"What are you jealous of?" Madam Taifu's face finally darkened, her tone as cold as ice. "Am I jealous of you using cotton to fake a pregnancy, or am I jealous of you trying to cling to the prince and bring ruin to our family? Second Miss Shen, you'll have to take care of yourself." With that, she stood up and said to the maid behind her, "Show me off."
Shen Ruorou watched as Madam Taifu ordered the guests to leave, then looked at Shen Weiwan's half-smile. The last bit of strength left her body and she collapsed to the ground. The maids hurried forward to support her, but she pushed them away. She got up with disheveled hair and ran out of the waterside pavilion like a frightened rabbit, leaving behind a room full of laughter and whispers.
"Miss, your trick is really amazing!" Chun Tao helped Shen Weiwan sit down, laughing so hard that she couldn't straighten her waist, "The cotton will fall down when it comes into contact with water. I'm afraid the second lady will never be able to face people in her life!"
Shen Weiwan picked up the newly replaced teacup and took a sip of the warm jasmine tea. Her eyes followed Shen Ruoruo's embarrassed back, and a cold arc appeared at the corner of her mouth: "To play with such a person, you have to use some thundering methods." She raised her eyes to look at Xiao Yu beside her and saw that he was looking at her with a smile, his eyes reflecting the lotus outside the window. "Your Highness, do you think my 'magic operation' is quite impressive?"
Xiao Yu put down his folding fan, tapped the table with his fingertips, and said with admiration: "Miss Shen's actions have always been unexpected 'surprises'." He suddenly leaned in, and his warm breath brushed Shen Weiwan's ears, "But next time you splash water, remember to stay away from this prince, don't splash the corner of this prince's brocade robe."
Shen Weiwan's cheeks were slightly hot, and the tear mole at the end of her eyes trembled slightly in the candlelight: "I know, next time I will let His Highness stand in the 'safe zone' to watch the battle."
The noble ladies around saw the Seventh Prince chatting and laughing with Shen Weiwan, and their eyes looking at Shen Weiwan had long since changed from sympathy to awe. Everyone understood that this daughter of the general's mansion was not only extremely intelligent, but also had the support of the prince. From now on, no one in the circle of noble ladies in the capital would dare to provoke her easily.
Seeing this, the Grand Tutor's wife also walked over with a gentle smile on her face. "Weiwan, your cousin has been blinded by greed and has caused you so much injustice." She paused and said in a friendly tone, "I'm holding a lotus viewing banquet in a few days. You must bring Chuntao with you. I just got some new Jiangnan snacks and I was thinking of letting you try them."
"Thank you, Madam, for your kindness," Shen Weiwan stood up and bowed, "Weiwan will definitely be there on time."
As the sun set, Shen Weiwan and Xiao Yu walked out of the Taifu Mansion side by side. The sunset dyed the sky orange, and the shadows of the two were stretched out very long. Chuntao consciously lagged behind by ten steps, holding Shen Weiwan's cloak, and looking at the backs of her own lady and the seventh prince, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
"Thank you for your help today, Your Highness." Shen Weiwan looked at Xiao Yu's profile, which was gilded by the setting sun, with gratitude in her eyes.
Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, his dark hair rustling in the evening breeze. "I'm just telling the truth, how can I help you?" He suddenly stopped and looked at Shen Weiwan. "But I'm curious, how did you predict that she would repeat her old tricks at the banquet?"
"Guessed." Chen Weiwan winked playfully, her eyes moving. "Some people, they won't give up until they reach the Yellow River. They insist on falling twice in the same place." She paused, her tone gradually colder. "What's more, I just want her to be smashed to pieces in the most important occasion."
Xiao Yu looked at the glint in her eyes, which showed the tenacity and sharpness that came from going through hardships. His heart moved slightly, and he said softly, "From now on, as long as I am here, I will never let you suffer even the slightest injustice."
Shen Weiwan felt warm in her heart, and was about to speak when she heard a familiar nursery rhyme coming from the corner of the street, accompanied by the sound of a rattle, getting closer and closer:
"Miss Shen Er is really capable, stuffing cotton into her belly to show she's pregnant.
The elder sister accidentally spilled the hot tea, and the cotton ball fell into the water and rolled out!
White lotus, black heart, climbing up the ladder to deceive people,
A basin of tea reveals her true nature, and the whole city laughs at her a thousand times!
The two looked at each other and laughed. Chun Tao laughed so hard that she fell backwards. "Miss, that old blind man Wang must have made it up! He was the one who made up the jingle about 'Young Master Li with Broken Sleeves' last time!"
Shen Weiwan shook her head and looked at Xiao Yu: "It seems that the people of the capital now have another fun thing to do after dinner."
Xiao Yu chuckled softly, his voice as gentle as jade clashing against each other. "With you here, the capital will only have endless fun." A sly glint flashed in his eyes. "But next time you hold a 'water splashing event' like this, remember to inform me in advance. I'll be sure to stock up on spiced melon seeds and find the best vantage point for the view."
"Don't worry, Your Highness," Shen Weiwan raised her eyebrows, her smile as bright as the sunset, "The next 'show' will be even more exciting than today."
The evening breeze blew across the lotus pond, bringing with it waves of sweet lotus fragrance. Shen Weiwan gazed at Xiao Yu's handsome profile, feeling a sense of peace in her heart. Shen Ruorou's farce had ended, but she knew it was only a minor hurdle on her road to rebirth. With Xiao Yu's support and her own wisdom, she could walk confidently and fearlessly, despite the storms ahead.
At that moment, in the side courtyard of the General's Mansion, Shen Ruorou was curled up on the cold ground, listening to the children's songs gradually fading outside the window, her nails digging deep into the cracks in the blue bricks. The bronze mirror reflected her disheveled appearance - her hair was disheveled, her face was still stained with rose thorns, and her soaked skirt clung to her body, outlining a ridiculous outline.
"Chen Weiwan..." She squeezed out these three words from between her teeth, with flames of resentment burning in her eyes, "I will not let you go... never..."
But she didn't know that when she repeatedly tried to climb up, she had already nailed herself to the laughing stock of the capital. And Shen Weiwan had already stepped on her embarrassment and walked towards a wider world. Those dark jealousies and resentments could no longer touch the legitimate daughter who smiled brightly in the sun.
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