Shen Yue made quite a scene in the Autumn Water Court, but this time Chen Ruoqiu seemed utterly resolute. No matter how Shen Yue pleaded, she remained unmoved and even grew angry, threatening to place her under house confinement if she continued making a fuss. Shen Yue was genuinely panicked, but Chen Ruoqiu ignored her further. When she left the Autumn Water Court, she carried an air of both anger and anxiety.
Just then, a few people emerged from the Colorful Cloud Courtyard. The young woman in blue at the forefront paused upon seeing her, then stepped forward and said, "Second Sister."
Shen Yue glanced at her and gave a perfunctory "Hmm," her attitude rather cold.
This woman was none other than Shen Dongling, the illegitimate daughter of the second branch. Shen Dongling had been thoroughly suppressed by Ren Wanyun in the past, rarely leaving her courtyard all year—so much so that some servants in the Shen Mansion didn’t even recognize her. After Ren Wanyun’s death, when Shen Gui was diagnosed as incapable of fathering any more children, Shen Dongling became the sole heir of the second branch. Even so, while Shen Yue treated her with superficial gentleness, she secretly looked down on Shen Dongling’s lowly origins. Blood ties couldn’t change the fact that Shen Dongling was an illegitimate daughter. If Shen Yue felt jealousy and resentment toward Shen Miao, her attitude toward Shen Dongling was outright disdain.
Yet Shen Dongling acted as though she didn’t notice the cold treatment, still smiling as she said, "I was planning to spin some silk to make a few pieces of satin. The other day, I heard my mother mention some new embroidery patterns that are in fashion now. I happened to sketch a few designs—would Second Sister like some?" Her tone carried a hint of ingratiation.
"No need," Shen Yue replied.
Despite the rejection, Shen Dongling remained good-natured. "Then never mind. I originally thought to make some for you as well."
Shen Yue was growing impatient. Right now, her mind was preoccupied with Chen Ruoqiu’s plans to arrange a marriage for her—how could she spare attention for such trivialities? But as she glanced at Shen Dongling, who stood with her head slightly lowered, revealing a slender, fair neck, Shen Yue paused. She withdrew her hand and studied Shen Dongling more carefully.
Shen Dongling was only half a year younger than Shen Yue. Among the Shen family’s daughters, Shen Qing had been dignified, Shen Yue elegant and beautiful, and Shen Miao delicate and refined—all three carried the unique bearing of legitimate daughters. In contrast, Shen Dongling possessed the delicate charm typical of an illegitimate daughter. Wan Yiniang had once been a dan (female lead) performer in an opera troupe—as a huadan (vivacious young female role), she naturally had some beauty. Shen Dongling didn’t resemble Shen Gui but was nearly the spitting image of Wan Yiniang in her youth. With large eyes and a pointed chin, she had the striking looks of a favored concubine. However, compared to those domineering and arrogant concubines, Shen Dongling kept her head down, never causing trouble, which tempered her resemblance to a concubine.
But upon closer inspection, she was undeniably a lovely young woman, like a flower just coming into bloom.
A sudden thought struck Shen Yue. She took Shen Dongling’s hand warmly and said with a smile, "I didn’t want you to make them for me because I was afraid of tiring you out. You’re a proper young lady of the mansion, not a seamstress from an embroidery workshop. What would people think if you spent all day doing needlework?"
Shen Dongling froze, seemingly surprised by Shen Yue’s sudden affection. Her face flushed slightly, a mix of astonishment and flattery. "Second Sister, you’re too kind. I don’t have much else to do, so when my mother asks me to do needlework, I oblige. It’s no trouble." Wan Yiniang, having been suppressed by Ren Wanyun for so long, had long since tempered her temperament. Even now that her circumstances had improved, her favorite pastime was still embroidery in the courtyard. Shen Dongling seemed to have inherited her disposition.Seeing Shen Dongling so obedient, the smile in Shen Yue's eyes deepened: "You should change this temperament of yours. Being honest and diligent is good, and loving embroidery is fine, but what young lady does needlework all day long? Tomorrow I'm going to the jewelry shop to pick some accessories. Come with me. There are some new designs this year—you might find something you like. Whatever catches your eye, I'll get it for you."
