Chapter 80

Chapter 80: Shielding

“Eldest Young Master Shang is quite modest,” Sheng Zhi Wan said gently. Shang Xiu Yuan paused mid-motion, his fingers briefly curling.

Wang Huai Zhi’s face stiffened like cracked stone. He hadn’t expected to encounter Princess Ning of Qing again. If he’d known fate would play this trick, he would never have stepped foot into the Gathering Worthies Teahouse today.

“This humble one greets Princess Ning. Your Highness flatters me,” Shang Xiu Yuan rose and bowed politely.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile held an edge, like moonlight on a blade. “It is indeed flattery. After all, this post of yours came about only because Second Young Master Shang earned merit in the bandit campaign. Others may not know the truth, but I’m surprised you don’t. Did the Grand General not tell you?”

“What?” Wang Huai Zhi exclaimed, startled. “You mean Shang Xiu Yuan’s post is thanks to Shang Hang Yu?”

“How is that possible?”

“Xiu Yuan, is this true?” another asked.

Shang Xiu Yuan’s expression turned pale, then flushed dark as storm clouds. His handsome face writhed with shame.

Of course Father had never told him. But the timing had always seemed too coincidental. In truth, he’d guessed. Still, since Father remained silent, he’d chosen to feign ignorance. Just moments ago, when everyone praised him and disparaged Shang Hang Yu, a bit of smug delight had flared in his heart.

[So what if Shang Hang Yu had gotten lucky? In the end, I was the one who reaped the rewards.]

But now, Princess Sheng had laid it bare before them all.

[This Sheng Zhi Wan—what business does a princess have, wandering about like this?]

Bitter resentment sprouted in Shang Xiu Yuan’s heart. He lowered his gaze. “Princess misunderstands. I truly did not know my appointment had anything to do with Hang Yu.”

“Is that so? Then now that you do,” Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile did not waver as she glanced at the men around him, “perhaps Eldest Young Master Shang’s friends—who heap scorn on Second Young Master Shang while singing your praises—should reconsider their words. Were it not for your known love for your brother, one might suspect these so-called friends were chosen just to sully his name.”

Shang Xiu Yuan burned with shame. “Princess misjudges them. They’re just straightforward men—thoughtless, not malicious.”

“Good. Let us hope that what happened once and twice won’t happen a third time.”

With that, Sheng Zhi Wan turned her gaze to the man standing quietly by, his head bowed—Wang Huai Zhi. “So Young Master Wang is here as well. Have there been any results from your investigation into the grain and silver donations I asked about?”

“N-not yet,” he stammered, his voice as faint as a mosquito’s.

“Is that so? Then it seems Young Master Wang works rather slowly,” Sheng Zhi Wan said with a cold smile. She stepped past them, leaving the scent of dignity behind.

Wang Huai Zhi only dared lift his head after her elegant shoes had disappeared from sight.

Up on the third floor, Mo Qing was already waiting outside the Heaven Class Suite. The moment he saw her, he opened the door.

Sheng Zhi Wan gestured for An Zhi and Ting Lan to wait outside.

“Was Princess just now speaking up on my behalf?” came a voice, lazy and amused, as the door closed. The man leaned against the window, one leg crossed, his posture relaxed and unruly.

Black hair framed a face like fine jade. His eyes held a bold gleam, careless and unrestrained.

Sheng Zhi Wan paused, taken aback.

There was no denying it—Shang Hang Yu’s face was exquisitely handsome. If not for his notorious reputation as a wastrel, many noble girls of the capital would likely consider him their ideal husband. No wonder Shang Xiu Yuan went to such lengths to drag him down.

“Why not?” Sheng Zhi Wan looked away calmly.

A faint smile curved Shang Hang Yu’s lips as his dark lashes lowered. “Of course. It’s just… this is the first time someone has ever shielded me like this.”

Sheng Zhi Wan blinked. [Really?]

Prince Qin Yu, born of noble blood, pitiful enough to find this rare?

And perhaps it was so. His mother had died young, and his father, eager to please his stepwife, had long since turned his back on this son. If things were different, he wouldn’t have spent his whole life as a foil to Shang Xiu Yuan, living cautiously, treading lightly.

That thought made something soft stir in her chest.

“No need to feel sad. If no one will shield you, then you must shield yourself.”

Shang Hang Yu’s voice dropped low, teasing, “Mm, but I quite like being shielded… by Princess.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s ears warmed. She feared he’d say something even more suggestive, so she quickly changed the subject. “Thank you for the cloak that day. Was Second Young Master Shang satisfied with the results of our last cooperation?”

Shang Hang Yu chuckled lightly, then grew serious. “Very satisfied, Princess.”

One bandit ambush, and his name had reached Emperor Chong Sheng’s ears.

Now, the Ye, Pei, Chen, and Zhou families were allied with him.

This sort of alliance was nothing like the old days of drinking and carousing. Back then, if trouble found him, those families would’ve pulled their sons far away. But now?

Now, if he found himself in trouble again, as long as it wasn’t something too outrageous, they wouldn’t sit idly by.