Chapter 85

In the silent hall, Sang Zhu’s voice was gentle, and every word she said seemed difficult for Sang Yao to grasp.

She took quite a while to digest what was said.

They looked at each other, and then under Sang Zhu’s encouraging gaze, Sang Yao responded slowly.

Seduction, as the name suggests.

It sounds like a simple thing, but Sang Yao had never done it before and didn’t know how to seduce someone.

After some thought, she asked a crucial question, “What if he doesn’t come looking for me after I distance myself from him?”

Then she’d have to find a way out herself, which would be awkward.

Sang Shu said, “That’s why your seduction shouldn’t be too obvious. You have to make him unable to resist you.”

Sang Yao pondered for a moment, then said, somewhat puzzled, “Oh…”

“And if our plan succeeds, will he come to me and confess his feelings?”

Sang Zhu shook her head, “That’s not necessarily the case.”

Sang Yao felt somewhat disappointed and said, “If he doesn’t say it, how would I know? In the end, I still have to ask him.”

“Why is it so complicated?”

“If we weren’t already engaged, I wouldn’t have to worry about this and that, it’s so annoying.”

As Sang Yao muttered to herself, Sang Zhu couldn’t help but lift Sang Yao’s chubby cheeks and smiled, “Yao Yao, so this is how you fall in love.”

Sang Yao frowned, she didn’t know about others, but she felt quite incompetent.

She was constantly overthinking, worrying about trivial matters that weren’t important at all.

But she wasn’t someone who dilly-dallied.

She only realized her feelings yesterday, and started thinking about her relationship with Xie Yun.

Before, their marriage was a mutual agreement, and some things didn’t need to be explicitly stated.

But now she couldn’t continue like this in ambiguity.

She hadn’t even told her sister yet, and she was worried about so many things.

Does Xie Yun like her too?

What if Xie Yun doesn’t like her?

If she were to say it directly, how should she approach him?

What method could make Xie Yun like her?

It’s all so messy.

Sang Zhu continued, “Yao Yao, anyone can say they love you, but the one who truly loves you never just says it with words.”

Sang Shu was right, but Sang Yao always felt stupid.

She had already misunderstood several times, she didn’t want to do it again. Now she just wanted to hear Xie Yun clearly tell her.

Sang Yao sighed, feeling that love was really complicated, and didn’t continue to dwell on it with Sang Shu.

She sat opposite Sang Shu, suddenly remembering the recent visit of Lu Li to Xie Yun. She lowered her voice and said, “By the way, sister, are you familiar with the Crown Prince?”

Sang Shu responded with a raised tone.

In her gentle smile, there was a hint of subtle coldness, “The Crown Prince came to see you?”

Sang Yao honestly replied, “He came to see Xie Yun. I bumped into him and exchanged a few words.”

The palace walls have ears, and Sang Yao understood this reasoning.

She leaned closer to Sang Zhu and continued, “Sister, the Crown Prince also mentioned that you have a surprise. What surprise is it?”

She had thought about this question alone. Her sister was alone in the palace, and from the current situation, this so-called surprise was actually quite important.

It could refer to that matter.

Her sister, Sang Zhu, might be pregnant with the Emperor’s child.

Sang Yao knew but this was a secret.

The Emperor’s health was not good, and her sister was just an ordinary concubine in the palace.

If she didn’t have a child, she might end up being buried with him.

Having a child in the palace was a guarantee of security.

Her sister was alone, and if she were pregnant, things might be easier for her.

But Sang Zhu seemed unwilling to talk more about it.

She said, “There’s no surprise, don’t believe him.”

Sang Zhu pinched the teacup on the table and said, “Yao Yao, in the future, stay away from the Crown Prince.”

Sang Yao responded with an “Oh,” then asked, “Why? What’s wrong?”

Sang Shu warned her, “He’s the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. They say being with the king is like being with a tiger. What if he gets upset and takes it out on you?”

Perhaps because she had seen Lu Li bowing and scraping to Lu Ting before, the Crown Prince didn’t seem imposing to her.

And he often smiled gently, was easy to talk to, and even gave her a stray kitten.

Sang Yao didn’t think Lu Li was that scary.

Sang Zhu’s tone remained steady as she continued, “You know about Lu Ting’s situation, how he used to flatter Lu Ting, but now he’s turned against him…”

Sang Yao was surprised, “What happened to Lu Ting?”

Sang Shu asked, “Didn’t Xie Yun tell you?”

She casually added, “Lu Ting was arrested for sending someone to assassinate the Crown Prince for treason, and he committed suicide yesterday.”

Even Xie Yun hadn’t mentioned it to Sang Yao.

Sang Yao was stunned for a long time.

She could vaguely guess that this matter was not simple at all.

And the involvement of Rong Yan in this incident indicated that it might also be related to Xie Yun, but she couldn’t figure it out.

At that moment, Sang Yao smelled a strong medicinal scent.

On the tray held by the palace maid was a bowl of dark medicine. “Madam, here’s the medicine.”

Sang Zhu nodded and drank half of the medicine in one gulp. At the same time, Sang Yao saw a red mark on her sister’s neck.

Sang Yao wasn’t the same as before, she knew what this mark meant.

Almost forgot, not long ago, Sang Yin mentioned that her sister was back in favor recently, even more favored than when she was first named a concubine several years ago.

“Sister, are you sick?”

Sang Shu put down the medicine bowl and said, “No, just some tonic.”

Sang Yao nodded and didn’t ask further.

