Chapter Three: Meeting the Crown Prince

On the day of the banquet, Song Qingcheng bit her lip as she watched the Crown Prince rise to leave. She stood up as well and quietly followed him.

Upon reaching the blooming garden, she called out to him, "Your Highness, please wait."

The Crown Prince turned around, looking somewhat surprised to see her. "You are the adopted daughter of the Shen family. I wonder what business you have with me?"

Song Qingcheng bowed low. "Your Highness, I have a request. I wish to trade this plague antidote for the Cold Plum Herb kept in the palace."

Unable to reach the Emperor, and with the Empress claiming illness and failing to appear, the Crown Prince was her only hope for obtaining the medicinal ingredient.

He looked slightly taken aback. "The Cold Plum Herb is a tribute from the Western Regions. It is beautiful, and my father the Emperor is very fond of it. I fear I may not be able to help you."

Song Qingcheng felt a wave of disappointment and was about to take her leave when the Crown Prince added, "However, if this plague antidote of yours is genuine, I may be able to put in a word for you."

Hope flickered back to life. "Many thanks, Your Highness."

With the matter settled, Song Qingcheng felt a sense of relief. On her way back, she unexpectedly bumped into Shen Runzhi.

"C-Cousin, you are at the palace as well?" she asked, startled.

Shen Runzhi stepped closer, his gaze intense. "Does Yaoyao like the Crown Prince?"

Forced to step back, Song Qingcheng shook her head vigorously. "No, no—I do not like the Crown Prince. I do not like anyone."

Sensing something was amiss, she hastily distanced herself, terrified of triggering the behavior of the Shen Runzhi she had known in her past life.

Shen Runzhi curled his lips in satisfaction, yet he did not let her off easily. "What business did you have with the Crown Prince, Yaoyao? Men and women must keep their distance, lest there be misunderstandings."

Pinned against a large tree, Song Qingcheng rolled her eyes and improvised. "I lost my way, and since he was the only one I encountered, I asked him for directions."

She did not trust him—or, for that matter, anyone. She relied only on herself. She wanted no entanglements, desiring only to live a quiet life as her parents had instructed.

Shen Runzhi studied her deeply. He reached out, toyed with her earring, and spoke softly, "Be careful next time, Yaoyao. Do not lose your way again."

She nodded repeatedly and hurried away.

Shen Runzhi rubbed his fingers together. "Yaoyao has grown up; she has learned to lie to her brother."

Back at her seat, a young lady sitting nearby pulled her into conversation. "I hear you lived in the Medicine Valley. Do you know how to make rouge? The Crown Prince will be choosing a lady he favors soon, and I want to touch up my makeup."

"I am afraid I do not know," Song Qingcheng replied, shaking her head. She had been far too busy with medical practice to study such things.

The young lady looked disappointed. As they spoke, the Empress’s head maid appeared to oversee the banquet, instructing the men to present flowers to the ladies to express their affections.

"Young masters, you may begin," the maid announced.

While the maid spoke, Song Qingcheng sat lost in thought. This was not why she had come, and she simply wanted the event to end.

"Oh, it’s her!"

Hearing a voice, Song Qingcheng looked up in a daze to find two plum blossoms held out before her. Behind them stood Shen Runzhi and the Crown Prince.

Song Qingcheng forced a smile. It was no surprise that Shen Runzhi had offered her a flower, but why was the Crown Prince joining in? The other ladies stared at her—or rather, at the flower offered by the Crown Prince—with envy.

She hesitated. One could only accept one flower. She could not refuse Shen Runzhi, but neither could she snub the Crown Prince after he had just agreed to help her.

"Your Highness, perhaps you should choose someone else," she whispered.

Shen Runzhi was a madman she could not afford to provoke, so she would have to test the more reasonable one.

Shen Runzhi’s cold eyes softened, a trace of amusement lingering in them. The Crown Prince, however, flashed a hint of gloom before adjusting his expression. "I apologize for the intrusion. I merely need to show my father that we have a good relationship; otherwise, it will be difficult for me to handle certain matters."

He meant that by appearing close to her, he would have a suitable excuse when speaking to the Emperor. Song Qingcheng gave him a strange look, gritted her teeth, and accepted both.

*Forget it,* she thought. *If I am to be a heartless woman, so be it.*

"I understand. I accept both," she said, feigning composure under the weight of everyone's gaze. In truth, she wanted to punch the Crown Prince; the entire situation was absurd.

Having spent years among all sorts of people, she knew the look in the Crown Prince's eyes was off. Unlike the possessiveness Shen Runzhi hid, the Prince wanted something else from her.

The Crown Prince paused for a second before his expression returned to normal. "I am glad you understand, Qingcheng. I was worried this might cause you difficulty."

After accepting the flowers and exchanging a few pleasantries, the men returned to their seats. A lady named Wang Meng leaned in. "The Crown Prince is so kind. He wasn't even angry."

"You are quite something," Wang Meng added, sounding regretful. "With the Crown Prince offering you a flower, why did you accept Mr. Shen's as well? If the Empress finds out, she won't include you in the list of prospective secondary consorts."

Song Qingcheng raised an eyebrow, her eyes flickering. "Does the Crown Prince have a woman he fancies?"

Wang Meng shook her head. "I heard that five years ago, he fell in love at first sight with a lady. She left, and he has been waiting for her ever since. Oh, but they say she has recently returned. I don't have such luck; I would be content just to be a secondary consort."

Song Qingcheng glanced at the Crown Prince and lowered her eyes in confusion. It couldn't possibly be her; that would be too ridiculous. In her past life, she had only married him because she had fallen off a cliff during a hunt and spent a night alone with him, forcing her into the marriage. Moreover, there had been no rumors of a secret lover then. Why had one appeared now?

Gripping the note tucked between her fingers, she invited Wang Meng, "The Lantern Festival is tonight. Would you like to go together?"

The Crown Prince had slipped the note into her hand along with the flower, inviting her to the festival. She wanted to see what kind of scheme he was brewing.

Wang Meng nodded excitedly. "Yes, yes! Perhaps we will both serve the Crown Prince in the future, so we ought to get along well."

Song Qingcheng caught her breath, momentarily regretting the invitation. "You should keep your thoughts to yourself. Don't speak so recklessly."

When the banquet ended, the Crown Prince rose to see her off. "Allow me to escort you out."

Wang Meng walked beside her, squeezing her hand and signaling with her eyes: *You are doing well, keep it up.*

Song Qingcheng gave her an awkward smile. Just as she stepped forward, she twisted her ankle and fell against Wang Meng. "Oh! My foot... I think I’ve sprained it."

She turned to the Prince. "Your Highness, I am in no state to walk. Please return. I will have Miss Wang assist me."

Wang Meng was stunned, but seeing Song Qingcheng "limping," she quickly added, "Yes, Your Highness, I will see Miss Song home."

"Then I shall not insist. Take care on your way back, Qingcheng."

"Many thanks for your concern, Your Highness," Song Qingcheng replied. She exhaled only once they were finally free of him.