"This..." Shen Dongling waved her hands in fluster. "I can't."
"Are you being polite with me?" Shen Yue feigned anger. "After all, we're the closest of sisters. If even you act so distant, what's the point of being sisters?"
Shen Dongling was at a loss but didn't know how to respond. Seeing this, Shen Yue smiled gently and patted her shoulder. "Third Sister is still so timid—such an endearing temperament. Alright, I have other matters to attend to, so I won't keep you. Tomorrow, I'll have a maid fetch you from Colorful Cloud Courtyard to go with me to the jewelry shop." Her tone brooked no refusal.
Shen Dongling nodded in acceptance.
After Shen Yue and her entourage had walked some distance away, Shen Dongling's maid, Wu Mei, said, "What does Second Young Lady mean by this? One moment cold, the next warm—why would she suddenly invite you to the jewelry shop out of the blue?"
Indeed, Shen Yue had always been indifferent toward Shen Dongling, making this sudden warmth quite suspicious.
"She's trying to win me over in her own way," Shen Dongling said, smiling as she watched Shen Yue's retreating figure. "She probably thinks I'm easy to buy, wanting me to rely on and trust her so that in the future, it'll be easier to ask for my help."
Wu Mei was shocked. "Then what should we do? Second Young Lady clearly has ill intentions—she wants to use you! What if you fall into her trap?"
"No matter," Shen Dongling replied cheerfully. "I'm happy to help her, just as she's happy to give me jewelry. When good things are handed to me, I'm no saint—why would I refuse?" She added, "It's just that she's short-sighted, that's all."
Meanwhile, Shen Yue, walking toward Autumn Water Court, wore a pensive expression, her mind filled with the image of Shen Dongling's meek and compliant demeanor. Both were graceful young ladies of the same age, both daughters of Shen Mansion—yet for some reason, Shen Yue had an intuition that winning Shen Dongling over might prove greatly advantageous to her in the future.
While Shen Yue was stirring up trouble on one side, over at the entrance of the West Courtyard of Shen Mansion, someone was moving potted plants outside. The bustling noise made the scene quite lively. As Shen Wan passed by the West Courtyard gate, he happened to hear an old maidservant exclaim, "Young Lady, be careful!"
Shen Wan followed the sound and saw a young woman lifting an extremely heavy potted plant onto a stand. The pot was so heavy that it nearly slipped and hit her foot. The old maidservant sighed in relief, and the young woman turned around, flashing the maidservant a radiant smile.
Shen Wan's footsteps halted.
The woman wore a turquoise feathered gauze jacket with a jade-green floral skirt, her hair styled in a lily bun adorned with an agate hairpin. After last night's thunderstorm, the morning sun had emerged. Though not breathtakingly beautiful, she was undeniably pretty. The sunlight glistened on the sweat beads on her forehead, and the exertion had brought a faint blush to her cheeks, lending her an indescribable charm.The love for beauty is universal. Although Shen Wan was not a man who indulged in feminine charms, it didn’t mean he would remain indifferent to a beautiful woman. His inner courtyard had only Chen Ruoqiu as his woman. Though devoted, over time, even the deepest affection could grow somewhat monotonous. Now, seeing this beauty so vivid and enchanting amidst nature, he couldn’t help but pause.
Much like admiring a beloved painting or poem, Shen Wan, at this moment, harbored no other emotions. He had never been particularly passionate about matters between men and women. The woman seemed to notice someone watching her and turned her head. Spotting Shen Wan, she was momentarily taken aback before walking over.
Approaching Shen Wan, she neither appeared awkward nor shy, but instead greeted him with graceful ease: "Third Master."
Shen Wan glanced at her and suddenly realized her identity. "Miss Chang," he said.
