Chapter 14: Conspiracy

Shen Shurong turned around. When she saw the person behind her grandmother, her gaze remained calm, without a trace of emotion. She merely gave a slight nod.

Xie Yunzhao saw him too but acted as though he hadn’t. His attention was focused on her steps—lately, she was either fainting or unsteady on her feet.

“The Heir still needs to wait for the Duchess. We’ll head in first.” The Grand Princess and her husband followed the palace eunuch leading the way through the palace gates. Xie Yunzhao stayed by Shen Shurong’s side, accompanying her.

Xie Yunzheng cupped his hands in a respectful send-off. “Indeed, I must wait for my mother. Grand Princess, Elder Shen—safe travels.”

His head hung low, hiding the storm of emotion churning in his eyes.

How could he not recognize it? The Grand Princess had intentionally left him behind—they meant to avoid suspicion.

Xie Yunzheng simply stood outside the palace gates, unsure what exactly he was waiting for. Perhaps he was waiting to place enough distance between them.

In the past, he was the one who accompanied her inside. Now, all he could do was watch helplessly as Xie Yunzhao held her hand, shielding her from the sun with an umbrella.

Carriages and horses arrived one after another. Those disembarking greeted him politely.

Everyone could see—Heir Xie was not in good spirits today.

Chiyu looked at the situation with a tinge of sadness but didn’t dare to say that the Junzhu was angry at him. After all, Master Xie and the Junzhu had always been very familiar with each other.

Once they were far enough away, Xie Yunzheng stepped inside.

Xie Yunzhao didn’t know how to speak well of him. Yongjia was pure-hearted, and perhaps she had been blinded by his malice.

Without realizing it, his steps quickened. Suddenly, he felt a surge of fear—fear that she might no longer hold a place for him in her heart.

Shen Shurong harbored no affection for the palace. After leaving her grandmother, she took Xie Yunzhao to the Imperial Garden.

It was the peak of summer, and the flowers in full bloom. The exquisite stone paths connected the pavilions.

Artificial hills of varying shapes surrounded the area, and lush trees provided a shade that blocked out the scorching sunlight.

From afar, kites could be seen flying in the breeze. Xie Yunzhao knew that she loved to play, so he asked, “Do you want to go play with them?”

Shen Shurong shook her head. There were too many people, and she didn’t feel like going. “Let’s sit under the corridor for a while. I’m tired.”

Behind the artificial hill, the area was spacious. The Third and Fourth Princesses were leading the young ladies in flying kites. They gathered together, chatting and laughing.

“Why hasn’t the Yongjia Junzhu come yet?” the Third Princess asked, pouting.

The Fourth Princess scoffed. It was better that she didn’t come. Today, she was the eldest. “Her? Who knows how sad she’s been these past few days? How could she possibly have the energy to come this early?”

Xie Yunzhao frowned. How could it be so untimely to disturb Rongrong’s rest? Just as he was about to speak out and stop it, Shen Shurong stopped him. There were too many people who said one thing to her face and another behind her back, and such behavior was necessary in situations like this.

It was not the time to stir up further trouble. She needed to conserve her strength; there was still a tough battle to be fought today.

“True, if I had such a good marriage prospect, I would also hide at home and not come out.”

“I heard that the Third Princess asked Heir Xie for a poem?”

“You!” The Third Princess glared, clearly upset. Didn’t she know she had been rejected?

Wei Youyuan, Wei Youran’s younger sister, took note of this. “I just wanted to ask for a poem for the Empress’s birthday. I wasn’t like some people, pretending to be deeply in love and kidnapping someone with the ‘I will marry no one but you’ act!”

“Who is the Third Princess referring to?”

Wei Youran pulled her younger sister aside, “Look at the kites.”

“Impertinence!” The Fourth Princess, who had been silent until now, walked over. “Why does the Third Sister need to explain herself to you? If you’re worried about what people will say, then don’t do such things.”

“Please don’t be angry, Your Highnesses. My younger sister is still young and doesn’t understand. Youran will apologize on her behalf.” Wei Youran bowed deeply, her eyes reddening.

Shen Shurong listened and almost couldn’t help but laugh at the usual way the Wei family carried themselves.

The Third Princess, Wei Youran, was well aware of Xie Yunzheng’s feelings, and now she was enjoying watching them fight.

As for the Fourth Princess, well, in her previous life, she had actually asked Shen Shurong, as her sister-in-law, to help match her with the younger brother, hoping that Xie Yunzhao would become her husband. It was surprising that there were still people thinking of him.

