Chapter 25 "A fleeting moment of spring night, a letter arrives from Nanqiong..."

Chapter Twenty-Five: A Moment of Passionate Night ==

The night was as still as water, and the candlelight flickered.

The sheer curtains, like hibiscus silk, stretched across the floor. On the canopy bed, the man's strong, firm body tightly enveloped the woman in his arms. Both of them were breathing slightly unsteadily. The woman's almond-shaped eyes were hazy, and her lips were slightly parted. The man's eyes were clear, but the veins on the back of his hand were bulging, as if he was restraining something.

Because he was so forceful and urgent tonight, Su Wanyue's soft palms almost dug into his back, leaving several deep scratches. The woman gently bit her lip, deciding to take the initiative, "Your Highness, what's wrong tonight? Is something bothering you?"

Since their marriage, this man had always been extremely restrained in bed. This was the first time he had been so "reckless" and "eager." Su Wanyue felt that something was off about him tonight.

Xiao Yu looked into the woman's almond-shaped eyes, which were as clear as water and mist. There was worry and tenderness in her eyes, but nothing else…

Xiao Yu suddenly smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Jing Feng has already been caught, but by the time 'he' was caught, 'he' was already dead."

Jing Feng, the sect leader of Yan Gui Sect, is also the person Su Wanyue saved at the Water Fetching Pavilion that day.

Su Wanyue's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she lowered her eyes without saying a word. In fact, she had already guessed it when Nan Shao, the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, came to find her.

Seeing her expression, the man closed his eyes slightly, parted his thin lips, and said in a calm voice, "Don't worry, he's still alive."

That's a stand-in...

The real Jingfeng did not die.

He must have guessed that she was the one who let Jingfeng escape from the water tower that day. Su Wanyue couldn't hide this from him, nor did she intend to. But based on Su Wanyue's intuition, he knew that there was more to tell her than just this.

It should be said that everything started to go wrong from the day of his birthday banquet. Su Wanyue had actually wondered if he had discovered something, but she felt that he hadn't shown any clues.

Su Wanyue's back gradually stiffened. She told herself not to be nervous. The candlelight in the hall flickered. The woman took a deep breath. "What does Your Highness wish to say?"

"That day at the water-fetching pavilion, it was the princess who let him go, wasn't it?"

The tent still held the scent of their recent lovemaking, but the tender, intimate atmosphere had completely dissipated. Su Wanyue gritted her teeth and said softly, "I only did it on a whim without considering the consequences. It was my fault."

"Your Highness is kind-hearted." Xiao Yu wasn't particularly concerned about the matter. He slightly tugged at the corner of his lips, his hot breath brushing against the woman's neck like a sharp gust of wind choking her. "However, I dislike being deceived. Besides this, does Your Highness have anything else you're hiding from me?"

Su Wanyue's pupils suddenly contracted. If there was anything she was hiding, it was that she was not the real Princess Weiyang, nor was she the one he was going to marry. For a moment, she wanted to blurt out that she was not the real Princess Weiyang, but she couldn't say it. What would happen to her cousin if she did, and everything she had done before would be in vain.

Although the light inside the tent was dim, Xiao Yu's vision was extraordinary. He took in the woman's absent-mindedness, and with a slight tightening of his hand, he pressed the woman's slender body against him, making the two seem as close as if they were one.

Xiao Yu chuckled softly, then sighed and asked, "Does Your Highness truly have something to hide from me?"

He suddenly remembered the storybook she had read before. The patriarch loved his wife very much, but his wife had fallen in love with someone else a long time ago. The patriarch felt sorry for his wife, so he chose to let her be with the other man. But he was not the kind of patriarch who would grant her wish. They were already married, and even if she liked Zhou Heng, he could not let her go.

He just didn't want her to hide anything from him; they were a harmonious couple, and of course they should be honest with each other.

Sensing the danger in the man's tone, Su Wanyue shook her head with a forced smile, "I have nothing to hide from Your Highness."

"I believe the Princess Consort." Xiao Yu sneered inwardly, clearly not believing her. "Then this time, will the Princess Consort take the initiative?"

Su Wanyue bit her lip slightly, supported herself against his strong chest and sat up. She slowly explored according to what she had read in the storybook, tentatively kissing his cold lips. Xiao Yu's Adam's apple bobbed, and he put his arm around her slender waist, letting her explore slowly.

