Chapter 2: The Scheme — A Fool’s Love for Sanlang

Tang Liner’s pupils slightly contracted, and the bright smile on her face froze.

She cautiously glanced at Shen Xingwan’s expression. Although she appeared calm, Tang Liner couldn’t shake the feeling that something was different. The aura around her was completely unlike before, as if she had suddenly become a different person.

“I’m cousin to my elder sister,” Tang Liner said, lowering her eyes and pressing her lips together. “You invited me yesterday to admire the flowers together—was that just a joke? I must be too naive to have taken it seriously.”

That nearly tearful, pitiful look would break anyone’s heart.

The young palace maid standing to the side looked troubled. “The Empress Dowager only summoned Miss Shen, the prime minister’s legitimate daughter. This young lady has no status to enter the garden.”

Tang Liner’s expression faltered. A blush crept up her pale ears, and she was caught between advancing and retreating.

Shen Xingwan observed it all, the corners of her lips gently curling. She reached out to take Tang Liner’s hand and patted it as if to comfort her. Then, she turned to the maid and said, “Though she’s merely the daughter of a seventh-rank county magistrate, she’s still my cousin. If I bring her as my personal maid, that wouldn’t count as a violation, would it?”

The maid curtsied and replied, “Yes, Miss Shen.” She turned sideways and lifted her sleeve in a gesture of invitation. “Miss Shen, please follow me.”

Guided by the young palace maid, Shen Xingwan led Tang Liner by the hand and walked forward together.

Tang Liner lowered her head. Beads of sweat formed in her palm, and she couldn’t help but shrink back slightly.

Shen Xingwan glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, amused at the shifting shades of red and green on her face.

Could she not even handle this much? What would she do later?

Shen Xingwan had no intention of ending things easily. That would be too lenient.

She wanted to completely destroy her—slowly, piece by piece.

Shen Xingwan looped her arm through Tang Liner’s and softened her voice slightly. “Good little sister, the imperial rules are strict. You’ll have to bear the grievance of pretending to be my maid. You’re not angry at me, are you?”

“O-Of course not. Elder sister is so thoughtful. How could I dare be angry?” Tang Liner sighed. “It’s only my lowly background to blame. I’m not worthy of walking alongside you.”

Naturally, she wasn’t worthy.

Shen Xingwan could only hate her past self for being so blind as to pity this manipulative so-called cousin.

In her past life, Tang Liner’s status was too low for her to even attend the flower viewing banquet at Cheng Garden. She had cried in front of Shen Xingwan for days. Unable to bear it, Shen Xingwan had finally pulled strings to get her a seat.

But now? She would never go out of her way for her again. Let her stand to the side and serve tea instead.

The group walked through flowering paths, curved corridors, and decorative archways, eventually arriving at a garden bursting with blossoms.

Ladies dressed in silks and finery gathered in small groups among the flowers, their fragrance mingling in the air like a living painting of blooming beauties.

As soon as Shen Xingwan appeared, a few sharp-eyed noble ladies rushed over to greet her, surrounding her and guiding her toward the women’s seating area.

It was still early; the Empress Dowager’s phoenix carriage had yet to arrive. The young ladies were sitting, sipping tea, and chatting.

Shen Xingwan took the primary seat among the women and responded with a gentle smile to their flattery and small talk.

Tang Liner followed behind her, unnoticed by anyone. She had no seat and nowhere to sit, so she could only purse her lips and stand at Shen Xingwan’s side.

A young palace maid came forward with a tray of tea. Seeing the situation, she directly offered it to Tang Liner.

Tang Liner froze for a moment, her face suddenly flushing with heat.

According to custom, noblewomen were served tea by their own maids. The young maid clearly thought Tang Liner was just a servant.

Tang Liner turned to Shen Xingwan, only to see her chatting happily with the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, seemingly oblivious to her awkwardness.

With no other choice, Tang Liner picked up a teacup and brought it to Shen Xingwan, her voice trembling, “Sister, please have some tea.”

