Chapter 213

Chapter 213: A Virgin

Sheng Zhi Wan froze, then frowned.

To get Shang Xing Yu to deliver the letter, Sheng Zhi Wan had agreed to go to Chao Ming Temple with Shang Xing Yu today to ask for a fortune.

Yet today, Shang Xing Yu broke his word.

Had something happened?

Sheng Zhi Wan told Liu Shang to go ask around.

Not long after, Liu Shang landed in the courtyard, stepping lightly off the roof tiles.

Nanny Yu lifted her eyelids and glanced at Liu Shang. Liu Shang did not understand and grinned at Nanny Yu.

Nanny Yu said, “…”

Nanny Yu’s eyelids slowly lowered again. Fine. The Princess had not said anything, so why should Nanny Yu meddle? This was not the Imperial Palace, and there were not so many rules to keep.

Liu Shang said, “Princess! This servant found out. Young Master Shang Er was summoned into the palace early this morning.”

Sheng Zhi Wan froze, then understood. Sheng Zhi Wan asked, “Grandmother?”

Back then, Sheng Zhi Wan had knelt and begged for an Imperial Edict so Sheng Zhi Wan could marry down. After Imperial Father granted the marriage, Grandmother summoned Qi Shu Xian into the Imperial Palace.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not know what Grandmother said. Sheng Zhi Wan only knew that when Qi Shu Xian came out, Qi Shu Xian’s face looked awful.

And now Grandmother again…

Thinking of that, Sheng Zhi Wan did not even eat breakfast. Sheng Zhi Wan had An Zhi and Ting Lan wash and dress Sheng Zhi Wan, then changed into court robes and entered the palace.

Outside Ci Hui Palace, Shang Xing Yu had already been standing there for over an hour. Nannies and palace maids passed by again and again, yet none of them spared Shang Xing Yu even a glance.

Empress Dowager set down a flower-watering pot and asked, “How long has he been there?”

Nanny Xiu replied, “Empress Dowager, it has already been over an hour.”

Empress Dowager said, “Mm. Let him come in.”

Since he had become Wan’er’s Prince Consort, Empress Dowager could not embarrass him too much. To embarrass him was to embarrass Wan’er.

After Empress Dowager spoke, Nanny Xiu hurried out.

Shang Xing Yu stood straight, staring at the green bricks as if his eyes were painting on them. When Shang Xing Yu was almost finished drawing the last strand of the Princess’s hair, Shang Xing Yu finally heard the call to enter and pay respects.

Nanny Xiu sized Shang Xing Yu up.

Shang Xing Yu had stood there for over an hour, yet his back stayed straight and his eyes stayed sharp. He did not look like the kind of drifting, shameless dandy Nanny Xiu had imagined.

And his face… was handsome.

Shang Xing Yu entered the inner hall, knelt properly, and performed the formal salute with full respect.

Empress Dowager waited until Shang Xing Yu finished the full rites, then stared at Shang Xing Yu for a long moment before speaking.

Empress Dowager said, “I heard that you were the one who insisted on marrying the Princess.”

Shang Xing Yu understood that Empress Dowager mattered most to the Princess. Shang Xing Yu had not even been nervous when meeting Emperor Chong Sheng, yet now, sweat formed in his palms.

Shang Xing Yu forced that tension down and said, “Empress Dowager, it was my own request.”

Empress Dowager said, “Oh? Why did you want to marry the Princess?”

Shang Xing Yu straightened his back. His eyes lowered slightly, but his voice stayed firm. “I admired the Princess.”

Empress Dowager snorted. “But I heard you had many female companions and often went to places of pleasure.”

Shang Xing Yu bowed his head. “Empress Dowager may have people investigate. Those were all groundless rumors. I was clean, and I never had any involvement with any woman.”

Empress Dowager narrowed her eyes.

“Clean?” Empress Dowager said. “Then that meant you were still a virgin?”

“Grandmother!” Sheng Zhi Wan burst in from outside at that moment.

Sheng Zhi Wan truly did not expect Grandmother to ask something like that. No matter who knelt there today, man or woman, Grandmother’s words were far too hurtful.

Empress Dowager looked startled. “Why did you come?”

Sheng Zhi Wan glared at Shang Xing Yu, who still knelt on the floor.

Was he not always the most capable one? He even dared to act boldly toward Sheng Zhi Wan. So why did he look like a frightened quail in front of Grandmother?