Chang Zaiqing had only seen Shen Wan once before—when she first arrived at Shen Mansion. That evening, Chen Ruoqiu had taken her to the Hall of Glory and Scenery to pay respects to Old Madam Shen. The dim lamplight and everyone’s preoccupation with the day’s affairs had left Shen Wan with no impression of Chang Zaiqing. Now, seeing her up close, he found her to be an exceptionally poised and rare beauty. Recalling that Chen Ruoqiu seemed quite close to her, his demeanor grew even more cordial.
"What are you doing, Miss Chang?" Shen Wan asked with a smile.
Chang Zaiqing glanced back at the flower bed by the courtyard gate and replied, "Last night’s rainstorm left many branches battered by wind and rain. I’m tending to them."
"Tending?" Shen Wan was intrigued. "How does one tend to flowers?"
Chang Zaiqing smiled faintly. "Third Master may see for himself."
Shen Wan walked over to the flower bed and indeed saw the scattered branches—some wrapped in cloth strips, others coated with what looked like medicinal solutions—all meticulously arranged. Scissors and strips of cloth lay nearby. One flower, half-broken, had even been carefully reattached.
"You’re truly thoughtful," Shen Wan remarked with admiration. "And willing to put in the effort." Last night’s storm had inevitably damaged the plants. Even Chen Ruoqiu, who loved flowers, had lamented their state before discarding them. Broken flowers, no longer as lovely as before, were deemed unsightly. Yet Chang Zaiqing had not only spared them but also tended to them with such care.
"Flowers and plants have life too," Chang Zaiqing said cheerfully. "If one claims to love them, how can they abandon their original intent at the first sign of trouble? All things have spirit—one shouldn’t be duplicitous. To speak of cherishing flowers yet fail in such small acts is hypocrisy." She added brightly, "Besides, it’s just a bit of manual labor. It pleases others and delights oneself—why not do it?"
"What a splendid notion—'pleasing others and delighting oneself,'" Shen Wan said, his gaze filled with appreciation. "Miss Chang is truly a person of refined taste. I’ve been vulgar by comparison."
"You flatter me, Third Master," Chang Zaiqing teased. "We’re all ordinary people. I have my selfish motives too—if I nurture these flowers well, I’ll feel more at ease living in the mansion. At least I can contribute in some small way."
Shen Wan laughed heartily. "You overthink it, Miss Chang. Even if you couldn’t grow a single plant, no one in Shen Mansion would dream of sending you away."Chang Zaiqing also smiled and said, "Then I must thank Third Master." Suddenly remembering something, she turned to Shen Wan: "Speaking of which, I unintentionally set up a chess game yesterday and couldn’t solve it no matter how hard I tried. I originally wanted to ask Third Madam to take a look, but she seems quite busy today. I’ve heard that Third Master is also a master of chess—could you offer me some guidance?"
She then added with a smile, "I can brew tea for you in return. Third Madam might have mentioned that my tea is exceptionally good."
Her demeanor was open and natural, making any refusal seem impolite on Shen Wan’s part. Yet by offering tea as a condition, she added a touch of playfulness. After a brief consideration, Shen Wan smiled and replied, "Then I must graciously accept."
The two of them moved to the stone table in the garden to begin their game. As they played, they chatted casually. To his surprise, Shen Wan discovered that Chang Zaiqing was not only skilled at chess but also well-versed in a wide range of topics, from astronomy to geography. Moreover, her insights were profound, and she could even contribute a word or two about court affairs. Shen Wan had always admired talent over beauty, which was why he favored Chen Ruoqiu among his wives—she excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, making her an undeniable prodigy. However, Chen Ruoqiu had one flaw: her pride as a daughter of an aristocratic family occasionally made her aloof and overly refined. While this might have been charming once or twice, living with such mannerisms daily made her seem petty and overly meticulous at times.
Chang Zaiqing, however, was entirely different. Though equally talented, she lacked the arrogance and haughtiness typical of noblewomen. Instead, she was refreshingly candid yet thoughtful, displaying remarkable empathy. Conversations with her were delightful and soothing. Unconsciously, Shen Wan’s gaze lingered on her longer and longer, his admiration growing.
