Ch 101: Rescue
Old Madam knew everything was due to the Crown Prince and the Empress, and her heart was filled with gratitude.
She gently patted her grandson’s back, her eyes full of earnest advice: “His Majesty and the Crown Prince have shown such great kindness to our Marquis Manor. In the future, you must strive to excel, serve the country loyally, and never disappoint their high hopes.”
“Grandson will keep it in mind and will not disappoint.”
The young boy solemnly nodded, his eyes shining with determination, his heart already set on lofty ambitions.
On one side, Meng Tingyue sat quietly beside Shen Yunheng, the scene bustling with activity.
On Shen Yunheng’s side, officials came forward one after another, either engaging in warm conversations or flattering him obsequiously.
Shen Yunheng remained expressionless as always, unwilling to respond to their flattery.
Even the ministers who dared to approach him gradually felt intimidated by his cold face, and after simply offering a toast to show their presence, they retreated awkwardly.
Beside Meng Tingyue, the officials’ female relatives also came in an endless stream. They either spoke softly and sweetly or showed enthusiastic goodwill, all for the sake of getting closer to Meng Tingyue and cultivating connections.
Some madams claimed to have been close friends with Meng Tingyue’s mother in their youth. Whether this was true or false, Meng Tingyue always responded with a smiling face and polite words, giving them sufficient face.
However, even worse, some even claimed to be Jiang Qingrou’s close friends.
In such situations, the expression on Meng Tingyue’s face faded, and she softly clarified the facts. Upon seeing this, those people realized they had made a mistake, and could only leave awkwardly.
Just as she managed to get rid of a few, new people would arrive. Seeing this, she could only rub her stiff face from smiling and continue to cope.
Meng Tingyue had never seen such a frantic situation, not even when Prince Qing became the Crown Prince in her previous life.
Because of this, she glared at the seemingly calm culprit beside her with her peripheral vision, silently cursing him a few times.
All this was only relieved by the arrival of Princess Luo Jia.
“Crown Princess.” Princess Luo Jia, wearing a flowing purple dress, walked briskly to Meng Tingyue’s side, a pleasant smile on her face.
“I have a few private matters I want to discuss with the Crown Princess. Would the other madams mind temporarily excusing themselves?”
After hearing this, although the several madams were extremely reluctant, they had no choice but to leave reluctantly.
“Crown Princess, wasn’t I clever? I saved you, unlike Imperial Brother; he’s like a block of wood, he doesn’t understand your hardships.” Princess Luo Jia playfully winked at Meng Tingyue, her face filled with an expectant smile.
In her words, she did not forget to playfully tease Shen Yunheng.
Shen Yunheng looked over, his gaze shifting from Princess Luo Jia to Meng Tingyue, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.
Seeing that Shen Yunheng merely watched silently without speaking, Princess Luo Jia muttered in her heart: He’s such an unromantic block of wood; I’ve made it so clear, and he still doesn’t understand.
“Thank you so much, Luo Jia.” Meng Tingyue said gratefully.
Her gaze fell on Princess Luo Jia, and she sincerely praised, “This dress suits you extremely well.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Luo Jia’s mouth curved into a brilliant smile, her eyebrows curving into gentle crescent moons, her joy evident: “Right? I think it suits me too. I haven’t properly thanked the Crown Princess for her generosity yet.”
Meng Tingyue smiled faintly: “I only gave it to you because it suits you. Now I see it really does suit you.”
The shop usually sends double cloth, knowing Princess Luo Jia’s preferences, Meng Tingyue sent a piece over.
“I’ve developed a new scented ointment these days. Would you like to try it?” Meng Tingyue suddenly suggested.
“Scented ointment?” Princess Luo Jia’s eyes lit up with surprise, and she immediately agreed, “Okay, then Crown Princess can come find me at the Princess’s Mansion tomorrow.”
Princess Luo Jia left before the banquet was about to begin, and no other noblewomen approached Meng Tingyue.
She secretly rubbed her stiff face from smiling and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, she suddenly felt two burning gazes fall on her.
She slowly raised her eyelids, searching for the source of those two gazes, and finally found that they belonged to Meng Qingjiao and Prince Qing.
Meng Tingyue’s eyes showed a strange expression.
Meng Qingjiao’s gaze was one of jealousy; she could tell.
But what did Prince Qing’s gaze mean?
Prince Qing, noticing Meng Tingyue’s gaze, quickly lowered his eyelids, burying the complex emotions surging in his heart deep within his eyes.
He was also puzzled as to why he paid so much attention to Meng Tingyue; after all, she was his Crown Princess.
Today, when he learned that someone from the Crown Prince’s Mansion had secretly gone to Wu Family Pharmacy to purchase medicinal herbs, the first person that came to his mind was Meng Tingyue.
He knew that his Imperial Brother never cared about such trivial matters, nor would he have such a delicate mind, using such a clever method to resolve the predicament for him.
But why would Meng Tingyue do this?
Could it be that Meng Tingyue secretly liked him?
Prince Qing’s thoughts drifted back to the past.
In the past, he often brought exquisite small gifts to visit Jiaojiao, and each time, he would bring one to Meng Tingyue as well.
The reason he brought one to Meng Tingyue was also because of Mr. Wu’s suggestion.
Whenever Meng Tingyue received his gifts, she would first politely decline, until he patiently explained, she would then accept them.
Every time she received a gift, the expression on Meng Tingyue’s face was joyful, her eyes brighter than pearls.
Watching her treasure the gifts, Prince Qing secretly looked down upon it, because those gifts were merely purchased casually by his attendants, not comparable to what he prepared for Jiaojiao.
Now that he thought about it carefully, could Meng Tingyue’s initial fondness for those inexpensive gifts prove that she once had some feelings for him?
But if she really liked him, why did she have that attitude on the night of their wedding, knowing that there had been an exchange of brides?
Could it be because she was angry? Resentful towards him? That’s why she acted like that?
Prince Qing still held onto hope.
Until the banquet ended, and Meng Tingyue returned to the Crown Prince’s Mansion, she still couldn’t figure out the meaning behind Prince Qing’s meaningful gaze.
Could Prince Qing be planning some schemes against the Crown Prince’s Mansion?
Meng Tingyue couldn’t figure it out no matter how hard she tried.
As she lowered her eyes in thought, she didn’t notice the threshold in front of her and almost tripped. Shen Yunheng helped her in time.
“Thank you, Husband.” Meng Tingyue thanked him after regaining her balance.
Shen Yunheng nodded slightly, his gaze on her, carrying a hint of complexity.
After a moment, he slowly spoke, “Tonight, I was careless.”
