The official cleared his throat, his boots leaving marks on the bluestone slabs. "Weiwan, grandpa isn't criticizing you, but the Li Xiu incident has caused a huge uproar in the city. As the eldest daughter of the general's family, you should be more careful—"
"Pay attention to the impact?" Chen Weiwan suddenly interrupted him, tilting her head and blinking, as innocent as a newly opened white lotus. "Grandfather, are you talking about Li Xiu and my cousin hugging in the garden? This is not my fault!" She suddenly raised her voice, startling the servant who was sweeping the floor next to her and stopped brooming. "It was Li Xiu who behaved improperly. His Highness the Seventh Prince even saw him that day!"
"The Seventh Prince?" The wings of the official hat of the Yuanwailang trembled.
"Yes, yes!" Shen Weiwan opened her eyes wide, her tone innocent, "His Highness the Seventh Prince also said that Li Xiu has a 'unique taste' and asked me to stay away from him!" She deliberately glanced in the direction of the waterside pavilion, where a moon-white figure flashed by. "Grandfather, think about it, even the Seventh Prince said so, how dare I get involved with Li Xiu? It's my cousin who should be concerned about the impact of being unclear with such a person, right?"
The official's face flushed red with choking. He had never imagined this girl could be so sharp-tongued, even using the Seventh Prince as a shield. He knew that the Seventh Prince, though seemingly idle, was actually a favorite of the Emperor, so he immediately swallowed his words of impeachment, muttered something about "the weather being hot," and hurriedly excused himself, his official boots nearly slipping on the bluestone slabs.
"Miss, you were so awesome just now!" Chuntao gave a thumbs up and laughed as she watched Yuanwailang's fleeing figure.
Shen Weiwan remained silent, her gaze casting towards the waterside pavilion. Unbeknownst to her, the Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, had reappeared there, fiddling with a black jade chess piece. His gaze, piercing the blossoming pomegranate blossoms, fell upon her from afar, a hint of an intriguing smile playing on his lips. This was already his third "chance encounter," and Shen Weiwan wondered: Could it be that this prince had truly taken a liking to her, the heroine of "The Broken Sleeves"?
Just as she was thinking, Xiao Yu suddenly stood up, his moon-white skirt fluttering in the wind, and walked straight towards her. Shen Weiwan's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously tightened the hem of her skirt.
"Miss Shen," Xiao Yu stood in front of her, his dark jade eyes reflecting her reflection, "Did you write this storytelling piece for the capital?"
Shen Weiwan pretended to be dumbfounded: "What did your Highness say? I don't understand."
"Oh?" Xiao Yu took a half step closer, the clear scent of ambergris lingering around him. "Then I'd like to hear where this 'lover' from the 'Yue Lai Inn' on West Street came from."
Chen Weiwan's eyes flickered, and she was about to quibble, but Xiao Yu suddenly chuckled: "Forget it, this prince has no interest in dirty things." He took out an oil-paper bag from his sleeve pocket and stuffed it into her hand, "Li Xiu's father handed in his resignation this morning and returned to his hometown."
Shen Weiwan looked up in surprise. Father Li, who held a fifth-rank official position, was forced to resign because of rumors?
Xiao Yu looked at her slightly open mouth, and the smile in his eyes deepened: "Your 'trick' is more effective than thousands of troops." He paused, pointed to the oil-paper bag in her hand, "The sweet cakes on West Street are delicious with tea." After speaking, he turned and left, and the moon-white figure quickly disappeared behind the moon-shaped door.
Chen Weiwan pinched the warm sugar cake and looked at his back, feeling like she had a rabbit in her heart. Chun Tao came over and asked, "Miss, is His Highness the Seventh Prince... sending you some snacks?"
She didn't answer, but just opened the oil paper package. Inside were two pieces of sugar cakes sprinkled with sesame seeds, which were still warm to the touch.
That evening, the old housekeeper hurriedly delivered a letter: "Miss, Li Xiu sent someone to deliver it. He said it's... a letter of apology."
Shen Weiwan opened the letter and saw the words written crookedly on it: "Shen Weiwan, you are so cruel! I, Li Xiu, admit defeat. I beg you to show mercy and stop spreading rumors..."
She finished reading the letter and tossed it into the brazier. The flames crackled, reducing the letter to black ash. "Chun Tao," she said, her voice cold as she stared at the dancing flames, "go tell Old Man Zhang...that Li Xiu has been having an affair with the commander of his guards for a long time, and that Miss Shen is just a pawn he's using to shield her."
Chuntao's eyes lit up: "Miss, this trick is amazing!"
Meanwhile, in the study of the Seventh Prince's residence, Xiao Yu, after listening to the guard's report on Shen Weiwan's latest "rumor offensive," couldn't help but put down his military book and picked up a white piece and placed it on the chessboard. The "pop" sound was particularly clear in the silent study.
"Your Highness, Miss Shen's methods..." The guard didn't know how to describe it.
Xiao Yu watched the chessboard gradually take shape, a meaningful smile curling his lips. "Interesting, even more interesting than I imagined." The setting sun shone through the window lattice, igniting a golden glow in his dark jade-like pupils. This summer, thanks to this eccentric daughter, was destined to be restless. And he was eagerly anticipating what her next "deviant move" would be.
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