Jiang Qianyu tightened the corner of her dress and hesitated.
When did she start to hesitate?
She couldn't remember.
Anyway, it was after Liang Wentao appeared.
His tenderness, patience, respect, and courtesy had unconsciously walked into her heart.
Inevitably, she compared him with the Crown Prince.
Actually, there was no comparison at all. The Crown Prince was a good man, but he just didn't love her.
She was used to the feeling of giving without getting a response.
She had also prepared herself for a lifetime of loneliness and disappointment.
But Liang Wentao's appearance made her realize that loving someone didn't have to be so humble.
He said that she deserved better.
He was willing to give her better.
"Do you still want to marry the Crown Prince?"
Just as she was in a daze, Liang Wentao had somehow come much closer.
His mellow voice seemed to be right next to her ear.
Unconsciously, her hand touched the jade pendant.
"You don't have to answer me in a hurry. There is no exchange of interests between you and me. Forced feelings will never lead to happiness."
He only gently held her hand for a moment and then let go.
"I'll always be waiting for you."
The man's aura gradually faded away, but the back of Jiang Qianyu's hand grew hotter and hotter in the cold autumn wind.
The original intention of her meeting with Liang Wentao was to thank him for standing up for her and then draw a clear line with him.
Who would have thought that it would turn into a confession without a rejection.
Jiang Qianyu returned to the Eastern Palace absent - minded.
"Miss, good news, good news!"
Fang Xiao ran over mysteriously, looking excited. She leaned over and whispered something in Jiang Qianyu's ear.
"I secretly found out that the Crown Princess has got her period today and can't accompany the Crown Prince tonight. Why don't you seize this opportunity and dress up beautifully..."
In Fang Xiao's eyes, Jiang Qianyu was already the concubine of the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince and the Crown Princess had been married for more than a month, and the Crown Princess had always been the only one favored.
"Miss, it's not easy to wait until the Crown Princess can't accompany the Crown Prince these days. You mustn't miss this good opportunity."
The Crown Prince was lukewarm to her, so Fang Xiao thought that she must strive for his favor by herself.
If the miss got the favor, as the first - class maid who served her personally, she would also gain more prestige.
"What's the use of seizing the opportunity? If he doesn't like me, it's just self - humiliation."
Fang Xiao opened her eyes wide in surprise. "Miss, how can you say such discouraging words? Everyone knows that you occupy a place in the Crown Prince's heart. Your help to the Crown Prince is no less than that of the Crown Princess. Moreover, the Queen has even bestowed a jade ruyi. Why are you still so reserved?"
In Fang Xiao's view, Jiang Qianyu only lacked a title.
If she had an intimate relationship with the Crown Prince first, it would be more justifiable for her to be named a concubine in the future.
It was a rule not to take concubines within half a year after the wedding, but people were flexible. Why stick to the rules?
Occupying a place in the Crown Prince's heart was the right way.
Jiang Qianyu remained unmoved. Fang Xiao couldn't help complaining, "Miss, why have you been so listless these days? You don't care about the Crown Prince at all."
In the fight for favor in the harem, being as aloof as a chrysanthemum wouldn't work.
But Jiang Qianyu seemed to be awakened by this remark.
It turned out that her love for the Crown Prince had been fading for a long time.
Now it was so faint that she didn't want to spend any more time on the Crown Prince.
In her ear, she recalled Liang Wentao's words.
"Do you still want to insist on marrying the Crown Prince?"
Now, she was a little reluctant to insist.
Cheng Simian had to plan Ling Yang's wedding, so she almost went to Yukun Palace every day.
Although the Queen had entrusted her with the task of planning the wedding, many important matters still needed the Queen, as the mother, to make the final decision.
Cheng Simian knew her place and never acted arbitrarily.
Her propriety satisfied the Queen very much.
"It's really hard on you. The weather is getting colder. You have to plan Ling Yang's wedding, manage the Eastern Palace, and serve Hong'er, but you can still handle everything perfectly. After this busy period, you should take a good rest."
The Crown Prince was also there today.
"Mother gives Mianmian a chance to exercise, so she will spare no effort. Since Mother attaches so much importance to it, how can Mianmian be lazy?"
The implication of his words was so obvious that the Queen couldn't help smiling.
Wasn't he hinting that Mianmian was so capable that she would be able to manage the harem with ease in the future?
He really didn't miss any opportunity to praise his wife.
Cheng Simian and the Crown Prince looked at each other and smiled. Cheng Simian even glared at him slightly, telling him not to go too far.
A maid came in to report, "Your Majesty the Queen, the old lady of the Duke's Mansion requests an audience."
"Hurry up and invite her in."
The old lady was of noble status. After she entered the inner hall and paid her respects, the Crown Prince and Cheng Simian stood up to return the courtesy.
"Your Majesty the Queen, I got some osmanthus honey. I thought it tasted sweet, so I brought some for you."
The Queen joked, "There are many people in the palace who like sweet things. You didn't bring much. It won't be enough to share."
"Of course, the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess will also get a share."
The old lady said with a smile.
Cheng Simian helped her sit down on the lower seat next to the Queen. "Then we're really in for a treat."
The maids brought up three jars of osmanthus honey.
The Queen opened one of the lids and took a light sniff. "It's really sweet. The whole room is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus."
"Such good osmanthus honey may not even be brewed in the imperial kitchen. Where did you get it, Lady?"
The Crown Prince asked casually.
The old lady smiled meaningfully. "It was that filial boy, Wentao. He got a few catties and sent some to the Duke's Mansion."
The Crown Prince and Cheng Simian exchanged a look, understanding each other without a word.
It seemed that the time was right.
The old lady's gift of osmanthus honey was just an excuse.
"Of these three jars of osmanthus honey, one is for Mother, one is for me and the Crown Prince. Who is the remaining jar for, Lady?"
"Coincidentally, Wentao's daughter, Rui'er, always mentions Miss Jiang. She said she likes Miss Jiang just like her mother and begged me to give this jar to Miss Jiang. I thought Miss Jiang is from the Eastern Palace, so I'll have to trouble the Crown Princess to take it back."
Hearing this, the Queen pondered for a moment and smiled faintly.
Another maid came in to report, "Your Majesty the Queen, Miss Jiang is here."
Cheng Simian smiled sweetly. "The main character is here. I don't have to make a trip then."
"Let her in." The Queen already knew what was going on.
Jiang Qianyu originally wanted to request an audience with the Queen alone.
Who knew that as soon as she entered the hall, she was startled to see a group of people.
Fortunately, her panic only lasted for a moment. She paid her respects in turn, without making a single mistake.
The old lady sized her up from head to toe without a trace.
She curled her lips in satisfaction.
The girl highly praised by Lian Chu was really good.
After paying her respects, Jiang Qianyu consciously stood beside Cheng Simian, obediently lowering her head.
"Dai Ying, bring another chair."
"I'm of low status. How dare I sit beyond my rank?"
The Queen said gently, "It's okay. There are no outsiders here."
Jiang Qianyu felt a subtle atmosphere.
Dai Ying placed the chair on the left side of the old lady.
Jiang Qianyu was stunned.
She was from the Eastern Palace. If she were to sit, she should be on the lower seat next to the Crown Princess.
But no one objected to the seating arrangement, so she had to sit down.
"On usual days when you come to pay your respects, you always come with Mianmian. Why did you come alone today?"
The Queen had long guessed that Jiang Qianyu had something to say to her alone.
"I..."
Jiang Qianyu looked around, hesitating to speak.