Chapter 65 Consultation

Qing Dai urged the coachman all the way until they finally arrived at the Qingfeng Pavilion.

After consoling Wenyue along the journey, she finally stopped crying. Perhaps tired from crying and the bumpy carriage ride, she fell asleep leaning on Qing Dai.

Ah Qing was already waiting at the entrance of the Qingfeng Pavilion. Upon seeing Shu Yuwan, she quickly approached, “Miss Shu, please follow me.”

Shu Yuwan gave a courtesy, “Thank you.”

The Qingfeng Pavilion was the best spot to watch the dragon boat race. Every Dragon Boat Festival, it was monopolized by the imperial relatives, nobles, and aristocrats, with the third floor reserved exclusively for the royal family.

Although the formal dragon boat race had not yet begun, the area by the moat was already crowded with people, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

However, Shu Yuwan was not in the mood to enjoy the scene.

On the way, Zhang Yi and several guards had already interrogated the captured woman, but Liu Erniang refused to speak.

Shu Yuwan couldn’t figure out who was targeting her and why they used such blatant methods.

Before her betrothal to the Crown Prince, the only grudges she had were with the Anding Marquis’s residence and Zhao Qing Qing. However, Zhao Qing Qing, despite her usual arrogant and disrespectful demeanor, was not someone without cunning. Otherwise, in the previous life, she wouldn’t have endured for seven years against An Shaoyu, only making a move when the Fifth Prince ascended the throne.

The Anding Marquis was even less likely, as he was a cunning old fox.

After her betrothal to the Crown Prince, there were more people who found her annoying.

Shu Yuwan speculated that it was likely one of the Crown Prince’s admirers who was displeased with her.

Amidst the crowd, they reached the private room on the third floor of the Qingfeng Pavilion.

Entering the room, the Crown Prince was sitting at the table drinking tea. Upon seeing her, he smiled warmly, and there was a faint scent of amberglis in the room.

Shu Yuwan’s previously troubled mood dissipated slightly.

Approaching and kneeling to pay respects, she said, “Greetings, Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince had been waiting for a while, “Please, have a seat.”

Seeing Wenyue asleep, he suggested, “There’s a small couch in the alcove where Wenyue can sleep.”

Shu Yuwan thanked him and asked Qing Dai to take Wenyue to the alcove to rest.

“You’ve arrived just in time; the dragon boat race is about to begin.”

Shu Yuwan looked outside at the noisy gongs and drums, estimating that Wenyue would wake up soon.

So she spoke directly, “Your Highness, on the way here, I encountered an assassin who tried to kill me.” Shu Yuwan smiled bitterly, always considering herself an unimportant figure, never expecting to be targeted for assassination one day.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince nervously glanced at Shu Yuwan, seeing her unharmed and relieved that she didn’t appear injured.

“Was the person captured?” he inquired.

Shu Yuwan nodded, “I thought I might not be able to extract much information, so I wanted to hand the person over to you Your Highness for interrogation.”

“No problem, I also want to see who dares to harm my future Princess!” the Crown Prince said sternly.

Shu Yuwan felt a bit awkward upon hearing this.

In their previous interactions, she had always seen the Crown Prince as the pillar of the Shu family. She had only thought about informing him of what she knew to help him avoid danger, ascend the throne smoothly, and protect the Shu family. She had been very open and natural about it.

Now that she was engaged to the Crown Prince, hearing him casually refer to her as his future Princess felt strange.

“Other than the Anding Marquis’s residence, I haven’t made enemies with anyone. This time, it’s probably because of our engagement that someone finds me displeasing,” Shu Yuwan expressed her candid thoughts.

The Crown Prince also had this suspicion. Upon hearing Shu Yuwan’s straightforward complaint, he couldn’t help but chuckle, “Yes, yes, I’ve implicated you.”

“I will thoroughly investigate and give you the information.”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s unchanged attitude towards her, Shu Yuwan gradually relaxed. Remembering her elder brother’s words from before, she asked, “Your Highness, why did you choose to marry me?”

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow, “Because you and I are destined to be together.”

Shu Yuwan laughed, “Your Highness, please don’t play a joke with me.”

The Crown Prince handed her a cup of tea he had personally prepared, “Being with you is more comfortable and relaxed. With other noble ladies, I always feel a bit constrained.”

Shu Yuwan was taken aback, not expecting such an unexpected reason.

The Crown Prince looked at Shu Yuwan, recalling that he had seen her a long time ago.

Back then, during the time when Wang Ning and Wang Fei have problems, his cousin Ning Shinzi entered the palace, he noticed something amiss and went to find him. He happened to see Shu Yuwan advising  Ning Shinzi.

He remembered this young girl at that time.

Later, when the Prince Shinzi left the capital, he often inquired about Shu Yuwan in his letters.

He paid some attention to her.

At that time, the Empress was unwilling for the Prince to marry Shu Yuwan. The Crown Prince felt that perhaps he could find a way to help her out of her predicament.

Why he chose to marry her as a way to assist her, he couldn’t explain clearly.

Perhaps he just felt more comfortable being with her than with other noble ladies.

Moreover, he also wanted to see if what Shu Yuwan said about his father was true.

For him, the love between father and son was greater than the duty between ruler and subject.

However, there was no need to tell her about this.

Shu Yuwan wanted to ask more questions, but Qing Dai came in and reported, “Miss, Wenyue is awake and looking for you.”