Chapter 272 Ke'er acts coquettishly, and Shen Cong tidies her hair.
Zhao Wanqing recalled how Li Nanke had appeared when she entered the palace today, with many eunuchs and palace maids bowing and addressing her respectfully as "County Princess."
If she could also receive the title of county princess, she could be on equal footing with Li Nanke in the future.
Then her mother wouldn't always criticize her for not being as good as Li Nanke, right?
The more she thought about it, the more tempted she became. Remembering Song Hui's instructions, Zhao Wanqing remained modest.
"Your Highness, I dare not compare myself to my cousin Ke'er, so let's just forget about it."
Shen Xu's face hardened.
“What can’t we compare? I am the only prince of the Emperor. Just the fact that you saved me makes you a hundred times better than Li Nanke.”
Princess Zhaoning clapped her hands in agreement.
“What Your Majesty says makes sense. Wanqing, don’t refuse. Just wait for Your Majesty to help you get the title of County Princess.”
"Let me tell you, Father and Mother treat my elder brother so well. If he asks, it's always done."
Zhao Wanqing's face flushed with excitement.
"Your Highness, I thank you."
On the other side, Li Nanke retrieved her hairband. Worried about running into Shen Xu again, she didn't linger in the greenhouse. She picked a few flowers and hurriedly left through another door.
Upon stepping outside, they discovered that the gate led to the Imperial Garden.
It was quite far from the palace where Consort Shu lived.
Just as he was scratching his head, he saw Nangong Qiang hurrying over.
Her eyes lit up, and she quickly went to meet her.
"Master Nangong, what brings you to the palace? Is it because of what I said...?"
Nangong Qiang pointed to a spot not far behind her.
“I entered the palace with the prince, and he said he had some things to ask you in person.”
Li Nanke followed her finger and looked back, seeing Shen Cong standing on a pillar in the pavilion, smiling at her.
Today, Shen Cong wore a light blue brocade robe with cloud patterns, and the pine and crane patterns embroidered with silver thread shimmered faintly in the moonlight.
The moonlight shone on him, as if casting a soft halo over his entire body, making even the mutton-fat jade pendant hanging at his waist and the pearls adorning his cuffs glow with a touch of white.
Li Nanke ran over and stood outside the pavilion, looking up at him.
The frustration she felt earlier because of Shen Xu dissipated considerably, and she said with a grin, "I knew Ninth Brother would look good in blue."
Look, it makes your complexion look much healthier.
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze falling on her messy hair, then glancing at the headband that was now only on one side, and frowned.
"What happened to your hair? Where's your headband?"
Li Nanke pursed her lips and pulled out the hairband she had just snatched from Shen Xu's hand from her sleeve.
"Don't even mention it, I ran into an annoying person who messed up my hair and almost stole my hairband."
But I was still better and managed to snatch the headband back.
This is a birthday gift from my ninth brother; I can't let someone I hate take it away.
As she spoke, she stepped onto the pavilion and said to Nangong Qiang, "Master Nangong, could you please go to the flower room and find Princess Zhaokang? Just tell her I'm here."
Nangong Qiang nodded, and her figure vanished in a flash.
Shen Cong looked up and glanced in the direction of the greenhouse, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"You encountered Changsheng?"
Li Nanke snorted, unwilling to talk more about Shen Xu.
She hadn't forgotten the time she talked to Shen Cong about Shen Xu, and the two even had an argument.
She shoved the hairband into Shen Cong's hand, then turned her back to him.
"Ninth Brother, could you help me re-tie up my hair on the right side and then tie the hairband on it for me?"
Shen Cong was taken aback, and his voice changed tone unusually.
"You want me to do your hair?"
He stared at Li Nanke's round back of the head.
Li Nanke turned around, looking puzzled.
"Can't you do your hair up?"
"Of course not."
"Then hurry up, I still need to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress in a little while, and I'll be scolded for being disrespectful if my hair is all messy."
Li Nanke stared with his round, grape-like eyes and urged.
Shen Cong pursed his lips.
"Li Nanke, I am not your maid!"
"Of course you're not my maid, but you're my Ninth Brother. It's an emergency, Ninth Brother."
She tugged at Chen Cong's sleeve and shook it, her grape-like eyes blinking, full of bright laughter.
Shen Cong froze.
Is the little girl trying to charm him?
He discovered that Li Nanke was really pushing her luck!
Didn't we initially agree on cooperation? Was it to help him gather information?
Why are they getting closer and closer? It's one thing for him to call me Ninth Brother without my permission, but now he even dares to order me around when it comes to tying my hair!
If this continues, won't they become even more arrogant and take advantage of us?
Shen Cong remained motionless with a somber expression.
Li Nanke's eyes darted around.
"Hurry up, Ninth Brother, you're not lying to me, are you? You can't possibly know how, right?"
"I never lie."
Shen Cong snorted coldly.
"Then you didn't handle it well. Why don't we just forget about it? Is Uncle Erfeng nearby? I'll ask him for help."
She sighed and reached out to pull the hair ribbon from Chen Cong's hand.
Shen Cong flicked his hand backward and snorted softly.
"Stop and turn your back."
"oh."
A sly glint flashed in Li Nanke's eyes. She obediently turned around, her little mouth still reminding Shen Cong.
"Ninth Brother, you need to help me make it look nice."
"Shivering!"
Shen Cong hummed a tune, but his hands moved with extreme gentleness.
He ran his fingers through her hair, using them as a comb to gently smooth out her disheveled hair.
When the cold fingertips touched his scalp, Li Nanke couldn't help but shiver.
Shen Cong's hands were so cold, like ice crystals just taken out of an ice cellar.
Are you cold?
Shen Cong keenly noticed her movements and asked a question.
"No."
Li Nanke agreed verbally, then thought for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Has Ninth Brother been coughing up blood lately?"
Shen Cong paused for a moment.
"Occasionally, once or twice a day."
Li Nanke secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed his symptoms had eased considerably.
She hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Has the camphor in Ninth Brother's room been changed?"
"Um."
"Have you investigated? Was it bestowed upon you by the Empress?"
Shen Cong remained silent for a longer time this time.
He didn't speak until he had combed all her hair neatly, gathered it into a bunch with his left hand, tied it with a hair ribbon in his right hand, and then started to put it up at the tips of her ears.
"The borneol was not a gift from my sister-in-law. I checked, and borneol is not listed in the list of gifts from my sister-in-law."
"It was someone from the Imperial Household Department who accidentally infiltrated."
Li Nanke frowned.
She couldn't believe it was such a coincidence.
"Ninth Brother, do you believe in such coincidences?"
Shen Cong remained silent for a moment.
"I have no reason not to believe it. The person in charge of incense in the inner palace also admitted that it was indeed a mistake he made by accident."
Li Nanke, however, felt that the more flawless the explanation, the more suspicious it was.
However, she didn't say this, and I believe Shen Cong has his own judgment.
Shen Cong used the remaining hair ribbon to secure her coiled hair, took a step back, and examined the neatly styled bun.
A hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes.
"Are you done?"
Li Nanke shook his head, and the gold ball at the end of his headband jingled.
"Don't move."
Shen Cong held her head still and quickly untied her hair.
Li Nanke was puzzled.
"How did it get untied again?"
"The right side is higher than the left!"
Li Nanke...
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