"No, auntie," Shen Weiwan took a half step back and winked playfully, "I'm afraid that if I eat your honeydew melon, I'll be tested on my poetry talent 'about melon rind'."

There was another burst of laughter all around, and Liu's face instantly turned red and white, and she wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Shen Ruorou hid behind her mother, clutching the corner of her clothes tightly and not daring to look up.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu winked at Shen Weiwan and said in a coaxing tone, "Miss Shen, I suddenly remembered that the lotus flowers in the imperial garden are blooming. Why not..."

"No, no!" Shen Weiwan immediately waved her hand, her fingertips twisting the jade pendant tassels at her waist, "Last time I went to your imperial garden, the koi took away my favorite coral hairpin, and I haven't come to you to settle the score yet!"

Xiao Yu raised his eyebrows, the smile in his eyes deepening. "Oh? How about I compensate you with a red gold hairpin? Just as...compensation for the hairpin that was taken away by the koi?"

Shen Weiwan's eyes were as bright as falling stars, and then she curled her lips proudly: "Who wants your hairpin? I have plenty in my own warehouse!" Although she said that, the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably, revealing a section of her white teeth.

Mo Shu was stunned watching from the side, wondering when his own prince had learned to use the hairpin to coax girls? And he said it so naturally!

"In that case," Xiao Yu turned around, the hem of his robe sweeping across the fallen petals, "I'll take my leave first. I'll invite Miss Shen to... admire the lotus flowers another day." He deliberately emphasized the word "appreciate the lotus flowers", causing Shen Weiwan to roll her eyes cutely: "Your Highness, you'd better take care of those greedy koi fish of yours first!"

Watching Xiao Yu laugh as he left, Shen Weiwan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but a light sweat oozed from her palms. Chun Tao leaned close to her ear and smiled slyly: "Miss, the Seventh Prince is really good to you..."

"Go away!" Shen Weiwan slapped her hand away, but her cheeks flushed, "Who knows what tricks he is up to." Although her mouth was hard, her heart felt as sweet as if it were soaked in honey.

After the Seventh Prince walked away, Liu immediately stepped forward, the hypocritical smile on her face disappeared: "Chen Weiwan, you are so presumptuous at the poetry meeting today, how can you be so shameless!"

"Insolent?" Chen Weiwan raised an eyebrow, leaned closer to Liu, and lowered her voice, "Compared to my aunt withholding the servants' wages and selling the mansion's property privately, what are these few lines of poetry? Oh, by the way," she fiddled with her armor as if unintentionally, "I heard that the clan officials are here to check the accounts again. Is the box of South Pearls you hid in the wall safe?"

Liu's face turned pale instantly, and she staggered back a step, her eyes full of surprise and doubt: "You...how did you know?"

"How should I know?" Shen Weiwan smiled like a little fox stealing fish, "Auntie, have you forgotten? I am the 'silly' legitimate daughter you taught me hand in hand. Naturally, I can see through these little tricks."

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, leaving Liu Shi trembling with anger. Shen Ruorou quickly supported her mother and said anxiously: "Mom, what should we do now?"

Liu gnashed her teeth, a fierce look flashing in her eyes. "Go! Go to your uncle, Minister Liu's residence right now! I don't believe that my brother, with his authority, can't defeat a young girl!"

The setting sun dyed the eaves of the Taifu Mansion golden red. Shen Weiwan walked out of the corner gate. Chuntao looked at her jumping back and couldn't help asking: "Miss, you just said to the Seventh Prince..."

"Don't ask, don't ask!" Shen Weiwan waved her hand and pointed at the roast duck stall on the street, "Let's go, buy a roast duck and go back home first! I'm starving to death!"

The master and servant chatted and laughed as they walked away, not noticing the low-key ebony carriage at the corner of the street. The window slowly lowered, revealing the smiling face of the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu. He looked at Shen Weiwan's back as she munched on a candied haws, the smile on his lips so gentle it could drip water.

"Your Highness, are you going back home?" Mo Shu asked softly.

"Go back to the mansion," Xiao Yu said with a hint of joy as he lowered the car window. "Tell the kitchen to stew the largest osmanthus duck possible. I'm inviting Miss Folk Wisdom to the mansion... to 'appreciate the lotus'."

Mo Shu suppressed a smile and agreed, thinking that even the koi in the mansion might not believe His Highness's excuse of "appreciating the lotus".

The carriage slowly drove away, leaving behind the sunset and the fragrance of wisteria flowers all over the street. Shen Weiwan suddenly sneezed and rubbed her nose: "Strange, who is talking about this lady?"

Chun Tao laughed secretly: "I'm afraid His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince is thinking about you!"

"Go to hell!" Shen Weiwan slapped her with a red face, but couldn't help thinking in her heart: That guy Xiao Yu, next time he tempts me with roast duck, I will... just go there reluctantly, and by the way, see if his koi dares to bite my hairpin!

As soon as she reached the gate of the General's Mansion, the old housekeeper hurried out on crutches, his face anxious: "Miss, Liu's brother, Minister Liu, has sent someone to visit you personally..."

Chen Weiwan raised an eyebrow and swallowed the last bite of candied haws, a sly glint in her eyes: "Oh? You've come just in time, I was just worried about having no new topics to compose poetry!" She licked the icing on her fingertips and waved to Chuntao, "Let's go back to the room and prepare pens and ink! I want to see if this Minister Liu's official boots can withstand the scrutiny of a few 'elegant poems'!"

Chun Tao burst out laughing and quickly followed: "Miss, you really are..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Shen Weiwan strode into the mansion, the setting sun casting a long shadow behind her. "Look how this young lady can use a poem to make Minister Liu lose his mind!"

At that moment, in the Seventh Prince's residence, Xiao Yu unfolded a piece of drawing paper. On it was a crooked duck, casually sketched by Chen Weiwan, holding a jade dragon pendant in its mouth. He gazed at the painting, grinning with delight, completely forgetting his princely reserve. The capital was about to be turned upside down by this idiotic daughter of the firstborn—and he was perfectly content.