” The Fourth Prince laughed heartily. “Stop frightening her—she’s as frail as a blade of grass. You might scare her to death!”
“She’s the daughter that the Marquis of Yongyi has been raising in Medicine King Valley all along.”
Everyone knew she was frail, so ill she was nearly dying.
“Oh? Is that so?” Ye Chen slowly twirled the jade beads between his fingers, his gaze still locked on her lowered face. “Why keep your head down? Is this prince so terrifying?”
His voice deepened, leaving no room for refusal:
“Look up.”