The woman was weak, and the friction felt like scratching an itch through a boot, causing Xiao Yu to break out in a sweat.

Su Wanyue had been struggling for a while when she was completely exhausted. Seeing that her eyes were slightly red, Xiao Yu's pity finally prevailed. He grabbed her wrist and, with a little force, pressed her down on his body.

He concentrated his strength, and as they made love again, the woman couldn't help but let out a soft moan. The moan sounded like a soft cry. Xiao Yu lowered his head and kissed her lips, then gently kneaded her slender waist.

The commotion at Zixia Palace had already reached outside. Qin'er was on duty at Zixia Palace tonight, and Qingyi was guarding outside. Qin'er was calculating the time and was a little worried. Qingyi saw her expression out of the corner of his eye and smiled, "Miss Qin'er, you can rest assured. His Highness and the Princess Consort have a harmonious relationship and are deeply in love. Everything will be fine."

But it was already past midnight...

Qin'er still felt something was off. His Highness hadn't drunk any wine today, so why wasn't he showing any tenderness towards women?

At three-quarters past midnight, Xiao Yu carried the woman in his arms to the hot spring. As soon as the woman's skin touched the hot water in the hot spring, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed. Xiao Yu's phoenix eyes were deep, and his slender fingers caressed her eyebrows and eyes.

He wondered, who did she really like...?

After carrying the woman back to the canopy bed, Xiao Yu got up and took another cold shower.

The next day at dawn, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, Xiao Yu went to court as usual. Seeing his calm expression, Qin'er breathed a slight sigh of relief, perhaps the situation wasn't so serious.

Xiao Yu stood with his hands behind his back, instructing them not to go in and disturb her.

Qin'er gave a slight curtsy. "This servant understands."

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), a warm sun shone through the window. Su Wanyue groggily opened her eyes. For a moment, she felt as if she had returned to the Begonia Garden of the Southern Prince's Mansion. She frowned slightly, her head throbbing.

Just then, Qin'er pushed open the door and came in. "Your Highness, you're awake."

"What time is it now?" Su Wanyue rubbed her forehead, her body felt weak and her hands and feet felt like they didn't belong to her anymore.

Her voice was still hoarse, and her delicate lips were a little dry. Seeing this, Qin'er poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, saying, "It's already Chenshi (7-9 AM), Your Highness, you and His Highness..."

Qin'er was the maid who had served Su Wanyue the longest. Not only Su Wanyue, but also Su Wanyue's father, the Prince of Nan, valued her highly. Therefore, Su Wanyue had no secrets from her.

Listening to the princess's guess, Qin'er thought it over carefully. She felt that the princess hadn't revealed anything. Although Lord Zhou had seen through the princess's identity, Lord Zhou was an envoy sent by Nanqiong and had previously been on good terms with the crown prince. If he wanted to expose the princess, he would have done so long ago. So the problem definitely wasn't with Lord Zhou. The only possibility was...

Qin'er asked, "Your Highness, don't you think His Highness might be jealous?"

"Jealous?" Su Wanyue's almond-shaped eyes showed a hint of confusion. "You mean he's jealous of Lord Zhou?"

But she and Zhou Heng had never really interacted or had any connection, and besides, Su Wanyue didn't think he was the type to be troubled by love.

They wouldn't presume to think that the other person likes them to the point of being jealous of others.

Qin'er glanced at her expression and sighed helplessly. Her princess was indeed very intelligent, but she was not very perceptive in some aspects, or perhaps the princess did not care.

Qin'er: "But Your Highness, this servant thinks that His Highness might like you, and it's the kind of liking that is romantic."

Qin'er emphasized the word "love between a man and a woman" very heavily.

Su Wanyue was slightly taken aback.

Meanwhile, Zhou Heng was waiting for an opportunity to see Su Wanyue, but he couldn't find one. You see, in addition to a thousand personal guards, the Prince Cheng's mansion was also guarded by secret guards trained by the Prince Cheng himself. He couldn't even send a message through the gate. He could only stay in the post station and wait quietly for the Crown Prince's reply.

I believe the Crown Prince will give some instructions on this matter.

However, less than half a month later, Zhou Heng found an opportunity at the poetry appreciation banquet at the Duke of Xie's mansion.

When the Duke of Xie's mansion held a poetry appreciation banquet, the first thing they did was send betrothal letters to the Crown Prince's residence, the Prince of Cheng's residence, and the Princess's residence.

