Chapter 79

Chapter 79: Winning the Third Prince’s Favor

When Madam Cui learned the Third Prince wanted to see Meng Yang, she urgently summoned her and drilled her on etiquette several times before she finally let her leave the residence, still uneasy.

Meng Yang was thrilled inside.

[A prince – a man even more noble than the Heir Apparent. She was going to meet one so soon! Sure enough, if she used the advantage of being a Transmigrator well, it became her golden finger.]

Ambition rose in Meng Yang’s eyes. She decided she had to perform well and win the Third Prince’s notice in one stroke. Then what would Sheng Zhi Wan, a mere Princess, count for?

Soon, the carriage arrived outside Hotpot Shop. A palace eunuch with a pale face and no beard had already been waiting. When he saw her step down, his eyes swept over her from head to toe before he asked, “Are you Miss Meng?”

Meng Yang held her posture and nodded. “Yes. This commoner girl is.”

“Miss Meng, please,” the palace eunuch said as he led her upstairs to the third floor.

Third Prince Sheng Yuan Hao and a group of advisers were drinking wine. When they heard the rumored Lady Meng had arrived, the Third Prince looked up and saw the palace eunuch leading in a woman whose looks and presence were only average.

His gaze reflexively shifted to the space behind her, but he did not see anyone else. A flash of disappointment crossed his eyes.

That disappointment vanished in an instant, and Qi Shu Xian beside him did not notice.

Qi Shu Xian stood to introduce her. “Third Prince, this was Meng Yang. Meng Yang, this was Third Prince, Your Highness.”

Meng Yang greeted him, “This commoner girl paid respects to Third Prince, Your Highness.”

She lifted her eyes and showed what she thought was her prettiest angle.

But everyone’s expressions turned strange.

Qi Shu Xian said awkwardly, “Third Highness, please forgive her. Meng Yang came from a farming family, and she only started learning these manners recently. That’s why she made a mistake…”

Meng Yang froze, then immediately realized her hand position during the salute had been wrong. But if she redid it now, it would only be more embarrassing.

Fortunately, the Third Prince seemed mild and did not mind. He waved a hand. “Rise. Shu Xian said this wine was brewed by you?”

“Yes,” Meng Yang replied, finally letting out a breath.

The Third Prince asked her how she brewed it and why it could be so clear and pale.

Meng Yang answered him one by one, but many steps were things she only knew how to do, not why they worked. She could only gloss over them with vague excuses.

The more he listened, the more displeased the Third Prince grew. He suspected Meng Yang was hiding secrets.

But he had come for two reasons. One was to draw Qi Shu Xian to his side, and the other was that Meng Yang’s wine and her shown talent for business could bring him the benefits he needed. So he did not show that displeasure.

Instead, his words overflowed with praise for Meng Yang.

He went from wine to hotpot, then from hotpot to the Lady Meng character from the storybooks that had recently become wildly popular.

The Third Prince praised, “Miss Meng was clever and quick-minded, with broad vision. Though you came from the countryside, what you thought and did was brave and strategic, not something ordinary inner-courtyard women could compare to!”

He smiled and added, “This wine – I think we should call it Jiao Niang Wine. What do you think?”

At the same time, two streets away at Gathering Sages Teahouse, Sheng Zhi Wan stepped down from her carriage. Before she even went inside, she heard loud bragging from within.

The voice sounded very familiar.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked over, and sure enough, it was a coincidence. In a narrow meeting on the road, it was once again Shang Xiu Yuan, Wang Huai Zhi, and the others.

One person said with disdain, “Those mountain bandits were truly too stupid. They even bought fake wine and poisoned themselves. That’s the only reason those dandies got to pick up an easy win… Otherwise, with their skills, charging in would’ve been no different from suicide.”

“Exactly!” someone agreed.

Another said, “This time, it was only their dog luck. The Emperor’s reward was just for Princess Qing Ning’s sake. Besides, the Emperor definitely knew they were useless. That’s why he only gave them some gifts and didn’t even mention a proper official post.”

“Yet even so, those families were happy enough to hold a banquet to celebrate,” someone scoffed. “It was laughable to the extreme!”

Zhang Yuan Zhuo shook his head in mockery, looking full of contempt.

Someone else chimed in, “That’s right. The Emperor knew perfectly well who was just a pretty pillow and who had real skill. Otherwise, how could our Brother Xiu Yuan, without killing a single mountain bandit, so easily win the Emperor’s favor and even be appointed to the Overseas Tea Route assignment!”

“That’s the difference!”

“It’s only an assistant role,” Shang Xiu Yuan said with an easy, calm smile.

The others all praised his humility.

Wang Huai Zhi stood and raised his cup. “Brother Xiu Yuan, this cup is to wish you swift- no, ship-smooth success! May you rise fast and soar high!”

Shang Xiu Yuan lifted his cup. “I’ll take Brother Wang’s good words.”

They drank it all in one go.

Sheng Zhi Wan had not planned to pay them any attention, but after hearing them finish insulting Shang Xing Yu and then turn around to congratulate Shang Xiu Yuan on his new assignment, her steps stopped.

Her gaze settled on Shang Xiu Yuan, who was being surrounded and flattered.

For some reason, she thought of the day she had seen Shang Xing Yu drinking alone.

A feeling she could not name rose in her chest.

[Did Shang Xiu Yuan truly not know why he got that assignment?]

That day, Imperial Father had kept Grand General Shang behind to speak. Outsiders did not know what was said, but she had learned the truth from someone Grandmother sent.

Grandmother had been grateful that Shang Xing Yu saved her, and she had mentioned to Imperial Father that she wanted him to be given an assignment. That was why Imperial Father had kept Grand General Shang that day.

Who would have thought that after hearing it, Grand General Shang would belittle Shang Xing Yu to nothing right in front of Imperial Father, and strongly recommend his eldest son, Shang Xiu Yuan instead?

That was how the assignment ended up in Shang Xiu Yuan’s hands.