The early summer Imperial Gardens were bathed in a golden glow in the twilight. The lotus flowers of Taiye Pond were in full bloom, their pink and white petals still stained with afternoon dew. Shen Weiwan, hiding behind the railings of the Nine-Curve Bridge, poked the water's surface with a bamboo dragonfly, startling a flock of plump koi. Chuntao, squatting nearby, clutching a plate of freshly stolen osmanthus cake, stamped her feet anxiously, "Miss! Look over there! Lin Wanrou has approached His Highness the Seventh Prince again!"
"Oh?" Chen Weiwan raised an eyebrow. The bamboo dragonfly plopped into the water, but she paid no mind. She clung to the railing and peered toward the pavilion. Sure enough, she saw Xiao Yu leaning against the beauty's chair, twirling a jade ring in his hand. Standing opposite her was none other than Lin Wanrou, her face etched with a look of grievance. She wore a moon-white ruqun embroidered with orchids, her eyes red, like a little white rabbit whose tail had been stepped on.
"Your Highness," Lin Wanrou twisted her handkerchief, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum, "I know I shouldn't say too much, but Miss Shen...she was so rude at the banquet today. It was really unbecoming and I'm afraid it will damage your reputation..."
Shen Weiwan rolled her eyes and poked Chuntao's arm: "Did you hear that? You're calling me vulgar again."
Chun Tao nodded with a suppressed smile, her mouth stuffed with sweet-scented osmanthus cake, and mumbled: "Miss, your bamboo dragonfly has fallen into the water..."
"Let her fall," Shen Weiwan waved her hand, her eyes fixed on the direction of the waterside pavilion, "Let's see how His Highness deals with her."
In the pavilion, Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, his jade ring swirling around his finger, emitting a cold gleam. "Oh? How is Miss Shen so vulgar? I actually think she's quite cute."
Seeing that Xiao Yu wasn't angry, Lin Wanrou grew bolder and took a half step forward. "Your Highness, you may not know that Miss Shen was haggling with a vendor in the West Market yesterday, arguing fiercely over two copper coins. It's really...it's really unworthy of her status as the legitimate daughter of the General's Mansion..."
"Puff..." Shen Weiwan couldn't help laughing out loud, and Chuntao quickly covered her mouth. Everyone knew that she had deliberately acted with the vendor yesterday and cheated the spy planted by Liu out of ten taels of silver!
Xiao Yu curled up the corner of his mouth with a sneer, and was about to speak when Shen Weiwan suddenly jumped out from behind the Nine-Curve Bridge, clapping her hands and laughing: "Miss Lin is right! Not only did I bargain with the vendor yesterday, I also squatted on the ground and counted ants!"
Lin Wanrou shuddered with fear, and turned back to see Shen Weiwan running towards her, the pearl steps on her head jingling. She subconsciously stepped back, and the grievance on her face became even stronger: "Your Highness, your Highness, look at her..."
When Shen Weiwan ran to his side, Xiao Yu naturally reached out his arm and put his arm around her shoulders. His fingertips brushed against the jade pendant on her waist, and his tone was filled with undisguised doting: "This is how I like her."
Shen Weiwan tilted her head in cooperation, made a face at Lin Wanrou, and stuck out her tongue: "Did you hear that? Your Highness likes my mouth~"
The noble ladies watching the excitement around them suddenly burst into laughter, then quickly covered their mouths. Lin Wanrou's face suddenly turned red, from her ears to her neck, like a boiled shrimp: "Your Highness! How could you..."
"Why can't I?" Xiao Yu raised an eyebrow, his eyes cold. "I like the way her eyes light up when she's setting a trap, the way her lips curl up when she's arguing with others, and even more so what you call 'vulgarity.'" He paused, his eyes sweeping over Lin Wanrou's stiff smile. "Unlike some people, who pretend to be gentle until their faces are almost stiff. It's tiring to watch."
"You!" Lin Wanrou was so angry that she was shaking all over, and her handkerchief was almost torn to pieces. "How can Your Highness be so partial? Miss Shen..."
"So what if I'm partial?" Xiao Yu interrupted her, his tone full of unquestionable authority. "Is it your turn to dictate what happens to my fiancée?"
"Fiancée?" Lin Wanrou was struck by lightning. "The emperor hasn't issued an order yet!"
"It's almost there." Xiao Yu said lightly, hugging Shen Weiwan's shoulders tightly. "It's Miss Lin who has repeatedly made trouble in front of me. It seems that the rules taught by the Minister of Personnel are not enough."
Shen Weiwan took the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. She took out an oil-paper bag from her sleeve and stuffed a piece of sugar cake into Xiao Yu's mouth: "Your Highness, don't be angry. Eat the sugar cake to calm down. Miss Lin also cares about you, but this care is a bit cheap, like the incense on her body, which is choking when you smell it."
Xiao Yu squinted his eyes at the sweetness of the cake, but nodded in agreement: "Yeah, Weiwan's cake is still delicious."
Lin Wanrou watched the two of them display their affection without paying any attention to anyone else, and she was so angry that she felt dizzy and almost fainted. Liu Ruoyan, who was behind her, quickly supported her and said sarcastically, "Sister Lin, let's go. Don't be an eyesore here."
Lin Wanrou shook off Liu Ruoyan's hand, pointed at Shen Weiwan and screamed: "Shen Weiwan! Don't be so proud! One day His Highness will see your true face!"
Shen Weiwan licked the frosting on her fingers and smiled like a fox stealing fish: "Oh? Then I have to hide it well and don't let His Highness see it clearly. But before that-" She suddenly moved closer to Lin Wanrou and lowered her voice, "Miss Lin, next time you pretend to be wronged, can you practice your eyes first? Your tears fall slower than squeezing toothpaste, the Oscars owe you a little golden man!"
"You...you scoundrel!" Lin Wanrou turned around and ran away angrily, her skirt almost catching on the railing.
Looking at her embarrassed back, Shen Weiwan raised her eyebrows at Xiao Yu proudly: "How about it, Your Highness, have my mouth cannon skills improved?"
Xiao Yu laughed and reached out to ruffle her hair. "That's quite some progress, but..." He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Next time you're arguing with someone, could you please wipe the frosting off the corners of your mouth first?"
Shen Weiwan blushed and quickly wiped her mouth with her sleeve: "What do you care!"
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