"Your Highness, this is a betrothal letter from Madam Xie."

Along with it came a letter.

Su Wanyue didn't rush to look at the betrothal letter. Instead, she opened the letter and read it line by line. Chunzhi observed her expression and asked, "Your Highness, what did Madam Xie say?"

Su Wanyue placed the letter face down on the table and chuckled softly, "The marriage between Miss Xie and General Mu is about to be finalized."

Chunzhi immediately guessed the purpose of the poetry appreciation banquet held by the Xie family: "So this poetry appreciation banquet is for Miss Xie and General Mu to meet."

"So, what did Madam Xie say about this to the Princess?"

Even if the Princess Consort were to go and meet Miss Xie and General Mu, it wouldn't make a difference.

Su Wanyue: "Madam Xie said that the Crown Princess will also be there that day."

Chunzhi suddenly realized.

Everyone knows that before marrying the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess was betrothed to the eldest son of the Xie State Duke's family since childhood. After the Crown Princess married into the Eastern Palace, the relationship between the Eastern Palace and the Xie State Duke's family gradually became subtle. Whenever the Eastern Palace held a banquet, the people from the Xie State Duke's family would almost never attend, and whenever the Xie State Duke's family held a banquet, the Eastern Palace would only send people to deliver gifts.

Madam Xie thought it would be the same this time, but then the people from the Eastern Palace said that the Crown Princess would also be attending the poetry appreciation banquet. This was unusual, and Madam Xie was worried that something might happen, so she wanted Su Wanyue to go as well.

==Second Update==

"Madam Xie is worried that something might happen at the banquet that day, so she sent the Princess Consort over." Qin'er thought to herself. She thought the Princess Consort would definitely go. After all, among the princes, only Prince Cheng had a title besides the Crown Prince. The only person who could restrain the Crown Princess was the Princess Consort.

Su Wanyue did indeed intend to go, firstly because she felt that the Xie family were very kind, and secondly because the Xie family's importance in the selection of the crown prince was self-evident, and for the sake of her nominal "husband," she had to go.

Meanwhile, the largest post station in the capital.

The subordinate cupped his hands in greeting and told Zhou Heng the news he had gathered, "My lord, I heard that Princess Cheng is preparing to attend the poetry appreciation banquet at the Duke Xie's residence."

"What did you say? She's planning to attend the poetry appreciation banquet at the Duke of Xie's mansion?" Zhou Heng suddenly opened his eyes. He was just worried about not finding an opportunity to meet her alone and find out the reason for the matter, but he didn't expect to suddenly have such an opportunity.

The subordinate hurriedly replied, "Yes, I heard that the Xie family has sent a betrothal letter to the Cheng family, and the Cheng princess is also planning to go. Does Your Excellency wish to go?"

Zhou Heng certainly wanted to go, but he didn't have a betrothal letter, so it would be especially strange for him to visit the Duke of Xie's mansion without permission. As an envoy sent by Nanqiong, he couldn't get too close to anyone from Beili except for the Prince and Princess Cheng.

"You go out first." Zhou Heng exhaled a breath of stale air. He needed to think it over some more; he wanted to avoid alerting the enemy if possible.

***

Night falls in the Purple Cloud Palace.

The couple were playing chess face to face. As Su Wanyue pondered her move with the white piece, Xiao Yu slowly spoke up: "The Princess Consort plans to visit the Duke Xie's residence."

Su Wanyue nodded gently, her voice soft, "Madam Xie sent me a letter privately, saying that Her Highness the Crown Princess will also be attending the poetry appreciation banquet."

Su Wanyue believed he could understand the unspoken meaning.

"Then I will accompany the Princess."

Su Wanyue paused, her hand holding the chess piece still, and looked at him with some surprise. "Your Highness, didn't you have to attend court that day?"

She remembered that the day of the poetry appreciation banquet wasn't a day off, and he seemed to be getting stranger and stranger lately.

Su Wanyue sensed that something was wrong with him, but because she was already feeling guilty, she didn't dare to ask him what he meant.

"It is time to attend court." Xiao Yu gazed at her with his deep phoenix eyes and said gently, "After court, I will return to fetch the Princess Consort to the Duke of Xie's residence."

He wanted to go to the Duke of Xie's mansion, and Su Wanyue naturally had no right to stop him, so she nodded gently.

===

On the day of the poetry appreciation banquet, the sun shone brightly and the temperature was just right.

