"The crabapple blossoms in the western part of the manor are in full bloom." Shen Huaixu's voice, as gentle as a clear spring, broke the awkward silence in the hall.
His jade-like fingertips lightly touched the teacup, his demeanor composed, and he said, "Jin Tang, why don't you take His Highness to enjoy the sights?"
These words were like a token that lifted a ban.
Gu Zhixing grabbed Shen Jintang and pulled her up with such speed that it almost caught everyone off guard.
The crimson official robes and the black sleeves of the garments overlapped and fluttered at the vermilion threshold, like two intertwined butterfly wings, lively and flamboyant.
Shen Jintang staggered as he pulled her, the jade hairpin in her hair shimmering with tiny, flowing light, casting swaying spots of light on the palace bricks.
"You little brat! Did I say you could leave?"
The emperor's angry shouts followed them out of the hall, his tone tinged with helplessness yet unable to conceal his doting affection.
Gu Zhixing waved without turning his head, his voice full of triumphant joy: "Uncle, don't worry! I promise I won't let you see me causing you any trouble!"
The last note dissipated in the draft, as if even the air itself carried a playful air.
Shen Huaixu watched the two departing figures, then suddenly lowered his head and took a sip of tea.
His extremely complex emotions were reflected in the clear tea soup.
"This child is really...impatient."
As the emperor watched the two figures disappear into the distance, a helpless yet indulgent smile unconsciously curved his lips.
He shook his head, the fine lines at the corners of his eyes smoothing out, like an old father looking at his own mischievous child.
"Shen Qing..." the emperor suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with weariness, his fingertips gently pressing his temples, "I think that child Zhixing..." He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze following the figure that had already disappeared outside the palace gates, and chuckled softly, "Only Jin Tang can handle him. You didn't see it, but a few days ago in the Imperial Study, he almost tore my Imperial Study apart just to get that purple-tipped brush for Jin Tang."
Upon hearing this, Shen Huaixu lowered his eyes slightly, his raven-feather-like eyelashes casting a shadow beneath them.
A perfectly timed smile played on his lips as his slender fingers traced the rim of the teacup. "The Crown Prince is kind and honest, and treats people with sincerity. It is truly his good fortune to be so favored by His Majesty."
Before he finished speaking, a crabapple petal drifted down onto his shoulder, making his moon-white official robes appear even more elegant.
The emperor waved his hand, his bright yellow sleeves shimmering with tiny golden light in the sunlight.
He leaned back wearily on the soft cushions of the imperial carriage, his eyes and brows showing signs of weariness: "Well, it's been quite a while since I left the palace. There's still a pile of memorials waiting for my approval in the Imperial Study." He glanced at the sky and said, "It's time to go back to the palace."
Shen Huaixu immediately stepped forward, his wide sleeves flowing like clouds.
As he bowed, the jade pendant at his waist remained perfectly still, revealing his excellent manners: "Your subject respectfully sees Your Majesty off."
His lowered brows and eyes exuded respect, but only when the emperor turned away did a thoughtful glint flash in his eyes.
Just as the emperor was about to board his carriage, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Lin Tingwan standing under the crabapple tree.
The girl's slender figure was shrouded in dappled floral shadows, her pale fingers tightly gripping a handkerchief, even her knuckles turning bluish-white.
The emperor paused slightly, and the gilded carriage curtain in his hand hesitated for a moment.
"Listen to the evening." The emperor's voice softened unconsciously, as if afraid of disturbing the butterflies among the flowers.
“If you still want to admire the flowers,” he glanced at the crabapple trees and then at the exquisite courtyard of the Shen residence, “stay a little longer at the Shen residence, and remember to return before the palace gates are locked.”
After saying that, he gave a wink to the palace maids who were attending him, signaling them not to rush him.
Upon hearing this, Lin Tingwan looked up abruptly, a glimmer of light flashing in her almond-shaped eyes before quickly dimming.
She forced a smile, barely a genuine one, and as she curtsied, the pearl hairpin in her hair swayed gently: "Your subject... thanks Your Majesty for your permission."
The last word was almost inaudible, as if it were squeezed out between his teeth.
She kept her head down, unaware of the fleeting pity in the emperor's eyes, and even less of the slight furrowing of Shen Huaixu's brows.
The rumbling of the carriage gradually faded into the alley, but Lin Tingwan remained standing still.
Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the handkerchief, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the begonia flower pattern embroidered on the corner of the handkerchief, crumpling the outline of the petals into a wrinkled mess.
A breeze blew by, and the wisps of hair at her temples swayed gently, gleaming with a light brown sheen in the sunlight.
Shen Huaixu stood three steps behind her and could clearly see her thin shoulders trembling slightly.
His fingers, hanging by his side, twitched, but he ultimately did not step forward.
"Princess," he called out, his voice a few decibels lower than usual, "Are you feeling unwell?"
Lin Tingwan turned around abruptly, her eyes red and swollen, but she stubbornly tilted her head back, refusing to let the tears fall.
She looked directly into Shen Huaixu's eyes, her voice trembling slightly: "Shen Huaixu, do you... not want to marry me at all?"
These words were like a needle, gently pricking Shen Huaixu's heart.
His eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed, but he maintained a calm expression: "What makes you say that, Princess?"
"Then why did you stop me?" Lin Tingwan stepped forward, a faint scent of jasmine wafting from her. "His Majesty clearly agreed to our marriage from the very beginning, but the Crown Prince interrupted it. I wanted to try again, but you handed me tea, wasn't that because you didn't want me to continue?"
Looking at her reddened nose, Shen Huaixu felt a slight softening in his heart.
He sighed softly, reaching out to wipe her tears, but stopped mid-air, instead straightening his sleeves: "Princess, His Majesty's favoritism towards the Crown Prince is evident to all the officials. Since he has already publicly granted the Crown Prince's request, if you were to argue further..."
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