Shi Aohan stared at Fu Rongxuan in disbelief, only to find his eyes fixed on her wrist. She had always been delicate, weak, and endearing. Her wrist was slender and boneless, the most charming part of her. She liked to hold the sleeve of her right arm with her left hand while pouring tea or painting, revealing just that section of her wrist. That alone was enough to make one's heart flutter.
But Fu Rongxuan showed no sign of being moved. There was something else in his eyes.
Shi Aohan quickly frowned. In the past few months, her reputation in the capital had been deteriorating. Those who used to adore her had all changed and now loathed her.
Yes, loathed. The adoration that once surrounded her had completely vanished.
Last time in the palace, even the Fourth Prince had turned away as soon as he saw her. The Queen and the Crown Prince only used her. The so - called family affection from the Crown Prince was nothing but a joke. She had seen it all clearly.
Now, Fu Rongxuan was her only card. She couldn't afford to lose him.
Shi Aohan raised her head again with teary eyes. "My dear Fu, with the national mourning, how could I be so bold as to wear red?"
Fu Rongxuan then came to his senses and quickly nodded. "It was my rudeness."
Shi Aohan pursed her lips. She didn't mention Lu Wanning's fondness for red, pretending not to know, and continued to pour tea for Fu Rongxuan.
The rumor that the reincarnation of the Nine - Heavens Mysterious Lady could only be matched with the Celestial Dragon had enraged the Crown Prince so much that he had smashed several fine inkstones.
He didn't know how this rumor had started. Although it seemed to praise Shi Aohan and elevate her to a high position on the surface, in fact, it could ruin her.
As soon as he heard the rumor, he had taken measures, but he had yet to find out who was behind it. For some reason, the face of that woman flashed through his mind.
She had been stupid before, but now she seemed to have become a bit more capable and devious.
But Lu Wanning didn't know Shi Aohan's true identity. How could she spread such a thing? Could there be someone else?
A staff member came in and bowed. "Your Highness, I've found something. This rumor seems to be related to the Fourth Prince."
The Crown Prince heaved a sigh of relief. It wasn't Lu Wanning... In fact, Lu Wanning was just a young lady. If someone else had done this, it would have been even more difficult. But he always felt that there was something strange about Lu Wanning and the entire Lu family.
The staff member looked worried. "I don't understand what the Fourth Prince is up to. I've heard that the Fourth Prince used to have a crush on Miss Shi, but he had restrained himself after being warned by the Heir of the Fu family. Now..."
The Crown Prince sneered with pursed lips. "What does the rumor say?"
"Only the True Dragon can match..."
"How many True Dragons are there under the sky?"
Sweat rolled down the staff member's forehead. "Naturally... there's only one."
The Crown Prince shook his head. "It's true that there's only one True Dragon now, but what about in the future? The future True Dragon."
The staff member immediately knelt down. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is also a True Dragon."
The Crown Prince sneered. "I'm afraid his ambition has grown. I originally thought he had no interest in power, so I didn't care. In the future, I would just send him to his fief. But since he has other thoughts, don't blame me for being ruthless."
The staff member looked up in confusion. "Your Highness means that the Fourth Prince still has feelings for Miss Shi? Yes, yes, Your Highness. That's why the Fourth Prince spread this rumor. Since the Heir of the Fu family is not from the royal family, how can he marry Miss Shi? And if the Fourth Prince marries Miss Shi, wouldn't it fulfill the rumor and prove that he is the future True Dragon Emperor?"
It was indeed a cunning scheme.
Lu Wanning sat up abruptly. "What did you say? The rumor disappeared before it could spread widely? How could this be?"
Jiyue whispered, "I don't know either. Logically speaking, even if Miss Shi wanted to suppress it, the news should have spread. But it's as if someone was watching us. As soon as the news was sent out, those who spread it... I can't find them anymore."
Lu Wanning's heart sank. "Can't find them? Could it be that the Crown Prince has discovered us?"
Jiyue shook her head. "My Lady, if we were discovered, it would be easy for them to trace it back to you. What should we do?"
Lu Wanning wasn't worried about this. Even if she was discovered, she could just say that she couldn't stand to see Fu Rongxuan and Shi Aohan happy and had deliberately tried to disgust them.
But she waited and waited, yet there was no sign of revenge from Fu Rongxuan and Shi Aohan.
Lu Wanning murmured to herself, "Could it be that because I rarely go out these days, it's inconvenient for them to make trouble for me?"
Although she thought so, for some reason, the face of Sheng Jinyu flashed through her mind. It seemed that every time she did something, he would know in time. Could it be him?
At this moment, in the imperial study, the emperor was reclining on his chair, and the eunuch was carefully massaging his temples.
Sheng Jinyu, sitting beside him, was reading a memorial.
"Do you think, A Yu, how much longer can the battle in Changping of Luocheng last?"
Sheng Jinyu smiled. "Your Son doesn't know. But Lu Hongxi is excellent at tactics. Whether this battle was his doing or not, he should have predicted and arranged things before returning to the capital last year."
The emperor sighed. "A Yu, do you think I made a mistake?"
Sheng Jinyu still shook his head. "Father, why do you say so? How could you be wrong? It's Lu Hongxi who is wrong. If he were loyal, he should understand your pain."
"You're right. Lu Hongxi is so stupid!" The emperor scolded, but his heart was filled with sadness.
Sheng Jinyu nodded. "Father, you seem to be in worse spirits than before."
The emperor was taboo about others saying that he was in poor health, but this was his favorite son, so he didn't mind. He waved his hand and rubbed his temples. "Since your imperial grandmother passed away, I've been feeling a bit out of sorts. I feel that I'm not up to many things."
Sheng Jinyu smiled softly. "It's because you've been too depressed. If there were some happy events in the palace to cheer you up, it might be better."
The emperor shook his head. "The national mourning is not over yet. It's not suitable to hold a beauty - selection."
Sheng Jinyu said casually, "Your Majesty is the king. You don't need to hold a beauty - selection. Just appoint a noble concubine casually. It would also be a joyous occasion."
The emperor thought for a moment. "You're right, A Yu. But A Yu, at my age, I have no such hobbies. You, on the other hand, are in your prime. The Crown Prince already has two concubines, but there's no one in your mansion. You should have taken a wife long ago. Do you have any ideas?"
Sheng Jinyu's eyes flashed, and a blush quickly appeared on his face. "Father... Your Son... has no ideas..."
The emperor thought he had seen through his son's mind and laughed smugly. "Since you have no ideas, I'll choose for you..."
"Father..." Sheng Jinyu suddenly knelt on the ground. "Father, Your Son... doesn't want to. Love is just a distraction. Your Son... only wants to do his best to assist you. I don't want anything else."
The emperor stared at him for a while and then laughed out loud. "Is it that you don't want it, or that you dare not?"
Sheng Jinyu looked up, showing a shocked and embarrassed expression, as if his secret had been discovered. He lowered his head in embarrassment and let out a long sigh. "Father, Your Son is the Prince Yu."