From a distance, Momo Zhao watched with quiet satisfaction. Without drawing attention, she instructed the maids to guard the courtyard gate and prevent outsiders from entering.
While this was unfolding, the palace of Ming Qi was also bustling with activity that day.
The Crown Prince had arranged a banquet to entertain envoys from Qin State and Great Coolness. The Crown Prince of Qin and his princess were in attendance, while Prince Rui of Great Coolness had also accepted the invitation. Accompanying them were the nine princes of Ming Qi.
The Crown Prince’s health had indeed worsened significantly. As a result, even his staunch supporters, Prince Chu and Prince Xuan, were beginning to waver. Over the past two years, the Crown Prince’s influence had gradually been overshadowed by other factions. Almost everyone tacitly acknowledged that his position would not last much longer. The Crown Prince himself seemed aware of this—he had rarely participated in court affairs lately, not out of unwillingness but due to dwindling support.
In contrast, the factions of Prince Zhou, Prince Jing, and Prince Li were gaining prominence. Prince Li had always been adept at playing both sides, earning him many followers. As for Prince Zhou and Prince Jing, their influence stemmed from their mother, Consort Xu. These two factions were now locked in fierce rivalry, their conflict escalating to the brink of open confrontation.The most secure among them was Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi. Over the past two years, Prince Ding had also participated in court affairs, but his involvement was often in trivial matters that seemed deliberately chosen to show he harbored no ambitions. Despite their insignificance, Emperor Wenhui was quite pleased with him. Because of the neutrality and calm he displayed, neither the Crown Prince, Prince Zhou, nor Prince Li made any deliberate efforts to suppress him.
In fact, Prince Ding was the safest of them all.
In the grand hall, the Crown Prince raised his cup with a smile and proposed a toast. "Honored guests who have traveled from afar, this calls for celebration."
Huangfu Hao, seated beside the Crown Prince, raised his cup in response and said with a smile, "Thank you for your generous hospitality, Your Highness."
Next to Huangfu Hao sat Ming An Princess, who had finally been released after several days of confinement imposed by Huangfu Hao. Today, she was dressed in splendid attire, her eyes filled with affection as she gazed at the young man in purple robes seated across from her.
Unfortunately, while the flower had intentions, the stream was indifferent. Prince Rui, his face half-covered by a mask, did not spare her a single glance. Nor did he look at the Crown Prince; instead, his eyes remained fixed on his wine cup, lost in thought.
The Crown Prince asked with a smile, "Prince Rui, why aren’t you drinking? Is the wine not to your liking?"
Prince Rui curled his lips slightly and replied, "I’m unwell and shouldn’t drink."
It was an almost blatant rebuff. Although Prince Rui had remained enigmatic since arriving in Ming Qi, his demeanor had always been courteous. But today, his behavior led everyone present to the same thought: Prince Rui of Great Coolness seemed to be in a foul mood.
But who could have provoked him?
The Crown Prince’s expression turned awkward, but Fu Xiuyi spoke up. "In that case, let Prince Rui substitute tea for wine. Attendants, bring tea for His Highness."
Fu Xiuyi’s intervention saved the Crown Prince from further embarrassment, and the latter’s expression softened with gratitude. The other princes also approved of Fu Xiuyi’s words. Though Prince Rui was a formidable figure, none of them wished to appear submissive before a foreign envoy. Fu Xiuyi’s firm yet polite response preserved Ming Qi’s dignity.
Huangfu Hao studied Prince Rui with curiosity, while Ming An Princess looked at him with concern. "Your Highness, are you unwell? Should we summon a physician?"
Huangfu Hao’s face darkened at her words, and he shot her a sharp glare. Ming An Princess was usually indulged, but openly displaying her infatuation with Prince Rui in front of so many Ming Qi princes was practically inviting ridicule. Moreover, as a man himself, Huangfu Hao understood men best. The impatience in Prince Rui’s gaze toward Ming An Princess was unmistakable. If Prince Rui were magnanimous, it might not matter, but if he had a temper and grew truly annoyed with her, it could sour Great Coolness’s opinion of Qin State—and Huangfu Hao would be the one to suffer.