She still remembered how, at a banquet during the tenth month, when she casually mentioned the Fourth Princess, the silly boy had immediately put down his chopsticks and ran away.

At that time, everyone had thought he was just shy. Now, looking back, it seemed more likely that he had run off to cry after Shen Shurong had introduced women to him.

Xie Yunzhao observed her expression. Given that they were fighting over Xie Yunzheng, was she feeling uncomfortable?

He couldn’t advise her. What could he say? “Don’t worry, Xie Yunzheng has already turned them down”?

Or should he say, “None of them compare to you. Only you deserve Xie Yunzheng”?

Shen Shurong noticed him frowning, unsure of what he was thinking. She lowered her voice and asked, “If you don’t marry me, and the Third Princess or Fourth Princess wanted to marry you, would you agree?”

Xie Yunzhao jumped in shock, “I don’t want anyone!” he quickly exclaimed, “Of course not.”

“The Duke’s Mansion doesn’t offer a future for you, but perhaps the Princess’s Mansion does. Are you sure you don’t want it?” Shen Shurong teased.

Xie Yunzhao shook his head vigorously. What was she implying? Was it a test, or… did she really want him to find someone else?

Shen Shurong smiled, clearly amused. “Sit down, if you don’t want it, then forget about it.”

Xie Yunzhao let out a deep breath—it was just a test, he thought. “I’ll only marry you.”

Shen Shurong, along with her two maids, suppressed their smiles, clearly enjoying how flustered he was.

“Have you noticed? The courtyard on the west side of the Grand Princess’s residence has been under renovation these past few days, and the land in the middle has been enclosed.”

“Is it the Princess’s Mansion that His Majesty granted to the Third Princess?”

“Which one?” The Third Princess was unaware.

“It’s the former Qi Wang Mansion. Besides the Grand Princess’s residence, it’s the largest in the capital.”

The Third Princess clapped her hands joyfully. “Emperor truly dotes on me, willing to give me such a big mansion.”

Shen Shurong pouted. She didn’t care anymore. Everyone had flocked to flatter the Third Princess. In her past life, she had enjoyed it, but now, it only felt tiresome.

The Third Princess’s residence wouldn’t be finished for another year, and it was much smaller. When the time came, the residence would know the fate of a Commandery Princess’s household—never to cry about it.

The two of them sat quietly, watching the kites in the distance. A man, his face entirely unrecognizable, walked toward them. All his good upbringing seemed to vanish in this moment. He waved his hand and called over a palace eunuch.

…

“My father is looking for me?” Xie Yunzhao furrowed his brows. He was accompanying Shurong. How could he just leave?

“You go ahead, I’ll wait here for you.” Shen Shurong gestured.

Xie Yunzhao looked at her apologetically. “Wait for me, I’ll be back soon.”

Shen Shurong waved him off. “Go ahead. No one in this palace dares to bully me right now.”

Once Xie Yunzhao disappeared from her view, a man walked up from the side.

Shen Shurong raised her eyes to glance at the rockery. It was a good visual barrier, or else those young girls would probably swarm over like butterflies.

“Young Master Xie.” Shen Shurong greeted him gracefully with a nod.

Xie Yunzheng’s eyes were red, as if they were about to bleed. He must have been holding in his emotions for a while. Did he send Xie Yunzhao away?

“Young Master Xie?”

The title sounded so unfamiliar, sharper than a knife.

“Princess, have you accepted Xie Yunzhao?” His voice was hoarse, filled with restraint.

Shen Shurong lightly curled the corners of her lips. “What else could it be?”

“What if I told you that all of this is part of a scheme?”

“A scheme?” Shen Shurong didn’t understand. What scheme?

“That day when you fell into the water, why was he by your side? Why did he not let go after saving you?”

“It was all planned. He destroyed your reputation, and he also ruined any chance for you and me to be together!”

Oh, so that incident was indeed a scheme.

Shen Shurong lowered her head. Should she act incredibly distressed? But she couldn’t, nor did she want to.

She lifted her gaze. “Young Master Xie, all I know is that he saved me.”

Xie Yunzheng took two steps forward, his tone anxious. “If you hadn’t fallen into the water, there would have been no need for him to save you. It was him who harmed you and then played the hero, pretending to save you.”

“Do you have any proof?”

Xie Yunzheng was momentarily silenced. He wanted to say that Xie Yunzhao had liked her since they were young, but he couldn’t. “He’s so despicable. Using such methods to steal his own sister-in-law—don’t you think someone like that doesn’t deserve to be called human?”

And to still interact with him, let him ride in the carriage, call his name?