Chapter 3
Wei Luo had just come from the training ground. Since being made crown prince, he would get up at dawn every day, study Confucian classics in the Wenhua Hall in the morning, practice riding and archery in the afternoon, and pay his respects to the emperor in the evening.
Because the emperor had not held morning court for many years, his morning greetings were also waived, and he was only allowed to greet the emperor once in the evening.
In order to establish Consort Shen's son as the crown prince, the emperor's relationship with Wei Luo had been strained for many years. Perhaps in order to cultivate their relationship, or perhaps to quell any rumors of estrangement between father and son, the emperor had recently been inviting the crown prince to dine with him.
Today, the Emperor is coming to Yikun Palace, so he has instructed the Crown Prince to come along as well.
On a winter evening, when darkness falls early, he had just stepped into Yikun Palace when Shen Yao gave him a deep bow.
The woman lay on the ground, her bright, watery eyes lifted, her oval face as beautiful as spring flowers and as alluring as the autumn moon, tinged with a hint of bewilderment and surprise.
"It's neither a holiday nor a festival, Miss Shen, there's no need for this?"
Wei Luo gave a half-smile, rubbing the ground vigorously with his black boots stomping on the cricket before lifting them, then walked around Shen Yao's head. Beneath his feet, the poor, majestic general had been crushed into a meat pie.
When Shen Yao dug the cricket's corpse out of the ground, Wei Xun had already run out. Seeing his beloved general die, he gritted his teeth.
"You owe me a cricket! You murderer... insect killer! I'm going to report you to my father!"
"Sue what?"
The emperor also came in.
Wei Xun couldn't wait to complain, "The Grand General is dead, trampled to death by my elder brother! Father, you must avenge your son..."
While Wei Xun was passionately pleading his innocence, Shen Yao focused her attention on Wei Luo.
Historical records describe Emperor Zhaoxuan as tall and slender, with a full figure, gentle nature, kind eyes and a friendly demeanor.
She thought the historian was right.
The man was tall and slender with a handsome face, naturally giving people a clean and refreshing impression. In addition, he had a prominent eyebrow, making him look both innocent and affectionate, which made people feel close to him.
Shen Yao found it impossible to reconcile this seemingly obedient man with Emperor Zhaoxuan, who had annihilated the entire Shen family. Indeed, the mind of an emperor is unfathomable and unfathomable.
Considering what Wei Luo had just done, Shen Yao suddenly felt a chill.
During the meal, Wei Xun continued to make trouble, arguing with the emperor, "Father, the Grand General was murdered for no reason, you can't ignore this."
The emperor looked at Wei Luo, who lowered his head and remained silent.
It was utterly unreasonable for the emperor to scold the crown prince over a cricket, and he made no comment.
But who was Wei Xun? A prince excessively favored by the emperor, how could he swallow such humiliation? He continued to grumble incessantly. The emperor, inexplicably annoyed, slammed down his chopsticks and coldly said, "What do you intend to do to make your elder brother pay with his life?"
Wei Luo also looked at Wei Xun and smiled faintly. Although he didn't say anything, he made Wei Xun very angry.
Wei Xun glared back fiercely, muttering, "You just wait."
The two men openly feuded right under the emperor's nose, and the emperor was happy to see his two sons fighting each other, so he didn't interfere.
Shen Yao witnessed the interaction between the two, but what she was thinking about now was how to get those things.
Shen Yao had been secretly observing Wei Luo.
A scrutinizing gaze had been fixed on him, which Wei Luo had noticed long ago. He frowned slightly, his eyes darting around, and his sharp gaze swept over Shen Yao, meeting her eyes precisely.
One second, two seconds, three seconds... Shen Yao blushed and awkwardly looked away.
Wei Luo also took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of her mouth, her expression inscrutable.
"Your Highness, your handkerchief was used in the training ground and is damp with sweat. Please change it."
Shen Yao's ears twitched immediately.
She saw Wei Luo casually place the handkerchief on her lap and then take the clean handkerchief from the eunuch.
Shen Yao's eyes flashed, and she was eager to make a move.
She was sitting directly below Wei Luo, about a meter away. If she could find a way, she could get to him.
This is where the benefits of reading a lot become apparent, and Shen Yao thought of Ximen Qing.
Scammer!
When dining at the same table as the emperor, the eunuchs were usually in charge of serving the dishes. Shen Yao deliberately placed her chopsticks on the rim of the bowl. When the eunuchs picked up the dishes as usual, she reached out and, using her sleeve as a cover, quickly moved the chopsticks towards Wei Luo's feet.
With a "crack," the chopsticks fell to the ground with a crisp sound, attracting the attention of the people at the table. Wei Luo naturally looked at Shen Yao as well.
This is exciting! Shen Yao's heart was pounding, and her palms were sweaty.
Her attempt to stage an accident was poor; the chopsticks were still half a meter away from Wei Luo, an awkward distance that was neither too close nor too far. She couldn't possibly emulate Ximen Qing's style.
My mind raced, and there was only one solution left.
She quickly got up, but as her foot crossed the stool, she pretended to trip and fell towards Wei Luo with lightning speed.
Silence fell over the room.
Wei Luo felt a strange sensation as his leg touched the woman's soft body. He was somewhat surprised and looked at Shen Yao in astonishment. She was also looking at him at that moment, her eyes filled with apology and even a hint of a smile. "Sorry, I slipped."
Having successfully completed her mission, Shen Yao quickly apologized, stood up, and distanced herself from Wei Luo.
Wei Luo coughed lightly, shook his clothes, and looked away.
Are you alright?
It was the emperor who took the initiative to ask questions.