Chunzhi and Xiatang flanked Su Wanyue as she did her hair and makeup. The woman in the mirror had fair skin with a hint of pink, almond-shaped eyes and red lips, eyebrows like distant mountains, and two gold hairpins shaped like magnolia flowers tucked into her hair.

The beautiful maiden of Gushe, with her green banners like curtains. Only her hairpins and jade ornaments are visible, not her radiant beauty.[1]

Chunzhi looked at her and praised with a smile, "The princess will surely outshine all the beauties today."

Su Wanyue shook her head at her and said that the Crown Princess was also present today. Chunzhi immediately made a mouth gesture and said that she would not say anything. In fact, she still thought that her own princess was more beautiful, like a fairy.

Just as the master and servant were chatting and laughing, Xiao Yu's personal guard knocked lightly on the door of Zixia Palace and said politely, "Your Highness, His Highness has been kept in the palace by His Majesty after court and may not be able to leave the palace until later. His Highness asked me to take you to the Xie State Duke's Mansion first, and he will go to the Xie State Duke's Mansion to pick you up later."

As a century-old aristocratic family, the Xie family was rarely disrespected in the capital. As a result, the carriages coming to the Xie family mansion today had filled the alley in front of the mansion.

"This old servant greets Your Highness, the Princess." As the carriage of the Prince Cheng's residence stopped in front of the main gate of the Duke Xie's residence, a slightly plump, kind-faced old woman immediately came forward to greet them.

"Has the Crown Princess arrived?" Su Wanyue recognized the old nanny in front of her; she was someone from Madam Xie's side. Su Wanyue asked with a gentle smile.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess has arrived and is in the main hall. When Madam heard that Your Highness was coming, she specially sent this old servant to welcome Your Highness over."

The nanny led the way for Su Wanyue. As soon as she appeared, the ladies in the main hall peeked out. Now, His Highness the Crown Prince was showing his talent and was deeply favored by the Emperor. However, as long as the Crown Prince did not ascend the throne, the situation was uncertain. There were many people in the court who supported the Crown Prince, but there were also quite a few who supported Prince Cheng. The ladies were also acting according to the situation. They wanted to curry favor with the Crown Princess, and they would definitely want to curry favor with the Princess Consort of Prince Cheng as well.

Su Wanyue arrived at the main hall with her maid. Apart from the Crown Princess, the other ladies in the hall stood up with Madam Xie and said, "This humble woman greets Princess Cheng."

Su Wanyue called out "Rise," and then greeted the Crown Princess at the head of the table.

Lin Ruohan took a sip of tea and greeted Su Wanyue with a smile, "Sister Weiyang, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you here for a long time."

Su Wanyue: "We were delayed on the way."

As soon as she sat down, a maid served her tea.

The Xie family was a prominent and influential household, highly favored by the current emperor. Even the tea served to them was a tribute. Madam Xie was very fond of Su Wanyue and gently patted her hand.

"Madam Xie, why is the eldest son not here today?" Lin Ruohan asked with a glint in her eyes and a charming smile.

"Zicheng is reading in his study. Does Your Highness have any instructions?" Upon hearing this, Madam Xie's expression stiffened. She was unsure of what she meant and asked tentatively.

The other ladies and young women all knew about the complicated relationship between the Crown Princess and Young Master Xie. Now that the Crown Princess had brought up Young Master Xie herself, they all felt that this matter was not simple, and they all pricked up their ears to listen.

"I was just asking casually. Lord Xie has already entered the court as an official, yet he still reads in his study every day. He is truly diligent and self-disciplined," Lin Ruohan said with a smile, raising her charming eyes.

Madam Xie breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that her good-for-nothing son still had feelings for her, but she was already married to the Crown Prince. If something had really happened today, it would have confirmed her son's crime of coveting the Crown Princess, and Madam Xie did not want to see that happen.

Madam Xie truly treated Lin Ruohan as her own daughter back then, but since she chose the Crown Prince, Madam Xie could only hope that she and the Crown Prince would be a loving couple and grow old together.

Perhaps Li Ruohan saw through Madam Xie's thoughts, she lowered her eyelashes slightly, "I heard that the chrysanthemums in the Xie State Duke's mansion are blooming beautifully, Sister Weiyang, why don't you accompany me to see them?"

"Your Highness, please go first," Su Wanyue said softly as Qin'er helped her to her feet.

