Eunuch Liu, Liu Zhen, if one truly counted, had to call Da Fu “Master.” After all, he was brought up by Da Fu, and because he handled tasks reliably, he was assigned to serve by the Little Crown Prince’s side.
Hearing that Da Fu asked him to go over, he naturally did not dare to be negligent. After instructing people to take good care of the Little Crown Prince, he rushed over in a hurry.
“Master,” Eunuch Liu said, smiling as he looked at Da Fu.
How could Da Fu be in any mood to joke with him? His brows were almost knit into a tight knot.
Seeing the man walk over, the fly-whisk in Da Fu’s hand swished straight over at him. “You courting-death thing! Hurry up and tell me, how did the Little Highness fall into the water out of nowhere?”
Eunuch Liu did not dare to delay and immediately recounted everything that had happened.
“It’s that Candidate Maid Shen again?” Da Fu said in shock.
Hearing that the Little Crown Prince had fallen into the water because of Candidate Maid Shen, Da Fu’s thoughts took a hundred turns—transitioning instantly from the original idea that Candidate Maid Shen wanted to get close to His Majesty through the Little Crown Prince, to the thought that Candidate Maid Shen was a spy who came to harm the Little Crown Prince.
Eunuch Liu, however, did not know what Da Fu was thinking and merely said, “Indeed. Her belonging dropped into the water, and she jumped down to search for it. The Little Crown Prince thought she was trying to end her life, so he jumped down after her.”
Da Fu took a deep breath. From the moment he learned about the person named Shen Ying, Da Fu had checked her background once again, and naturally knew about the affairs of the family of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
That Shen Ying was the daughter born to Shen Lian’s late first wife. After the first wife passed away, Shen Lian, Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, married a second wife. Originally, the second wife treated her quite well, but after having her own child, she became somewhat neglectful.
Or rather, it was not as simple as merely being neglectful.
Originally, Da Fu had no business meddling in other people’s family affairs, but since this Shen Ying could catch the Little Crown Prince’s attention, he inevitably had to pay more attention to her.
After hearing what Eunuch Liu said, Da Fu was truly unable to keep his composure.
He could not understand what this Candidate Maid Shen was actually thinking.
Inside the hall, listening to the secret guard’s report, when Pei Lin heard that the Little Crown Prince, Pei Yun, saw Shen Ying falling into the water and jumped down after her as well, the color of his eyes instantly darkened.
Perceiving Pei Lin’s abruptly changed aura, the secret guard hurriedly lowered his head.
“I know.”
Hearing this single sentence, the secret guard felt a sudden surge of relief in his heart, his figure flashing and vanishing in an instant.
Having sent Liu Zhen away, Da Fu walked into the hall with extreme caution and reported the things he knew to Pei Lin.
When Da Fu finished speaking, the expression on Pei Lin’s face did not undergo any change at all. Unsure of how to gauge His Majesty’s mind in his heart, Da Fu had no choice but to say, “Your Majesty, should this old servant invite that Candidate Maid Shen, Shen Ying, over?”
Pei Lin originally had no expression on his face, but upon hearing Da Fu’s words, his expression froze. He raised his head to look at Da Fu, his face showing a mix of alarm and uncertainty. “What did you say?”
Da Fu pondered for a moment and did not feel there was anything wrong with his words, so he bowed his head respectfully and repeated the words once more.
“Her name is… Shen Ying? Which Ying?”
Just as Da Fu was about to speak, he heard Pei Lin say, “Write it down.”
Although bewildered, Da Fu still stepped forward hurriedly and wrote down Shen Ying’s name.
Looking at the character “Ying” on the paper, the shock in Pei Lin’s eyes could not be concealed at all.
“Your Majesty,” Da Fu called out cautiously.
Pei Lin seemed not to hear; his gaze was fixed intently on that character “Ying” on the paper.
“Is her name truly Shen Ying?”
“In reply to Your Majesty, it is absolutely true.”
