Zheng Yuande: “…Is the Crown Princess completely unconcerned about recent court affairs?”
Hearing the Crown Princess’s words, spoken as if no one else were present, while smiling at the Crown Prince, the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.
The atmosphere had been perfectly fine just moments ago, yet the Crown Princess insisted on pouring oil onto the fire for His Highness.
Ever since His Highness’s maternal uncle, the Cavalry General, returned to the capital three months ago, those idle civil officials with nothing better to do had been seizing every opportunity to submit memorials against him.
That alone was bad enough.
A few days ago, it was clearly that old man from the Shumiyuan who first provoked the Cavalry General, then went on to spout insolent words disrespecting the General, which led to the General striking him.
Yet, in the end, it was the General who was impeached by the civil officials and censors, ultimately reprimanded and admonished by His Majesty, and even stripped of his position as Zhenguo Army Jiedushi!
His Highness, having spoken up in defense of the General, had been reprimanded twice by His Majesty in recent days.
Now, the last thing His Highness likely wanted to hear about was the distinction between civil and military officials!
Yet, the Dayong Dynasty’s emphasis on civil officials over military ones had long become commonplace, both within and outside the court, and even in the eyes of the common people.
If civil and military officials encountered each other on the road, even if the military official held a higher rank, they were expected to yield to the civil official who might be one or two ranks lower—this had even become an established convention.
But His Highness and the Cavalry General were only five years apart in age and had been close since childhood…
Upon hearing that he intended to visit Shen Zhaoxun’s courtyard, the Crown Princess was momentarily stunned, and a surge of jealousy instinctively rose within her.
Yet, she maintained a dignified and virtuous smile: “Your Highness, Shen Zhaoxun may not understand proper etiquette as well as the other selected ladies from scholarly families. I fear she might offend you…”
The Crown Prince suddenly interjected, “Doesn’t understand proper etiquette?” His tone was slightly low, the thin and sharp corners of his eyes slightly lowered, his dark pupils revealing no emotion.
The Crown Princess was taken aback. Before she could react, she saw him rise to his feet, announce that he had matters to attend to in the front hall, and depart.
His expression seemed no different from usual.
It made her wonder… whether the glance he had given her earlier was merely her imagination.
She stood and bowed: “I respectfully send off Your Highness.”
Nanny Zhou, who had been waiting on the side, spoke softly only after he had left: “Your Highness, this old servant has heard that the court is currently in an uproar over the Cavalry General’s assault on a court official in the streets. Perhaps His Highness is displeased because of this.”
The Crown Princess frowned with dissatisfaction. “Military officials whose achievements overshadow their sovereign naturally provoke His Majesty’s wariness. Yet His Highness’s uncle remains so unrestrained, failing to act with discretion and causing trouble for His Highness everywhere. The Old Duke of Fengguo and the Old Lady in the mansion don’t even try to rein him in…”
Nanny Zhou sighed. “The Old Duke of Fengguo currently has only the Duke of Fengguo, who is disabled in both legs, and this youngest son, who remains in good health. As a child born in his later years, the Old Duke naturally cannot bear to discipline him too harshly.”
“This servant thinks… perhaps it is because the Cavalry General has yet to marry and start a family that, despite his age, he still behaves so recklessly.”
The Crown Princess pursed her lips, frowning in thought for a moment. “Nanny makes a valid point. I should speak with the Empress Dowager and ask her to persuade His Highness’s uncle to marry soon.”
However, as a junior arranging a marriage for an elder, it would seem rather inappropriate.
It would be better to pass a message to her mother, allowing her mother to bring it up with the Empress Dowager when the opportunity arises.
Seeing her still frowning, Nanny Zhou comforted her: “Your Highness need not worry. With the Little Imperial Grandson by your side, no matter which courtyard the Crown Prince goes to, no matter whether those women in the rear courtyard gain favor or not, or who gains favor, none of it can threaten your position. We only need to sit back and watch the show with peace of mind.”
