Shen Yanshui didn’t need Quanfu to relay it to her—she’d heard every word clearly from the inner chamber. But she wasn’t in any hurry to go out, taking her time changing into fresh clothes.
Before long, Chunping stepped lightly inside to help her change, though she could hardly hide the tension and unease on her face. She had no idea what had happened between His Highness and her mistress in the room—she’d only seen the Crown Prince go in with a dark, heavy expression, and come out drenched in tea, then simply leave…
Her mistress hadn’t even come out to bow him off respectfully.
She couldn’t help but ask, worried, “Mistress, about His Highness the Crown Prince…”
Shen Yanshui smiled at her as naturally as ever. “It’s nothing. Don’t worry.”
Chunping: “…” Who could see the Crown Prince looking like that and not feel their heart pounding in fright?
And especially since he’d come out of her mistress’s room looking that way—how could she not worry?
Shen Yanshui’s mood, in truth, was quite good. Thinking about how that man was probably heading off to meet with his subordinates right now, still blissfully unaware he was sporting the very teeth marks she’d bitten into him, and imagining the look on his face when he finally discovered it—well, she felt pretty good about that.
Cui Yu was indeed meeting with people right now, and more than one.
Only, during today’s discussion of affairs, the two men kept their heads bowed, not daring to look up, which made him frown without thinking. Once the discussion was finished, he asked out of concern, “Is there anything else to report?”
Yu Qinghe immediately bowed. “Your Highness, there’s still some official business at the Jingzhao Prefecture office that needs attending to. This humble official will take his leave.”
Seeing he had nothing more to say, Cui Yu nodded, then turned his gaze to Xiao Zhengshan, head of the Eastern Palace guards.
Xiao Zhengshan: “…” He watched the man who’d been standing beside him a moment ago vanish in a puff of smoke, and gritted his teeth—that old fox could really run!
“Speak. What is it?”
Xiao Zhengshan glanced up briefly at the usually composed and solemn Crown Prince, at the half-hidden tooth mark peeking out from beneath his collar, and immediately dropped his head even lower, his weathered dark face faintly flushing red. How was he supposed to bring this up with His Highness?
In his heart, he cursed that fast-fleeing old fox several more times!
Cui Yu’s brow furrowed. “Speak.”
Xiao Zhengshan trembled, and finally, stammering, face flushed red, head still lowered, he gritted out, “Reporting to Your Highness—your, your appearance is somewhat… improper. Perhaps I should call for Eunuch Zheng to come help you straighten up?”
Cui Yu’s brow twitched slightly. Watching the man’s demeanor, a bad feeling suddenly rose in him. He raised a hand, dismissing him.
Xiao Zhengshan let out a breath of relief at once, and hurried off.
Who knew which woman was bold enough to actually bite the Crown Prince…
Cui Yu didn’t call for Zheng Yuande. Instead, he went to the inner chamber of his study himself.
Because of… the state of his robes, after returning to Changqing Hall he hadn’t had the attendants help him change—he’d changed on his own.
Once he’d finished, he went to meet the two men who’d already been waiting a good while. | B L A C K L O T U S Reading · Black Lotus Novel
Only, as he stood before the bronze mirror, his gaze suddenly sharpened. He tilted his head slightly, raised a hand, and pulled down the collar at his neck—and his expression instantly went black. Black, then red, then black again…
Finally, his face settled into a cold, dark scowl. “Zheng Yuande, get in here, now!”
At the sound of that voice, every ounce of soft white flesh on Zheng Yuande’s body trembled in fright, and he scrambled and stumbled his way inside.
“Y-Your Highness…”
Within Changqing Hall, anything even remotely connected to the Crown Prince—even the faintest whisper of it—was, as always, dug into and dissected thoroughly.
Not to mention that today, the Crown Prince had stormed into Lianxin Courtyard at midday in a rage, spent a long while shut in the room with Consort Shen (Zhaoxun rank), skipped his midday meal entirely, and finally emerged from Lianxin Courtyard drenched in tea, looking utterly disheveled.
At the time, not just the back quarters but nearly the entire Changqing Palace had heard of it. When had the famously fastidious Crown Prince ever looked so wretched? Everyone speculated—had that Zhaoxun Shen presumed on his favor and gotten above herself, provoking His Highness into a rage?
This seemingly reasonable guess instantly had no shortage of people eagerly awaiting further news.
The Crown Princess frowned thoughtfully. “This Zhaoxun Shen…”
Nanny Zhou smiled. “Your Highness, perhaps we won’t even need to wait until tomorrow—this Zhaoxun Shen may have already worn out her welcome with the Crown Prince.”
The Crown Princess allowed herself a faint smile. She’d be more than happy to see that happen.
When Wu Chenghui heard, her eyes lit up outright—she could barely resist laughing aloud!
“Let her be so smug and pleased with herself! Now there’s a good show to watch. Go, go find out more.” She even went to the kitchens herself to prepare food for His Highness, just to show off how capable she was!
Even Liu Fengyi, confined to her quarters, felt some of the resentment bottled up inside her finally ease when she heard the news.
It was only after being confined that she’d learned—His Highness had mistakenly believed that pot of Chinese yam and goji berry soup she’d sent was from Zhaoxun Shen across the way, and that was why he’d gone to see her!
When she found out, she was so furious her head spun, so angry she could have coughed up blood!
That soup had clearly been from her! And yet?
It had indeed caught the Crown Prince’s attention—but through sheer rotten luck, he’d mistaken it for Zhaoxun Shen’s doing. Not only had that woman stolen the credit right out from under her, but she herself had ended up confined to her quarters because of it!
She could have eaten Zhaoxun Shen’s heart out, she was so furious!
