Today she was dressed in a peach - colored Su - embroidered silk satin dress, with a tasseled belt inlaid with pearls around her waist.
In front of the dressing mirror, she selected carefully and finally inserted a hairpin made of red coral twined with gold thread into her hair bun.
Walking in a ladylike manner, her skirt swayed gently. She was so charming and eye - catching that she seemed to be the most dazzling sight in the room.
Lady Rong looked at her daughter lovingly but couldn't help feeling worried.
"Miantuan, you rarely dress so brightly. That Liang Yuchuan already has improper thoughts about you. Dressing so flamboyantly will only play into his hands, won't it?"
She pulled Cheng Simian in front of her. "Don't listen to or be afraid of anything that scoundrel Cheng Yong says. Even if you don't want to go today and anger him, Mother will stand in front of you."
Cheng Simian showed a faint smile. Her complexion was charming and there was a hint of cunning in her eyes.
"Of course, we should go all out when acting. Mother, I know what I'm doing. Just sit back and wait to watch a good show."
Then she turned to Shuyi and said, "Go and take two taels of silver and give it to the old woman guarding the west corner gate. Later, if someone comes in, don't stop them."
Shuyi responded and left.
Lady Rong didn't know what Cheng Simian was up to.
But her daughter's calm and composed appearance reassured her.
...
In the Eastern Palace, Little Anzi brought a stack of memorials.
The Crown Prince carefully reviewed them.
He had started helping the Emperor review memorials five years ago.
At that time, the Emperor gave him only those memorials that were not very important or the matters were not too serious and he could handle them on his own.
It was to train his ability and test his courage.
Recently, the memorials sent by the Emperor to the Eastern Palace had become thicker and thicker.
Among them were many important national affairs, such as the famine in spring, the enemy threat on the border, and the impeachment of important officials.
In the past, the Emperor would handle these matters personally and issue imperial decrees.
Now, he was gradually delegating power and handing them over to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince understood what the Emperor meant.
The Emperor valued and trusted him, and it was also a way to console him after the Princess was forgiven again.
On the day the Princess recovered from her illness, he was disappointed in the Emperor once again.
He also deeply understood the feelings of Taoist Qiu back then.
But now he was neither impatient nor impetuous.
The Princess's partisans had either been demoted or dismissed from office, and they were greatly weakened.
After the Princess "recovered" from her illness, she had become much more low - key.
But she was still a venomous snake, hissing in the dark corner, waiting for an opportunity to bite him hard.
Recently, the news that Liang Yuchuan was about to be conferred the title of the heir apparent of the duke had spread like wildfire again.
People in the streets were all saying that the old duke was dying soon.
Liang Yuchuan would not only inherit the title but also get married in a hurry before the old duke passed away.
The Crown Prince opened a memorial and suddenly sneered.
It was actually a memorial requesting to confer Liang Yuchuan as the heir apparent of the duke.
Did the Emperor give him such a memorial to test his attitude?
Without any hesitation, the Crown Prince gave a bright red imperial rejection.
No.
Little Anzi stole a glance at the memorial and said at the right time, "Your Highness, this servant heard that Marquis Wude is hosting a banquet for Liang Yuchuan today."
The Crown Prince didn't even raise his head. "Now that the Princess has 'recovered', these people are just like snakes and rats in the same nest, gathering together to celebrate. It's not something strange."
"But this servant also heard that Marquis Wude intends to matchmaker Miss Cheng and Liang Yuchuan to promote a marriage between the Marquis Wude's Mansion and the Duke Jinning's Mansion."
The Crown Prince still didn't raise his head, and his eyebrows were calm.
"I heard that Miss Cheng attended the banquet in full regalia and amazed everyone."
With a "pop", the Crown Prince forcefully closed the memorial and threw it on the desk.
Realizing that he had lost his composure, he picked up the teacup and took a sip to cover his embarrassment.
He didn't know why he had lost his composure.
The moment he heard that Cheng Simian had attended the banquet in full regalia, something in his heart twisted uncomfortably.
Looking up, he saw the "Picture of the Vast Land" hanging on the wall, and he couldn't suppress his annoyance even more.
Cheng Simian, did I misjudge you? Are you so vulgar that you would take a fancy to a villain like Liang Yuchuan?
He couldn't read a single word on the memorial.
