Ch 146: The Handkerchief’s Destination
I’ve heard of Meng Tingyue’s Jinxiu Pavilion in Jingdu. The shop sells exquisite goods to the city’s nobility.
Princess Luo Jia nodded gently upon hearing this, her lips parting slightly: “That’s right. Crown Princess, if you need anything in the future, feel free to come. I’ll instruct them to give you a 20% discount.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Tingyue’s eyes involuntarily softened into a gentle smile. “I’ll keep that in mind. Don’t go back on your word later, Luo Jia.”
Princess Luo Jia clapped her chest heartily upon hearing this, laughing as brightly as the sun. “Don’t worry, I, Luo Jia, always keep my word.”
Saying this, Meng Tingyue took out a delicate handkerchief from her sleeve and gently handed it to Princess Luo Jia. “Take a closer look and see if you can recognize where this handkerchief came from.”
Princess Luo Jia gently took the handkerchief. With a single glance, she confidently said, “Only the Imperial Palace uses this quality. My Father Emperor’s handkerchiefs aren’t this color; it must belong to my Imperial Brother.”
Meng Tingyue pondered silently upon hearing this.
Princess Luo Jia is the sixth princess of the Imperial Family. She has five elder brothers, three of whom have been sent to their fiefdoms, while the remaining two stay in Jingdu.
Prince Qing is frail and has been sickly since childhood. It’s impossible for him to have gone to Jiangnan as a child.
As for the other princes, Meng Tingyue doesn’t know much about them.
“Luo Jia, do you think this handkerchief might belong to which prince?” Meng Tingyue softly asked.
Princess Luo Jia looked at Meng Tingyue with a hint of confusion.
“Crown Princess can’t guess?”
Meng Tingyue returned a questioning gaze.
Seeing her genuine confusion, Princess Luo Jia slowly revealed the answer: “Crown Princess, this handkerchief belongs to my Imperial Brother. You, as his Crown Princess, haven’t recognized it?”
A faint surprise appeared in Meng Tingyue’s eyes. She subconsciously asked, “Did the Crown Prince go to Jiangnan as a child?”
Princess Luo Jia nodded gently: “He did.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Tingyue slowly lowered her eyes, subtly concealing the complex thoughts in her gaze.
She didn’t expect the Crown Prince to have been to Jiangnan.
“Does Luo Jia know why the Crown Prince went to Jiangnan?”
Princess Luo Jia shook her head.
After returning to the mansion from Jinxiu Pavilion, Meng Tingyue, upon learning that Shen Yunheng was home, went straight to the kitchen and prepared a table of exquisite food.
As night fell, Shen Yunheng felt the unusual atmosphere in the room as soon as he entered.
“Husband,” Meng Tingyue’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Shen Yunheng enter, like the brightest stars in the night sky.
Shen Yunheng walked steadily and slowly took his seat at the table.
“Husband, try this steamed mandarin fish,” Meng Tingyue lightly picked up a piece of fish with her chopsticks and offered it to him.
Under her earnest gaze, Shen Yunheng slowly opened his mouth, chewing slowly and savoring the deliciousness.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice low and magnetic, “Did you make this dish yourself?”
A surprised smile bloomed on Meng Tingyue’s face, like a flower blossoming in spring. “Husband, you can tell?”
Shen Yunheng nodded slightly, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes. “It’s different from the mansion chef’s cooking.”
A faint joy filled Meng Tingyue’s eyes, like the shining stars in the night sky outside. “Husband likes it.”
It was worth the half-day’s work.
“Is there a request?” Shen Yunheng gently put down his chopsticks, a hint of inquiry in his tone.
Meng Tingyue’s eyes flickered, gentle yet playful. “I just wanted to cook a few dishes for my husband to show my affection. What request could there be?”
Shen Yunheng didn’t seem to believe her, his gaze carrying a hint of speculation.
Seeing this, Meng Tingyue slowly took out a delicate handkerchief from her bosom. “Is this your handkerchief, Husband?”
Shen Yunheng’s gaze fell on the handkerchief, confirming, “It is indeed mine.”
Hearing this, Meng Tingyue’s guess was confirmed, and the smile in her eyes deepened involuntarily. “Husband, have you ever been to Jiangnan?”
Shen Yunheng was thoughtful. Although he didn’t know why she asked, he still nodded in affirmation.
“Husband, did you meet me in Jiangnan when you were young?”