“How insolent for a maid! How dare a servant call her ‘Sister Shen’?”

The daughter of Grand Preceptor Su had been trying to cozy up to Shen Xingwan, and upon hearing a supposed maid address her so intimately, she raised her eyebrows and gave Tang Liner a long, condescending look.

“Miss Shen is far too lenient. A mere maid dressed in the latest moonshadow gauze, with painted brows, heavy makeup, and jewelry? How presumptuous.”

“Exactly,” the Minister of Revenue’s daughter sneered. “Showing up to this kind of banquet dressed like that—surely she has some ulterior motives.”

Everyone knew this flower-viewing event was essentially a matchmaking banquet. Tang Liner’s face burned, her fingers trembling so badly she could barely hold the teacup.

Shen Xingwan smiled slightly, glanced at Tang Liner, and took the cup.

She gently lifted the lid to scrape off the foam and took a sip. “If that’s the case, then go change your clothes.”

Before she even finished speaking, Tang Liner could no longer stand her ground. She lowered her head and turned to run off.

The noble ladies continued to murmur and criticize indignantly. Shen Xingwan didn’t defend her, only cast a glance at the fleeing figure.

By the time the second cup of tea arrived, Tang Liner still hadn’t returned. Shen Xingwan, perfectly aware of what was going on, excused herself with a pretense of needing fresh air and rose to walk toward the lakeside.

“It’s getting chilly. Feiyun, go get my cloak.”

“Yes, miss.”

Shen Xingwan dismissed Feiyun and deliberately wandered into the quieter parts of the garden.

She strolled alone, her gaze drifting over the exotic flowers as if she were admiring their beauty.

“…Trust me. I won’t let you suffer like this again.”

Shen Xingwan’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then came a sharp, wrenching pain, as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart.

That voice—she knew it too well.

It was the voice of the Third Prince, Wei Zilin. That gentle tone had once whispered endless sweet words of love to her.

“Liner doesn’t mind suffering. I only regret being useless… unable to help you, Sanlang. All I have is a heart devoted to loving you.”

That soft, sticky voice full of affection—it could only be Tang Liner.

Shen Xingwan crept forward a few more steps and hid in the shadow of a rock garden.

“Sanlang, I only have you… mmph…”

“I’ve placed the pebbles. It’ll be up to you after this.”

“…Mmm…”

The last sounds blurred into muffled gasps. Shen Xingwan staggered back a few steps before she could steady herself.

The pain from her palm made her look down—at some point, her nails had dug into her skin, leaving bloody marks.

So that’s how it was.

Her heart felt like it was being sliced open.

In her previous life, there had been many noble sons and high-born youths who admired her since she was young. Among them were both frivolous flirts and sincere lovers. The third prince was among them, but she had never spared any of them a second glance.

However, during a flower-viewing banquet, while boating with others, she had accidentally fallen into the lake. It was the third prince who had jumped in first without hesitation to save her, and from that moment on, she looked at him differently and ultimately agreed to the Empress Dowager’s arrangement.

But why had she fallen into the water for no apparent reason?

Today, the mystery was finally solved. Indeed, if it hadn’t been for Tang Lin’er’s scheming, who else could have approached her so closely without her being on guard?

And if Wei Zilin hadn’t already known she would fall into the water, how could he have been standing at the nearest spot, ready to leap in and save her?

What a brilliant performance of a fake hero saving the beauty.

She only hated how thoroughly she had been deceived in her past life, never once noticing the odd behavior between those two.

Shen Xingwan took a deep breath, turned, and swiftly left the rock garden.

By the time she calmed her emotions and returned to her seat, the Empress Dowager’s phoenix palanquin was just about to arrive.

Everyone stood up, tidied their attire, bowed their heads, and held their breath, waiting solemnly for the Empress Dowager’s procession.

Tang Lin’er came rushing over, panting slightly. She tried hard to steady her breathing and respectfully took her place behind Shen Xingwan with her head lowered.