Su Wanyue and Lin Ruohan have completely different appearances. The Crown Princess is charming and captivating, while Su Wanyue is elegant and refined, with a bright and beautiful appearance.

The chrysanthemum garden has a wide variety of chrysanthemums, in all sorts of colors.

Lin Ruohan stroked the petals of a yellow chrysanthemum and casually asked, "Sister Weiyang, do you know what kind of person Lord Zhou, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review from Nanqiong, is?"

"I heard my brother mention it once before; Lord Zhou is a good official."

"That's my guess too." Lin Ruohan didn't tell her that the Crown Prince wanted to win over this envoy from Nanqiong, as if she were just asking casually, "Does Lord Zhou have a spouse in Nanqiong?"

The following question was asked by Lin Ruohan on behalf of her younger sister, Princess Zhaoning. Lin Ruohan felt that besides Prince Cheng, there were plenty of good men in the world for her sister to choose from. Recalling what the Empress had said to her yesterday morning, a strange light flashed in Lin Ruohan's eyes.

Su Wanyue: "What's going on, Crown Princess?"

“Sister Weiyang, you may not know this, but this year is the coming-of-age ceremony for my younger sister Zhaoning. Originally, her marriage should have been arranged by my parents, but unfortunately, my parents passed away early, so I, as her older sister, have to worry about it. I think Lord Zhou is a rare young talent, which is why I asked this question.” Lin Ruohan explained to her in a kind and gentle tone.

Qin'er glanced in the direction of the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess was planning to match Princess Zhaoning with Lord Zhou, but Nanqiong and Beili had already become husband and wife. If Princess Zhaoning were to get together with Lord Zhou, it would sound strange. Also, didn't Princess Zhaoning say that she liked Prince Cheng last time at the East Palace?

Upon hearing this, Su Wanyue said softly, "Lord Zhou is not married. It's just that he and my brother were very close when they were in Nanqiong. Lord Zhou once told my brother that he already had someone he liked."

This wasn't Su Wanyue deliberately lying; it was because Zhou Heng had indeed said it. Back in Nanqiong, Su Wanyue and Princess Weiyang were not only cousins ​​but also close friends. From the age of three, the two of them received instruction from the Grand Tutor in the Imperial Study. Besides them, the Crown Prince, Prince Xiang, and Lu Qingchen were also studying together.

It just so happened that Su Wanyue and Princess Weiyang were practicing their zithers in the Imperial Garden after school when the Crown Prince arrived with Zhou Heng, along with Prince Xiang and Lu Qingchen. Somehow, the conversation turned to Su Wanyue and Lu Qingchen, and Prince Xiang, seizing the opportunity, asked Zhou Heng, "I wonder if Lord Zhou has someone he likes?"

Zhou Heng paused for a moment, then said decisively, "Yes."

==Third Watch==

"I see." Lin Ruohan smiled slightly. She thought that this Lord Zhou was handsome and dignified, and was a good candidate for a husband. But she did not expect that he already had someone he liked.

But with so many fine young men in the capital, Lin Ruohan wasn't particularly disappointed, since Zhao Ning only had one person she truly wanted to marry.

Lin Ruohan, however, did not want her sister to become a concubine.

After sitting in the Chrysanthemum Garden for a while, Madam Xie sent someone to invite the Crown Princess over, so the Crown Princess returned to the main hall first.

At this moment, besides Madam Xie and the other ladies, Xie Mo'er and Mu Ziyi were also in the main hall, along with Madam Mu, who was all smiles.

"It seems that good things are about to happen at the Xie family's residence."

"Who can disagree? Miss Xie is the daughter of a civil official, and General Mu is the son of a military official. They are indeed a perfect match."

Teasing from so many ladies, Xie Mo'er lowered her head shyly, while Mu Ziyi seemed unfazed, though his usual carefree attitude had noticeably subsided.

Hearing the whispers outside, the Crown Princess entered with a smile and had a pre-prepared headdress brought out. It was a headdress made of red coral, which looked priceless. Xie Mo'er didn't dare to accept it and glanced at Madam Xie out of the corner of her eye. Seeing this, Madam Xie smiled and said, "Mo'er, why don't you quickly thank the Crown Princess?"

Mu Ziyi and Xie Mo'er bowed to the Crown Princess together.

