The early summer breeze, wrapped in the fragrance of lotus from the lotus pond in the back garden, brushed past the grape trellises in the Qinghui Courtyard of the General's Mansion, rustling the clusters of green vines. Shen Weiwan leaned against the beauty's chair by the water, the tip of her silver hairpin picking up the chilled mung bean paste in the celadon bowl. A few petals of fresh jasmine floated in the amber soup, stirring it into ripples. Chuntao squatted beside the Taihu stone nearby, her nose sweating with excitement, her fingers twisting the pink sweat towel around her waist: "Listen, young lady! Old man Wang, the tofu seller at the street corner, is singing a new piece again - 'Li Quezi, the Broken Sleeve Man, Hiding in the Flower Tower on West Street, His Lover Broke His Leg in a Fight for His Love, Drinking Rice Soup Outside the General's Mansion'! This tune is exactly the same as Old Man Zhang's storytelling!"
Chen Weiwan chuckled, and half a spoonful of mung bean paste splashed onto the hem of her moon-white skirt, leaving a small, dark, wet stain. She tapped the rim of the bowl with her silver hairpin and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Old Zhang took five taels of silver from me, so naturally he has to come up with some new songs that the neighbors will enjoy." Before she finished her words, she caught a glimpse of the corner of a moon-white dress passing by the moon-shaped door. She immediately put away her smile and sat up straight.
The Seventh Prince, Xiao Yu, walked in, waving a broken jade fan. The ink bamboo on the fan flickered in the light and shadow. He paused under the grape trellis, his eyes falling on the bean paste stains on Shen Weiwan's skirt. A playful smile curled his lips. "Miss Shen, you have a refined taste. How does this green bean paste taste?"
Chen Weiwan quickly stood up and bowed, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the wet marks on her skirt: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It's just that the weather is hot and I want to get some ice cream to cool down." She lowered her eyelashes, deliberately avoiding his probing gaze, but the tips of her ears were quietly red - since the last "chance encounter" in the garden, the Seventh Prince has been "visiting" Qinghui Courtyard for three consecutive days, bringing different snacks each time, which made her a little confused about the prince's thoughts.
"Cooling down?" Xiao Yu sat down at the stone table, fanning it open with a snap. He tapped the bluestone slab. "I've noticed Miss Shen has been quite hot-tempered lately. Was the story of the 'lover in the Mianhua Tower' on West Street the work of a lady like you, a lady in seclusion?"
Shen Weiwan's heart skipped a beat, but her face showed just the right amount of confusion, her almond-shaped eyes wide open: "Your Highness, you're joking. I've never left my house and don't even know where West Street is. How could I have made up such dirty stories?" She paused, then suddenly tilted her head to look at Xiao Yu, her eyelashes casting a trembling shadow under her eyelids. "But...rumors are sometimes more effective than knives~"
Xiao Yu laughed at the words, and the fan trembled slightly, bringing with it a wisp of lotus fragrance. "Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."
"Let's talk about Master Li," Chen Weiwan scooped up a spoonful of mung bean paste and slowly put it into her mouth, tasting the cool sweetness on her tongue. "If I tell everyone he's gay, I'm afraid they'll think I'm crazy. But I can find a storyteller to write a 'lover caught' play, and then have the vegetable vendors sing the jingle all over the streets and alleys..." She winked slyly, "In less than three days, everyone in the city will know. What do you call this? Borrowing... using someone else's strength to counteract that strength?"
Xiao Yu gazed at the glint in her eyes and suddenly felt that this girl was a hundred times more interesting than the scheming concubines in the palace. He had seen many women who pretended to be demure, but never one so frank and smug about their "rumors." "You are quite honest." He put down his folding fan, leaned forward, and lowered his voice. "Aren't you afraid that I will charge you with spreading rumors and undermining the government?"
Chen Weiwan set down the porcelain bowl and stared directly into his dark jade eyes, a smile that threatened to provoke a beating. "Your Highness, will you?" The moment their eyes met, the air was filled with the fragrance of lotus and a subtle hint of gunpowder. Chuntao was so nervous that she clenched the handkerchief in her hand, fearing that the Seventh Prince would punish her in a rage.
Xiao Yu suddenly burst into laughter, startling the sparrows perched on the grape trellis. "Interesting! Truly interesting!" He stood up, pulled a brocade box from his sleeve, and placed it on the stone table. The gilded lotus pattern on the edge of the lid gleamed in the sunlight. "Not only will I not punish you, I'll even reward you."
Shen Weiwan raised an eyebrow and opened the brocade box. Inside were two sweet cakes sprinkled with black sesame seeds, still warm from the oven. She remembered that Xiao Yu had also given her West Street sweet cakes three days ago. Her heart warmed slightly, but she spoke harshly: "Your Highness, are you...appreciating my ability to spread rumors?"
"More than that." Xiao Yu's gaze fell on her frosted fingertips, his eyes deep. "I admire your straightforwardness in seeking revenge. It's much more interesting than those of my brothers who are scheming against each other."
Shen Weiwan's heart moved, and just as she was about to respond, the old housekeeper hurried in from the moon-shaped door. Seeing the Seventh Prince, she was startled at first, then bowed and saluted: "Miss, Your Highness, Liu gave the key to the storehouse to Madam Zhou, who came with the dowry, this morning, and also sent someone to deliver a letter to the Minister of Personnel's residence, as if to ask for reinforcements."
Chen Weiwan sneered, her fingertips running across the crumbs of candy cake on the stone table: "Ask for help? What a pity, her brother who is the Minister of the Court is probably in trouble." As she spoke, she looked at Xiao Yu meaningfully.
Xiao Yu smiled knowingly and tapped the stone table with his knuckles: "Old housekeeper, are all the account books for the general's mansion ready?"
The old butler was startled at first, then understood. He stroked his beard and said, "Your Highness, everything has been arranged according to the eldest lady's instructions. We are just waiting..."
"Looks like this prince has another good show to watch." Xiao Yu stood up and left. When he reached the moon cave door, he suddenly turned back, and the folding fan in his hand drew a half silver arc. "Chen Weiwan, next time you make up a story, remember to ask this prince to listen together."
Watching him disappear behind the moon-shaped door, Chun Tao leaned over to Shen Weiwan's ear and asked, "Miss, is His Highness the Seventh Prince... going to help us?"
Shen Weiwan picked up a piece of sugar cake and took a bite. The sweet taste melted on the tip of her tongue: "Who knows. But this sugar cake is indeed sweeter than the rumors."
[Warehouse Confrontation]
The evening sun shone brightly on the copper locks of the General's Mansion's storeroom. Liu was directing Nanny Zhou to unlock it, her gold-inlaid armor making a sharp sound against the keyhole. Hearing footsteps, she raised her voice without turning back, "Oh, Miss, you've finally found the heart to visit the storeroom? I've been in charge of the household for three years, and today I thought I'd take stock to avoid gossip."
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