Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Shielding

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Eldest Young Master Shang, you were being modest.”

Shang Xiu Yuan paused.

Wang Huai Zhi’s expression stiffened at once. Wang Huai Zhi never expected to run into Princess Qing Ning again. If Wang Huai Zhi had known it would be this unlucky, Wang Huai Zhi would not have come to Gathering Sages Teahouse today.

Shang Xiu Yuan stood and saluted. “I pay my respects to Princess Qing Ning. Your Highness flatters me.”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled with meaning. “It is indeed flattery. After all, you got this post because Young Master Shang Er earned merit suppressing bandits. It would be fine if others did not know, but I did not expect even Eldest Young Master Shang to not know. What, did Grand General Shang not tell you?”

Wang Huai Zhi blurted out, stunned, “What? Xiu Yuan’s post was because of Shang Er?”

Someone else gasped, “How could that be?”

Another person asked, “Xiu Yuan, is it true?”

Shang Xiu Yuan’s face shifted from ashen to flushed, then ashen again. His handsome face filled with embarrassment and shame.

Father naturally never told Shang Xiu Yuan about it. Still, the timing of the appointment had been too perfect, and Shang Xiu Yuan had guessed as much in private.

But since Father never said anything, Shang Xiu Yuan pretended not to know. Just now, while those people praised Shang Xiu Yuan and put down Shang Xing Yu, Shang Xiu Yuan secretly felt pleased.

So what if Shang Xing Yu had gotten lucky? In the end, the one who benefited was still Shang Xiu Yuan.

Who knew that Sheng Zhi Wan would expose it in public today?

Why did Sheng Zhi Wan, a princess, always run around outside for no reason?

Resentment rose in Shang Xiu Yuan’s chest. Shang Xiu Yuan lowered his eyes and said, “Your Highness misunderstood me. I truly did not know this post was connected to Shang Xing Yu.”

“So now you know?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s half-smile swept over the people beside Shang Xiu Yuan. “It is just that these friends of yours insult Young Master Shang Er while lifting you up. If I did not know Eldest Young Master Shang treasured his brother and protected his siblings, I might even think you made friends like this on purpose, just to smear Young Master Shang Er’s reputation.”

Shang Xiu Yuan felt mortified. “Princess misunderstood. They are all blunt and straightforward. I did not expect them to say things like that.”

“Good. I hope this stops at once or twice, and does not happen a third time,” Sheng Zhi Wan said.

Then Sheng Zhi Wan noticed Wang Huai Zhi with his head lowered beside Shang Xiu Yuan. “Young Master Wang is here as well? Did you find any results regarding the matter of my donated grain and silver that I asked people to investigate last time?”

“N-no, not yet,” Wang Huai Zhi murmured, his voice as soft as a mosquito.

“Is that so? Then Young Master Wang’s efficiency is truly slow.” Sheng Zhi Wan gave a mocking laugh and walked past them.

Wang Huai Zhi watched those luxurious shoes disappear, and only then dared to lift his head a little.

Sheng Zhi Wan went up to the third floor. Mo Qing was already waiting outside the Heaven-Ranked Private Room, and opened the door as soon as Mo Qing saw Sheng Zhi Wan.

Sheng Zhi Wan signaled An Zhi and Ting Lan to wait outside.

As soon as the door closed, the man who lounged by the window with one leg raised turned around. His voice came over, casual and a little teasing. “Princess stood up for me just now?”

His black hair set off a jade-like youthfulness, and the boldness in his eyes carried a wild, untamed edge that was hard to describe.

Sheng Zhi Wan froze for a moment.

To be honest, Shang Xing Yu’s face was simply too good. If Shang Xing Yu’s reputation as a wastrel had not been so loud, many noble ladies in the capital city would probably have seen Shang Xing Yu as the top choice for a husband. No wonder Shang Xiu Yuan worked so hard to smear Shang Xing Yu.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked away. “What? I can’t?”

A hint of a smile flashed through Shang Xing Yu’s eyes. Shang Xing Yu lowered those dark lashes. “Of course you can. It’s just that being shielded like that – it was my first time.”

Sheng Zhi Wan was surprised. Really?

Even Prince Qin Yu could be this pitiful?

But when Sheng Zhi Wan thought about it, it made sense. Shang Xing Yu’s mother had died early. Shang Xing Yu’s father, eager to please the stepmother, probably wished Shang Xing Yu did not exist at all. Otherwise, Shang Xing Yu would not have been forced to live as Shang Xiu Yuan’s contrast, surviving carefully and cautiously.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s heart softened for no clear reason.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “You don’t need to feel bad. If no one shields you, then shield yourself.”

“Mm.” Shang Xing Yu looked at Sheng Zhi Wan. “But I really like Princess… shielding me.”

After spending time together, Shang Xing Yu had also noticed it. Sheng Zhi Wan was clearly still a young miss in her teens, and even a year younger than Shang Xing Yu, yet Sheng Zhi Wan spoke and acted with a steady, restrained calm.

Shang Xing Yu had no idea that in her past life, Sheng Zhi Wan had already lived to nearly thirty.

Now, it was only that a mature soul sat inside a body of a teenager.

But no matter how mature that soul was, it still could not withstand a gaze like Shang Xing Yu’s.

Heat crept up Sheng Zhi Wan’s ears. Afraid Shang Xing Yu would say something else that could be misunderstood, Sheng Zhi Wan switched topics at once. “Thank you for the cloak that day. Was Young Master Shang Er satisfied with the results of our last cooperation?”

Shang Xing Yu chuckled and stopped teasing. Shang Xing Yu answered seriously, “As long as Princess didn’t dislike it. I was very satisfied with our last cooperation.”

It only took one mountain bandit raid for Shang Xing Yu, the so-called wastrel, to leave a proper impression in Emperor Chong Sheng’s mind.

It also tied the Ye, Pei, Chen, and Zhou Families to Shang Xing Yu as the same faction.

This was nothing like the old connections built on eating, drinking, fooling around, and stirring up trouble. To put it plainly, in the past, if Shang Xing Yu ran into trouble, the Ye, Pei, Chen, and Zhou Families would have wished their children stayed as far away as possible.

But now it was different. If Shang Xing Yu ran into difficulties again, as long as it was not too hard to handle, those families would not sit by and do nothing.