At first, Shen Muyu was somewhat shy, but as Chen Wang became increasingly ruthless, she became frightened and could only endure it with tears in her eyes.

After venting his anger, Prince Chen pinched her face and examined her closely. He clicked his tongue meaningfully and suddenly asked, "Why didn't you invite Princess Qin to come and have a word with me?"

Shen Muyu's pupils contracted slightly as she looked at him with fear.

His eyes looked like he was looking at a terrifying demon.

But Prince Chen didn't care at all. The repeated setbacks left him with no mood to bother with pretense or playing tricks. So he simply rubbed his thumb against Chen Muyu's bitten lip and said casually, "Father has bestowed many rewards, and I remember there was a basket of lychees among them. Lychees are very precious at this time of year. You can invite Princess Qin to try some."

Seeing that Shen Muyu was blankly unresponsive, he patted her cheek: "Hmm?"

Shen Muyu nodded haphazardly.

King Chen laughed, then picked up his clothes and put them on with satisfaction.

With trembling hands, Shen Muyu gathered her torn dress and left in a panic with her head down.

*

When Shen Youying received the invitation, she had a strange expression: "You're inviting me to try lychees?"

Her relationship with Shen Muyu isn't that good yet, is it?

"September is well past the season for lychees; they're a rare treat at this time of year," Bai Luo guessed. "Are you trying to show off to the girl again?"

Shen Youying also thought it was possible.

Just as he was frowning, pondering how to refuse, the invitation was suddenly snatched away. Xue Shen raised an eyebrow and said, "When did you sisters become so close?"

Shen Youying didn't want to say that Shen Muyu might be trying to show off to her, so she could only say, "It's not good, but it's not that bad either."

Xue Shen glanced at it casually, then tossed the invitation aside and said, "You're not allowed to go."

Shen Youying looked at him in confusion; this was the first time Xue Shen had interfered with her going out.

Seeing the doubt in her eyes, Xue Shen raised an eyebrow and said, "What did I say last time?" He gazed at Shen Youying with an indescribable ambiguous look: "I will be staying at Tingmei Pavilion tonight... If Your Highness is not afraid of not being able to get up tomorrow, you may go."