The Crown Princess knitted her brows, her heart still displeased. But as the Crown Princess, with His Highness currently having only one son and one daughter, the heirs were too few. She could not monopolize the Crown Prince…
Otherwise, those voices outside calling her jealous would drown her.
Moreover, she had to display the virtue and magnanimity befitting a Crown Princess to enhance her reputation.
Only by thinking that even if the Crown Prince went to another courtyard, he would still maintain that indifferent demeanor without any special exceptions could she barely suppress the unwillingness in her heart.
As twilight gathered and daylight faded, stars dotted the night sky.
Seeing that the time was about right, Zheng Yuande stepped forward softly and whispered: “Your Highness, it is almost time to light the lamps. Which courtyard does Your Highness plan to stay in tonight?”
Although the Crown Prince had mentioned going to Shen Zhaoxun’s place earlier in front of the Crown Princess, he still asked again, not daring to make the decision himself.
Cui Yu slightly furrowed his brow, closed the book in his hand, stood up, brushed his sleeves, and said with his hands behind his back: “Let’s go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Zheng Yuande quickly picked up the palace lantern and led the way ahead.
“Master, here are the Golden Chicken, Peach Blossom Pastry, and Donkey-Hide Gelatin with Silver Ear and Milk Drink you requested.” Chunping took the food box from Quanshou and hurried around the screen into Dongnuange.
Shen Yanshui had long been sitting eagerly at the round table. Seeing her come in, her peach-blossom eyes sparkled brightly, almost glowing as she looked at the food box in Chunping’s hands.
“Hurry, set it out, set everything out.” She hadn’t expected the kitchen in Donggong to be so delicious—far, far better than the food in Chuxiu Palace! Even better than what the kitchen in the Earl’s residence made.
Once she had tasted such delicacies, how could she resist?
At Shenshi, around four in the afternoon, she had enjoyed a delightful dinner: appetizing shrimp and jade spicy soup, crispy and delicious fried pork skin, and wine-steamed lamb slices. It was simply blissful.
With such culinary skills, she could stay in Donggong for a hundred years without ever wanting to leave!
The only downside was that it cost quite a bit of silver. Otherwise, there were no flaws.
Now, it was roughly Xushi, a little past eight in the evening—the perfect time for a midnight snack.
In the opposite west side hall, Lady Liu, dressed in full attire and feeling restless, heard the commotion from across the way and instinctively asked: “Yinping, what’s happening outside? Has the Crown Prince arrived?”
Although she knew in her heart that the Crown Prince likely wouldn’t come to her place today, what if he did?
Deep down, she still clung to a faint hope, so much so that she had barely touched her dinner.
Yinping knew that if the Crown Prince were to come, it wouldn’t be with such noise, but she still went outside to check as instructed before reporting back: “Master, according to Yinye, the opposite side sent for a midnight snack from the kitchen and just brought it in.”
Lady Liu couldn’t believe it: “A midnight snack?”
“She can still eat a midnight snack at this hour?” As she spoke, she curled her lips slightly, thinking to herself that someone from a military family truly lacked manners and was unfit for proper occasions.
Did she know that the Crown Prince wouldn’t go to her place tonight? So she was giving up on herself?
With these thoughts, she set them aside and, unable to restrain herself, urged someone to keep an eye on the courtyard entrance.
From the moment the Crown Prince stepped into the corridor before the rear annex, the hearts of the mistresses in every courtyard and room instinctively tightened.
Among them, Lady Zhang and Lady Wu were the most nervous.
It was said that the Crown Prince valued rules and propriety above all else, so logically, on the first night, he should have visited Lady Zhang’s courtyard.
However, Lady Wu, confident in her beauty and having received praise from the Crown Princess earlier that day, was feeling particularly proud and would not think this way.
Upon learning that the Crown Prince was heading in the direction of her courtyard, she was both thrilled and smug. She hurriedly checked her reflection in the mirror to ensure nothing was amiss with her appearance, while urging, “Come, let’s go wait for His Highness at the courtyard entrance.”