Shen Yao was somewhat surprised that the emperor cared so much about her. She quickly shook her head and lowered her head slightly, saying guiltily, "Your Majesty, I am well."
Clutching her handkerchief tightly, Shen Yao didn't dare look at Wei Luo at all. After the emperor gave a soft "hmm," Shen Yao excused herself to change her clothes and quickly left the palace.
In the West Warm Pavilion, Shen Yao's legs felt weak after returning. She sat on a chair, her right hand covering her chest, breathing slightly heavily.
She really got Wei Luo's sweat; she really did it!
Biluo, who had given her the advice earlier, also came over, looking at the sweat-soaked handkerchief, her hands trembling with excitement, "Miss, is there really the Crown Prince's sweat on this?"
“I heard it from the chief eunuch of the Crown Prince himself, it can’t be false.”
Shen Yao held the handkerchief high in her hand, and the smile vanished from her face.
"Young lady, I think it's best to test it. What if there's no sweat on it? It might not work."
Biluo looked at Chen Yao and offered sincere advice.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yao's smile immediately vanished. She frowned slightly and asked, "How do we test this?"
She'd never heard of anyone testing this thing before; she couldn't quite understand Biluo's thought process.
Biluo said, "You can lick it and see, the sweat is salty."
Shen Yao: "..."
She suspected that Biluo had lost her mind.
Before Shen Yao could nod, Bi Luo volunteered, snatched the handkerchief, and under Shen Yao's shocked gaze, first held it to her nose and sniffed it, then stuck out her tongue and licked it.
"Hmm~" Biluo smacked her lips a few times, looked at Chen Yao playfully, and said with a smile, "Miss, it's salty, and there is indeed sweat on it."
Shen Yao froze, swallowed hard, reached out and patted her shoulder, praising, "Thank you for your hard work. If I succeed, I will never forget you in the future."
If I become rich and powerful, I will not forget you.
Biluo smiled and said, "Miss, smell it, the prince's sweat even has a fragrance."
"Really?"
Putting aside her initial resistance, Shen Yao, encouraged by Bi Luo, actually took a sniff. The handkerchief smelled wonderfully. If she were a proper ancient person, she might even lick it, after all, it was a handkerchief soaked with the Crown Prince's sweat!
In the homes of officials and nobles, the handkerchief would probably have to be placed on a table and displayed to demonstrate the dragon's power!
“It’s the scent of plum blossoms,” Biluo explained. “The Crown Prince has always loved plum blossoms; I never expected even his handkerchief would smell so good…”
*
Cining Palace was the residence of the Crown Prince.
Upon returning to the palace, Wei Luo took off his outer garment, leaving only a white inner garment, and sat on a stool, poking at the embers in the brazier with copper fire tongs.
The charcoal fire burned brightly, and with the floor heating on, sweat soon began to bead on his nose. He ordered, "Bring me a handkerchief."
"Okay."
Liu Heng, the chief eunuch of Cining Palace, took a clean towel from the cabinet and handed it to Wei Luo.
Then he began to organize the prince's clothes.
According to palace rules, all of the Crown Prince's personal belongings, including clothes, belts, shoes, socks, handkerchiefs, and even toilet paper, had to be registered, supposedly to prevent poisoning.
The palace rules and regulations were strict. Although Liu Heng had followed Wei Luo for nineteen years, he was still meticulous in everything he did and dared not be careless in the slightest. It was precisely because of this that the ambitious Consort Shen could not find a single opportunity to poison Wei Luo.
Liu Heng is a good companion and a good housekeeper.
Wei Luo looked at him with relief, while the busy Liu Heng also glanced at Wei Luo, exclaimed in surprise, "Your Highness, why is your handkerchief missing?"
After checking for a long time to make sure nothing was missed, he said, "Think carefully, is there anything you've missed somewhere?"
Wei Luo was momentarily stunned. A handkerchief wouldn't normally pique his interest, but Liu Heng's question had stumped him. Wei Luo frowned and simply asked, "Have you searched carefully?"
Liu Heng nodded, his brows immediately furrowing.
"Perhaps it fell on the road." Wei Luo didn't seem to care much, and looked at Liu Heng, saying, "If we can't find it, so be it. The Eastern Palace isn't short of handkerchiefs."
Liu Heng was troubled upon hearing this and said in a low voice, "Your Highness, the handkerchief is your personal item and cannot be thrown away carelessly. Please think carefully about where you put it. Let me think with you."
Wei Luo was forced to recall, and as he did, a sudden thought struck him, and the handkerchief on his knee came to mind. He stared into Liu Heng's eyes and said seriously, "Perhaps... Shen Yao took it."
His mood instantly soured.
That woman is truly a troublemaker. She was like that when she was young, and she's still like that now that she's grown up. Her ability to harm people hasn't diminished at all.
Given Wei Luo's temperament, he immediately wanted to return to Yikun Palace to settle accounts with Shen Yao, but Liu Heng stopped him at this moment and advised, "At this hour, the palace gates are probably already locked. Let's not talk about that for now. Just say you want to ask Shen Yao for a handkerchief. We have no evidence. Do you think she will give it to you?"
Wei Luo fell silent.
He remembered that he had draped the handkerchief over his knee. Only she had fallen and touched that spot. But the handkerchief was too personal. If he rashly went to confront her, Shen Yao would definitely not admit it, and might even turn around and accuse him.
Wei Luo was caught in a dilemma.
Do you have a good idea?
Wei Luo pinned his hopes on Liu Heng.
"This servant thinks we can do this tomorrow..."
Wei Luo leaned down to listen to Liu Heng's plan.
The warm yellow candlelight shone brightly, illuminating his lowered brows and making his bright eyes appear as clear and sparkling as jade.
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