Inside the room, the bamboo curtains were half-drawn, and wisps of incense smoke slowly wafted from the cloisonné three-legged incense burner with carved animal ears. Shen Mingzhuang stopped in front of the screen.
There was silence all around, except for the chirping of the thrushes hanging under the eaves. Shen Mingzhuang held his breath and waited for the other person to speak first.
"Why don't you come in and sit down?"
A refined and clear voice rang out, and Ming Zhuang frowned slightly, feeling that the voice sounded somewhat familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
However, she didn't have much time to think about it. He was the emperor, and he had come to the Wen residence in person to see her. She couldn't just avoid him.
However, she was not yet absolutely certain of escaping Jiang Wang, so she did not want to face him. That feeling, or rather, because she knew how he interacted with the female lead, made her feel uneasy at the thought of being alone with him in a room.
She walked slowly and deliberately, her face expressionless, but in her heart she was frantically calculating how to end this meeting as soon as possible.
Even though he had seen her more than once, each time, Jiang Wang's heart would involuntarily tighten, tightening little by little, until he finally held his breath.
The girl's beautiful eyes were lowered, and the light purple dress she wore was elegant and graceful. The glimpse of snow-white skin revealed at her collarbone made Jiang Wang's palms slightly damp and his throat bob.
Mingzhuang slowly raised his eyes, and the first thing that caught his eye was a pair of black boots with gold embroidered dragons. A black brocade robe with gold dragon claw patterns was casually draped on the armchair. The moment he saw the person in front of him, Shen Mingzhuang's pupils shrank.
The person in front of her was none other than the Young Master Jiang she had met at Daci Temple before. Young Master Jiang, Young Master Jiang… Shen Mingzhuang suddenly realized. She wondered who was so arrogant as to take a young lady’s personal jewelry so casually. She never expected it to be Jiang Wang himself!
However, she shifted her gaze, stepped forward, and bowed slightly, saying, "What a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet Young Master Jiang at the Wen residence. Since we parted at Daci Temple, I wonder how you have been?"
She had bright, intelligent eyes and a composed demeanor. Her cheerful laughter carried a hint of lighthearted banter. Jiang Wang was somewhat surprised; this girl used to be very clever, so how could she not guess his identity?
Jiang Wang stared intently at Shen Mingzhuang with a half-smile in his eyes. The moment their eyes met, Shen Mingzhuang immediately looked away. This man's gaze was too sharp, as if he could see right through him.
Jiang Wang's eyes flickered slightly, a sly glint flashing across them.
"Since we parted at Daci Temple, I, Jiang, have been restless and unable to sleep at night, tossing and turning..." As he spoke, he kept an eye on Shen Mingzhuang's expression, and at the end of his sentence, he added with a hint of lighthearted teasing, "I miss you endlessly, I long for you without ceasing, and I only hope to see you again soon."
As Shen Mingzhuang listened, he cursed the lecherous man in his heart for daring to openly flirt with her. Did he really think that just because he was the ruler of a country, no one could do anything to him?
Her eyelids were lowered, her long eyelashes drooping like butterfly wings over her bright, beautiful eyes, and the corners of her delicate and pretty mouth were slightly upturned, which almost made Jiang Wang lose control of himself.
"Young Master, is it... that your days are numbered?" Ming Zhuang feigned concern. Otherwise, why are you in such a hurry to see me?
The sudden change of topic left Jiang Wang speechless for a moment, unsure how to refute it.
He could calmly debate with those sharp-tongued officials, but he stumbled when faced with this little girl. Jiang Wang chuckled, thinking, "What a quick-witted girl!"
Seeing that he was silent, Shen Mingzhuang decided to stop while she was ahead and said in a gentle voice, "Since we have met by chance today, why don't you return my hairpin to me? I am a concubine's daughter in a difficult situation, and my grandmother does not allow us to make any mistakes. A young lady's reputation is especially important. If you are willing to return it to me, I can reward you handsomely."
These words were quite telling, and Jiang Wang immediately sensed that there was more to them than met the eye.
Regardless of whether she truly didn't remember him at all, the harshness and neglect the Shen family showed her in her words made his heart sink.
"That hairpin... I'm so sorry, I don't have it with me. If fate allows, I'll bring it to you next time."
Who could associate this humble and polite demeanor with the capricious and ruthless emperor of the time?
What if there's a next time? She didn't want to see him again. No matter how handsome he was or how pleasant his voice was, he was an undeniable dangerous person, someone she couldn't afford to touch.
She needs to hurry; it would be best if she could leave this place as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, she felt somewhat discouraged. She had thought that Pei Jingzhou was truly devoted to the female lead, but so much time had passed and she hadn't seen him take any action. Could it be that he had only been interested in the female lead's status as the legitimate daughter and the family background of the Grand Tutor's mansion?
"I have other matters to attend to at home, Young Master Jiang, please have some tea. I'll take my leave now."
Without waiting for Jiang Wang to say anything, he gritted his teeth and quickly left the room.
As soon as she stepped out the door, she quickened her pace, fearing that Jiang Wang's voice would come from behind. At this moment, she wished she could sprout wings and fly away. Man Huan had no choice but to jog to catch up, and couldn't help but look back. Was her young lady... hiding from her enemies?
Madam Wen hadn't expected her to come out so quickly. She wanted to ask what had happened, but since it concerned the Emperor, she dared not say much. She could only suppress her confusion and see Shen Mingzhuang off.
Inside the carriage, Granny Tian and Manhuan stared wide-eyed at Shen Mingzhuang, who remained silent, like a gourd with its mouth sawed off.
The group returned to the mansion, where Meishou Hall was already waiting. Upon their return, they went directly to Shou'an Hall.
Not wanting to say much in front of Shen Mingzhuang, Granny Tian first recounted what return gifts the Wen family had sent, then looked at the old lady and didn't continue.
"Mingzhuang, you must be tired too. Go downstairs, wash up, and write for a while."
Shen Mingzhuang obediently replied, "Granddaughter, wash your hands and then go and continue copying the Lotus Sutra for your grandmother."
At this moment, the old lady only wanted to know what Madam Wen meant, so she smiled, nodded, and sent her away first.
As Shen Mingzhuang stepped out of the main room, he smiled at Du Juan, who was standing guard under the eaves: "I need to copy Buddhist scriptures for my grandmother, but I'm afraid it might be disrespectful. Could you please bring me some hot water? I want to wash my hands in the mirror before copying them for my grandmother."
Shen Mingzhuang was always gentle and polite to her servants, and the maids in the mansion all liked her very much. In addition, she had recently become the old lady's favorite young lady, so Dujuan's attitude towards her was even more respectful. Thinking that the old lady often kept the ninth young lady by her side, she thought that there should be no problem if she left for a while, so she smiled and agreed to leave.
After Du Juan's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor, Shen Mingzhuang winked at Man Huan and murmured, "Where's my handkerchief?"
Then they tiptoed back to the main room.
Through the nanmu wood screen carved with sika deer and the God of Longevity, the voice inside, though not loud, clearly reached Shen Mingzhuang's ears.
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