“Yes!” The servants were also excited. If their mistress took the lead tonight, they would gain some respect when moving about the Donggong in the future.
However, after only a short while outside, before she even reached the entrance, the maid who had been brimming with excitement returned with a troubled expression. Looking at her mistress, who was already dressed in splendid attire, the maid spoke cautiously and hesitantly, “Mistress, His Highness has entered the neighboring Lotus Heart Court.”
Lady Wu’s face, which had been beaming like a flower, instantly darkened.
When Shen Yanshui heard the commotion outside the courtyard, she was happily sipping a sweet and rich donkey-hide gelatin and snow fungus milk drink.
Seeing Chunping rush in almost frantically to announce that the Crown Prince had already reached the courtyard entrance, and hearing the continuous greetings from the courtyard, Shen Yanshui nearly choked on her drink.
With no time to tidy up, she took a deep breath and hurried to the doorway. Vaguely, she saw a tall, broad-shouldered figure with long legs walking unhurriedly toward her, flanked by eunuchs standing with bowed heads. Before she could even lift her head to see the visitor’s face, she hastily curtsied.
“Your humble servant Shen greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness be at peace.” For once, she felt a bit nervous.
Her attention was entirely focused on the person standing just two steps away from her. By the candlelight from the room, she could clearly see the patterns on the black leather belt around his waist and the shimmering silver threads on his purple robe under the candle’s glow.
But what was going on with the Crown Prince? Wasn’t it said that His Highness valued rules above all else? Why had he come to her place?
Zheng Yuande couldn’t help but think that this Shen Zhaoxun was truly bold!
Not only had she failed to wait eagerly at the entrance to welcome the Crown Prince, but she had only hurried out to greet him when His Highness was already at the door.
He glanced at her and noted that she did not appear to be properly dressed.
According to protocol, even if the Crown Prince were not to visit that day, she should have been dressed and waiting for news of His Highness. Only after receiving definite word could she extinguish the lights and retire for the night—this was the proper etiquette in the palace.
Cui Yu glanced down at her.
Shen Yanshui wore a pale lotus-colored narrow-sleeved silk blouse, over which she had draped a light blue half-sleeved long gown. Her hair was styled in a flowing tassel bun, adorned only with a light blue hair ribbon; all other jewelry had been removed earlier, unlike the elaborate and ornate attire of others.
Like a lotus emerging from clear water, naturally unadorned.
“Rise.”
Shen Yanshui remained bowing in her respectful greeting posture. Upon hearing his clear and steady voice, she caught a glimpse of him stepping past her from the corner of her eye, the purple hem of his robe brushing past her skirt.
Though she did not know why the Crown Prince had come to her place tonight, since… he was already here, aside from the initial shock that caught her off guard, she had now calmed down somewhat.
Watching him lift the corner of his robe and settle onto the couch, Shen Yanshui finally got a clear look at his face, and her eyes instantly brightened.
His appearance was as refined as jade, his features as exquisite as a painting. His gentle and elegant demeanor carried an innate air of noble dignity and authority, and he was even more handsome than she had imagined.
Cui Yu suddenly lifted his gaze toward her. As their eyes met, he saw Shen Yanshui blink her naturally charming and bright peach-blossom eyes. She took two steps forward and explained softly with a sincere smile, “Your Highness has come at just the right time. The chefs in the Changqing Palace kitchen make such delicious food that I brought back a little midnight snack. Would Your Highness care to try some?”
She spoke these polite words with a cheerful smile, though inwardly she felt somewhat uneasy and regretful about the barely touched midnight snack on the table.
Cui Yu shifted his gaze to the dishes on the table, then looked back at her, noticing how she had already glanced at the food several times in just a short moment.
He originally had no appetite, but seeing her subtle reluctance and craving, he suddenly nodded in agreement.
Shen Yanshui had only intended to bring up a topic to ease the conversation and subtly explain and flatter him. She hadn’t expected him to actually agree.