Aunt Qiu hesitated, her expression suggesting she wanted to say something but couldn't: "But Aunt Chen isn't as favored as she used to be... What can she do?"
Aunt Qiu didn't know much about what was happening in the Prince's courtyard, but some things were obvious to anyone with eyes to see, especially when compared to the past.
Logically, after Shen Xiwei's miscarriage, the Crown Prince should have cherished her even more, but that was not the case. It can only be said that people's hearts are fickle.
Thinking of what Shen Xiwei had done in secret, Shen Tangning smiled and said lightly, "Auntie, don't underestimate women, especially a woman whose eyes are blinded by hatred."
Some things, once done, will inevitably leave a trace. She didn't want to get involved in the mess of the Marquis's mansion, but her second younger sister would definitely be happy to cause trouble for Chi Jingyu.
Love makes one wish for life, hate makes one wish for death.
...
After leaving the teahouse, Shen Tangning planned to buy some pastries on the way. It wasn't far, so she and Xueqing walked there.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, she turned around, frowned, and stared at the empty street corner.
Xueqing, puzzled, asked, "Miss, what's wrong?"
Shen Tangning collected her thoughts: "It's nothing, maybe it's just my imagination."
She seemed to sense someone was following her, but when she turned around, she didn't see anyone suspicious.
Nothing happened on the rest of the journey, and Shen Tangning couldn't help but feel relieved.
*
This year, due to the recent floods, which cost a great deal of money for disaster relief, almost emptying the national treasury, Emperor Chongde advocated for frugality in the imperial harem and thus did not hold a grand Mid-Autumn Festival banquet.
It's a good thing that we don't have to go to the palace for social engagements; the Chi family is planning to have a lively get-together.
Today, I am taking a break at home.
Red lanterns were hung in the mansion early in the morning. Shen Tangning was learning to make mooncakes with Mother Chi. She was intelligent from a young age and could learn anything quickly, but she was not very good at this kind of handicraft.
The same principle applies to making dumplings and mooncakes.
Chi's mother taught her very carefully, and she learned very diligently. However, when it came to the step of filling and shaping, she was always a bit flustered, and the finished product was not exactly satisfactory.
A sneer suddenly came from behind, a gloating laugh that belonged only to Chi Yan: "Aren't you just a lump of dough?"
Shen Tangning's ears turned red instantly. She clenched the dough, glared at him, and pursed her lips, her tone displeased: "Do you think it's that simple?"
With a little force, the thin dough broke, revealing the filling inside, making her even more embarrassed.
Chi Yan raised an eyebrow and gave her a half-smile: "I'd like to see just how difficult it is?"
He took the dough and skillfully kneaded it with his fingers. The dough that was unruly in her hands became obedient and well-formed in his hands.
Chi Yan pressed the dough into a wooden mold, and the mooncake was formed.
She widened her eyes slightly, and had to admit that some things require talent.
She imitated Chi Yan's expression, bowing her head earnestly. Chi Yan stared at her focused expression and suddenly felt like teasing her. He smeared some flour on his finger and smeared it on her face, leaving a white mark.
Shen Tangning looked up at her, her eyes filled with confusion: "What's wrong?"
Chi Yan said in a serious tone, "Your face is dirty, let me wipe it off for you. It's not clean yet, come closer."
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