The Crown Prince didn't like this feeling at all. He didn't want and was unwilling to see his emotions easily controlled by a woman.
Moreover, it was a woman he didn't like.
"Who did you hear all these unimportant things from?"
Little Anzi noticed the Crown Prince's annoyance.
After hesitating for a moment, before he could open his mouth, the Crown Prince sneered, "Who else could it be but Liang Yuzhou? Isn't he supposed to be cold, taciturn, and sparing of words? Last time, it was he who 'accidentally' told me that Dong Xianzhi was the witness sent by Cheng Simian. This time, he makes you his mouthpiece. Does he think I don't know what he's up to?"
Anger showed in his handsome eyebrows. Little Anzi carefully chose to keep silent.
"In order to make me completely give up on Wan Chu, is he willing to turn into a big - mouthed person and act as a matchmaker?"
The Crown Prince threw another memorial requesting to confer Liang Yuchuan as the heir apparent of the duke.
He threw it even more forcefully than the last time.
Little Anzi's eyes were rolling. He couldn't tell for a moment whether the Crown Prince was angry because Miss Cheng had met Liang Yuchuan in full regalia or because of Liang Yuzhou's motivation to be a mouthpiece.
Maybe it was both, but which reason was more important?
"From now on, don't let me hear anything related to Cheng Simian!"
He had already promised Cheng Simian that no matter what crime was imposed on the Marquis Wude's Mansion in the future, she and her mother would not be implicated.
Whom she wanted to marry was also her freedom.
Little Anzi carefully observed the Crown Prince's expression and silently assumed that the previous words were just angry words.
What should be said still had to be said.
...
In the Marquis Wude's Mansion, the banquet was lively. People were toasting and whispering to each other.
Liang Yuchuan was regarded as an honored guest and sat in the main seat next to Cheng Yong.
In the first seat below was Lady Rong. Next to Lady Rong was Cheng Simian, and then Cheng Siyi.
Cheng Siyi had listened to Yu Qiaor's words and dressed up gaudily today, with a head full of pearls and jewels and wearing a dazzling bright red dress.
She had thought that since Cheng Simian was cold - natured and didn't like dressing up, she would surely outshine Cheng Simian today.
Who would have thought that Cheng Simian was even more beautiful than her.
Sitting next to her, she felt like a dead fish eye trying to outshine a pearl.
Liang Yuchuan's eyes hardly left Cheng Simian.
A shy and reserved look from Cheng Simian had already made him lose his mind. He couldn't even hold his wine cup steadily, and the wine spilled from the corner of his mouth onto his robe several times.
Without waiting for Cheng Yong's order, Cheng Simian got up voluntarily. Taking small steps, she walked in front of Liang Yuchuan and bowed gracefully.
"Master Liang is truly extraordinary. Father often says that you have the charm of the old duke back then. This little girl would like to toast you, as an early congratulations on your conferment as the heir apparent of the duke."
She didn't like to smile much, but in front of Liang Yuchuan, she smiled brightly like a lotus flower.
Liang Yuchuan had known for a long time that Cheng Simian was a well - known cold beauty.
She was high - minded and aloof. With her talent, she was famous in the capital, and her beauty was just the icing on the cake.
Seeing Cheng Simian being shy and coy towards him, Liang Yuchuan was already floating in the clouds, his eyes blurred.
He thought that he had conquered this cold beauty with his charm and talent.
Cheng Yong was very satisfied with Cheng Simian's initiative.
He thought that this girl had been opposing him on weekdays just because she wanted to gain his attention and love as a little girl.
He still had a very important position in his daughter's heart.
Seeing Liang Yuchuan and Cheng Simian being so "loving", Cheng Siyi's eyes seemed to be surging with venom.
Cheng Simian drank a full cup of wine and looked at Liang Yuchuan with a gentle smile.
"Father values Master Liang and wants to promote the good marriage between our two families. Naturally, this little girl will follow Father's wishes. But there's something I'd like to ask Master Liang face - to - face."
Liang Yuchuan quickly said, "Please ask, Miss. I will surely tell you everything I know."
Cheng Simian's smile deepened. "I've heard that Master Liang and Yu Huiyan have already privately promised to marry each other. This little girl is very scared. I don't know what my status will be after I marry into your family, and how I should address Yu Huiyan?"