Prince Rui, however, ignored her. Instead, his gaze settled on the last person seated opposite him. Noticing his focus, the others followed his line of sight—to Prince Ding, Fu Xiuyi.
Among the nine princes, Fu Xiuyi had always been the most unassuming. Yet now, Prince Rui’s attention was fixed solely on him, causing the others to regard Fu Xiuyi with newfound scrutiny. Fu Xiuyi, however, remained composed, showing no sign of unease under Prince Rui’s gaze. He met the prince’s eyes steadily.Prince Rui suddenly smiled and said, "Before coming to Ming Qi, I had heard of the Ninth Prince's exceptional talent. Seeing you now, the rumors do not disappoint. Might I ask if you are already betrothed?"
No one had expected Prince Rui to bring up such a topic so abruptly, and the expressions of those present instantly turned peculiar. Fu Xiuyi was also taken aback for a moment before replying, "Not yet."
Prince Zhou burst into laughter. Sitting beside Fu Xiuyi, he casually patted his shoulder and said, "Our Old Ninth is the only one among us brothers who hasn’t taken a consort yet. What, Prince Rui, are you also interested in Old Ninth’s marital affairs?"
The corners of Prince Rui’s lips curled beneath his mask as he leisurely replied, "The Great Coolness palace also has many princesses of suitable age. Upon meeting the Ninth Prince, I felt an instant connection and thought it would be wonderful to unite our houses in marriage."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of everyone present drastically changed.
Prince Rui’s implication was that he wished to form a marital alliance with Fu Xiuyi. If things truly proceeded as Prince Rui suggested—marrying a princess from Great Coolness—the implications would extend far beyond simply gaining a consort. It would also mean acquiring support from Great Coolness. If the previous leniency toward Fu Xiuyi had been due to his never having shown interest in the throne, Prince Rui’s words now made it impossible for the others to continue viewing him the same way. Because once Fu Xiuyi married a Great Coolness princess, he would instantly become the strongest contender for the imperial throne.
Fu Xiuyi’s grip on his wine cup tightened imperceptibly as he calmly regarded Prince Rui.
Was it truly as simple as it seemed on the surface—merely a proposal to wed a Great Coolness princess to him? Fu Xiuyi didn’t think so.
Prince Rui wasn’t helping him; he was harming him.
Fu Xiuyi had always adhered to the principle of biding his time and concealing his strength, never revealing his hand until the final moment. Though Prince Rui’s offer was tempting, if it had truly been made in goodwill, Fu Xiuyi would never have wanted it to be brought up now, in front of all the other princes. With just a few words, the princes’ gazes toward him had already filled with wariness, pushing him into the eye of the storm.
No matter how tempting the offer, he could not possibly accept it. Fu Xiuyi clenched his jaw. For some reason, he felt that this Prince Rui, with whom he had no prior connection, seemed to harbor hostility toward him. Otherwise, why would such a casually spoken remark place him in such a precarious position?
Though his wariness toward Prince Rui grew, Fu Xiuyi maintained a humble smile and replied, "Thank you for your generous regard, Your Highness. However, I currently have no intention of taking a wife."
"Oh?" Prince Rui’s lips curved slightly. "Could it be that the Ninth Prince already has a lady in his heart, and thus refuses? I never stand in the way of true love. If that is the case, I would not insist."
"Your Highness jests," Fu Xiuyi said with a cupped-hand salute. "It is simply that I truly have no such intentions at present."
Seeing Fu Xiuyi firmly reject Prince Rui’s proposal, the expressions of the other princes eased slightly. Yet after this incident, they could no longer view Fu Xiuyi with their previous complacency. Today, Fu Xiuyi had refused—but who could guarantee he wouldn’t change his mind in the future? The throne had always been the greatest temptation of all. If even the nine of them were willing to fight for it, why would they assume the imperial family could produce a saint indifferent to power?"How strange." Prince Rui seemed particularly interested in Fu Xiuyi and didn't let him off just because he had declined the proposal. With a faint smile, he said, "The Ninth Prince isn't married and has no one he fancies, so why not consider this? I see you're a dashing and outstanding man—surely there must be ladies who admire you?"