Meanwhile, Su Wanyue, after admiring the chrysanthemums in the chrysanthemum garden with Qin'er for a while, was thinking of returning to the main hall. However, on the way back, a maid with her hair in double buns was carrying a tray and hurriedly walking in this direction. By sheer coincidence, the tray bumped straight into Su Wanyue. The maid knelt down in a panic, saying, "This servant did not mean to, please forgive me, Your Highness."

Qin'er immediately reprimanded the maid, who kept saying she was wrong. Su Wanyue silently adjusted her wide sleeves, gave her a few perfunctory reprimands, and then let the maid go.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Qin'er asked, still somewhat worried, as she looked at Su Wanyue.

Su Wanyue shook her head. She led Qin'er to the right corner of the chrysanthemum garden and took something out of her wide sleeve. She already guessed who had given her this sachet.

Qin'er was startled and quickly looked around, afraid that someone had seen her.

Su Wanyue quickly opened the sachet. Inside was only a slip of paper with a drawing of a carriage and red bricks. Su Wanyue and Qin'er both knew this place; it was located at the corner of the alley in the Xie Guogong Mansion.

He was waiting for her at that corner...

Qin'er frowned, "What is Lord Zhou doing?"

Recently, because of Lord Zhou, the interaction between His Highness and the Princess has become noticeably strange. If someone with ulterior motives were to see the Princess speaking alone with Lord Zhou, wouldn't that be difficult to handle?

Su Wanyue crumpled the note into a ball and put it back into the sachet. She thought for a moment and said softly, "Qin'er, go ahead."

Zhou Heng was unaware of the truth. If she didn't explain things to him clearly, the truth would likely come out sooner.

Qin'er also understood that Lord Zhou had been kept in the dark all along. Now that he suddenly knew that the princess had married in place of Princess Weiyang, he must need the truth and an explanation. Moreover, the princess still had family in Nanqiong, and it was impossible for her to never have any contact with Nanqiong in her life.

Qin'er already had a general idea, but she was still a little worried about Su Wanyue. "Then, Your Highness..."

"I'll be waiting for you in that pavilion."

Qin'er knew the importance and urgency of things. She curtsied and said, "Then this servant will go and return quickly."

Qin'er hung the sachet around her waist and quickly left the Xie State Duke's mansion. Today, the Xie State Duke's mansion was bustling with activity, and Qin'er's departure did not arouse suspicion. She quickly followed the instructions and arrived at the corner of the alley. There was a not-so-inconspicuous carriage parked at the corner of the alley, and the coachman was sitting outside the carriage. But if you looked closely, you could see that the person sitting inside was not a coachman at all. The disguised "coachman" heard the footsteps, raised his eyes, and said, "Miss Qin'er."

Qin'er kept it brief, curtsying to him, "It was the Princess who sent me here."

"Come in." Zhou Heng didn't notice that just as he entered, another carriage made of nanmu wood and ivory passed in front of their carriage.

As Qin'er left, Su Wanyue's heart pounded wildly, and her right eyelid twitched. She leaned against the railing and looked at the clouds in the sky.

The front courtyard of the Xie State Duke's mansion was bustling with activity, but the study was eerily quiet. Xie Cheng was practicing calligraphy alone in the study when a guard knocked on the door. Xie Cheng looked displeased and asked, "What is it?"

"Young Master, His Highness Prince Cheng has arrived."

Come over at this time...

This friend of mine never attends banquets hosted by prominent families in the capital, so why is he here today? Xie Cheng arrived at the door and asked, "Did Your Highness say anything?"

"His Highness Prince Cheng seems to have come to pick up Princess Cheng."

Xie Cheng hurriedly entered the main hall with his guards. Dressed in a white deer-patterned robe, he walked in with an air of elegance that made the noble ladies in the hall blush. However, he did not look to the side and greeted the Crown Princess at the head of the table with a gentle demeanor. Lin Ruohan glanced at Xie Cheng as if he were a stranger and raised her hand, "Please rise, Lord Xie."

"Thank you, Your Highness the Crown Princess." Xie Cheng's emotions remained unchanged as he greeted Duke Xie and Madam Xie.

The lady-in-waiting immediately guessed why he had come to the main hall. “His Highness Prince Cheng came for Princess Cheng. He has already gone to the Chrysanthemum Garden. Please sit down.”

There are some things the ladies have wanted to say for a long time, but they have kept them to themselves. Now they have finally found an opportunity. "We have long heard that His Highness Prince Cheng and Princess Cheng have a harmonious relationship. It is indeed well-deserved."

