Chapter 6

Chapter 6: Capital City’s Greatest Rogue

Huan Zhu was certain Sheng Zhi Wan wouldn’t discard over a decade of affection between them.

Sheng Zhi Wan gently set her teacup down. “If that’s how you feel, perhaps I’ll write a letter right now and send you back to the palace. You can stay there from now on and never leave.”

“You’re serious?” Huan Zhu bit her lip nervously.

Sheng Zhi Wan merely smiled, silent.

This time, panic gripped Huan Zhu. “Princess, how can you be so heartless? Maidservant has served you all these years—if I’m sent back now, who in the palace would ever accept me again?”

“So you remember you’re just a maidservant?” Sheng Zhi Wan leaned forward slightly.

Meeting Sheng Zhi Wan’s deep, dark eyes, the words caught painfully in Huan Zhu’s throat.

Sheng Zhi Wan gazed at her with a faint, unreadable smile.

Finally, Huan Zhu clenched her teeth, sank to her knees, and shuffled forward. “Princess, Maidservant really didn’t mean it. Maidservant only wished to see you and the heir reconcile quickly. If you think I’ve done wrong… from now on… from now on Maidservant won’t act on her own ever again!”

What a lovely excuse—doing it for her own good.

Sheng Zhi Wan curved her lips again. “Since you admit you acted on your own, you’ll be demoted to a fourth-rank maid. From now on, serve outside sweeping and cleaning.”

“Princess?!” Huan Zhu gasped in disbelief. But facing Sheng Zhi Wan’s firm gaze, she bit her lip hard, stood without another word, and dashed from the room.

With all this disruption, naturally, Madam Cui’s instructions slipped entirely from Huan Zhu’s mind—but even if she remembered, Sheng Zhi Wan wouldn’t have cared.

That night, Sheng Zhi Wan slept peacefully.

It wasn’t until Ting Lan entered for the third time the next morning, gently calling her awake as dawn broke, that Sheng Zhi Wan lazily opened her eyes.

“Princess, aren’t you greeting Madam today?” Ting Lan softly reminded, seeing how slowly she moved.

Only then did Sheng Zhi Wan recall—

In her previous life, during the fourth year of her marriage to Qi Shu Xian, he had been granted his own mansion, and she’d moved out of Duke Qi’s residence, no longer needing to pay daily respects.

But right now, it wasn’t that time yet.

“I won’t go,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “Let’s head to the storehouse.”

She personally selected a few medicinal herbs, then moved to the small kitchen, mixing the herbs with last year’s sweet chrysanthemum wine, and prepared a delicate bowl of fermented rice balls.

The fragrance of sweet wine blended beautifully with the herbs, warming and nurturing the body.

Sheng Zhi Wan carefully placed the rice balls in an exquisite food basket.

“Princess, is this for Madam?” An Zhi asked cautiously.

Sheng Zhi Wan raised an eyebrow—it certainly wasn’t.

She let An Zhi and Ting Lan dress her hair and apply makeup. After everything was ready, she changed into court robes untouched for two years.

Her gilded skirt shimmered with intricate embroidery, wide sleeves and a graceful waist sash highlighting her slender figure. Her long, dark hair was pinned up with delicate golden crabapple ornaments.

Tiny pearl hairpins swayed gently, enhancing her beauty.

Both An Zhi and Ting Lan were momentarily stunned. “Princess, surely you’re the true greatest beauty of Capital City. Even those so-called Four Beauties can’t compare.”

It was a pity their princess seldom went out—and when she did, it was always dressed humbly.

“Prepare the carriage. I’m entering the palace,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, stepping into the carriage with Ting Lan’s help.

At that moment, a group of well-dressed noble youths happened to ride past. Seeing her silhouette, the leading young man in dark robes abruptly pulled his horse to a halt.

Hearing his sudden stop, the others followed his gaze.

“Isn’t that… Princess Qing Ning?” someone murmured in surprise.

“The same princess who went on a hunger strike just to marry Qi Shu Xian?”

“That’s her!”

“Haha, it seems our Second Young Master Shang has no chance now. Forget about her status—even her husband alone surpasses all of us.”

“A Triple First Success scholar, who also earned great merit in Cangnan. They say he’s entering the palace today to be rewarded. My father mentioned this morning that His Majesty intends to promote him to an official Fourth-Rank General. Such a young Fourth-Rank General—unheard of. Those noble ladies who once mocked Princess Qing Ning must be green with envy after today.”

“Well, perhaps not entirely. Didn’t Qi Shu Xian bring a woman back from Cangnan?”

“That hardly matters. Which man doesn’t have wives and concubines? Just a plaything, nothing more. She won’t overshadow the Princess. Still, considering Princess Qing Ning’s beauty, the girl he brought back shouldn’t be too shabby either.”

“I heard she’s a mere peasant girl…”

Whatever else was said, the youth no longer listened. He waited until Sheng Zhi Wan’s carriage completely vanished from sight before suddenly turning his horse around. “I just remembered something important I haven’t finished—I won’t join you all at Drunken Fragrance House today!”

“Hey! Second Young Master Shang!” His companions called out in surprise, but he had already vanished.

“What important matter could Capital City’s greatest rogue possibly have? He’s probably just dodging the bill!” They laughed mockingly.

Meanwhile, Sheng Zhi Wan entered the palace, switched to a sedan chair, and headed straight to Merciful Wisdom Palace.

Inside Merciful Wisdom Palace, everything bloomed richly. The Osmanthus tree she’d planted with Grandmother as a child filled the air with its gentle fragrance.

Everything seemed the same, yet somehow different.

Especially when her eyes found Grandmother leaning back against the rosewood chair, her face showing faint weariness—Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes instantly reddened.

Nanny Xiu, who was massaging Empress Dowager’s shoulders, was about to speak when Sheng Zhi Wan quietly gestured to her not to.

Soundlessly, Sheng Zhi Wan approached, gently replacing Nanny Xiu’s hands, and began to massage Grandmother’s shoulders herself.