At these words, the usually blunt Prince Cheng burst into laughter. "Your Highness Prince Rui might not know this, but back in our Ming Qi, there was a lady who admired our Ninth Brother so openly that the entire court knew about it."
"Is it Shen Miao?" Before Prince Cheng could finish, Ming An Princess impatiently interrupted him. She had heard the rumors about Shen Miao before and had even mocked them quite heartily.
"So the Princess knows as well?" Prince Cheng seemed surprised.
"Shen Miao's infatuation with Prince Ding is known even in Qin State—it's hardly anything unusual," Ming An Princess said with schadenfreude. Anything that could embarrass Shen Miao was something she was always eager to chime in on.
"Indeed," Prince Cheng laughed. "Prince Rui might not be aware, but this Shen Miao is the legitimate daughter of the Grand General of Might—the same one who challenged Your Highness during the tribute banquet. You’ve seen her before." He sighed dramatically. "Back then, Shen Miao was still young and would go to great lengths to seek out Old Ninth. She was utterly shameless—directly confessing her admiration to him, sewing for him, making pastries, learning the zither, and even composing poetry. Tsk, she really did so much." Though Prince Cheng spoke of these things, his tone dripped with malicious mockery, as if recounting a joke.
"Yet at the tribute banquet, she carried herself with remarkable grace," Huangfu Hao interjected. Hearing rumors was one thing, but witnessing it firsthand was another. Huangfu Hao couldn’t help but feel surprised. Whether in Qin State or at the tribute banquet, Shen Miao had never seemed like someone who would grovel for affection. Sewing, making pastries—he found it almost bizarre to imagine the same Shen Miao who had coldly confronted Ming An Princess. He joked, "The Ninth Prince must have a heart of stone."
"Back then, Miss Shen was still young," Prince Cheng continued. "Who would’ve thought that two years later, she’d blossom into such beauty? And that timid, foolish girl from before—now there’s not a trace of her left. Among the noble ladies of Fixed Capital in Ming Qi, few could surpass her now." He chuckled meaningfully. "Had Old Ninth known, why would he have been so cruel? Now it’s too late for regrets—what a waste of such a beauty."
Ming An Princess sneered. "This Miss Shen is quite the character. As a young lady, she had no sense of shame, chasing after a man so openly. And to go through all that trouble—sewing, baking, following him around every day. How very... considerate of her."
Knowing that Ming An Princess had been bested by Shen Miao at the tribute banquet and thus held a grudge, the other princes merely smiled without comment.
Only Fu Xiuyi shook his head slightly. "Miss Shen is a good person. It would be best if everyone refrained from making jokes at her expense—no one can bear the guilt of tarnishing her reputation."
"Old Ninth, you’re too serious," Prince Chu laughed. "If you don’t want her, does that mean no one else can? If we weren’t already married, I’d gladly take Miss Shen as my wife."
"Agreed," the other princes chimed in.
"Indeed," Huangfu Hao added with a smile. "If I were the Ninth Prince, I would have married her without hesitation."
Ming An Princess was deeply displeased. She glanced at Prince Rui and noticed that, unlike the others, he hadn’t joined in the teasing. Instead, his gaze was calm and composed. Pleased, she asked, "Does Prince Rui share the same opinion?"
Prince Rui paused.
All eyes turned to him.
The masked young man swirled his wine cup idly before speaking in a detached tone, "Sewing for a man, making pastries, learning the zither, composing poetry..."
Ming An Princess cut in, "Exactly! Utterly disgraceful, a laughingstock!""Such a fine young lady," Prince Rui said with a smile. "What a coincidence—I want her too."
－－－－－－Author's Note－－－－－－
First showdown between Brother Xie and Scumbag Fu.
Brother Xie is heartbroken: You never watched snow or the moon with me, discussing poetry and philosophy of life, yet you wrote poems and learned the qin with him, from making pastries to needlework—WTF!
...
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