Most of the ladies in the hall felt the same way. Before Prince Cheng married, he was extremely indifferent to women, but after marriage, he couldn't be separated from Princess Cheng for a moment. Their relationship must be harmonious. However, because the Crown Princess was still around, they couldn't openly agree, so they could only smile at each other.

A servant from the Xie family led Xiao Yu to the chrysanthemum garden at the back, bowing and scraping respectfully, "Your Highness, this way please."

Xiao Yu looked in the direction he was pointing. On the pavilion, a woman was leaning against the railing. A gentle breeze was blowing her clothes and black hair. She seemed oblivious, lost in thought.

Xiao Yu's eyes darkened slightly. He raised his hand to dismiss the servant. Su Wanyue was lost in thought when a familiar voice reached her ears, bringing her back to her senses.

"Why is the princess here all alone?"

Why did he come at this time? It's not even lunchtime yet.

Fortunately, Su Wanyue reacted quickly, her eyes smiling, and she gracefully curtsied to him, "Your Highness."

Xiao Yu supported her body with his hand, "Where is your maid?"

"I left something in the carriage. Please have Qin'er retrieve it for me."

"I just arrived and I don't seem to see the Queen's maids." Xiao Yu put his arm around her waist and helped her sit down on the stone bench.

"Perhaps she took the wrong road." Su Wanyue changed the subject with a gentle smile without blinking. "Didn't Your Highness say you would come this afternoon?"

Xiao Yu's expression was gentle as he slowly said, "I came here because I was worried that the Princess Consort would feel uncomfortable."

The man had warned her long ago not to get too close to the Crown Prince's wife, so Su Wanyue naturally assumed he was referring to the Crown Princess.

Seeing that her gaze remained fixed on the chrysanthemums in front of her, Xiao Yu asked gently, "Does Your Highness like chrysanthemums?"

Su Wanyue thought of her cousin's consistent fondness for brightly colored flowers, and smiled gently, "I prefer peonies."

After an incense stick had burned, Qin'er returned to the pavilion. She saw Xiao Yu's figure from afar and was almost startled. The person who came said that His Highness had come to pick up the Princess Consort in the afternoon. Why was His Highness here at this time? Qin'er approached Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue with unease, "This servant greets Your Highness."

Before Xiao Yu could speak, Su Wanyue gave Qin'er a wink, and Qin'er picked up where Su Wanyue left off perfectly, "Your Highness, the sachet you requested."

Su Wanyue pretended to examine the sachet, and Xiao Yu glanced at it and said, "This sachet has a rather unique design."

"If Your Highness likes this design, then I will go back and make a sachet for you."

"Your Highness has worked hard."

Seeing that he did not suspect anything, Su Wanyue and her servant breathed a sigh of relief.

Perhaps it was because they heard that Xiao Yu had come to the Xie State Duke's Mansion, and the Crown Prince also came to the Eastern Palace at noon, making the Xie State Duke's Mansion unusually lively.

After the banquet, an imperial edict arrived from the palace, and the Emperor personally bestowed a marriage upon the third daughter of the Duke of Xie's family and Mu Ziyi, the young general of the General of Dingguo's family.

When the imperial edict was issued, Madam Xie couldn't stop smiling. Back at Guimin Temple, the Imperial Concubine had said that if Xie Mo'er and Mu Ziyi were mutually interested, she would ask the Emperor to grant them a marriage.

Madam Xie originally thought that the Imperial Concubine was just saying it casually, but she never expected...

Madam Xie was undoubtedly grateful and respectful to the Imperial Concubine in the palace, and had already planned to take Mo'er to pay her respects to the Imperial Concubine in a few days.

The ladies were all intelligent and could guess that the Imperial Concubine was involved.

In the struggle for the crown prince position, the Xie family had already favored Prince Cheng, and now they might be even more inclined to side with him.

When the Crown Prince realized that it was Consort Qin who had requested such an imperial decree from his father, his face darkened. Xiao Yu already had so many helpers; if the Duke of Xie's mansion were added, wouldn't that be like adding wings to a tiger? Xiao Ruofei was furious. Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenched into fists, and she gave a forced smile. "I have other matters to attend to at the Eastern Palace, so I'll be leaving now."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince and Your Highness the Crown Princess are seeing each other off."

Not long after the Crown Prince and his wife left, Xiao Yu and Su Wanyue also returned to the Prince Cheng's residence.

"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from Nanqiong."