Empress Dowager glanced at Shang Xing Yu. “Did he send someone to complain to you?”

“It was not that, Grandmother.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s head ached. “We agreed to go to Chao Ming Temple for fortune telling, but he dared to break his word. When I asked around, I learned you summoned him into the Imperial Palace.”

Empress Dowager gave a cold snort. “So you came to the Imperial Palace too? You worried Grandmother would make things hard for him?”

As Empress Dowager studied Sheng Zhi Wan’s face, Empress Dowager’s eyes slowly narrowed. Empress Dowager’s gaze moved back and forth between Sheng Zhi Wan and Shang Xing Yu again and again.

Sheng Zhi Wan avoided Empress Dowager’s eyes.

In that instant, Empress Dowager understood.

So what Shang Xing Yu said was true? Shang Xing Yu and Wan’er truly had feelings?

But when?

It could not be before Qi Shu Xian returned. It could not. Wan’er was not that kind of woman.

Even if it had been, that would have been Qi Shu Xian’s fault. Who told Qi Shu Xian to bring a farm girl back?

No, no… it was impossible.

Maybe it had happened after Wan’er was rescued from the mountain bandits?

Empress Dowager finally felt slightly at ease.

Sheng Zhi Wan knew Grandmother did this for Sheng Zhi Wan’s sake. Sheng Zhi Wan held Empress Dowager’s arm and said, “Wan’er feared he would not know how to speak and would anger Grandmother.”

Empress Dowager’s mood softened. “Only you had a silver tongue.”

Empress Dowager’s eyes fell back on Shang Xing Yu.

That question from earlier really had been hurtful. Fine…

Shang Xing Yu spoke up without any hesitation. “Empress Dowager, Princess, I never touched any woman.”

Sheng Zhi Wan froze, and heat rushed to Sheng Zhi Wan’s face.

Even Empress Dowager looked stunned, and Empress Dowager almost blurted out, “You meant it?” Fortunately, Sheng Zhi Wan tugged Empress Dowager’s sleeve, and Empress Dowager swallowed the words back down.

Empress Dowager cleared her throat and said stiffly, “That is how it should be.”

Then Empress Dowager remembered why Empress Dowager summoned him and spoke in a serious tone.

“You are the Prince Consort now,” Empress Dowager said. “From now on, you must never wrong Wan’er. Do not go to those pleasure places again, and do not mix with messy people.”

“I will remember,” Shang Xing Yu replied seriously.

Empress Dowager waved a hand. “Enough. If I keep you here any longer, I might really cause trouble. Take your Prince Consort and leave the palace.”

That last line was said to Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed close to Empress Dowager. “Grandmother said what? Grandmother may let him leave. Wan’er came specially to keep Grandmother company.”

“Really?” Empress Dowager asked.

“Really, really!” Sheng Zhi Wan lied without blinking.

Empress Dowager felt warm inside, but Empress Dowager also knew Sheng Zhi Wan was teasing. Empress Dowager had lived in the Imperial Palace for decades. What was there to enjoy?

“All right, go out,” Empress Dowager said. “Stop being an eyesore in front of me.”

Young people should live with more freedom and spirit.

Sheng Zhi Wan and Shang Xing Yu left Ci Hui Palace together.

Shang Xing Yu’s tall, straight figure followed behind Sheng Zhi Wan. Shang Xing Yu suddenly let out a soft laugh and asked in a low voice, “Did the Princess come to help me out?”

“Who came to help you out?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s steps paused for a moment. “I feared you would say the wrong thing and anger Grandmother.”

“Mm,” Shang Xing Yu replied obediently.

But Shang Xing Yu’s eyes were full of fondness as Shang Xing Yu looked at the shadow where they overlapped.

Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly asked, “What did Grandmother say to you?”

Shang Xing Yu answered, “Empress Dowager asked about me. Empress Dowager also told me to treat the Princess better and never wrong the Princess.”

“Nothing else?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked.

“Nothing else.”

“You were in the palace for over an hour, and you only said those things?” Sheng Zhi Wan did not believe it.

“Empress Dowager asked a lot about me.” Shang Xing Yu did not mention being left outside. “It showed Empress Dowager truly loved the Princess.”

“That is true.” Warmth rose in Sheng Zhi Wan’s chest.

They reached the palace gates. Sheng Zhi Wan was about to ask whether they would still go to Chao Ming Temple today when a voice rang out-