Qinglan's gaze fell on the hairpin, a hint of confusion in her eyes. To her, the colorful hairpin didn't suit her at all.
Shen Tangning gently curled her lips: "This was made for me by my husband himself."
Qinglan looked somewhat surprised. She hadn't expected someone as aloof as the young master to do such a thing. Just as she was vaguely sensing that something was amiss, she saw the smile on Shen Tangning's lips fade, and his expression return to its usual coldness.
“My husband is your young master’s younger brother.”
Qinglan immediately covered her mouth, unable to hide the astonishment in her eyes.
What did she hear?
Her panicked eyes were filled with disbelief. Wasn't that lady the young master's... sister-in-law?
Moreover, she didn't seem to be doing it willingly. Qinglan couldn't help but feel sympathy. She finally understood why the lady always looked so worried.
Shen Tangning did not dwell on the topic and returned to her taciturn demeanor, but she knew clearly that Qinglan's mindset had changed.
...
That evening, Chi Jingyu inquired about Shen Tangning's daily life from Qinglan again, but Qinglan kept it a secret out of selfishness.
If the young master finds out, he will surely cause trouble for the lady, and that hairpin might even be taken away...
That was her only remaining thought.
Chi Jingyu sat down in the chair, while Shen Tangning, preferring to endure the cold, sat by the window, separated from him by a silver river.
He didn't seem to care and slowly said, "Shen Ci caused quite a scene at the Marquis's residence today."
The person by the window paused and looked up.
Meeting her cool gaze, Chi Jingyu smiled enigmatically: "He came to see you."
Unfortunately, although Shen Ci suspected that he had taken Shen Tangning away, he had no concrete evidence and could not guess where he had hidden her.
"What's the point of imprisoning me like this? Do you think you can keep me locked up forever?" Shen Tangning stared at him coldly, making no attempt to hide her disgust.
Chi Jingyu's face stiffened for a moment before he finally found his voice: "Of course not, it's just that things are not peaceful in the capital right now, and the Third Prince is looking for you, so it's not appropriate for you to appear in public."
She gave a slight sneer: "You dare say there wasn't any personal motive involved?"
He stopped speaking, gazing at her silently and with restraint.
Shen Tangning turned her face away, her tone cold and hard: "I need to rest."
After a while, Chi Jingyu got up and left.
Shen Tangning frowned, silently reminding herself to stay calm.
The escape had to be absolutely foolproof; otherwise, if it failed, Chi Jingyu wouldn't give her a second chance.
To distract herself, she began to analyze the situation in the court, and Chi Jingyu would occasionally come and tell her about what was happening in the court.
She dipped her fingertip in water and scribbled on the table, secretly thinking that the token had been in her cousin's hands for some time now, and he should be taking action soon.
Once the reinforcements arrive, the Third Prince will be trapped in the palace and will likely have no chance of escape.
Shen Tangning circled another name and suddenly sat up straight.
What about the fourth prince?
What role did he play in this palace coup?
In the warm, spring-like room, Shen Tangning broke out in a cold sweat. She suddenly remembered something she had overlooked.
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