Thinking of these past events, Shen Yuan felt a chill run through her body.
Xiao Yuncheng felt her body stiffen, and his smile deepened. He put his arm around Shen Yuan's slender waist and gently stroked her waist with his fingertips.
Why are you ignoring me?
"Your Highness, there are too many people here." Shen Yuan lowered her head, her voice muffled.
Although she didn't know exactly how Shen Yunjin and Xiao Yuncheng usually got along, she had a feeling that Xiao Yuncheng didn't respect Shen Yunjin.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have acted so frivolously.
Just then, Xiao Yuncheng suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "You're still shy? We've done everything we should and shouldn't have done, haven't we?"
Shen Yuan's body suddenly stiffened, her heart pounding like a drum.
Xiao Yuncheng lifted a strand of her hair from behind, sniffed it, and said, "What kind of incense is that? It smells really nice."
“The scent of ordinary sandalwood.” Shen Yuan gripped the saddle tightly and asked, “Would Your Highness trouble you to escort me back?”
Xiao Yuncheng, tucking Shen Yuan's hair in his hand, smiled upon hearing this: "Alright!"
He paused for a moment, then said, "Come to the East Palace tonight at midnight to find me."
Shen Yuan frowned. Was it appropriate for an unmarried woman to visit his residence in the middle of the night?
It's obvious without even thinking that it's inappropriate.
The other party is the eldest daughter of a general's family, a noble lady in the capital who is the center of attention. For a young lady from a prestigious family like her, reputation is more important than anything else.
Xiao Yuncheng's nonchalant attitude left Shen Yuan speechless.
Xiao Yuncheng took this as a tacit agreement and smiled with satisfaction.
They soon arrived at the General's Mansion. Shen Yuan dismounted and respectfully bowed deeply: "Thank you, Your Highness, for escorting me home!"
Sitting on his horse, Xiao Yuncheng's gaze fell on Shen Yuan, who was bowing. He touched the ring on his thumb a couple of times. He had also felt that something was off about "Shen Yunjin" today, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Seeing her dignified demeanor as she bowed, the strange feeling in my heart was immediately dispelled.
Isn't this the same Shen Yunjin who always puts on an act of being incredibly dignified and virtuous in front of others?
Only after watching the Crown Prince and his entourage walk away did Shen Yuan secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
The gatekeeper of the general's mansion saw her and hurriedly came forward, "Young Miss, you're back?"
Shen Yuan glanced at the majestic lions in front of the General's Mansion. Shen Yunjin's friends mistook her for Shen Yunjin, Xiao Yuncheng mistook her for Shen Yunjin, and now even the servants of the General's Mansion mistook her for Shen Yunjin.
Do she and Shen Yunjin really look that alike in the eyes of outsiders?
So realistic that it's indistinguishable from the real thing?
In this world, the only things that can be so realistic as to be indistinguishable from the real thing are probably twins.
Is there really some connection between her and Shen Yunjin?
Shen Yuan had her doubts, but she had no way to investigate the hidden story for the time being.
Shen Yuan said to the gatekeeper, "I suddenly remembered that I have some things to do, and I need to go out again."
After saying that, she turned and left without waiting for the doorman to react.
Watching Shen Yuan's retreating figure, the gatekeeper scratched his head in confusion.
Why is Miss dressed like this today? The fabric of her clothes isn't even as nice as the maids' clothes. It's too plain, completely different from Miss's usual style!
However, the young lady can dress however she wants, and it's not for the servants to interfere.
Just as the gatekeeper was thinking, he saw Shen Yunjin walk out of the mansion. In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she not only changed her clothes, but also styled her hair into an intricate and exquisite updo, adorned with a head full of pearls and jade, making her stunningly beautiful.
The doorman couldn't help but ask, "Miss, didn't you just go out? Why are you back so soon?"
What are you saying?
Shen Yunjin frowned and glanced at the gatekeeper with displeasure.
The gatekeeper thought he had offended Shen Yunjin by talking too much, so he quickly lowered his head and dared not say another word.
Shen Yunjin ignored the gatekeeper's nonsensical words. She lifted her skirt, got into the sedan chair, and went to the Crown Prince's residence. Today was the day her Crown Prince brother was returning to the capital; she was going to fetch him!
Crown Prince's Palace
Xiao Yuncheng had just finished bathing and changed into clean clothes when the guards outside the door reported that Shen Yunjin had arrived.
Upon seeing Shen Yunjin, who had rushed over in her finest attire, Xiao Yuncheng's eyes revealed a hint of disdain. However, Shen Yunjin was so engrossed in the joy of finally seeing Xiao Yuncheng that she did not notice the expression on his face.
"Crown Prince!" Shen Yunjin rushed forward and hugged Xiao Yuncheng's waist.
Xiao Yuncheng looked down at Shen Yunjin and pinched her cheek. "You're here so soon? So impatient?"
"Jin'er misses you so much."
Shen Yunjin nestled against Xiao Yuncheng's broad, sturdy chest, her face flushed with shyness.
She really missed Xiao Yuncheng terribly after not seeing him for a full two weeks!
On the other side, after leaving the general's mansion, Shen Yuan hurriedly rushed to the market to look for the bamboo basket she had left there.
Fortunately, when she arrived at the market, the bamboo basket had been hidden under her original shelf by some kind person, covered with a cloth, and the sachets inside were still there.
Shen Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The bamboo basket contained more than forty sachets, the cost of which alone was worth twenty taels of silver. If she lost them, she would definitely be heartbroken!
It was already completely dark, and there were hardly any people in the market. Shen Yuan carried her bamboo basket back to her rented courtyard.
She had just arrived home when Xiao Ling also returned, and the two entered the courtyard one after the other.
Xiao Ling seems to be particularly busy lately.
Shen Yuan knew what he was busy with, so she was surprised to see him come back: "Why do you have time to come back today?"
Xiao Ling: "I heard that Xiao Yuncheng's horse almost trampled a woman in the market. This woman... is none other than Shen Yunjin, the eldest daughter of the Shen family."
Hearing Xiao Ling say this, Shen Yuan shook her head: "That woman is not Shen Yunjin, it's me."
After a pause, Shen Yuan continued, "I don't know why Xiao Yuncheng mistook me for Shen Yunjin. The situation was beyond my control at the time, so I could only pretend to be Shen Yunjin temporarily. I was only able to escape after Xiao Yuncheng sent me back to the General's Mansion."
After saying that, Shen Yuan asked again, "Have you ever seen Shen Yunjin?"
Xiao Ling shook his head.
He spent seven years in the cold palace and didn't see many people.
Shen Yuan shrugged and smiled: "If you saw Shen Yunjin, you probably wouldn't be able to tell me apart from her either. We do look very alike. Even Xiao Yuncheng, who grew up with her, can mistake us!"
Xiao Ling pursed his thin lips slightly.
"I suddenly had an idea."
Shen Yuan rested her chin on her hand. She had a face that was extremely similar to Shen Yunjin's. Perhaps she could use this face to approach Xiao Yuncheng and stay by his side to find an opportunity to poison him.
Before Shen Yuan could finish speaking, Xiao Ling seemed to have already guessed what she was thinking and directly rejected her, saying, "No way!"
"..." Shen Yuan's lips twitched: "I haven't even said what my idea is yet."
Xiao Ling lowered his head, his gaze falling on Shen Yuan's thick eyelashes, his tone both gentle and stern: "No matter what the idea is, you are not allowed to put yourself in danger."
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