Xie Changyan was conversing with someone. The Crown Prince was gentle and refined, and his reputation had always been excellent.
“Your Highness.”
A woman in a misty green silk dress approached, holding a stack of papers, and bowed to Xie Changyan.
“Miss Jiang, is there something you need?” Xie Changyan’s eyes flickered slightly, his gaze carrying a subtle tenderness as he looked at Jiang Liuyan.
“The Princess is in high spirits today. We were composing poems over there, and since Your Highness happens to be here, it would be wonderful if you could grace us with a piece of calligraphy.”
“Very well. I am not skilled at poetry, but today, I shall make a humble attempt.”
Jiang Liuyan stood by the table grinding ink while Xie Changyan lowered his head to compose a poem. From a distance, they truly looked like a perfect couple.
“Miss Jiang is both beautiful and talented. It’s just a pity she’s only a cousin of the Guogong Mansion—her status is somewhat lowly.”
Someone whispered these words, and Jiang Liuyan heard them clearly, yet her expression remained unchanged. However, Xie Changyan’s face darkened upon hearing it. With a slight wave of his hand, the talkative person was escorted out.
“Miss Jiang, pay no mind to such words.”
Jiang Liuyan nodded and smiled at Xie Changyan. “Your Highness need not trouble yourself. I know my status is humble, but I have never felt inferior because of it. Everything I have now was earned through my own efforts.”
Xie Changyan looked at her with approval. “I have long known you are different from other women. If you were a man, you could likely become a marquis or even a prime minister.”
“Your Highness overpraises me.”
Xie Changyan knew Jiang Liuyan disliked discussing such matters, so he did not insist on defending her further. Doing so might only bring her trouble.
“Has Your Highness seen my sister?”
“Pei Yunshu is here too?” Xie Changyan set down his brush, suddenly feeling restless. Though he was the esteemed Crown Prince, until the Guogong Mansion agreed to his marriage proposal, he had to humble himself before Pei Yunshu.
Pei Yunshu was spoiled and willful, never understanding his difficulties and caring only for her own happiness. He even had to force a smile for her sake.
“Where is she?” Xie Changyan asked calmly. Jiang Liuyan sighed and shook her head, indicating she did not know. “Forgive me, Your Highness. Yunshu has always followed her whims. She must have been drawn away by something interesting again.”
“She has always been like this. I am used to it.” Xie Changyan closed his eyes, as if suppressing his anger.
Jiang Liuyan observed Xie Changyan’s demeanor closely, her face still wearing a gentle smile. To outsiders, Xie Changyan held a prestigious position—the eldest son of the late emperor, adopted as Crown Prince by his uncle who succeeded the throne.
Yet no one noticed that Xie Changyan stood as if on the edge of a cliff. In his heart, the Crown Prince was filled with anxiety and vigilance, fearing that his position might be taken from him at any moment.
How could someone like Pei Yunshu, a young lady of privilege, understand such things? In her eyes, they were simply born into their roles.
But Jiang Liuyan had noticed. And in Xie Changyan’s heart, that made her the most special one.
Pei Yunshu, you see? Even if your status is higher than mine, what does it matter? You love Xie Changyan, but he sees me as his confidante.
In this world, there are things Pei Yunshu cannot have—but things I can.
Jiang Liuyan left, holding the poetry in her hands. Xie Changyan watched her retreating figure, thinking that if the person sitting on the Dragon Throne were his biological father, he might have been able to make Jiang Liuyan his Crown Princess without hesitation.
But now, even though he and Jiang Liuyan were mutually in love, they both understood that this affection could not be spoken aloud.
Because of this, Xie Changyan felt an added tenderness toward Jiang Liuyan.
Throughout the banquet, Pei Yunshu never appeared, but since Princess Chang herself did not inquire, naturally no one else dared to comment.
When the banquet ended, Jiang Liuyan left Princess Chang’s Mansion with a few close friends, but after everyone had departed, the carriage from Guogong Mansion was nowhere to be seen.
Jiang Liuyan stood outside the princess’s mansion. Even though she was accustomed to maintaining a gentle and graceful demeanor in public, she couldn’t help but stiffen her expression.
Standing there, surrounded by familiar faces coming and going, Jiang Liuyan felt utterly humiliated. Even the daughter of a fourth-rank official had a carriage waiting, yet she did not.
“Miss Jiang?”
Xie Changyan appeared at the mansion gate at some point.
“Is something the matter? Why haven’t you left?”
Jiang Liuyan felt embarrassed. She had never encountered such a situation before. Although she knew Guogong Mansion did not treat her particularly well, she never expected them to humiliate her so openly in front of everyone.
“My lady’s carriage is missing,” her maid blurted out straightforwardly.
“The carriage is missing?”
Xie Changyan understood immediately. It wasn’t missing—more likely, Guogong Mansion couldn’t even be bothered to send a coachman for this cousin.
“Since I’ve encountered you, allow me to escort you back.”
Jiang Liuyan knew she shouldn’t accept. With so many eyes around, it was clearly not the right time, but she couldn’t stand there forever either.
“Then, I’ll trouble Your Highness.”
With a flicker of thought, Jiang Liuyan boarded Xie Changyan’s carriage.
“I had no idea Guogong Mansion couldn’t even spare a carriage.”
“Perhaps there was an urgent matter. This rarely happens when I go out.”
Xie Changyan wanted to help Jiang Liuyan, but after all, this involved Guogong Mansion. The Duke was still away on campaign and had not yet returned to court. The Eastern Palace intended for Pei Yunshu to become the Crown Princess, but the Duchess and the heir of Guogong Mansion had repeatedly declined.
Xei Changyan had to proceed with caution. Now that he was involved with Jiang Liuyan, Guogong Mansion would inevitably read too much into it.
“If you truly suffer injustice, I can assist you discreetly.”
“If it comes to that, I will openly ask for Your Highness’s help.”
After saying this, Jiang Liuyan turned and stepped out of the carriage. Guogong Mansion was already visible not far away.
Xie Changyan signaled for the carriage to depart. At times, he felt that he and Jiang Liuyan were somewhat alike, yet Jiang Liuyan was far more candid than he was.
Well, after all, Jiang Liuyan was merely a cousin, not particularly favored in Guogong Mansion. When Pei Yunshu married him, perhaps Jiang Liuyan could accompany her as part of the dowry. Once she entered the Eastern Palace, he could legitimately and justifiedly protect her.
As the Eastern Palace carriage faded into the distance, two figures emerged from a nearby path.
Pei Qingwan, the second young lady of Guogong Mansion, observed everything, then cautiously glanced at the expression of the person beside her.
Pei Qingwan was born of a concubine and had a quiet temperament, rarely appearing in public. Most people in the capital regarded Jiang Liuyan as the young lady of the mansion.
“Elder Sister, what does this mean?”
Pei Qingwan knew that others said her elder sister had a bad temper, but in reality, Pei Yunshu was simple-minded. Although her words were often unpleasant, she harbored no ill intentions.
Moreover, the mistress of Guogong Mansion treated her and her mother kindly, so she naturally wished to be on good terms with this elder sister. Especially since Pei Yunshu had helped her today.
Pei Yunshu’s expression turned cold. “This is the first time I’ve learned that Cousin is so familiar with the Crown Prince.”
Truly, today’s efforts were not in vain.