Chapter 86

Chapter 86: She Must Be Pretending

Madam Cui was startled, never expecting Sheng Zhi Wan to bring this up herself.

But her words made sense, so Madam Cui scoffed lightly and nodded. “Very well. Tidy up the courtyard beside Endless Courtyard for Huan Zhu.”

“I thank you on Huan Zhu’s behalf, Mother,” Sheng Zhi Wan replied and left Evening Tide Courtyard.

Just a few steps away, a gentle, delicate voice suddenly called out behind her: “Princess, please wait.”

Sheng Zhi Wan paused. It was Meng Yang and the maidservant called Qing Xing by her side.

She stood leisurely where she was until Meng Yang approached. Only then did she laugh softly and remark, “Meng Miss, since you’ve secured your pregnancy, are you planning to repeat your old tricks?”

Meng Yang instinctively stepped back, holding her belly protectively. “Princess, I merely wanted to assure you that I will manage the Duke’s household properly and not disappoint you and the heir apparent.”

“Oh?” [So she came here to show off.]

“Tsk.” Sheng Zhi Wan chuckled lightly. “Meng Miss, should I praise you for being clever or call you foolish instead? You don’t truly think that managing household affairs means your status is higher than mine, do you?”

“Truthfully, I rather admire you. After all, few concubines like yourself must bear children for the family, earn silver for the household, and also manage the estate tirelessly. If you succeed, you might receive a few words of praise, but what if you fail?”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips curved into a smile.

Her words cut straight to the heart, merciless and sharp.

Meng Yang felt her breath catch. Watching Sheng Zhi Wan’s retreating figure, she bit her lip and called out, “The heir apparent said yesterday that I am indeed a good match for him. However, this is my first time managing household affairs. If I fail, I hope Princess won’t blame me!”

She refused to believe Sheng Zhi Wan genuinely didn’t care!

Women understood women best. Considering Sheng Zhi Wan’s past actions, it was impossible to behave like that unless deeply in love.

Meng Yang was convinced Sheng Zhi Wan was pretending indifference.

Her heart stirred uneasily with jealousy.

Determined, Meng Yang resolved to manage the Duke’s estate flawlessly, proving to Sheng Zhi Wan that she alone was the heir apparent’s most valued woman!

That evening, Meng Yang and Huan Zhu both dressed in soft pink attire and entered through the side gate, officially becoming Qi Shu Xian’s concubines.

Sheng Zhi Wan listened quietly to the hushed movements inside and outside the residence. She lifted her delicate, jade-white foot from the bathing tub. Ting Lan immediately wiped it dry with a soft cloth and carefully applied sheep-fat balm.

Flipping through her book, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly chuckled.

In her previous life, Meng Yang spent three years nameless and without status in the mansion. Only after Sheng Zhi Wan had become famous throughout the capital and had secured support as Princess Consort did Meng Yang finally hold an extravagant concubine ceremony.

Though nominally a concubine’s wedding, the ceremony had been as grand as any official wife’s—matchmakers sent thrice, an eight-bearer sedan chair, and a lavish banquet lasting three whole days that drew countless eyes.

But now, the concubine was already carried into the house, her name recorded. Meng Yang would never have that chance again.

It was indeed a pleasant evening.

Some took concubines, others gathered for small merriments.

Shang Hang Yu, Ye Rong, and a few others met for the first time since the previous banquet.

Perhaps overwhelmed by more praise these past days than in their entire lives combined, these young dandies who used to eagerly indulge in brothels, gambling dens, and cricket-fights now sat unsure of what to do.

Ye Rong drank his wine dully. “Ah, so boring!”

“I wonder if Yu Zhu won this month’s leading courtesan,” Pei Yu An sighed, fanning himself.

Chen Bao Jing was entirely focused on gnawing a sauce-covered pork knuckle.

“Why don’t we…go have a look? After all, we used to go often to those pleasure boats and brothels. Who said heroes couldn’t enjoy themselves there?” Pei Yu An suggested tentatively.

Ye Rong was tempted, hooking an arm around Shang Hang Yu’s shoulders. “Second Young Master Shang, what do you say?”

“I don’t mind,” Shang Hang Yu stood up lazily.

“Whether I’m called a dandy or a hero, my father doesn’t care. Being a dandy at least has its perks: massages, comfort, people feeding you. Except the bad reputation, annoying people, and embarrassing my family a bit, it’s not so bad.”

He had already walked to the doorway, turning around to find Ye Rong and Pei Yu An still sitting.

He raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you coming?”

Pei Yu An hesitated awkwardly. “Um…I’ve thought about it. Actually, I don’t want to be a dandy anymore. You have no idea how thrilled my mother was when she heard I received praise from His Majesty. She couldn’t sleep properly for three whole days, praying to every ancestor in gratitude. I—I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Ye Rong, what about you?” Shang Hang Yu turned to Ye Rong.

Ye Rong scratched his head. “Young Master doesn’t want to disappoint my father either. That day he came home, drunk and hugged me, talking nonsense. Turns out, I’ve always made him worry.”

“Me too!” Chen Bao Jing suddenly looked up from his pork knuckle. “My father said our family’s future rests on me!”

The group stared at the oil smearing his face.

[Perhaps Censor Chen should pin his hopes on another son instead.]

“I—I’m fine either way,” Zhou Yu Zheng said mildly.

His father had already advised him: no matter what, following Shang Hang Yu and Ye Rong was never wrong.