Da Fu had specially investigated this matter; there could be no mistake.
Pei Lin closed his eyes, unsure of what he was thinking about. Da Fu did not dare to speak either, waiting respectfully by his side.
An unknown amount of time passed before Pei Lin opened his eyes, reached out, pressed his hand against that sheet of paper, and called out, “Zhen One.”
A figure silently arrived, kneeling on one knee, waiting for orders.
“Go investigate. I want to know everything about Shen Ying, the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.”
Da Fu did not quite understand in his heart. Since she was the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, there should be no problem with her identity. Even if Shen Lian were given a few more courage, he would not dare to tamper with anything regarding this matter, right?
Or perhaps His Majesty was wise and divine, noticing something amiss, which was why he dispatched Zhen One to investigate.
Da Fu’s thoughts shifted back and forth, and he naturally knew that such matters were not appropriate for him to inquire about. Investigating thoroughly was good as well; His Majesty only had the Little Crown Prince as his sole child, so naturally no mishap could be allowed to happen to the Little Crown Prince.
Seeing that His Majesty had no further instructions, he merely stood by the side holding his fly-whisk. As his gaze brushed past that character “Ying” he had written earlier, a strange sensation suddenly arose in Da Fu’s heart.
Shen Ying?
Da Fu felt as if he had heard this name somewhere before, a sense of déjà vu, yet he could not recall it no matter how hard he tried.
This thought made Da Fu feel very uneasy in his heart.
He was someone who served the Emperor. Regarding the civil and military officials in court, even if he could not list them like counting his own family treasures, his memory was definitely not poor. People he had met would certainly leave an impression on him, yet now, facing the name Shen Ying, despite having a feeling of familiarity, he could not remember for the life of him where he had heard it.
Inside the grand hall, it was quiet with only the sound of breathing.
Pei Lin suddenly stood up, his steps somewhat hurried. After emerging from Xuanzheng Hall, he headed straight in the direction of the Eastern Palace.
Da Fu hurriedly kept up. His Majesty walked very fast, so fast that he could not keep pace, leaving him no choice but to follow behind at a jog all the way.
As he walked, Pei Lin suddenly stopped in his tracks, having thought of something unknown. Fortunately, Da Fu reacted quickly and nimbly; otherwise, he would have bumped into Pei Lin’s back.
After a moment of hesitation, Pei Lin turned around after all and returned to Xuanzheng Hall.
He was waiting—waiting for news from the secret guard, Zhen One.
Sitting on the dragon throne, Pei Lin was unsure of what he was thinking, his eyes blank. At this moment, he could not even read the memorials. Da Fu poured a cup of tea, brought it over, and placed it by his hand, but Pei Lin did not touch it either.
For Zhen One to investigate thoroughly, a period of time was naturally needed. Pei Lin had never felt time pass so slowly before; he could not wait and wanted to know the news immediately.
Or perhaps he actually wanted Zhen One to tell him whether that person was the one in his heart.
He wanted to go to the Eastern Palace to see for himself. The person who had reported to him earlier was Xun One, who was also a secret guard by the Crown Prince’s side.
Xun One said that the Crown Prince seemed to have mistaken that woman for his mother.
Pei Lin felt fury in his heart. Yun’er was far more intelligent than ordinary children; it was absolutely impossible for him to accept a strange woman as his mother for no reason at all.
That woman must have used some kind of trick, taking advantage of Yun’er’s young age to hoodwink him through this.
Yet Yun’er had actually done several incredible things one after another for that woman—for instance, sending away his beloved pet, Xiao Hei.
Or another instance, seeing her fall into the water, knowing full well he could not swim, he still jumped down to save her.
Pei Lin’s gaze fell upon that character “Ying” once again.
Shen Ying. Shen Ying.
Could it really be her?
Perhaps it would be better if he went to see her, but halfway there, a sudden wave of fear sprang up in Pei Lin’s heart.
