The letters initially revolved around poetry, calligraphy, and insights. Liu Wenxuan's writing was elegant and his views unique, often resonating with Xiao Chengyu and sparking discussion. His calligraphy was also excellent, upright and handsome, carrying a sense of refined pride.
Xiao Chengyu initially maintained the poise of a princess, replying with carefully chosen words. But Liu Wenxuan's letters were always so perfectly timed, showcasing his talent while subtly revealing his admiration and care, like a gentle rain silently eroding her defenses.
When she occasionally mentioned feeling down, he would copy down a poem with a broad and uplifting theme to comfort her; on her birthday, he would present her with a painting of orchids he had personally drawn, inscribed with "A secluded fragrance in a secluded valley, just like Your Highness's graceful bearing"; and upon learning that she had caught a cold, he would send her an ink stick that was said to be a family heirloom, with a calming and soothing medicinal fragrance...
These meticulous efforts gradually won over Xiao Chengyu, who lived deep within the palace and had limited contact with men outside the palace. She began to reply to his letters more frequently, and the tone of her letters softened from the initial politeness, even occasionally revealing some small worries and concerns. She felt that Liu Wenxuan understood her and was a true gentleman, unlike those纨绔子弟 (spoiled brats) who only knew how to curry favor with the powerful.
She even began to secretly fantasize that if her future husband were such a person, a life of beauty and harmony would seem like the perfect ending.
However, she was unaware that every reply she carefully crafted, brimming with girlish sentiment, was meticulously collected by Liu Wenxuan and subtly displayed within certain circles, becoming his capital to boast about his impending marriage. His image of being "indifferent to fame and fortune" was a carefully crafted persona; those "accidentally acquired" antique inkstones and inksticks were tools his family had painstakingly collected to cater to her tastes; even the poem that made him famous, "Spring River Flower Moon Night," might have been ghostwritten.
His goal was clear—to marry a princess, climb the social ladder to the royal family, and revive the Liu family's declining reputation. The gentle and quiet Third Princess, Xiao Chengyu, who was deeply favored by the Emperor and Empress and seemed to have a fondness for talented men, was undoubtedly the best candidate.
This "talented scholar and beautiful woman" drama, which Xiao Chengyu saw as a pure and beautiful first love, was actually a scheming plot in Liu Wenxuan's eyes.
Xiao Chengyu's changes might be able to be kept secret from others, but they could not be hidden from his closest brothers and cousins.
Xiao Chengji was the first to notice something amiss. He was a meticulous man and noticed that his sister had recently been often lost in thought while reading letters, a smile playing on her lips, yet sometimes she seemed inexplicably worried. She was also taking more frequent walks in the Imperial Garden and had begun paying attention to news of literary gatherings. He secretly instructed his shadow guards to keep an eye out, and they quickly reported on Liu Wenxuan's correspondence with the princess.
Xiao Chengji did not immediately react. Instead, he reviewed all of Liu Wenxuan's records at the Imperial Academy and privately inquired about the evaluations of him from several reliable Hanlin scholars. The records were flawless, and most of the scholars praised his outstanding talent and gentle nature. But the more perfect the record, the more suspicious Xiao Chengji became. He knew all too well that in the imperial court, it was often difficult to distinguish between genuine scholars and hypocrites.
He shared his doubts with his second brother, Xiao Chengrui, and his cousin, Xin Rui. Xiao Chengrui immediately exploded: "What? That brat surnamed Liu dares to make a move on Yu'er? I'm going to beat him up!"
Xin Rui, being more composed, pulled him back: "Cousin Rui, please calm down. His Highness only suspects, without any concrete evidence. Besides, if Liu Wenxuan is truly a gentleman and the two are in love, our rash intervention would not be good and would only hurt Cousin Yu's feelings."
"What can we do? Are we just going to watch him deceive Yu'er?" Xiao Chengrui asked angrily.
Xiao Chengji pondered for a moment and said, "Cousin Rui is right, we need concrete evidence. Rui'er, you're impatient, so don't make a fuss about this yet, especially don't let Yu'er know that we're suspicious, lest we alert her or make her resentful. Cousin Rui, you have connections in the Beijing Garrison and the Imperial Academy, try to find out Liu Wenxuan's true character indirectly, especially..."
Xin Rui nodded: "Understood. Leave it to me."
Meanwhile, Qi Mingyue, who frequently accompanied Xiao Chengyu to the palace, also sensed something amiss. She noticed that the ink sticks Chengyu had been using recently had a peculiar fragrance, and the composition of her orchid paintings was remarkably similar to the ink orchid paintings she had received before. In her conversations, she would occasionally mention the insights of "a certain young master," though she did not name him, her admiration was almost palpable.
Mingyue was quick-witted and used roundabout methods to elicit information. Combining this with some vague rumors circulating in the city, she roughly guessed what was going on. Unlike her brothers, who were full of concerns, she went straight to the point and asked when they were alone one day: "Sister Yu, have you been... getting quite close to that young master from the Liu family lately?"
Caught off guard, Xiao Chengyu blushed deeply and scolded, "Mingyue! What nonsense are you talking about!"
Mingyue leaned closer to her and lowered her voice: "Sister, don't hide it from me! I've heard it all! There are a lot of people outside saying that the Liu family's boy has struck it rich and is about to marry the princess! They also say... he has a letter in the princess's own handwriting as proof!"
"What?!" Xiao Chengyu was struck dumb, the blush on her face instantly fading, leaving her pale. "He...how could he...impossible! Young Master Liu isn't that kind of person!" She instinctively defended him, but her heart was in turmoil. Letters as proof? Showing off? This was completely different from the aloof and humble Liu Wenxuan she knew!
Seeing her expression, Mingyue knew things were going badly and said urgently, "My dear sister! You can know a person's face but not their heart! That Liu Wenxuan seems very fake to me! What kind of true scholar would constantly talk about 'not seeking fame or fortune'? My brother said that a truly principled scholar would never stoop to currying favor with the powerful! He's clearly after your status!"
Xiao Chengyu was in turmoil. On one hand, she didn't want to believe that she had misplaced her sincerity; on the other hand, Mingyue's words and the rumors outside felt like thorns piercing her heart. She forced herself to remain calm: "Mingyue, this matter... this matter may be a misunderstanding. Without concrete evidence, we cannot make hasty judgments."
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