Then, later… His Highness had sent someone to relay his verbal decree, rebuking her for spying on his movements and bribing those around him… only then had she broken out in a cold sweat all over, jolted into belated fear.
She’d gone completely quiet after that. But now, hearing that Zhaoxun Shen might be in for trouble too, she couldn’t help feeling pleased. If His Highness had come to loathe her, then what right did the woman who’d profited off her at no cost have to keep his favor?
Only… they waited, and waited…
And then word came that Zhaoxun Shen had sent someone to fetch her midday meal from the kitchens, and had already begun eating.
The crowd who’d been quietly anticipating: “…?”
A while later, Zhaoxun Shen took her attendants and went strolling in the garden.
The crowd: “…?” They could hardly hide their disappointment. Had they guessed wrong?
Then, after quite some time, word came that the Crown Prince, who’d returned to the front hall, had suddenly flown into a rage?
The crowd perked up at once: Oh?!
Shen Yanshui had eaten her midday meal, then gone for a stroll in the garden to help digest it. After spending a bit of time teasing the sweet-mouthed little Xiaocui, she finally headed back.
Only, on her way back, she happened to run into Wu Chenghui in front of Yuehua Gate.
Shen Yanshui stopped and bowed in greeting. “This humble one greets Wu Chenghui.”
Wu Chenghui was dressed in a loose, light pale-green robe with wide sleeves, her hair styled in an elaborate, painstakingly arranged bun, covered head to toe in pearls and jade ornaments, dazzling and eye-catching—one glance and she radiated an air of extravagance.
Wu Chenghui rested one hand on the arm of the palace maid beside her, every inch of her posture full of airs. Looking Shen Yanshui over, she smiled a smile heavy with meaning.
Then, feigning surprise, she said, “Sister, do get up. I heard little sister Shen personally went to the kitchens today to make fruit drinks for His Highness? I had no idea sister had such fine culinary skill. Whenever you have a free moment, do come visit my courtyard and keep me company—let me taste your handiwork too.”
Shen Yanshui, hearing this, gave a faint, seemingly bashful smile and pressed her lips together. “Sister Wu flatters me. Fortunately, this little sister has already given the recipe for those fruit treats to Steward Tang in the kitchens. If sister wishes to try them, you may simply go fetch some anytime.”
Then, her tone turning especially earnest, she added, “But if Sister Wu specifically wants something made by my own hand, I happen to be quite free right now. If it’s convenient with Sister Chu, I could go make some for Sister Chu to try this very moment.”
The smile on Wu Chenghui’s face stiffened for an instant. What was wrong with this woman? Why wouldn’t she play by the rules?
She was trying to humiliate her—how could the woman still be smiling?!
Wait…
Her expression shifted slightly. “Are you mocking me?”
And offering to go make food in her courtyard for her—her courtyard didn’t even have a private kitchen sanctioned by the Crown Prince! In the entire Eastern Palace, only the Crown Princess and the currently pregnant Chu Liangdi had courtyards equipped with private kitchens!
Shen Yanshui looked at her with an utterly innocent expression. “Sister Wu misunderstands. How would this little sister dare mock you? This was simply my genuine intention.”
Wu Chenghui let out a cold snort, then lifted her chin, looking at her with open scorn. “What do you have left to be so pleased about? You dared to douse the Crown Prince in tea—even if His Highness is magnanimous enough not to hold it against you, the Crown Princess and Her Majesty the Empress certainly won’t let it slide!”
Shen Yanshui: “…” Who on earth started this rumor? Absolutely no skill to it whatsoever!
Was she tired of living or something? Dare to douse the Crown Prince in tea? Thinking about just how that tea had ended up on him in the first place, she couldn’t help curling her lip inwardly—if that man dared pin this on her and get her punished for it… hmph, she’d make sure he regretted it.
As for exactly how she’d make him regret it—she’d figure that out later.
Seeing her fall silent, apparently startled, Wu Chenghui couldn’t hide her smugness, and continued in a lecturing tone, “Frightened now? Good, you should be. Don’t think that just because you’ve got a bit of a pretty face and a sliver of the Crown Prince’s favor, you can forget your place…”
She was in the middle of thoroughly enjoying herself when she failed to notice that the maid beside her had gone pale with fear, her body trembling. B L A C K L O T U S Novel Chapter — BLACK LOTUS NOVEL
Shen Yanshui had already heard the familiar footsteps some time ago, and so she stood there quietly, head bowed as if receiving the lecture, pretending she’d noticed nothing at all.
This Wu Chenghui hadn’t managed to cause her any real substantial harm so far—only because Shen Yanshui herself wasn’t the soft, pliable type, which was the only reason the woman never got the better of her. But every single time they crossed paths, she had to run her mouth at her—amusing at first, but tiresome by now.
Clearly, last time’s lesson hadn’t sunk in enough, because the moment she caught wind of a little gossip, she couldn’t wait to come flaunt herself in front of her, tail held high.
Wu Chenghui had originally still held herself back somewhat—after all, she’d come off worse in verbal sparring with this woman more than once. But perhaps because this time she really had angered the Crown Prince, and the woman seemed to have gradually gone mute with fear, Wu Chenghui found herself growing more and more excited, talking faster and faster!
“…Little sister is the daughter of a meritorious military family, so it’s only natural you’re a bit rough around the edges, unfamiliar with proper etiquette. It just so happens Haitang Court is right next to little sister’s Lianxin Courtyard—I could spare the time to teach little sister some manners now and then, so you don’t end up making some blunder later that drags the Crown Prince down with you…”
“I had no idea a mere Chenghui held the authority to discipline and instruct the lesser consorts of the harem.” Cui Yu’s voice was cold and detached as he stepped out from behind the shrubbery, casting an indifferent glance at Wu Chenghui, who had gone deathly pale and dropped to her knees on the ground.
