Chapter 535 Extra - Struggling to Move Forward

Even though it was an invitation from the Crown Princess seeking her opinion, Shu Tong knew that as a concubine, she had no choice but to accept it.

Moreover, this is a crucial period for the Crown Princess's personality transformation, and it should not be underestimated.

Shu Tong then replied, "Thank you for your invitation, Your Majesty. I will certainly attend the banquet."

Ye Qingning smiled broadly: "Don't be nervous, it's just a regular family dinner."

Shu Tong nodded: "Yes."

Ye Qingning glanced at Shu Tong and felt that she seemed a bit too reserved or cautious today, and her words and actions were quite distant.

She took a sip of plum juice and started a conversation about a topic that Shu Tong liked: "Yesterday's opening ceremony was truly spectacular. Now everyone is saying that Prince Ling and the Crown Prince have a keen eye for talent, and that our Crown Prince's residence is full of hidden talents."

Shu Tong paused in her peanut-peeling motion, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.

Has this news spread throughout the capital by now?

"Your Majesty flatters me. Actually..." She quickly thought for a moment, "Many of the ideas were actually conceived by His Highness the Crown Prince. I'm just taking on this honorary title."

Ye Qingning gleaned another thing from Shu Tong's cautious expression: this topic had been chosen incorrectly.

This seems to have made Shu Tong even more like a frightened bird.

She could only smile and forcefully change the subject, chatting about some popular stories on the market. The two finally had a few more things in common, and the atmosphere became more relaxed for a while.

After lunch and some chilled plum juice, the two chatted for a while before Shu Tong got up to say goodbye. Ye Qingning didn't try to stop her, but just had Xiao Die pack some meat skewers and baked flatbread.

After thanking her, Shu Tong left with Haitang.

Lu Haitang was still a little puzzled: "Your Highness, you used to be quite close to the Crown Princess, why do you seem to have become distant lately?"

Shu Tong sighed softly: "It's my fault for trying to make some money and showing off. Now that I think about it, it was really inappropriate."

"You mean the opening ceremony of the sports meet?" Haitang asked.

Shu Tong nodded: "Of course."

She shouldn't have taken the job under her real identity in the first place just to make money. Now, not only the Crown Prince's residence but even the rumors circulating in the streets are related to her, this concubine.

What will the Crown Princess think of this?

“But I think you’re overthinking it. If Her Majesty were to hold a grudge, she wouldn’t have talked to you so much, would she?” Haitang tried to make amends: “I saw that Her Majesty and Your Highness had a very pleasant conversation about the storybooks.”

Shu Tong sighed softly and said in a low voice, "What do you know..."

"Then..." Haitang scratched her head, "What exactly does Your Majesty mean?"

Shu Tong glanced at her and said, "You don't need to study these things. Just do your own thing and remember what I told you before."

Haitang nodded: "Yes. This servant has remembered."

Shu Tong looked up at the clear blue sky and suddenly felt as if a storm was brewing.

Haitang wouldn't know this since she hadn't read those stories. The stories the Crown Princess mentioned earlier were all about mistresses interfering in the relationship between the male and female leads. Wasn't this clearly a way to make her realize her own position?

Tsk.

It's really difficult to move forward.

...

After Shu Tong left, Ye Qingning dismissed the palace servants and sent Xiao Die to the kitchen to discuss the menu for tomorrow night with the chef. She herself leaned against a recliner in the corridor and chatted with A Bao.

"Abao, what should we do? Shutong seems very nervous, and she's deliberately keeping her distance from His Highness the Crown Prince..."

She sighed, "At this rate, when will we ever finish our mission..."

Abao, who was lying on her lap, suddenly looked up and meowed behind her. Ye Qingning turned her head and saw Chu Song standing two steps away, standing straight with a relaxed expression.

Ye Qingning frowned: "Chu Song, didn't you... tell me to go and rest?"

Chu Song glanced at her and smiled, "My mission is to protect Your Highness and stay by your side at all times."

Ye Qingning pursed her lips: "Then you heard what I said just now?"

Chu Song's deep eyes flickered: "No, Your Majesty, is there something you want to say?"

Ye Qingning looked him up and down and said, "Go to the kitchen and take a pot of plum juice to Chengqian Palace to give to His Highness the Crown Prince. Also, invite him to a banquet in the garden tomorrow night."

Chu Song bowed and said, "Yes."