As soon as she stepped out of the banquet, Shen Mingzhu felt as if a great weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She wished she could immediately return to her mansion and flop onto the bed.
She hadn't been back to the palace for several months, yet it seemed to have remained completely unchanged.
As Shen Mingzhu walked by, the palace servants, all remembering this beloved and highly favored eldest princess, hurriedly bowed respectfully to her.
Finding it bothersome, Shen Mingzhu led Chuntao towards less crowded areas.
Before she knew it, they had reached the imperial garden. It was early spring, and all that could be seen were bare branches.
Shen Mingzhu exchanged a look with Chuntao, and they both saw the boredom in each other's eyes. They sighed in unison and found a small stone table to sit at.
"Your Highness."
Suddenly, Shen Mingzhu heard someone calling her name. She instinctively looked up and ahead.
A man was approaching under the moonlight. He was tall, with deep-set eyes and a gentle expression. Wearing a moon-white long robe, simple in style but somehow exuding an otherworldly air as if he were a celestial being.
Shen Mingzhu's expression remained calm as she said to the man in front of her, "May I ask what brings you here, Lord Zhou?"
Hearing this, Zhou Chengyu was slightly stunned, then forced a bitter smile and said, "Your Highness has really grown so distant from me?"
Shen Mingzhu didn't answer. Her fingers unconsciously stroked the edge of the stone table.
Seeing this unconscious gesture of hers, Zhou Chengyu knew she was impatient. Suppressing the bitterness in his heart, he said, "It's just a coincidence. The hall was too lively inside, so I came out to get some fresh air."
"Congratulations to Your Highness."
Only then did Shen Mingzhu look up at him and ask, "What's the good news?"
"Just now at the banquet, His Majesty appointed the princess consort to the Hanlin Academy. It's likely that he will be promoted soon."
After hearing this, Shen Mingzhu was truly a bit surprised. Then she lowered her eyes and fell into deep thought.
"Your Highness."
Seeing that Shen Mingzhu's mind was clearly elsewhere, Zhou Chengyu couldn't help raising his voice. "You... Are you really willing to marry the princess consort?"
Shen Mingzhu's hand that was rubbing the stone table paused for a moment. She looked up at Zhou Chengyu, her face showing a hint of inquisition.
Zhou Chengyu's father was the emperor's tutor and had become a trusted aide of Shen Mingyuan since he ascended the throne.
Could it be that Zhou Chengyu really had no prior knowledge about her being married to Xie Lang?
Seeing the half-smile expression on Shen Mingzhu's face, Zhou Chengyu suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Your Highness."
He took a deep look at Shen Mingzhu.
The woman in front of him was still as proud as ever. Even after being humiliated, she still maintained her pride, which made Zhou Chengyu deeply infatuated.
"If I say I really didn't know, would you believe me?"
Shen Mingzhu remained silent, but her gaze shifted from Zhou Chengyu to the withered tree beside them.
Did she believe him?
If Shen Mingzhu hadn't experienced so many things, she would have answered without hesitation. But now...
She showed a resistant expression.
Zhou Chengyu forced a bitter smile. His eyes looking at Shen Mingzhu dimmed, showing a hint of dejection.
"Chaochao."
Zhou Chengyu looked at Shen Mingzhu and whispered, "Can't you trust me just once?"
Chaochao was Shen Mingzhu's nickname.
Since her father and brother passed away and her mother fell ill with a confused memory, no one had called her that for a long time.
Shen Mingzhu was slightly dazed for a moment, but then she still looked up at Zhou Chengyu, her eyes firm.
Zhou Chengyu stood there in silence for a long time. Under Shen Mingzhu's gaze, he left, his back looking lonely.
Just then...
Before Shen Mingzhu could stand up, a sarcastic voice came.
"Chaochao?"
Xie Lang seemed to appear out of nowhere. With a cynical expression on his face, he walked up to Shen Mingzhu, crouched down, and said, "I didn't know Your Highness had such a name."
Shen Mingzhu was startled. A momentary uneasiness flashed across her face. Then she looked at Xie Lang and said, "Congratulations. You've finally entered the Hanlin Academy today."
Xie Lang looked at her and said, "Doesn't Your Highness know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Whether it's good or bad depends on your ability, doesn't it?"
Shen Mingzhu's answer was full of implications. Her eyes looking at Xie Lang turned a bit solemn.
Wait! Why was Xie Lang here?
Shen Mingzhu suddenly stood up and asked Xie Lang, "Why are you here?"
Xie Lang smiled sarcastically. "If I'm not here, where else should I be? Should I stand between Your Highness and Zhou Chengyu?"
Shen Mingzhu sighed. She reached out and tucked the stray hair behind Xie Lang's ear, saying gently, "Your hair is messy."
[So annoying. I knew I wouldn't have any peace as soon as I entered the palace. I guessed from the start that this fool Shen Mingzhu must have been set up.]
[Really... So annoying. I even got involved in someone's scheme to catch an affair.]
[Shen Mingzhu is so stupid. I knew I'd have to clean up her mess.]
Shen Mingzhu: "..."
So that's it. Someone had led Zhou Chengyu and Xie Lang here, aiming to make them fight.
Who was it?
Shen Mingzhu fell into deep thought and didn't notice that Xie Lang's ears were gradually turning red, looking as if they were steaming.
Who was so bored?
Since they had set up such a scheme, there must be a follow-up.
Thinking like this, Shen Mingzhu reached out and tugged at Xie Lang's sleeve, saying, "Come and sit for a while. There's bound to be a good show later."
Saying this, Shen Mingzhu turned to look at the moon in the sky. Xie Lang sat there in a daze, with a complex expression on his face, not knowing what he was thinking.
Not long after, a group of people came bustling over.
When they got closer, they saw that under the dim moonlight, the princess consort and the eldest princess were sitting in this secluded place enjoying the moon, looking extremely comfortable.
Shen Mingzhu took a quick glance. These were all well-known noble ladies in the capital.
"So Your Highness came out to enjoy the moon with the princess consort."
A lady covered her mouth and laughed, with a kind expression on her face.
Hearing this, Shen Mingzhu smiled and said, "Naturally."
Who could it be? Deliberately setting up a situation for Xie Lang and Zhou Chengyu to confront each other, and then bringing a group of people to watch the show.
This kind of scheme seemed rather harmless.
If Shen Mingzhu were just an ordinary princess, her reputation would surely be damaged and her future would be bleak. But as the eldest princess with a fief and real power, she naturally wasn't afraid of these things.
The person behind this scheme seemed rather inexperienced. At least, it couldn't be Zhou Chengyu's father or other old foxes.
Shen Mingzhu scanned the crowd and saw the fifth princess, Shen Mingsi, standing on one side.
Shen Mingsi was Shen Mingyuan's younger sister by the same mother, but their relationship was just so-so.
Even after Shen Mingyuan ascended the throne, Shen Mingsi was just an ordinary princess without any special rewards. She was currently being considered for a marriage.
Could it be her?
Shen Mingzhu raised her eyebrows and said to Shen Mingsi, "Is that you, Fifth Sister? Long time no see. How have you been?"
Hearing this, Shen Mingsi's smile became a bit shy. "I've been fine recently, Big Sister. Thank you for your concern."
"What a good girl." A noble lady beside them sighed. "Just now, when the Fifth Highness saw you come out, she said she wanted to come out for a stroll to see if she could run into you, Big Sister."
Hearing this, the smile on Shen Mingsi's lips froze slightly.