In early summer, the Forbidden City resembled a giant steamer, steaming the lotus flowers to wilt. The Empress Dowager's birthday banquet was held in a waterside pavilion by the Taiye Lake. The court, including civil and military officials, was packed like sardines, but all eyes were glued to the entrance—Chen Weiwan was tugging at the sleeve of the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, like a moving candy tree.

"Your Highness, is that lychee paste or bayberry paste?" She stood on tiptoe to look at the dessert tray held by the eunuch, and her nose almost touched Xiao Yu's arm.

Xiao Yu quietly moved forward to give her a better view. "We have everything. I asked the imperial kitchen to make your favorite plum blossom cake, which is warming in the side hall."

The surroundings were suddenly so quiet that one could hear the sound of lotus flowers blooming. The ladies' fingers were almost broken from clutching their handkerchiefs, and their eyes were like knives, slashing at Shen Weiwan. Everyone knew that the Seventh Prince Xiao Yu was arrogant, so how could he be so attracted to the "silly" daughter of the General's Mansion?

"See? Shen Weiwan is pulling the prince's sleeve again!"

"Hush! Keep your voice down! I heard the Emperor is about to grant her a marriage. How can you be so naive as toad wanting to eat swan flesh?"

"What else can she do besides cheating people? Only His Royal Highness is blind..."

Before she finished speaking, Shen Weiwan suddenly turned around, her voice louder than a gong: "Yes! I just know how to cheat people!" She shook Xiao Yu's sleeve and smiled like a fox that stole a chicken, "But our prince likes this, so what?"

Gasps echoed throughout the room. Xiao Yu chuckled softly, raising his hand to brush a lotus petal from her hair. His movements were so natural, as if he'd practiced them a thousand times. "That's right, everyone in the capital doesn't know that—" He deliberately dragged out his words, his gaze sweeping over the sullen-faced ladies. "Who's the best at cheating? My Weiwan is as good as the Overlord!"

"Puff!" A little princess couldn't help but burst out laughing, and her mother immediately covered her mouth. Shen Weiwan raised an eyebrow in triumph, shrank behind Xiao Yu, and secretly made a "yeah" gesture. Chuntao, who was beside her, was so embarrassed that her face turned red, and she quickly lowered her head to adjust the hem of her skirt.

At this time, Liu Ruoyan, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, came over with a wine glass in hand, her smile uglier than tears: "Sister Chen is so lucky to have won the favor of His Highness the Seventh Prince. I just wonder what else Sister Chen can do besides... uh... cheating people?"

Shen Weiwan tilted her head and thought for a moment, then her eyes suddenly lit up: "I can eat! His Highness said I can eat ten of his warehouses out of money!" She pointed at the jade belt around Xiao Yu's waist, "Just like His Highness's belt, it looks expensive, but in fact, I can eat three pounds of sugar cakes without any effort!"

Xiao Yu shook his head helplessly, but pulled out an oil-paper bag from his sleeve and stuffed it into her hand: "Freshly baked sweet cake, to fill your stomach."

Liu Ruoyan's face instantly turned green. The noble ladies around her watched as Shen Weiwan took the candy cake and ate it with a satisfied look on her face, while Xiao Yu considerately helped her wipe the corners of her mouth. They were all furious, but they couldn't vent their anger.

"Hmph, she's just a spoiled brat!" someone muttered.

Shen Weiwan's ears were sharp, and she immediately replied: "Yes, yes! Your Highness likes me to act like a spoiled child, unlike some people whose faces are as stiff as the stone statues in the City God Temple. Acting like a spoiled child can scare people to death!"

Xiao Yu coughed and suppressed a laugh. "Weiwan is right. I like those who know how to cheat, eat, and act like a spoiled child." He glanced at Liu Ruoyan meaningfully. "It's better than those who say one thing to your face and another behind your back."

Liu Ruoyan was so angry that she was shaking all over. The hand holding the wine glass tilted and the wine spilled all over her. Seeing this, Shen Weiwan immediately exclaimed: "Oh, Miss Liu, the material of your clothes looks very expensive. It would be a pity to spill the wine! Do you want me to help you get a new one?"

"You!" Liu Ruoyan was so angry that she couldn't speak and ran away stomping her feet.

The whole place erupted in laughter. Shen Weiwan winked at Xiao Yu complacently, only to see his eyes filled with a doting smile, like honey. Suddenly feeling a little embarrassed, she lowered her head and ate the cake.

"Miss, look over there!" Chuntao suddenly tugged at her sleeve.

Shen Weiwan looked up and saw the Empress approaching with a group of noble ladies, led by none other than Su Qingyue, known as "the most talented woman in the capital." Su Qingyue, dressed in a moon-white skirt embroidered with orchids, looked at Shen Weiwan with pity. "Sister Shen, the prince is of noble status. I'd better not get too close to him, lest he give rise to gossip."

Shen Weiwan swallowed the sugar cake and wiped her mouth: "Sister Su is right. But..." She deliberately moved closer to Xiao Yu, "His Highness said that he likes the way I give people a reason to talk about me, and he even said that he wants to marry me, the 'reason', home!"

Xiao Yu nodded in agreement: "Don't worry, Miss Su, when I marry a wife, I only consider whether she is suitable for me, regardless of what others say."

Su Qingyue's face instantly turned paler than a lotus petal. The noble ladies behind her were talking about it:

"Oh my god, is the Seventh Prince determined to marry Shen Weiwan?"

"It's over, it's over. My dream of becoming the prince's consort is shattered..."

"What kind of magic did Shen Weiwan use?"

Shen Weiwan didn't care what they thought, and pulled Xiao Yu to the snack table: "Your Highness, there is pea yellow over there!"

Xiao Yu let her pull him along, and chuckled softly, "Run slowly, no one's going to snatch it from you."

The two of them happily ate at the dim sum table, completely oblivious to the complicated looks around them. Chun Tao watched her young lady and the Seventh Prince nibble at their dim sum, and couldn't help but secretly pinch herself—how could this be considered climbing the social ladder? It was clearly the Seventh Prince willingly letting her young lady "trick" him!

At the banquet, the Queen Mother looked at this lively couple and smiled from ear to ear: "Look, this Seventh Girl and Yu'er are a perfect match."

The Queen forced a smile, but she was furious. Her preferred daughter-in-law was Su Qingyue, so how could she let Shen Weiwan, a "silly daughter", take the lead?

The banquet was halfway through, and Shen Weiwan, with a full belly, dragged Xiao Yu outside the waterside pavilion to get some fresh air. The moon was above the willows, and the shimmering waters of Taiye Lake reflected their shadows.

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!