Shang Yunrou frowned. “How should I know?”
“She has always been cautious. She would never come to the residence recklessly. Someone must have noticed something and secretly arranged for her to come.”
Shang Yunrou’s gaze darkened. Her mother had always been well hidden—what on earth was happening now?
“Father, come back with me tonight to check.”
“I cannot go.” Shang Changhe’s heart was unsettled. Madam Qin’s sudden appearance felt like someone was deliberately trying to frighten him. If he went to see her now, it would be like walking straight into a trap.
“Your marriage with the Crown Prince is not yet settled. Whatever promises he makes to you mean nothing for now. Without the Crown Prince as your backing, you cannot afford to offend Shen Zuizhi, and you absolutely cannot let her know of your mother’s existence.” Shang Changhe furrowed his brows, then flung his sleeve and left.
Shang Yunrou narrowed her eyes at his departing figure. This father of hers was truly useless, always under the thumb of the Shen family.
A worthless man.
Once she completely seized Shang Shiyan’s protagonist’s fortune, even the Shen family would be powerless against her!
After the coming-of-age ceremony ended, Shang Shiyan did not see Gu Peice. She had already expected he would not come.
Prince Lin’an was burdened with countless affairs of state—how could he spare time to attend her ceremony?
After the banquet, Shang Shiyan accompanied Shen Zuizhi in seeing the guests off.
As the guests dispersed, the sound of a horse’s neighing rang out. Everyone turned their heads to see a warhorse halt before the Marquis’ residence.
A sharp figure dismounted—it was Zhen Yun, Gu Peice’s trusted aide.
“Greetings, Miss Shang. Yesterday, my lord was injured on the outskirts of the city. Upon receiving your invitation, he was unable to attend. He therefore ordered me to deliver a birthday gift, congratulating you on your coming-of-age ceremony, and wishing you smooth fortune in all things henceforth.”
Zhen Yun’s words had barely fallen when a carriage slowly stopped before the Marquis’ residence. Servants from the Prince’s household lifted two large chests down from the carriage.
“This is a small token of my lord’s regard.”
Having said this with restraint, Zhen Yun did not wait for Shen Zuizhi or Shang Shiyan to offer thanks. He turned, mounted his horse, and said, “I still have urgent matters to attend to. I shall take my leave.”
Shen Zuizhi stared at the opened chests, filled to the brim with treasures, her eyes full of astonishment.
Prince Lin’an was truly generous.
“Did you see that blood-red jade ewer? That was once a tribute from Beijue! And Prince Lin’an actually gifted it to Miss Shang as her birthday present!”
“And that jade-carved bodhi tree—its branches shimmer with radiant light. That’s a rarity most people would never see in their lifetime!”
Everyone’s eyes gleamed as they gazed at the two chests of treasures. Inwardly, they speculated about the relationship between Prince Lin’an and Shang Shiyan, that he would send such precious gifts.
But Shang Shiyan’s heart was filled only with Zhen Yun’s words: the Prince was injured. She recalled that in her previous life, at this time, she was not yet familiar with Gu Peice. But she knew that after his great military victories, his prestige among the border people surpassed even that of the emperor. The Emperor of Great Sheng grew wary of him. Upon returning to the capital, Gu Peice deliberately restrained his brilliance, and during a hunting trip with the emperor in the suburbs, he intentionally allowed himself to be injured.
This scene of Prince Lin’an sending birthday gifts was witnessed by Empress Song and Shen Shian.
Shen Shian’s gaze darkened as he looked at the two chests of gifts.
Empress Song glanced sideways at him, and with just one look, she understood his thoughts.
Before Shang Yunrou appeared, Shen Shian had feelings for Shang Shiyan. Later, bewitched by Shang Yunrou, he grew increasingly cold and distant. Yet in truth, Shang Shiyan had always held a place in his heart. He simply had not realized his own feelings, and in his carelessness had wounded A’yan’s heart.
“When did Ah Yan grow so close to Prince Lin’an?” Empress Song deliberately asked Shen Shian.
Shen Shian felt a surge of irritation. “Replying to Mother, your son does not know.”
“If you don’t know, then investigate. Even I must admit Prince Lin’an has a certain charm. He is a man who has fought on the battlefield, brimming with masculine vigor. Women have always admired such men. If you were to lose to him, it would not be shameful.”
Empress Song’s words pierced Shen Shian’s heart. He had always been at odds with Prince Lin’an, and now his future crown princess was so close to his sworn enemy—this only fueled his anger.
Even if Shen Shian disliked Shang Shiyan, he could not bear to see her grow close to Gu Peice. It was a blatant humiliation for him.
Unable to contain himself, Shen Shian strode forward and pulled Shang Shiyan aside. “When did you become so close with Gu Peice?”
Shang Shiyan flung his hand away. “Your Highness the Crown Prince seems to enjoy meddling in others’ affairs.”
“You know full well that he and I have always been at odds. Are you doing this on purpose?” Shen Shian’s gaze grew dark. “Trying to draw my attention?”
The thought made him feel mocked, as though Shang Shiyan was toying with him. His anger boiled over. “Shang Shiyan, do you think I’m a fool? That by approaching Gu Peice I would suddenly notice you and give up on dissolving our betrothal?”
Shang Shiyan found him utterly laughable. “Your Highness, I have already explained to the Empress that I wish to annul the engagement. I ask that you conduct yourself with dignity and keep your distance from me.”
Her words fell, and she frowned in disgust, stepping back as though Shen Shian were some shameless thug clinging to her.
“You—!”
Her cold indifference was unbearable to Shen Shian.
The Crown Prince, raised since childhood with endless praise, had never been treated with such disdain. Humiliated and enraged, he shouted, “You’re just playing hard to get! Do you think I can’t see through your schemes? Miss Shang, as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis’ household, is this the extent of your upbringing? A woman as scheming as you—I will never marry you in this lifetime!”
His voice rang out, heard clearly by everyone around.
Empress Song, too, heard it. Seeing him speak so cruelly to Shang Shiyan, her eyes darkened. She stepped forward and rebuked him sharply: “What nonsense are you spouting? Ah Yan grew up alongside you, your childhood companion, and she is the crown princess I myself have chosen. All these years, she has never wronged you. What right do you have to say such things?”
For the Crown Prince to insult Shang Shiyan in front of Shen Zuizhi was to publicly disgrace both the Shen family and the Marquis’ household. Empress Song would never allow matters to spiral into such an irreparable situation.
Shen Shian was still reeling from Shang Shiyan’s cold gaze, his heart in full rebellion. “Mother, I do not like Shang Shiyan! She is scheming and malicious, always plotting against Rou’er. Whenever I see her, I feel disgusted. Why must you force me to marry her?”
*Smack!*
Empress Song, utterly enraged, slapped Shen Shian across the face. The fury in her eyes was chilling to behold. “I have spoiled you far too much, and now you have grown lawless!”
The slap jolted Shen Shian back to his senses. He stared blankly at the guests who had not yet dispersed, his limbs stiff with shock.
The Shen family were founding heroes of the dynasty, the most trusted ministers of the emperor.
Marquis Shang’s father had once secured the treacherous Huainan region for the emperor. Now the Marquis inherited the title, and though he held no real power, a marriage alliance with the Shen family bound the two households together in honor and disgrace alike. And yet Shen Shian had just humiliated the Marquis’ household and the Shen family’s most cherished daughter, Shang Shiyan, in front of so many people.