Chapter 7: Making a Pretense



Xu Mian sat by the window of the bedroom, lying on her stomach and looking at the moon.

You obviously don't like me, so why did you marry me? It's always like this, you get angry at me

as soon as you see me, sob... Obviously I have a special reason to meet Pei Yu tonight.

Tomorrow is the birthday of Xu Mian's mother, Xue. She can't leave the palace, so she wants Pei Yu to help her make an offering and pray in the temple.

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In the Purple Palace, the night deepened. Shi Jun stood in front of the window, his thoughts surging like a tide.

Now it seems that the women in this palace will do anything to win favor for power and status.

And because of the relationship between Concubine Lan and the prince as childhood sweethearts, she knows everything about him. The more he contacts her, the greater the risk of being exposed.

Pei Yu is the new top scholar, and now the Minister of Honglu Temple. Does the Crown Princess like that boy?

Shi Jun lay in the bed and even rolled to the place where Xu Mian slept last night.

What kind of dream did she have the night before? Why was she so frightened?

This woman is good in everything, but she can't speak fluently, and it is really difficult to communicate with her.

The next day, Empress Xiao gave instructions and sent people to urge Shi Jun to go to Penglai Palace.

Shi Jun put down the memorial, without raising his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Tell my mother that I know."

The head nanny continued to serve a pot of wine, "In addition, this is the wine that the queen specially prepared for His Highness and the Crown Princess."

"Leave it there."

After the head nanny left, Shi Jun picked up the wine pot and smelled it with a mocking expression.

Queen, you must not know whose good deed you are helping.

In the evening, the setting sun cast its afterglow on every corner of the palace.

The Purple Palace was magnificent and solemn.

The head aunt walked into the palace quickly and reported respectfully: "Your Highness, Concubine Lan and Concubine Liu want to see you."

Shi Jun slowly stood up from the ebony desk, said nothing, and walked straight out of the palace.

Concubine Lan and Concubine Liu stood outside the palace, dressed up and graceful, with exquisite makeup.

When they saw Shi Jun coming out, they hurried forward and saluted, saying, "Your Highness, I have made some cakes for you today."

"I have also made a nourishing soup..."

The two spoke in a gentle voice, looking at Shi Jun with affectionate eyes.

Shi Jun said in a cold tone, "I will go to Penglai Palace to accompany the Crown Princess for dinner."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the direction of Penglai Palace.

Concubine Lan looked at Shi Jun's receding back, her brows slightly wrinkled, and a trace of doubt appeared on her face.

Concubine Liu at the side grabbed her hand and asked in a low voice: "Sister, what's going on? His Highness doesn't even care about you? He actually ran to see that little stutterer?"

Concubine Lan shook her head: "Maybe it's because the Empress has some special instructions."

The two talked as they walked back.

Concubine Liu was not angry and continued to complain, "The Crown Princess is such a disabled person that she can't even speak clearly. She can only sit in this position because of her arranged marriage. Sister, you are the one in the Crown Prince's heart. You have to find a way to pull the Crown Princess down."

Concubine Lan smiled and said, "I know how good my sister is, but you must be careful with your words and actions in the harem."

Concubine Liu said with a sinister intention, "Sister is right."

In the Penglai Palace, Xu Mian had just finished dinner and was sitting by the large porcelain vat in the yard playing. There was a small green frog on the lotus leaf and a small red koi swimming around.

She used a small tree leaf to tease the green frog's white belly, "Are you pretending to sleep? Call twice..."

Suddenly a tall shadow covered the large jar. Xu Mian turned her head and saw a sinister and cold face.

"Your Highness..." She stood up straight and nervously put her hands behind the jar behind her.

The man was dressed in a dark golden dragon robe. He was tall and slender, with a jade-like face. His dark eyes stared at her. Xu Mian felt a chill all over her body, but it was clearly midsummer.

"The Crown Princess is still innocent. Do you like to play these?"

The man's voice was low and cold, with a hint of teasing and mockery.

Xu Mian's peach blossom eyes narrowed slightly, and she cursed in her heart: Is this arrogant and rude prince trying to play a trick on me again?

But on the surface, he showed an obedient look and nodded slightly.

"What was the Crown Princess talking to the toad just now?"

Xu Mian quickly corrected: "No... not... toad, it's... a frog..."

Shi Jun saw that she was still standing in front of the big vat and did not follow him into the room, so he walked back a few steps and stretched out a big hand.

Xu Mian handed him the slender green branch in her hand. After he took it, he bent down and poked the little frog's eyes with the branch.

The little frog was frightened and immediately jumped off the lotus leaf, making an angry croaking sound, croaking...

Xu Mian originally thought that he had some good way, but he didn't expect that he would treat the cute little frog so cruelly.

Lying in front of the tank, he placed his little hand on the little frog's head and comforted it softly, "Don't be afraid."

The beauty had a petite figure, with fullness in every place, a slim waist that could be held in one hand, and a pink-green gauze outer garment with a pleated skirt of the same color, the hem of which swayed gently with her movements.

Her hair was in a bun with two gemstone beads on it, and a few strands of hair fell on her ears, making her look even more charming.

She was playing by herself, letting me take care of herself?

Shi Jun waved and said, "Crown Princess, come in. I have something to say to you."

Xuelian gently pulled her and whispered, "Crown Princess, hurry up and chat with His Highness to improve our relationship."

Xu Mian followed with a blank expression, lowering her head and walking slowly. She didn't notice that the man on the steps in front of her suddenly stopped and turned around.

Ah! Today Xu Mian was wearing a pair of brand new lotus cloud-climbing shoes. One of her feet missed the step, and her body instantly lost balance and fell forward.

A strong and slender arm reached out in time and held the delicate figure steadily.

Xu Mian only felt a hot current coming from the other's palm, tightly wrapped around her soft waist.

The man accidentally touched the soft and elastic part in front of her, causing her heartbeat to speed up and a blush on her face.

Shi Jun was a little embarrassed, and quickly helped her stand up, quickly threw off his sleeves and walked into the main hall.

Xu Mian touched her waist and muttered softly: "Disgusting..."

Then, the scene of giving Shi Yan the antidote that night suddenly emerged in her mind. Her face suddenly flushed and she was as shy as a ripe peach.

Shi Jun mistakenly thought that it was the intimate contact just now that made Xu Mian so shy, and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

The reason why he chose to come to Penglai Palace was to avoid the prince's dangerous childhood sweetheart, Concubine Lan. He

deliberately created an illusion that he was interested in the princess.

Xu Mian wondered in his heart why the arrogant prince came to Penglai Palace today?

After a while, the palace maids slid in, holding exquisite snacks and fruits in their hands.

Xu Mian personally poured a cup of fragrant tea and carefully held it in front of Shi Jun.

The man raised his hand slightly to take the teacup and took a sip lightly.

Strangely enough, for some reason, when he stepped into this Penglai Palace, he felt surprisingly peaceful and calm in his heart.

While thinking, a gurgling sound came from his stomach, and Shi Jun remained calm.

Xu Mian saw this and smiled secretly, with two charming dimples on her face and her eyes curved like crescent moons.

"I haven't had dinner yet, I wonder if there is any food available in Penglai Palace?"

Xu Mian shook her head like a wave drum and said crisply, "No!"

Xuelian hurried in and reported, "Yes, yes, Your Highness, please wait a moment, I will go and prepare the food and serve it soon."


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