After some thought, she reminded, “Sister, I heard that the Empress is seriously ill. It’s not simple here. Sister, you’re in favor now, so you must be careful of others plotting against you.”

Sang Shu smiled in surprise, “Yao Yao, you know so much?”

Sang Yao proudly said, “I know a lot.”

Sang Zhu was still smiling, her beautiful and cold face softened.

She said softly, “The Empress’s illness has been going on for a long time, it has nothing to do with others.”

She patted Sang Yao’s head and said, “Don’t worry about me.”

Sang Zhu and Sang Yao were completely different people.

Sang Zhu naturally had a cold and clean appearance, like a weak willow in the wind, always evoking sympathy.

In the Sang family’s second courtyard, Sang Yin and Sang Yao both had faces not to be trifled with.

But actually, these two were completely different.

There were two people, one was a big fool who never remembered past grudges, and the other was a simple-minded little fool.

Only Sang Zhu had a heart as wicked as a snake and scorpion.

Different from ordinary girls who long for love, Sang Zhu always sneered at it, aiming only for respect and honor since she was young.

But inside the palace, she had no background, no family support, only relying on herself.

These years weren’t easy, but she liked it.

She enjoyed chasing after power, scheming, and crushing her opponents.

But no matter how she changed, in the eyes of her innocent and lovely younger sister, she seemed to always be that strong and kind sister.

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At noon, Sang Yao had lunch with Sang Zhu.

Just as they finished, a little eunuch came with a message saying Xie Yun was waiting for her.

Xie Yun was near Dong Zhumen, and when Sang Yao went there, she saw Xie Yun talking with someone from a distance.

She paused, looking at the tall and straight figure of the man.

It’s strange how she began to miss him just after being apart for a morning.

As she hesitated whether to wait a while longer, Xie Yun spotted her and waved.

Sang Yao had to walk over. When she approached, Xie Yun naturally took her hand and brought her to his side, asking, “Done talking?”

Sang Yao nodded.

She greeted the man, “Mr. Chen.”

Chen also politely returned the greeting, “Mrs. Xie.”

Then, he glanced at Sang Yao with a hint of regret in his eyes.

Very regretful.

He always thought Sang Yao was a good match for Yang Wenchuan, how come Xie Yun intercepted?

He knew his talented student Yang Wenchuan liked Sang Yao.

During Xie Yun’s wedding days, his excellent student appeared normal but kept making mistakes.

But there was nothing he could do.

Love struck him unexpectedly, and he encountered a rival like Xie Yun, which was unfortunate.

Sang Yao didn’t understand Chen’s meaning.

But Xie Yun immediately caught on, after all, the old man had been implying these things just now.

His face turned cold, “By the way, I heard my wife and your student… what’s his name again?”

Just pretending.

Chen looked at him expressionlessly, “Yang Wenchuan.”

Xie Yun nodded, “I heard he is an old acquaintance of my wife, took care of her in her childhood. Please tell him I will personally thank him another day.”

Chen said, “…I think that’s unnecessary.”

Xie Yun nodded, “Don’t be polite.”

Sang Yao stood aside, listening keenly to their conversation.

After Chen left, as they walked out of the palace gates and got into the carriage, Sang Yao asked, “Xie Yun, why did you suddenly say you want to visit Big Brother Yang?”

Xie Yun asked, “Can’t I mention it?”

Sang Yao nodded, “Of course you can.”

Sang Yao seemed in a good mood, she continued teasingly, “Big Brother Yang is indeed a good person. When you thank him in person, remember to bring a gift.”

Xie Yun’s tone turned sour, “…”

He became more annoyed, but Sang Yao felt happier.

She continued, “But it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Big Brother Yang. I wonder when he’ll visit again.”

“I wonder if he’s doing well,” Sang Yao asked.

Xie Yun couldn’t be bothered with her.

See? Xie Yun is just acting weird.

He looked unhappy, getting upset every time Yang Wenchuan was mentioned.

Just when Sang Yao thought Xie Yun wouldn’t respond, he said, “You sound quite regretful.”

Sang Yao, unusually perceptive today, concluded that Xie Yun was jealous.

This realization made Sang Yao feel pleased.

She remembered something her sister had taught her and said, “I’m not regretful at all.”

She wrapped her arm around Xie Yun’s and said, “I just want to go home with you quickly.”

Xie Yun’s expression softened slightly, but he still couldn’t smile.

They remained silent for the rest of the journey.

As the carriage neared Xie’s residence, he said again, “Really? Do you want to see how you address him and how you address me?”

Sang Yao thought it was petty of him to care about such things.

She thought happily, he must like her, otherwise why would he care about these things?

She said, “Isn’t it normal for me to call him Big Brother Yang?”

Xie Yun’s face remained cold, displeased with her answer.

Normal? What kind of normal was that?

Sang Yao looked at him quietly, recalling her sister’s words earlier.

To seduce him.

She didn’t quite understand.

But she knew that every beginning is difficult, and she had to learn.

Sang Yao tilted her head, thought for a moment, then leaned closer to him, taking the chance to ask, “Then, what do you want me to call you?”

Xie Yun pursed his lips and didn’t look at her.

He had been dissatisfied with this for a long time.

He wanted Sang Yao to change her address to him voluntarily, rather than forcing her.

But she was so timid and shy, she probably wouldn’t be able to.

Sang Yao stared at his impeccable handsome face, moving a bit closer, their breaths almost intertwining.

She tentatively whispered, “…Brother Yun?”

The carriage slowed to a stop, and silence filled the compartment.