Shen Youying didn't turn around. She focused on stirring the tea foam until it was snow-white and formed. Then she glanced at Xue Shen and said slowly, "Why would I be jealous? His Highness Prince Qin has so many suitors. If I were to be jealous of them all, I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to handle it all."
That's true jealousy.
Xue Shen's eyebrows twitched. He sat down next to her, took the teacup in front of her, picked up a teaspoon, scooped up some tea powder, and carefully sprinkled it on the surface of the tea to draw a picture.
He raised his wrist, his hand holding the teaspoon steady and quick, sprinkling tea powder evenly onto the tea surface. In a moment, a freehand peony bloomed on the tea. Xue Shen put down the teaspoon, held the teacup in front of Shen Youying, and smiled, "I don't think I appreciate peach blossoms, I only love peonies."
Shen Youying, who had been looking stern and somewhat unhappy, was amused by him. She glanced at him and finally accepted the teacup.
Seeing her smile, Xue Shen explained, "When Liu Yun brought the pastries, she told me that Wang Yuanguang did indeed intend to take a gamble, but he is a cautious person and would not easily get involved unless he is 70 or 80% sure. He has never mentioned wanting to form a marriage alliance before."
Shen Youying wasn't upset about this one-sided matter; what she cared about was the rumor that Madam Qiao had told her.
She glanced at Xue Shen with disdain for his eyelashes and said, "Why didn't you choose a consort when you were still the Crown Prince? You were fifteen years old then, you should have had a Crown Princess by now."
In other words, Xue Shen was a man of integrity and purity. If it were any other young master from a prominent family, he would have already had a concubine by the age of fifteen.
Xue Shen didn't know why she suddenly asked about these old stories, but guessed there must be a reason. He cautiously said, "I wanted to follow my parents' example and grow old with someone, but I didn't meet the person I liked at the time, so it was delayed."
Shen Youying's eyelashes trembled, and she continued to ask, "There were so many girls of marriageable age in Tokyo back then, didn't you take a fancy to any of them? I heard that the eldest daughter of the Wang family was exceptionally beautiful and talented, and was very much liked by the Empress."
Xue Shen was taken aback upon hearing this, but immediately grasped the key point. Ultimately, it all came down to the Wang family; someone must have said something to her.
He smiled helplessly and said, "What do you mean by that? My mother is gentle by nature. Because I am her only son, she always wanted a daughter. Therefore, she liked to summon noblewomen. Every young lady who came to the palace with my mother has received praise from her. It would be strange if she didn't receive praise."
Shen Youying lifted her eyelashes: "Really?"
Xue Shen: "Really? When have I ever lied to you?"
Shen Youying glanced at him and muttered, "How many times have you lied to me?"
Xue Shen touched his nose, and this time he didn't argue.
But after thinking for a moment, Shen Youying asked again, "Is it also a lie that the Wang family is grooming Miss Wang as a candidate for Crown Princess?"
Xue Shen was hearing about this for the first time. After thinking for a moment, he said, "It might not be fake."
Seeing Shen Youying frown, he quickly said, "But I really didn't intend to choose a concubine at the time. My mother did let me secretly meet a few because I was of age, but none of them were suitable, so it was dropped. At that time, Wang Yuanguang's official position was far lower than it is now. Although the Wang family had some resources, they were not yet wealthy. It was understandable that the Wang family wanted to send their daughter into the palace to change their status."
"Where did you hear these rumors from?"
Shen Youying then told him what she had heard from the Qiao family's wife: "I heard that the Wang family has been raising their eldest daughter to be the Crown Princess, and the eldest daughter of the Wang family is deeply in love with you and will not marry anyone else. The reason why they haven't discussed marriage for so many years is because they can't let go of you."
Xue Shen was both amused and exasperated: "If you hadn't brought it up, I wouldn't have remembered that there was such a person in the Wang family. As for the so-called liking, who knows if it's true or not? If it's really true that I won't marry anyone but you, why have I never seen the Wang family visit during these years of hardship? It's already a favor that Wang Yuanguang hasn't impeached me."
Shen Youying laughed at his last sentence: "Anyway, that's what the rumors say. Many young ladies in the capital know that Miss Wang is in love with you."
Seeing her laughing so hard she was shaking, Xue Shen pulled her into his arms and pinched her earlobe with a dangerous look in his eyes: "It's one thing for others to believe those rumors. But Zhao Zhao believes them too, she really deserves to be punished."
Shen Youying felt ticklish from his pinching and subconsciously shrank her neck.
Seeing Xue Shen's expression gradually turn dangerous, she put her hand on his shoulder, leaned forward, and pressed her lips to his ingratiatingly: "I shouldn't have believed those rumors."
Xue Shen placed a hand on the back of her neck and pinched it: "Anything else?"
Shen Youying thought for a moment and said, "From now on, I will only trust you."
Xue Shen pressed the person down onto his lap, dissatisfied, and pressed on: "Anything else?"
Shen Youying couldn't think of anything, but she knew she was in the wrong this time. She bit her lip and thought for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Xue Shen's neck and clumsily but proactively pressed her lips to his. Her soft tongue pried open Xue Shen's lips and teeth and she kissed him awkwardly.
After a long separation, Shen Youying's eyes were moist, and she was panting. Seeing Xue Shen's unmoved expression, she could only say in a soft voice, "Husband, I know I was wrong."
Her voice was naturally soft and charming; when she deliberately softened it, it became like a seductive hook, piercing straight into one's heart.
Xue Shen's eyes darkened, and he grabbed her waist and kissed her, taking the initiative and conquering her territory.
He only stepped back when Shen Youying could no longer bear it and let out a muffled protest. He ran his thumb across the silver thread at the corner of Shen Youying's rosy lips, picked her up, and carried her to the bedside: "Today, Zhao Zhao needs to be taught a good lesson."
Shen Youying wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his chest.
...
Taking advantage of the situation, Xue Shen severely "punished" the person.
He coaxed Shen Youying into doing many things she had been too shy to try before.
But when Xue Shen went to court the next day, he was surrounded by his colleagues for the eighth time. They frequently hinted that he had a beautiful daughter or sister of suitable age at home. He couldn't help but grind his teeth and think that yesterday's "punishment" was too lenient.
Wang Yuanguang saw Xue Shen being surrounded by many officials from afar, and recalling what his wife had said to him after the banquet the day before, his expression changed for a moment.
Emperor Cheng'an was nearing the end of his life, and naturally he wanted to board Xue Shen's ship. But no matter how big Xue Shen's ship was, the emperor and the crown prince were still above him, while he, as prime minister and a confidant of the emperor, could provide Xue Shen with many conveniences.
It could be said that he and Xue Shen were mutually beneficial and achieved success together, but judging from what the Princess of Qin said yesterday, the King of Qin clearly has not yet realized this.
Wang Yuanguang, who considered himself to be in a high position of power, naturally had no desire to curry favor with others like other opportunists.
There are so many people who fawn over and flatter, he's just one more. He doesn't want to be a dog wagging its tail at the feet of the King of Qin, but a beneficiary who can stand on equal footing with the King and share in the benefits.
Therefore, this time he only glanced at Xue Shen from afar before turning around and entering the hall.
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