She had changed into a light pink maid’s outfit, her hair styled into twin loops. Her makeup hadn’t been fully removed, making her look even more like a delicate white flower—pitiful and charming.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has arrived!”

With the eunuch’s long, drawn-out announcement, everyone dropped to their knees and shouted in unison, “Long live Her Majesty the Empress Dowager, may she live for a thousand years!”

Suddenly, Shen Xingwan felt a strange pressure weigh down on her, as if gripped by an indescribable force.

Unable to resist, she lifted her head—and saw a tall figure walking alongside the Empress Dowager.

That man stood tall and elegant, dressed in a python-embroidered robe with a golden crown. As he moved, the dark silk of his garment shimmered with hidden patterns woven in gold thread—radiating nobility.

Shen Xingwan squinted for a closer look. His temples were sharply defined, his face strikingly handsome, his brows exuding heroic energy, and his eyes—those eyes were fixed unwaveringly on her.

That gaze burned as if tangible, scorching her thoughts and making her quickly lower her head, no longer daring to meet his eyes.

She recognized him.

He was the Regent Prince of Great Wei, Yan Jinghuan—the man who held overwhelming power over the court.

She vaguely remembered that, when they were younger, Yan Jinghuan had once pursued her. But she didn’t like such a quiet, reserved boy at the time and had rejected him on the spot.

In her past life, Yan Jinghuan was the third prince’s greatest obstacle in the struggle for the throne. Shen Xingwan had gone to great lengths to strategize for the third prince and eventually helped him take down this formidable rival.

She was a bit surprised to see him here. She clearly remembered that Yan Jinghuan had disdained such matchmaking banquets and had not attended this flower-viewing event in her previous life.

She shook her head, trying to clear the chaotic thoughts. She told herself—after something as miraculous as reincarnation had occurred, what else could really be considered strange?

She didn’t care why the mighty Regent Prince had come to view flowers. She had more important things to do.

After everyone was seated, the Empress Dowager delivered some formal remarks before instructing everyone not to be too restrained and to join her in strolling through the garden to enjoy the flowers.

The noble ladies followed behind the Empress Dowager, while the invited royal princes walked a short distance away, chatting and admiring the exotic blooms.

Some bold young women maneuvered to get closer to the Empress Dowager, hoping to win her favor. Others deliberately lagged behind, frequently glancing back at the promising young princes.

Shen Xingwan didn’t join in the excitement; she simply strolled leisurely. Tang Lin’er, just as she had in the past life, followed closely behind her step by step.

In her previous life, Shen Xingwan had assumed Tang Lin’er was just timid and nervous, so she had kept her company and taken extra care of her feelings.

Looking back now, she realized Tang Lin’er had only been searching for the right moment to strike.

The group gradually reached the lakeside, where several decorated boats were already moored, waiting to carry the guests across the water to enjoy music and scenery.

The Empress Dowager was the first to board. A gentle breeze rippled across the shimmering lake, and the elegant ladies followed one by one, laughing and chatting as they stepped onto the boats.

When it was almost Shen Xingwan’s turn, her eyes fell on a few cobblestones on the path covered with moss.

Lowering her gaze, she pretended not to notice and confidently stepped right onto the stone.

“Ah!!!”

Just as she was about to step onto the stone, Tang Lin’er suddenly leaned in. Shen Xingwan subtly shifted to the side, and Tang Lin’er missed her target and stumbled forward.

Shen Xingwan reached out as if to catch her in surprise, but when her hand touched Tang Lin’er’s arm, she gave her a helpful shove instead.

With a startled cry, Tang Lin’er flailed and fell into the lake. At the same time, someone nearby also jumped in.

“Someone fell into the water! Help! Quick, save her!” The crowd erupted into chaos.

Shen Xingwan’s lips curved slightly. She turned around to call for help—only to find, to her shock, that the Regent Prince, Yan Jinghuan, was standing right behind her.

Every move she made had already been seen by him.