He did not dare to go see her, fearing that this was merely joy in vain for himself. Having been disappointed too many times, he ultimately did not dare to hold too much expectation anymore.
When Zhen One returned, several hours had already passed. He presented all the items he had investigated, and subsequently made a report to Pei Lin.
Pei Lin closed his eyes, a surge of disappointment rising in his heart.
That Shen Ying was seventeen this year; this name was given by her late mother.
There was nothing special about the matters Zhen One had investigated either.
Ultimately, a sliver of expectation remained in his heart. “Did she… did she have any strange behavior while at the Shen family? Or was there anywhere that was different from before?”
Zhen One recalled all the matters he had investigated, and only then said, “There was none.”
Pei Lin closed his eyes, feeling inevitable disappointment in his heart. It seemed that having the same name was merely a coincidence.
She had been gone for six years. Judging by the timeline, before she had even left, that Shen Ying was already there.
The name Shen Ying was not unique; having the same first and last name was not uncommon either.
Pei Lin pinched the space between his brows, a surge of irritability rising in his heart. He waved his hand and said, “Withdraw.”
“How is the Crown Prince?”
When he heard Pei Lin ask the question, Da Fu was still thinking about where exactly he had heard the name Shen Ying before.
The entry of all the Candidate Maids into the palace had been arranged by Da Fu; he had known the name Shen Ying since that time.
Yet this sense of familiarity welling up from the depths of his heart let Da Fu know that he should have heard this name even earlier.
Where on earth had he heard it before?
It ought to be a very familiar name, yet he could not remember it no matter what.
Hearing His Majesty ask a question out of nowhere, Da Fu shuddered, instantly coming back to his senses, and immediately said, “The imperial physician has already been summoned to examine him; there is no major issue.”
What he did not say was that Candidate Maid Shen had also been examined as well. Knowing that His Majesty had always disliked those Candidate Maids, Da Fu was cautious and did not mention it.
“Is she… still in the Eastern Palace?”
That was why Da Fu considered himself a confidant—a single “she” was enough to make Da Fu realize that His Majesty was asking about that Candidate Maid Shen.
“Yes. The Crown Prince has been holding onto Candidate Maid Shen the entire time, not letting her leave.”
Pausing for a moment, he cautiously sneaked a glance at the color of Pei Lin’s face.
“Is there something else?”
“In reply to Your Majesty, it is said that the Little Crown Prince kept holding onto Candidate Maid Shen, calling… calling Candidate Maid Shen ‘Mother’.”
Pei Lin closed the memorial in his hand. Da Fu hurriedly said, “This old servant heard Liu Zhen say that Candidate Maid Shen kept denying it, but the Crown Prince kept insisting that she is his mother.”
The hall was quiet for a long time before Pei Lin finally spoke, “Understood.”
This time, Da Fu truly could not guess what this “understood” was supposed to mean. For a moment, he could not distinguish whether His Majesty was pleased or displeased about this.
Inside the Eastern Palace.
The Little Crown Prince kept holding onto Shen Ying without letting her leave. Because he had fallen into the water, he did not need to go to Grand Tutor Chang’s place for lessons today, so he wanted Shen Ying to accompany him more.
Fearing he might catch a chill, after diagnosing him, the imperial physician prescribed medicine for the Little Crown Prince.
Eunuch Liu had the imperial physician examine Shen Ying as well, and incidentally prescribed medicine for her together.
Looking at the medicine placed before her that exhaled steam and a bitter smell, Shen Ying genuinely could not bring herself to drink it; she did not want to drink it.
The Little Crown Prince likewise knitted his brows, expressing resistance.
Eunuch Liu was trying to persuade them with painstaking earnestness by the side. Upon raising his head, he unexpectedly saw the two people, one big and one small, with identical expressions, and was instantly stunned.
For a moment, he seemed to see a bit of Shen Ying’s shadow on the Little Crown Prince’s face.